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

A defining moment FOR THE PEOPLE The long delayed Local Government Elections (LGEs) will finally be held on Friday March 18, 2016 in nine towns and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). In 2006, then President Bharrat Jagdeo told the nation that in the next five years, his Government will work towards the political, economic and social transformation of the country in which everyone will have equal access to resources and benefit from the economic development and improvement in social conditions. That did not happen for the masses. It became very clear to the citizens that the former PPP administration had lacked the commitment to hold Local Government Elections. Not only was it self-serving, but a total disrespect for democracy and the people. After being in office for six months, the government has decided to hold Local Government Elections to make sure that all local elected officials are accountable to the taxpayers and the voters. The NDCs and Municipalities have had their fair share of corrupt practices, nepotism and shoddy services. Many NDC members had wanted Local Government Elections in order to hand over office to the younger generation but the PPP would have none of it. The PPP had preferred to keep the malfunctioning local government system in place so that it could continue its corrupt practices and install Interim Management Committees (IMCs) dominated party supporters. The long delay of LGE has meant that all the Mayors and Councillors have remained unelected. Some have resigned, died, or migrated. Those who remained or succeeded them have become unaccountable which was a sure route to nepotism and corruption. During the 2011 election campaign, Mr. Donald Ramotar, promised the people that if elected, his government will hold local government elections within six months of his presidency. He also promised that his administration will pass a Bill in Parliament to reform the system and provide more resources to the NDCs and the Municipalities. Elected to office with a minority government, Mr. Ramotar stubbornly refused to sign into law the Local Government Bill passed by the majority APNU and AFC opposition. Among other things, the Bill actually sought to correct the imbalance in the relationship between the central government and the local authorities. This was the sore point that led to the fundamental disagreements between the opposition and the PPP administration on what that relationship should be. The PPP had preferred a relationship in which the central government, through the subject minister, would maintain absolute veto over local governments, particularly on financial matters. The parties in the current coalition government have opted for a more democratic relationship, whereby the power of the Municipalities would be increased and that of the subject Minister would be decreased. This was one of several reasons that eventually forced the combined opposition to table the no-confidence motion in Parliament against the former government, which eventually led to fresh elections and the defeat of the PPP. It is important to note that the Local Government Bill, which was vetoed by President Ramotar was one of the first pieces of legislation passed by the new Parliament and assented to by President Granger. The opposition PPP had boycotted Parliament during consideration and passage of the Bill following its defeat at the polls in the last election. The Bill not only made changes to the system but it laid out the conditions for the holding of Local Government Elections. There was no valid justification for the lack of political commitment by the former administration to delay Local Government Elections for 18 years. It was regrettable and shameful. The PPP cannot be proud of its record in office. The nation is now saved from further international embarrassment because the new government has honored its campaign promise to correct a serious democratic blunder. Calling Local Government Elections is a defining moment for the country and the people.

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Letters... Where your views make the news

Other hotels should be given same concessions Marriot got DEAR EDITOR, I am reading with great interest the revelations in bits and pieces regarding the various audit reports of State agencies and projects undertaken by the previous regime. Some are more eye-opening than others. I can see a picture being painted, and soon I expect the artist to make the great reveal. The ‘controversial’ Marriot is being featured of late with some damning reports relating to 100% tax and duty waivers afforded to the principals of the Hotel in construction and furnishing etc. This would have obviously been to the disadvantage of other similar developmental start-up projects and ought never to have happened when it comes to creating a level playing field

for investors in the hotel and hospitality sector. Notwithstanding, we have the Marriot now with us. I am seeing calls for it to be sold. I do not agree. I have visited the hotel on more than one occasion and I am pleased to report that it offers one of the best atmospheres in Guyana, from dining (though to a limited menu) to just simply taking a relaxing drink. I have been told by friends who have stayed there that it is comparable to any classy hotel they have stayed at in North America. The staff are so warm, accommodating and obviously well trained. I have searched my soul to say that the other ‘classy’ hotel we have in Guyana, offers a similar atmosphere, but sadly, I cannot.

I don’t know the mechanics of ownership of the hotel, but I ask that all steps be taken to ensure its viability. We need a hotel like the Marriot in Guyana. However it was brought to our shores, I am sure our leaders will appreciate the necessity of keeping it. May I also suggest that one way of ‘making things right’ by the other hotels and industries who did not benefit from the 100% waivers during the time the Marriot was being built, is to now offer them incentives (with strict monitoring) which may translate into a retroactive benefit, but only for the period the Marriot benefited. I am sure this information could easily be obtained from the GRA. Fitzroy McKenzie

The problem lies in the interpretation of the scriptures DEAR EDITOR, Devanand Bhagwan’s letter in your newspaper of December 10th (“Wesleyan pastor is guilty Pharisaic blindness”), aptly shows how religion today can divide people and spread hatred and enmity, rather than love and respect among persons of different religious backgrounds. We have seen what this kind of religious mindset has led to in the Middle East. There are many religious fanatics who believe that their way is the only way to God, and everyone else is doomed to the fires of hell. This belief has caused so many religious wars especially between Christians and Muslims. Devanand Bhagwan must be commended for his stand. Yet, i am surprised that despite his criticism of the pastor’s action, he has expressed his desire to go to a Hindu temple to sing about Jesus. He should know that Jesus is not a diety of worship in Hinduism. Hence, why not sing about Rama and

Krishna’s love instead. It seems to me that he will be adding insult to injury should he do this. I would like remind those who seek to propagate Christianity, of some of Jesus’ sayings: 1) “I have come not, but for the lost sheep of Israel” 2) Jesus to his disciples, “Go not in the way of the Gentiles or the Samaritans but to the lost sheep of Israel” Since when have all the nations of the world become the lost sheep of Israel. Apostle Paul who was a fanatic after conversion to Christianity (like many converts today) changed what Jesus said and told his followers to go to all the nations of the nation of the world to preach. There is also a story in the bible where a gentile woman went to Jesus to heal her sick daughter and this is what he said; “Shall a man take bread from his hungry children and give to the dog?”The gentile woman replied that even the dog is entitled to scraps from

the master’s table. Jesus thought about what she said and replied, “Go your faith has healed your child”. This incident goes to show that even Jesus himself felt that his powers of healing were for his own people. Bhagwan also made the statement that Christians need to know that God is the God of all peoples and cultures. However this statement is not supported in the Bible. The god of the old testament had a chosen people, the Israelites and for the most part the other nations were his and the Israelite’s enemies. In the old testament of the Bible, one reads of the many wars instigated by this god. Slavery was also practised by him. Quite, a few times in the Bible he gave the Israelites into slavery to their enemies when the disobeyed him. Today many persons preach what is not in the scriptures or they have their own interpretation of the scriptures Vedanand Narine.

Double standards in criticizing religious intolerance DEAR EDITOR, I respond to Devanand Bhagwan’s letter, “Wesleyan pastor is guilty of Pharisaic blindness” (KN Dec 10). His was a response to two other letters (KN Nov 20 & Dec 7) written by Mr. Ganesh Mahipaul wherein Mr. Mahipaul highlighted the dangerous practice of religious intolerance of the Wesleyan Church for Hindus on Wakename Island evidently after a ban imposed on a teenager of the church because of her participation in a Diwali cultural programme. Mr. Bhagwan while pointing out the error of the Wesleyan pastor and urging her to apologize to Mr. Ganesh and Hindus in Guyana, in the same breath he attacked the very Hindus and also revealed his double standard. He wrote, “Christians are called to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’. What an opportunity to do so in the Hindu temple! We need to go (as we are commanded) into places that make us uncomfortable, so that we could be

salt and light”. Here most candidly at best, Mr. Devanand considers Hindus the same as the Wesleyan pastor or perhaps worst. If the pastor is guilty of intolerance for things Hindu and Hindus, then Mr. Bhagwan has only added fuel to the intolerance in a strategic manner. He is guilty of the same Pharisaic blindness he attributed to the pastor. Quoting from Mahipaul’s letter the answer of the Wesleyan pastor, “you cannot dine at the lord’s table and the enemy’s table at the same time”, Mr. Bhagwan penned, “if this is true, the pastor has grossly erred in her social and spiritual stance”. He questioned, “Where is the love that is the bedrock of the Christian faith in that stance?” What love is he speaking of? The love that reminds him “...how incensed Jesus’ disciples were when they found out he wanted to dine with the ‘worst’ of sinners; they called him a wine-bibber, for a good religious person who never

have mingled with such sinful people”? Editor, should we blame the Wesleyan pastor or Mr. Bhagwan for the intolerance or instead the doctrine or ideology to which they both subscribe faithfully? Bhagwan asked Mahipaul to forgive the pastor “for she knew not what she did”. Soon he may be asking Mahipaul to forgive him for he knew not what he did in his missive, for he has done worse than the pastor did. One has to read him between the lines. The Wesleyan pastor stayed in her church and suspended her member, but Mr. Bhagwan wishes to go into the mandir to spread his beliefs. Without any remorse in his conclusion he expressed his desire to visit Mahipaul’s mandir and sing “yeshu ka pyaar” (Jesus’s love) and “share the good news of God” to the Hindus. I ask Mr. Bhagwan if he will allow me in his church to sing Krishna’s love and share the news of God to him and his flock. Pandit Charranlall Nandalall

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 5

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

One of the animal kingdom’s Youths and police; best friends has died mistrust on both sides DEAR EDITOR, In many countries the relationship between youth and police has been described as negative by community and police leaders. Among the common problems in the relationship are: a lack of trust, little or no contact, except through police responding to crime-related incidents, and a degree of hostility. This hostile relationship discourages open communication between police and youth, which, in turn, further exacerbates the levels of distrust and fears felt by both youth and police. The GPF has in various ways for over fifteen years been endeavouring to bring the police back into the community and to improve relationships and is to be applauded for its efforts. This “community oriented policing” is a philosophy of policing in which the police engage the community to solve problems that affect the environment where crime, disorder, violence and drug abuse thrive. Community-oriented policing calls for a partnership to be developed between the police and the community is in recognition of the dangers of ignoring the feelings and perceptions of public safety and of the police held by various segments of the community. Improvements in the relationship between police and youth can only be accomplished through a partnership based on mutually agreeable community needs where there are distinct responsibilities to fulfill. The Cops and Faith initiative which faced serious opposition when it was first mooted as a diversion intervention is now widely em-

braced by the police hierarchy. The following recommendations could assist in improving the relationship between police and youth through a partnership based on mutually agreeable community needs. These include: 1. Liaising with influential community leaders to identify youth with leadership potential and use them to motivate and mobilise and recruit their peers to participate in activities to improve the relationship between youth and the police. 2. Organising a task force on improving police/ youth relations to include police, youth leaders, representatives from the youth division of the Ministry of Education; University of Guyana faculty members involved in youth related curriculum development, representative of youth arms of political parties and non-governmental organisations, etc. The purpose of the task force should be to develop and/or implement local programs and policies that will improve the relationship between police and youth. 3. Organising symposia on police/youth relations where influential persons are asked to present papers on prospective programs that support improvements to the relationship between police and youth. The results of the symposia can help guide a work plan for the station district or division and can help to spread the word on how to improve or define the relationship between the police and youth. 4. Community and youth leaders need to publicly recognise that the administration and community efforts are worthwhile and will contribute to a more peaceful community.

It is to be hoped that structured youth programmes subject to monitoring and evaluation, will help to develop the mental, physical and spiritual aspect of members so that they may grow to full maturity and be productive members in the Guyana society. It is of critical importance that a comprehensive needs assessment be conducted which considers the number of youth resident within a jurisdiction; the average number of juvenile arrests; the most common age of those arrested; the prevalent types of offences; geographical trends; incident rates at a particular school(s); social, racial, gender, or economic similarities; and frequency of contact with at-risk youth outside of arrest situations. By implementing programmes which examine the foregoing there is likely to be more community interventions which provide mentoring and conflict resolution for those vulnerable and at-risk youths; bullying prevention and violence reduction; and just as importantly, after school recreation. More open communication among the police, youth and the wider community decreases opportunities for violence. Therefore it is incumbent on everyone to foster a positive relationship between the police and youth to avoid violence, arrests, court hearings and other negative aspects of the judicial system. A functional relationship between police and youth is directly related to reduced levels of violence, less instances of physical injury, and a diminution of other negative spinoffs ultimately contributing to the promotion and maintenance of public order. Patrick E. Mentore

Plea for roads and water supply in Diamond Scheme DEAR EDITOR, It took years of hard work and renting houses, but I was able to acquire a very good plot of land in the middle class community of Diamond after waiting years applying for a house lot. Over the years the small number of ‘pioneers’ (using Minister Keith Scott’s word), built their homes with very little basic facilities such as roads and water. We heard as more persons build, they facilities will come and add the environment. It has been over a decade for some of us and we still do not have proper roads, proper

water supply and adequate street lights in this so call biggest housing development. Concerns were raised over the years on several occasions to every Minister of Housing and NDC chairman only to hear it will soon happen. We heard the same with the new government and waited patiently but it seems as if only squatting areas are being taken care of. This is not a knock on the residents of from squatting areas, but it seems that if we rename of community a squatting area we might finally get attention. Squatting is illegal in this country and the thou-

sands of residents in Diamond were abiding by the law and spend millions on purchasing a land the correct way yet we are forced to live worse than persons who decided to take the law into their hands and squatted. Sophia and Angoy Avenue residents will enter into a new year with proper roads and street lights, while residents who gave the country’s treasury billions of dollars from land acquired the correct way will enter into the new year as if they are squatting for more than ten years. Frustrated Resident (name supplied)

DEAR EDITOR, Some of us are lucky to meet a person who would change our life for the better. For me that person was Nicole Fitzsimmons. Nicole accompanied her husband to Guyana in the mid1990’s and we met at a social function. That began a friendship that lasted until Dec 5th, 2015, the day Nicole passed away of a heart attack in South Africa. Nicole told me that a few days after her arrival in Guyana she started helping/ rescuing dogs. She would walk along the seawall looking for suffering animals, some thrown over the wall by cruel people. She would carry medical supplies, water and food in

her car and stop and help any animal in need. Once she saw a dog stuck in a drain-hole with the face partly eaten away. She pulled it out of the hole, wrapped it in a towel and took it to be put to sleep. She helped animals at the police pounds on a daily basis. A policeman once told her the areas she went to were too dangerous but she cared more for the suffering animals than for her own safety. Nicole took time to go to many schools to talk about animal welfare to kids. She taught me to take pictures of animals and to document what I rescued. Just over a week ago, about the time of Nicole’s death, a man helping to clean

one of the Georgetown alleyways asked me for the “white lady”, I told him she was fine; little did I know she had just passed. Nicole left Guyana around 2002 and came back briefly in 2007 to spend a month, she said she wanted to come again to help me with my work and I know she kept her promise as I felt her presence every day. Nicole, the impact you made in my life can never be measured. I am so happy you made me realize life is not all about me and “things”. My friend, you are now in peace with your beloved 4legged friends, we will meet again at the Rainbow Bridge. Thank you for the impact you made in my life. Syeada Manbodh

DEAR EDITOR, It is universally known and accepted that no man is perfect. The only perfect person is GOD ALMIGHTY. It therefore bothers me very much when I look at the newscast on TV and read the daily papers to see the Opposition Party through its leading spokesperson always finding fault with what this current Government is doing and rarely if ever congratulating President Granger for all the different things he is striving to achieve including the cleansing of Georgetown. On the other hand the Government is justifiably expressing the short coming of the Opposition while they were governing this country over the 23 years when Minister Harmon raised the Jagdeo issue. All this goes to show how correct the universal statement is that no one is perfect. I wish to propose that there should be a broadbased collective effort by all to achieve a common objective in developing a GUYANA for all Guyanese. At present things are done in a piece meal fashion. What I do mean is that every area of Government needs the support of the other. You cannot encourage mining and not have an efficient judiciary to deal with matters of dispute. You need healthy people to carry out the various activities so health is important to everyone. Again if there is

not proper security there will be problems in economic development. Therefore my contention is all the areas for development must be jointly reviewed as each affects the other. Let us look at the current status of the judiciary. It is very humble opinion that there is serious need to have an immediate reassessment of what is in place. As a lawyer who has been practicing in Guyana in excess of 40 years. I am constantly confronted and embarrassed when clients ask why their case is taking so long. I always try to explain it is not the lawyer’s fault and use my own experience to explain that in 2006 December I had an accident which wrote off my car and caused me to go to the United States of America to have brain surgery. In 2007, a leading attorney in Guyana filed an action on my behalf and until now the case is not yet heard despite all the effort made by myself and my attorney. Now while I do agree that at present the judiciary is making an effort to become efficient in setting up a Commercial Section and a Family Court I feel much more has to be done. The old fashion system of having a Judge to do (3) three months CIVIL

