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Kaieteur News
Friday December 20, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the 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
The inexorable two-edged sword After several decades, the phenomenon of the “barrel”, stuffed with the necessities and shipped in by overseas relatives and friends, is now an established fact. And so the question arises: “What has been its effect on the national economy, and perhaps more importantly the national psyche?” If the truth be told, the actual “barrel” flow has diminished somewhat since its heyday in the eighties when the goods in those barrels literally kept body and soul together for so many families. After the opening up of the economy in the late eighties and early nineties, overseas Guyanese gradually shifted to sending home cash since “you could buy the things right in Guyana”. Barrels are now the preferred mode of “helping out at home during the Christmas holidays” and the Government has over the years adapted to this process by instituting special procedures in the customs department to clear any possible backlogs at this time. The flow of the remittances by the overseas Guyanese seems to be continuing unabated and, by some reckoning, has not as yet been significantly affected by the country’s being recently blacklisted. It may be of some note that estimates by internationally recognised entities have indicated that one third of global remittances are conducted through informal transfer channels, but countries with weak financial sectors and systems tend to have the highest flows. Remittances reportedly make the most significant regional contributions in the Middle East (72%), North Africa (54%), the Caribbean (51%) and South Asia (51%). At the national level, some countries rely more on remittances than on official development assistance. By whatever measure applied and/or accepted, the sum flowing into Guyana has always been very substantial. For example, there are few new houses constructed today in Guyana that are not substantially funded from abroad. While the remittances have undoubtedly helped to prevent what would have been a greater social and economic crisis in Guyana, the phenomenon has had some deleterious and insidious effects – especially on the Guyanese psyche. Today there are many Guyanese, especially youths, who depend totally on the cash from abroad to “make a living”. They have no incentive to look for jobs. This takes a big bite out of the prime group that should be motivated to put their shoulders to the wheel to develop Guyana by being gainfully employed. Those who are willing to work are not inclined to accept less than US$8-10 per day for even the most unskilled task – such as turning paddy on the roadsides during the rice harvesting period. It is for this reason that, as the Government continues its efforts to apply cost-cutting measures in the sugar industry where it has pumped in huge investments, it will be facing severe labour problems, especially in Berbice – the site of the largest bloc of recipients of remittances. Other entrepreneurs who want to open up businesses in Guyana also face this wage spike. When we compare the wage demands of the unskilled Guyanese, fuelled by remittances, against those of skilled workers such as computer programmers in India or the Philippines (they are in the same range), we would appreciate why the “hitech” jobs promised by the Government for well over a decade have not materialised. Experts have opined that at the macro-level, the benefits of remittances are generally seen as positive, though significant flows of remittances can mask problems and delay needed economic or regulatory reforms. Conversely, however, some researchers argue that, at the micro-level, remittances may exacerbate income inequalities in communities. Remittances then are a two-edged sword, especially if the valuable foreign currency received is ploughed only into immediate consumption. The Government has to find ways of encouraging Guyanese recipients of remittances to invest in their country - for increased consumption of all in the future.
PPP needs to stop undermining local government communities they haven’t won DEAR EDITOR, The Speaker had advised this nation the message sent by the President consistent with Article 170(3) giving his reasons for withholding assent to the Local Government (Amendment) Bill will be released to the nation after he shared it with Members of the National Assembly. In deference for this apparent protocol, the National Assembly has since met, and by now the President’s message should have been released to the public. The Speaker is called on to release this message. This is the people’s business and ought to be made known to the people. This Bill seeks to deepen citizens’ involvement in their quest for self-determination which is consistent with realising the autonomy of local government and oversight responsibility vested in the constitutionally mandated Local Government Commission (Articles 75 and 78A) and we must know the president’s reasons for nonassent.This obsession with national leaders to dictate what happens in the villages and towns is today seeing another crisis in Georgetown and its environs. The picture of a president, standing in long boots, hands akimbo, in a flooded community in attempt to convey the
impression of effective management must not fool us. For the president and team to lay blame for the city’s unhealthy and unsightly state at the doors of the City Council and the PNC is an act of inept political leadership. The City Council comprises councillors from the PPP, PNC and GGG. This nation must call on the president to tell us what recommendation(s) the PPP councillors presented to any statutory meeting to improve the residents’ quality of life and bring relief to the ever present flood crisis. The City Council must also put this information in the public domain. Failure to provide answers/evidence will confirm that citizens are being held hostage to political immaturity and machinations. Agencies now reeling from the effects and seeking refuge from or abdication of some responsibility are also reminded of the period when the city’s by-laws were enforced for the establishment of businesses in some communities and the use of public reserves. Some have benefitted from the present lawlessness and association with the powers that be promoting this contempt. Now the chickens have come home to roost and all are being consumed, even the innocent. There was a
period in this country, in spite of scarce resources, this level of flooding was unbeknown. Places like Le Repentir Cemetery, National Park, Botanical Gardens, Camp Ayangana, and Eve Leary were never unkempt. What is happening in this society is that we continue to see a government illequipped to adequately perform, lurching from crisis to crisis and masking such through wild assertions, and the offer of temporary relief. The calls for Hamilton Green to go and the appointment of an Interim Management Committee must be resisted by every law-abiding citizen in our quest to protect and respect the right to selfdetermination. One does not have to like a person to respect his/her rights. Similarly, one does not have to dislike a person to draw attention to his/her transgressions. This is a nation of laws and we must uphold them. Through balloting Hamilton Green-led GGG secured the plurality of votes and the councillors elected him Mayor. He must be removed by the same legitimate process that placed him there. This society must reach the level when matters of national import see our intolerance for the actions of those who violate laws and
transgress rights. The PPP needs to stop undermining the work of local government communities they have not won. The President in the discharge of his duties must set the example to operate within the parameters of the country’s constitution and laws. For the president and team to take the position it can deny the council resources and obligations (rates, taxes, grants, maintenance of main roads and waterways, etc.) because of its political composition (consistent with Articles 10 and 147) is a breach of the Constitution they swore to uphold. Lest we forget, executive authority/supremacy does not mean you operate outside and above the Constitution. The role of an Executive is to carry-out/manage the decisions/desire of the collective and in politics this is driven through the legislature and judicature. The Executive cannot operate contrary to these institutions. In fact, the Executive is guided in its duties by these branches of government. Any policy/decision created and implement by this branch has to be consistent with our laws, which the legislature makes as informed by the Constitution and in instance of conflict, adjudicated by the judicature. Lincoln Lewis
DEAR EDITOR, For many any exercise of a celebratory nature at this time is essentially illusionary, if indeed not delusionary. On reflection on all the declamations, the angry, vociferous parliamentary exch a n g e s ; t h e p a t e n t blindness and deafness of contending stakeholders; the defferential environment surrounding judicial pronouncements; the resounding silences of civil society; and the sonorous indifferent plaints of religious groupings, contrasting with the protagonistic media commentaries: all cumulating into the sterile cacophony that has marked 2013. By any account 2013 has been a year of non-achievement. The gross domestic product bears no relevance to the quality of life, nor is it representative of the depth of spiritual comfort which so many desperately seek. There is no place to go, no model to emulate, in the search for integrity, principle and those best practices that would add value to living,
and upgrade the worth of interactions between colleagues, and amongst groups. Come the next year and we are asked to look
forward to a new calendar of doomsday prognoses; to the contrived justifications f o r t h e postponements of illconceived infrastructural
projects, to the obfuscations intended to cloud the almost addictive misuse of funds; to the robotic programming of (Continued on page 05)
This is a flagrant disregard for basic journalistic ethics DEAR EDITOR, I am now comfortable to write on the issuance of the Permission of a Geological and Geophysical Survey (PGGS) issued to Muri Brazil Ventures Inc., following several revelations by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and information provided by stakeholders within the gold mining sector. As a medium scale progressive miner, this matter has been of special interest to me, just as many other concerned Guyanese, particularly miners. At first, I thought that APNU and the media, particularly Stabroek News have a very good case as it related to the information that the APNU Member and newspaper churned out.
However, despite the big hullabaloo by APNU and Stabroek News, the facts provided by the Ministry, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Private Sector, Miners, Muri Brazil Ventures Inc. and other stakeholders involved decimated the sinister plan to implicate the Minister and the GGMC of any wrong doing or secret deal with the mining company as it was implied. Despite the revelations that exposed APNU and Stabroek News, there have been no apologies or retractions for the disrepute and aspersions brought upon the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, the GGMC and the mining sector as a whole. This is a flagrant disregard for basic journalistic and
professional ethics on part by the Stabroek News and APNU’s Joseph Harmon, respectively. The recent episodes of sensational and scandalous writing and comments occur too often without any validation and as such those culpable should be sanctioned by the relevant authorities, legal or otherwise the same trend is bound to continue. Stabroek News and APNU have been exposed for their unwarranted attacks on miners; the sector has taken note of these continuous attacks over the past few weeks and the facts and clarifications which adequately dispel the misinformation. Mark Fraser
Friday December 20, 2013
Kaieteur News
Letters... Where your views make the news
I challenge Kwame Mc Coy to answer these questions
DEAR EDITOR, A friend called me insisting that I tune in on the Mr. Kwame McCoy ‘Square Talk TV Program’ - he launched a vigorous personal attack on my character. From what I heard, allow me to state the following; then I will pose Mr. McCoy some questions, to which he has so far failed to give a truthful response. First, the billions he says are collected by Mayor and City Council and misspent by the Mayor is a colossal fabrication and an abuse of the media. The Mayor has absolutely nothing to do, I repeat nothing to do, with the spending of monies, this is within the purview of this Town Clerk imposed on us by the Minister, she signs all cheques and decides outside of the recommendations of the Mayor and City Council. So Mr. McCoy, if there is misspending, it is by the Minister/Town Clerk duo, not the Mayor. What we have in this so called democracy is an administrative dictatorship. Ms. Sooba modus
operandi does not allow even for a discussion related to the spending of monies she, compliments of the Minister, is now the unqualified, imperial mistress at City Hall, unbelievable but true – so what nonsense is Mr. McCoy talking about on his programme. We can understand why he is promoting an unqualified person to control the City a most unusual and unacceptable situation. He says my yard is in a disgraceful state, normally every Mayor has his yard maintained by the Council, if it is in bad shape as he claims, it is compliments of his Town Clerk. He next assaults the Mayor’s management – well well. Perhaps he is correct. I should have handled his case when employed at City Hall differently. Hence my question Mr. McCoy was my Special Assistant from November 1, 1997 and was allowed to resign on June 22, 1998 – an unusual time - Let us wonder why? Let him tell his listeners why he resigned on the 22nd
of a month. Maybe he can explain why he was asked to leave. Is it not true that had it not been for the compassion of Mayor Green, he would have been placed in the hands of the police – true or false – he can answer on his next program. Mr. McCoy can tell us the whole story. Next, could he tell us if he knew a young boy by the name of Julius? Mark Benschop, whom he attacked on the program, can help refresh his memory. Third, does he know anyone employed in a high position in the office of the President who was deported from a certain Caribbean State? Does he know of anyone who cannot obtain a US visa and why? When this bold faced ‘gentleman’ responds truthfully, I will offer some more explanation referring to both he and Ms. Sooba, who he has declared is competent and trying to stop corruption. They say cast the beam out of your own eye, before you see the speck in your brother’s eye. Hamilton Green, J.P
From page 4 decision-making which inanely insists that rain is bad for sugar; and that a new board will deal with the non-climatic over-cost of the industry’s underperformance. This last chronic national dilemma has been the subject of several oral and written arguments, official debates; not to mention repeatedly ineffectual strategies and plans. Examination of the strengths and weaknesses of the industry has largely been assigned to foreigners over the years. The efficacy of their remedial interventions have not been discernible. Yet there remains this obdurate commitment to a selfdeception that is sufficiently convincing to its authors that they believe they can fool others, including those who know better. But it is time to stop drawing lines in the sand. The situation is admitted by all – stakeholders or not – that the life of the sugar
industry depends on treatment as if it were in the intensive care unit (which in fact it is). Common sense should therefore prevail over the limited misconception that only the purported owners have responsibility for its care; while in fact excluding the legal owners, i.e. the citizens of the country. How could it be argued that a national entity belongs to only one ‘ m i n o r i t y ’ c o m m u n i t y, when at the same time all communities are implored, not only to understand the reasons for the industry’s failure, but moreso to bear the consequences? The year 2014 is the time to bring an end to this paranoia, and acknowledge that the true reality is that there are relevant and proven Guyanese skills and competencies (resident and nonresident) who are accessible and willing to contribute, individually a n d s e v e r a l l y, t h e i r expertise in helping to reduce, if not totally
resolve, the performance deficits in both field and factory. If it not before, it should now be recognised that any previous declamations from the abovementioned were in fact but a cri de coeur, resulting from their deep and long attachment to ‘our’ sugar industry. There can be nothing to lose from a collaboration of skills, minds and determination for all to win. This submission therefore should be regarded as an open offer to the relevant decision-makers to let common sense over-rule extant myopic internalisations. Earl B. John
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Letters... Where your views make the news
Weren’t these employees put on some kind of Pension Plan ? DEAR EDITOR. I write concerning the issue of the ‘Telecoms Pensioners’. Superannuation benefits of former employees of Guyana Telecommunications Corporation (GTC) were governed by the prescriptions of the Pensions Act, Chapter 27:02, applicable to Public Servants. In 1990, the Government of Guyana and Atlantic TeleNetwork (ATN) signed an Agreement in which ATN acquired eighty percent of the Telephone Corporation and the Government retained twenty. When this Agreement was consummated, the new Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) replaced the Guyana Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Corporation, and employees of GTC were transferred to GT&T with effect from 1991. Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited became a Private Company from 1991 and the Pensions Act ceased to apply forthwith. Those employees who were transferred to GT&T have services both with GTC, a Public Corporation, and GT&T, a Private Company. The Pensions Act does not recognize service with a Private Company. As such, the two types of services are
not continuous. Those employees who attained the retirement age after 1991 are being compensated for their period of service up to 1991 under the Pensions Act, Chapter 27:02. Because of the computed Pensions of all those retirees being very small, (less than the minimum Pension payable), on account of the minimal years of service rendered up to 1991 and the low salaries earned at 1991, they all have been upgraded to the minimum Pension payable, i.e., half of the minimum wage. Thus, all are in receipt of the same Pensions. Their Pensions have been correctly computed under the Pensions Act. There could not have been any ‘clause’ or ‘agreement’ in the letters of transfer or otherwise to the effect that ‘their services would be continuous and unbroken’ since no provision exists for such under the Pensions Regulations. In my over thirty years
examining Superannuation Claims, I have seen much recklessness committed by Organizations as well as employees. In their younger days, people jump from job to job, organization to organization, through transfers, appointment, contracted service, secondment, resignation, etc. Such indiscretions return to haunt many at the time of retirement. Many persons in the Public Service are not au fait with the Rules and Regulations governing their employment. In this case, I do not think that the employees in question are to be blamed. They were misled. But they should be paid for their post 1991 service, by someone. Weren’t they put on some kind of Pension Plan with GT&T? If not, this is a fatal error and their representative should be held responsible. R. Balbadar. Asst. Auditor General (Retired)
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Crime has risen under every PNP administration Passenger shot in since Independence, Derrick Smith says attempted carjacking A 38-year-old passenger was shot at around 29:00 hrs last night in ‘B’ Field, Sophia, after bandits attacked the taxi in which he and two female passengers were travelling. Desmond Edwards, 38, of South Cummingsburg, was shot in his upper thigh, reportedly while struggling with the robbers. It is unclear whether the bandits took anything from their victims. Kaieteur News understands that the passengers were traveling through Sophia when the gunmen stopped the taxi. A source said that the driver fled, but returned some time after. By then, Edwards had been shot and the bandits had fled. He then took the wounded passenger to the GPHC.
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) hit back at the ruling Peoples National Party (PNP) saying that crime has risen under every PNP administration since Independence. “This is an indisputable fact,” Opposition Spokesman on National Security Derrick Smith said in a release yesterday afternoon. The JLP retort came after the PNP yesterday described statements from the Opposition regarding the current upsurge in crime as “blatant opportunism”. But according to Smith it is only under a JLP government that the country has seen record reductions in crime. “The country knows the PNP is soft on crime and no amount of intellectual gymnastics will change that fact,” Smith declared. “Consider that in 1980 the murder rate was approximately 800; by 1989
[the] murder rate was down to 400; The murder rate increased by 400 per cent under 18 years of PNP government; In 2010/2011, the JLP managed significant reduction in the murder rate” “I challenge the PNP to talk fair and square to the public in the interest of saving lives, and changing the increasingly corrupt perception of our country,” said Smith. “It is under the PNP’s 18 year reign that a culture of
impunity for law-and-order was nurtured and fostered. Recall that it was during that period that scamming started and grew; Ponzi schemes started and grew to new proportions, and billions of tax dollars were spent through the National Housing Corporation, in the wrong hands, without benefit to the housing sector.” Smith in the release accused the current Minister of National Security of trying to blame the JLP and other
critics for his failures. “I challenge the PNP to focus on creating a safe society in which we can all prosper rather than performing public relations contortions to try to shift the blame from their failures,” said Smith. Leader of the Opposition Andrew Holness on Tuesday had criticised Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller for not making the fight against crime a priority for her administration.
