Kaieteur News

Page 04

Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Mercury and Gold In Boa Vista just across Brazilian border there is a statue in the town centre in honour of the garimpero (the Brazilian equivalent of our porkknocker) because of his role in opening up northern Brazil. In our country, our porkknockers did not make an equivalent impact but they left a tradition that is finally bearing fruit - or ‘gold’ if you will. The initial investment for what was called ‘artisanal’ gold mining, was not too large–a pickaxe to loosen the soil, a battel with some mercury or quicksilver to separate the gold by amalgamation and fire to later burn off the mercury and leave the pure gold. In the last few decades, gold operations have become tremendously larger and last year we produced a record 438,000 ounces of the valued commodity. It is estimated conservatively estimated that some 50,000 persons are employed in gold mining. But recent developments might threaten our quest for even higher production. Environmentalists and NGO’s from across the globe have worked assiduously to place mercury as one of the pollutants to the environment that must be eradicated. In many countries, such as neighboring Brazil and Venezuela, mercury pollution has been used by some segments of the society as a useful villain and affected communities have been ignored. Myths and taboos about mercury pollution have created hysteria and promoted hidden interests of economic groups. This enlarged the gap between artisanal miners and organized society and created more illegality, as miners found a way around the reflexive governmental legal reaction of simply banning the use of the substance without seeking to deal with the social problems precipitated. We cannot to duplicate this experience in Guyana. The problem cannot be ignored or but it also cannot be approached with exaggeration. True facts are the only way to create a trustworthy environment to implement, together with miners, effective solutions for mercury pollution. First and foremost there is the question of costs. After all is said and done, mercury remains as the most simple and very inexpensive reagent to extract gold - 1kg of Hg costs 1g of Au - when it is used correctly. This is especially true with regard to the size of the gold particles that is mostly found in Guyana. Responding to the heightened sensitization precipitated by the NGO’s the European Union banned mercury exports from 2011 with the US following suit in 2013. However the processing (most mercury is recovered by recycling products that legitimately use the substance) and exportation simply switched to other countries. Once there is a market for a product, it will be supplied – albeit at a higher price with all the new hurdles that will have to be surmounted. Under the auspices of the UN, 140 countries have signed the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This was opened for signature by governments at a Diplomatic Conference last year October in Japan. It will enter into force once 50 countries have ratified it or otherwise agreed to be bound. This can spell doom for our gold industry. Unfortunately, burning is still the preferred method used by artisanal miners in which mercury released to the atmosphere represents as much as 50 per cent of that introduced into the amalgamation process. However, when amalgamation is conducted properly and retorts are used, very little mercury is lost to the environment (as low as 0.05%). This recycling practice suggests one of the first attack points for providing relief for the environment and to its credit, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has recommended and facilitated retorting to the mining fraternity. A homemade retort built with standard plumbing water pipes can be easily assembled. Use of this type of retort is easily understood and accepted by miners because it is inexpensive. All materials are familiar and accessible to the miners. Education is a prerequisite for long-term solutions for the mercury emission problem and not hysterical reactions to NGO’s pressure. In the meantime, Guyana has to intensify efforts to have Guyana become an exception once the Minaamata Convention becomes ratified.

Saturday December 13, 2014

Letters... Where your views make the news

CARICOM IS NOT ONLY SLOW BUT IT IS ALSO FRAGMENTED DEAR EDITOR, It is more than four decades since CARIFTA - the forerunner to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was established, but despite the length of time, it seems that the regional body cannot get their act together in many areas. First, there are varying views about the freedom of movement and employment of Caribbean nationals in states other than their country of their birth. Some governments ignore the Treaty of Chaguaramas - a Jamaican woman who was harassed and denied entry to Barbados moved to the Caribbean Court of Justice which ruled in her favour and awarded substantial damages. Now CARICOM has failed to identify a single candidate as its nominee for the post of Commonwealth

Secretary General. Guyanaborn diplomat/ academic/ journalist, Sir Ronald Sanders, who is currently Antigua’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, was nominated by the government of Antigua and Barbuda and his candidature was approved by most Heads of Government, but it is reported that CARICOM is contemplating naming more than one person for that high and distinguished position. Sir Ron, who has a distinguished career as a diplomat since 1982, is now serving his third term as Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He was invited by US President Jimmy Carter to be a member of Friends of Democratic Charter, and in 2010, was named as one of

A time to show love and compassion DEAR EDITOR, The festive season is once again with us. This is indeed a time to show love and compassion to our fellow human beings, in particular those in less fortunate circumstances. Guyanese are known for their kindness and hospitality and I take this opportunity to urge all of us to make whatever contribution we

can make to the poor and needy. There can be no greater joy than the joy of giving, however modest. So often we get carried away with the glare of the season that the true essence of the festival is lost, namely to celebrate the virtues of modesty and simplicity rather than vanity and ostentatious consumption. Hydar Ally

the ten members of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) which was requested by the Commonwealth Heads of Government to recommend options to reform that will sharpen the impact of the 53 nations. Sir Ron was Rapporteur and the report was submitted to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Perth, Australia in 2011, He is also a Member of the Board of Round Table of the

Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs. His vast experience would make an excellent Commonwealth Secretary General - following the footsteps of his father-inlaw, Sir Shridath Ramphal, who served two consecutive terms in that distinguished office. Since CARICOM is unable to identify a single person Sanders has written to the Gaston Browne (Continued on page 23)

Guyana at the crossroads

DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the excellent, comprehensive, heartthrobbing yet objective letter written by Major General (ret’d) Joe Singh appropriately titled “Country above Self” which appeared in the media on 11/12/14. I believe any and every Guyanese who reads this letter will find it relatively easy to relate to its contents, to identify with the serious concerns raised therein, and to wonder about the obvious questions of practicality arising therefrom. I wish to draw particular attention to Mr Singh’s call for us to “re-group, reengage and re-double our collective efforts at shaping a caring, enlightened

Guyanese society that will work in unity and harmony with unselfish and responsible leaders at all levels who can be relied upon to put institution, village, district, region and country above self”. This now begs the proverbial ’64-dollar question’: where can we find those “unselfish and responsible leaders who can be relied upon to put country above self”? Given the imminence of General Elections, is it too late to start a new ‘leadership team’ with someone of the stature and credibility of Mr Joe Singh at the helm or to join the kind of gestation implicit in the new grouping being touted by the AFC leadership? Nowrang Persaud

Saturday December 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 5

Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news

An alternative for us to Intelligence Monitoring and the Politics of the PSC practice as a starting point DEAR EDITOR, In this letter I address two important aspects of our evolving culture, intelligence surveillance and the Politics of the Private Sector Commission. The public interest in both these topics need not be emphasized. Intelligence monitoring in Guyana has been practiced for some time in Guyana. To the best of my knowledge, this was conducted initially under the good graces of the Guyana Civil Defence Commission and the Private Sector Commission, inclusive of the two telephone companies, which combined their technological resources to monitor just about anyone in whom they happened to develop a particular interest. This includes their employees as well as their contacts and possibly, and very likely, also their competitors, and critics of the PPP and their alliances as these become available. Responsibility for all of this has probably been transferred to the new intelligence organ of the

Guyana Police Force, although I am sure the PSC and its underlings still keep track of their own persons of interest and news breakers. Monitoring is conducted in three dimensions: 1. Your phones 2. Your computers and logins, being identifiable on the net, are all tagged. 3. Through the recently closed circuit TV monitoring system installed in all businesses and throughout the public thoroughfare and road network. Anywhere cameras are installed is very likely linked to the central monitoring system of Guyana’s CIA. An understanding of the politics of Guyana’s Private Sector Commission at this juncture of our history would be more than useful in the current environment. The PSC comprises major businesses across Guyana, some of whom are supportive of the PPP administration, others who are not. Recognizing the beast that they have to contend with in the form of the PPP,

Mr. Persaud’s letter is riddled with falsehoods DEAR EDITOR, Kindly permit me to respond to Mr. Mike Persaud’s letter to your newspaper dated 10th December, 2014. I am the niece of Mr. Mike Persaud whose real name is Mahadeo Persaud. My father Narine Persaud, (now deceased) and Mr. Mahadeo Persaud are brothers. Mr. Mahadeo Persaud’s letter is riddled with falsehoods. During his lifetime, my grandfather Rampersaud Persaud executed a power of attorney in my father’s favour and gave instructions for my father to transfer certain properties into my father’s name. My grandfather was in Guyana at the time when he executed the Power of Attorney. His passport record shows this. My grandfather had indicated for a very long time before the actual transfer of the properties that he wanted my father Narine Persaud, his eldest son, to have properties. This caused Mr. Mahadeo Persaud to be very upset, and during one of his many fights with my grandfather about my grandfather’s wishes, he threw a book at my grandfather’s face causing a wound. Mr. Mahadeo Persaud was then arrested and charged by the New York Police for assaulting his father, my grandfather. This information can be found at the New York City Criminal/

justice website. I am the executrix of my father Narine Persaud’s estate and I am in the process of applying for the probate so that I can continue to defend the legal proceedings brought against my father by a brother of Mahadeo Persaud. It is the court that will in the end pronounce on the authenticity of the power of attorney that was executed and not Mr. Mahadeo Persaud’s letter writing skills in the newspaper. Further I say not. Margarie Persaud

they naturally have to play ‘suck-up’ and ‘I’m with you all the way.’ So they choose from among themselves, not necessarily the chairman or CEO of any of their members, but individuals who are either outright PPP supporters with at least some leverage with the PPP, or other individuals capable of negotiating and maintaining productive diplomacy with the PPP. The primary objective of the PPP is to maintain a strong, positive, productive working relationship with the tyrannical PPP in the face of latent disapproval of its policies and programs within its own ranks. My take on the current chairman is notwithstanding his relative lack of popularity, he does have an air of genuine commitment to sound business practices, and could very well be instrumental in reshaping these within Guyana’s private sector, in addition to possibly playing a greater role in improving governance within government now and in the future. I just can’t seem to get around the latest ‘release’ by the PSC being so misplaced, out of context and irrelevant. He might want to play a greater and more studied role, and apply his personal touch to future discourses with and about the PPP administration. Craig Sylvester

DEAR EDITOR, On the 2nd October, 2012 (KNews) and again on 1st May 2013 (KNews) I made references to the ‘Alternatives for Corporal Punishment’. Today, I would like to share two ideas that may apply to the discourse in the search for alternatives. The ideas I am referring to have being tried and tested globally (including China, Japan, Canada, USA & UK) with a great degree of success, these are called ‘natural and logical consequences’ (Dr Jane Nelsen – Educational Psychologist, May 2014). These ideas are grounded in the theory of applying and practicing ‘Positive Discipline’ as a strategy for the development of good behaviour at home (parent and child) and in schools (teacher and student). “Positive discipline is an methodology to parenting that teaches children and guides their behaviour, while respecting their rights to healthy development, protection from violence and participation in their learning” (Nelsen, 1989). It is not about punishment. Instead, it is about long-term solutions that develop children’s own self-discipline (which begins at home - parent) and their lifelong skills (which is enhance

in our schools - teacher). Positive discipline is about teaching non-violence, empathy, self-respect, human rights and respect for others. The only caveat to positive discipline is the expectation that our senior leaders act as role models to the younger generation as we seek a holistic resolution. While the idea of applying natural and logical consequences may sound like a new concept, parents and teachers already commonly employ this method at home and in our schools. A natural consequence is anything that happens naturally, with no human interference: when you stand in the rain without a raincoat, you get wet; when you don’t eat, you get hungry. Unlike natural consequences, logical consequences require the intervention of adult or other children: if you don’t revise for our examination, then you may get unexpected grades; if you don’t submit your homework on time, you are likely to get a detention. There are two main

purposes for using these processes. Firstly, both natural and logical consequences teach children to be responsible for their own behaviours, enabling and encouraging them to make responsible decisions such as going to school, wearing the appropriate clothing, doing their homework, etc. Secondly, this approach can work as an alternative for punishment: children can still learn good behaviours without being beaten or scolded by adults. It strengthens the relationship between parents and children and teachers and students, making it warmer, with less conflict. If the situation is not dangerous for the child, the maxim ‘experience is the best teacher’ is an excellent instruction principle. This is very important for the learning process: children learn from the consequences of their behaviours. If the experience is positive, the child tends to repeat such behaviour. Conversely, if the experience is negative, a child is less (Continued on page 23)

Page 6

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 13, 2014

APNU moves to court to challenge Govt.’s spending A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), has taken Government to court in a bid to stop what they said is the unauthorized spending of billions of dollars- monies that were disapproved in the National Budget earlier this year. The court application, which was filed on behalf of Opposition Leader, Brigadier David Granger, has also named Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, the Attorney General and Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman as the defendants. The matter comes up before Chief Justice (Ag), Ian Chang, on Monday. Among other things, the Opposition Leader is asking for a Conservatory Order to stay all spending and/or any further spending by the Finance Minister or other Ministers designated by the President on programs disapproved or not authorized by the National Assembly until the court matter has been heard and determined. In his claims, Granger wants the court to declare that the National Assembly, in keeping with Article 218 (2) of the Constitution, lawfully disapproved in the annual estimates of Revenue and Expenditure of 2014. This was reflected in the Appropriation Bill Number 6 of 2014 and confirmed by the Appropriation Act Number 10 of 2014. Some $36.75B was disapproved by the Oppositioncontrolled National Assembly, according to the court documents released by APNU. The disapproved monies

Opposition Leader, David Granger

House Speaker, Raphael Trotman

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh

included some $1.3B from Office of the President (OP) under its Administrative Services programme; $3.8B also from OP for capital estimates also under Administrative Services; some $22B from Ministry of Finance; $1.1B from Ministry of Amerindian Affairs’ Development Fund; $6.78B from Ministry of Public Works capital work and $1.3B from the Ministry of Health’s Regional and Clinical. APNU is asking for a declaration that Government unlawfully spent or authorized the spending of monies despite the disapprovals. This was evidenced by a Financial Paper that Government submitted to the National Assembly in which Minister Singh admitted that some $4.5B had been spent for the period ended June 16, 2014, “in breach of Articles 217 and 219 (2) of the Constitution and

the decisions of the National Assembly to disapprove these Programmes.” APNU wants the court to also order that the spending was “unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void, unreasonable and in breach of the doctrine of the separation of powers”. APNU also wants the court to declare that the Finance Minister or other Ministers designated by the President cannot lawfully spend or authorize spending on programmes that have been disapproved or not authorized by the National Assembly. APNU is also seeking a declaration that expenditure on the programs that were not approved cannot amount to a statement of excess as is being argued by Government. APNU’s arguments were prepared by Rex McKay, Senior Counsel and attorneys-at-law Basil Williams, Hewley Griffith, Lawrence Harris, Michael Somersaul, Joseph Harmon, James Bond, LLewellyn John and Bettina Glasford. The authority of the National Assembly to cut or

reduce the National Budget has been a sore issue for two years now after the Opposition-controlled Parliament moved to blocked monies for a number of controversial projects and programmes. They wanted answers how the monies were being spent. The disapproval affected agencies such as the Government Information Agency (GINA) and the National Communications Network (NCN) and projects including the Specialty Hospital, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion Project and the Amaila Falls Hydro Project. Government had gone to court last year and based on a ruling by the Chief Justice had interpreted that to mean that Parliament could not cut or disapprove the National Budget. However, the Opposition has objected saying that the National Assembly indeed had powers …and this was intended by the architects of the Constitution when it wrote that the National Budget has to come before the floors of the House.