WORK then go off to the Criminal Assizes should end. My humble view is that if a Judge is allocated to a particular section overtime he/ she becomes more efficient and experienced in what is being done and this in itself will lead to a faster determination of cases. The last point is that Judges should each have a young lawyer as their Registrar. This will have a twofold effect. Firstly, young lawyers get an opportunity to become better aware of the functions of the judiciary as well as equipped for opportunities in various section of the judiciary such as Magistrate Registrars of the Court, Court Prosecutors etc. By approaching issues in the way I have suggested I believe that GUYANA will be properly equipping itself to moving on to great success. This is my Christmas gift to the People of Guyana. Have a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous 2016. Jonas Coddett Attorney-at-law

Since 2006, my court case has not been heard

Page 6

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Govt. announces $50,000 Christmas only those earning bonus for public servants -below $500,000 per

Having received salary increases soon after the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) was elected to office; public servants were sceptical whether they would have been eligible for a Christmas pay package. Their concerns were however laid to rest yesterday. This has over the years become a yearly custom. According to information

disseminated by the Ministry of Finance, public servants will be afforded a one off tax free payment of $50,000. However, according to the statement, only active public sector workers earning less than $500,000 per month will benefit from this bonus pay. The payment will be payable this month and will see some 30,700 public sector workers including nurses, teachers, members of the disciplined services and semi-

autonomous agencies benefiting. This announcement was first mentioned by President David Granger, late last week, during a recording of the television show, The Public Interest. In the seven months since the new Administration took Office, public servants earning over $50,000 per month received between a 15 per cent and six percent salary increase, with those on the lower end of the scale

receiving the higher percentage increase. Additionally, the minimum basic salary was increased to $50,000 per month from $42,703 and those who had still been receiving the older minimum wage of $39,540 per month were also brought in line. These increases were all catered for in the 2015 National Budget. The Ministry of Finance is expected to provide a detailed release on year-end

month to benefit bonuses shortly. Reports reaching this publication suggest that while the majority of public servants are elated with the announcement, there are several in the higher income bracket who are not too happy with Government’s decision. This is in light of the

fact, thatseveralofthem anticipated a one-month salary in the past. The announcement by Government means that while some will get less than the one-month salary that they have grown accustomed to; most will be taking home a sizeable Christmas bonus this year.

Opposition leader welcomes “Christmas bonus” Although he has described as a “welcomed disclosure” the announcement by Government that it will pay a tax free Christmas bonus of $50,000 to public servants earning below $500,000 per month, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, has some qualms about the promised pay-out. He observed that public servants in 2015 did not benefit from salary increases that were retroactive from January 1, last. Instead, he noted that the salary increases were retroactive to July 1. He said,

- but notes that public servants not receiving ‘full-year’ benefit “Public servants, while receiving a $50,000 bonus, did not receive the full year’s benefit of the salary increase, as was done in previous years - leaving them worse off in a net sense.” He nevertheless added, “I am extremely happy that public servants will be benefiting from this bonus, particularly since they deserve it.” The Opposition Leader lashed out at disclosures from

Government that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) Administration had left a bankrupt country but was yet able to find $1.54B to pay public servants. He shared his disappointment, too, that “The year is almost to an end and sugar workers have not been paid any wage increases, nor an Annual Production Incentive (API) – despite the fact that Government has announced that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has surpassed its production target. This is the first time in several years that sugar workers

have been treated in this manner.” The Opposition Leader expressed disappointment that Government has demonstrated an unwillingness to assist rice farmers and gold miners, despite calls and recommendations of measures that can be taken to support these industries.” His remarks in terms of the lack of support to the aforementioned industries are however not accurate. In this year’s budget Government allocated some $23B, to support payments to over 7000 rice farmers who were left in limbo as a result of the re-

portedly empty PetroCaribe fund. And in the area of mining, Government was considering a drop in fuel tax. Members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) in July said that they have been assured that priority areas affecting the industry will be addressed, as the administration has committed to working with the association to deal with these issues. But Jagdeo in his remarks yesterday said that “Of note, is that the measures of support announced by the Administration, when matched

against other actions taken, leave Guyanese worse off in a net sense.” “While some public servants will benefit from the $50,000 bonus, Guyanese have seen the removal of the $1.67B cash grant for all public school children, the removal of electricity and water subsidies for pensioners and the removal of other support measures – all aimed at improving the livelihoods of our people,” added the Opposition Leader as he reiterated that “Government support should not leave Guyanese worse off in a net sense.”

Govt. moves to revamp city’s zoning laws

Government is moving to develop zoning laws to better manage the city when it comes to development. According to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) in a notice Sunday, it will soon initiate a comprehensive review of the prevailing land use characteristics or patterns within the city of Georgetown, particularly as this relates to the many instances of incompatible land use scenarios, which have very negative environmental impacts. “This exercise is based upon powers vested in the Central Housing and Planning Authority by virtue of the Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 20:01 Laws of Guyana,” the authority disclosed. This announcement comes mere months after the David Granger administration has been sworn in, a distinct change from the two decades

reign of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C). There have been growing complaints by residents of nearby bars and other commercial activities being carried out in residential areas. According to the CH&PA notice, the general objective of the exercise will be to inform the preparation of new and up-to-date land use control policies, inclusive of zoning policies in order to better promote and maintain the orderly and harmonious development of land within the city. “In view of the foregoing, the public is advised that it is required by the law that planning permission from the Central Housing and Planning Authority be obtained before the commencement of any building operations or the change of use of any land or building for the purpose of establishing a business.” The authority insisted

Govt. has started a comprehensive review of the city laws as part of the initiative to improve zoning. that an application must be made to its offices through the Georgetown City Council.

As a matter of fact, a developer’s manual is available at the CHPA’s website.

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Obama: faster progress needed against Islamic State (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said yesterday progress needs to speed up against Islamic State militants, calling on allies to increase their military contributions to coalition efforts to destroy the group in Iraq and Syria. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Obama said he was sending Defense Secretary Ash Carter to the Middle East to secure more military help from partner nations in the fight against the group. “This continues to be a difficult fight,” Obama said. “We recognize that progress needs to keep coming faster.” The president ticked off a list of accomplishments by the United States and its allies against the group: Islamic State had lost significant swaths of territory it once controlled in Iraq and Syria, and leaders were being targeted one by one. “ISIL leaders cannot hide and our next message to them is simple: ‘you are next,’” he said, using an acronym for the group. The coalition was also targeting Islamic State’s oil

tanker trucks, wells and refineries. “We are hitting ISIL harder than ever,” he said. Obama, a D e m o c r a t , has come under criticism by Republicans for not doing enough to counter Islamic State, in particular since the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people and were claimed by Islamic State,

and th e D e c . 2 s h ooting in San Bernardino, California. Authorities believe the couple who killed 14 people in that attack were inspired by Islamist militants. The White House has sought to counter those critics by outlining progress made since Islamic State’s rapid rise in Iraq and Syria more than a year ago.

Page 7

Page 8

Kaieteur News

2007 Cricket World Cup financial statements…

Ashni Singh instructed removal of negative comments in AG’s report -Goolsarran After examining the 2007 financial statements of the Cricket World Cup (CWC), Auditor General (AG), Deodat Sharma, found glaring irregularities and as such, could not award it with a clean bill of health. He was left with no choice but to stamp it with a qualified opinion. However, a forensic audit report on NICIL has revealed that former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, instructed NICIL’s Chief Executive Officer Winston Brassington to remove the AG’s opinion from the report. To support this, the report made reference to the minutes on NICIL’s board meeting of February 29, 2012, where Brassington referred to the qualified opinion issued by the Auditor General on the Cricket World Cup 2007 accounts. The former Minister of Finance was recorded as having stated that “The AG’s qualification of the accounts needs to be removed from CWC Inc.’s Annual Report.” Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran, said that it is not clear if NICIL followed through with Dr. Singh’s instructions but noted that if it did, then such an action would be considered an act of professional misconduct. Goolsarran said that the minutes of the meeting also revealed that NICIL was also asked to produce a paper for the former Cabinet to “debunk allegations in the accounts and otherwise but AS/HPS will (Ashni Singh or former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon) speak to our principals first. Once a mechanism is cleared then NICIL should pursue the AG to remove the qualifications.” He emphasized however that any intervention by NICIL and/or Cabinet to in-

Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh fluence the work of the Auditor General is inappropriate. In defence of Dr. Singh’s actions, NICIL commented that “The draft audit opinion contained qualifications due to the lack of information that was under the control of third parties and not under NICIL. The help of the Minister and HPS was sought to nudge the relevant ministries to provide outstanding documents/information, so the qualification could be removed.” The report also noted that NICIL received amounts of $150 million and $300 million from the Guyana National Cooperative Bank and the Guyana Forestry Commission respectively for the Cricket World Cup. According to a letter dated March 21, 2007 from Head of the Presidential Secretariat to the Executive Director of NICIL, reference was made to a Cabinet decision of March 13, 2007 for these sums to be used to support the Local Organizing Committee Guyana Inc. in meeting expenditure relating to the hosting of the 2007 Cricket World Cup. A further amount of the $200 million was received from

Forensic Auditor for NICIL, Anand Goolsarran the Guyana Frequency Management Unit. NICIL then provided Goolsarran with a schedule of payments totaling $678.620 million, $28.620 million in excess of the amount of $650 million received from the three agencies. At the meeting of NICIL’s Board on September 3, 2008, the Executive Director indicated that NICIL had not received an audit report and that the accounts were showing a large pay-out. Brassington stated that he spoke to the former Minister of Finance who recommended that the possibility of issuing shares in the Cricket World Cup Inc. be explored. In this regard, Goolsarran said, “Such a recommendation should have been rejected since transferring the payments made by NICIL to equity contribution is not a substitute for ensuring their proper accountability. Suffice it to state that in 2007, that is one year earlier, NICIL had already added the Cricket World Cup Inc. to its list of investments in subsidiaries in the identical sum of $28.620 million.”

Rodney COI findings set for release today The findings of the Commission of Inquiry, (COI) into the death of Dr. Walter Rodney are set to be released today. Kaieteur News understands that the findings will be submitted to the Commission’s Secretariat before it is presented to President David Granger. The President will then decide on the public release of the document. Dr. Rodney was killed on June 13, 1980, when a bomb exploded in a car in which he was an occupant. He was 38 years old at the time.

His brother, Donald Rodney, who suffered injuries during the explosion, alleged that a former GDF electronics expert, Sergeant Gregory Smith, had given the politician the bomb that killed him. It was alleged that Smith planted the bomb in a walkietalkie that blew up on Rodney’s pelvic region while he was on John Street, Werken-Rust, between Hadfield and Bent Streets, less than 100 metres from the Camp Street Prison. Smith died of cancer 11

years ago in French Guiana where he had gone to live, after he had fled Guyana. Last October, Chairman of Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (COI), Sir Richard L. Cheltenham, requested an adjournment to submit the report of the Commission’s findings. According to Attorney General, (AG) Basil Williams, Sir Richard wrote President Granger requesting an adjournment to February 29, 2016. However, the President (Continued on page 08)

Tuesday December 15, 2015

‘I was framed’ -GPL boss said on damning texts Chief Executive Officer (Ag) of the state-owned Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), Colin Welch, has categorically denied that he sent a number of text messages to a Chinese manufacturer of prepaid meters. Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, the official insisted that the texts and logs of Skype calls were created to frame him. “My name is not even spelt with two Ls. I don’t know of any texts.” Welch, who was appointed acting CEO back in August after Bharat Dindyal’s services were terminated, is being accused to tampering with aUS$4M tender for 28,000 prepaid meters. Complaints about the evaluation process of the meter contract have forced Government to order the retender of the contract. Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, has ordered a report on the text messages with a new GPL Board of Directors, to be appointed shortly, set to consider it to determine the fate of Welch. The delay on the meters arrival has stalled GPL’s delivery of the service for months now. Welch said yesterday that since being appointed in August, he has been making a number of changes especially when it comes to Loss Reduction with a number of contractors sacked for dishonesty. At least 10 teams have been fired so far. The executive could not immediately say who would want to frame him. The leaked text messages were sent to Minister Patterson and other government officials as well as senior management of GPL. In the purported text messages, “Collin Welch”, displaying an intense knowledge of the workings of tender process and evaluation, advised the Chinese manufacturer of the meters, Shenzhen Clou Electronics Company Limited, to lie about whether it made the kind of meters that GPL wanted. Welch allegedly also wanted the company to lie and say that it even has stocks of the meters available in countries outside of China, even though it never manufactured that type. He also promised to waive a number of tests that is required for the meters to ensure that they meet the standards demanded by GPL. In early April, the National

GPL’s boss, Colin Welch Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) closed the bids with Tesco PLC, a British company, reportedly winning the contract and undertaking to supply. Tesco was going to procure the meters out of China. It was buying from Shenzhen. However, one of the bidders objected to the evaluation and the subsequent award, claiming that Tesco’s supplier, Shenzhen, does not manufacture the 100-amp meters required by GPL. According to GPL officials, another objection raised had to do with the inspection of the meters. The 28,000 meters had to be certified by an internationally accepted lab before being shipped. There were questions over the certification documents presented. The Tender Board, following up on the objection by the bidder, wrote both Tesco and Shenzhen, asking for clarifications. It appeared that during the wait for answers, Welch somehow started communicating with both companies, breaking a number of procurement regulations that bar State officials from intervening while the tender is being handled by the tender board. In the texts, Welch signaled his intentions to waive tests (inspections) of the meters telling the Chinese manufacturer- “We don’t need any other report; it’s ok. You already pass our test

report…It is ok. I already pass all of our meters.” During the exchange, the company also explained that it would be their first time producing 100amp meters. Welch, however, persisted, suggesting that the company should lie. “...They will call to verify but that is ok just say the 100amp meters will be specifically produced for GPL because what you’re making is 80 amps.” The acting CEO, in the text messages, told the Chinese company that it must also lie that it has the 100 amps prepaid meters available in other countries as there would be questions from “someone on the Board”. A wrong answer could lead to disqualification, Welch implied. The messages indicated that Welch was set to travel to China to meet with Shenzhen Clou officials on the deal. Since appointed as acting CEO in late August, Welch has faced a daunting task of running the corporation which is charged with managing the country’s generators. He was accused of forging his credentials. He was elevated from Deputy CEO Technical following the stormy dismissal of Bharat Dindyal on August 14. The two clashed publicly in that month, over the suspension of two senior staffers. On Sunday, Government said that it had ordered the tenders to be done over again, with a new team appointed to evaluate.