IMF gives Jamaica thumbs up for second test Jamaica Gleaner - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Wednesday officially confirmed that Jamaica has passed the second test under the four-year extended fund facility when the IMF Executive Board approved a US$30.8-million disbursement to the Jamaican Government. The board completed the second review of the country’s economic performance, confirming what the Economic Programme Oversight Committee had already disclosed, that Jamaica has met all the quantitative performance targets at the end of September. The disbursement will bring the total so far, under the programme, to SDR 176.69 million (about US$272.2
million), the IMF said in a statement. The executive board approved the four-year programme and a total of SDR 615.38 million (about US$948.1 million) on May 1, this year. Nayouki Shinohara, deputy managing director and acting chair of the board, said overall programme implementation under the programme remained strong and there were tentative signs of a gradual economic recovery. Reforms proceeding steadily He said structural reforms are proceeding steadily and execution of the 2013-14 Budget has remained broadly on track. “The next phase of the programme focuses on structural reforms to
strengthen the fiscal policy framework,” Shinohara said. “The main priorities include the adoption of an effective fiscal rule to entrench fiscal discipline and consolidate the gains of fiscal consolidation in the medium term, the implementation of a comprehensive tax reform” as well as strengthening budget preparation and the procedures for budget execution and cash management,” he said. “Advancing the reforms of the securities dealers sector is essential to strengthen financial stability. Frequent and in-depth monitoring of the financial system to make the sector more resilient is also essential,” Shinohara said.
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A gambit that has to be made Diversification of state agriculture has failed in Guyana. This failure is best exemplified by the disastrous attempt of the Forbes Burnham administration to convert some sugar fields into other crops, and also by the failed attempt of the GNS to venture into large scale cotton and beans cultivation. Guyana has simply not been able to move agriculture production by the State away from the mono-crop production. It is within this context that one must examine the idea that that the rearing of fish would be far more profitable for GuySuco than the planting of sugar. On paper the idea of GuySuCo diversifying into fish farming sounds quite attractive. But the reality remains that plantation-style diversification has been tried before and failed. And unfortunately there are enough grounds for optimism that anything will be different this time around, especially when it comes to converting cane fields into fish farms. For one, the economics do not make sense. Even though sugar production is steeply collapsing, it still makes business sense for the sugar corporation to incur losses in maintaining its assets rather than allowing these assets to disintegrate or be subjected to forced sale. With the debts that GuySuCo has accrued, debts which are backed by its considerable assets, it would be financially catastrophic for the sugar corporation to
simply allow its factory assets to be put on the auction block where there is every guarantee that it will not fetch anywhere near good prices. The wholesale movement away from sugar will entail the disposal of factory assets and this will inevitably worsen the debt situation for the sugar corporation which is backed by these assets. Secondly, the level of investment that will be needed for conversion to fish farming is simply not available and will not be available unless the sugar industry enjoys a turnaround. And if the fortunes of the industry change for the better, the incentive for increased diversification will disappear. An alternative means of securing the investments for diversification would be through limited privatization of sugar lands. But GuySuCo is already enjoying prime rates for lands which are being sold for housing purposes. So why would it then want to privatize these lands for agricultural diversification. Another means of attracting investment for diversification would be for sugar lands to be rented or leased, but this too will not bring the desired returns that can impact appreciably on the financial health of the corporation. Thirdly, and perhaps the most important consideration for not moving towards fish farming concerns markets. GuySuCo has assured markets for sugar. These markets may be depressed, but there are available. There
is no market, on the scale of sugar markets, available for freshwater fish. If there were, private mega farms in Guyana would have already captured those markets. In Guyana there are mega freshwater fish farms and almost all of the production from these farms is ploughed into the domestic market, instead of being exported. It would be risky and dangerous for GuySuCo to embark on a major diversification of its lands away from the desired levels of production required to ensure increased global competitiveness without any guarantees of a stable, long term and secure market for fish. The management of GuySuCo understands these realities. There has been a lot beating-up of the management of the corporation, but historically, the sugar corporation has always had the best managers in Guyana. There are a great many experts outside of the industry who like to advise the corporation on what needs to be done, but the sugar corporation has never been short of competent
management, and more so management that understands the sugar industry. Markets for fish, like those for sugar, cannot be manufactured out of thin air. The markets for agricultural production are littered with impediments, including phytosanitary obstacles. Try exporting fish to the Caribbean and see the problems that you will encounter getting your exports through the health authorities! The fish markets internationally are dominated by large firms and while it is possible to enjoy some niche markets such as those enjoyed by fish exporters in Guyana, these markets will never be sufficient to turn GuySuCo around. The sugar industry in Guyana is at present going through one of its many downward cycles. It will recover from this cycle because the sugar corporation has the management capability to allow it to eventually turn the industry around. While sugar has been losing billions, there has been
impressive work taking place as regards mechanization of the industry, which also has been a costly investment. Today more than 20% of the total acreage of the sugar industry has been reconfigured for mechanical cultivation. That is a fantastic achievement given all the constraints, including physical constraints in the fields. The sugar industry has had its setbacks but there is a significant sunken investment aimed at reducing the cost of production and
increasing production to peak at 450,000 tonnes. That plan has had its problems and has justifiably led to questions being raised about the viability of continuing in sugar. But without a feasible alternative, continuing in sugar remains GuySuCo’s only bet, a gambit that has to be made.
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Body found at Ruby foreshore Labourer fatally shot by... with gunshot to head He had the words ‘Rebecca’ and ‘Love’ tattooed on his left arm, a cross and ‘Jesus’ printed on his right arm, and someone had shot him in the head. Police said t h a t t h e man’s unidentified body was found at around 13:00 hrs yesterday at the foreshore of the Atlantic Ocean, near Ruby, East Bank Essequibo. He had been shot at close range to the head, with the bullet apparently entering through the left side and leaving a gaping exit wound on the right. Police believe that he was slain sometime on Wednesday. The victim, of East Indian ancestry, was barefoot, and was wearing a black vest and black three-quarter pants. He is dark in complexion and police sources estimate him to be about five feet seven inches in height and in his thirties. The words ‘Rebecca’ and ‘God’ were tattooed on the inside left forearm and a cross and ‘Jesus’ on his right inner forearm. The still-unidentified body is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem. It is the third brutal
The unidentified victim
murder for the week. On Sunday, the battered body of 56-year-old estate labourer Jamaludeen Sattaur was found in his home at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara. The house was ransacked and several items,
including money, were missing. And on Wednesday, 20year-old Godfrey Jhaggroo called “Oh-Oh,” was shot at close range at the back of the head during a dispute at Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara.
From page 3 the scene, which was at the entrance to the canefield, one of the cars left, apparently with the body of Godfrey Jhaggroo. They later learnt that he was taken to the West Demerara hospital where the alleged shooter fled after learning the wounded man had died. Neighbours recalled hearing three loud shots. Kaieteur News was told that shortly before the shooting, the rum shop owner complained to members of the community policing group about the incident involving Jhaggroo. Some of the CPG were earlier in the rum shop next door to the dead man. A vehicle with two members of the neighbourhood policing group reportedly caught up with Jhaggroo at the public road which borders the canefields. “Dem try to brackle he, but he run because dem wanted to beat he,” said an eyewitness. Persons close to the scene said at least one warning shot was fired after Jhaggroo, before he was blasted by what sounded like a shotgun. The labourer was reportedly shot in the back. There were three wounds behind his head, family members who saw the body said.
Neighbours said that the shooter is the son of a senior member of the community policing group. “We hear he nah get gun licence. He tek the shotgun from the other man and he do the shooting.” There were unconfirmed reports that the shooter was drinking shortly before. There were questions yesterday from irate members of the community who wanted answers. “How one man who ain't get licence could tek away a gun from another man and shoot? Who give dem this power? Plus we see dem picking up shells after the shooting from the scene. It clear that they wanted to cover-up the shooting. This is wrong,” an upset neighbour of Jhaggroo said. Yesterday, the police in a press release said that they are conducting investiga-
tions into the murder of Jhaggroo which occurred at about 19:00 hrs. “Initial investigations have revealed that Godfrey Jhaggroo was involved in an argument with his mother during which a man, who resides next door and operates an off licence liquor store, intervened and assaulted him with a piece of wood.” The police said that Jhaggroo was on his way to the Wales Police Station to make a report when he was confronted by three men, one of whom is a licenced firearm holder, “and who were at the off licence liquor store, during which he was shot to his back with a shotgun.” The police statement did not say that the alleged shooter had vanished, but confirmed that three men are in custody assisting with the investigations.
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35 adolescent/ teen mothers benefit from skills training Thanks to the C o m p r e h e n s i v e Empowerment Programme, 35 adolescent/ teenage mothers were given a chance to enhance their lives through access to social and economic resources. They are the fourth batch of young mothers to graduate from the programme. Women Across Differences (WAD) in collaboration with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) hosted the graduation ceremony for the young mothers at Umana Yana, yesterday, under the theme, “Reducing Unplanned Pregnancies among Adolescent/ Teenage Mothers and Enhancing their life skills and competencies”. The programme executed by WAD, a nongovernmental organization, was funded exclusively by UNFPA. The various areas of training provided between April and December 2013, included Entrepreneurial/ Craft Development; Family planning; Small Business Management; and Skills for Life. According to Clonel Samuels-Boston,
Coordinator of WAD, the programme targeted adolescent and teenage mothers between 12 and 19 years of age. The programme aimed at enhancing the lives of young mothers and reducing second and third pregnancies. Providing an update for 2013, Boston enlightened that seven adolescent/ teenage mothers wrote the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate and were successful. They attained Grades One to Three passes, with only one student obtaining a Grade Four. Further, three mothers are now students of the University of Guyana. One of them joined tertiary institution this year. She related that 90 percent of the mothers are attending family planning clinics. In addition, 90 percent of them did not experience second and third pregnancies. The benefits of the programme were related by the mothers through their art and craft work displayed at Umana Yana; poetry, dancing and singing. As part of the graduation ceremony, four
Graduates at the ceremony
Paulette Josiah entertains the gathering with her poetry and drama skills graduates in a “Conversation Piece” emphasized the loneliness, sorrow and depression associated with unplanned adolescent/ teenage pregnancy. Fortunately, the young
mothers became part of WAD. The training received allowed them to think, love, accept their responsibilities of motherhood, dream again, and express themselves through dance and poetry. While Indra Austin performed a beautiful Indian dance, her colleague, Paulette Josiah, recited a powerful poem. Josiah portrayed the dilemma of a teenage girl who wanted to be “regular” instead of focusing on her studies. The result of her
sexual encounter with a bus conductor left her pregnant. Attempts to inform the bus conductor of her three-month pregnancy failed and she was left with the baby. According to Patricia Bisnauth of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association, the poem told by Josiah relates the story of many young mothers in Guyana. She said the graduation ceremony is celebratory and signifies success of young
mothers who fight to resist what life has handed them. The ceremony celebrates their lives and the journey took to overcome the odds. The teachings of the programme will enable them to earn a living and learn more about their sexual reproductive health. She linked the Christmas season of perpetual hope to the young mothers fighting to break the cycle of poverty and limited access to fully living.
GPSU commences mass city protest today The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) is not letting up on its quest to be heard by the Administration against the annual arbitrary imposition of wage hikes for public service workers. The union has notified that it has received permission for mass city protest which commences today until the end of the year. The Union notified its members and followers that the march is one hour before noon (11:00hrs), on the following route: Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Bourda, proceeding east then south along Vlissengen Road, West in Brickdam, North into Avenue of the Republic (Western half) continuing into Main Street, east into Lamaha Street, south into Main Street, east into Church Street, south into New Garden Street into Shiv Chanderpaul Drive to conclude at Guyana Public Service Union. The approval and the variation in the intended route would be discussed at an Executive Council and General Council Meetings. The union noted that for some 12 years the government has been imposing increases on public workers without the relevant discussions with the union. The new trend, they posited, is the “meager” five percent imposed on the workers. Public servants have since mounted countrywide protest with public service being limited as a result of strike action by disgruntled employees.
Protest action has been ongoing for the past few weeks
Friday December 20, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Guyana Goldfields Inc. spreads Christmas cheer …with US$80,000 in donations The Canadian-based mineral exploration Company, Guyana Goldfields Inc, as part of its corporate responsibility, has divided US$80,000 among several social and aid groups from across the country in their effort to spread Christmas cheer. Some 12 service groups were the beneficiaries of cheques that would go towards the further development of their respective agencies. The company, which has been present in the country since 1994, said that it is committed to, “doing it right,” and contributing their fair share to the society, which has welcomed and allowed them to conduct their operations. Chief Operations Officer Lello Galassi told a gathering at the entity’s Thomas Street, Georgetown office that the company is pleased to be giving back to community and aiding further with the sustainability of communities. He charged that as the
company seeks to move forward with a massive goldproducing project, it is optimistic, and welcomes closer collaboration with agencies offering technical skills and training relevant to the mining company. He pointed out that a strong relationship could be developed with these agencies so that in the various stages of the major US$238M Aurora project, the local manpower would be available. Country Manager Violet Smith related that Guyana Goldfields has expended about $120M in exploration activities in the country after surveying one location and eventually moving to another. The company is expected to pour in its first gold bar in 2015 when Aurora hits the extractive stage. Despite the huge sums being invested in exploration alone, Goldfields says it is committed to giving back to the community. The company thus explained that the sum
Recipients stand with Guyana Goldfields Inc. officials following the presentations donated at yesterday’s event was a gift from the Bank of Montreal, which conducted equity financing for the company. Smith related that the bank wanted to host a party for the company, but it was felt that that money could have been used more meaningfully, and requested that the sum be donated. Portions of that money were provided to the Linden
Technical institute, Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, Joshua House, the Society for the Blind and Help and Shelter, among other service groups. Representative for the Linden Technical Institute, Dennis Jaikaran, expressed gratitude to the executive of the mining company giving a commitment that the funds received would be used for projects dedicated to the
technical requirements of the company. He opined that a partnership could be formed between the two entities in a manner to develop various fields for technical pursuits in Guyana. This he noted would involve the relevant training and skills needed for the company’s technical arm. Cynthia Massay of the Ptolemy Reid Rehab Centre also thanked the company for
the sums received. “There is no better motivating factor than when organizations outside of the disability area recognizes the work that we do.” Massay assured that the money will come in very useful and will go towards its intended purpose. The company in the new year is expected to recognize other organizations for its societal contributions.
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 20, 2013
336 graduate from CPCE - trained teachers target surpassed
Poised to lend a priceless hand to the Ministry of Education’s mission to deliver quality education, a batch of 336 students yesterday graduated from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). Of the graduates, 74 are trained to deliver Early Childhood education, 110 (Primary education) and 152 are trained for the secondary level. This has by extension allowed for CPCE to surpass its mandate, as was announced by the Education Ministry in 2008, to contribute 70 per cent trained teachers to the education system. The graduation ceremony, held at the National Cultural Centre, represented the 79th Graduation exercise which was held under the theme “Transforming dreams into reality.” The auspicious event was chaired by Deputy Chief Education Officer, Donna Chapman, who at the onset reminded the proud graduands that teaching is a passion that contributes to development. Moreover, she underscored that teachers are in fact “the architects of the future of Guyana and the world.” In presenting her inaugural report as Principal
of CPCE, Viola Rowe, insisted that the institution remains committed to preparing men and women from all Regions of the country for formal entry into Guyana’s teaching profession. This, she noted, is possible through both faceto-face and distance modalities, the latter being via print-based and computer assisted. Rowe in her presentation disclosed that “we are confident that our graduates are capable of providing high quality instruction to students in urban and rural classrooms of Guyana, contributing to the national development goal of having a competent citizen.” And although there were some challenges in producing the graduates, ranging from inadequate supervision to unfavourable physical conditions for resident students and limited stakeholders’ support, Rowe did note that there were some very notable successes. According to her there were, for instance, several successes under the Guyana Improving Teacher Education Project. These were realised even as the College continued to work diligently to ensure that “we graduate students who show high degrees of intellectual and
The CPCE graduands prepare to enter the National Cultural Centre psychological maturity and demonstrate the commitment and dedication required by teachers to improve the quality of performance of students in our school”. As such, Rowe noted that it was recognised that there was a need for the institution’s systems and processes to be congruent with its standard. In commending the achievement of the graduating batch, Rowe urged them not to lose sight of the fact that “you are leaving us as developing novices.” Although Veronica Jeffrey of the CPCE Turkeyen campus was named the best graduating student - allowing her to receive, among others, the Prime Minister’s Prize she was listed, along with a few others, as the
outstanding performers. These included: Madavi Manbood, Tulsidai Ramnarine, Donnella Britton, Vanessa Ram of the Anna Regina Satellite Centre; Chyanne Fredericks and Sabrina Dookie of the Georgetown Centre and Stacey Alder, Suelaire Thomas and Danwattie Dyal of the Linden, New Amsterdam and Vreed en hoop Satellite Centres respectively. O u t s t a n d i n g performances were also recorded for Giresh Bashu, Jamie Koulasar and Rookmin Sahoy of the Turkeyen campus. The outstanding performers were presented with prizes and along with the other graduates were presented with their teaching certificates during a segment of the ceremony that was briefly interrupted by an electrical power outage. In delivering the feature address, Chief Education
Officer, Olato Sam, observed that the graduates are entering the education system at an extremely important phase of evolution in Guyana. He pointed that it is common knowledge that if education is to move forward it must start with the qualifying of teachers, a task which is being undertaken well by CPCE. He emphasized that “any approach at transforming education and moving the agenda forward must give prominence to the teaching force.” And according to him, measures are very much apace to improve teaching education, so much so that the CPCE is on a path to becoming “an institution of the highest rating regionally and internationally.” In alluding to the importance of teacher educators, Sam in his passionate address commended their role in the education sector, a statement which evoked much applause
from the audience of graduates, education officials, family members and friends in attendance. According to Sam, CPCE is on the upsurge and must be singled out for the significant contribution it has been making and will continue to make towards development. Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, presented the charge to the graduands. The near four-hour long ceremony was not without some entertaining features which included musical renditions, with a Christmas flair, from the Guyana Police Force Band and singing from the CPCE choir. But undoubtedly it was an ethnic fusion dance by Kijana Lewis and Indira Itwaru that commandeered intense applause and a standing ovation from sections of the audience that proved to be the most intriguing.