Granger shuns AFC pro-democracy alliance proposal Opposition Leader, David Granger, has said that while he has not received an official invitation, he is not interested in the pro-democracy alliance proposal by the Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan. Ramjattan had made the announcement in an address to his party’s conference which was held at the St. Stanislaus College auditorium last Saturday. “Hard decisions would have to be made, and indeed the AFC is ready to enter, if necessary, into negotiations and to lead a pro-democracy alliance of progressive forces comprising civic groups, workers’ unions, political forces…and by political forces here we are talking about even PPP members who have been disenchanted with the performance of the PPP thus far, and even APNU,” he said to a loud round of applause. Granger was asked during his press conference, yesterday, whether he had started discussions with the AFC Leader on the said proposal. The Opposition Leader told the media that he has been in contact with the AFC and is expected to meet with the party within a few days time. To the best of his knowledge, the politician said that Ramjattan is supposed to submit a proposal for discussion as well. At the conclusion of the press briefing, Kaieteur News asked Granger for his opinion on the pro-democracy proposal and whether his meeting with AFC leader is an indication of his interest in joining the alliance. “I am not interested in that alliance. I am interested in the APNU which is

committed to forming a government of national unity and that is the pro=democracy front – APNU. We have invited AFC but they haven’t taken the bait for the last three years and we haven’t received that invitation formally,” Granger firmly stated. APNU’s financial point man, Carl Greenidge, in a previous interview with this publication had said that Ramjattan’s initiative will pose some negotiating challenges. Greenidge said that Ramjattan has, in the past, maintained that his party would not join the APNU whose major constituent is the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) that had governed Guyana from 1964 to 1992. The politician had reminded that the AFC, which has been tapping into the traditional East Indian support-base of the governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C), has in the past reasoned that it wanted to preserve its identity as an alternative to both major parties. Ramjattan, he said, sought to justify the shift towards engaging APNU by arguing that there was need for collective patriotic action and cooperation of all Guyanese in undertaking the “herculean task” of voting out the ruling party. But even with such an initiative, the former Finance Minister emphasized that the question of negotiation skills will again be an issue, if the proposal is to materialize and bear fruit. It is on this premise that the Opposition leadership will be put to the test to demonstrate that it has the very negotiating skills which the PPP demonstrably lacks, he said. Greenidge also said that the current administration will pose difficulties for the process of meaningful negotiations, as demonstrated before, on constitutional matters to say the least. He added that engraved in the PPP government’s psyche is a cuss-out-andmislead culture, hence its actions reflect scathing and damning acts of corruption, as opposed to those which show that it is interested in achieving some element of common goals by way of meaningful negotiations. The Shadow Finance Minister opined that the PPP’s view is that it is dealing with political inferiors or electionlosers rather than spokespersons. (Kiana Wilburg)

Saturday December 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 7

Page 8

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 13, 2014

Brazil’s OAS bosses charged, locals mum Trinidad Guardian - Local executives of Brazilian construction giant OAS Construtora are tight-lipped about whether the arrests of top company executives in Brazil will have any impact on the construction of the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension to Point Fortin. The executives were accused of making bribe payments to politicians and committing administrative irregularities in several Latin American countries. OAS is the main contractor on the Government’s $7.4 billion highway project, which is being supervised by Nidco. Contacted on his cellphone Thursday, OAS country supervisor Rodrigo Ventura reserved comment. “I will get in touch with you later,” Ventura said. OAS’s

production manager Alvaro Antonia-Silva-Lopes was also unavailable for comment. However, Works Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan said the internal matters involving OAS Construtora were of no concern to him and the corruption scandal involving OAS would have no impact on the construction of the highway. He added: “Our highway construction will not be impacted upon because of this international matter. We have a firm contract with OAS and they have to deliver. “Their internal matters are not of any concern to me. I am concerned only with OAS fulfilling their obligations and contract which they signed with us.” Last week, Junior Works Minister Stacy Roopnarine

also said the highway construction project would not be affected by the OAS involvement in the scandal in Brazil. But a source at Nidco said Thursday it was not surprising OAS had found itself in an international corruption scandal. “Over the past few months there were several administrative changes in the company. We saw many new faces on the local scene,” the official said. Earlier this week, Brazil’s federal prosecutor’s office announced it was charging 35 people in connection with a massive corruption scheme at Brazil’s state-run oil company Petrobras. The officials are accused of corruption, money laundering and forming a criminal organisation.

‘We’re not letting up’, Stanford workers say

Displaced Stanford employees picketed the offices of Grant Thornton on Thursday. (OBSERVER media photo) ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Former employees of R Allen Stanford’s companies who picketed the offices of liquidators Grant Thornton,

Thursday, have vowed to keep up protest action until they are told when they would be paid their outstanding salaries. Glenroy

Hatton, a former security guard, said the picketers are demanding a timeline when they would get the monies owed to them due to the 2009 collapse of Stanford’s empire that displaced hundreds of employees. “We plan to continue a series of protests until we get our justice. Right now in this economy people’s cars are being taken back, their houses are being taken back because of the collapse of the economy and a lot of people are still not working,” said Hatton, who claimed he is owed a p p r o x i m a t e l y $20,000, including interest. Former horticulturist Foster Simon, who worked for Stanford for 13 years, said he is hoping the government will intervene to bring the long outstanding matter to a close.

Saturday December 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 9

CHRISTMAS IN THE TIME OF PROROGATION I went into a city store this past week and saw so many Christmas trees that I thought I was in the rainforests of Guyana. There are many Christmas trees around to remind us of the time when each home had to have one for the holidays. It was not always so though. Not long after Independence Christmas trees were placed on the list of banned items. Many people felt that this ban constituted an assault on Christmas by the Forbes Burnham administration. Burnham’s mouthpieces justified the ban as an attempt to liberate us from the snowfilled Christmas mentality. They argued that Guyana did not have snow and therefore Christmas trees were unsuited to Guyana. Both sides were wrong. The banning of Christmas trees had nothing to do with reversing cultural indoctrination. The ban also had nothing to do with destroying Christmas. There

was no one who enjoyed Christmas more than Forbes. He loved good liquor, bigshot company and Christmas socials. These were always aplenty during Christmas time. Burnham was smitten with British royalty and its customs. He would never been interested in destroying Christmas. The real reason for the ban on Christmas trees was that there was an acute shortage of foreign exchange. In light of this shortage, Burnham felt that importing such trees was a luxury that Guyana could not afford and so he banned the importation of Christmas trees. Santa Claus was nearly also made extinct. The disappearance of Santa Claus from the department stores such as Forgarty’s and Bettencourt’s had nothing to do with these stores being afraid of promoting a whitebearded Santa Claus. It had to do also with the shortage of foreign exchange. There was a time in this country when the department

stores in Guyana were flooded with imported toys. All kinds of toys were brought in. It was a treat for children to visit these stores and especially to go to Santa Claus knowing that for the right price you could receive a good toy when you left. That privilege began to be rolled back when the economy began to buckle. Bankruptcy was not slow in coming to the economy under the PNC. Not long after Guyana declared itself a Cooperative Republic things began to slide. The squander mania and wastage that took place under the PNC meant that there came a time under Burnham when the department stories had to apply to get a licence to import toys. Given the shortage of foreign exchange, these stories could not get any nor could they obtain an import licence for such toys. As such, inventories of toys ran low. The result is that Santa Claus disappeared from

Dem boys seh...

Dem running fuh defend Jagdeo Every scamp got somebody to defend dem in court. Some does hire lawyers and some does hire liars. In every profession dem got good and bad. The field of law is no different. Dem boys talk about how Jagdeo give away de airways to he friends and he family and dem get vex. All of a sudden dem start fuh defend Jagdeo and his illegal action Somebody write a long excuse and dem print it in a paper wid three photograph. One photo had Tom, another was Daniel de Dick and de third was Anand de Harry. Dem boys seh that it was just like Tom Dick and Harry. Tom who fail in everything he put he hand pun, got a radio station. Anand got a radio station, too. Daniel de Dick, got none but he deh in de paper like if Jagdeo give him five. Daniel de Dick sit in fuh Babbie. Why he sit in and he ain’t got radio? He don’t even have a pocket radio much less a station. Dem boys only hope that he sit in and nah gun

run when de time come fuh Babbie wear he pumpkin jumpsuit. Babbie start fuh hide already. He and all de Bees hiding. Dem boys seh that when a dog do wrang he does run and hide. He frighten blows. Babbie and de Bees know that very well. Dem got dog blood in dem. Brassington is a different kettle of fish. He lost he pole a long time ago and Ashni looking fuh one, a long time now. Poor Dindyal, he deh between de devil and de deep blue sea. He don’t know of he lost he pole or he soul. Wid Brassington around he probably lost all two. Dem boys waiting fuh see when he gun go before de court fuh tell de judge that he nah lost he pole. De judge gun stand up and tell he, show de court that you still got you pole. Only de Creatah know wha gun happen then. Talk half and dem boys lef early fuh tek a drink.

the department stores. He disappeared for so long that when he did reappear in these stories it was not to give out toys but for a photo-opportunity. Santa came not with a sack of toys but with a Kodak camera to take out a picture of you sitting on his lap. No wonder so many of the pictures people have of Santa Claus is of their children screaming at the sight of Santa. It is not that the children were afraid of Santa. They wanted to know where his bag of toys was. Burnham had his own answer to the shortage of toys. He promoted buy local. Guyana Stores which was nationalized from Bookers began to sell wooden toys. There was a big promotion of this. Many people bought the wooden toys for their children because that was all that was available. But others found a way of asking relatives overseas to send in foreign toys for them. People always found a way to adapt to the crisis. This is what made Christmas so wonderful. People found ways to make Christmas a nice time. People did not have everything but they made do with what they had. What saved Christmas from the PNC was the fact that people never forgot the old time way of celebrating Christmas. The pain of not being able to give your child the toy that he or she deserved was difficult for any parent. But people stuck to the customs of the holidays. They cooked the traditional Christmas meals, they painted their homes, varnished the furniture and put up their fairy lights.

They made do with the wooden toys and they paid the increased prices for eggs just to ensure that around Christmas time cake was in the oven baking. It was hard times but by sticking to the traditions, they made Christmas a very nice time, regardless of the circumstances. Burnham did not do like what the PPP is doing these days. He did not offer any Christmas bonus as back pay. He barely had money to keep the country going much less to give as back pay for workers. Instead of back pay persons had back pain from all the buckets of water they had to fetch just to clean their homes for the holidays. But that too was part of the tradition of Christmas.