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 9

A NEW PROCUREMENT PROCESS IS NECESSARY! I am flummoxed why everyone is flummoxed by the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Government of Guyana and Fedders Lloyd, an Indian company, to construct the Specialty Hospital. There can only be one source of this confusion. The contradictory and confusing explanations being provided by the government as the justification for the signing of the MOU, which is being viewed as an attempt by the APNU/AFC administration to hand the contract for the construction of the hospital to Fedders Lloyd. Interestingly enough, the government is not denying that this is the implication for the signing of the MOU. The government has too many spokesmen on this issue; each is giving his or her

own twist to the story. First, it was said that the award — even though there is no award as yet — was necessary, because of time constraints. In other words, what was being suggested was that there is a need to treat this project as a national emergency and therefore bypass public procurement rules. Then it was stated that this was a case of sole sourcing. However, the construction of the hospital does not fit into the conditions required for sole sourcing. Instead of sole sourcing, what was required was a soul searching by APNU/AFC, because this explanation was fraught with danger and makes the new government look, smell and seem like the one they replaced when it comes to public procurement. Then the debate attracted

the attention of persons outside of the government and other explanations came forth. The MOU was justified on the basis that Fedders Lloyd was the second highest bidder for the original contract to construct to the Specialty Hospital, and since the first awardee has failed to complete the contract, the award now has to be made to the second qualified bidder. This was a disingenuous explanation on two counts. Firstly, Fedders Lloyd turned out not to be the second qualified bidder. In fact, Stabroek News has revealed that the company was disqualified in the original bid. This assertion has not been rejected by the government. Secondly, there was an original award, and the work started, but not completed. The contract for all intents

and purposes ended because of the failure of the original bidder to complete the award. The contract therefore cannot now be offered to the second qualified bidder under the original contract, since an award was already made. There has to be a new award and a new contract. A new procurement process has to commence. The old process has ended. Therefore, even if Fedders Lloyd had not been disqualified there was still, under the law, a need for a new procurement process to be undertaken. It should be. The opposition should lobby the government of India not to release any funds for this project until such time as there is full transparency by the new government. If the procurement laws are not honoured, then an action should be filed

133 murders, 791 gunpoint robberies, 300 rape reports in 11 months - but ‘Operation Dragnet’ causes drop in serious crimes for Dec. Eleven murders, 791 gunpoint robberies, and 300 reports of rape have occurred within the past 11 months. This has caused a nine percent jump in serious crimes between January and November, in comparison to the same period last year. Police released the dismal statistics yesterday. The only consolation is that the launch of ‘Operation Dragnet’ on December 1, resulted in a seven percent drop in serious crimes up to December 11. A total of 133 murders were recorded up to the end

of November in comparison to 130 murders at the end of November 2014, an increase of two percent. The murders included ten execution-style killings, 22 robbery-murders, 20 domestic killings, and 53 disorderly killings. At the end of November, there were 1134 cases of robbery under arms, a four percent increase in comparison to the same period last year. This included 791 gunpoint robberies (a six percent increase), while there were 343 robberies in which weapons other than firearms were used.

The statistics revealed that there has been an increase of 26% in the number of reports of rape, with 300 reports at the end of November this year compared to 238 for the same period last year. Break and Enter and Larceny and Burglary have shown an overall increase of 11%. During this 11-month period also, police recovered 103 illegal firearms, including a sub-machine gun, 56 pistols, 28 revolvers, 11 shotguns, six rifles and one pen-gun. This compares to 81 illegal firearms that were recov-

Dem boys seh...

De fat crook try a hustle and get ketch Thief man don’t know when to stop and nothing is enough fuh dem. Ask Jagdeo and de fat crook. Dem is de two richest man in de region. Jagdeo is de king and de fat crook is de queen. Dem boys believe de two of dem done cultivate about four generation of scamps. Soulja Bai better tek note of this. And that is no joke; dem boys dead serious. Dem two and dem kavakamites tek, and wha dem ain’t tek, dem hide away or dem steal. This new govt. done know wheh some of the stolen money hide. Jagdeo and he team always believe dem is de smartest people Guyana produce. Dem lie. Dem getting ketch lef, right and centre. Read de Waterfalls paper everyday and you will see what dem boys talking about. De fat crook tek over de Linmine assets worth US$18 million. And he put in he books zero dollars. Den he pump in another US$10 million into de same Linmine. When de auditor ask he to explain de two transaction, he seh is not NICIL tek over de company wid de US$18 million asset, is de Privatisation Unit. Can u believe this man? He head all two—both NICIL and Privatisation Unit. As fuh de US$10 million, he seh he pay staff.

Dem boys got a simple question. If you don’t have asset, wha you paying staff for? Dem boys want show you how de fat crook think Guyanese people stupid….Is like Soulja Bai tek over Banks DIH wid US$18 million in beers, rum, soda and shandy plus de property. He don’t record no transaction. Yet he tun back and seh that he spend US$10 million to pay staff. Dem boys seh if you got no assets, no goods, why you paying staff? This doesn’t make sense? De big question is wha really he do wid de US$18 million plus de US$10 million. De auditors want to know. Now dem catch up with he hiding another US$5 million in a secret account three years now. Dem boys seh if de govt. didn’t change and he didn’t get ketch wid it, wheh it woulda end up? And how much ain’t gone out in de same fashion? Well dem boys seh if de auditors go back fuh just three years and find all this, imagine what dem would find since Jagdeo tun president. Talk half and wonder if de fat crook would ever tell de truth, much less de whole truth, or nothing but de truth.

ered during the same period last year. In relation to traffic, 112 road fatalities from 95 accidents have been recorded at the end of November 2015, in comparison to 130 fatalities from 121 accidents for the same period in 2014, a decrease of 21 percent. There have also been decreases in the serious and minor categories of road accidents, and a four percent increase in damage accidents. Of the victims, 40 were pedestrians, 11were pedal cyclists, 28 were occupants of motor vehicles, 15 motor cyclists, 14 drivers, three pillion riders and one person who was being towed on a bicycle was killed. Private cars caused 48 fatalities; pedal cycles, 11; minibuses 12; motor lorries and vans 13, motor cycles 20, hire cars, nine; and motor pick-ups seven. The statistics showed that 43 of the deaths were as a result of speeding, 32 due to inattentiveness, 17 due to driving under the influence of alcohol, 17 from failing to conform to sign; one from breach of traffic light signal and one due to error of judgement. Traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 50,715 cases for this year being made against errant motorists at the end of November 2015; of this total 21,576 cases were for speeding, 2,206 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 1,156 for using cell phone while driving and 2,046 for failing to wear seat belt. There were four more road deaths up to last Sunday.

in the courts, upon the new signing of an award, to stop construction. These are the options open to the people and to interested parties to ensure that the new government sticks to the rules of fair play and to the law.

Major shake up at GuySuCo Rose Hall Estate GuySuCo refuses to comment In an effort to improve production within the sugar belt and to stamp out dishonesty there has been a major shake up at the Guysuco Rose Hall Estate. This also supports GuySuCo’s new approach to manage the sugar industry. A number of factors influenced the decision, chief being the underperformance of the management there, thievery and dishonest practice and reports of sabotage allegedly by both workers and management. Recently the estate has been lagging in terms of performance. This is despite being one of the best performers earlier in the second crop. Personnel attached to Guysuco Head Office during the week descended on the location and caught some senior staff napping. Some were sent home, whilst others were sent on administrative leave pending investigations. Others were transferred with immediate effect. Recently there were reports of sabotage at the estate. For the past few weeks the factory has not been performing as expected with reports of the factory boilers not having enough steam, thus the low production. On one occasion the boiler was left without water. Rose Hall was one of the first estates to go on strike when GAWU called on the workers to down tools. However most of the sugar workers were eager to work and blamed management for not burning cane and for colluding with GAWU to

make the strike effective. There were also reports of some middle management telling workers to stay home and threats being issued. Another concern by the workers is the sudden frequency with which they are not offered work, accusing Guysuco of not requiring them to work. Among those sent packing is the Estate Manager, who had earlier been sent on 70 days leave. He is reportedly transferred to Uitvlugt. The Factory Manager has been transferred to Wales with immediate effect. The Production Manager has also been transferred. The senior technician and head of the Factory Lab has been sent off pending investigation. The Field Workshop has been severely hit with the top two being sent off the job pending investigation. A senior staff member is also in hot water. The previous Field Manager had earlier applied for sick leave and early pension. The controversial Factory Manager’s Secretary who was accused of having an affair with the former Chief Executive Officer, has been transferred from that position. Both the Estate and Factory Managers had backed the move. A few other workers have been dismissed with immediate effect after being found wanting as investigations continue. Personnel at the Guysuco Head Office would only say that what was done is intended to improve production and efficiency.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 15, 2015

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

The “Oracle” is gone The “Oracle” is gone. It happens to all of us. Our authority goes one day. It is said that Roger Khan made thirtyfour calls to him when Khan was hiding in Suriname. This is a tragic dimension of this country’s history and it would be even more tragic

if the government does not commission an inquiry into this period. Captain Clark, granted asylum in the US after his trial, could reveal oceans of information. No doubt those in high positions would be revealed like the Oracle. An

inquiry into the Roger Khan escapades is something most people in this country expect. Should it happen it will create a huge legacy for David Granger. The story of the Oracle is the tall tale of “big shots” that have status and money in

Guyana but no integrity. We see them at the cocktail circuit, official ceremonies, diplomatic functions, state functions, but behind the veneer of authority are the Greek mythological monsters that devour this country. So the Oracle is gone. He

will have to wait until Jagdeo returns for his return to take place. But that is a fairytale story. Jagdeo too is gone. It is doubtful that the former, Chief Justice’s ruling that the two term presidential limit was unconstitutional will succeed in the Court of Appeal or the CCJ. But let us say that the present Government is uncertain, it can always resort to a referendum to retain the twoterm clause. One would like to think that a decision either way will be had before the next election in 2020. The PPP could eulogize Bharrat Jagdeo as much as it wants, he will not be the President again of this country. Of course all things are possible. The PPP could win in 2020 and behind the scenes; Jagdeo could bring back the Oracle. If you are a betting person I would advise you against betting on that nonsensical scenario. Like the Oracle, the PPP is gone too. What will the Oracle do? What does anyone do when authority goes? They just have to adjust. That is life. We may think that our power will never go but life takes away power. Fidel Castro fell short by a few months of achieving fifty years as Head of the Cuban Government and State. Illness intervened. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, deteriorating health forced Castro out of power. But it is doubtful he keeps to himself. His brother has succeeded him and no doubt from his sick bed, Castro dictates to his sibling. If any human thought that power would last forever, it was Fidel Castro. Coming close behind Castro are the protégés of Cheddi Jagan. The PPP under both Cheddi and Janet Jagan, was convinced that the PPP was electorally unbeatable. The party passed on that fictional invincibility to their underlings. The hierarchy of the PPP – Jagdeo, Ramotar, Reepu Daman Persaud, Ralph Ramkarran, Teixeira, Rohee,

Frederick Kissoon Luncheon, Komal Chand, Hydar Ally, Frank Anthony. Indra Chandarpal and others too numerous to mention – saw the PPP as unbeatable. The story of Ralph Ramkarran’s alienation was due to the fact that he knew he was cheated out of the Presidency in 2011 when Jagdeo engineered Ramotar into the presidential slot. One can ask of the PPP leaders, the same question put to the Oracle above- what happens when the authority goes? I met one of the children of one of the top leaders of the PPP on Wellington Street, outside the shoe store, Chetson’s. He said that from what he knows, many of the PPP leaders have not recovered from the psychological discovery – the PPP has lost power and is not in charge of Guyana. He opined that he thinks it will take a long time for them to adjust. There is one extremely important distinction between the PNC’s psychology of defeat in 1992 and the PPP’s in 2015. The PNC was always an insecure party in power after 1968 because of successive election controversies. It was as if they knew that one day the edifice would come tumbling down. They expected that moment to unfold at any moment. Not so for the PPP. The invincibility drove into their psyche the instinct of ownership. So we return to where we started – what will the Oracle do now that he has no more authority? One thing I know he cannot do –sue me. Where in this column I have been libelous? Who is the Oracle?

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 11

GUYSUCO exceeds 2015 target by 300 tonnes Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has produced 300 tonnes of sugar over its production target. And since three estates are still grinding, the corporation is hoping to add a few more thousand tonnes to its total. The second crop target had been projected at 146,300 tonnes. As of yesterday the production figure stood at 146,583 tonnes. Overall, the year’s target was set at 227, 443 tonnes. According to the figures released by GuySuCo yesterday, some 227, 727 tonnes have been produced. This would be the first time in 11 years that GuySuCo has achieved a second crop target. The Albion and Rose Hall estates in Berbice, and the Enmore estate in Demerara, are expected to continue operations until December 21. The corporation’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Errol Hanoman, in a statement yesterday attributed this to the workers and management. Hanoman had also expressed hope that GuySuCo could meet the 230,000- tonne mark by the end of this year and 150,000 tonnes for the second crop, before the estates complete grinding operations. Whether that will be achieved remains to be seen. He noted that while this could be the beginning of the upward trend of the corporation, a tremendous amount of work is required to reverse its fortunes, and meet produc-

- first time it has exceeded 2nd crop target in 11 yrs

The cane being loaded

tion targets. Hanoman cited the corporation’s debt as one of the elements on which a lot of focus has to be placed. The others of focus are cost and production. The company’s total liabilities as at last July were pegged at $82 billion. This debt is largely due to decreasing production, rise in production costs and the recent weakening in the European Union (EU) sugar prices. Over the past five years, the government injected into GuySuCo; $659M in 2011, $4B in 2012, $5.36 B in 2013, $6B in 2014 and $12B this year to

meet operational and other costs. Hanoman noted that restructuring the industry was necessary to reverse its fate. One of the first things the new government did was to ensure better management. In this line, major changes were made in management and a new board of directors was created. In order to determine the reasons for the failing state of GuySuCo, a commission of inquiry was also set up. Thus far, the commission has presented an interim report and Cabinet has held a retreat to address the contents. An In-

terim Management Committee was also set up to scrutinize the operations of the Skeldon Sugar factory. SKELDON According to GUYSUCO yesterday, $30 billion of the company’s total debt is still outstanding in unpaid loans for the Skeldon sugar factory, which was commissioned in 2009. According to Hanoman, Skeldon as of Friday had exceeded its target of 30,594 tonnes. In 2009, Skeldon produced 25,727 tonnes, in 2010, 33,250 tonnes; 2011, 29,410 tonnes; 2012, 33,309 tonnes; 2013, 25, 544 tonnes and 2014,

35,890 tonnes. On the corporation’s future, Hanoman said that a new industrial climate is needed. He also stated that any success in the future will be the management and union working together. The new crop is expected to begin by the end of January 2016. During the outof-crop period, maintenance will be done on all the estates.

GuySuCo faced two recent strikes, one in October and the other in November, over the award of the Annual Production Incentive (API). The company offered 2.7 days API, to be paid by March 2016; however this was rejected by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) which resorted to strike action. After the union had called off the strike, talks resumed but have since ended in a deadlock. According to GuySuCo, had it not been for the threeday strike in October, the set production target for the second crop would have been achieved since the end of November. It is understood that the corporation is currently producing about 100,000 tonnes less sugar than it was making 13 years ago. Its performance from 2002 to 2014 is as follows: 2002 - 331,052 tonnes; 2003- 302,379 tonnes; 2004325,317 tonnes; 2005 - 246,071 tonnes; 2006-259,549 tonnes; 2007- 266,482 tonnes; 2008226, 267 tonnes; 2009 -233,736 tonnes; 2010- 220,818 tonnes; 2011- 236, 505 tonnes; 2012218,068 tonnes; 2013- 186,745 tonnes and 2014 -216,350 tonnes and 2015, 227,727 up to December 14.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Despite Operation Dragnet Murdered taxi driver’s crime rate still high - GPF car found at Mahaicony At the end of November, the Guyana Police Force recorded a nine per cent increase in serious crimes in comparison to the same period last year. This has been now decreased to seven per cent by December 11, 2015, with the launch of ‘Operation Dragnet’ on December 1. Operation Dragnet is backed by intelligence-led policing and improved cooperation from the public, said the Guyana Police Force (GPF). The serious crime reports include murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping. One hundred and thirtythree murders were recorded at the end of November in comparison to 130 at the end of November 2014, an increase of two per cent. At the end of November, robbery under arms overall, increased by four per cent in comparison to the same period in 2014. The statistics indicate an increase of six per cent in the number of armed robberies involving the use of firearms; while the figures are almost similar in relation to the number of armed robberies where instruments other than firearms were used by the perpetrators. The statistics have revealed that there has been an

increase of 26 per cent in the number of reports of rape, with 300 reports at the end of November compared to 238 for the same period last year. Break and enter and larceny and burglary have shown an overall increase of 11 per cent. Up to the end of November, 103 illegal firearms were recovered by the police - one sub-machine gun, 56 pistols, 28 revolvers, 11 shotguns, six rifles and one pen-gun. This compares to 81 illegal firearms that were recovered during the same period last year. The Police Force is continuing in its efforts to prevent crimes through its police-community partnership programme, along with social crime prevention interventions in the Policing Divisions. There is special emphasis on empowering youths, such as the Impact Albouystown Project and Youth Clubs. Meaningful support in this regard is being given by members of the religious community attached to the Cops and Faith Community Network (CFCN). Senior officers of the Police Force’s Executive Leadership Team and Divisional Commanders, also held a number of community outreach meetings where issues and concerns raised by members of the public were addressed. During November 2015, there were seven interven-

tions supported by the religious community in the CFCN, which treats with juvenile first offenders for minor crimes as a pre-emptive intervention to the New Opportunity Corps. Since the launch of the CFCN in September 2013 and up to November 30, last, there have been 245 such interventions. In all cases the youths were counselled by the religious leaders and following the involvement of parents/ guardians, and the victims where necessary, the majority of them were warned and sent away. In relation to the Family Liaison for victims of serious crimes and domestic violence project, which is also under the CFCN, during last November there were 15 interventions by members of the religious community in response to attempted suicide and cases of serious crimes including rape, armed robbery and murder. Affected persons, victims and relatives, accordingly, were counselled. The Guyana Police Force has launched Operation Dragnet nationwide. The exercise includes all members of the Joint Services such as the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Fire Service and the Prison Service and the GPF. All members of the police force, who are not engaged in core policing functions, would be deployed to give an increased “robust presence” to boost public confidence and ensure safety of the general populace. This will add to the “Christmas Police Security Plan” initiated recently by the GPF. The seven-month long Operation Dragnet was also partly in response to security concerns that have been raised by sections of the business community.