Night shelter inmate fined for assault A squabble over a radio between two inmates of the East La Penitence Night Shelter has resulted in 50year-old Eustace Reece being fined $10,000 by the Chief Magistrate, Priya SewnarineBeharry. Yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Reece admitted to assaulting his fellow inmate Bhimraj Ramkishore on December 16 at 1 Arapaima
Road, Georgetown. Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that Reece believed that the man had stolen his radio, and on the day in question, Ramkishore was sleeping when Reece in an effort to wake him, dealt him several cuffs to the head. Reece however related that he did not hit the man. “I woke him up because I did had a radio set and I sleep and
wake up and see it missing. Long before, one time when it did missing he did move it, so I went to him and woke him up.” The Chief Magistrate then asked if he had assaulted the man, to which he responded “No, I pushed him to his head. I suspect him. Ma’am it hurts when you work hard to get your thing and people just pick it up. Me and this man is good friend.”’ “I just wanted to know where is my thing. I does work hard from eight in the morning to ten in the night.” The Magistrate then fined the accused $10,000 to which he said he did not have. She explained to him that he has 21 days to post the fine, the alternative to which would be two weeks imprisonment.
Friday December 20, 2013
Kaieteur News
GGMC ‘advised against’ New River Triangle exploration By Zena Henry Executives of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) have stated that support for exploration in the New River Triangle area was not given, since the agency had advised the Natural Resources Ministry against activities to be conducted there. A GGMC official, who requested anonymity, said that the permission for the Muri Brazil Permission for Geological and Geophysical Survey (PGGS) came as a “ministerial order” by which the agency abided. The official, without going into detail, emphasized however that the Commission advised against the survey. It was stressed that the GGMC’s advice on the issue was just that, “advice”, since the minister could take it upon himself, based on the power his office to instruct that permission be granted for the go-ahead of activities. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment in a full page advertisement discredited “misinformation and unsubstantiated remarks” regarding the Permission for Geological and Geophysical Survey occurring in the controversial New River Triangle, Region One. Members of the Opposition parties have expressed their non-support for the activities given the “secretive” nature in which the Natural Resource’s Ministry is operating. Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, with the support of Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo, called for the withdrawal of Muri’s PGGS stating “non- transparency from government on the development of the project.” The Natural Resource Ministry noted however that ‘expressions of interest,’ regarding the Region One exploration was indeed conducted in March of 2012. The Ministry clarified further that no automatic approval of prospecting licences will be granted to Muri Brazil since the company like any PGGS holder, “could expect to have
- Official an option to apply for Prospecting Licences.” The Ministry’s advertisement said that 2.2 million acres of rights was not granted to the company since the area is for the purpose of aerial survey. The Guyana Gold and Diamond Association (GGDMA) like other stakeholders have registered their support for the Muri exploration stating that there was nothing “sinister about the issuance of the Muri PGGS.” “As the major stakeholder group of the gold and diamond mining sector in Guyana, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has been following the ongoing debate regarding the issuance of a Permission of a Geological and Geophysical Survey (PGGS) issued to Muri Brazil Ventures Inc.” The GGDMA and its executive members said that it analyzed the facts of the matter and notes the pronouncements by a media house and other public officials, without relevant checks with Muri Brazil Ventures Inc to verify the information. It was stated that the media houses and other officials, “need to get their facts right about the operation of the gold mining sector and the Mining Act/Regulations, and not to make uninformed statements, attacking agreements legally entered into between Government and other parties.” “Constant aerial surveys and exploration activities are necessary to develop the mining industry, and the issuing of a PGGS is a methodology utilized to get mineral information over large areas. Further, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, and its Executive Members remain unmoved by the statements published in the press, and would like to state based upon the facts known/provided that there is nothing sinister about the issuance of a PGGS to Muri Brazil Venture Inc.”
Retired GGMC Commissioner William Woolford in an invited comment told Kaieteur News that in relation to mining in the southern part of the country, there was concern over the threats that small foreign miners posed to the area. He opined that heads could be bumping since as it remains, local miners do not have access to the area, yet a survey is being conducted by a foreign group. It is still to be stated why local mining operators were never allowed to conduct activities in the southern part of the region. Woolford explained that after recognizance exploration (PGGS), Muri Company gets the right for the prospective licences, providing that the PGGS is satisfied; “which is reasonable,” he opined. This prospective licence following further stringent requirements- provides for the mining licence which would entail a technical and economic report with environmental impact, social security etc. It was noted further that several prominent persons would have applied to conduct activities in the southern region of the country and either their application was not processed or accepted. It was noted further that these persons would not have been allowed for activities in the other parts of the area, but a foreign company would have received permission for a PGGS in a most “sensitive” location. It was further related to this paper that surveys would have been conducted before in the southern part of the region and the area was deemed to have potential for rare minerals. Retired Chief-of-Staff Edward Collins, also in an invited comment, expressed concerns in terms of the sensitivity of the area, noting that it was a national policy embraced by the Guyana Defence Force that certain activities would not be allowed in the area. He expressed surprise that a foreign entity was allowed to conduct any mining-related works in the area.
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Unemployment level unknown The Ministry of Labour has been unable to establish the level of unemployment in Guyana and is working feverishly to ascertain this information. Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul made this revelation at his Ministry’s year-end press conference on Wednesday at the entity’s boardroom. He said that the necessary figures will be provided when the Bureau of Statistics completes compiling data of the census conducted in 2012. However, the Ministry’s Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency has been helping to link persons seeking employment to companies. From January to November 29 this year, the agency registered 4,000 persons and placed nearly 3,000 workers in various sectors. The Minister said that it is important to note that in 2013 there were more employers clamouring for workers than the agency has
- Labour Minister
Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul been able to register. Essentially, there have been fewer applicants for jobs on the labour market. The job areas that employers are seeking to fill are commercial workers such as sales personnel, clerical staff and security personnel. The agency has been unable to meet those demands for employers. The Minister did not say, and perhaps because information from the census
is unavailable, whether persons are no longer seeking jobs. As such, these persons are no longer on the unemployment list. Another issue addressed is underemployment and unemployment of thousands of University of Guyana graduates. Somewhat offering a solution to this problem, the Minister opined that persons applying to the University should pursue programmes in Information Technology, Mathematics and Natural Sciences where jobs are available. He noted that it is unfortunate that for a number of years, persons have graduated from the University with Bachelor of Science Degrees in Business, Sociology, Political Science and other related fields, but there are few jobs available in those areas. Dr. Gopaul said that graduates are not registering with the agency. He said that owing to technology the agency has regionalised the registration of applicants in one central database. As such, the agency could tell the level of unemployment.
Friday December 20, 2013
Fighting NCDs requires universal access to health care - CMO
“Being happy is synonymous with being healthy,” was the notion emphasised by Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, when he addressed a gathering recently at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation to launch an ambitious programme to tackle chronic NonCommunicable Diseases. In fact, according to Dr Persaud, Government through the Ministry of Health is well on its way to implementing its “health in all policies” strategy which is intended to be a national approach in addressing the challenge of NCDs. He pointed out that although the availability to health care is a human right, it is not merely about delivering medical care, although it forms a great part of the function of health care workers. According to Dr Persaud, there is currently keen movement towards universal access to all health care services that can be available at reasonable cost to the population. In this regard, he disclosed that the Ministry of Health has chosen the platform of primary health care to achieve this objective. He did point out that “primary health care doesn’t mean the health centres and health posts out there; primary health care is a combination of our tertiary facilities, like the Georgetown
Hospital, along with a network of other level of facilities that can provide services to different target groups.” “Captured in that whole access is the universality of that approach, and when we think about people, we are not only thinking about people who live in places that they can drive their cars or take a bus and come to a hospital...we had to think about people who are far away who may have to walk miles, maybe row a canoe. Sometimes they have to go to extremes to get to where they need to access these services,” the Chief Medical Officer highlighted. And access, he stressed, is in fact very important, even as he noted that although “this is a nucleus that we are building here (GPHC), we hope that with the training, with the exposure, at least the knowledge and the system will be in place that persons can gain access to these facilities.” However, although some of the common measures in the Ministry’s strategy are in fact directed towards treating the diseases, a lot of them are geared towards prevention, Dr Persaud said, as he insisted that prevention is an integral part of such a management programme. “I think that an important point that we should now underscore as we move forward with all these advance level technologies and innovations is that we don’t neglect to recognise
Dr Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer that prevention is very important, even for people who have diseases.” With prevention in focus, he amplified that persons can be educated with a view to ensuring that they adopt practices that can help save their lives. As such, Dr Persaud emphasised that capacity building, training, as well as resourcing and tooling strategic services are critical measures. Moreover, he highlighted that over the past 10 years there has been rapid developments at health facilities across the country. “We have a brand new hospital at Lethem, one at Linden, another one at Mabaruma...surgeries are done there. In the past, we could not have attempted to do something like that. We need to probably utilise them more adequately,” Dr Persaud observed, as he noted that the local health sector will continue to make strides to improve the service delivered which will cater to combating NCDs. According to the World Health Organisation, NCDs are known to kill more than 36 million people annually, with nearly 80 per cent of these deaths occurring in low and middle income countries.
Friday December 20, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Guyana finally gets another Ombudsman After eight years without filling the key position, Guyana has finally appointed an Ombudsman, Attorneyat- Law, former Justice Winston Moore. The announcement was made via a press statement sent out by the Office of the President. According to that release, Justice Moore will be sworn in come next January, prior to him assuming office at the Brickdam Chambers of the Ombudsman. The Attorney is currently in private practice. While executives of some developed and developing countries across the world have designated several Ombudsmen, Guyana, for a long time, was without one. An Ombudsman is an official usually appointed by the government or by Parliament but with a significant degree of
Newly appointed Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore independence. One such official is charged with representing the interests of the public by investigating and addressing complaints of maladministration or violation of rights. The typical duties of an
Ombudsman are to investigate complaints and attempt to resolve them. Ombudsmen sometimes also aim to identify systemic issues leading to poor service or breaches of people’s rights. Guyana has been without an Ombudsman since the retirement of Justice Sheik Mohamed in 2005. A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) recently called for a fully staffed office of the Ombudsman to be reintroduced as opposed to the previous set up that existed. That call was made by APNU’s Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine as he responded to a question about the Party’s interest in seeing a functioning Office of the Ombudsman. Dr. Roopnaraine had said that the Office of the
Forklift operator makes first appearance on murder charge A fork lift operator was yesterday refused bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry after he made his first court appearance charged with the murder committed Sunday last, on a 42-year-old father of four. Yesterday, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Aniki Jones, a resident of Lamaha Springs, stood accused of murdering Carl Garnett on December 15. He was not required to plea since the matter was indictable. According to Police Prosecutor Corporal Bharat
Mangru, on the said date, at about 19:00 hours Garnett who was armed with a cutlass went to the home of the accused and fired several chops at him. He said that a fight ensued between the two which left both parties injured. The two men were then taken into the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where the deceased succumbed as a result of the injuries received. Mangru said that the accused admitted to inflicting the injuries, hence the charge was instituted.
Dead: Carl Garnett The accused is expected to make his next court appearance on January 14, 2014.
Former Deputy Police Commissioner passes on
Former Deputy Commissioner Derrick Thompson passed away yesterday morning at the age of 75 at his South Ruimveldt Gardens residence, after a brief period of illness. He was born on November 13, 1938, and although he came from humble beginnings, many fondly related that he rose above his circumstances and managed to become a man of great accomplishments. Thompson joined the Guyana Police Force in the early 1960’s where with dedication he served for over three decades, until his retirement in 1992. During his tenure, the force noticed his diligence and dedication and as such sent him on many training courses in the United Kingdom. One of his most outstanding achievements was in 1968, when he was sent
Former Deputy Police Commissioner Derrick Thompson to the Hendon Police Training School in the UK. Thompson out-performed his international colleagues and copped the much coveted baton of honour. Thompson continued his upward movement and at one point served as the ‘A’ Division Commander. He had also received the Distinguished
Service Medal (DSM). After he retired from the force in 1992, Thompson moved to Saint Kitts and Nevis where he took up the post of Police Commissioner up until 1994. Thompson then returned home and worked with the Ministry of Home Affairs up until 1997 when he became the Chief Security Officer of the Guyana Elections Commissions (GECOM). Amidst his many professional achievements, Thompson was also a dedicated family man. In 1965 he married to Thelma Hamlin and that union produced six children. Thompson was also a grandfather of 15. He will be remembered as a valued member of the Caribbean Regional Security System, as well as a devoted member of the Smith Memorial Congregational Church.
Ombudsman is an extremely important Constitutional protection for citizens in Guyana. He highlighted that an Ombudsman is supposed to deal with faults in administration and stated “as we know those are not going away, they are increasing; so we definitely are in need of an Ombudsman.” Further, Dr. Roopnaraine asserted that it would be a
waste of time to just appoint an Ombudsman and a secretary which was the case when Justice Mohamed was in that office. “It is not simply the appointment of an Ombudsman, but a real staffing to go with the office. He has to have more than a secretary…which is all Justice Mohamed had. He has to have investigative capacity
and so on. Without a fully staffed and empowered Office of the Ombudsman, merely appointing an Ombudsman will do very little.” APNU Member of Parliament James Bond had posed questions in relation to the non-appointment of an Ombudsman to the Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, in the National Assembly earlier this year.
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Friday December 20, 2013
Eroding Five Miles Housing Scheme ‘fixed’ Three months ago, the concerns of the residents of 5 Miles Bartica were highlighted by the media, in relation to what they felt was discrimination, in terms of the way house lots were being distributed in the community. Some persons who bought house lots for the new turnkey housing scheme were told that the land was eroding and as such they had to relocate. However it was reported that it was only the middle income house lots areas that suffered from the effects of erosion to the extent that houses could not be built on the land. While there was erosion within certain parts of the low income housing lots, those problems could be fixed. This has led many low income house lot holders to believe that they are being forced to move so that their land can be used to relocate the middle income house lot owners who were affected by the erosion. Substantiating the arguments of the house lot holders who were told to move was that in relocating, house lot numbers were placed in a bag and shaken up and whatever number the middle income residents picked then the corresponding house lot was given to them. It was found that two of the low income residents who chose to be relocated ‘lost’ their house lots to the middle income house lot owners.
… but house lot holders still in a quandary Revetment works and land filling ongoing in 5 Mile Housing Scheme to address erosion
The current state of 5 Miles Housing Scheme is that the erosion has been addressed and the land filled. So the question on the minds of most of the house lot holders who were told to relocate is what is the position with their house lots? The residents said that they were presented with documents to sign, acceding to the request by Housing Ministry officials to relocate. Some of the residents signed while others declined, since they did not agree with what was being presented to them. Some persons who didn’t
sign informed Kaieteur News that they were told by Ministry officials to reclaim the house lots allocated to them, while it was reported that those who signed were told that they have to get an affidavit stating that the Ministry is not responsible for any loss should it be incurred in establishing a home there. Some of the residents came together as a delegation and sent a letter to the Minister of Housing Irfaan Ali, requesting a meeting with him to ventilate their concerns over the eroding land. The delegation had
wanted to meet with the Minister to discuss “a favorable resolution to have the land situation urgently resolved to normalcy; that the eroded location be corrected
and those persons whose house lots are located at the said location remain owners of their house lots, to discuss the issuance of land titles and the establishment of a land
committee and office in Region (7).” However they are still awaiting a response from the Minister over the letter. Micah Williams, one of the persons on the delegation who is seeking an audience with the Minister, said that he has been making several attempts to contact the Minister to address their concerns but every time he calls, the Minister is either busy, in a meeting or unavailable. Kaieteur News tried as well to get in contact with the Minister to pronounce on the concerns of the 5 Miles residents, but was unable to do so. Williams expressed that these house lot holders are in limbo waiting for an official pronouncement over what to do, since the erosion has been rectified. He said that the residents would like to receive the titles for their land so that they could use it as collateral for building their houses since according to Williams, the banks in Region Seven are very stringent with regard to issuing loans.
A patient of GPHC for two years...