The home had to be spanking clean even if some old used window blinds was going to be recycled for the holidays. Today there is so much available. People have unlimited choices. Yet they are unhappy. They have grown up in better times and the customs that were associated with the old-time Christmas have been lost on them. They need to return to those customs if they are to enjoy Christmas they way it is supposed to be enjoyed.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 13, 2014

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

How Kaieteur News saved my environment two weeks ago In November 2010, cleaning crews from the Ministry of Works began to clear the trench on the southern side of the Railway Embankment just outside where I live. My home is the second one from the west. If the crews started from the west, then my part of the trench would naturally be the second one to have the bushes removed. In fact they started from the west. After the two-day exercise was over only one home was untouched with its bush still flourishing – my own. It was scientific and management stupidity of the worse type to start the first yard, skip the second, go to the third, fourth,

fifth till you reach the end. Why skip the second? But that is exactly what happened. It meant the only explanation was that my side was deliberately omitted. Kaieteur News ran front page photographs for three days and Mr. Benn’s crew came on Day 3 and cleared the only remaining part of the trench. Life is instructive if you study it. While they were at work, my wife and I were on the verandah having breakfast. By that time, they had done house number one, skipped me at number two and had cleared houses three, four and five. I told my wife that the government is so morbidly

narrow-minded that I believe it left out our part of the trench. She shrugged it off and said that she doubted it because no one can be that petty; she reasoned that it wouldn’t take much effort to clear our part if the aim is a complete exercise. An honest, decent person could never bring himself to believe that a government of a country could be so incredibly petty. But it happened and it showed the true nature of the leadership of the PPP. Last week the crew was back. It started from the west as in 2010. House number one was worked on, then, they moved to house number two

which is mine. All was well that ended well. But why did they behave professionally this time? The power of the press. For three days the Kaieteur News front-paged the narrow-mindedness of the government in that 2010 episode. I received mail from Guyanese as far away as Ireland, India and Sweden telling me how shocked they were when they saw those pictures of the un-cleaned trench in front of my home. So sickening was this tale of the harrowing consequences of naked power that at the time it was the number one conversation for most people in Georgetown. And it would have been so in any other country. The debacle reached the halls of Parliament where senior leaders in the PPP denied their petty-minded

sickness. In 2014, I was spared the victimization because the little gods are gearing up for a national election and a repeat of those front page pictures of power and spite will not go down well with Guyanese, no matter whatever ethnicity or party or social class they belong to. I am totally convinced and will remain convinced that very few PPP supporters, if any, accepted what occurred outside my home in November 2010. Human beings are not that heartless. So in 2014, the role of the media played its priceless part in protecting a citizen from the pangs and fangs of leaders who willingly abuse their power. It is unimaginable what would have happened to this country if the free press had succumbed under Jagdeo. It is too frightening to contemplate. Knowing that the independent press stood between him and the ruin of Guyana, Mr. Jagdeo relentlessly pursued the two independent dailies. Mr. Jagdeo withdrew state advertisements from the Stabroek News to cripple it. At one of the official dinners of the Guyana Manufacturing Association, Mr. Jagdeo made an angry call to the business community to

Frederick Kissoon boycott the Kaieteur News. This same president sued both the KN and SN for libel for different reasons. Whatever freedoms of this country still possesses, they have remained in existence, as a result of the phenomenal bravery of the private media. There was a time under Mr. Jagdeo’s Presidency when people would cynically deride the opposition by saying that the real opposition to the PPP’s hegemony was the independent press. No one has done the research and perhaps we will never know, but the instances must have been countless under Mr. Jagdeo and now under his hand-picked successor, Mr. Ramotar when the independent press must have saved large numbers of citizens the wrath of the government through relentless exposure of arrogance, bullyism and spitefulness. The people of this country owe the independent press a permanent debt.

Saturday December 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 13, 2014

APNU ups elections Suspect is somewhere preparations ante Crane housewife murder…

in the city - Commander

Vidol Anthony Rawlins, his wife and stepdaughter in happy times Almost five months have passed and the whereabouts of 44-year-old Vidol Anthony Rawlins, who is accused of murdering his wife at their Lot 4 Crane Housing Scheme home, on July 18, last, remain unknown. Hours after the police found the nude body of the 30-year-old housewife with a stab wound to her neck and a confession letter signed by her spouse, lying beside her, a search was launched. To date, the suspect has managed to stay one step ahead of the police.

Yesterday, ‘D’ Division Commander, Ian Amsterdam, in an interview with this newspaper said that ranks have been searching for the suspect but he keeps moving. The commander added that his division received information some time last month that the 44-year-old man was staying at a relative in Georgetown but when the ranks showed up, there was no sign of him. He further revealed that his ranks have not given up on this case. He is convinced that the suspect will be caught

and placed before the Court. A relative of the murdered housewife had told this publication that they had received information that one of the man’s relatives is hiding him in the city. However, relatives claimed that the suspect moved from that location and is hiding in Berbice. “The people said that he moved from there, so I guess he keeps moving from one location to another,” the relative said. This newspaper was told that the suspect was spotted in Crane, West Coast Demerara and in Alberttown, Georgetown. The police said that Rawlins had bound and gagged his stepdaughter before stabbing her mother in the neck. According to a police source close to the investigation, the 11-year-old girl informed them that she was in her room when she heard her stepfather demanding sex from her mother. She said that she did not take the noise too serious because constant quarrelling was a norm in the home. “She said she went back to sleep. The next day when she wake up, the stepfather taped her mouth and tied her up in a chair,” a police source explained. He added that the girl claimed that she managed to untie herself after some time and ran to her mother’s room. “When she see her mother she start scream and she run and call out for the neighbours who then informed us,” the police source said. No one reported hearing any noise coming from the house. Neighbours had said that the couple fought and quarreled very often.

- Engages GECOM on progress made

APNU’s team after a meeting with GECOM yesterday As a result of the President’s announcement that he will, early next year, set a date for the holding of General Elections the main opposition force - A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) - has taken preparations to “a next level.” In this regard, a team comprised of some of the coalition’s top ranking officials met yesterday with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to address major concerns. APNU’s team was made up its leader, David Granger, General Secretary, Joseph Harmon, and executives Rupert Roopnarine, Amna Ally and Winston Felix. Just after the meeting concluded, Roopnarine, who was APNU’s Prime Ministerial candidate during the last elections, explained that the coalition is somewhat satisfied with GECOM’s preparedness but recognizes room for improvement. He said that the meeting had a full agenda but at the end of it, the coalition was

given a full insight into GECOM’s readiness to effectively administer elections. Roopnarine said that the Commissioners gave a full and comprehensive review of the processes on which GECOM is engaged. The politician added that APNU is encouraged by what was learnt but still have some concerns. He said that the concerns lie with the fact that it has taken GECOM a very long time to have the full complement of people to work as polling day staff. The politician disclosed that GECOM is still “very short” in getting the total number of persons they need for elections day work “and that is a matter of concern of course.” Adding to Roopnarine’s remarks, Ally told the media that GECOM promised a smooth flow on elections day. She said that “We were looking at things like polling agents, appointment of persons, and use of things like certificates of employment

because on the last occasion I believe we were shafted with the use of certificates of employment and so we raised that as one of our major issues to get some guidance.” Meanwhile, Harmon who functions as APNU’s General Secretary said, “We have taken this step to ensure we are satisfied with arrangements that are made by GECOM because we are not going to be hurried or ambushed by any statement made by President Donald Ramotar or Dr. Luncheon in relation to the actual holding or conduct of elections.” Harmon went on to explain that his coalition has taken preparations to another level “and this is why we have engaged GECOM.” He said that APNU does not “want to rely on statements of GECOM’s preparedness… by anybody other than GECOM. We came to hear from the horse’s mouth how they are basically prepared to conduct elections in a free and fair manner.” Felix told the media that GECOM seems fairly firm and resolute in its resolve to conduct the elections in a fair honest and transparent manner. “No doubt efforts may be made to steer them in the wrong direction but from my discerning of attitudes, I think that they are strong enough to understand professional roles and to pursue that.” Felix said,

Saturday December 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Head bemoans conditions at N/A School of Nursing Lack of adequate and qualified instructors, cramped space, noise interference, poor ventilation in classrooms and building safety concerns were among the issues raised by Resident Tutor of the New Amsterdam School of Nursing, Ms. Oslyn Hicken. She was addressing the school’s 13th graduation exercise. Many of these issues, she reported, have been reported to the relevant authorities, “over and over, and over” but to no avail. Listening to the concerns by the Resident Tutor was Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran. The school, located at 442-443 Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, offers three programmes— Professional Nursing Programme; Nursing Assistant Programme and Post- Basic Midwifery. Ninety-three trained nurses entered the public healthcare system last Wednesday during a graduation exercise at the New Amsterdam Multilateral School. The Best Graduating Nurse was Lester Christian. On Wednesday, the 93 nurses completed their training at the institution between 2010 and

2012.Thirty-nine Registered Nurses received their Diplomas, while 54 Nursing Assistants received their Certificates. Nurses’ graduation is held every three years. Hicken highlighted the shortage in qualified staff and clinical instructors. “This poses a great set-back to success,” she stressed. The noise pollution at the school due to construction work on the lower flat of the building hinders students and lecturers’ concentration. The lack of ventilation of the classroom creates a poor learning environment. It results in students and lecturers feeling very fatigued, she added. Their concentration spans decrease rapidly. Ms Hicken outlined safety concerns at the school. She identified the need for a secondary stairway, which she described as a “disaster waiting to happen, which can result in the loss of precious lives.” “There is the need for tutors; a handyman and social worker; computers, increase in library space, air conditioning of the school, allowance for uniforms and tutors being increased and

automatic release of persons for further educational development,” Hicken added. Despite the inadequacies, the school continues to maintain its motto: “Working together towards a successful studentship”, and its mission, “Preparing nursing personnel who are capable of delivering comprehensive nursing care to individuals, families and groups.” She thanked a few agencies for donations to the institution over the years. Those donations enhanced the learning capabilities and function. Ministry of Health donated text books and internet services; Director of Health Sciences supplied Midwifery text books; Prof. Mina Singh and Caitlin Beggs donated text books; American Heart Institute and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as well as the General Nursing Council, provided ink. “We are still awaiting a risograph, working photocopiers, upgraded internet, and additional computers and most of all, a new, large spacious nursing school,” she said. Ms. Hicken stated that 52.9 percent of students

Maritime officials trained to handle oil spills

The Guyana team with their certificates. (L-R) Clive McDonald, La Verne Vyphus, Geoffrey Babb, Akosua McPherson, Ronald McIntyre, and Facilitator Paul Lattanzi of the UNEP. Officials from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard, recently participated in a SubRegional Workshop on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) in Paramaribo, Suriname. According to MARAD, the workshop was organised by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Maritime Authority of Suriname (MAS), Regional Activity Centre/ Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Centre (RACREMPEITC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It was held during the period November 17-20, 2014. The five-member Guyanese team comprised of Geoffrey Babb, Pilot/Inspector of Shipping (MARAD); La Verne Vyfhus, Administrative Officer, Safety Division (MARAD); Akosua McPherson, Public Communications Officer (MARAD); Clive

McDonald, Commander of Emergency Scenes (MOHA) and Ronald McIntyre, SubLieutenant of GDF. Participants were also drawn from Belize and the host country; Suriname. In his opening remarks, Michel Amafo, Director of (MAS), highlighted his country’s status with respect to the ratification and implementation of the IMO Conventions. Paul Lattanzi, IMO Consultant and former Commander of the US Coast Guards, delved into the subject of developing a cross border environmental plan for Guyana and Suriname based on global standards. Other trainers dealt with topics such as the OPRC convention, oil spill preparedness, net environmental benefits and the readiness of evaluation tools for oil spills (RETOS). “This workshop has brought us further along in our quest of being prepared to deal effectively with an oil spill in Guyana’s waters,” MARAD said in its statement.

New Amsterdam School of Nursing passed the Registered Nursing programme in October 2014; while 57.1 percent passed the Nursing Assistant Programme. Fifteen students had their studentship terminated due to poor performance at attempts at the Intermediate Examination held by the General Nursing Council. To

date, there are five tutors, 11 support tutors, one Peace Corps Volunteer, one Typist/ Clerk, one Librarian, one cleaner and one relief cleaner at the school. Students at the school regularly benefit from training and workshops held by Ministry of Health; Mental Health and Suicide seminars

by a Canadian team; leadership and development sponsored by the Guyana Nurses’ Association; guest lectures by Dr. Ameerally on monitoring and evaluation of patients; LGBT workshops sponsored by United Bricklayers; and Disaster Preparedness by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC).

Page 22

Kaieteur News

SALON Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 ACCOMODATION SIGNATURE INN: Luxury Suites & Apartments. Free Wi-Fi & Breakfast; AC & Self Contained Rooms @ 83 Laluni Street Queenstown. Tel: 592-226-2145

VEHICLE FOR SALE One Toyota Raum : TV; Alarm, remote start ; PRR 8782 – Call:670-7243 Toyota Mark 2 - $2.2M neg. BMW 318i - $2.2M neg. Toyota Tacoma (RHD) (Auto/ 4WD) - $1.2M neg. – Call:6532005 1-Honda-600RR, Toyota Raum, Rav4, AT212, AT192, AE100 Sprinter Fun cargo, Tacoma 2007- Call: 644-5096, 697-1453 R1 2007; Candy Red motor cycle, never fall; 40 original paint 1100 miles -$7,000US or best offer – Call: 623-4045 Pitbull bus ($3.2M) Verossa - $3.7M, Noah- $2M (All new) – Call: 603-9700 Unregistered Spacio 2004, camera, rims, body kit, Fielder 2003, black interior, fully loaded. Call: 617-5536 Unregistered fielder wagon $2.650M, Allion - $2.275M, Premio - $2.350M, $2.45M (Mags, Rear Camera) City Motors- Call: 616-3413, 6926159. Christmas Sale! 2003 Toyota Premio - $2.2M; never registered – Tel: 617-2891

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 662-6045 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves. Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIRCONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS- CALL: 6294946 OR 225-4822 Real Deal Realty & Advisory Services: for all your real estate needs – Contact:2231440; 626-4489; 660-7672 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655,683-8734 2015 Calendars Personalised and beautiful designs @ City Printery, 58 Ornaque & Robb Streets -Tel: 225-4968, 621-3345 Are you looking for a personal driver: safe, reliable & courteous – Contact: 6977488

Toyota Prado, Price$5.5M Neg. Call: 643-2403 One GX110 Toyota Mark 2, in excellent condition, A/C, TV, DVD - 85000KM, price $1.9M neg – Call:629-5300 One ford IVECO sand truck with Cummings Engine, GNN Series, excellent condition, owner leaving country – Call: 604-6860, 643-2911 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table – Call: 277- 0578