- suspect reportedly fled to Suriname Exactly three weeks after he disappeared and a week after his decomposing body was discovered in a trench, taxi driver Colin Clarke’s missing Toyota Allion motor car has been found. Kaieteur News understands that except for two missing licence plates, the car was found intact last Friday under a house at Perth, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. A man and a woman who occupy the house are assisting with the investigations. However police are not treating them as suspects; instead they are looking for a man whom they say they are very interested in. Clarke, who was operating his car at the Vreed-en-Hoop Car Park, disappeared on November 27. His body was later found on December 3, in a trench at Uitvlugt. A police source informed that the man at whose house the car was found, told investigators that a man fitting the description of the prime suspect, had brought the car to Mahaicony and had asked him to keep it. The man said that he did not suspect anything at first, since the man who is known to him told him that he was heading to neighbouring Suriname and would be back in a few days to collect the car. But after weeks passed and the man failed to return to collect the car, the homeowner became suspicious and contacted the police. When police searched the vehicle they found Clarke’s driver’s licence inside the car and immediately they made the connection. The police were also able to ascertain that Clarke did not go down without a fight, since there is reported evidence that

Dead taxi driver Colin Clarke the man who stole his car was wounded. According to the source, investigators were told that the suspect had what appeared to be a sutured wound on his left hand. Police West Demerara Commander Stephen Mansell had assured Clarke’s family that justice will be served in the matter, and detectives on the West Side are now collaborating with their counterparts from the East

Coast Demarara as they intensify their probe. Investigators are now trying to establish if Clarke’s murder has any connection to that of another West Demerara taxi driver. Clarke’s disappearance occurred exactly one month after Shurland Dalloo went missing. Dalloo’s body was found one week after he went missing and was found in a canal at Onverwagt, Number 27, West Coast Berbice, a few miles from where Clarke’s car was recovered. The fully clad and decomposing remains were found in a desolate area that is accessible by dam, about three and a half miles off the West Berbice Public Road. Dalloo also operated on West Coast Demerara, but was based at Parika. His car, a silver grey Toyota Carina, has not been recovered. Police believe that the taxi driver was taken to the location and slain. His corpse with its head bashed in was then dumped into the canal and covered with weeds.

Gun-toting landlady, 63, shoots at girl, 15 A gun-toting, 63-year-old landlady is in hot water for allegedly shooting at a 15-year-old girl, during a dispute between the teen and a younger sister. The incident occurred last Saturday at Parika, Essequibo. A senior police official confirmed that investigators have taken the woman into custody and seized her licenced .32 pistol. She was subsequently released on bail but was questioned again

yesterday. The parents of the two girls, aged 15 and 14, are tenants at the woman’s Parika, Essequibo residence. It alleged that around 08.00 hrs on Saturday, one of the girls, aged 14, told her elder sister that the landlady had doused her with water and struck her with a bucket. According to reports, the elder sister told her sister to make a report at the Parika Police Station. However, while the elder sister was standing on the woman’s bridge, she allegedly heard gunshots and saw the woman shooting at her. The teen escaped uninjured. Police who investigated the complaint recovered a spent shell and warhead. A senior police official said the woman was questioned but is not at present in custody. He said that the matter is being further investigated.

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 21

GPSU contemplates industrial action... Convicted sex offender remanded Disappointed with GPL’s failure to pending sentence honour remuneration proposals

A convicted sexual offender has been remanded to prison pending sentence. Murphy Noarhan was remanded to prison on Friday, after he was found guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child family member. Noarhan was convicted by a mixed 12-member jury, who returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts of the offence. He was represented by Attorney- at-Law, James Bond. The lawyer made a request

for a probation report to be conducted on his client prior to sentencing. Justice Priya Sewnarine -Beharry granted the request since there was no objection by State Prosecutor, Stacy Goodings. The Prosecutor however, asked that the man remain in custody until the time of sentencing. As such, the man was placed in police custody until December 28. His trial was conducted in camera, at the Georgetown High Court.

Produce evidence Ed... From page 19 direct breach of his lease. Government has already taken back the land from Ahmad, using clauses in the 99-year lease agreement that have to do with the annual rents. As a matter of fact, the lease was discussed last Tuesday by the Cabinet, along with the applications which showed the high interest and the speed in which it was processed. Meanwhile, Livan was asked whether the case was still engaging the attention of

the courts. He stated that it is. He also expressed appreciation at the recent statements made by the Government that the deal would be rescinded and the land given back to be used as it should, recreational purposes. He noted that rehabilitation works, including fencing and renovations to the building could start soon. He also noted that since the new administration came into power, the union has been pushing for the land to be returned.

Brassington hid... From page 15 opportunity to invest in Guyana's tourism industry. “We have a tremendous advantage in Guyana, in that most of the hotels are owned by Guyanese and have been here for the last 25 years trying to push the industry forward. And therefore, some of the concessions, I feel that are given to foreign investors, should be given to the (local) hotels,” said Minister Hughes. For a long time Minister Hughes said that smaller hotels (with less than 30 rooms)

did not qualify for concessions, but shared that as Head of the tourism sector, she wants to put forward an argument to Cabinet which will change that. Finance Minister Winston Jordan had said that Government would be willing to rid itself of the controversial Marriott Hotel once the price is right. He recalled that the government has made it clear on several occasions that it has no intentions of being competitively involved in the hotel industry.

From left: GPSU’s Senior Industrial Relations Officer, Dennis English; Executive Secretary, Indira Thakurdin; First Vice President, Mortimer Livan and Second Vice President Dawn Gardener. The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) is prepared to take possible industrial action if efforts are not made by Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) to honour improved remuneration proposals made on behalf of employees represented by the Union. “There are many industrial actions that can be taken...from just a sick out to a full strike,” said GPSU’s First Vice President Mr. Mortimer Livan at a press conference yesterday. The way forward, he noted, will be decided upon when GPSU members meet and discuss the matter tomorrow. At yesterday’s press conference at the GPSU Shiv Chanderpaul Drive and Regent Street, Georgetown, headquarters, Livan noted that “a change of attitude was expected with a change of Government, but instead the same old behaviour prevails.” The press conference, he said, was conducted in order to enlighten the public through the media about “our experiences with the authorities at the Guyana Power and Light Inc. in our pursuit to

have improvements in the remuneration for our members, the junior and senior managers of the Guyana Power and Light Inc.” The GPSU, according to Livan, had in fact submitted multi-year proposals for increases in salaries for employees within the Union’s bargaining unit. This, he disclosed, was done since July 2013 and should have spanned the period 2013-2015. Describing the proposals submitted as comprehensive, Livan said that the management of the power company, however, opted to have discussions on only a few aspects of the proposals. “The management of GPL procrastinated in dealing with the proposals. It has again come to the end of the year and still this matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the employees,” said Livan. According to the GPSU Executive, GPL since 2013 has only met with the Union in November this year. And according to him, “The main contention is the dollars amount.” But Livan insisted, yes-

terday, that the proposed sum should be added to workers’ salaries for this. The Union is representing that the amount of $120,000 be added to the workers’ current salaries and not be paid as a one-off payment as management feels should happen. The Union has proposed increases in meal allowances of $1,500 instead of $1,000 for employees. Livan is contending, though, that “The management of GPL has an arbitrary fixation in dealing with meal allowances. A meal allowance must be able to purchase liquid refreshment plus a meal.” He also noted that the current travelling allowance is also inadequate for employees who have to use vehicles to execute their duties. The Union is therefore representing that car mileage be $220. The total cost of the Union’s current proposals for 2015, according to Livan, “is a mere fraction of the $27 million the former Deputy Chief Executive Officer siphoned off to his personal accounts claiming to be back payment for increases in his salaries

and allowances.” Stressing the income disparity between GPL executive staff and the junior and senior management categories, Livan noted that GPSU is hopeful that this will be adjusted urgently. “The Union wishes to emphasise the pivotal role being played by the employees of the GPL and of the need for urgent attention to be given to improving their remuneration,” said Livan as he pointed out that “GPL is the only state run entity whose employees have not benefited from any increase in remuneration for 2015.” According to Livan, the GPSU in an effort to emphasise its disappointment with the GPL’s “callous” attitude has since written to Minister with responsibility for the power company, David Patterson, to intervene in hopes of having an amicable resolution. Minister Patterson has however not acknowledged the GPSU’s correspondence of December 7, 2015, Livan noted, a state of affairs that is of much concern to the Union, he added.

Page 22

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 15, 2015

FOR SALE

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Landscaping: Palms, largest varieties of plants, Used in every one of our unique landscapes- Call: 648-1821/ 219-0468 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@ y a h o o . c o m . Call: 2256496, 662-6045 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 2310655; 683-8734. Omar Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezersCall:629-4946 or 225-4822 Floor sanding & Lacquering House plans, Estimate & painting, boat for Santa Mission Tours –Call: 650-4362 New and used parts for all types refrigerators, air conditioners, microwaves, stoves, washers etc.- call: 233-2008/ 613-8800 REPAIRS & SPARE, FRIDGE, FREEZER, A/C, WASHERS, STOVES – CONTACT NICK: 6831312, 627-3206 Building Contractor, house plan, general home maintenance, free estimatesCall:216-0671;622-0267;692-8464

TOURS Suriname Old years into new- exciting fireworks, shopping, site-seeing & tours (Dec 30th- Jan 3rd). Call: 665-5171, 639-2663

WANTED Experienced canter truck driver and labourers –Call: 225-2618 between 9am-4pm for more information Damage batteries in any quantity, best price offeredCall: 696-5728, 656-2783, 6225941, 648-9395, 223-1111 Cooks to work in Trinidad, must be experienced in Indian and English dishes- Call Selwyn in Trinidad- 001-868680-2083 Eccles, Herstelling, Providence, Farm, Phoenix Park, Utilight, Zeelught & Parfaite Harmonie land to buy- Call: 604-2207; 611-7223 WANTED TO BUY ONE 580C HYMAC EXCAVATOR CONTACT 223-5273/4 Attractive female bartender to work in Trinidad 30TTD/hr. Contact Deborah Batson +868-326-0821/ email:debra_batson@ yahoo.com One handyman- Call: 6000051 Salesgirls urgently- Monday to Saturday- Call: 225-7417 (11am to 4pm) Live in waitress to work in a bar & hotel-Call: 604-6606

VACANCY

SALON

Vacancies exist for cashiers and sales staff. Apply in person with written application at Nirva Supermarket - call: 227-5771

-Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline. -Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Become a certified waxing specialist, master techniques in Bikini & Brazilian waxing both male/female-Call: 6967337 for details.

Cashier 6am-3pm & 3pm12pm. Submit application to Shell Station Providence EBD, shellramsburg @gmail.com Desk staff (male), ages 2545yrs- Tel: 225-0198 Full & Part time & Seasonal, local & international work available, training provided $5,000 plus daily – Call: 6221957/ 233-6517, www.jobfairworldwide.com Welder/Fabricator, 3yrs experience, 30yrs & older, apply within: send application & photograph -Technical Services, 18-23 Industrial Site. One female cleaner for office, apply within: send application & photograph to Technical Services, 18-23 Industrial Site Eccles. 1 Driver:5yrs experienced, police clearance, driver’s license, 30yrs & older, apply within: send application & photograph - Technical Services, 18-23 Industrial Site. Accounts Clerk: Requirements: 5 CXC subjects, computer literate, MS Office, 2yrs experienced. Email:shellramsburg@gmail. com, A&B Ramsburg Providence.

Licenced motorist for weekend job-Call:686-9296; 655-1534 Contract Cars & DriversContact: 619-2229 or 6606102; 227-1720 Male and female to work in the Interior –salary-$80,000 – Call: 674-1767; 675-7043; 6592708 Security Guard –Call: 2271717

LAND FOR SALE Providence house lots, size 50ftX100ft -$7M –Call: 6002031; 233-5535 House and land for sale. Call Molly on 669-3683; 234-1241 Land @ Sunshine Villa’s & lot 262 Land of Canaan. Call Bibi: 220-6799; 666-8901

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’SCARRENTAL-CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM

Land at Parfaite Harmonie $1M, $1.6M, $2M 50X100, Tuschen 11th Street -$2.5M, Phase 2, $1.2M, term available. Call: 604-6724

Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494

Working suits/uniforms professionally done – starting $3,000 up –Call Sharmie: 626-2629; 676-6312

Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807

FOR SALE/RENT American Pools table-Call: 277-0578

One 2011 Honda ATV Bike, only used for prospecting, air cool. One Model M Bush Truck with Winch Call: 688-2597 One 928 F Caterpillar Wheel Loader $ 7.1 M, Price negotiable -Call Us Today On #650-0402/260-4988 Four Mercedes Benz tyres and rims (18inches, 5 holes) Call: 646-3427; 699-7874

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Crazy Deals: Dell/HP desktop & laptop computers from -$49,000, free games & educational programs @ FutureTech: 231-2206 One property in Nandy Park and one complete dredge for sale- Call: 642-3808, 644-7207

House in Bel-Air Gardens; 4 bedrooms with all modern convenience. No agents! Call: 231-7839 working hours.

Hobart Bread Mixer for sale $3.4M, in good condition with accessories, price negotiable –Call: 696-9399

House in Bel-Air Park: 3 bedrooms upstairs/ downstairs, all modern conveniences -$1,600US monthly. Call: 231-7839 working hours

One Daihatsu Bego/RushContact: 691-1161

1-3 Bedrooms apartment, top flat front & back verandah, parking space @ Austin Street-Call: 592-628-7953 3 Bedrooms for rent @ Lot 3 Norton Street Lousia RowCall: 682-9021 2 Storey @ Robb Street Building, top flat furnished, 3 bedrooms apartment for living/office/storage, bottom flat for business-Call: 2272454 2 Flats; 6000Sq.Ft of prime space, @ 14 Longden & Croal Street, formerly Salt & Pepper –Call: 663-0376 1 Bedroom apartment preferably working couple or single person. (Light, water and garbage included) $35,000 monthly- Call: 6388858 Offices to rent @ 220 South Road, near the High CourtCall: 691-8420; 227-1042

Zeelugt (100ftx50ft) - $2.2M, Parfaite Harmonie -$1M, Farm -$2.5, Eccles- $5M, Herstelling -$4.5M- Call: 6042207, 611-7223, 223-1443 DRESSMAKING

LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.