Joshua Moonsammy only wants a home for Christmas By Rehana Ahamad Imagine living at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for more than two years; not such a pleasant thought is it? Well, this has been the life of four-year-old Joshua Moonsammy, who has been living in the GPHC’s Pediatric Ward for the past two years. He has been abandoned by relatives, and has nowhere else to go. Little Joshua was taken into state care in 2011, after the child’s mother reported to the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA)that she was unable to effectively care for him, due to domestic issues. “The mother had reported to us that the man used to forbid her from taking his money to look after Joshua, plus we were told that the child’s stepsiblings were not allowed to interact with him, so the mother said that she could no longer keep him with her, since Joshua’s stepfather was her only source of income,” Director of the CCPA, Ann Greene explained. According to the Welfare Official, although willing, even Joshua’s older biological siblings are financially strapped and cannot support him. The child is currently being looked after by GPHC’s management and staff, under the guidance of child care services. Joshua, who would be one year older this Sunday, seems to be a much loved child at
Little Joshua Moonsammy
the public health institution. In speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, Chief Executive Officer of GPHC, Michael Khan said that he would be celebrating the child’s birthday at the Pediatric Ward on Sunday, all at his personal expense. Ms. Greene said that her Christmas wish is that Joshua gets a safe home, referring to him as a jolly child who deserves the love and care of a family. “We are looking for a foster family for Joshua Moonsammy. We are willing to pay people to just keep him in their homes and show him some love,” Greene stressed. She explained that in addition to most of the children’s homes being filled to capacity, Joshua also has a medical condition. This poses as an obstacle to him finding a proper home with a loving and understanding family. Joshua has been diagnosed with
Cerebral Palsy (CP). This is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way). CP is usually caused by a slight brain damage that occurs before or during a child’s birth, or during the first 3 to 5 years of a child’s life. There is no cure for CP, but treatment, therapy, special equipment, and, in some cases, surgery can help a child who is living with the condition. Ms. Greene told Kaieteur News yesterday that the CCPA will provide support every step of the way. “We will help the family with whatever it needs to look after Joshua. We will work with them and give guidance and provide solutions.” “We are pleading with people to open their homes and hearts for a good cause. It’s Christmas, and Joshua deserves a family,” Ms. Greene implored.
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Friday December 20, 2013
Kaieteur News
Report on “drunk” teacher less than accurate
T
he Deputy Head Teacher attached to Tutorial Academy Secondary in Region Six is categorically refuting reports published in this newspaper to the effect that she consumed alcohol during the students' Christmas party. The article stated that the teacher's alcohol consumption was done at a level where she became heavily intoxicated. The article stated, “According to reports, the senior teacher was seen imbibing vodka and orange juice and her colleagues started to observe the strange behaviour. The teacher was escorted to the head teacher's office after which the matter was reported to the Department of Education in New Amsterdam where a full investigation has been launched. Kaieteur News understands that it is a norm at the school for students to sneak alcohol and drinks into the school premises during Christmas parties, fairs and other events where there is a mass gathering. The senior teacher is expected to be charged by the Disciplinary Committee of t h e Te a c h i n g S e r v i c e Commission (TSC) for use of alcohol while on duty. The charge is 'Conduct unbecoming of a teacher.” But subsequent information received by this newspaper suggests that the only factual information reflected in the article was that there was a Christmas party at the school.
The teacher cleared her name from what she referred to as a disdainful situation. She even told Kaieteur News that she generally doesn't consume alcohol. She stressed that the party had music, food and only non alcoholic beverages. Emotional to the extent that tears started to trickle along her check, the teacher explained “I have been working at that school since 1998 and never was there a situation where alcohol was found in the school. Moreover, even if the thought enters the minds of my students, once I'm around they wouldn't dare…they know the kind of person I am”. The teacher further explained that she is the sports secretary attached to the Guyana Teachers' Union “and even when there is a sports event I don't partake in alcohol consumption. When events are held at the stadium where I am fully permitted to drink I don't, moreso to drink amongst minors at the place where I earn a living… never would I!” According to the teacher, the reporter, Leon Suseran, also of Region 6, knows her very well and could have called her to confirm such reports “…if any was indeed made. He could have called the school and done the same.” The reporter has since explained that he received information from the students who attend the school. Kaieteur News will be conducting its own investigation into the standard journalistic procedure followed by the reporter. This newspaper unreservedly apologizes for any embarrassment and inconvenience caused as a result of the publication.
Friday December 20, 2013
Kaieteur News
Barbados pain is T&T’s nightmare ...We’ll ride out the down cycle says investor Trinidad Guardian - The decision by the Government of Barbados to retrench 3,000 public sector workers by the end of the first quarter of 2014 has caused almost as much shock and consternation in T&T as in Barbados, a country that has attracted billions of dollars in investment from T&T companies. Among the local, publicly listed companies with large investments in Barbados are Neal & Massy, ANSA McAL, TCL, Republic Bank and First Citizens, while privately held companies like Associated Brands, Bermudez and the Mouttet group of companies
supply food products worth millions of dollars a year to the Caricom nation. The retrenchment of the 3,000 Barbadian workers is expected to have a chilling impact on the demand for goods and services on the island, as those affected slash their spending, restructure debt obligations, draw down on their savings and sell assets. As the retrenched Barbadian workers attempt to restructure their lives and their finances, financial institutions operating in Barbados are certain to feel the pinch. One of those financial institutions is likely to be
Republic Bank, whose single, largest shareholder is the Clico Investment Fund, which owns 40 million Republic shares. One of the options that the Government is considering to recover its $20 billion from the CL Financial bailout is to divest all of the remaining shares once held by the collapsed group. In May, Republic Bank announced that it had acquired the remaining 34.86 per cent shareholding in the former Barbados National Bank, which became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Port-of-Spain-based bank.
PM calls on UWI to speak up Barbados Nation - Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has challenged “leading thinkers” at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus to be the “clarifying voice” for Barbados and the region. Giving the keynote address at a ceremony on Wednesday
night to cap year-long celebrations of the campus’ 50th jubilee at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, Stuart said that “if Barbados and the Caribbean ever needed clarifying voices it is now”. He said the “perception is that the society has stopped
feeling the university and certainly is not hearing it often enough on these critical issues”. Stuart said Cave Hill was operating in a world which was “vastly different from the world in 1963 when the University was established”.
Knight, Nicholson defend PM’s frequent overseas travel Jamaica Gleaner - Two government Senators this morning defended the frequent overseas trips that Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has been taking since her administration was sworn into power. The Prime Minister has been facing criticisms for her busy travel schedule in recent weeks. However, speaking in the
Senate this morning Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister A.J. Nicholson noted the Prime Minister cannot travel unless she is invited. He pointed out that Jamaica has reaped great benefits as a result of the Prime Minister’s overseas trips. Senator K.D. Knight also stood to the Prime Minister’s defence. He urged senators to
refrain from turning the travel schedule of the Prime Minister into a political matter. In response to the Government Senators’ comments, opposition senator Robert Montague explained that his colleagues do not have any ill-will against the Prime Minister. He said the opposition is concerned about the expenditure for the trips.
Central Bank revises economic growth for Trinidad and Tobago PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago economy is now projected to grow by 1.5 per cent this year as against earlier predictions of 2.5 per cent, the Central Bank has said. It said that the local economy had grown by 1.3 per cent during the first nine months of the year, compared to 0.3 per cent for the same period last year. In January, the Central Bank had projected 2.5 per cent economic growth for 2013 even as the Wa s h i n g t o n - b a s e d International Monetary Fund (IMF) had in March projected a 1.5 per cent growth. The bank’s Monetary
Policy R e p o r t f o r A p r i l 2013 maintained the 2.5 per cent outlook based on projected growth in energy output by 1.8 per cent. “That projection was made almost to the end of 2012. At that time we did not have the b e n e f i t o f t h e information of what would have taken place September this year, and i t ’s w h e n w e g o t t h e September information we factored it into our projections,” Central Bank governor Jwala Rambarran said at the Bank’s inaugural Monetary Policy Forum and release of the Monetary Policy Report for November. The figures show that
in the third quarter of this year, Trinidad and Tobago recorded its largest coordinated energy maintenance effort to date. “The subsequent shortfall in natural gas production, while anticipated, adversely affected both refining activity and output of petrochemicals, generating a decline of four per cent in energy output, and an estimated contraction of 0.5 per cent in real GDP (gross dome s t i c product),” Rambarran said, adding that despite the ongoing global economic situation “it is definitely not all doom and gloom” for the local economic situation.
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WANTED Magazine writers needed. Email resume & CV to teshawnalall@gmail.com. Contact: 629-2206 Attractive live in waitress to work in bar – Tel: 686-4818 Wanted: contract cars & experience dispatcher @ West Site Taxi - Tel: 6130419; 600-0688 Experienced dispatcher & drivers to work @ Gem’s Taxi Services - Tel: 667-9013; 6279424; 227-0636
Kaieteur News
WANTED CLEANING LADY FOR SHOWROOM & OFFICE 6 DAYSAWEEK 8AM-5PM, AGES 21-40 WITH EXPERIENCED - TEL: 2318529 One [1] handyman. Must know gardening - Tel: 621-6006 Urgently need 2 plot of land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie Tel: 675-7292 Scrap Metal – Tel:615-5315; 658-9045
1 Live in domestic must know to cook & 1 experienced waitress. Boarding & lodging free, starting salary $50,000 - Tel: 610-5043 1 Couple or small family to live and work on live stock farm @ New Hope E.B.D 2662711, 609-4594 1 Professional Chef & Baker - $10,000 daily - Tel: 2336517/ 622-1957 Attractive live in waitressCall:327-0252/674-4665 One mechanic to work in the interior must know about Cummings & Perkins - Tel: 681-6044 URGENTLY WANTED: Thirty five (35) Security officers. Apply: SECURITY ALLIANCE Barrack Street, Kingston (upstairs FedEx)
Wanted 1 driver to work in interior must have bus and lorry license - Tel: 681-6044 Person to slaughter and clean pigs at new Hope, E.B.D. call: 266-2711, 609-4594 Experienced roti/ puri cooks, pastry makers, counter servers, cleaner & handy boys. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal @ 5 Commerce St All rounded hair stylist needed - Tel: 225-7678 Male or female to work in fast food restaurant immediately. Experience Necessary! - Tel: 225-1024 or 226-2829 Perkins engine 4 Cylinder & 6 Cylinder in good working condition – Tel:669-4680 Handyboys to work – 16yrs and over. Live-in accommodation and meal free! - $30,000 per month Telephone:228-5655; 628-1756
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
1 -AT 170 Car: AC, CD, rimsContact:695-8528 ALYEA AUTO SALE: PREMIO 2004, ALLION 2008 NEW SHAPE & CARINA 212 @ 40 CROAL STREET STABROEK – TEL:231-7284; 622-3823 Unregistered Toyota Sienta (2004) 1500cc and 7 seater – Tel:617-5536
Toyota AT 192 PLL 841: Leather interior, rims - Tel: 616-1671
CAR RENTAL Premio Vitz (NM), Spacio, Rush latest models, best rates with low deposits – Contact:692-1051; 685-5011 Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131 Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www. dolly sautorental.com Premio, Vitz call:347-933-9790, 639-4452. A i d a n ’s C a r R e n t a l & Pickup - Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807
Contract cars, Atlas Taxi Service- Tel:661-3043 Season’s Greetings! Urgently Needed contract cars for taxi services – Tel:656-3669
VEHICLE FOR SALE 2 - 2007 Toyota Avensis - Tel: 698-0674
1 Raum PKK series - $1.250M Tel: 264-2954; 642-1305
1 Maid living around Georgetown- Annandale ECD. Must Know to prepare Indian & English foods, bake pastries & cakes - Tel: 621-6006
TO LET Fully furnished two bedroom, top flat, long term only – Tel: 687-3792 Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 347933-9790, 639-4452. Furnished short term & long term apartments -$70,000 monthly – Tel:687-3017 Furnished two bedrooms apartment in Linden for short term, local & overseas guests - Tel: 614-4415; 444-4704
1 X Toyota Rav 4: Pearl White, Late PMM series, fully loaded, excellent condition, under 80,000 KM Call: 624-5331 BMW sports (unregistered)Contact: 650-0979 1 Suzuki 600 GS X – R 600cc, 1 Toyota Hilux Pickup 4X4Tel: 644-5096, 697-1453 2008 Fielder – unregistered Tel: 617-2891
American pool table - Tel: 277-0578
Are you interested in opening a restaurant? A popular Hotel @ Tuschen Public Road have space- Tel: 638-1627 House & shop at 66 Broad Street Charlestown, Georgetown - Tel: 225-8305; 661-7527 Top Flat @ Lot 261 Golden Grove EBD - Tel: 233-5802 or 617-2261 Yard Space for rent @ Vryheid’s Lust Public Road– Tel: 654-6394
Live and pluck chicken - Tel: 220-9203; 650-4421 WHOLESALE PLUCK CHICKEN AND PARTS TEL:676-0931 270 Amps, portable welders Telephone: 611-5114 1 farm 20.1 Acres @ Yarowkabra – Tel:265-3586
Diamond - $70,000, $80,000, $150,000 – Tel:661-0180
Ducks & Pigs – Tel:688-7291
Waiakabra, Linden Highway: 1,409’x403’ or 13.73 acres. Concrete house thereon. 1,100 feet from HighwayCall: 619-4152
Ford F-150 (2009), immaculate condition, GRR 7452Contact:227-3728,676-2784
High Income Land for sale @ Diamond - $5.5M negotiable - Tel: 683-9699
2008 Toyota Premio for sale (unregistered) – Tel:665-4480
Exclusive residential land in Parfaite Harmonie (100ftx50ft) $2M - Tel: 675-7292 Parfaite Harmonie - $1.2M – Tel:675-7292 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall: 226-7968 Herstelling - $4M; Eccles $5M - Tel: 675-7292. 5 Acres, 3 lots $15M @ Canal #2- Call:227-7734 LAND 40FTX600FT, LA GRANGE, W.B.D. (INDEPENDENCE ST) $12.8M (NEGOTIABLE). SERIOUS ENQUIRES CALL “MAX”:672-8569/ 609-8132 NOW!
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
Honda ATV 500 4X4 DBL shocks – Tel:688-6274; 6913851
Earth delivery to spot also Bobcat and Excavator rentals Tel: 626-7127
1 Toyota Rav-4, IST, NZE Corrola, Fun Cargo, AT 212, AT192, AT170, Tacoma, Caldina Wagon - Tel: 6445096; 697-1453
1-55 Leyland DAF truck, excellent working condition. Price $2.8M, Must Go!Contact:656-8346
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
1- Two bedroom apartmentContact: 617-3001 (call between 8:00am- 5:00pm)
LAND FOR SALE
Must See! 2002 and 2003 Premio - $2.5 Million and 2001 Carina 212- $2M, Fully loaded – Tel:226-5473
FOR SALE
Blackberry Bold 2 & 4, reasonable price - Call: 6851231
Toyota Allion PNN 9626 $1.9MContact:2335557,610-1309
1½ & 2 Ton Canters with power gate, unregistered, $ 2 . 4 M & $ 2 . 7 M - Tel: 617-2891
FOR SALE
Furnished two bedrooms apartment for overseas visitors – Tel:699-7559
1 Madza PPP series-Tel: 668-6329
1 Business Spot suitable for any business - Tel:223-9727; 673-0373
FOR SALE / FOR RENT
Rental of wedding dresses & clothing for sale Phone:6160505
Christmas Special! Premio $2.4M, Spacio-$2.1M, 2008 Fielder $2.7M, Unregistered - Tel: 617-2891
Newly built house call:6986496
One bottom flat, 3 bedroom house @ Land of Canaan EBD opposite GafoorsContact:266-5469, 680-9252
Friday December 20, 2013
Diamond $3M, $4.5M, $7.5M, $9.5M, $10M, Samatta Point- $4.5M, Houston Public Road - $98M Tel: 661-0180
Live/pluck chicken call:6504421, 220-9203 Old bottles, stamps and coins - Tel: 694-8486 Brand new RCA led TV $75,000 32", Vehicle Dash Board Video Recorder camera -$25,000 brand new Tel: 621-7728; 609-7257. Brand new Queen size spring filled mattress with box spring - $125,000 – Tel:6217728; 609-7257 12 Pure bred German Shepherd pups – Six [6] weeks old – Tel:638-5778 Metal scaffold, size 5"X5" & 6.6"X5"-Call: 267-1563. Price negotiable New arrival: 1 Toyota Tacoma, aluminum boats (12ft & 14ft)- Call:2201981,685-8282,690-1945 Two propellers – Call:6673124; 226-9659 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032,647-2943 Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call:672-2566
Massey Ferguson 6140 4X4 Turbo – Call:688-6274/6913851 Tibetan Terrier (Fluffy) pups - Call: 222-7891; 609-9202 Dell computers complete with 20" LCD $69,000, 6 months warranty @ Futuretech- Call:231-2206 PORK wholesale only, whole half and quarter carcass - Tel: 266-2711; 609-4594 Household Items: Electronics, 4x4 Wheels, food warmers, steel grills, carpets, colognes, motorcycles, cars & much more. Tel: 223-1885 PIT-BULL pups (Red Nose) - Tel: 667-0338 Original Games- Call:6722566 Builders and Home Owners (1) Beeson Windows and Doors are located At New Eccles Industrial site Tel# 622-4197 Rayobe 2 colour printing machine etc - Tel: 639-9553/ 277-3627 Hifi Sound Connection: Car Audio, Pro Audio, complete sound system generator.Call:610-1230/673-5828 1 Boat, 40ft cabin Cruser – Contact:665-2314 125 Outboard engine Yamaha- Contact:665-2314 HP mini 1000- Contact:6656169 Book: uses of Medicinal Plants @ Channel 9 office PROPERTY FOR SALE 2nd Bridge Diamond - $14M, Diamond 20th Street- $17MTel: 661-0180 EDUCATIONAL Learn any Language fast – Tel: 622-0001
1- 20" Grizzly Planer 5 HoP’ 1- 62"X9" Wadkin Jointer, 1 Milwaukee mitre saw - Tel: 685-0904 German Sheperd pups; 2 months old – Tel:277-01-52 German Shepherd mix with Pit-bull - $50,000 – Tel:6876072; 615-5315; 694-1900 RABBITS - $2000 EACH – TEL: 642-8843
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964 (Continued on page 35)
Friday December 20, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 35
There is enough sugar to supply local market - Agri Minister Although the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has not been able to meet any of its revised targets, there will be a sufficient amount of sugar to supply the local market. This is according to Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who explained that there is nothing preventing the sugar industry from doing better next crop. He explained however, that thankfully, Guyana cannot be penalized for this shortfall, since there are no penalties attached to the European Union contract. “We never agreed on an amount that we would supply the European Union, so Guyana stands to face no consequences,” GuySuCo’s dismal performance over the years is putting strain on the guaranteed European Union (EU) market, especially now with it not being able to meet the latest quota of 167,000 tonnes of sugar. As of the end of November 2013, only 135,000 tonnes of sugar amounting to US$60.75M have been exported to the European market. Approximately US$14.4M is on the line to be lost. With less than two weeks left in the year, the country’s sugar industry is recording its lowest production in two decades. This year’s production of 186,000 tonnes will negatively eclipse last year’s 218,069 tonnes of sugar. The 2013 production has
of GuySuCo. Since being commissioned in August 2009 by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, the Chinese-built US$200M project, which includes the factory and expanded cultivation, has been bleeding the Corporation. Almost US$15M (G$3B) has been sunk to repair several faults. In an attempt to further salvage GuySuCo, consultants out of India have been confirmed to run the eight estates operating in Demerara and Berbice. Dr. Ramsammy told this newspaper however, that these foreigners will not be taking over from GuySuCo’s existing management, but will be lending a helping hand, and lending technical expertise in steering the corporation onto a prosperous path. (From page 34)
The strain from problem-plagued Skeldon factory’s poor showing has been taking a toll on the overall operations of GuySuCo. been described as the worst in the 21-year reign of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). Production targets have been revised downwards from the 260,000 tonnes set at the beginning of the year. The year’s first crop fell short of the 70,000 tonnes by an alarming 22,000. Industry officials have recently admitted that the situation over production has plunged the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) into
a point of uncertainty where unless all stops are pulled out, the slide will continue. The administration has been saying that the industry is too big to fail but could find little or no answer. At the flagship Skeldon factory, production for the year is slated to be approximately 34,000, far below the targeted 43,000 tonnes. The strain from Skeldon factory’s poor showing has been taking a toll on the overall operations
Sacked ASL employee nabbed with gun at Ogle Airport A former Air Services Limited employee and his accomplice were arrested yesterday after they were found in possession of a .45 pistol at the Ogle Airport. The employee was recently fired from the company and had returned there yesterday with his friend to uplift his severance package. Police believe that the employee, who was apparently angered by his dismissal, went to the location armed with the gun to demand
the money, should there be any problem collecting it. But when he was politely called into the office to receive the cash, he softened up and handed the gun to his friend who waited outside. The move was spotted by a security guard who promptly contacted ranks from the Police Anti-Narcotics Branch stationed at the airport. They moved in and promptly arrested the two men.