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 Driving classes @ 3540 Stevedore Housing Scheme, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown – Call: 655-1534, 225-6337 CATERING From the USA Catering American & Guyanese Cuisine Specialty deserts for the holidaysvalstastytreats.com / 2193166

FOR RENT

Saturday December 13, 2014

VACANCY Work from home & earn $5,000-$20,000 daily; www.jobfairworldwide.com Tel:233-6517; 622-1957; 9am5pm Mon-Fri & Saturday 10am-4pm Male & female workers: managers, accountants, checkers, salesperson & housekeepers @ RA Soda Factory – Call: 330-23992772; 623-5920 One female clerk – Call: 2315171 Live in housekeeper, to care for infant; 35-45yrs – Call: 697-8797

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, (SALE) AND MORE, SAWS & DRILLS -$10,000 - CALL: 675-0767, 667-2535 Executive Residence – centrally and beautifully located in Bel-Air Springs, Georgetown for immediate occupancy. Ph 226-6229, 2265903

CANTER DRIVER/ SALESMAN and Factory Assistant living on E.B.D, free accommodation also available. 266 4427

Metal Scaffold for rent- Call: 623-6586 or 225-7607

One qualified hairdresser; one housekeeper – Call:225-6492

Five bedrooms house, 107 Lamaha Gardens & Large Parking; AC Rooms Hot & Cold, Purified Water System – Call: 661-8908, 335-3590

Pastry maker & counter clerks/servers @ Kiskar Natural Way with police clearance , food handlers certificate & NIS; 5 Camp & Durban – Tel:231-4971

One business place for rent @ Stewartville W.C.D, opposite School – Call: 6135261 1 Bedroom apartment @ 1 Church Street Friendship E.B.D – Call: 661-8700 Space to rent 60X40; ideal for supermarket, wholesale distribution etc at Enmore E.C.D – Call:256-4249, 6277771, 674-6427

PROPERTY FOR SALE Six acres prime roadside land and metal workshop in Corriverton, can be sold with or without workshop. Call: 626-6245 Two storey business property at the corner of Ketley and Howes Street Charlestown – Call:623-9679 Property @ Meadowbrook Drive: four bedrooms, 3 bathrooms – Tel:664-5199; 675-7043 One unfinished house in West Minister - $4.5M- Call: 661-0618, 601-3469 (size: 20X47) Property at Block 8 Tuschen; lot 334 – Call: 660-0439 House & Land @ Cemetery Rd. Helena No.1 Mahaica E.C.D. Land (65FTX150FT) $13M- Tel:689-0820, 674-3902

Immediate: Ice machine operators (training provided) & night security to work @ Ice Factory in Meadow Bank – Call: 231-1408; 642-9191 Porters; rip saw and moulder operator – Call Richard: 6097675; 233-2614

Cooks – must able to prepare vegetarian dishes @ Kiskar Natural Way, 5 Camp & Durban St – Tel: 231-4971 Pump attendant at Shell Providence E.B.D (shift work) 5AM-3PM & 3PM-12PM

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 2193900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

FOR SALE XBOX 360Slim: Systems, games, controllers, hard drivers and kinect sensorCall: 683-8386 Pools table cloth, balls, pocket cuestick, rubber, coinshute tips, chalk sp r i n g , c h a l k h o l d e r, coins– Call: 669-9927 One farm for sale – Call: 2653586

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 1 Double door fridge $165,000; 1 New Rigid 3600 W generator - $170,000, 1 Washer and Dryer Maytag $120,000 each – Tel: 672-7194 Two 15" RCF Speaker MB15H401 series with box – Tel:686-5341 or 654-2847 Complete Snapper Boats for sale – Excellent Condition – Contact: 648-6815; 641-4506 Stalls at Robb Street & Bourda –Contact: 695-1359 between 9am -11am PICK YOUR PIG! CHOOSE YOUR SIZEAND WE WILL HAVE IT READY! CALL:266-2711 OR 6094594 Two forklifts Clarke & Toyota 5000lbs, wood mizer XT40 sawmill, fire proof explosion proof safe – Call: Paul: 612-7206; 619-7393 1 Toyota Rav4; year 2000 $2.5M neg. PKK Series; great condition – Tel:612-8803 Used Dell E4300, E6500 M4400, HP Elite Book 6930 Laptops – Contact Sean: 226-9377 Panel indicating light, Genset exhaust box, contractors & relay. Tel: 6277835 Perkins Engines: One 6 Cylinder - $400,000, One 4 Cylinder - $300,000, 3" Water Pumps - $60,000, GPS $60,000 – Call:693-2237 Outboard Engine - $300,000, Bedford Model M 4X4 $3.5M Negotiable – Trailer $80,000 – Call:693-2237 Lumber: Crab wood boards and planks, greenheart etc, (rough & dressed) excellent prices – Call Richard: 6097675/ 233-2614; 674-1705 Exercise equipment: Treadmill, cardio, bicycle, infant bed, swing & high chair – Call:6001329 Xbox ONE, Xbox 360 - $40,000, PS3 - $35,000, Nintendo 3DS $25,000, PSP - $16,000. Call:621-7497/603-8643 Two super scoop bass box with two RCF p300 18" Speakers – Tel: 623-9679 Rubberized Tarpaulins for sale 20X20 - $20,000, any size available – Tel: 600-0498 Grand Yard Sales @ 19 Garnett Street, C/Ville, Floral, gifts, herbal, clothes & craft – 50% off all items – Call: 225-2681, 684-5868

WANTED Drivers with lorry licence apply @ Wieting & Richter Ltd. One night shift supervisor at shell Providence E.B.D, Submit application to shellramsburg@gmail.com Female worker needed, 3 CXC subject or sound secondary school education- Call: 6121607 Receptionist, maid to work shift at Hilton Crest Hotel – 25yrs and over, must be experienced – Call:223-6284 1 Female cleaner to work in snackette & bar , must know to cook, age 20-35yrs – Tel:647-7432, 223-5798 Bartender, kitchen assistant, waitress, ASAP @ Streem Café & Bar : Oronoque & Robb St. Must have ID – Phone: 658-6873 (apply In person) Shop assistant to work in the interior salary $80,000 – Tel:688-5409; 664-5199; 6757043 One live in domestic to work in Diamond; age 25-45 – Salary $60,000 – Tel:6885409; 664-5199 Hire car driver @ Gem’s Taxi Service – Call: 667-9013, 2255075 Contract cars & hire car drivers at Atlas Taxi Service – Tel:218-5593; 218-5594 Girls to work as waitresses in bar – Tel:256-4096 Experienced taxi drivers with valid hire license – Call: 2310250 or 231-0260 One puri maker – Call: 2269561 One assistant salesgirl @ E.C.D – Call: 644-9802 One Nail Technician specialized in Nail Art design, Air Brush and also Hair Extension. Tel: 231-6000 One experienced bus driver; must be 45 years or older; zone 41 – Contact:666-9534 Mason & Carpenters wanted – Call: 668-9863, 615-7526 One able bodied male to work in a Hardware store Call: 231-2029; 219-4533 One porter to work on beverage canter – Call:2223927; 649-9876 Land to buy in Providence, Herstelling, Eccles, Parfaite Harmonie, Uitvlugt, Zeelugt. Call: 675-7292 1 Labourer for 2 or 3 half day – Call: 226-3736 Jet and Marack Men – Tel: 694-2310 EDUCATIONAL Pre- Christmas Give away $25,000 OFF 9 Course Computer Diploma. Promotion ends this week! Micrographics, Vreed- EnHoop. Call: 264-3057 (Continued on page 23)

Saturday December 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 23

COPS RELEASE SUSPECTS IN STERLING PRODUCTS ROBBERY/MURDER Police appear to have made little headway in identifying the gunmen who killed security guard Wilfred Stewart during last Monday night’s brazen attack at Sterling Products Limited. Kaieteur News understands that police were due to release three detained men yesterday, after eyewitnesses to the attack failed to identify them. The men were taken into custody shortly after the botched robbery and police had also impounded a car similar to the one in which the killers fled. Some eyewitnesses had

initially said that as many as ten men carried out the attack, but police later indicated that only three individuals invaded the Providence, East Bank Demerara premises. Security camera footage showed that the gunmen were armed with at least one assault rifle and a .32 pistol. Investigators retrieved two 7.62 x 39 casings (used in AK-47 assault rifles) and two .32 shells from the scene. Police sources said that it appears that the gunmen were tipped off that a “substantial” sum of cash was being kept in a safe on the premises. However, they

were unable to gain access to the safe, despite smashing a window in the area where the safe is located. Kaieteur News also understands that an employee who had the keys for the safe managed to flee to a nearby compound when the gunfire erupted. Police said that the gunmen shot 45-year-old Stewart to his groin and relieved him of his service revolver with six rounds. “They then proceeded to the office area of the building where they shot and wounded chemist Mario Gohill, an Indian National, to

Letters... Where your views make the news

Our hearts should bleed for the McAlmonts DEAR EDITOR, My heart goes out to Maureen McAlmont and family members of Mango Landing, in the interior of the country, over the murder of her husband Linden, by bandits. The criminals seem to be in charge of our society. Drastic actions are needed to curtail the rise in crime and to protect us from these hooligans. I don’t know the McAlmonts. Reports suggest they are productive,

hard-working citizens seeking to make a decent life by providing vital services to people in the section of the interior where they run their business. Not many individuals are willing to leave the coast and try to make a living in the interior. Such individuals deserve all the support and encouragement they can get. The bandits don’t make things easy for people who engage in honest, hard labour to earn their bread. While difficult to bear, especially

during this holiday time, such productive citizens must not be discouraged from continuing to ply their business. Our hearts should bleed for the McAlmonts. Every effort must be made to find the killers. Fighting crime is everyone’s business. Every decent hard-working citizen is a target for unscrupulous robbers. People with information on the fatal shooting or on any crime should inform the police. Vishnu Bisram

CARICOM is not only slow... From page 4 administration to withdraw his name as a candidate. In his letter Sir Ron said “there is nothing I hold more strongly than the desire to advance the interests of the CARICOM region and those of the Commonwealth. My working life in several Caribbean and Commonwealth capacities and my pub-

lished writing bear testimony to that”. Sanders added that to be successful “the region must have a single candidate and should not delay any longer its entry into a campaign which has already started by others. He concluded by saying” I have no wish to be a part of a fragmented process in the Commonwealth Carib-

bean at a time when our need for unity is so urgent in our interest”. It is regrettable that Sir Ron was not the region’s lone candidate, because he is known in the Commonwealth for his outstanding work and had an excellent chance of being chosen to that prestigious Office. Oscar Ramjeet

An alternative for us to... From page 5 likely to repeat the behaviour. Either way, they learn that each of their behaviours has a certain consequence. In order to apply this approach, it is important that the relationship between parents and children or teachers and students should be based on mutual respect. Here the challenge is how to make both parties cooperate with and encourage each other. If you want to change certain behaviours exhibited by your child or your student, you must first ensure that your child or student will cooperate with you rather than confront or be in conflict with you. In order to achieve

this, you must be prepared to cooperate as well. In order to earn the respect of your child or student, you must equally show the young person that you respect him or her. As I write, this question emerged. How often do we (parents and teachers) make children aware of the possible consequences of their actions in advance? Children must understand that the choice, though limited, is theirs and they must accept the consequences of their decision. Unlike the autocratic discipline and punishment, logical consequences are usually accompanied by an adult’s explanation to enable

the child to understand the consequence of their actions. Explanation encourages children to be responsible for their behaviour without punishment and threats from adults. If, however, we wish our children to live responsibly, we should provide them with role models of responsible behaviours as well as opportunities to practice responsibility. When a child exhibits inappropriate behaviour, he or she should have an adult explain how his or her behaviour affects other people - just another alternative for us to practice as a starting point. Brendon Mounter

his left leg. The men located a safe that was in the office but were unable to open it and subsequently escaped,” a release stated. An eyewitness had told Kaieteur News that he and Stewart were in the security hut when a car stopped outside the compound. He said that several men emerged from the vehicle,

barged through the front gate, and began to shoot. The employee managed to flee to another compound, but heard the gunmen discharge about three gunshots at Stewart. Monday’s brazen attack occurred about 200 metres from the Providence Police Station. The Guyana Association of Private Security Organizations has expressed condolences to Wilfred Stewart’s family. Stewart fathered two daughters and his wife is expecting a third child.

APNU urges GECOM... From page 3 the ballot procedure to ensure what takes place in the polling stations would be the final declaration. Ally said she vehemently rejects the use of private residences and advocates the use of government buildings and where it is not possible, use venues that are not “compromised.” APNU's Shadow Minister of Home Affairs, Winston Felix said that the cordial encounter with the GECOM officials was indeed one where it was able to bring to the front burner, issues it considers to be worthy of attention if the elections are to be conducted with a high degree of fairness and integrity. He said too, that Granger made it clear to the GECOM team that certain attacks coming from some members of the government should be viewed as being contrary to any standard of conduct attributed to members of a political party. The former top cop said that GECOM has promised to reactivate its media monitoring unit so it can have an early shot at issues which may be going out of order and on this front, he said that the APNU welcomes the promise to have

that in place. Felix said that the issue of campaign funds was also dealt with at the meeting which he said puts one party at a disadvantage. He said the Commission also sought to convince APNU that it is on track with certain preparations. Granger was asked by Kaieteur News about the complaint made to the Commission on the misuse of state resources by Government, and the impression garnered from GECOM that it had any power to effectively solve such a problem. “I did not get the impression that they had the power to do so but we felt they could use moral suasion. There is no law they cited that it could enforce to scrutinize the executive and prevent the misuse. It does not have the capability under the law but it is a question now of moral suasion because what we saw, with the use of state media, aircraft and the acceleration in the grant of state resources such as the cash grants and the cleanup campaign we feel there was obviously a deployment of a significant amount of finance to further the PPP interest in campaign but GECOM can't stop it,” the Opposition leader concluded.