Concrete Stall @ Bourda – Call: 692-7888, 610-0227

Used Fridge compressor, imported from Canada for sale and other types of motors - Call: 613-8800; 233-2008 Air compressor, 38KVA Generator, 140HP Yamaha outboard, tyre machineCall: 694-0535 CAT 930- Front End Loader, CAT D4H bulldozer, 9wheeled Pneumatic, Roller – Call: 275-0538; 683-7225

One Honda CRV, immaculate condition –price $1,650,000- Call: 626-2884 Nissan Titan 2004 model, GSS series, in immaculate condition - Call: 629-4392, 220-7958 Toyota 2 RZ BTT Series, power window, sunroof, TV, fog, mint condition, owner leaving country- $1.6MCall: 612-6121 Toyota Dyna (enclosed), never registered, lift gate (hydraulic), back camera, excellent condition, low mileage -$2.6M –Call: 629-4494 Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, Bluebird, 212, IST, Fielder, Spacio- Call: 6523820/ 665-4529 One Axela Mazda -$1.550 negotiable, one Nissan Titan, one Audi A4; all vehicles in excellent condition-Call: 665-3038; 226-4356 Unregistered Fielder Wagon, fully loaded, rims, camera, bodykit, HID, dark interior-Call: 617-5536 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 For Sale: Model M winch, dump, 5 Speed, rough body -$3M or best offer –Call: 2665647 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154

Leyland DAF 55 Dump Truck, CAT 320 BL excavator. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 1 New 2000 D.J Speaker with microphone-Call: 2230065; 618-4872 PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461. TO LET Rooms in Albertown and apartment in Eccles–Call: 225-3234 Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park -$90,000 negotiable - Call: 227-5194 Newly constructed 2 bedrooms apartment in a safe & healthy environment. Call: 698-6496; 622-6512

PEN PAL

PROPERTY FOR SALE

American Indian Male is seeking female, age 32plus, no texting –call: 679-9646

2 Bedrooms house @ Good Hope E.C.D –Call: 662-9043

I’m told Guyana have beautiful women, just want one, age 28 to 40, grown and sexy. Whatsapp only: 6134085

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Business & residential property @ EBD Public Road, all amenities including security camera & grilled, best cash offer accepted – Call: 684-2119

Property @ Lot 134 Block 2 Waterloo W.C.B and lot 169 2nd Street Woodley Park, W.C.B-Call: 328-7416; 6923912; 674-4184 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities - Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 Herstelling Deal: land (100ftx50ft) & house (brand new with fence), two bedroom-$8M-Call: 6042207; 611-7223 Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street Bourda, between Albert & Oronoque Streets -Call: 227-6817; 624-7341; 226-5183

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 23

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

Aiming the guns Literature died a long time ago at technology in Guyana’s education system DEAR EDITOR, I was somewhat jolted by the Kaieteur News Editorial of December 13th, 2015 entitled, “Can Technology Replace Old-fashioned Teaching?” Not merely because it should have been a one word response - “NO!!!”, but more so by the fact that the writer seemed to be actually making a case for “old-fashioned teaching” as a purely positive construct. I tried to determine how old is the “old” to which the writer was referring, and it seems that they were championing the age of learning by rote and memorization. I won’t challenge the suggestion that many were well served by that learning methodology; but I would suggest in counterpoint that “we” were served well because we were being trained for “success” in society as it existed at that time; and the principal measure of that success was the ability to regurgitate memorized material on cue. The ability to recite times tables or the parts of the verb “to be” are not - nor have they ever been - indicators of actual intelligence. They were merely signs of a child’s ability to memorize words and some mnemonics - often under severe physical duress. I sincerely hope that this is not the “old-fashioned” learning metaphor to which the writer was referring. The utility of rote learning is at best questionable; and many students who were masters of rote proved unable to reason. And I challenge the premise that the child who learns to write - with a pencil is more adept or learned than one who uses a handwriting program on an electronic device. The litmus test is that

the child learned to write, and how they will use that skill going forward. I learnt to form letters and numbers on a slate!!! Maybe it’s those newfangled exercise books and “lead” pencils that doomed the next generation. I had to assume that the writer was “penning” their work while sitting in front of a word processor of sorts, after which it would be electronically submitted for review, then, also electronically submitted for “typeset” and printing. No more manual - or even electric - typewriter; no more mark-up; no more letterpress; no more photo developing and negatives. The world has changed; and we need to adjust to the pace and direction of that change. And aiming the guns at technology from the platform of that same technology is quite quizzical - at best. It is, indeed, important for children to learn to read, write and use the encyclopedia. But “old-fashioned” encyclopedias were beyond the economic reach of most. We should celebrate the democratization of information through electronic means, not dilute the perception of its efficiency. In defense of the Editorial, it is dangerous to expect technology to “replace teachers, learning, textbooks, pencils or the brain.” But the judicious use of emerging technologies is the safest way forward. And I didn’t get that sense of balance from the piece. I return to the editorial writer who, working against a deadline, would probably be better served “boast(ing) how fast they could click a mouse” rather than yearning for the delicate penmanship of their Vere-Foster cursive. Louis London

DEAR EDITOR, As we commemorate another death anniversary of our late National Poet, Martin Carter, I believe his poetry should be taught in our schools and private education institutions in our country. It is my firm conviction that the poetry of Martin Carter and many of our literary greats should be taught in our schools today. I give below a thesis of our late eminent poet, Martin Carter, which I believe would be of great interest to our country and education institutions around our nation and the Caribbean. For our younger generation, Martin Carter may be just another name listed among one of our national heroes in Guyana. Since literature died a long time ago in our poor system of education, it’s about time our educators re-introduce the poetry of Martin Carter into our education system as well as many other Guyanese writers. On the 22nd of October 1963, Carter made a very mind boggling prediction about the publishing of poetry in Guyana which is as follows: ”Publishing poetry in this country is like lending books to corpses. Few read and those who do are not equipped either by curiosity or sensibility to understand what is confronting them.’’ This prophetic statement came to past in our nation because very few read poetry and many are not equipped with a background in literature to comprehend poetry. Many may ask the questions: who was Martin Carter? What was his role in the history of Guyana? Many may ask why was his poetry important to this Nation? Martin Wylde Carter was

Innovative suggestion to save West Indies test cricket DEAR EDITOR, I just read Ivan John’s letter, “West Indies Should Take A Sabbatical From Test Cricket.” (SN Monday 2015/ 12/14) and I can’t agree more. I remember I expressed those very sentiments back in 2003, while working in Linden and I was ridiculed by my friends because it would have meant getting rid of the entire team, including Brian Charles Lara. The Fact is, successive WI teams play as though they have no brains. They discount the fact that the WI fans are quite knowledgeable about the game and are very passionate about cricket. It is quite obvious that these players know nothing about the

history of WI cricket, and if they know could care less about it. My suggestion back in 2003, was, and still remains relevant 12 years on -, that the administrators, in consultation with the Heads of Government of CARICOM, should suspend all engagements for 5 years. During that time a core of 30 under 15 boys should be selected and put in a cricket academy. This academy must be multi-sectorial. Here these youths will be taught the history of our game using C. L. R. James book, “Beyond the Boundary” as a base. They must learn impromptu speech to avoid another Shiv. They should be

taken through the paces to teach them responsibility, and should be toughened up to enable them to deal with difficult situations. This cadre of 30 players, after 5 years of rigorous training should be able to compete, should be able to understand the agony of losing, should be able to appreciate the expectations of our people. This team should be the rebirth of WI dominance on the world stage. Why not give this a shot, after all everything else has failed. Just think of it: when last did the WI team give us anything to shout about? In the 5 day format at least. Carl Parker

the greatest poet Guyana has produced. He was one of the Caribbean’s greatest intellects and a distinguished literary personality, whose creative imagination left an indelible mark on the English speaking Caribbean and the Western Hemisphere. He ranked among literary exponents like Derek Walcott, V. S. Naipaul, Wilson Harris, Ian McDonald, A. J. Seymour and Kamau Braithwaite. He was an important figure in the National Independence movement and very active in liberating Guyana from British Colonialism until we gained Independence on the 26th of May 1966. He lived a matured life of 70 years, devoted 40 years of his life to his country and literary pursuits that will remain in the annals of Guyana history and the wider Caribbean. His literary works are now being studied at Caribbean and British Universities and the wider world. Dr. Gemma Robinson from the University of New Castle Upon Tyne in England wrote her PhD, dissertation on the life and writings of Carter. Carter’s poems can be compared to those of Tagore, T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, W. H. Auden and W. B. Yeats. He was a great teacher of mankind and an ardent seeker of truth. His poems are rich in symbolism, philosophy, theology and some very profound and complex imagery. From his poem: ‘’Looking At Your Hands’’, he can be widely remembered from the verse below: ”And so if you see me looking at your hands/listening when you speak/marching in your ranks you must know/I do not sleep to dream but dream to change the world…..’’ One of the delights of Carter’s poetry is its rendering of profound philosophical thoughts locked in magnificent imagery. Here we see the poet present his vision of optimism as a dream to change the world. As we restudy his work we will see Carter as the Guyanese National Poet, the revolutionary poet, the political poet, the disillusioned poet, the metaphysical poet and the spiritual and theological poet. The classic selection of his poems ranges from those that express moral anger and

outrage at corruption, to poems, deeply introspective and metaphysical. His political poems of resistance registered social and political protest engendered by British colonialism and they speak out against the stark poverty, injustice, the dehumanization and degradation of human existence among the masses. From his poem the: ‘’University of Hunger’’ he cried o u t : ‘’ Is the University of hunger the wide waste? Is the pilgrimage of man the long march? The print of hunger wanders in the land. The green tree bends above the long forgotten…….’’ Here we see the poet explore the relationship between himself and an individual in a land of poverty, oppression and corruption – he gave Guyana and the world a new sense of hope and promise of change through his poems. We see him again clamouring for political unity in the poem: ‘’You Are Involved’’ these are the most quoted lines in Guyana that has been quoted time and time again: “All are involved/ all are consumed….’’ We have seen an ever widening philosophy in this line calling for political unity like a Gandhi trying to bring political stability in Guyana. This prolific line is not only applicable to Guyanese but to the wider world because here is poet alive and well in his immortal words dreaming to change the natural world from the spiritual world. We can see his autobiography in most of the poems he has written because he writes from personal experience not only from creative imagination. In Carter’s best known theological or metaphysical poem: ‘’Death of a Comrade’’, he sees death as eternal and not something that is just a natural phenomenon like most poets and philosophers in the modern age. How deep a Christian

Carter was we shall never know, but his religion can be seen in many lines of his writings like Dante and Shakespeare informing us that death is not the end. In the last stanza of ‘’Death of a Comrade’’ he writes: ‘’Now from the mourning vanguard moving on dear comrade I salute you and say Death shall not find us thinking that we die.’’ We may ask the question how can a dead man think after he has been dead. If a man dies will he live again? Job asked this question in the Bible. Jesus answered Carter and Job by saying: ‘’He who believes in me shall never die’’. Because Carter knew the Soul and Spirit in man shall never die, he was able to inform us that we must prepare to die in this life by living a God fearing life. He is like Tagore when Tagore writes: ‘’On the day when death shall knock at my door what will I offer to him’’. For many critics his eternal line ‘’death shall not find us thinking that we die’’ means very little to them. For the spiritual mind that’s a very profound statement, because we must not die in regret when we enter into hell; it’s like Dante in the ‘’Divine Comedy’’ teaching us the way of heaven and hell. In Carter’s life time, he was a man of wisdom and wit, a gracious and elegant personality, a unique and fascinating figure. The quality of his poetry will be remembered. As we contemplate to remember him let us now see him as the poet-philosopher from his intricate lines below: ‘’ Wanting to write another poem for you I searched the world for something beautiful The green crown of a tree offered itself Because it’s leaves were combed just like your hair.’’ Let’s combed through his words of truth and life and remember his words ringing in our ears like the rains singing in the wind in the placid night. Rev. Gideon Cecil

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Search for missing 6-year-old Anna Regina student intensifies …Father maintains his innocence, alleges police brutality A police source revealed yesterday that the search for six-year-old Anna Regina pupil, Daniel Adolphus, has intensified. The source revealed that the police have been combing trenches and areas of interest to find some lead to the boy who mysteriously disappeared on December 2 while he was in the care of his father, Ewart Junior Adolphus. Along with alleging police brutality, Ewart is maintaining that he had nothing to do with his child’s disappearance despite admitting to cutting Daniel’s throat back in April of this year. Ewart Adolphus claimed, yesterday, that while he was in police custody, he was shackled and beaten by five ranks attached to the Anna Regina Police Station to provide information pertaining to

Ewart Junior Adolphus his son’s location. He said that he was shackled and beaten. He also alleged that the officials placed a black plastic bag over his head and began to beat him about his body. “They shackle my foot and one of

Daniel Adolphus them hold me from behind. The rest started to cuff and kick me. They tell me I was a murderer and a robber. A detective sergeant pulled a gun on me and tell me that he will

kill me. “I get cuff in my eye and they punctured my right side ear drum” he said, taking a piece of cotton wool out of his ear and pointing to his left eye that was bloodshot. When contacted yesterday, a relative claimed to have seen Ewart a day after his detainment, but there were no visible marks of violence about his body and is certain that he is fabricating a story. The relative also questioned that if he had indeed been tortured, then why was his eye still bloodshot more than a week after? Ewart said that as the ranks beat him, they reminded each other “Don’t leave too much marks of violence”. Yesterday, an official of the Anna Regina Police Station claimed that he had no knowledge of the incident. However, the search is still on. In recent reports – Ewart claimed that he awoke some time around midnight on December 2 and found the television on, the door ajar but young Daniel was nowhere to be seen. He then alerted neighbours and a search began. He made a report to the Anna Regina Police Station where he was detained and interrogated. Ewart said that he was arrested on Sunday December 6, and on the following Tuesday they began to torture him. He further related that he was taken into a detective’s office where he was placed on a chair and questioned. He recalled that an officer came in and joined the other four men in the room. One of the ranks said that they were being too easy on him and that they should turn up the heat. It was then he said the torture began. Last April, Ewart was brought before an Essequibo Magistrate’s Court where he admitted to slashing young Daniel’s throat. He also admitted that he was unwell and his nerves got the best of him. The Magistrate presiding over the case requested that Ewart go through a medical evaluation. Ewart was also fingered in a robbery back in December 2010 where he was charged with robbery under arms. He, along with other accomplices allegedly held Udho Gopaul at gun point and relieved him of several items totaling $2.093 M. On the same day, he was also accused of robbing Zorma Gopaul of items valued at $288,600. When confronted with this information yesterday, he said that he was accused and “nothing came out of the story”.

More than 11 taxi drivers lured to Craig Sideline Dam, robbed - Police urge drivers to be alert Over the past two weeks, more than 11 taxi drivers were lured to Craig Sideline Dam, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and robbed at knifepoint by a man of African descent, who hires them from as far as the East Coast Demerara (ECD). Ranks at the Grove Police Station have received more than 11 reports of such incidents. There are reports that the individual, who has a low haircut and is medium built, has a woman working with him. According to information received, the man would go to different locations and observed taxi drivers, after which, he would hire those he considered “easy to handle” to take him to Craig Sideline Dam- an area which has no lights and is deserted at

nights. The suspect would strike at nights only. He would tell the taxi drivers that he would be picking up his girlfriend at the aforementioned location. While there, he would rob them at knife point and escape with all their valuables. By the time the police arrive, the man would disappear. The victims are drivers from West Bank Demerara, West Coast Demerara, Georgetown and East Coast Demerara. All the drivers have reported that they were told the same story by the suspect. They were all lured to the same location also. Police are urging taxi drivers to be on the alert for the suspect.

Teen denies break and enter charge - released on $200,000 bail Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan set bail to the tune of $200,000 for an 18-year-old, accused of break and enter and larceny, when he appeared yesterday in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Denzel Edwards of Lot 56 West Front Road, Georgetown, denied that he broke into the dwelling house of Carlon Barker and stole a quantity of items. The court was told that the accused carted off an iPad, cell phone,

gas bottle and $75,800 cash— all totaling $199, 800— property of Barker. Edwards, who was unrepresented by an Attorney, was instructed to return to court on January 15. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones did not reveal any facts of the matter to the court. However, he stated that the complainant saw the defendant in his home and reported it to the police. He said that the stolen items were not recovered.