PROPERTY FOR SALE VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community - Call: 592624-8704/ 592-684-9203 One two- storey concrete house, Ave A DiamondTel:643-5161 One two storey business property (Transported) @ Brickery Public Road E.B.D Tel: 660-8128 Prime property opposite Leonora Primary School – Contact:652-0709/268-3572 2 Flat Concrete Building @ Chateau Margot ECD – $32M Tel:661-9431 Soesdyke /Linden Highway, Solid concrete building. Building -95"X55"; land space- 200"X100" – Price negotiable - Tel:668-9846; 656-1360 Two storey business property (Transported). Situated in Tuschen New Scheme EBE - For more information Call: 627-6305/ 668-6858 North - $16M, Diamond, Sophia- $2.5M (La Grange) 37X600 - $23M & $40M, Dairy Contact Shawn: 2312199; 618-7483 3 Bedrooms flat house @ Mon-Repos-$14M, Diamond 18th Street Incomplete house -$5M & Herstelling - $23M – Tel:661-0180
VACANCY
SERVICES
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant - Call: 6910894/684-2838
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Hire car drivers from E.C.D @ A1 Taxi – Tel:220-1000 Writer needed. Web and article copywriting. US$1,000/month. www. capitaltyping.com/guyana writer for details. Salon station to rentContact:695-5336 Barber - Call: 683-1534; 6094983 Inventory Clerk: Send application to Lot A & B Ramsburg Providence, E.B.D. - Email: srwrdepot @gmail.com Canter Drivers from E.C.D, Male Security Guards and Factory Assistants, accommodation available. 266 4427 Full Time Civil Engineer, security, personnel, labourers, accounts clerk, skid steer operators & truck drivers Tel: 603-4001 Now Hiring male and female general workers to work shift system @ Harmony Inn - Tel: 694-7817; 668-0306 One female to work in grocery / general store Contact Ameer or Shanta: 695-5815 Salesboys, salesgirls, night security. Apply Avinash, Water St - Tel: 226-3361; 2277828 Vacancy exists for an experienced cosmetologist with pleasing personality and educational background - handsome salary Call Urgently: 227-4799 Vacancies for mechanical maintenance, Technicians on food packaging machine (overtime available)- Contact Allison:603-1089 Vacancies exist for production line workers, previous production experience desirable (overtime available) Contact Allison: 603-1089 PROPERTY FOR SALE Cummingsburg- $140M & $38M; Alberttown- $43M &$35M; Bourda- $42M, Charlotte, Ruimveldt- $70M, Queenstown - $25M – Contact Shawn:231-2199; 618-7483
Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,6626045,223-8115 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. U l t r a C o o l , call:225-9032,647-2943 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) Brains Construction & Rental Services: Excavator, Bobcat, Truck, Tools – Tel:6015024/ 227-4536 (Bobcat & Excavator Operator needed) We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar Technicians available for appliance repairs – washers, dryers, microwaves, stoves, deep fryers, etc – Tel:6190793; 218-0050 Professional Pressure Washing: We clean homes, driveways, gutters, parking lots, business, $10.00 per square Ft.– call Kevin:592696-5424 Colour Calendars special! 50 for $8,000; 100- $10,000.. Wow! 250 1-Colour $20,000 Yippee. Alert Printing 2272679 Flyers- $800 for 400. Business cards -$2,600. Bill books. Great for Christmas sales. Call Alert Printing: 227-2679 Services and repairs to gas stoves, washing machines Call: 688-0183
PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale - Call: 6275416 2 Bedrooms flat house @ Craig - $12M, Luxury house @ 5th St Diamond- $38M, 2 family house @ Diamond 6th St- $25M - Tel: 661-0180
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New Elevator added to
Gravity Lounge - 7 Days of Christmas” begins
A
nother elevator has been added to the Gravity Lounge to facilitate the anticipated crowds that will clamour to the facility to be a part of the “7 Days of Christmas” promotion which began yesterday. This elevator is in addition to the emergency exit elevator. However, there will only be one entrance as security check will be made upon entry. According to Gravity Lounge General Manager Navin Singh, the lounge has added extra staff for the holiday; bringing the count to 94. “This is to make sure our customers are happy and pleased since we take pride in the service we give.” Each night will see a different themed part over the next seven days. It will definitely be a hit for the Christmas Season. Entertainment will be channeled through local Boom DJ's Energy & Bevaughn who are guaranteeing a great time. Gravity has also booked international DJ's to join the lineup. On Monday December 23rd, Gravity's main event Jingle Jam will be DJ' Walshy Fire who is a part of the smash group MAJOR LAZER. The group has seen recent success with their hit song "Watch out for This (Bumaye)" with over 32million views on youtube. On each event, patrons will experience numerous drink specials throughout the
Friday December 20, 2013
Kaieteur News
‘Good Life shutter shades’ This Saturday, Club Monaco for their second anniversary will be featuring “the Good Life Shutter Shades” Edition with DJ ENERGY. Patrons can toast to great times with bottle specials all night. Persons can buy one bottle and get the other 1/2 price. Everyone will receive complimentary shutter shades upon entry. Ladies will be free before 23: 00 hrs. Kick off the Christmas season and toast to the good life! This is the first of many events at Club Monaco for the
for Club Monaco
season and it's sure to be a blast. Admission is $1500.
Diva “Gaza Kim”
to make appearance at
Edge Nightclub night. Culminating Gravity's End of Year event is their lavish Old Years' Night party called “This is London.” As the name suggests, it will be heavily influenced by the rich history and customs of England, in both cuisine and decor. Patrons will be taken aback by the amount of details the Gravity Team will be putting in place, and it will surely be a night to cherish. Patrons can join the Gravity family as they bid farewell to the old and celebrate the new with grand style, enticing elegance and exhilarating energy. Tickets are $25,000 all inclusive of dinner and drinks, or $15,000 for drinks only.
Elysium Garden of Fantasy to launch
Mashramani band ia sy; a growing multimed Elysium Garden of Fanta ani ram sh Ma l be hosting their production company wil . b Monaco launch on Dec 27th at Clu Bunbury told Kaieteur na dia Ru , tor Marketing Direc will be chosen to wear nal Entertainment that ladies ich will be of a professio wh xt Brazilian carnival outfits ne in rt pa e team will then tak quality and design. The e. rad pa ir the se t to showca year's Mashramani even rent company “Honest pa the t tha d She explaine were Staten Island, N.Y. “We Illusions™” is located in s of Teamwork, founded on the principle lieve ce and Integrity. We be llen ce Professionalism, Ex se the lize rea to to hold us it is the customer's right principles.” tion has a passion for Adding that the organiza id “we excellence, Bunbury sa d creativity, innovation an ss dle en ' dreams of are inspired by our clients in new designs, or de pri e tak possibilities. We always last a lifetime. “We will capturing a moment to in all ort and professional eff s strive for quality, clarity, our endeavors.” n when has an ironclad reputatio She said the company n. hio fas ely tim a projects in it comes to completing
Jump Off Friday is doing it again with a guest appearance by Jamaican dancehall Diva Gaza Kim at the Edge Night Club. Patrons can be a part of the launching as music will be played by the “Boom DJs” and persons will be able to have their pictures taken with the sexy diva. Kim Hamilton aka Gaza Kim has hits such as “Teenage pregnancy,” “Bills,” “Amen,” “Faithful” and many more. She also collaborated with the now incarcerated world boss Vybez Kartel, Sheba and many more popular Jamaican artists to date.
Friday December 20, 2013
Page 37
Kaieteur News
MACKA DIAMOND, BASS ODYSSEY for Vergenoegen Village Day
Pulse Entertainment hosts
“Naughty or Nice” Christmas Party
Everyone meets under the mistletoe as Pulse Entertainment hosts their “Naughty or Nice” annual Christmas Party this Saturday. In addition, there will be the launching of the Pulse 2014 Mash Party Truck. The Party Truck will be 'going down the road' for the third consecutive year and is described as the most ecstatic band with their “Mobile Drinks Bar.” Everyone attending the event will witness the Mash 2014 concepts along with costumes designed by Olympia
Small. According to promoters, persons still undecided about what to get their loved ones for Christmas, can purchase a Pulse Party Truck mash voucher. Meanwhile, Santa Claus will also be at Palm Court this weekend to take pictures with everyone and share free candy and Christmas joy. Admission $1,500 before 11:00 pm. Ladies Free Before 11:00 pm. This event is sponsored by Banks Beer and Gizmos and Gadgets.
Bass Odyssey, a Jamaican reggae and dancehall sound system will be in Guyana along with Macka Diamond on Christmas Day for 'Slingerz' twelfth annual Vergenoegen Village Day, East
Bank Essequibo. Local entertainers to perform at the event include: Prince JP, Jumo Primo, Lil Million, Super Ray and Bounty Singh. One of Guyana's most popular music systems, 'Slingerz Family' originated from and is still based in Vergenoegen. They would be arranging the Village Day as Bass Odyssey Sound System will be coming from Jamaica. The Christmas Day event started out in 2000 as a street fair before moving to the community playfield and then to its current venue. In 2008, Jamaican dancehall stars Baby Cham and Macka Diamond performed at the event which was held on the old rice mill tarmac.
HJ's E092 “Free-up Christmas Fete” gets major facelift for Toto Gas Station
T
he HJ team is expanding E092 with the addition of two cast members. One year ago, HJTV's most exciting entertainment television show saw major changes when popular news presenter Christine Gooding, popularly known as Chrissy, was made the face of E092. E092 is the only local show that provides the latest scoop in entertainment, fashion and celebrity updates presented in a chic, cool style. Not only was a new hostess introduced but the entire production was transformed with a fresh set, a new camera crew, and an innovative producer was brought to the team. Apart from these major factors which made the show a success over the past year, for the first time E092 had a glam squad that kept Chrissy's look up to date with the most recent fashion trends
and celebrity looks and make-up always on point! Now, one year later, E092 will once again undergo some changes with popular dancer out of the Classique group, Leslyn Fraser, joining the cast as well as a young brunette character who will only be referred to as Misty. These new additions will create a panel that will pass opinions on stories presented by Hostess Chrissy. Together, they will partake in group discussions, interactive games and reviews. Viewers will also benefit from monthly giveaways through creative methods that will be integrated into the show. E092 will be shown every Monday and rebroadcast throughout the week. Look out for the new and improved E092 starting December 23, 2013.
All around Guyana individuals and businesses are caught up in the frenzy of giving back ;in the good spirit of Christmas. And the Toto Gas Station Sand and Stone Depot are certainly not allowing themselves to be left out. Come tomorrow the promoting entity will treat their supporters to a superb hosting of their second annual Parika Christmas Fete that is slated for the Parika White Fence venue (Parika Public Road). This year around, the event is absolutely free as promoters intend for patrons to enjoy the good tidings of the holiday season. Patrons are offered a divine 'free up day' as they would be allowed free Merry-goRound rides, to frisk and frolic on trampolines for free, explore the bouncy castle, and also receive free ice-cream. Parents are urged to bring out the entire family since the promoters will also be distributing free toys and other give-aways to the kids. The action begins at 17:00 hrs. Music will be supplied by Slingerz Family.
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Procurement Bill deferred for six months After an intense six-hour debate on the contentious Public Procurement Bill, Government’s Chief Whip Gail Teixeira made a proposal for the adjournment of the debate for another six months. This was agreed to by the Opposition, but consent came under two conditions. Shadow Finance Minister of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Carl Greenidge, said that the opposition was in favour of the adjournment provided that it does not affect the current work of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The PAC has already started work on nominations for the Procurement Commission. The second condition was that the deferral should provide for further discussions on the amendment. Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, said that in 2003, the Bill came before the house and included in the provisions was clause 54 which had five subsections including Cabinet’s role of the review process of any contract which exceeded $15M. It also articulated that it did not give Cabinet the role
- Opposition agrees on condition that discussions continue outside Parliament
Attorney General Anil Nandlall delivers his presentation during yesterday’s six-hour debate of awarding contracts. The Act contains contradictions, said the Finance Minister. One section prescribes that the role of Cabinet be removed with the establishment of the Commission. Another section
recognizes the role of Cabinet in the review process. Eventually the Minister argued for Cabinet to maintain its “no objection role”. Dr Singh then boasted that the procurement process is one which can withstand any
scrutiny. He challenged the members of the House to compare the newspapers of 1980 with today’s, noting that there was a vast difference in terms of the number of published bids that could be seen. He said that the media
is invited to document this process and “I say this without any reservation that Guyana’s procurement system can withstand any scrutiny.” Immediately, members of the Opposition blurted out, “That is utter rubbish. It is
rubbish with an accent. What about Fip Motilall? The system is not transparent.” The Finance Minister, who disregarded these comments, then made reference to other countries with more complex bureaucracies that have projects first approved by their governments. Minister Irfaan Ali supported the arguments. “Blow hot or blow cold, we will not let up on our responsibility.” Greenidge then debunked the notion of a contradiction in the Act as being a “Nancy story.” “You can’t pass the Act and then deem a part of it as an oversight.” He argued that the current state of the procurement process of which Dr. Singh boasts, has been subjected to criticisms such as racial and political discrimination. The work of the National Procurement and Tender (Continued on page 47)
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Bermuda must reinvent itself to High crime hampering survive, says premier growth, says Rambarran CMC - Premier Craig Cannonier says tough decisions still have to be made as Bermuda attempts to claw its way out of a four-year recession that has left the island with high unemployment. He says the British overseas territory will have to reinvent itself to survive. In a televised national address to mark the first anniversary of the One Bermuda Alliance’s victory in the general elections last December, Cannonier said the government has an “aggressive agenda” to help
turn the island’s economy around, but tough decisions will have to be made. “Throughout our history, to survive, we’ve had to reinvent ourselves time and time again,” Cannonier said, adding that “today, we have to do it again and believe me, we will.” The premier said: “With God’s help, we have always been able to overcome challenges from facing storms at sea and the hurricanes that have crossed our Island to economic adversity during global wars. We now face another challenge.”