Multimillion dollar... From page 19 regards to the contractor's work. “The Consultant basically is our watch-dog for the project,” informed Kishon. He pointed out too, that a requirement of the contract was that as far as possible local materials of structural strength and adaptability be used for the project. This, according to him, was done based on the advice offered by the consultant. Moreover, the contracting firm has thus far utilised timber, sand and stone from within Region Eight. However, cement and other hardware had to be transported by trail and air from Georgetown into Kato by the contractor. “From my evaluation of it and other indicators…it is particularly expensive to get materials and other things to build a state of the art secondary school with all the mod-

ern specifications in an area such as that,” said Chief Education Officer, Dr. Olato Sam, during an earlier interview. Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), is one that is bordered by Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) to the north, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) to the east and Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) and Brazil to the west. “I don't know if you would have visited it but I think if you are given the opportunity to see how remote the area is and how difficult it would be to get all of the necessary elements in; I think that my discussions with our Buildings Manager really suggest to me, that this is quite a feat getting a secondary school built in that area and getting everything in,” Sam had outlined.

(From page 22)

TO LET One two bedroom bottom flat apartment @ C/Ville also Business Space @ C/Ville – Call: 650-0716/667-7836 Bedroom bottom flat apartments; preferably single person-Call: 689-6965 One 3 bedrooms upstairs with inside toilet & bath at Mon Repos (Martyrsville) E.C.D – Price $45,000 monthly – Tel: 629-5300 1-2 Storey 3 bedroom back house with toilet & bath, grill, fence, water @ VreedEn-Hoop – rent: $55,0000 – Call:685-7566

LAND FOR SALE Parika (Butcher Shop Street) – One (1) Lot 38' X 150' $ 7m - Contact 650-0402 - for serious inquiries Blankenburg @ The Back Of Gas Station (3) Lots @ 75' X 76' Each. $20M for all 3 Lots. (1) Lot for $10m - Contact 650-0402 One residential land at Herstelling -$4.5M – Tel:661-0618; 601-3469 Prime business spot @ Parfaite Harmonie - $3.5M, $1.5M, $2.2M with house, Grove - $2.5M (with foundation) Call: 675-7292 Parfaite Harmonie - $1.4M, house with land - $2.2M – Call: 677-7095

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTAL - CALL: 225-7126/ 2263693 DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM/ WWW.DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & Pickup rental, cheap rate, low security – Tel: 698-7807; 690-6494

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 13, 2014

Sugar Welfare employees CDB approves US$10M in get 20 per cent pay hike new Basic Need programme Fourteen employees of the Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund Committee (SILWFC) are set to receive a 20 percent salary hike after a recent job evaluation exercise. According to the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the long overdue evaluations took place between September and November. GAWU said that as a result, on Thursday, it signed an agreement with the SILWFC at the latter’s headquarters in Kingston. The agreement included the results of the job evaluation exercise and a salary increase for 2014, “both accounting for an overall salary increase averaging 20 percent to each employee.” Both parties also agreed to higher meal and shoe allowances and an enhanced end-of-year bonus to each employee. The agreement was signed by First Lady,

GAWU’s Aslim Singh receives copies of the agreement on Thursday. Deolatchmee Ramotar, Jairam Petam, Kenneth Joseph and Carvil Duncan representing SILWFC, and by Komal Chand, Aslim Singh, Amla Persaud and Mitra Devi Ali from GAWU. It was countersigned by the Deputy Chief Labour Officer, Nadia Samuels.

SILWFC is a legal entity which provides sugar workers with interest-free house and home-repair loans within stipulated ceilings. It is also mandated to assist in the maintenance of proper internal roads and sanitation, in communities where sugar workers reside.

The Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has approved US$10M from the Special Development Fund for the eighth cycle of the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF). This decision was made at the 264th Meeting of the Board, held Thursday at the bank’s headquarters in Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Turks and Caicos Islands are the countries within the CDB membership which participate in the fund. According to CDB, the governments of these countries will provide counterpart funding of US$546,000. “Key emphasis of BNTF 8 will be improved access to quality education; human resource development; water and sanitation; basic community access and drainage enhancement in low-income, vulnerable

communities.” CDB said there has also been a progressive shift from a focus on infrastructure development managed by central government to community managed subprojects. “Increased investments have been made to improve basic infrastructure and services and increase the potential for economic activity through skills training, capacity building and institutional development support.” The BNTF Programme began October 1979. It is a grant-funded poverty reduction programme managed by CDB which serves 10 countries. Its mission is to empower and equip communities with necessary resources, and improve their access to basic public services. “Additionally, BNTF also directly targets youth-at-risk and promotes gender equality, environmental and disaster risk management,

and maintenance and sustainability. Regionally, more than US$300M has been spent to date on projects which have benefitted more than 2.6 million people living in the poorest communities in these countries.” CDB is a regional financial institution established 1970 for the purpose of contributing to the harmonious economic growth and development of the member countries in the Caribbean. There are 19 regional borrowing member countries, three regional nonborrowing member countries and five non-regional, nonborrowing member countries. Members outside of the Region are Canada, China, Colombia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, UK and Venezuela. As of December 31, 2013, CDB had total assets of USD$2.57B. Several schools have been built and the water sector improved in Guyana through the programme.

FITUG dismayed by power company’s position GDF donates to Kaikan community Brigadier Phillips hands over a computer system to teachers of Kaikan Primary School. on salary negotiations The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has criticized the “ill-advised” decision of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) to abort a sensitive meeting last Tuesday with the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) – an affiliate– to discuss the longdelayed salary hikes for power

company employees this year. “The Federation understands that NAACIE went to attend the meeting with two members of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) as advisors, and that was the sole reason for GPL to walk away from the meeting which the employees of the most important utility company in the country, eagerly want to

take place with a view to having the union’s wage/ salary claim settled with the employer.” FITUG said that counterpart employees of GPL in the public service are to receive five and eight per cent wage/salary increases retroactive to January 01, 2014 in keeping with the recent decision of the Government. “In negotiations, at whatever forum, any team has the inalienable right to decide on its team composition, including its chosen advisors as was the case of NAACIE at the scheduled NAACIE/ GPL meeting on December 09, 2014.” FITUG said it believes such an insignificant matter which has so far prevented NAACIE and GPL from meeting, could trigger unnecessary industrial action by the employees of the company. ”FITUG takes the opportunity to call upon the GPL to return to the bargaining table without any pre-condition with respect to the composition of the union’s delegation.” GPL announced this week that it has separate labour agreements with both GPSU and NAACIE workers. It wanted to meet separately with the unions for negotiations. However, the unions insist that they both be present. The negotiations for wages would come amidst the backdrop of the Christmas holidays.

Army Chief, Brigadier Mark Phillips, giving a pep talk to students of Kaikan.

As part of its ongoing efforts to foster good civil-military relations with communities, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Monday donated several items to the community of Kaikan, located on the Wenamu River, near the Venezuelan border. Chief of Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, and a core of senior officers, along with a medical team visited the location and handed over a 30 horsepower Yamaha outboard engine, a solar power system, a computer for use by the school, along with five volleyballs for the community’s team. Brigadier Phillips, at the handing over

ceremony, noted that the initiative forms part of a wider commitment by the army to adopt the school to provide continuous assistance. Meanwhile, the medical team extended services to close to 40 persons who received treatment for a variety of illnesses. “The Force has embarked on a similar initiative with the community of Cashew Island located at New River where it has been providing assistance to the school there and catering to the education of the children of that small community which is located in proximity of Base Camp Jaguar, near the Suriname border,” GDF said in a statement.

Saturday December 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Air traffic control failure disrupts flights over Britain (Reuters) - Hundreds of flights to and from London were disrupted yesterday by a technical f a i l u r e a t England’s main air traffic control centre, which a senior government minister said was “simply unacceptable”. Flights in and out of Heathrow, which calls itself the world’s busiest international airport, were halted for at least an hour, causing

knock-on effects across Europe. Heathrow said operations were beginning to resume, but there were also cancellations and delays at other London airports. Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin demanded a full explanation for the glitch that forced authorities to limit access to British airspace at one of the busiest times of year. A government source,

speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the problem did not appear to be linked to any security threat to the United Kingdom. It was the second such incident in just over a year to hit the National Air Traffic Service’s hub at Swanwick in southern England, one of NATS’s two main centres. NATS’s other centre is in Prestwick, Scotland.

Saturday December 13, 2014

After U.S. torture report, Poland asks what its leaders knew

(Reuters) - The disclosure of details about the CIA’s brutal interrogation program could provide new leads for Polish prosecutors investigating how much Poland’s leaders at the time knew about a secret jail the agency was running in a Polish forest. Prompted by a U.S. Senate report on the CIA’s “black sites” for interrogating al Qaeda suspects, former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, at a joint news conference with former Prime Minister Leszek Miller, said on Wednesday he knew about the facility in Poland. He said the CIA had denied Polish officials access to the site, a villa on the grounds of a Polish intelligence training academy, so they did not know people inside were being tortured. He said that while he and Miller knew people were detained there, they were told the detainees were cooperating willingly with U.S. intelligence and would be treated as prisoners of war. Lawyers for former detainees say however that even if the detainees were treated as prisoners of war which the lawyers dispute - it is illegal to detain anyone in secret, and Poland had a legal obligation to prevent this happening. The report’s publication is giving rise to uncomfortable questions in countries that hosted the “black sites” and may complicate future

Poland’s former President Aleksander Kwasniewski (L) and former Prime Minister Leszek Miller take part in a news conference at Parliament in Warsaw on Wednesday. CREDIT: REUTERS/SLAWOMIR KAMINSKI/AGENCJA GAZETA security cooperation with the United States. “Based on information in the media, the public statements from Mr. Kwasniewski and Mr. Miller suggest the prosecutors certainly have reason to interview them,” said Mikolaj Pietrzak, a lawyer whose client, Adb al-Rahim alNashiri was held at the site. “Statements they made recently indicate for the first time that they knew people were being held at the site,” Pietrzak said. Reuters sent questions to Miller and Kwasniewski, via their staffs, asking if they k n e w t h e p e o p l e being detained at the CIA site did not have the protections they were entitled to by law. Aides

to both men said they had no comment. The CIA declined all comment, including on Kwasniewski’s assertion that the agency had given assurances that detainees were cooperating willingly with U.S. intelligence and would be treated as prisoners of war. The Polish investigation, launched in 2008, is into allegations by three men - alNashiri, Abu Zubaydah and Walid Bin Attash - that they were held illegally and abused at the CIA facility. Prosecutors have never revealed who was under investigation. A source close to the investigation has told Reuters it is aimed at Polish officials without elaborating further.

Saturday December 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Oil plunges to new 5-year U.S. seeks to defuse tensions over lows after bearish IEA outlook Israeli-Palestinian resolutions

(Reuters) - Crude oil markets fell 3 percent or more to plumb new five-year lows yesterday after the world’s energy watchdog forecast even lower prices on weaker demand and larger supplies next year. Benchmark Brent oil settled at below $62 a barrel and U.S. crude slumped to under $58 to extend Thursday’s landmark fall below $60. Surging crude inventories in the United States and top oil exporter Saudi A r a b i a ’s reiteration that it will not cut production had roiled prices over the last two days despite data pointing to strong U.S. economic recovery. Yesterday, the Parisbased International Energy Agency which coordinates the energy policies of industrialised countries, cut its outlook for demand growth in 2015, triggering another collapse. The IEA slashed its outlook for global oil demand growth for 2015 by 230,000 barrels per day to 900,000 bpd on expectations of lower fuel consumption in Russia and other oil-exporting countries. It predicted that oil-

producing nations outside of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will add to global supplies. It also expected prices to fall further. “That’s just more bad news for the oil markets,” said Andrew Lipow, president of Houston-based Lipow Oil Associates. Brent LCOc1 settled down $1.83, or nearly 3 percent, at $61.85 per barrel. It fell to $61.35 during the session, the lowest since July 2009. U.S. crude CLc1 finished down $2.14, or 3.6 percent, at $57.81. It fell earlier to $57.34, its lowest since May 2009. On the week, Brent lost more than $7, or about 11 percent. U.S. crude tumbled over $8, or 12 percent. Both markets have lost about 46 percent of their value since their June highs, when Brent stood at above $115 and U.S. crude at around $107. The IEA outlook had a greater impact on yesterday’s market than data from U.S. oil services firm Baker Hughes showing the number of rigs drilling for oil in the United States were down by 29 this week, the biggest weekly drop in two years. Voluminous crude from

U.S. shale projects has been blamed for much of the global oil glut now, and energy traders have been watching rig data to see if prices that have almost halved since June will prompt a cutback in drilling. Regulators in North Dakota, one of the largest shale oil producing states in the United States, also said yesterday the s t a t e ’s crude production held steady in October despite strict new rules that aim to prevent wasteful burning of natural gas produced alongside oil.

(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday the United States was seeking to defuse tensions over proposed U.N. resolutions to end the IsraeliPalestinian conflict during talks in Europe next week. Kerry will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Rome on Monday and senior European officials to discuss possible resolutions, which would require a vote in the U.N. Security Council where the United States holds a veto. “We’re trying to figure out a way to help defuse the tensions and reduce the potential for more

conflict and we’re exploring various possibilities to that end,” Kerry told reporters in Bogota when asked whether there is a resolution the U.S. could support.