Bail for Meadowbrook man accused of stealing CG bike Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan granted a fish cleaner bail in the sum of $100,000 after he was accused of stealing a CG motorcycle, when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts yesterday. It is alleged that on November 6, at West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Jamal Letlow, while in the company of others, stole motorcycle CF 4344 valued at $240,000—property

of Shawn Edu. Letlow, 20, who resides at John Fernandes Squatting Area, was ordered to return to court on January 6, before Magistrate Dylan Bess. Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones did not oppose the defendant being granted pretrial liberty. However, he requested that bail be set in a substantial amount. Jones pointed out that the item was not recovered and that neighbours saw Colin Harry removing the cycle. Harry, 21, who resides at Lot 8 Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, was also charged last week for stealing the said motorcycle. He was released on $150,000 bail and will make his next court appearance on the same day as his co-accused.

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Page 26

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Former Nigerian security adviser Cop, UWI student gunned down in T&T -Four suspects held charged with US$68 million fraud Nigeria’s former National Security Adviser and four other people were charged with 19 counts of money laundering and criminal breach of trust amounting to 13.570 billion naira (US$68.2 million) yesterday in the Abuja high court, the financial crimes agency said. Sambo Dasuki, served as adviser under former President Goodluck Jonathan, who lost an election this year election to Muhammadu Buhari, who is bent on rooting out widespread corruption in the West African nation. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said in a statement that Dasuki was charged among others with Shuaibu Salisu, who was the

Nigeria’s former Nat’l Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki director of finance and administration in his office. The main charge alleges

that 10 billion naira out of the total was used to fund the previous administration’s election campaign in an agreement between Dasuki, Salisu and a presidential assistant now on the run, the EFCC said. The defendants pleaded not guilty and the case was adjourned until Tuesday for a bail hearing. Dasuki was arrested on Dec. 1 in relation to an investigation into a US$2 billion arms deal. Buhari called for his arrest in November, accusing him of stealing funds through phantom arms contracts and hampering the fight against the Islamist jihadi group Boko Haram.

Turkey says its patience with Russia ‘has a limit’: newspaper (Reuters) - Turkey’s foreign minister said Ankara’s patience with Russia “has a limit” after Moscow’s “exaggerated” reaction to a weekend naval incident between the two countries, an Italian newspaper reported yesterday. A Russian destroyer fired warning shots at a Turkish vessel in the Aegean on Sunday to avoid a collision and summoned the Turkish military attache over the incident. “Ours was only a fishing boat, it seems to me that the reaction of the Russian naval ship was exaggerated,” Mevlut Cavusoglu told Italian daily Corriere della Sera in an interview. “Russia and Turkey certainly have to re-establish the relations of trust that we have always had, but our patience has a limit,” Cavusoglu said. The incident is likely to

Aranguez. The uniformed officer continued the pursuit while Ramnarine made his way back to the vehicle where Avery was still seated. Upon entering the vehicle, shots from the nearby barbeque outlet were fired at both men who subsequently died at the

scene. There was no exchange of gunfire. PC Ramnarine was sworn in as an officer on October 8th, 2014. Four persons from the Aranguez district are currently assisting Homicide Detectives with the investigation.

(Jamaica Observer) - A growth czar will be a central figure in a future Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government, Andrew Holness has pledged. That, the Opposition and JLP leader pointed out, is a significant difference in his party’s approach to economic development compared to that of the current People’s National Party (PNP) Government. Holness spoke to the issue in a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer during which he was asked why Jamaicans should vote for his party in the upcoming general election. “You will have a growth driver; that is someone who is an activist executive of the Government, ensuring that there is co-ordination with all the critical agencies and actors for growth,” Holness responded, after stating that voters could feel comfortable that the JLP would provide the country with good governance. “Currently, if you were to look at the PNP to identify where the political energy is coming from for growth, you would be hard-pressed to identify it. Certainly you could not identify the minister of industry, investment and commerce,” Holness said. “Certainly, and I’m not

saying this in a glib way, but [finance minister] Peter Phillips is not the minister of growth. Peter Phillips has turned out to be the fiscal conservative who really does not understand how economies work. His goal, as he has stated clearly and publicly, is to reduce debt by increasing taxes. That’s the sum total of his economic policy,” the Opposition leader argued. He suggested that the country could not look to the prime minister for political direction in relation to growth, as she would direct any such enquiries to Phillips. “So let’s be clear, you’re not seeing the political direction for growth, and we’re saying, the structure of our Government will have a growth czar,” Holness emphasised. “All the countries that have exhibited growth have had the political momentum behind it, whether it is Rwanda, whether it is Panama, whether it is China, The Philippines, all the countries that have had growth have had the political impetus behind it,” he argued. Holness framed his comments against his party’s continued criticism of the Government’s economic policy, which, the JLP insists, has resulted in an average growth of 0.2 per cent over the Administration’s first

three full years in office. The JLP’s spokesman on finance, Audley Shaw, had earlier told the Observer that the lack of growth is at the root of many of the problems being experienced by the country. “Ask the average businessman; their backs are against the wall, and part of this is because the Government is virtually sucking the economy dry with taxation. Meanwhile, the purchasing power of the average man on the street has been savaged by a 40 per cent devaluation of the Jamaican dollar,” Shaw had said. Picking up on Shaw’s comments, Holness said that his party’s philosophy has never changed as it relates to the importance of business driving growth. “That has always been a fundamental principle of the Jamaica Labour Party,” he said. A Government led by him, he said, would ensure that markets are working well, particularly the credit market in order that people doing business will have access to resources to get things done. “My intention is to move Jamaica from poverty to prosperity,” Holness said, reiterating his campaign slogan. “We’re not ashamed of prosperity, we’re not afraid of prosperity.

The crime scene at Aranguez Road. (Trinidad Guardian photo)

Jamaica Labour Party promises growth czar

Russia’s diesel-electric submarine Rostov-on-Don is escorted by a Turkish Navy Coast Guard boat as it sets sail in the Bosphorus, on its way to the Black Sea, in Istanbul, Turkey. (Reuters/Murad Sezer) heighten tensions between the two nations who are at odds over Syria and Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane last month. Cavusoglu said Russia had already “put itself in a ridiculous position” with accusations by its President Vladimir Putin that Turkey had shot down the jet to pro-

tect oil supplies from Islamic State. “No-one believed it” he said. He also criticized Russia’s military intervention in Syria, saying it w a s a i m e d a t propping up the regime of President Bashar alAssad, not combating Islamic State.

Rodney COI findings... (From page 07) has declined the request. According to Williams, Sir Richard told the President that this is the “Season where work is hardly done,” so more time is needed. He said that it is “common” in the Caribbean that work is not done at this time. The Minister said that President Granger responded that there is an “intense” programme scheduled for next year. It includes Local Government Elections and the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations, so the request could not be accommodated.

(Trinidad Guardian) Four suspects have been detained in the shooting deaths of PC Russell Ramnarine and UWI engineering student, Avery Keshwar. Ramnarine, 24, and Avery, 22, of College Road, St Augustine, were both gunned down at around 5.15am yesterday, at Aranguez Road, Aranguez, in the vicinity of a popular barbeque outlet. Reports are that Ramnarine, who was on duty at the time, along with a uniformed officer of the St Joseph Police Crime Patrol, were following-up on a report made by Avery of a stolen cell phone among other items. They accompanied the victim in an unmarked vehicle to Aranguez to meet the suspect to retrieve the stolen items. When the suspect observed the uniformed officer seated in the vehicle, he took off on foot causing Ramnarine, who was in plainclothes, and the other officer, to leave their vehicle and give chase along Williams Street,

Williams had hinted that the Commission is making another attempt to smear the PNCR by this means. “Now we are asked to go to February month end, which is almost on the eve of Local Government Elections, so you can draw your conclusions,” Williams said. The AG shunned allegations that Granger does not want continuous hearings based on the fact that the PNCR is involved, and claims that the Commission had more than enough time to examine the key witnesses. Williams made reference to the fact that the former

government, the People’s Progressive Party Civic, had brought the former Crime Chief, Cecil ‘Skip’ Roberts, to Guyana, and put him up at Sleep In Hotel, but the Commission never made use of him. Asked what will be the implications if the report is not handed in on December 15, Williams replied, “It doesn’t make sense speculating now.” Almost 34 years after his death, a team of international jurists was selected to probe the killing of politician/historian, Dr. Walter Rodney.

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 27

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Reparation for Rastas? (Jamaica Observer) Senator Mark Golding, the minister of justice, believes that Rastafarian victims of the infamous Coral Gardens, Pinnacle and Back ‘o’ Wall incidents deserve both an apology and reparation from the Jamaican State which he said had brutalised and oppressed them. Golding made it clear in an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Sunday that he was stating his personal views at this time, but would raise the matter in Cabinet next month, possibly through the just-released report by the public defender on the bloody Coral Gardens incident that claimed several lives in 1963 in St James. “The treatment of the Rastafarians is a matter of social justice. There were decades of fairly brutal and oppressive conduct by the State towards them. After the Coral Gardens incident there was a sort of witchhunt. All of this was quite improper,” said Golding. The justice minister also listed the controversial destruction by police of the Leonard Howell-led Rastafarian community at Pinnacle, St Catherine, and the demolition of Back ‘o’ Wall in Western Kingston, among actions for which he believed the State should pay compensation and apologise to their victims. Golding took his cue from the report sent to Parliament last week and copied to him by Public Defender Arlene Harrison Henry, who received an investigation of the Coral Gardens matter as a work-in-progress from her predecessor Earl Witter.

Senator Mark Golding is to raise matter in Cabinet next month In that report, the public defender recommended, among others things, that the State establishes a trust fund of no less than $10 million “for the benefit of properly identifiable surviving victims of the Coral Gardens incident”, and that a co-operative society be set up exclusively for the benefit of Rastafarians and be granted a licence to cultivate ganja. It further recommended that: “The State uses appropriate language to apologise to those persons who were directly affected by the events of Coral Gardens, 1963, but who were not involved in the unlawful events or activities which led to the tragedy.” In what could be a controversial recommendation, the report also called for “urgent consideration” to be given to the acquisition of

the Outameni property owned by the National Housing Trust in Trelawny “with a view to allocating a portion thereof to the Rastafarian community” for the establishment of a cultural centre it says should be set up by the culture and tourism ministries for the preservation of Rastafari culture. Golding earlier signalled that he would be taking an interest in the matter when he was the featured speaker last Thursday at celebrations marking the 91st anniversary of the birth of late prime minister and People’s National Party ( P N P ) l e a d e r, M i c h a e l Manley, at PNP headquarters in Kingston. Speaking on “Michael Manley and social justice”, Golding outlined the famous social legislation of the 1970s Manley Administration, such as equal pay for women; maternity leave with pay; Status of Children Act; National Minimum Wage; and introduction of the Family Court, among others. He then listed some issues still not yet dealt with, including: “Apology/reparation for past abuses inflicted upon the Rastafari community (Pinnacle in the early 1950s, Coral Gardens atrocities, and the Back o’ Wall demolition in the 1960s.” He also mentioned recognition of the Jamaican language and modification of methods of teaching children for whom ‘Jamaican’ is their first language; more effective responses to domestic violence and violence against children in the home; and tolerance for the LGBT community and the elimination of stigma and discrimination.

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 29

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in first Test in Dunedin Neil Wagner’s “miracle” ball helped New Zealand complete a 122-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Dunedin. Set 405 to win, Sri Lanka resumed on 109-3 looking to bat out the final day to secure a draw and Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal survived an hour. But Wagner followed two short balls to Mathews (25) with a fuller delivery to bowl the Sri Lanka captain and break a 56-run fourth-wicket partnership. Chandimal (58) went 17 balls later and the tourists subsided for 282. “Neil Wagner really stepped up for us,” New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said of the left-arm seamer who was recalled after a year out to play his 18th Test. “Once he got that breakthrough, got Angelo out, then we certainly relaxed the shoulders and were able to push home the advantage.

“It was beautifully set up. Wags decided that at some stage he was going to bowl the miracle ball, try and hit the base of leg stump and in the end it split his defence.” Mathews, who acknowledged being caught in a Wagner “trap”, added the match was a learning experience for his young side. Kithuruwan Vithanage was playing in his ninth Test while Udara Jayasundera, Milinda Siriwardana, Kusal Mendis and Dushmantha Chameera have only nine Tests between them. “Most of the batters were solid in technique, it’s just the mindset that we’ve got to shift around a little bit,” he said. Mathews’ dismissal left Sri Lanka 165-4 and they failed to add to that total before Chandimal was trapped leg before wicket by spinner Mitchell Santner. Vithanage took the attack

to New Zealand, hitting six fours and one six in a run-aball 38 but he was out lbw to Tim Southee as the tourists reached lunch on 224-6. Trent Boult then claimed two quick wickets as the remaining four fell in 11 overs after the interval. The second Test starts in Hamilton on 18 December, providing McCullum with the chance to break Adam Gilchrist’s record for the most sixes in Test matches. McCullum equalled the former Australia wicketkeeper on 100 with two sixes in his six-ball 17 not out in New Z e a l a n d ’s s e c o n d i n nings. Scores: New Zealand 431 (Guptill 156, Williamson 88, McCullum 75, Pradeep 4112) and 267 for 3 dec (Latham 109*, Williamson 71) beat Sri Lanka 294 (Karunaratne 84, Chandimal 83) and 282 (Chandimal 58) by 122 runs.

Tuesday December 15, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You're a logical person, Aries. When insights come to you through ESP, you tend to doubt their validity. Don't do this. If a feeling is particularly strong, go with it. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Doubts about a friend's motives could plague you today, Taurus. This person seems to be acting strangely and isn't communicating. This probably has little if anything to do with you. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A friend or family member might act strangely and seem distracted. You may wonder if he or she is upset with you. This probably isn't the case. This person has issues that need attention. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You should be back to your normal self tomorrow. Stay home tonight, listen to music, and take it easy. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your situation is probably better than it seems on the surface. Lack of information clouds the issue. Check the facts and judge them for yourself before making yourself crazy. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A scheduling conflict may come up today. A business

engagement could interfere with a social event. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) It might take a while to locate it, but it should turn up eventually. There might be some strange messages for you, and you may not be sure whether or not you should return the calls. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you could doubt the amount of money you might get from a business transaction. If you can, verify this before starting anything. You aren't being told something. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Business transactions that could take place in your home or perhaps involve the home might seem a bit unclear today, Sagittarius. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) New businesses could open in your neighborhood that you might want to check out. Take a look - especially if it's a new bookstore. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you might not feel secure about your financial situation, and get a little nervous. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Some unsettling news about your work situation might reach you today and make you worried, Pisces.

New Zealand haven’t lost at home since March 2012, New Zealand v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Dunedin, 5th day, December 14, 2015 ©Getty Images

UDFA ‘GT Beer’ Football... (From page 29) with you and to demonstrate to you that leadership to move this association forward requires that commitment, even from you our players. We are looking at almost $12M injected in the past

years into our players and it is not only $12M, we are pursuing the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), as we have done over the past couple of years, to see as we saw them here today that the goal project, to bring that special project to

the Upper Demerara Football Association,” Solomon stated. Play resumes on Friday with two more matches 6.30pm Milerock versus Eagles United and at 8.15 Blueberry Hill and Winners Connection will battle.

Guyana Police Force, Western... (From page 30) from a foul inside the box in the 5th minute of play. As if conforming to a script, Eastveldt received a similar gift three minutes later after David George was fouled in the box and dutifully breached the Police custodian to equalize the situation in the 8th minute. Thereafter, a keen tussle ensued, as each team attempted to gain the ascendency. Both were unsuccessful and went in at the halfway mark stalemated at a goal apiece. The two teams battled ferociously but failed to breach each other’s defence, that is, until Keron Boston broke away and sunk the decisive goal for the lawmen. In the feature attraction, Western Tigers’ players enjoyed a field day at the expense of Hope FC of Berbice, humiliating them 6-0 after successes from Dwayne Ali (21), Randolph Wagner (39,70), Daron Benjamin (60) and Jamal Pedro (72,85). Activities continue this Saturday evening from 19:00hrs when NA United tackle Blackwater and Rosignol FC face Cougars at the Number 5 Ground, Berbice. Sixteen teams are battling for top honours and they conformed to a march past before President of the

Guyana Football Association, Clifton Hicken and other top

officials just after the first match had concluded.