Craig Cannonier Cannonier added: “How we react to this challenge will define us as a people. These are extraordinary times that will call for extraordinary measures, but I want you to know that I am confident that we are moving in the right direction. There are still many more tough decisions to come, but we are on the right path.”
Trinidad Express Criminal activity has been rising for the last decade, so the business community should have by now been incorporating preventative measures into its decisions, Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran said Wednesday. “We have to bear in mind that we’ve had rising levels of criminal activity in the last decade, it has become almost, in a sense, part of the rules of the game and the business community has to by now be incorporating that into their business decisions,” Rambarran told reporters after the launch of the bank’s Monetary Policy Report for November at the National Energy Skills Centre in Debe.
...but investors still coming Nevertheless, Rambarran said crime continues to be a significant constraint to economic growth and the bank would “really like to see a meaningful reduction”. Despite the costly impact of crime, Rambarran responded to a question on the “skyrocketing costs” crime has had on the business community asking, “Where is the evidence?” “We’ve had this for a long time. I’m not denying the high impact of the cost of crime in business but it is something that we’ve had for a while now... international investors have looked at this and they are saying they are fairly comfortable with where we are saying we are going with our crime initiatives (and they are) willing to put their money in the country,” he said. He noted the
“tremendous” response from the Government on a recent bond issue on the international market. The Ministry of Finance last week launched a US$550 million bond to international investors in New York, Los Angeles and London. The initial offer was US$500 million but was oversubscribed close to ten times (nearly US$5 billion) so it was increased by US$50 million. “(International investors) were willing to put their money in Trinidad and Tobago. It is a wake-up call to the local business community that if international investors are willing to show this boost of confidence in the economy, what are they (domestic players) willing to do here?” Rambarran asked.
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Putin praises U.S. on Iran but says sanctions harmful (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday praised the U.S. role in forging an interim deal to ease concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme but said he hoped a U.S. decision to broaden a blacklist of companies under existing sanctions would not undermine progress toward a comprehensive agreement. In an annual news conference, Putin said the deal reached last month between Iran and global powers seeking to ensure it does not seek atomic weapons would have been impossible without the
“pragmatic position” of President Barack Obama’s administration. Iranian negotiators interrupted the talks last week on implementation of the interim agreement in protest against the U.S. blacklisting of an additional 19 Iranian companies and individuals under existing sanctions, saying the move was against the spirit of the deal. “As for sanctions, I am certain that this is a counterproductive decision,” Putin said. “I hope ... movements in this direction will not be a barrier to all of us moving forward toward a
solution to the Iranian nuclear problem.” Russia approved four rounds of U.N. Security Council sanctions aimed at curbing its nuclear activities but has sharply criticised additional punitive measures imposed by the United States and Europe. Putin, whose country built Iran’s first nuclear power plant, said Iran had the right to a peaceful nuclear programme and “the international community has no right to demand any discriminatory restrictions on it.”
As Modi storms into India’s election, a quiet alternative emerges BHOPAL, India (Reuters) - Five months before India’s next elections are due, there is already an air of victory around Narendra Modi as he strides from one jam-packed rally to the next. And yet, a regional leader from his Hindu nationalist fold is quietly emerging as an alternative to lead the country. The main opposition party’s candidate for prime minister, Modi is unquestionably the man to beat as the ruling Congress party, led by the NehruGandhi dynasty, stumbles towards a vote that opinion polls show it will lose. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is tipped to win the election but it may not get an outright majority, and he may be unacceptable to potential coalition partners. Ever since a 2002 spasm of sectarian bloodshed in the western Indian state he rules, Modi has been unable to shake off allegations that he carries a deep-seated bias against Muslims, a community that makes up 13 percent of the population. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a softly spoken and unassuming leader of the center-right BJP, could be a more acceptable figure for would-be coalition allies. This month, Chouhan notched up a thumping election victory in Madhya Pradesh, a sprawling central state with a population larger than that of France, becoming its chief minister for a third time. “Shivraj Chouhan is no threat to Modi, he is not a challenger, but his huge victory raises the stakes,” said Girija Shankar, a political consultant with close ties to the Madhya Pradesh administration. “On the scale of electability and performance, the message is
- he is not any weaker than Modi.” Congress did something similar after elections 10 years ago - after wresting power from the BJP, its leader, Italianborn Sonia Gandhi, declined the prime ministership. By naming unassuming technocrat Manmohan Singh as prime minister, she denied the opposition any chance of using her foreign roots to attack the government. A farmer-turnedpolitician, Chouhan is similarly far less divisive than Modi. There are other BJP leaders waiting in the wings for the premiership if minor parties that are expected to hold the key to power after the election insist on a prime minister other than Modi as the price for their support. Among them are Lal Krishna Advani, a veteran of the party who is still seen as a contender despite his 86 years, as well as former government ministers Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley. All three are virtually household names across India, and Chouhan - a former parliament backbencher - has a far lower profile. Chouhan has long been an outsider among the political elite of New Delhi. When he was first elected to parliament in 1991 he didn’t have a sweater to ward against the capital’s winter chill, recalls a former associate Anurag Pateriya, who picked up a cheap one from a street market before they boarded the train. Chouhan declined requests to be interviewed for this report. Swimming below the national radar, he has transformed Madhya Pradesh from a poverty-blighted backwater, unleashing average annual economic
growth of 10 percent over the past five years on the back of an unprecedented agriculture boom. The explosion in farm output - agricultural growth in the state was 18 percent last year, the country’s highest - has been fed by interest-free loans to farmers, a trebling of irrigation cover and a dramatic improvement in electricity supplies. Out on a modern four-lane highway from the state capital Bhopal to the commercial city of Indore, the rural prosperity is hard to miss. Fields upon fields of soybeans, mustard and wheat stretch out, broken only by factories starting to come up on cleared land. Children in uniforms scurry to school on bicycles provided by the state government, pedalling along new roads that are linked to remote villages. They will all be given a free lunch. Nearby, expectant and new mothers collect free packets of soya, a mixture of rice and lentils and sweets, a Chouhan initiative to lift the state’s infant and maternal mortality rates up to the national average. “As a consequence of our pro-poor policies, we subsidise agriculture,” said Manor Srivastava, principal secretary to Chouhan, pointing out that 80 percent of the state’s population is dependent on farming. “We make no bones about it - WTO or no - we are unabashedly doing it.” Chouhan has also introduced tax-friendly policies to attract industry to his state. Along the state highway, Indian firm Deepak Fastners is b u i l d i n g A s i a ’s l a rg e s t p l a n t t o manufacture specialized nuts and bolts for car engines and aircraft.
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Ukrainian leader slams West, tilts toward Russia
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s embattled president slammed the West yesterday for supporting the massive street protests calling for his ouster and announced plans to partially join a Moscow-led economic union — a move likely to deepen Ukraine’s political crisis. Speaking in a televised interview with some handpicked journalists, President Viktor Yanukovych criticized foreign nations for meddling in Ukraine’s internal affairs. Senior Western diplomats have in recent weeks attended and expressed support for the sprawling demonstrations on Kiev’s Independence Square, known as the Maidan. Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Victoria Nuland even gave out sandwiches to protesters there. “It is very important. This is our internal matter,” Yanukovych said. “Some countries should not meddle in our internal affairs and should not believe that they can be the bosses here.” “I am categorically against having someone
Viktor Yanukovych come here and teach us how to live,” a visibly angered Yanukovych added. Yanukovych has faced nearly a month of angry protests since his abrupt decision to shelve a political and trade agreement with the 28-nation European Union and turn toward Russia instead. The rallies grew larger, swelling to hundreds of thousands, after riot police violently broke up the first small protests, injuring
dozens. The president’s fiery comments came two days after Russia announced a major bailout loan for Ukraine, which has been facing a possible default. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s economic package for Ukraine includes a pledge to buy $15 billion worth of Ukrainian state bonds and a sharp discount on Russian natural gas for Ukrainian customers. In Moscow, Putin insisted that the bailout was driven by a desire to help a neighbor that was in dire straits and wasn’t aimed at breaking off Ukraine’s ties with the EU. “We have nothing to do with that whatsoever,” Putin said. Putin also rejected allegations that Russia could send its troops into Ukraine to annex the eastern, mostly Russian, part of the country and split it in two. The eastern region has been mostly against the anti-government protests in Kiev. “This is sheer nonsense,” he said. Commenting on the deal with Putin, Yanukovych
India urges US to drop case against arrested female diplomat
New Delhi (AFP) - India yesterday urged the United States to drop the case against a female diplomat who was arrested and stripsearched and apologise for her “terrible” treatment, ratcheting up pressure in the blistering diplomatic row. US Secretary of State John Kerry expressed “regret” over the episode in New York, and India’s Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid said he hoped the “valuable
relationship” with Washington would soon return to an even keel. But in a sign of the bruised pride and humiliation felt in India, Khurshid reiterated calls for the visa fraud case against the diplomat to be withdrawn and branded her treatment as “terrible”. “We have asked for the case to be dropped and withdrawn ... we are not convinced that there are legitimate grounds for pursuing it,” Khurshid told
foreign journalists. “I cannot believe if a US senator was arrested he would be put through this behaviour....I would rather not prejudge. Let us allow the American government to respond.” Kerry tried to end the row in a phone call to India’s national security adviser on Wednesday, expressing regret and stressing concern that the issue not be allowed to hurt a “vital relationship.”
signaled that Ukraine might now commit to some parts of the Moscow-led economic bloc called the Customs Union, even though protesters say that would put Ukraine back under Russia’s yoke, just like in Soviet times. Yanukovych also said talks will resume on joint Russian-Ukrainian operation of Ukraine’s strategic pipeline system, which carries Russian natural gas to Europe. “Ukraine must find such a model of relations with strategic partners which would be acceptable to everybody,” Yanukovych said. Analysts said, however, that such moves contradict the EU deal and would be rejected by the opposition. “Let’s just be absolutely clear, this is totally incompatible with existing agreements with the EU, and will not be taken as a further sign that the government is serious at all about European integration,” said Tim Ash, an emerging markets analyst with Standard Bank in London. The president’s comments were likely to provoke anger from the
protesters who have occupied central Kiev for nearly a month. Jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a top opposition leader, denounced Yanukovych’s agreements with Moscow as state treason. “On Dec. 17, 2013, Yanukovych annulled Ukraine as an independent entity,” Tymoshenko said in a statement Thursday. The West views her jailing as politically motivated, but Yanukovych has resisted pressure to release her. But even though the center of the Ukrainian capital was blockaded by gigantic barricades, Yanukovych claimed the country’s political crisis was drawing to a close. “The fact that lawmakers have returned to parliament and that it has begun working is a sign that the political crisis is being overcome,” Yanukovych said. The opposition on Thursday lifted their blockade of parliament to pass a bill that would absolve opposition activists of criminal responsibility in the protests. Opposition leader
Oleh Tyahnybok sought to portray Thursday’s bill as a victory for the protesters, urging them to remain. “We should keep on standing and putting pressure on the authorities and only then victory will be ours,” he told thousands of protesters. In his interview, Yanukovych ridiculed opposition leaders and said he would not tolerate any illegal attempts to seize power. “These are political opportunists,” Yanukovych said of the opposition leaders. “What are they selling? Oratory. They are covering up their actual helplessness, lack of professionalism and responsibility.” Some experts believe Yanukovych is hoping the protesters will disperse on their own, as he faces a threat of Western sanctions if he resorts to violence again. But many protesters say they have no plans to go home while Yanukovych is still in power. “Ukrainians will not accept this kind of sell-off,” said protester Anatoly Sushchenya, 31.
More than 80 hurt as London theater ceiling collapses
LONDON (Reuters) Emergency services said more than 80 people had been injured in a packed London theater yesterday when part of the ceiling collapsed during a performance, bringing the city’s West End theater district to a standstill. The audience was showered with masonry and debris following the incident at the Apollo Theatre, where about 720 people
including many families were watching the hugely popular play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time”. “A section of the theater’s ceiling collapsed onto the audience who were watching the show. The ceiling took parts of the balconies down with it,” said Nick Harding from London Fire Brigade. Emergency services said there were 81 “walking
wounded”, many with head injuries, with seven more taken to hospital with more serious injuries. Police said they were not aware of any fatalities. “Specialist urban search and rescue crews were also called to the scene to make sure no one was trapped. Fortunately all those who were trapped have been rescued and treated for injuries or taken to hospital,” Harding said.
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Mubarak’s sons, PM acquitted of corruption CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian court yesterday acquitted former leader Hosni Mubarak’s two sons and his last prime minister of corruption charges, a verdict announced just hours after security forces arrested a prominent activist as part of an intensifying crackdown against icons of the nation’s 2011 uprising. The Cairo criminal court found Gamal and Alaa Mubarak and Ahmed Shafiq innocent of corruption in a case that arose from the 1995 sale of a plot of land to Mubarak’s sons by an association led at the time by the former prime minister. Prosecutors claim the land was sold to the two at a price lower than its market value and were given a larger plot than what was stated in the contract. Also acquitted were four retired generals who served as board members of the association. Alaa, a wealthy businessman, and Gamal, his father’s one-time heir apparent, are facing a separate trial on other corruption charges. They have been held in detention since April 2011, two months after their father resigned in the face of a popular uprising. A small group of Mubarak supporters in the courtroom
Egyptian supporters of former leader Hosni Mubarak celebrate after a court acquitted Mubarak’s two sons and his last prime minister of corruption charges, judiciary officials said at a court, in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday. (AP Photo/Ahmed Abd El Latif, El Shorouk) EGYPT OUT cheered the verdict. “Oh Gamal Mubarak, the presidency awaits you,” they chanted. Shafiq, a career air force officer like Mubarak, has lived in exile abroad since he was narrowly defeated by Islamist Mohammed Morsi in a presidential runoff in June 2012. Security officials at Cairo’s airport say Thursday’s verdict repeals standing instructions that Shafiq must be arrested on arrival at any of the country’s entry ports, clearing the way for his return. It is not clear whether Shafiq plans to resume his involvement in
politics. A statement by the court said that the irregularity committed by Mubarak’s sons and Shafiq is no more than an “administrative violation” that is not criminal. It also said that Alaa and Gamal Mubarak have given back the plot. It did not say whether the two could face any other penalties. Morsi was toppled in a popularly backed military coup on July 3 and is on trial for inciting murder while awaiting a separate trial on charges of conspiring with foreign militant groups. Mubarak was sentenced to
life in 2012 for failing to stop the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising that ended his 29-year rule. He was acquitted on appeal and is now being retried. The airport officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to journalists. Meanwhile, authorities arrested Mohammed Adel of April 6, one of several youth movements that led the 2011 uprising. Lawyer Gamal Eid said Adel and five others from The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights in Cairo
were seized along with computers during the raid early Thursday. All six were blindfolded and handcuffed when taken to an unknown location where they were kept for seven hours. Eid said the six were later taken to a police station before the five were released. Adel remained in police custody. The lawyer said security officers pushed a gun inside the mouth of one of the five during their detention to make him be quiet and beat up another. His account could not be independently verified, but rights activists have complained of growing police brutality in the five months since Morsi’s ouster. A statement by 14 Egyptians rights groups denounced the raid, saying it pointed to a “new chapter of repression, dictatorship and autocracy in Egypt.” Already in detention are three of the 2011 uprising’s best known youth leaders: Alaa Abdel-Fattah, Ahmed Douma and Ahmed Maher. They are accused of breaking a recent law that places draconian conditions on street protests and of assaulting police. The acquittal of the Mubarak sons and Shafiq and the detention of the 2011 uprising leaders likely will give credibility to claims that
the government installed by the military in the wake of Morsi’s removal was prepared to accommodate Mubarak-era figures to counter the opposition by Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood. Cozying up to the Mubarakera figures and businessmen also could widen the government’s base of support at a time when the battered economy is showing no sign of a quick recovery and activists are stepping up criticism of its human rights record. Nearly all policemen charged in the killing of more than 800 protesters during the 2011 uprising have been acquitted or receive suspended sentences, causing an outcry among activists and victims’ families. Morsi’s supporters wage near-daily protests in Cairo and other major cities to demand his reinstatement. The protests often end violently. The government will face its first test when the draft constitution penned by a 50member panel appointed by the Interim President Adly Mansour is put to a nationwide vote on Jan. 1415. The Brotherhood says it will boycott the vote and called on its followers to take to the streets to protest during the two-day referendum.
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Spain on top, Ukraine highest climber - Guyana remain at 150 In the last edition for the year of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, the top ten remain unchanged. Spain continue to lead the table ahead of Germany and Argentina, followed by Colombia, Portugal and Uruguay. Two Asian teams have this month achieved their highest-ever rankings: the Philippines (127th, up 6) and Guam (161st, up 8). World and European champions Spain top the final ranking of the year for the sixth time in a row, securing themselves once again the title of Team of the Year. The
highest climbers of 2013, thanks to nine wins, two draws and only one defeat, are Ukraine, who have collected no fewer than 312 points since December 2012, moving up 29 places to 18th and gaining the title of Mover of the Year for the first time. It has also been an extremely successful year for Armenia (35th, up 259 points since December 2012) and the USA (14th, up 237 points since December 2012). A look at the changes in the regional composition of the top 50 since December 2012 shows that the number
of teams from CONCACAF (five teams in the top 50, plus 2) and CAF (9, plus 1) has increased slightly at the expense of UEFA (26, minus 1), CONMEBOL (8, minus 1) and the AFC (2, minus 1), while the OFC still does not have any teams in the top 50. The top-ranked teams within CONCACAF and the AFC have changed since last year (this year they are the USA and Iran respectively, in 2012 Mexico and Japan), while in the other confederations the best teams are the same as in 2012: Spain, Argentina, Côte d’Ivoire and New Zealand.