Jordan has circulated a Palestinian resolution to the 15member council calling for Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory to end by November 2016.

Page 28

Kaieteur News

US group claims Trinidad’s immigration policy is “harmful to CARICOM” NEW YORK, United States - CMC - A United States-based Caribbean group has condemned the recent deportation of 70 African nationals by immigration authorities in Trinidad and Tobago, saying that the twinisland r e p u b l i c ’s immigration policy is “harmful to CARICOM” (the Caribbean Community). The Brooklyn, New Yo r k - b a s e d C a r i b b e a n Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) yesterday said that the action by the incumbent P e o p l e ’s P a r t n e r s h i p Government of Trinidad and To b a g o “has triggered accusations of racism. “The optics and reality of the mostly I n d i a n - b a s e d administration of Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar deporting a large group of black people are horrible, and have fueled the criticism,” the group charged. But the coalition government has denied suggestions of racial and religious discrimination in the deportation of African nationals, saying t h a t Port-of-Spain had deported more Guyanese citizens than any other citizen of any country. Attorney General Anand Ramlogan told the Senate that it was “mischievous, malicious and very dangerous” for allegations to be made that the Indo-dominated government was also

Kamla PersadBissessar

engaged in racial profiling in the deportation of illegal immigrants. H e t o l d l e g i s l a t ors that statistics from 2010 to October 2014 indicated that “the number one country with deportees from Trinidad and Tobago is not the African continent, not India, but Guyana. “The truth of the matter is that illegal immigrants from the African continent were way down on the list at number seven. The total number of African immigrants that have been deported from 2010 to now is 70 persons. Seventy African deportees in four, nearly five, years, against 734 Guyanese.” But CGID said Ramgolan, “in his infinite wisdom, has established an obvious pattern of d i s c r i m i nation against Guyanese. “He strategically stopped short of disclosing the race of the persons repatriated to Guyana; may be for good

reason,” the group said. “This insular posture must be condemned. “T&T (Trinidad and Tobago) cannot aspire to benefit from of C A R I C O M ’s free movement of skills, people and capital, within the framework of the CSME (Caribbean Single Market and Economy), while it d e l i b e r a t e l y discriminates against targeted CARICOM nationals; namely Guyanese, Jamaicans and others,” it added. “ C l e a r l y, T & T ’s contentious immigration policy has fractured regional u n i t y, ” it continued. The PersadBissessar administration’s protectionism has no place in a region where altruistic policies are crucial for unity and progress.” CGID urged the Tr i n i d a d a n d To b a g o administration to “reform its discriminatory immigration policy or leave CARICOM if it wants to continue down this path.” Last weekend, the government defended its decision to spend TT$2.6 million (One TT dollar = US$0.16 cents) to charter a plane to deport 15 illegal Ghana nationals saying that it was difficult to get visas for them men to travel back to their country through commercial flights. The Ghanaians were deported following a marathon 12 hour court case on Saturday by lawyers to prevent their deportation. Trinidad and Tobago National Security Minister Gary said that there were 100,000 illegal immigrants in the country, whom he said were draining the country’s resources. H e also accused some of them of being involved in criminal activities.

Saturday December 13, 2014

Venezuelan group to construct hotel in Bermuda next May HAMILTON, Bermuda CMC – Bermuda Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell says the construction of a new hotel on the old Club Med site in St George’s, scheduled to begin May 2015 will be a major boost t o t h e i s l a n d ’s a i l i n g tourism industry. Crockwell told the House of Assembly yesterday that the Venezuelan developers the Desarrollos Group had been chosen for a five-star St Regis hotel to be developed at a budget of US $120 million. The government had previously extended the exclusivity period with Desarrollos to build and operate a luxury resort on the 125-acre St George’s property, for a further 60 days, expiring today.

When the Venezuelan group was chosen earlier in the year, Crockwell told the House it was “exciting news”, saying the island’s east end could get a “world-class, full-service resort” on the old Club Med site which has lain dormant for more than 25 years despite various attempts over the years to construct a new hotel there. Once a Holiday Inn, the hotel later became a Loews property before Club Med took it over. It closed in 1988 and 20 years later was demolished by implosion. Crockwell told the House yesterday: “I am pleased to inform ... that we have achieved our objectives by reaching an agreement on the critical path items with Desarrollos. “And I

a m a l s o very pleased to announce Desarrollos has completed its due diligence and confirmed the international luxury resort developer will construct a five-star hotel managed by St Regis, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “This announcement is a significant vote of confidence and a conf i r m a t i o n t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s a n d t h e f o c u s e d e f f o r t s of the Bermuda To u r i s m Authority, to secure direct long-term inward investment and permanent jobs, is working. “This l u x u r y resort development wil l b e a tremendous positive impact to our island and we are moving quickly toward finalising the customary agreements,” he said.

Russia accuses U.S. of destroying ‘ carcass of cooperation’ with Ukraine bill ( R e u t e r s ) - R u s s i a ’s Foreign Ministry yesterday sternly criticized a bill on Ukraine that passed the U.S. Senate, saying Wa s h i n g t o n w a s d o i n g its utmost to “destroy the carcass of cooperation” between the two countries. Relations between Russia and the United States are at their lowest s i n c e t h e C o l d Wa r b e c a u s e o f R u s s i a ’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine last March, and its support for proRussian rebels in eastern Ukraine. The West says it has firm evidence that Russia has armed the rebels - an accusation that Moscow

rejects - and has, together with the European Union, imposed several rounds of economic sanctions. The Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014, which was passed in the Senate on Thursday and now heads to the House of Representatives, would direct President Barack Obama to impose additional sanctions on Russia’s defense and oil sectors, and provide for $350 million of military assistance to Ukraine, as well as supporting its defense and energy industries and civil society. Obama expressed caution on Thursday about the possibility of

more sanctions against Russia, saying it could cause divisions between Washington and Europe. R u s s i a ’s Foreign Ministry said the possible damage to U.S.Russian relations was comparable to that done by the 1974 JacksonVanik amendment, which for decades imposed trade restrictions on countries that limited human rights. “One gets the impression that in Washington, where they cannot abandon outdated phobias, they have taken it upon themselves to turn the clock back,” the ministry said.

Tivoli Enquiry: Testimony of final witness for 2014 suspended KINGSTON, Jamaica The testimony of the final witness at this year’s sitting of the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry has been put on hold temporarily so as to not prejudice a matter now before the Special Coroner’s Court. Yesterday morning, Tivoli Resident, Paulette Wellington, took the witness stand where she began to tell the commission about how her son was allegedly killed by a soldier.

While giving her evidence in chief, one of the attorneys for the Jamaica Defence Force, Linton Gordon, pointed out that the case involving Ms Wellington’s son is being heard in the Special Coroner’s Court. Gordon argued that it would be inappropriate for her to continue to give testimony before the enquiry. He also asked that the testimony given so far be removed from the enquiry’s

records. However, Commission Chairman, Sir David Simmons, rejected that argument stating that it was important for Wellington to give her evidence before the enquiry. Sir David then ruled that her testimony would be suspended until the outcome of the proceedings at the special coroner’s court. He argued that this will avoid any risk of prejudice. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Saturday December 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 29

Samuels to take confidence into Tests Respect the Game... BENONI, South Africa West Indies Middle order batsman Marlon Samuels says he has found renewed confidence approaching the start of the first test match against South Africa which begins on Wednesday. Samuels powered his way to a double century to lift West Indies to a mammoth 508 in their first innings against a South African Invitational X1 on the second day of their three-day tour match at Willowmoore Park Thursday. “I basically paced myself... am confident… I have been batting very well and I used that momentum to bring me into this game,” said the stylish right-hander.

“I am just enjoying batting at the moment and putting some good scores on the board and helping out my team as much as possible”. Samuels added 360 for the third wicket with lefthander Devon Smith who was equally fluent in making a polished 174. This helped West Indies to a first innings lead of 383. The Jamaican batsman has praised West Indies allround cricket as encouraging ahead of the first test and also credits the bowlers for the Wi n d i e s ’ impressive showing including Sheldon Cottrell who grabbed five wickets in six overs. “The

positive thing about it is that Devon Smith made a hundred and seventy something retired as well and Sheldon Cottrell got five wickets and all the bowlers chipped in a bowled very well so the allround cricket is looking very good at the moment going into the first test match”. At the close of the second day, South African Invitational, who scored 125 in their first innings, were 17 without loss. “I am really looking forward to the test match,” said Samuels. “Last time I was here I scored a lot of runs and I hope I can repeat that last trip to South Africa”.

Marlon Samuels

From page 33 (Guyanese football aficionado), Malcolm ‘Mr. Wickedee’Ferreira (radio host 94.1 Fm) and Nuriyyih Gerrard (radio host 94.1 Fm). Curtis ‘Casual’ Armstrong (radio host 98.1 Fm), Chad Ramsarup (Journalist), Edison Jefford (Sports Journalist), Christopher Barnwell (Guyana and West Indies cricketer), Cardella Hamilton (model), Joel Browne, Herman Liverpool and Roger Yearwood (Attorney-at-Law) were also all included in Team Bond with National Coach, Mark Agard. The event is a call out to all sportsmen and women to return respect to the game, whatever your game may be; whether it’s the arts, sports, business or professional sectors, ‘Respect the Game’ is geared toward returning ‘respect’ to society using what it believes to be the one forum that brings people together, which is sports.

Team Toney has drafted national guard/forward, Akeem ‘The Dream’ Kanhai (Ravens); guards Dominic Vincente (Ravens), shooting guard, Shelroy Thomas (Colts), Kester Gomes, Stephan Gillis (Pacesetters); forwards Randy Richardson (Pacesetters) and ‘big-man’Shane Webster (Colts) to ward off Team Bond. Meanwhile, to support the seasoned players, Team Toney has enlisted Compton Babb (‘Respect the Game Inc.’), Lugard Mohan (Former National Point Guard/Coach/FIBA referee), Carey Griffith (Proprietor Wind Jammer International Hotel), Pernel Cummings (Courts Guyana Inc. Marketing Manager), Ronald Grogan (Canada), Nerissa Pearson (98.1FM), Robert Adelson (US Embassy Public Affairs Officer) and Joel Simpson (Founder-Director SASOD).

David Warner hits second century... Saturday December 13, 2014 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You have a very dynamic day ahead of you, Aries. You may feel the need to put all your energy into a group project. You will want to roll up your sleeves and get to work. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Have you ever thought of yourself as a CEO or any o t h e r k i n d o f l e a d e r, Taurus? Today is a great day to begin a project involving other people. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) There's a lot of tension in the air today, Gemini. Perhaps you feel like no one is listening to you, and that people are draining your energy. CANCER (June 21–July 22) As a Cancer, you have an innate gift for healing and calming other people in crisis situations. If this isn't what you do for a living, you should think about doing something with this natural talent. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You seem to be a specialist at relationships, and you're very sensitive to the ups and downs in your own. But today you may wonder if people love you less than they did before. question. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You're usually full of energy, Virgo, but today you may not feel so vivacious. There's nothing to worry about.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may have had a hard time lately reaching your objectives. Unfortunately for you, today will be no different. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Your sense of responsibility is probably the catalyst for most of your motivation. But what happens when events are beyond your control and you're powerless to do anything about them? SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Today you could put a stop to your activities for a little while. You may take a good, hard look at things and realize that the climate of trust you need in order to be productive and creative is missing at the moment. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) What are you after in life? Deep down, does the kind of work you do satisfy your most intimate desires? The little problems you encounter in your professional life over the next week could be the straw that breaks the camel's back. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) It's possible that you're trying to do too much. If look at the days you spend working, you may realize that too much of your energy goes to some very meager results. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It's possible that you could be in conflict with people of the opposite sex today. You may feel as if they put obstacles in front of you and slow you down.

From page 30 batsman responding in kind when recalled to the crease. Steve Smith and Virat Kohli exchanged words in the final hour, prompting Warner to run from the other end of the pitch and confront the India captain. “I don’t know if

Ron Dennis: McLaren... From page 32 involved in McLaren, contrary to speculation. It is widely known within F1 that there has been tension at board level at McLaren in recent months following the deterioration of the relationship between Dennis and Ojjeh. The two joined forces in McLaren in the early 1980s and have been business partners ever since. But they have been at loggerheads recently over professional and personal issues. Ojjeh, 62, has been back to health since the summer after surviving two double lung transplants over the winter of 2013-14.

Trayon Bobb to represent... From page 35 tonight at the Tucville Ground. Khan encouraged fans to come out and support. “Come out and watch this awesome young Guyanese professional footballer who has just helped his European Pro Club qualify for the UEFA Europa League 2015,” Khan stated.

t h e t e m p e r a t u r es got to 40 degrees-plus, but I think it was getting to a few people out there,” Warner said. “They’re going to come at you and you just have to learn to bite your tongue a bit and sometimes you don’t.” Earlier, offs p i n n e r N a t h a n Lyon exploited considerable bounce in the pitch to claim 5-134 as India, resuming on 369-5, were bowled out for 444, a

first-innings deficit of 73. Smith, who made an unbeaten 162 in the first innings, ended the day 52 not out, Mitchell Marsh having hit 40 off 26 balls. No side have chased more than 315 in the fourth innings to win a Test at Adelaide. Scores: Australia 7 for 517 dec and 5 for 290 (Warner 102, Smith 52*) lead India 444 (Kohli 115, Lyon 5-134) by 363 runs.