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Motie (6-33) spins Jaguars to 117-run win over Scorpions

Holding slams WICB as ‘dysfunctional’, ‘untrustworthy’ as board ignores calls for change Sydney Morning Herald Former Test great Michael Holding has issued a stinging public rebuke on the board governing West Indies cricket, labelling it as “dysfunctional” and “untrustworthy” and warned the game in the Caribbean will only deteriorate further if changes are not made. While their players capitulated on the field in Hobart, the directors of the West Indies Cricket Board showed more defiance at their quarterly meeting in St Lucia to discuss the findings of a recent review into the governance of the game. Fairfax Media understands the WICB will not accept the recommendation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) report, which called for the immediate dissolution of the board, but have accepted some changes are needed. The move does not come as a surprise but will anger many of the board’s critics, who feel it has played a large role in the startling decline of West Indies cricket. The decision to retain the current board structure was foreshadowed by the announcement that leading Caribbean legal figure Anthony Astaphan would be used as an advisor to discuss the review by CARICOM’s cricket sub-committee. Astaphan, who addressed the board on Saturday morning, stated in a WICB release the way forward “will look at how both organisations can work together for the benefit of the improvement of cricket on and off and the field”.

West Indies great Michael Holding has been critical of the West Indies Cricket Board. The governance structure of the WICB was labelled “antiquated”, “obsolete” and “anachronistic” by the CARICOM cricket sub-committee. There are 17 directors on the board, comprised of representatives from the 16 different nations which play under the West Indies banner. One of the most feared fast bowlers of his time, Holding, known as Whispering Death for his graceful approach to the wicket, has slammed the board, saying he cannot see the situation improving without its removal. “As for the state of West Indies cricket, that will only get worse as long as this current crop of board members remain there and the structure and culture remains the same,” Holding told Fairfax Media. “You cannot have a healthy productive employee workforce while the employer is dysfunctional, untrustworthy and not liked by the employees.” Holding is referring to the

turbulent relationship between the board and the players, which hit a new low last year after the team abandoned the tour of India mid-series, leading to a massive lawsuit from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. A taskforce appointed by the WICB to investigate the dispute said last December the board needed to “build pillars of trust with the players”. But weeks later selectors dumped then one-day international captain Dwayne Bravo and star all-rounder Kieron Pollard from the World Cup squad, which their lawyer believed was payback for their roles in the player strike. Their omissions were also labelled “ridiculous” by Chris Gayle. The latest humiliation for the former cricket powerhouse came on the weekend when the e i g h t h - r a n k e d Windies were pummelled inside three days by Australia. They have now gone 29 Tests without a victory against a major Test-playing nation away from home a streak stretching back to 2007. While Twenty20 has been regarded as playing a big part in the Windies’ fall from grace in the Test arena, it has also been hailed as a potential saviour. Former Windies great and current team manager Richie Richardson described the Caribbean Premier League, their version of the Big Bash, as being a “very good” development for the game in the region. “It takes time, we’ll have to invest and believe in what we do and that once we do the right thing down the road it will make a massive change,” Richardson told Fairfax Media in February. His view was echoed by Tom Moody, the former Australian international and Sri Lanka coach now serving as the director of cricket for the Caribbean Premier League. “The format has captured the region’s imagination, which is no surprise given that the West Indies were T20 champions only three years ago and have a host of stars who dominate the leagues around the world,” Moody wrote in a column for The West Australian. “Grassroots growth is vital for the West Indies to establish a blueprint for the future, which is why T20 could be the saviour for the sport.”

Tuesday December 15, 2015

The Guyana Jaguars roared to their fifth consecutive win in this season’s WICB PCL four-day Franchise with an emphatic 117run victory over the Jamaica Scorpions at Sabina Park yesterday. Twenty-year-old left arm spinner Gudakesh Motie befuddled the batsmen on the last day track to finish with 6-33 as Jamaica were bowled out for 208 after being set 336 for an unlikely win. Scores: Jaguars (189 & 282), Scorpions (146 & 208). The former West Indies Under-19 player, grabbed the last s i x w i c k e t s a f t e r pacer Keon Joseph, in his first match for the season, made the breakthrough by having overnight batsman Antiguan D e v o n T h o m as (31) caught and bowled in the sixth over of the day to trigger a collapse. The last seven wickets tumbled for 108 runs as the Jaguars extended their unbeaten streak in PCL cricket to 12 games with the rampaging Jaguars notching up their second successive victory against Jamaica in their own backyard. It was always going to be an uphill task for Jamaican to survive at least 90 overs on a track which was sure to offer plenty of assistance for Guyana’s much vaunted three-prong spin attack of Motie, Steven Jacobs and Test spinner Veerasammy Permaul. But when the dust had settled with over a session to spare, it was Berbician Motie, the youngest and most inexperienced of the trio who had ripped apart the middle and lower order to finish with seven scalps in the game and 34 from five matches to continue his dream start at this level after picking up three wickets on debut against the Windwards at Providence. Jacobs had 2-38 after missing one game to end the first half of the tournament with 19 wickets while Permaul, who went wicket less yesterday, is on 17 wickets from three games. Jamaica resumed on 82-3 with Thomas on 20 and the burly Tamar Lambert on one, needing another 244 for an improbable win or to bat out the day to save the match. When the 26-year-old

Gudakesh Motie celebrates a wicket with Skipper Leon Johnson in a previous match in this WICB file photo. Thomas, 29 short of his 13th fifty at this level, provided Joseph with his second wicket, the Jaguars were in the ascendency. Only Lambert of the remaining batsmen offered any fight with a dogged 30 although the strapping Sheldon Cottrell made an aggressive 23 and debutant pacer Rovman Powell made 23. The experienced Carlton Baugh (17) was caught and bowled by the crafty Motie at 137-5 and by Lunch the home team, watched by a handful of spectators, were 147-5 with Lambert on 29 and Powell on six. After the interval Motie, who plays for Albion in Berbice went to work and Lambert’s fight ended when he hit Motie to Jacobs just after Lunch to leave Jamaica on 148-6. Damion Jacobs (1) was LBW to Motie and at 150-7 the Scorpio n s h a d l o s t i t sting although Powell and Cottrell added 28 in a frustrating eightwicket stand as once again the Jaguars seemed not to understand what it takes to go for the kill went they scent blood. But it was the pencil thin

Motie who broke the stand by dismissing Cottrell (23) at 178-8 but Powell continued to occupy the crease and along with Miller (12) added another 20 for the ninth wicket as polishing off the tail in a clinical manner continues to be one of the Jaguars’ few blemishes this season. Motie wrapped the match when he trapped Miller (12) LBW at 198-9 to give Motie his fourth fivewicket haul before Powell’s resistance ended when he hit Motie to Joseph to spark celebrations in the Jaguars camp. The defending champs return home for a well earned break to enjoy the Christmas festivities knowing they have a 22-point l e a d i n the tournament as they are sitting pretty on 85 points. Barbados are second with 63 points, while Jamaica, who got no points from this game, remain on 50. Regional cricket resumes with the NAGICO Super50 from January 7 when the Ja g u a r s o p e n t h e i r 5 0 overs campaign against t h e Wi n d w a r d s i n S t Kitts.

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Popular racehorse owner and businessman Mohammed “Nankoo” Shariff passes on The horseracing fraternity and the business community in Guyana has lost a stalwart with the passing of popular horseracing and businessman Mohammed Shariff popularly known as “Nankoo”. Shariff of No4 Village West Coast Berbice Guyana’s died on Sunday evening in the United States of America where he was flown to after taking ill at home. He was reportedly suffering from complications including heart and kidney problems. Although he was ill, his passing came as a shock to most in Guyana. Mr. Shariff, a much beloved owner and personality on the racing scene, played an integral role in raising the competitive level of racing with many of his champion horses. The likes of Dubai Dutchess, Silent Night, Ferry Landing, Majestic, Damascus Dream, Swing Easy, Storm in a tea cup, Swing Easy, Settle In Seattle, California Strike and of late Witchy Poo, Plum Plum, Princess She Not and Spit Fire. “Nankoo”, as he is affectionately known, was a popular business man as he was a racehorse owner. A large scale rice and live stock farmer with herds of cattle, goats, sheep, birds among other lives stocks, he also has his stable and a large farm at No6 village West Coast Berbice. A large workshop is also located at his No 4 residence.

Mohammed “Nankoo” Shariff A re-migrant Guyanese, he re-entered the horseracing arena with telling effect, with his stable rising to be among the top stables in Guyana. Shariff was a fixture at almost every race meet, even fighting illnesses to be at the track. Never one to raise his voice or engage in the usual horse trading of words, Mr. Shariff was always racing’s gentleman; preferring to make his point with winning many of racing’s features. Shariff was definitely the “Man of the Meeting”, mild mannered, humble and approachable in any situation, he could be found at a race meeting sitting quietly under his broad “Sheriff” hat all by himself. Once, asked for his opinion on a wrangle of words between horse owners, Shariff exclaimed, “me nah get

in dem things, me ah race horse and win”. Over the past year there is not a horseracing event or activity in Guyana that the name Shariff was not associated with and like a true “Sheriff” his racing entity had been moving in leaps and bounds. The racing entity had not only been racing horses, but had also been associated with sponsorship, training and breeding and organizing its own race meets. One of the largest racing stable in Guyana, second only to the Jumbo Jet, Shariff has had his animals in full training for the upcoming Guyana Cup Rematch horse race meet set for next Sunday with a promised 14 entries. He had stated that horseracing takes a lot of hard work and money and some luck to be successful. It is not always smooth sailing as Shariff himself could attest. He had stated that horseracing do not make money in Guyana. And he was in the business basically as a form of relaxation and fun. He recently spoke out against the PPP that owed horse owners millions of dollars. Kaieteur Sport joins with the rest of the horseracing fraternity and business community in offering sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mohammed “Nankoo” Shariff. (Samuel Whyte)

Serena Williams honored as SI’s Sportsperson of the Year

NEW YORK, United States (AP) — Serena Williams is Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year — the first female athlete honored on her own by the magazine in more than 30 years. Williams came within two matches of tennis’ first calendar-year Grand Slam since 1988, a bid that ended with a semifinal loss at the U.S. Open. In all, the 34-year-old American went 53-3 during 2015 with five titles, including at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. Williams was No. 1 in the WTA rankings all season. “She was the most deserving person for the award. She had an amazing year. The way she won her events; the fact that she’s done this for so many years at such a high level,” said Paul Fichtenbaum, editor of the Sports Illustrated Group. “She was a terrific candidate in a year of terrific can-

Serena Williams (Photo: AP)

didates.” Monday’s announcement marks a switch to the formal name of the SI award; past recipients were touted as Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year. “We just felt this was a natural evolution. ... We’re not making a huge deal out of it,” Fichtenbaum said. “It just feels like the right time to make the change.” Runner Mary Decker in 1983 was the last female athlete to earn the magazine’s award by herself.

The U.S. women’s national soccer team was picked by SI in 1999; speedskater Bonnie Blair in 1994 and gymnast Mary Lou Retton in 1984 were co-honorees with male Olympians. “Men’s sports has dominated until recently, when women’s sports has grown in popularity, and the competition is better than ever,” Fichtenbaum said. “There’s more of a focus on women’s sports now. It’s grown considerably. Specifically why? I’m not sure.”

Page 31

Letter to Sports Editor

From GCB to WICB to ICC - the Triumvirate of administrative failure Dear Sports Editor, In a December 5th Trinidad Newsday article “Territorial Boards need changing” former WIPA President Dinanath Ramnarine made a very poignant statement that should resonate strongly with those in the Guyana cricket fraternity. Speaking on the CARICOM sub-committee of Cricket Governance report Ramnarine said, ‘I’m not dealing with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) which is a shell because it is made up of the six territorial boards. The territorial boards must be examined.’ “Take for example the issue with Guyana, they haven’t had a democratic election for the last five years or so, but yet they’re allowed to determine who the president is of the WICB.” Considering that Ramnarine famously took the WICB to court and won all the cases for WIPA, members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) should be quite nervous that he has them in his sights. Since the fiasco of the India tour pull out, under the leadership of Dave Cameron the WICB is in tatters, leading for CARICOM’s called for the WICB to be disbanded and a interim committee take over. As Ramnarine noted because WICB is a shell of the boards like the GCB, these governance problems can be traced back to 2012 when the PPP government tried to implement a IMC to take over Guyana cricket. This is not a coincidence, it reinforces the point of if domestic board problems are not fixed - their cancers will filter into how the WICB operates. The cancer goes further up to ICC level also. Tim Wigmore, 2015 English Cricket Board young Journalist of the year award winner, writing on December 7th in the UK Guardian article,

“Both the WICB & ICC are to blame for West Indies decline” said, “Two weeks ago, Shashank Manohar, the BCCI president and new ICC chairman, criticised “the three major countries bullying the ICC”. His words were a reminder that, for all the self-inflicted element to the West Indies’ decline, the ICC’s iniquitous running of world cricket today has accelerated their descent.” ICC has long been noted as the worse governing body in world sports and even though FIFA corruption issues are being well exposed currently, when it comes to proper administration of a sport they are light years ahead of ICC. How the ICC & FIFA have dealt with the Guyana cricket and football controversies in the past four years is plain for everyone to see. In the last two years FIFA has overseen two democratic GFF elections, while implementing a Normalization committee to tackle almost identical issues in the GFF & GCB. The ICC never sent a representative to Guyana, placing full responsibility on the anarchic WICB - while FIFA and CONCACAF sent representatives to deal with the GFF. Recently Dave Cameron visited Guyana in July for a town-hall meeting, he dodged questions from critics regarding WICBs handling of the GCB situation like a batsman facing a bouncer from the great Windies pace attack of the 70s and 80s. It has become quite obvious overtime that Cameron never have had any intention of solving the Guyana cricket issues - simply because GCB voted for him in both WICB elections. Majority is at the end of their tether with the Cameron/ WICB and many feel that like former USSR and Yugoslavia football teams, the West Indies institution should break up. The general hope is that CARICOM is ready to flex

its muscle and read WICB the riot act and forcefully by disbanding them - despite their predictable procrastination response at the Directors meeting in St. Lucia over the weekend. ICC unlike FIFA never has had a clear policy about government roles in sport because currently Sri Lanka has another interim committee running its affairs. Call their bluff if they try to ban West Indies. President David Granger, Minister Rupert Roopnarine and Director of Sport Christopher Jones need to be on the ball regarding these developments. Do not be fooled by Guyana’s current on-field success in the regional firstclass competition, because the standard of domestic cricket is poor and the Jaguars are just repeating what Jamaica did a few years ago by being the best among a average bunch. Guyana is not suddenly producing a trailer of load of West Indies ready talent Rajendra Chandrika scoring 3 ducks in his first four test innings shows this. Cricket remains the only sport where young Guyanese have a guaranteed option of making money as an elite athlete - it is imperative that at this stage the government reopens investigations over the DCB situation so that a fairly elected body is constituted to represent Demerara, review the cricket administration bill and make sure in the upcoming GCB elections - Berbice votes. It would be ludicrous if these aforementioned problems are repeated for a third election. If it does Guyana should not be allowed to vote in next WICB election nor host games in the next years’ tri-series against Australia and South Africa. It is time perpetrators of maladministration at the GCB and WICB be kicked out once and for all! Colin Benjamin

Page 32

Kaieteur News

GTTA National Championships to return in January The Executive Committee of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has confirmed that their flagship National Championships will be held in two segments with the senior competition set for January 14-17 and the junior contest January 21-24, 2016. “The 22 category Championships was not held in the last three years for varying reasons (which included) international schedule of players and sponsorship for the 22 category event,” a release from the GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe said yesterday. “The Executive felt it was very critical that every effort is made to have this Championship given its critical importance to structuring the sport, more so at the commencement of the year, which would lend to structuring ranking, selection and other aspects,” the release continued. The GTTA believes that the keys to structuring the sport includes (a) providing an environment for the legacy and history of the sport with crowning and naming of national champions in the respective categories into the annals of history of the sport;

Godfrey Munroe (b) establishment of national ranking system, which would guide the selection process and is critical to transparency; (c) establishing a benchmark to which players must aspire in view of improving the competitiveness of the sport domestically and (d)

allows for the promotion and marketability of players among other benefits. “The Championship truly provides an environment to expose and showcase the next generation of champions. With several of the players coming off their successful sojourn at the US Open Team Champio n s h i p s , t h e association feels that the 2016 (National) Championships makes for a very competitive championship filled with keen rivalries among the players in the various categories,” the release indicated. This is given the abundance and nucleus of young emerging and immensely talented players with lots of potential currently playing the sport. The association said that early announcement would allow players to train in preparation for the Championships. In addition, it would allow players residing overseas to participate, which would develop a better competitive structure. According to the GTTA, the tournament is being held outside of any exam period, which would lend to greater participation as anticipated.