Friday December 20, 2012 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Point your aggressiveness in the right direction today. That shouldn't be too hard since you know and understand the meaning of a job well done and what's required to get things accomplished. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today isn't a day to lounge around. There's a very important practical matter that must be dealt with before you can engage in any lighthearted activities. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Try to keep your emotions in check today. It's possible that you could become extremely angry and do some damage to yourself and others around you. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may feel like someone is trying to rain on your parade. It's important not to forget who you are now. Don't be surprised if you feel a negative pull from someone or something.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) There's aggressiveness to you today, but this feeling can be useful to you and what you have going on. There's a practical force helping you stay grounded and realistic about certain issues. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) There's increased emotional tension today. You may be at the forefront of the action as you take things higher and farther. Have a map handy or you could wind up alone in the middle of nowhere. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Don't hold back today. You're the right person for the job in about every situation you encounter. You'll have the instincts required to move on a project, see what needs to be done, gather the resources, and get the ball rolling. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Strong feelings may arise through relationship dynamics today and you’ll be better off if you can share what’s on your mind.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Today is a terrific day for you. You're able to accomplish a lot during the day, leaving the night open for excitement with others. Once you take care of the necessary things, feel free to grab a big helping of fun.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Don't be surprised if you feel like you're being poked with a stick today, as something urges you to get moving. There's an aggressive energy moving about and making demands on everyone.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Promote balance and harmony today by letting off a bit of steam before you try to engage with others and their dramas. Secure yourself in a stable environment where you can vent your concerns, punch pillows, or jog around the block.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Pull yourself together, and figure out what it is your heart desires. There's an aggressive force tugging at your heartstrings today. Unless you have it firmly in your mind what it is you want and feel, you'll be easily pulled off track. Stay grounded and you should be OK.
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Annandale Secondary... From page 57 was around that time that QC defenders increased their vigilance and made it extremely difficult for the Annandale strike crew. If the first session was smoke, the second developed into a raging i n f e r n o a s both teams heightened their efforts to stay in front. Apparently, the team from the East Coast suddenly discovered their
opponent’s Achilles heel and within the s p a c e o f t e n minutes the score underwent a drastic change with Annandale riding high after Clarke’s feat, and Queen’s College battling furiously to recoup their advantage. Any other day they might have succeeded but it was clear that the stage belonged to Dimitri Clarke and he utilized it to the maximum, not
once, not twice but three times which in the end snatched victory from a deflated Queen’s College team. Meanwhile, a power outage shortly after the conclusion of the first game, forced a lengthy delay of the feature game between St Georges and East Ruimveldt Secondary. Up to press time, that match was still being contested. Details will follow in a subsequent release.
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Ramdin, Chanderpaul lead WI recovery From back page brought up his century when he flashed a delivery from Boult over backward point for his 18th boundary, celebrating with a leap and a wave of the bat. Choosing discretion as the best part of valour in the closing overs, Ramdin was caught behind following umpires Ian Gould and Nigel Llong checking to see if it was a “bung-ball”. Ramdin, whose 148-ball innings lasted 3 ½ hours, was trying to keep out a full length delivery that flew from the edge to the ‘keeper off Corey Anderson, whose 3-25 from 14 overs made him the pick of the New Zealand bowlers. Chanderpaul typically accumulated his runs, passing quintuple Nelson of 11,111
Test runs when he reached 34 and finished the day four runs short of pass Australian Allan Border’s 11,174 Test runs. Before lunch, West Indies had defied the dismissal of Kieran Powell and made a steady start, as they reached 71 for one at the interval. Brathwaite, playing his first Test in 20 months in place of the injured Darren Bravo, opened with left-hander Powell and they comfortably batted through the first hour with little incident. But Powell was caught behind for 26 about 45 minutes before lunch, when he tried to upper cut a short, rising delivery from left-arm medium-fast bowler Neil Wagner. Edwards, moving down to the more familiar No.3 posi-
tion, came to the crease and dropped anchor, keeping the New Zealand attack at bay. Brathwaite was fortunate on 13, when he essayed a loose drive at a delivery from Wagner and Southee at cover muffed a head-high chance. Apart from this blemish, Brathwaite batted with typical aplomb, mixing sound defence with aggression, gathering five boundaries including a couple crunching pulls off long-hops from leg-spinner Ish Sodhi in the final over before the interval. His dismissal in the third over after lunch however, triggered a mid-innings crisis, as the Windies, sent in to bat, reached 142 for five at tea. Brathwaite, Kirk Edwards, Marlon Samuels and Narsingh Deonarine fell for
JCA appoints new selection committee Kingston, Jamaica Former West Indies batsman, Wavell Hinds, has been appointed chairman of a newlook national senior selection panel for cricket. Hinds, who is also a Director of Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), makes the move up from the national Under-19 selection panel of which he has been chairman for the past two years. The former middle-order batsman is joined on the selection team by fastbowling great Courtney Walsh and former national players Delroy Morgan, Wayne Lewis and Cleveland Davidson. “The new board in selecting the panel deliberated carefully and in the end we believe what we came up with was a good mix,” said JCA president, Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven. “We have Morgan coming back to lend his experience, Hinds and Davidson stepping up from their successful stint with the under-19s, Lewis, who is new, plus Walsh. “It’s a very capable unit, one that we believe will not only help us to continue to win regional titles, but also to get more players playing for the West Indies,” he declared. It will be the first time Walsh, the recently elected JCA second vice-president, and Lewis will be serving as national selectors. THIRD TIME However, for Morgan, it will be his third time after serving on the two previous panels with outgoing chairman Courtnay Daley and
Wavel Hinds
the addition of nine runs in the space of 34 deliveries. Brathwaite was caught at gully off Southee for 45, trying to get on top of a short, rising delivery. Edwards, who scored half-centuries opening the batting in each of the two preceding Tests, was caught behind two overs later off the same bowler for six, following a New Zealand review of umpire Lloyd’s not-out verdict. TV sound replays suggested Edwards got a faint nick, although infra-red imaging technology failed to spot anything significant on his bat. The decline continued, when Marlon Samuels was caught at gully off Anderson for nine in the next over from an ill-advised, loose drive at a delivery outside the offstump. The slump reached its zenith, when left-hander Narsingh Deonarine was adjudged lbw for two to Anderson, moving too far inside the line to work a delivery into the leg-side. The West Indies lefthander reviewed the decision and TV replays suggested the
ball would have clipped the top of the leg-stump, supporting umpire Gould’s original verdict. Ramdin came to the crease and got into stride quickly with an extra-cover drive off Boult, but it typically took the obdurate Chanderpaul much longer before he straight drove Wagner for his first boundary. Over the next 3 ½ hours, the two continued to punctuate periods of consolidation with the odd boundary, as they gradually brought some respectability back to the West Indies batting. New Zealand named an unchanged line-up for the Test, but West Indies brought Brathwaite, off-spinner Sunil Narine and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul in to replace Bravo, the suspended Shane Shillingford and fast bowler Shannon Gabriel. Bravo was struck on the left forearm while batting in the nets on the eve of the match on Wednesday, Shillingford has been sidelined by the ICC due to an illegal bowling action and
Permaul was preferred ahead of Gabriel on a pitch which West Indies reckon will favour spin bowling later in the match. The visitors trail 0-1 in the three-Test series, following a defeat by an innings and 73 runs in the second Test which ended last Friday at the Basin Reserve in the New Zealand capital of Wellington. Rain forced a draw in the first Test which ended two Saturdays ago at University Oval in the South Island city of Dunedin. The previous Test between the two sides at this venue – almost 14 years ago to the day – offers little comfort to West Indies, having lost by nine wickets, after their batting was undermined by Chris Cairns with a match haul of 10-100. The Test is also remembered for the dramatic West Indies first innings batting collapse that occurred following a sensational opening stand between century-makers Sherwin Campbell and fellow Barbadian Adrian Griffith that dominated most of the opening day.
Enterprise Busta SC rubbishes Bacchus letter-supports CAB West Indies Under-19 assistant coach Robert Samuels. It is understood that Daley, another former national player, did not seek reappointment, while Samuels, due to his recent West Indies Under-19 appointment, was not considered. “You have some people who didn’t really offer themselves for selection to the panel,” said Heaven. “But even so, you at times need new faces and fresh talents going forward, and I believe that’s the case with this new panel that we have.” The panel, in the meanwhile, which will be complemented by the addition of two co-opted members - national senior
team coach Junior Bennett and a to-be-named national captain - is set to select two national squads over the next few weeks. The first will be a 14-man squad for the WICB Super50 Tournament, which will be held in Trinidad and Tobago, beginning on January 30. This will then be followed by a squad for the WICB FourDay Tournament, which is set to start in late February. Jamaica, after winning a record five straight regional four-day titles, were dethroned by Barbados this year. They also failed to defend their Super50 title after going down to eventual champions Windward Islands in the semi-finals. (Jamaica Gleaner)
DEAR EDITOR, We refer to the outrageous letter written by Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) President Fizul Bacchus titled ‘Mr. Lumumba, the “stakeholders” and Government should all apologize’ and dated 16th December, 2013. We at the Enterprise Busta Sports Club emphatically state that: No one from our club spoke to Fizul Bacchus or anyone from the ECB concerning the Cricket Petition or the Cricket Administration Bill (CAB). We strongly disassociate our club and its membership from this abusive and disrespectful article. We wholly support the
cricket petition presented by PPP\C Member of Parliament Mr. Odinga Lumumba and regret that it was not accepted by the opposition in the National Assembly for their owned raison d’être that of alleged ‘loaded language’. We firmly restate our full support for the Cricket Administration Bill 2012 that was tabled by the Hon. Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and request that it be given extraordinary attention by the National Assembly. As was articulated in the Cricket Petition, we reiterate that this piece of legislation will bring professionalism, order, democracy and legality to our cricket. W also wish to applaud and support the East
Coast Cricket Board, the Berbice Cricket Board, the Georgetown Cricket Association, the Upper Demerara Cricket Association and the thousands of persons across Guyana who signed the petition and showed their support for this important bill. Finally, no one is allowed to make statement on behalf of our club except for those who are duly authorised to do so and Mr. Bacchus should be better advised to focus his attention on the apparent mismanagement of Essequibo Cricket Board which evidently is in a dilapidated state and the least productive Cricket Board in Guyana. Yours Faithfully Karan Ramdhoon President
Friday December 20, 2013
Kaieteur News
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CONCACAF trio learn FIFA U-17 Women’s WC destiny
The draw for the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup was held on December 17, 2013, in San Jose, Costa Rica. (Photo: LOC via FIFA) SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – CONCACAF’s three representatives at the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup discovered their group stage opposition during the Final Draw at the Antigua Aduana on Tuesday evening. The ceremony was conducted by Tatjana Haenni, FIFA Deputy Director of women’s competitions, and she was assisted by Costa Rica men’s national team player Yeltsin Tejeda, singer Tamela Hedstrom, former Ticos standout Mauricio Montero and Costa Rican women’s soccer pioneer Marianela Valverde. Additionally, the proceedings were aided by
women’s national team player Shirley Cruz, who recently finished third in the 2013 CONCACAF Women’s Player of the Year Award vote. Host Costa Rica is in Group A and will contest the tournament’s opening match against Venezuela on March 15. Italy and Zambia round out the quartet. CONCACAF champion winner Mexico joins Colombia, China and Nigeria, in Group D. In Group B, perennial powerhouse Canada will take on Ghana, Korea DPR and European champion Germany. The competition will take place March 15-April 4 in four Costa Rican cities – Alajuela,
Liberia, San Jose and Tibas. A CONCACAF member association will host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for a second occasion in four alltime editions and first since Trinidad & Tobago did so in 2010. Complete draw results: Group A: Costa Rica, Venezuela, Italy, Zambia Group B: Ghana, Korea DPR, Germany, Canada Group C: New Zealand, Paraguay, Spain, Japan Group D: Mexico, Colombia, China, Nigeria CONCACAF – 2014 U-17 Women’s World Cup Schedule (all times ET) Group Stage March 15 A: Costa Rica vs.
Venezuela, 10 p.m., San Jose B: Germany vs. Canada, 10 p.m., Liberia March 16 D: Mexico vs. Colombia, 4 p.m., Alajuela March 18 A: Costa Rica vs. Italy, 10 p.m., San Jose B: Korea DPR vs. Canada, 10 p.m., Liberia March 19 D: Mexico vs. China, 7 p.m., Alajuela March 22 A: Costa Rica vs. Zambia, 10 p.m., Tibas B: Ghana vs. Canada, 7 p.m., Tibas March 23 D: Nigeria vs. Mexico, 10 p.m., San Jose
Bryant back on sidelines for another six weeks Reuters - Just 11 days after Kobe Bryant made his long-awaited return for the Los Angeles Lakers, the shooting guard will be out for about six weeks because of a knee injury, the team announced yesterday. The 35-year-old, who spent almost eight months on the sidelines with a torn left Achilles’ tendon before making his comeback on December 8, hyper-extended his left knee during Tuesday’s 96-92 win against the Grizzlies in Memphis. Bryant, a 15-time All-Star and five-time NBA champion, had an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam on Thursday and was also examined by a team physician. “Results of the MRI show that Bryant has a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau of his knee,” the Lakers said in a statement. “He is expected to be out approximately six weeks.” Bryant’s latest injury comes as a major blow for the Lakers, who only last month signed the league veteran to a lucrative two-year contract extension. “You hate it for Kobe,” Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He’s worked so hard to get back.” Xavier Henry will take over as starting point guard in Bryant’s absence, the
Kobe Bryant Lakers said. Bryant’s widely anticipated return from his Achilles’ tendon injury gave the team a significant boost, though they have struggled to a win-loss record of 2-4 since then. Making matters worse for the Lakers is that all three of their point guards have been sidelined by injury - Steve Nash (nerve damage in back), Steve Blake (torn ligament in right elbow) and Jordan Farmar (torn hamstring). Bryant has averaged 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in six games this season for the Lakers (12-13) who sit 11th in the 15-team Western Conference.
Chico/K&S Sec. Sch. Tourney
Annandale Secondary School’s Dimitri Clarke nets scorching triple to send Queen’s College packing Just two days after turning in a masterful performance to clinch a come from behind 2-1 victory over Uitvlugt Secondary School, Annandale Secondary School turned in another classic display to dispose of Queens College 5-2 when action in the Chico/Kashif & Shanghai Secondary Schools Football Tournament continued at the Georgetown Football Club Ground, last evening. Dimitri Clarke was scorching hot and his lone contribution in the West Coast game paled in comparison t o h i s t r i p l e success last evening; he pierced the opposition’s berth in the 77th, 87th and 90th minute with support from Kristoff Stoll (56) in a display that
snatched victory from the grasp of the QC team. Annandale Secondary suffered a slight setback after one of their players inadvertently kicked in the wrong direction in a goal default situation while Kabian Daly’s 13th minute strike added to the default to push the losers’ tally to 2. Brilliant sunshine for most of the day did not hold up and the players took to the field under a steady drizzle that eventually developed into a downpour. Undaunted, b o t h t e a m s e n g a g e d in aggressive football with Clarke looking threatening after several near misses at the opposition’s goal. Daly then extricated himself from among a group, each battling to gain possession, and
pasted the Annandale custodian to enthusiastic cheers from supporters. A determined Annandale fought back gamely and Stoll’s equalizer was indeed a joy to behold; he dribbled down the left flank and embarrassed the entire QC defensive line up and sliced the ball from an extremely difficult angle, yet managed to pierce the opposition’s berth. Four minutes later, QC was back in the ascendency complements of the blunder. Stoll was a thorn in the opposition’s side and one of his early advances had success written all over it but for the lack of support from his team mates when he was overwhelmed by the opposition’s defenders. It (Continued on page 55)
THE STAR OF THE SHOW! Dimitri Clarke’s team mates hoist him on their shoulders in appreciation of his late triple goal spree
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 20, 2013
Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Competition
Skill and experience set to collide in final After weeks of intense rivalry among the thirty-two teams that started the competition, this year’s Georgetown segment of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Futsal Tournament is set to culminate tomorrow evening, at the National Park. The two teams that will be battling for the top prize of $500,000 are Queen street of Tiger Bay and Stevedore Housing Scheme and while both of them have made it this far without the fuss and fanfare usually reserved for favourites, they’ve constantly displayed admirable efficiency in this format of the sport so a close and interesting contest is envisaged. Queen Street will no doubt be led by the skilful and prolific Deon Alfred, who has mesmerised many opposing defenders with his sublime skills and he is expected to be supported by strike partner Dion Fredericks. In their previous encounter, they easily disposed of neighbours Hope Street with Alfred and Fredericks the chief architects of their win. On the other hand, Stevedore Housing Scheme
Part of the action in this year’s Georgetown segment of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition. though not stacked with players possessing the skills of some of the other teams, are being led by the savvy and experienced Elroy Parks and he has been the stabilising force at the back, while Quason Winter will be asked to add further support. In their last game, they showed the calmness of a veteran team en route to eliminating heavy favourites
Albouystown ‘B’ in a penalty shootout. The loser will take home $300,000 and a trophy. In the playoff for third place, Albouystown ‘B’ takes on Hope Street and this too promises to be a crowd pleasing encounter. Marlon Nedd will once again be charged with the responsibility to lead Albouystwon ‘B’ to the $200,000 prize and support is
expected from Roy Cassou. The loser will receive $100,000 and a trophy. Along with the above mentioned prizes, teams were eligible to pocket an additional $25,000, $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 each, according to their final placing. Meanwhile, a couple of exhibition matches are planned to be part of the night’s proceedings.