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 13, 2014

Health 2000 Inc. donates Multi Alness Turf Club race vitamins Syrup to students meet set for tomorrow The Alness Turf Club one day race meet is set for tomorrow, at the Club’s track Alness Village Corentyne, Berbice. Close to $3M is up for grabs and seven races are billed for the day’s card with attractive cash incentives and trophies at stake. So far over 40 entries have been received for the event. Action will see the G and lower event over 1600M with a first prize of $300,000 and trophy, the ‘I and lower 1000M event will see the animals racing for a first prize of $200.000 and trophy, the animals in the ‘J1’ class event will be competing for $180,000 winners money and trophy over 1000M. The race for animals classified J3 and lower will

compete for a winners money of $160,000 and trophy over 1000M. The K and lower event will fetch a winning prize of $140,000 and trophy over 1000M. There are also two events for L class horses which will be contested over 1000M. The first is for those classified L1 and lower for a winning take of $80,000. The second is for those classified L3 and lower for a winner ’s purse of $60,000. The facility is in good shape and a grand day of racing is anticipated. Outstanding individual performers including top Jockey, trainer and stable will be presented with trophies and other incentives. Race time is 13:00 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)

David Warner hits second century to extend lead One of the schools being presented with Multi vitamins Syrup from referee Wayne Griffith compliments of Health 2000 Inc. As part of its involvement as a sponsor in the ongoing Ministry of Health / Health 2000Inc / Ministry of Education / Ansa McAl

Girls Schools Football Competition, Health 2000 Inc. recently presented all twelve participating schools with Multi

vitamins Syrup. Making the presentation on behalf of the sponsor was referee Wayne Griffith who made the

donation in the presence of Petra Organisation representatives at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

UDFA GT Beer ‘Supa 16’ Football tourney kicks off tomorrow

Team Reps and officials of the UDFA and sponsor Banks DIH during the launching. The second Annual GT Beer “Supa 16” Football tournament organized by the Upper Demerara Football Association and sponsored by Banks DIH Limited will kick off tomorrow with the official opening ceremony and two exciting matches at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground at 18:30 hours. Defending champions Winners Connections will be hard pressed to defend their title as they battle against Topp XX, Milerock Football Club, Net Rockers, Eagles United, Botofago, Peace Makers, Kwakwani Strikers,

Vasco, Silver Shattas, HiStars, Mahdia FC, Block 22 Goal Getters, Snatchers, Amelia’s Ward Panthers and Blue Berry Hill. Over $2.4 million will be up for grabs with the winners securing a top prize of $1 million plus the GT Beer Trophy. The second placed team will receive $600,000 and a trophy with third place securing $400,000 and a trophy, while the fourth place finishers will take home $200,000 and a Trophy. There will also be prizes for the Most Valuable Player,

Most Goals scored, Best Goalkeeper, Most Disciplined team, Best Defender and Best Coach. President of the UDFA Collis Gifth, said there will opening ceremony with a march past of the competing teams and a feature address and kick off by Minister of Public Service Dr. Jennifer Westford. There will also remarks by representatives of Banks DIH Limited, President of the UDFA, the GFF Normalization Committee and Region Ten administration. The first game of the double header card will bring

together Linden Masters against an East/West Combined team.Blue-Berry Hill will square off with Vasco in the feature match. Matches will be played on December 17th, 19th, 22nd, 25th, 26th, 28th with the grand final and third place playoff set for January 1st 2015. All matches will be played at the MSC ground. The Tournament was launched last Saturday with at the Watooka Complex attended by the competing teams, officials, UDFA executives and officials of Banks DIH Limited.

David Warner breaks into his trademark leaping celebration after reaching his hundred. (Getty Images) BBC Sport - David Warner struck a second century in the match as Australia dominated India on the fourth day of the first Test at Adelaideyesterday. The 28-year-old batsman scored 102 to add to a firstinnings 145 as the hosts reached 290-5, a lead of 363. It is the second time this year he has scored a hundred in both innings of a Test. Warner dedicated his

century on the opening day to Australia batsman Phillip Hughes, who died last month. Hughes, 25, died after being struck on the neck by a ball in a Sheffield Shield match. Warner, who was dropped twice, was dismissed by Varun Aaron off a no-ball on 66. The umpires intervened after Aaron gave Warner a vocal send-off, with the (Continued on page 29)

Saturday December 13, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 31

Black Sharks maul Rose Hall Jammers in Banks DIH Classic Basketball tourney

Several sponsors on board for Guyana Cup rematch $10M horserace meet

When the whistle sounded to begin the first game of the Banks DIH Classic Basketball tournament in Berbice a new initiative was in place which saw the timing clock, which was presented to the Berbice Basketball Association (BBA) by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), being in use. The opening game, which was contested on Wednesday at the Area ‘H’ Basketball Court in Rose Hall Town, saw Black Sharks of Fyrish putting their opponents, Rose Hall Town Jammers into a corner before mauling them, 33-23 in a low scoring encounter. The first half was somewhat competitive with the Jammers holding the Black Sharks to a slim four points lead at 17-13. However, the tempo went to frenetic pace in the second half with the Sharks all over their opponents to eventually win easily. Leading the way for the Black Sharks were

Royston Crandon 9 and Saydren Fortune with 8. Top scoring for the Jammers were Lattay Scott with 9 and Edmond Wiggins 7. President of the GABF Nigel Hinds was in attendance and used the opportunity to present the new set of timing equipment to the BBA. Hinds also used the opportunity to inform those in attendance that the Tournament will be used to decide which Berbice teams will be selected to the second ‘Road to Mecca’ tournament to be contested next year. The GABF boss also informed the officials that the tournament will be used to assist them in their training. The competition continues today with Smythfield Rockers taking on old foe New Amsterdam Warriors in a top of the table encounter at the Vryman’s Erven Basketball Court in New Amsterdam. Tomorrow will see East Canje Knights polishing their armour as they travel to Fyrish to challenge

the Black Sharks in their own back yard. Six teams are taking part in the competition with the teams being divided into two groups. Group A is made up of Fyrish Black Sharks, Rose Hall Town Jammers and The East Canje Knights. While group ‘B’ have New Amsterdam Warriors, Smythfield Rockers and the lone team from West Berbice Ithaca Hardliners. The competition is being played on a round robin basis at the preliminary stages with the top two teams from each group emerging to contest the semifinals. The winner of Group ‘A’ will take on the runner up in Group B and vise versa. The final is set for December 26 at a venue to be decided. The top two teams will receive cash incentives and medals. The most valuable player will also be presented with a trophy. (Samuel Whyte)

PSP, MOE, MCYS U-17 School’s Football

Multi and Bishop’s advance to Quarterfinals By Sean Devers Action on the third day of the Premier Sports Promotions, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Under-17 School’s Football tournament culminated yesterday at Ministry of Education ground with victories for North Ruimveldt Multilateral and Bishop’s High School. On a wet and slippery ground, both games yesterday were played in glorious sunshine before a stand full of students, especially from Bishop’s High. And they had a rollicking time. Bishops overpowered Queens College 6-1 while North Ruimveldt Multi dominated an outmatched Richard Ishmael Secondary 3-1 in y e s t e r d a y ’s encounters which both started late. Bishops were leading 5nil at half time which was taken after 35 minutes instead of the regular 45 minutes. This will change for the quarterfinals stage begins on Tuesday were 90 minutes games will be played. Tyresse Sonvenir opened the account for Bishops in the first minute

while Sonvenir scored again three minutes later. Romario Gonsalves scored in the 15th and 41st minutes before Joel Morrison (20th) and Imraan Khan (25th) netted the other goals for the winners. The consolation goal came off the boot of Kevin Wills in the 42nd minute. Multi completely dominated the smaller Richard Ishmael students even though Deashawn Jones missed a header early in the contest to leave the game scoreless at half-time. The second stanza produced more headaches for Richard Ishmael with Matthew Harrison and the skillful Elroy George, who displayed a sensational exhibition of ‘dribbling’; weaving his magic round the opposition players, tormented the Woolford Avenue School’s defence. It was only a matter of time when Harrison found the back of the net in 37th minute and repeated the effort in 40th minute, only this time there was some indication that it was a ‘Hand ball’ but the Referee missed the infringement and the score-line remained 2-nil.

N i n e m i n u t e s l a t e r, Closson McLavery retaliated with a goal against the run of play to narrow the gap in the lead. However, Deashawn Jones sealed the issue a minute before full time. Meanwhile, in the second match on Thursday which started over an hour late due to the late arrival of the Lodge Secondary school, North Georgetown who had already been awarded a walk over agreed to play the match and were hammered 6-nil with Ryan Hackett scoring thrice, Kevin Boter netting twice and Semion Hackett once in a clinical performance. The competition takes a break for the weekend before resuming on Monday with the final round of preliminary games between St M a r y ’s Secondary and Christ Church and Queenstown Secondary and St John’s Secondary respectively. The Quarter-finals will be played on Tuesday and We d n e s d a y b e f o r e t h e Semi-finals are contested on Friday. The final and third place play-off is set for next Sunday.

Just call Me Boss winning a close and controversial race over Unsettled in the three year old event recently. They will renew their rivalry on the 21st at Port Mourant. A number of sponsors have climbed on board with the organizers as preparation picks up pace for the much anticipated Guyana Cup rematch meet set for Sunday 21st December at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne Berbice. Kaieteur Sports also understands that a number of top overseas jockeys have been contacted to be a part of the action. The meet, which is organised by the Port Mourant Turf Club in collaboration with the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables, has nine traces set to be contested. With the lucrative amount of sponsorship on offer, the entries column is filling up at a rapid pace. So far over 60 horses have been entered with entries set to close today. Apart from the Jumbo Jet businesses, Banks DIH Limited has come on board in a big way with sponsorship for the major event. Other sponsors include Rommel Jagroop Construction, K.P. Jagdeo and Sons Construction, Mohammed ‘Nankoo’ Shariff Business Entity, Inshan Bacchus Trucking Service and Business entities among others. So far the Jumbo Jet, Shariff, Inshan Bacchus, Elcock, Jagdeo and Night Eyes Racing stables lead the way with multiple entries. Among the horses expected to be on show are Guyana Cup Champion CP Got Even, the inform Treacle, California Strike, Red and Lovely, Princess She Not, Just call Me Boss, Unsettled, Release the Beast, Shooting Star, Royal Empire, Midnight

Blues, Quiet Dancer, Settling Jet , Jack Is My Style, Settle In Seattle, Curfew Tower, Plum Plum, Storm Bird, It’s My Choice, Damascus Dream, Gold D Kova, Miss Lewinsky, Got To Go, She Running Hard, Mary Ann, Easy To Win, Party Time, Royal Cash, Swift Way, Speed Vision, Smarty Light and Sunday Silence along with the newly imported Big Man Boss and Spit Fire among others. The events listed on the day are the D1 and lower race for a winner’s purse of $1.5M and Trophy over 1600M. The Co-feature 1600M event for 3 years old Guyana and the West bred horses is for $1M and trophy. There are two races for two year old horses over 1200M. The first is for Two year old animals bred and born in the West Indies for a winner’s money of $600,000 and trophy. The other two year event is for Guyana bred horses for a $300,000 and trophy first prize. There is the E class and lower 1500M race for a first prize of $600,000 and trophy. The G1 and lower 1200M race fetches the winner $500,000 and trophy. The H1 and lower 1200M race has a winning pocket of $250,000 and trophy. The ‘I3’ and lower 1200M event has a pole position taking of $200,000 and trophy. The J3 and lower 1200M race for the winning pocket of $150,000 and trophy. The top Jockey along with the runner up, the top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with trophies and other incentives compliments of the

organizers. The event will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. Interested persons still have time to contact Chandu Ramkissoon (624-9063 or 2320633), Kris Jagdeo (624-6123; 322-0369), Rajendra (Jim –Jo) 618-7278, Ramnauth 3375311, Romel Jagroop (6241798) and Sancho 690-0569. Race time is 12:30hrs. The coordinator is Nasrudeen (Jumbo Jet) Mohamed Junior. Race time is 12:30 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)

Page 32

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 13, 2014

Daniels to conduct coaching Jaikarran retained as GCC president sessions on the E’bo Coast Wi t h t h e a i m o f improving the cricketing talents on the Essequibo Coast, Fo r b e s D a n i e l s will conduct four-day coaching clinics for U-15 male and female cricketers starting from 09:00 hrs Monday at the

Essequibo Cricket Board hostel, Anna Regina. According to Daniels, the programme will be held at various venues so as to facilitate players from different villages and is likely to conclude at Imam Bacchus ground,

Affiance. Students will be taught about the basics of the cricket, including batting, bowling, fielding and game scenarios while discipline and the importance of education are among the topics listed.

Royals, Jets to represent Linden at Mackeson 3x3 Final

Royals and Jets will represent Linden next Friday night at California Square, East Ruimveldt as the two teams topped the Linden Zone with Royals remaining unbeaten Thursday night when the Mackeson ‘King of the Rim’ 3x3 Basketball Competition continued. Sharp-shooter, Chris Williams was a one-man wrecking machine from beyond the arc with the shooting guard leading his Royals team to the final eight of the tournament. Wi l l i a m s , a l o n g w i t h M a r l o n

Pollydore, Harold Adams and Orlan Glasgow will travel to Georgetown next week to take on seven other teams. T h e We b s t e r b r o t h e r s , w h o represented Jets will also make the journey after finis hing second in the Linden group. The other teams that are in the Super Eight Final are TRS R a p t o r s f r o m Melanie on the East Coast, representing that zone, Den Amstel ‘A’ from West Coast Demerara, Colts ‘A’, Colts ‘B’, Pacesetters ‘A’ and defending champs, Pitbulls, all from the Georgetown zone.