Cricket for Unity to be held January 30 at Providence Organizers receive approval letter from WICB Legacy and 007 Promotions, in collaboration with corporate sponsors and support from the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) will hold a day of fun and frolic for the entire family at the Providence Stadium on Saturday January 30. The event will climax with a scintillating t20 cricket match under lights involving the Caribbean’s best t20 cricketers. Last week the organizers received a letter of approval from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for the game which will see some of the biggest names in West Indies cricket in action for what should be a capacity crowd of over 15,000 fans and a winner’s Prize of $1 million dollars and the President’s Trophy. Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Krismar Santokie and Nick Pooran should all be in action for an All Stars

team which will face a President’s X1 under lights. The Organizers are expecting confirmation from three of the top t20 players in World by early next year. The atmosphere at Providence should be absolutely electric since the game will be broadcast live by NCN Radio’s top Commentators, while three Cheerleaders for each team will compete beyond the boundary by ‘s t r u t t i n g their stuff ’ to pulsating rhythms from the sound system. Leon Johnson, Rajendra Chandrika, Chris Barnwell, Jonathon Foo, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Steven Jacobs, Raymond Reifer, Jevon Searles and Shiv Chanderpaul should be names featuring in the match, while there will also be softball cricket from some of the country’s leading teams in both male and female categories with the softball final also being played under lights.

According the Public Relations Office (PRO) of the Event former National off-spinner Sean Devers, the fun will begin from as early as 10:00hrs and will include Ferris wheels, Trampolines and other activities for Children. Devers informed that tickets, which should go on sale early next year, will allow fans the opportunity to witness the cricket and have unlimited rides in the fun park with no additional cost. “This is an ideal occasion to bring out the young, the old and the in between for a New Year’s treat and come back in the evening or stay the entire day to see International cricketers display their talent in t20 cricket which has captured the interest of many young fans who have little passion for Te s t C r i c k e t , ” D e v e r s concluded. He also informed that an official ‘Event Launch’ will be held shortly.

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Sunburst / EBFA U17 League

Grove and Soesdyke to clash in final following semi final wins

Soesdyke Falcons and Herstelling Raiders in battle. Defending champions Grove Hi Tech continue to roll over all opposition with a solid 12-1 whipping of Mocha Champs to book their place in the final of the SUNBURST / East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-17 competition. Playing at home on Saturday last, Grove was again in a no nonsense mood as they took their tally of goals in the tournament to 30 from the previous 18. They have booked a date with Soesdyke Falcons who took down Herstelling Raiders in an epic battle, 4-3 in extra time. The star for the Timehri based side that is getting better with every game was Tyrel Khan who first netted the equalizing goal after they found themselves trailing before he found the winning goal in the second period of extra time to send his side into the final and will face Grove for the second time in the tournament. Grove, having won all the association junior tournaments last year are yet to win any this year and are focused on making it right in the third tournament for 2015 having given up the Pee Wee Under11 to Herstelling and the Under-13 to Agricola. However, the Under-17s

are not in a mood to let this one go just yet, but will have to overcome the ever improving Soesdyke Falcons in Saturday’s championship match. Rocking the nets for Grove were Alwyn Haynes who scored a hat-trick (25th, 48th & 64th); Nicholai Matthews (22nd & 40th), Gregory Stephens (55th & 62nd), Goalkeeper Randy Smartt (17th), Threvon Pluck (36th), Tevin Millington (38th) and Denzil Crawford in the 44th minute. The first semi final produced a fierce battle between Soesdyke and Herstelling with the latter team easing into the lead from the penalty spot in the 5th minute, Daniel Nedd who had a brace in the game handing his side the initial advantage. That lead was secured for some time but it was eventually nullified when Tyrel Khan, who also scored a double, drew Soesdyke level in the 31st minute. Khan’s brother, Tyrone, put Soesdyke ahead in the penultimate minute before halftime (34th) from the penalty spot; the match as well and truly on. Herstelling, even with National Under-17 custodian Quazim Yussuf between the

uprights could not keep the Soesdyke boys at bay. It was Herstelling who equalized in the 48th minute, Nedd achieving his second of the match. Herstelling even regained the lead following a good period of play to go ahead 3-2 when Seon Alfred breached the Soesdyke defence and goalkeeper Dyonta Grant-Stuart in the 51st minute. But even as Herstelling went ahead with the minutes winding down, Soesdyke never let up their offensive ambitions and were rewarded with the equalizing goal to tie the game at 3 in the 52nd minute thanks to a well placed shot by Tavin Marshall. The remaining eight minutes of regulation time could not separate the sides and based on the rules, 30 additional minutes in the form of extra time in two equal halves of 15 minutes each was required to arrive at a winner. It was in the first period of extra time that Soesdyke sealed the deal; Tyrel Khan was the hero for his side when he blasted his shot past Yussuf in the 83rd minute. Soesdyke were able to defend that advantage for the remaining 17 minutes to earn their date with Grove in Saturday’s final.

Kwakwani does it again -win another youth basketball title Kwakwani Secondary School continues to establish its dynasty in youth basketball with a narrow 75-70 win against Government Technical Institute (GTI) in the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Titan Bowl VI Final Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Kwakwani’s guard, Stanton Rose led with 20 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Damair Gladstone had 18 points and six steals; forward, Jamal Gilkes also had a double with 10 points and 11 rebounds and Kerrol Phillips 10 points

and six rebounds. Point Guard, Nathan Saul, who returned GTI to their first school final in 10 years, scored a game high 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds with four assists. Sabastian Luke scored 20 points while raking in eight rebounds for the technical institute. First year GTI student, Nathan Saul, was named tournament Most Valuable Player even though Kwakwani prevailed by adding yet another title to its sizeable collection. Kwakwani Secondary defeated Linden Technical Insti-

tute (LTI) 47-31 in the semifinals with the top performers for Kwakwani being Troy David and Rose with 15 and 11 points respectively; for LTI, Tahquille Johnson had 13 points and Ron Profitt nine points and nine rebounds. In the other semi, GTI defeated New Amsterdam Multilateral School 58-31 with Saul pouring in 29 points and six rebounds. Malcolm Powdar and Luke supported with 10 points apiece. For the opposing Multi, Sherland Gillis had 13 points and seven rebounds.

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 33

UDFA ‘GT Beer’ Football Tournament Vasco, Train Line through to quarter-finals

The excitement of yearend football made a grand return to the Mining Town of Linden, with the staging of the UDFA/GT Beer Football Cup, which kicked off on Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground. Thousands gathered at Region 10’s premier venue and witnessed Kwakwani Strikers taming Retrieve Lions 4 – 0, and Train Line defeating Vasco 2 – 1. Playing in the opening match of the third installation of the GT Beer sponsored tournament, Dale Sauers netted the game’s first goal just five minutes into the contest. Roy Leacock who made light work of the Retrieve Lions’ defence throughout the night, scored two goals (36th and 63rd minute), while Shane Adams found the back of the net in the 70th minute to cap a lopsided affair in favour of the team from the Berbice River. Kwakwani Strikers, following their win on Sunday, will now play Sliver Shattas on Boxing Night (December 26). In the second game of the night Anil Hatton netted in the 24th minute to give Train Line the advantage when he headed in a corner taken by Shawn Stephens. And just when the massive crowd felt that the first half would have ended 1-0, Vasco team equalised through a 45th minute goal which came off the boot of Kevin Cadogan. However, the game would swing back in favour of Train Line in the 58th minute as Chavez Hescott finished a cross from Hatton which went past the last post to score. Train Line booked their place in the quarter-final following their 2 – 1 win over Vasco, and will now face Topp XX on December 26. The collaboration between the UDFA and Banks DIH will see fourteen teams participating for cash prizes and trophies. The first place team will pocket $800,000, while second place will cart off $500,000. Third place will be awarded $300,000, while the team which places fourth

will walk away with $200,000 in cash. All matches will be played at the MSC Ground, with the other playing nights being December 18, 20, 26, 27, Semi-final on December 30 and Final on January 1, 2016. Meanwhile, the event opened with the march past of teams and addresses from officials including GFF President Wayne Forde who said, “I am paying tribute to the great players of Linden like Johnson, the Hutson brothers, Collie Hercules, Charlie Pollard, those individuals who would have graced this venue and brought much entertainment to the crowds. I also would like to announce to the entire public, the executive body of the UDFA, the relationship that Linden would have enjoyed with previous executive body will improve dramatically. We see Linden as a significant force within the football family. Just after being banned and being able to pick themselves up at this point in almost two tournaments as an example I hope that the rest of the football family will take an example from. So we are happy to get on board and we look forward to every new opportunity to collaborate with Linden going forward.” UDFA President Sharma Solomon noted, “We hope that this tournament returning to Region 10 (Upper Demerara) that it will produce not only talented players but it can give to Guyana the showpiece that we have given to the past several decades. We hope that this evening and the rest of the evenings and the 1st of January, we can see at the Mackenzie Sports Club the spectacle we call year end football. We are proud that the Guyana Football Federation would have seen it fit to partner with us, to come on board with us and to show us that support which the federation should give an association.” He went on further, “To Mr. Forde, you and your executives we say thank you and say to our sponsors Banks DIH and those who saw it fit to maintain that commitment with us, and lend that support that football needs, we say thank you for your sponsorship. We ask that others be given the opportunity to come on

board to partner with us to show that football is the greatness that it possess to change lives and to change communities. We ask of you fans, last but not least, to continue the support and as you show that commitment that football would have demonstrated over the years to build our community, we encourage

you to lend that which we ask of you, because we will continue to give what football needs, our support.” “To our players, we say to you even if we stand in the rain, it is because of you and if we ask of you so that we can be encouraged to invest. We ask of you with that sort of commitment that we stand (Continued on page 25)

Goal scorers for Kwakwani Strikers from left Shane Adams, Ray Leacock and Dale Sauers.

Page 34

Kaieteur News

Lanferman, Somerset to participate at CFU/MLS Combine in Curacao The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) named Alpha United’s Delon Lanferman and Jumane Somerset of Pele FC, as Guyana’s selection for the 2015 Major League Soccer (MLS) Combine in Curacao. Set for December 17 – 20, the MLS Combine will feature players from within the confines of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), competing in front of professional scouts for an opportunity to earn an invitation to the annual Adidas MLS Player Combine in Florida on January 8 – 13, 2016. Guyana’s senior national team head coach Jamaal Shabazz selected the players following his assessment of the STAG Elite League (Genesis) and keeping with the 18 – 22 years-old MLS Combine rule. Lanferman finished the League (Genesis) as the

Delon Lanferman

Jumane Somerset

highest goal scorer (10), one more than Pele’s Gregory Richardson. He played a pivotal role in his club’s success this year, despite them finishing second in the League (Genesis) behind Slingerz Football Club. The 20 year-old Lanferman is yet to make his Senior National team debut, though representing Guyana at the U-20 and U23 levels.

Somerset, 22, is described as one of Guyana’s top de f e n d e r s , b u t t h e player is also yet to make his Golden Jaguar debut. Pele FC finished third in the STAG Elite League (Genesis) and conceded a total of 14 goals in their 16 matches played. Only league champions Slingerz FC (9) and Alpha United (11) conceded fewer goals.

The MLS Caribbean Combine is an annual showcase of Caribbean football talent organised jointly by MLS and the CFU in 2013, with the inaugural combine being held in January 2014. The combine provides opportunities for Caribbean players to be observed by MLS scouts with the hopes of being invited to the MLS Combine, an invite-only showcase event held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida prior to the annual MLS SuperDraft. The combine is part of an agreement between the two entities as they try to promote football development throughout the Caribbean region. Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson is the first and only Guyanese player to be signed by an MLS club following his 2009 deal with the Colorado Rapids.

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Guyana Football Association/ Banks DIH football championships

Guyana Police Force, Western Tigers advance in curtain raiser

The Guyana Police Force scored a last gasp goal 3 minutes before the final whistle to defeat Eastveldt 21 when the curtains went up on the 5th edition of the Guyana Football Association/Banks DIH Football Championships at the Police Sports Club

Ground, Eveleary, last Sunday evening. The first two goals of the match were scored from the penalty spot during exchanges in the first half. Policeman, Leron Charles, sunk his team’s first goal after he was gifted a penalty (Continued on page 25)

Tuesday December 15, 2015

Kaieteur News

Eastman cops silver at Barbados int’l Judo tourney Guyana’s multitalented sporting ambassador, Hamza Eastman, copped silver at the recently concluded 15th Barbados International Judo tournament which was held at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gym, (December 3-7). Eastman, also a cyclist, competed in the 73kg weight category with athletes from the USA, Barbados, Curacao, Guadeloupe and Trinidad and Tobago. President of the Guyana Judo Association Raoul Archer who served as coach on the trip said he is proud of Eastman’s achievement. He stated that much work needs to be done if Guyana is to win gold medals, but added that plans are in place to uplift the sport here. The president indicated that he attended a referee’s seminar and a Judo training camp as well as the Caribbean Judo Confederation (CJC) ordinary congress; all in Barbados. The CJC is currently working diligently for the inclusion of Judo in the CARIFTA Games in the 2017. Archer has expressed gratitude to the GOA, Khan’s Auto Sale, Bettencourt Diner, Sankar’s Auto Sales, John Fernandes, Mr. Jarvis of the Ministry of Agriculture, LIAT and the executive members of the GJA.

Hamza Eastman

Page 35

Wolf Memorial Softball cricket tournament to begin January 10 The Wolf Softball cricket tournament organized by the Guyana Softball League is set to begin on Sunday 10th January. The tournament is being played in the Open and Over-40 Masters category and will have about $200,000 in prizes on offer. It will also be played with the big ball and will be played throughout the country. The teams will play the 20/20 format and the balls can be bought from the Trophy Stall who is also a sponsor. Shaneeza Enterprise is the other sponsor on board. Teams wishing to register can contact the following persons: WEST COAST - Leonard Harprashad – 646-0568/268-2458; Imran Hussain – 613-

8889; EAST BANK – Shafeek Mohamed 657-2300/265-4720; East Coast – Nadir Baskh 222-3605 (After 5.30pm) ;Bashir Khan – 609-0161; Essequibo -Ragubar612-3973; Upper Corentyne – James Hart628-2391/335-3111; Lower Corentyne – Omeshwar Sirikishun- 332-1127/6275788;W.C.B- Alston Barrington – 628-8291; Georgetown- (contact Leonard Harprashad – 646-0568; New Amsterdam – Pinkey Arthur- 615-2493; Linden – Mortimer Denny – 442-1562/ 639-0057. Any team not making contact with any representative can contact GSL direct on telephone number 268-2458.

t r o Sp

Kwakwani does it again -win another youth basketball title

Grove Hi Tech’s Denzil Crawford (left) in control for his team against Mocha Champs.

Sunburst / EBFA U17 League

Grove and Soesdyke to clash in final following semi final wins

Kwakwani Coach, Ann Gordon (right) poses with her successful basketball team Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Motie (6-33) spins Jaguars to 117-run win over Scorpions 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