FIFA invests USD 200 million in football development in 2013 Activities involving all 209 member associations, landmark initiatives in Somalia, Afghanistan and Palestine, and an overall investment of USD 200 million are some of the key features of FIFA’s development work during 2013. South Sudan, FIFA’s newest member association, became the latest beneficiary of FIFA development projects with courses for referees and coaches taking place in Juba in the past two months. Forty-six (46) new Goal projects were approved by FIFA’s Development Committee during 2013 for a total of 640 since the creation of the initiative in 1998. Furthermore, 28 member associations joined Performance - the football management programme of FIFA – that to date has been implemented in 155 countries. This year also confirmed the diversification of FIFA’s development programmes with 22 projects for less privileged member associations and two income generation initiatives approved. A further milestone was
Late run lifts Heat past Pacers 97-94 in showdown
the approval of the General Regulations for FIFA Development Programmes by the FIFA Executive Committee in March which was followed by a general consultation process that started in September in Auckland. “2013 was a special year since we started a very important process in implementing the new general regulations for development programmes,” FIFA Director of Member Associations and Development Thierry Regenass said. “Generally, this year has been about reforms, compliance and transparency, and we have been communicating these
changes to our members through seminars, workshops, and through our new Member Associations Extranet.” From Afghanistan to Cuba In August 2013 FIFA completed its first grassroots course in Somalia since 1986 – it was one of the 179 grassroots initiatives organised by FIFA during the past 12 months. Only a couple of days later Afghanistan hosted Pakistan on Kabul’s FIFA Goal project funded artificial pitch; their first international home match since 2003. The same venue was used for the second edition
of the Afghan Premier League that saw Shaheen Asmayee winning their maiden title. Palestine also took centre stage with FIFA President Blatter opening three Goal projects during a visit made in July. I n t e r n a t i o n a l competitions too provided with positive examples of football development. Cape Verde Islands and Cuba – two countries that have benefited from a total of seven Goal projects – hit the news by qualifying for the first time for the African Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-20 World Cup, respectively.
MIAMI (AP) - For so much of the night, just about everything was going wrong for the Miami Heat. They were missing every 3-pointer, arguing plenty of calls, even screaming at one another. Then one quick burst changed everything. Dwyane Wade scored 32 points, LeBron James added 24 on a sore left ankle, and Chris Bosh and Ray Allen connected on huge 3-pointers within a 31-second span down the stretch. It all added up to the Heat erasing a 15point deficit in the final 18 minutes to beat the rival Indiana Pacers 97-94 on Wednesday. So even when Indiana led 68-53 midway through third quarter, hope remained. And even when James and Mario Chalmers were getting in a heated exchange during one particularly bleak stretch James said afterward that he was wrong, and Chalmers said the matter was forgotten - the Heat didn’t fall apart. Paul George scored 25 points for Indiana but missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it with 4 seconds left, and insisted afterward that he was fouled by James on the play. David West had 23 points and Lance Stephenson added 13 for the Pacers, who have dropped two straight and saw their lead over Miami in the Eastern Conference trimmed to one game. Both teams have won against the other on their home floor this season, and Miami topped Indiana at home in Game 7 of the East finals a year ago. Miami got the 15-point deficit down to five by the end of the third quarter, and was still down 92-85 when West scored with 3:21 remaining. Then, for the first time all night, the Heat put together a
real run. The Heat scored the next 10 points - Bosh’s 3-pointer, his first in 15 attempts, tied it at 92. And after George missed in the lane at the other end, James brought the ball the other way and found Allen for a 3-pointer that put the Heat ahead for the first time since the score was 1413. They didn’t trail again. The Pacers had a chance at the lead late, but it went awry when George Hill turned the ball over on a pass with 14 seconds left. Allen made two free throws with 10.3 seconds remaining to put Miami up by three, and that capped the scoring. Pacers center Roy Hibbert got his fourth foul early in the third, and Vogel opted to leave him in the game. The gamble appeared to backfire 46 seconds later when Hibbert picked up his fifth with 8:34 remaining in the quarter. Hibbert went to the bench - but the Pacers didn’t miss a beat. George made three free throws after getting hit beyond the arc by Chalmers to put Indiana up 66-51 midway through the third, and the Pacers’ lead was still 14 with 4:17 left in the period. Even though the teams won’t see each other again until March, and with the playoffs still 50-something games away, there was clearly a little more meaning to this one. James was questionable because of a bad ankle, the one he twisted in Monday’s win over Utah. Vogel was questionable because of bad spaghetti - at least, he thinks that’s what caused a quick bout with illness that set in after he dined Tuesday night. By game time, both pronounced themselves ready.
Friday December 20, 2013
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GOA dole out $$$ to affiliates at Christmas activity
Specifically for youth development; affiliates challenged to do more Christmas cheer came to the affiliates of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) in a tangible form on Wednesday evening last when that entity held a get together at the residence of President, K. A Juman Yassin. The contribution Yassin informed was specifically for development of young and potential athletes. “We need to look at the young people, we need and you need to look at your talent wherever they are and help. So our contribution basically is for the development of the young athletes and for sports.” GOA Treasurer Garfield Wiltshire in remarks stated that the GOA Executive made a conscious decision to put funds towards the development of all sports, positing that it’s important that athletes are developed with an eye on meaningful participation at the upcoming international games. In reviewing the year 2013, Ya s s i n while acknowledging that strides were made is of the view that much more can be done and challenged the associations/federations to focus in that direction. “I hope that next year much more could be done. But what is really needed is for the respective executives of the associations to really get together and try to push, I know you are pushing and you say you don’t have facilities, we don’t have funds but at the end of the day we can’t give up.” The GOA head told the representatives of the
GOA President K.A Juman Yassin (seated 4th right) is flanked by other Executive members while the recipients of financial assistance, all in a jovial mood, savor this Kodak moment. associations which included president’s and secretaries, that they need to chart a course while noting at the level of the GOA their goal through its members is, in the first instance, the South American Youth Games in Chile, in March. “Those games will have top countries, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and our athletes have the opportunity of qualifying for the Pan American Games in 2015. The Commonwealth Games will be at the end of July in Glasgow and we need at
the GOA need to see what has been the performance in the South American Games for selection to go to Glasgow.” GOA Executive members, Gokarn Randhani and Garfield Wiltshire have been appointed respective Chef-de-Mission of the S o u t h A m e r i c a n Yo u t h Games and Commonwealth Games. Ya s s i n r e m i n d e d h i s members that the GOA wants to support them in their development but they must also help themselves.
In this vein, Yassin told those present that they need to let the Ministry of Sport know what they are doing in terms of programmes. “You need to ensure that the Ministry of sports know what your itinerary and plans are. You have these games coming up, I believe most associations are not doing that and we really need to do that. At the end of the day you may or may not get assistance, but if you don’t get, at least you’ll be able to say you put your things in. so put whatever provisions
in the pot and see how it comes out.” Yassin also reminded that Rio 2016 is just the corner and most associations have not yet submitted their plans and proposals despite being requested to do so. “I am asking you to make a resolution for the New Year that you send the names of persons who can qualify for scholarships. You may send a lot of names and they may not get it but the important thing is once you send and w e s u b m i t t h e r e ’s a n
opportunity a few of them will get, so we need to do that.” The Guyana Netball Association, Guyana Rugby Football Union, Guyana Karate Association, Guyana Amateur Boxing Association, Guyana Badminton Association, Guyana Amateur Swimming Association, Guyana Amateur Swimming Association, Guyana Cycling Federation, Guyana Squash Association and Guyana Table Tennis Association among others, benefitted.
World Test Championship ‘in doubt’ The future of the World Test Ch a m p i o n s h i p h a s been thrown into doubt after it emerged that broadcasters and sponsors still hold grave reservations over the value of the event and the various parties organising it have failed to reach any agreement over the format. The inaugural Test Championship, which the ICC hopes will become the showpiece event in the Test schedule, is due to be staged in the UK in 2017. But, with only four teams due to compete - the top four in the Test rankings as of
December 31, 2016 - doubts remain over its global appeal. The key concern of the sponsors and broadcasters is the identities of the competing teams. If any of the major draws cards - especially India or England - should f a i l t o q u a l i f y, t h e attraction and value of the event would fall markedly. England’s rapid descent in the world rankings has rendered this a real danger and could also result in some of the games being played in less-than-full stadiums. T h e I C C ’s c u r r e n t
broadcast deal ends in 2015. The last deal, agreed with ESPN Star Sports* in 2006, was worth around $1.1 billion and helped fund a huge increase in funding for Associate and Affiliate nations. Any decrease in the value of the next deal, a genuine possibility bearing in mind broadcasters’ lukewarm response to the World Test Championship, will have serious consequences for the game at every level in most parts of the world. Little progress has been made with the practicalities
of the event, either. While a simple option would see the event consist of nothing more than two semi-finals and a final, there are doubts over what happens in the event of poor weather - hardly an unlikely event in the UK and whether such a format provides enough cricket to capture the imagination of spectators and the interest of sponsors. Any other format such as round-robin threatens to become too long, with at least three days rest required between games to ensure any sort
of veracity in the event. The fact that day-night Test cricket remains an unrealised dream - and, in England at least, may always do so - also compromises the ability to reach a global audience. As a result, the ICC is under increasing pressure to rethink its commitment to the Championship. The World Test Championship was originally scheduled to be held for the first time in 2013, but was postponed due to the reservations of broadcasters. The ICC had hoped it would replace the Champions
Trophy but was unable to reach an agreement and the 50-over tournament was staged in the UK, with some success, instead. It was subsequently confirmed that the Champions Trophy would not be played again. While the ICC remains committed to hosting one showpiece event for each format of the game - World Twenty20, World Cup and Test Championship - the fact is that the Champions Trophy was popular with broadcasters, spectators and sponsors. Its revival cannot be ruled out.
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Friday December 20, 2013
Windies to face Ireland in February ST. JOHN’S, Antigua The WICB announced that d e f e n d i n g Wo r l d T 2 0 Champions West Indies will face Ireland in two T20 Internationals at Sabina Park, Jamaica in February, 2014. The two teams will also meet in a One-Day International also at the historic venue.
The three-match series will be played immediately following the NAGICO Super50 Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago. The Irish will travel directly from Trinidad while the Windies will assemble in Jamaica on Sunday, February 16 to start their preparations. Following the series West Indies will played three
ODIs against England at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua (February 28, March 2 and 5) and three T20s at Kensington Oval in Barbados (March 9, 11 and 13). “We are delighted to welcome the Irish Team to play against our Windies in this upcoming series. It comes immediately after the
NAGICO Super50 Tournament and will be a great opportunity for the squad to get quality preparation ahead of the visit by England and before they head off to defend the ICC World T20 title which they won so spectacularly back in October 2012,” said Richard Pybus, the WICB’s Director of Cricket.
“It will also signal the start of the international season in the West Indies and it promises to be a bumper year of cricket for the fans here in the Caribbean. The Windies will have several assignments and we foresee some tough and exciting cricket as we look to build and move up the ICC rankings in all three formats.” SCHEDULES West Indies vs Ireland At Sabina Park, Jamaica Wednesday, February 19: 1st T20 International Friday, February 21: 2nd T20 International Sunday, February 23:
One-Day International West Indies vs England Tuesday, February 25: England v Vice Chancellor’s XI (Venue TBC) At Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds, Antigua Friday, February 28: 1st One-Day International Sunday, March 2: 2nd One-Day International Wednesday, March 5: 3rd One-Day International Kensington Oval, Barbados Sunday, March 9: 1st T20 International Tuesday, March 11: 2nd T20 International Thursday, March 13: 3rd T20 International
The ball’s in your court
Adidas and FIFA are pleased to announce that they have completed the delivery of brazuca Official Match Balls to all 32 Participating Member Associations (PMA’s) of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. Brazuca, which was launched two weeks ago, has been delivered as early as possible to give all PMA’s sufficient and equal chance to train with the ball almost six months before the tournament kicks off on Thursday 12 June, 2014. Brazuca is adidas’ most tested ball of all time and was developed over two and a half years, involving 600 players and 30 professional and national teams across 10 countries. Some of the world’s top players were also involved in the process including Leo Messi, Dani Alves, Iker Casillas and Steven Gerrard. Now, all competing players taking
part in the FIFA World Cup will have the chance to train with the ball well in advance of the tournament. Brazuca was named back in September 2012 following a public vote in Brazil involving one million football fans; the name “brazuca” is an informal local term which means “Brazilian”, or to describe the Brazilian way of life. The colours and ribbon design of the ball panels symbolise the traditional multi-coloured wish bracelets worn in the country (fita do Senhor do Bonfim da Bahia), in addition to reflecting the vibrancy and fun associated with football in Brazil. Brazuca has also already proved popular on social media. As the first official FIFA World Cup match ball Twitter account, @brazuca has amassed over 100,000 followers in its first two weeks.
Kaieteur News
Friday December 20, 2013
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Woodpecker Products annual Christmas Badminton Singles Tourney
Ramdhani siblings win U15 and 19 girls’ boys finals; Mangra is boys’ U15 champ Ramdhani: 21-4, 21-7 Noel Shewjattan defeated Josh Oodit: 214, 21-3 Sachin Ramdhani defeated Amil Alli: 21-
Narayan Ramdhani
Priyanna Ramdhani. T h e Wo o d p e c k e r Products Annual Christmas Singles Tournament continued yesterday afternoon at the Queens College Badminton Courts after serving off one day earlier. This is the final tournament for the year and features all the top players in the land who are all eager to get on court as they try to win their respective age groups and open events. Fifteen-year-old Narayan Ramdhani dominated the Boys Under-19 Final with a convincing 21-11, 21-12 victory over Noel Shewjattan in strength sets to clinch the title. In the Boys Under-15 Final 14-year-old Jonathan Mangra defeated Hemraj Beharry 21-7, 21-9 to cop the U-15 Boys title. The second U-15 Boys semi-final was played yesterday and M a n g r a b e a t Ransell Ramsaroop 21-3, 21-4, to advance to the final. In other matches, Mangra took on Sachin Ramdhan in the first round of the Open Men’s Singles competition with Mangra emerging victorious 21-4, 21-7.
Jonathon Mangra In the Quarter Finals Narayan Ramdhani got the better of Armand Ramdhani 2-7, 21-13. M e a n w h i l e , following are the results of the opening night. Under-15 Boys Singles Semi Finals: Hemraj Beharry defeated Armand Ramdhani: 21-11, 21-10 Under-15 Girls Singles Semi Finals: Ambika Ramraj defeated Abosaide Cadogan: 21-15, 21-9 Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Siya Persaud: 21-2, 21-3 Under-15 Girls Singles Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Ambika Ramraj: 21-9, 21-6 Under-19 Boys Singles Quarter Finals: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Hemraj Beharry: 21-2, 21-5 Jonathan Mangra defeated Armand
18, 17-21, 7-21 Under-19 Boys Singles Semi Finals: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Sachin Ramdhani: 21-7, 21-5
Noel Shewjattan defeated Jonathan Mangra: 21-12, 21-13 Open Mens Singles First Round: Christopher Persaud
defeated Hemraj Beharry: 21-8, 21-8 Action will conclude tonight when the presentation would also be held.
t r o Sp
Ramdin, Chanderpaul lead WI recovery H A M I LT O N , N e w Zealand – Denesh Ramdin collected his fourth Test hundred and Shivnarine Chanderpaul was eyeing his 29th, as they pulled West Indies out of the depths of another depressing batting
slump in the third Test against New Zealand on Thursday here. Ramdin made 107 and Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 94, as West Indies, sent in to bat, reached 289 for six in their first innings at the close on the
opening day on a hard, true Seddon Park pitch in conditions similar to a Caribbean Christmas. The pair carried out a salvage operation after the West Indies top-order crashed against disciplined New
Zealand bowling and were wobbling on 86 for five in the first hour after lunch. Both Ramdin and Chanderpaul frustrated the New Zealand bowlers and had their slices of good fortune, as they shared a new
West Indies sixth-wicket record of 200 for Tests in New Zealand, eclipsing 165 between Gordon Greenidge and Jeff Dujon 26 years ago. Ramdin was 57, when he essayed a slog/sweep at leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and Kane Williamson at midwicket failed to hold a shoulder high chance. He
was also dropped on 94, when he tried to collect his third straight four off leftarm fast-medium bowler Trent Boult and Tim Southee failed to hold onto the ball. Undeterred and guided by the veteran Chanderpaul, the 28-year-old West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman (Continued on page 56)
Denesh Ramdin celebrates reaching his hundred.
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