Ronaldo helps Real to 20th win in a row

BBC Sport - Real Madrid sealed their 20th victory in a row in all competitions as Cristiano Ronaldo scored two more goals in a victory at Almeria. Real have won every match since 13 September and are four off the world record of Brazilians Coritiba in 2011. The visitors led 2-1 at half-time with Isco and Gareth Bale scoring either side of Verza’s strike for Almeria. Iker Casillas saved a Ve r z a p e n a l t y b e f o r e Ronaldo’s late brace took his season tally to 32 goals in 23 games. The last time Real Madrid failed to win a match was their 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid almost three months ago. They broke Barcelona’s Spanish record of 18 wins in a row on Tuesday against Ludogorets in the Champions League - and few predicted anything other than a comfortable 20th consecutive victory in Friday’s trip to Andalusia. Almeria, who dropped into the bottom three on goal difference with the defeat, had Miguel Rivera in caretaker charge for one game after the sacking of Francisco Jav i e r Rodriguez, with Juan Ignacio Martinez taking over after this match. It took Carlo A n c e l o t t i ’s s i d e 3 4

Cristiano Ronaldo (AP)

Lionel Jaikarran returned unopposed as President of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) when the organisation held its Annual General Meeting on Monday night last at the club’s pavilion. Ramsay Alli will serve as the Vice President while Jameel Baksh will act as Secretary. The treasurer is Pratab Singh and Greame Alli is the club captain while the committee members are Phillip Fernandes, Glenn Hanoman and Les Ramalho. The club was founded in 1858 and it was the first time in its history females were allowed to participate in their AGM as regular members. Speaking after the elections, Jaikarran stated that he was thrilled that females participated. He said that the club continues to stand tall

despite of some challenges and lauded manager Rudolph Singh for doing an excellent job. He added that the lost of test cricket at the venue was a severe blow to the club in terms of membership and therefore finances. “Coupled with an injunction which is ongoing that prevents the club from holding concerts and other related events, the club has had a difficult time to make ends meet adding that they have to work feverishly to remain financially stable,” he pointed out. The president informed that the club is allowed to host three musical events per year with the permission of Rex Mc Kay and the injunction is still engaging the attention of the courts. The club has done well at all levels of cricket in 2014 and

Leon Johnson has moved on from the West Indies A team to the test side and is currently in South Africa with his club mate Shivnarine Chanderpaul while Robin Bacchus and Vishal Singh continue to do well with guidance from coaches Monty Lynch and Harold Dhanraj. Jaikarran pointed out that one of its members Richard Jodah recently donated a roller to the club and thanked him for his input. He also thanked Paul Chan A Sue, Ramalho and Ramsay Alli for their continued support stating that hockey continues to flourish under the management of Phillip Fernandes. He explained that the club will work towards improving the drainage facilities as soon as the weather permits.

NBA Roundup: James sits as Thunder beat Cavaliers Associated Press: Russell Westbrook scored 26 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder took advantage of LeBron James’ absence to beat the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 103-94 on Thursday. James sat out with left knee soreness, and without him, Cleveland’s winning streak ended at eight games. Cavaliers coach David Blatt said before the game that

James’ injury wasn’t too serious. Westbrook made 12 of 24 shots and had eight assists and seven rebounds. Kevin Durant added 19 points for the Thunder, who have won four straight and 6 of 7 after a 3-12 start. Kyrie Irving scored 20 points for Cleveland, but he made just 7 of 21 shots. Kevin Love had 18 points and 16 rebounds, and

Te x a s - e x Tr i s t a n Thompson added 14 points and 13 rebounds for the Cavs. Kirilenko to 76ers: Philadelphia a cqui r e d forward Andrei Kirilenko, a second-round pick in the 2020 draft, guard Jorge Gutierrez and cash considerations from Brooklyn in for forward Brandon Davies. Kirilenko has played in only seven games this season.

Ron Dennis: McLaren chairman wants control of group

minutes to take the lead through Isco’s fantastic curling effort, the midfielder starting in place of the injured James Rodriguez. But five minutes later Verza had levelled with a stunning half-volley. However they trailed at half-time through Gareth Bale’s header from Toni Kroos’s cross. The turning point of the game came when Almeria won a penalty midway through the second half but Casillas guessed right to keep out Verza’s effort. Ronaldo had a poor

game with his only contribution until the 81st minute being a yellow card - but he scored two late goals, with a near-post effort and a shot into an empty net, taking his tally to 25 goals in 14 La Liga games this season. Real are now five points clear of Barcelona, who have a game in hand, as they prepare to go to Morocco for the Club World Cup. They take on Cruz Azul or We s t e r n Sydney Wanderers in Tuesday’s semi-final, with the final to be played next Saturday.

BBC Sport - McLaren chairman Ron Dennis is trying to take back control of the McLaren Group. The 67-year-old has agreed with his fellow shareholders a price at which he could take a majority shareholding if he can raise the necessary money. Dennis owns 25% of the McLaren Group, long-time partner Mansour Ojjeh 25% and the Bahraini royal family’s Mumtalakat investment fund the remaining 50%. All parties will remain shareholders if the deal is finalised. A McLaren spokesman said: “No transaction has taken place, but the shareholders have had discussions on how to best facilitate and enhance the future growth of the McLaren Group. “When and if a transaction takes place, it is not envisioned that the current shareholders will exit

Fernando Alonzo and Ron Dennis (right) (Getty Images) McLaren completely, and announcements would be made at the appropriate time.” Dennis has not yet raised the money required to buy the shares he would need to take his holding past 50%, and the other shareholders are not obliged to sell if he

does. McLaren refused to say how much Dennis needed to raise, but the company is said to be worth about £1bn so he would require at least £250m. BBC Sport has learned the Bahrainis want to remain (Continued on page 25)

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 13, 2014

Pepsi/GBA U-16 boxing tournament

Sparks should fly as nation’s Simon Pures bare fists Unadulterated slugfests are anticipated when the nation’s young boxers bare fists when the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) collaborates with the Demerara Distillers Ltd for this year’s final edition of the Pepsi/GBA U-16 boxing tournament scheduled for the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Boxing Gym, Independence Boulevard, tomorrow. To date, 30 boxers have enrolled and yesterday morning, DDL Marketing rep, Larry Wills, journeyed to the Main Street office of President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, and handed over the requisite cheque to facilitate the organizational process. Director of bouts, Terrence Poole, was also at the forum. The DDL representative conveyed best wishes on behalf of the executives of his organization and wished the boxers and organizers well. “We are proud to be a part of this tournament

which, to my mind, has been the catalyst to the development of the boxers,” said Mr. Wills. He also committed to continued support as the boxers endeavour to reach the pinnacle of their trade. The GBA President expressed gratitude to his benefactor even as he informed the media that the GBA is working assiduously to provide opportunities for young pugilists in all ten administrative regions. He said that over the past year they have successfully taken the sport to several rural communities including Berbice spread and Mahdia, an interior locale that is the latest affiliate of the GBA. A d d i t i o n a l l y, l o c a l boxing authorities will soon collaborate with their counterparts from Suriname in the organization of exchange programmes. President of the Suriname Boxing Association has paid a courtesy call to Mr.

Respect the Game hosts gala basketball event tonight - entertainers, professionals clash at CASH Respect the Game Inc. will tonight host its gala basketball charity event at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with entertainers, professionals and entrepreneurs teaming up with selected national and first division players for a big basketball clash. Team Bond, a compilation from Attorneyat-Law, James Bond will take on Team Toney, another assemblage from Journalist Rawle Toney in the featured game of a night that is expected to host four grudge games, spanning a widecross section of society. The night bounces off with a High School clash between Bishop’s High and St. Roses with the second game bringing together the Diplomatic Corps against Starr Computers. The third faceoff will be between the University of Guyana and Qualfon. The celebrity game will headline the night that is packed with activity for patrons and fans, who support the event. For starters, comedian Chow Pow was identified as host with reigning national soca monarch, Kwesi Ace also set to perform. The night will be filled with entertainment both on

and off the court. Pier 1 Sound will be bringing the vibes with DJs Gully Ras, Diamond and Green Dongs all set to keep patrons in the party mood throughout the fund raising competition. Team Bond has drafted national forwards, Ryan Gullen (Ravens), Royston Siland (Pacesetters), Jermaine Slater (Ravens) and the high-flying Tyrone Hamid (Ravens). Point guards, Travis Burnett (Pacesetters) and Rodwell Fortune (Ravens) along with shooting guards, Jarrell Allen (Berbice), Ryan Stephney (Ravens) and Chris Williams (Linden) have also been drafted to help Team Bond overcome the opposition. In addition, the seasoned players will have as adequate backup, Javed Ali (Chief Executive of the Slingerz Sound), Faizal Khan (Continued on page 25)

Ninvalle earlier in the week and the two Presidents held fruitful collaborative discussions. The Surinamese President has also indicated a desire to work closely with his Guyanese counterpart to stage more youth tournaments. The first punch throws at 13:00hrs sharp.

Steve Ninvalle (extreme left), Larry Wills and Terrence Poole (extreme right) shortly after the culmination of the ceremony.

Page 33

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 13, 2014

Associations Executive looking forward to exciting duels The respective executive committees of the Berbice Football Association (BFA), East Bank Football Association (EBFA) and East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) have collectively stated that they are looking forward to some exciting matches in the inaugural three-way competition dubbed the Stag Super XV1 Football tournament which is set to kick off tomorrow at the #5 ground, West Coast Berbice. Sixteen of the top teams drawn from these associations will be battling for supremacy and bragging rights in a knockout setting knowing that there is no room for mistakes. The associations are expressing gratitude to Ms. Beverly Harper, Managing Director of Ansa McAl and its Marketing Director, Troy Cadogan for partnering with them to make this competition a reality. Apart from the $1.5 million top prize which will be awarded to the lone team left standing when the dust is settled on January 1, 2015 at the Blairmont Community Centre ground, each team will start off with a plus in their bank account as they will receive a $50,000 cheque that will go towards their preparation for the competition. A colourful march past of the participating clubs is set for tomorrow at the #5 ground from 17:00hrs where the feature address will be delivered by Public Relations

Officer of Ansa McAl, Ms. Darshanie Yussuf. Based on reports emanating from the Ancient County, the fans in the area are eager to welcome teams and other fans to their picturesque venue. Giving the task of setting the tone for the remainder of the competition is Cougars Football Club of Berbice who will throw down the gauntlet top Soesdyke Falcons of the East Bank association in what is anticipated to be a keen tussle. Neither team knows much about each other but one thing’s for sure, only one will earn the right to earn the first quarterfinal berth. The day’s feature game will be a Berbice/East Coast shindig. These two associations recently competed against each other so it will be the renewing of rivalry when one time knock-out giants Monedderlust come up against Golden Stars. Some mouth watering action is anticipated so fans are urged to come out in their numbers to support what is expected to be a pleasurable evening of action.

Kaieteur News

Saturday December 13, 2014

Page 35

MoH/Health 2000Inc, MoE/Ansa McAl Girls Schools Football Competition

Enterprise and F.E. Pollard put unbeaten streak on line today Both Enterprise and F.E. Pollard will take unbeaten s t r e a k s i n t o t o d a y ’s matchups as the positioning for semi-final spots take centre stage in this year’s Ministry of Health / Health 2000Inc/Ministry of Education/Ansa McAl Girls Schools Football Competition, at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue. Fresh off some impressive performances, the two schools are strong favourites to contest the final, but would still have to go into their respective encounters with a level of respect for their opponents and not underestimate them. F.E. Pollard will once again look to the services of Jealena Rollins and Omefia Langellier to preserve their undefeated run, while opponent West Ruimveldt,

who were held to a nil-all draw against North Ruimveldt, will no doubt be aiming to become the first team to upset them. Enterprise the other team with an unblemished record goes up against Tucville and the outcome of this game should be a positive one for the former if one is to judge their outstanding performances throughout the competition to date. However, at this early level, nothing is certain and they will be advised to come out and play their usual attacking brand of football led by the diminutive Aaliyah Elaine, who netted a hat-trick in their first game last week, while Alliana George is also known to offer solid support. Tucville gained a walkover last week and so the rest should be good for them.

Trayon Bobb to represent GFC in Banks Beer Cup

Fizal Khan (left) and Trayon Bobb. Georgetown Football Club has announced the signing of European based professional footballer Trayon Bobb. The Golden Jaguar young star, Bobb, has been playing professional football in Europe for the past two years and has come home to join GFC for the Banks Beer Cup end of year Football tournament. The 20-year-old Trayon on his competitive debut for Guyana, scored both goals in the famous 2 -2 draw away from home versus El Salvador securing Guyana’s 1st ever away point in FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal

Group. Faizal Khan on behalf of GFC said, “Trayon Bobb is a massive signing for us and highlights the ambition and intent of GFC to move forward as a football club now. Thanks also to Sambora Communications Call Centre for helping fund the sponsorship so GFC could make this deal happen to bring Trayon here. GFC have a young talented squad and Bobb is a model professional who will be a big influence on and off the field.” Trayon will be available to play for GFC versus Western Tigers (Continued on page 25)

(Flashback)-Players from the two schools battle for possession of the ball in their encounter last week.

t r o Sp PSP, MOE, MCYS U-17 School’s Football

Multi and Bishop’s advance to Quarterfinals Matthew Harrison tormented the Richard Ishmael defence before scoring the first goal for Multi yesterday.

Royals, Jets to represent Linden at Mackeson 3x3 Final TOO LATE! Unknowns’ Keon Cameron (left) is too late as he scampers to prevent the sublime sharp-shooting guard, Chris Williams from landing another dagger from atop the key at MSC Hard Court in Linden.

Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210