Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Friday December 23, 2016

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

Editor’s Note; If your sent letter was not published and you felt its contents were valid and devoid of libel or personal attacks, please contact us by phone or email.

Was Ogunseye one of those EDITORIAL who betrayed Walter Rodney? Different moral principles Bizarre activities in recent times in our society raise the question as to what sort of morality is guiding our people. Vicious killing and maiming without apparent remorse and a tendency to dehumanise each other are but only two of the most obvious symptoms. Our society is diverse, a combination of various cultures and traditions: it is heterogeneous in composition. Dynamic and changing, it is pluralistic in many ways. It has always been to some extent, morally pluralistic, and unfortunately this pluralism appears to be widening. Radical moral pluralism, for example, describes that state of affairs in which people hold mutually irreconcilable views about morality, such as what the terms right and wrong mean, and which actions are right and wrong. People who hold such radically divergent views, however, do not form a society, and herein lies the danger for Guyana. To be a society, a group must accept certain fundamental practices and principles. At a basic level, for instance, there must be general agreement that life is worth living, that the lives of the members of the society should be respected, or that people will respect existing differences to the extent that they do not interfere with each other. Some people do not care whether they live or die and also believe it is their moral duty to kill others, it may not be possible to convince them they are mistaken. But people with such a view cannot form a society. To the extent that society and morality go together, the morality of a society must be shared, not a radically pluralistic set of opposing moralities. The morality of gunmen who constantly raid communities falls in this category. Yet a society may be morally pluralistic on the other three levels. Secondly, a plurality of moral principles within a society does not necessarily mean irreconcilable diversity. Pluralism on the level of moral principles is compatible with social agreement on the morality of many basic practices. Such agreement does not necessarily involve agreement on the moral principles different people use to evaluate practices. The vast majority of the members of our society, for example, agree that murder is wrong. Some members of our society operate only at the level of conventional morality, and do not ask why murder is wrong. Some may believe it is wrong because the Creator in whom they believe forbids such acts; others because it violates human dignity; others because murder has serious consequences for society as a whole, and so on. Each of these involves a different moral principle. These different principles are compatible with similarity of moral judgments. Further, we look on the third level, where we see specific actions. On this level, we encounter a variety of moral opinions about some of them. This pluralism, regarding moral practices, may stem from differences of moral principles, but it may also stem from differences of fact or of perception of facts, differences of circumstances, or differences in the weighing of relevant values. Even when there is basic agreement on principles, not all moral issues are clear. In a changing, dynamic, developing society there is certainly room for moral disagreement, even if there is unanimous agreement that what helps the society to survive is moral. New practices might be seen by conservatives as threatening the society’s survival, and the same practice might be championed by others as the necessary means for survival. Pluralism of practices, however, is compatible with areas of agreement, and this is usually the case. On the fourth level of moral pluralism is that of selfrealization. As long as the members of a society abide by the basic moral norms, they are allowed, in such a pluralistic society, to choose freely their other values and their lifestyles. This constitutes a kind of moral pluralism, because self-development and fulfilment, according to some views, are moral matters.

Dear Editor; My question on whether Tacuma Ogunseye is a paid hypocrite seems to have caused him to blow a fuse upstairs. But the question he continues to hide from remains - for how long has he been collecting gold coins from the PNC and whether he was one of the Judases that sold out Walter Rodney in the 1970’s? As we can see from Tacuma’s letter, he is prepared to use any propaganda, falsehood, untruth or mischaracterization to muddle the message, but I have been in this struggle too long to follow Tacuma into his cesspit of confusion. So let me bring clarity to my side of the conversation and leave Tacuma to rant and rave. It is not who has history on their side that will withstand this political battle, but who has time on their side. The youths have time on their side while the geriatrics in power like Tacuma with little time on their side are on a political hustle and have embarked on the crooked task of collecting gold coins under false pretense. If you look at people like Tacuma, they continue to fail to deliver for the people because they are trapped mentally by their convoluted history and are relevant to a bygone era and not ready for these times but were parachuted into the present moment using deceit and subterfuge. You would never see Tacuma Ogunseye conducting a State Asset Recovery exercise on the illfamous Durban Park Project where I was told some G$300 million was ferreted out of the system for the political geriatrics for the 2020 campaign. Why? Because his political master has him on a stick like a puppet, dancing for the “pappy show”

called the State Asset Recovery Unit. He was not hired for his competence or his experience; this was a payback job for one of the boys. If I am wrong, I dare Tacuma to show me his certification or public experience at asset recovery. He is nothing but an imposter at asset recovery. Let him show me his certificate as a Fraud Examiner or a Forensic Accountant or Forensic Auditor or in Legal Training in the field of Asset Recovery? This is a specialized role that is carried out by experts, not “political has-beens” on a witch-hunting crusade seeking relevance. Who is the dishonest one Tacuma, when the evidence shows that you chose to pass yourself off in a role for which you are unsuitable, unskilled and untrained? This is like trying to fool the people into calling a donkey cart a German truck and then selling this donkey cart as the vehicle that is capable of taking the products to Lethem in the middle of the rainy season. Isn’t that fraud? So with this evidence, who really is ripping off the Treasury and collecting gold coins under false pretense? We live in a world dominated by capital and with people in it like Tacuma who are prepared to do anything to gather that capital. This attitude makes it very easy for the politically powerful to control these political underlying, almost like a relationship between a slave master and a slave. Ownership in this context means, Tacuma has to write what he is told, he has to march when they say march, he has to dance when they say dance and thus I wonder is this what he struggled for; to become a dancing puppet of his so-

called slave master? If this is the outcome of his history, I am happy to have not been part of his history. When my history is completed, I want to be remembered like Rodney, as a man who stood with the poor and the working class, not one like Tacuma who sold the poor and the working class out for a few gold coins. The history I want to be associated with is one that will transform a broken Guyana into the Singapore of the Western Hemisphere. That project is yet to start, but mark my word, once it starts and it will start, I will be part of it. After spending more than G$140 million since setting up this asset recovery team, how much assets have you recovered Tacuma? I was reliably advised that you did collect about six (6) vehicles and that was it. This was less than the amount of vehicles that Hammie alone had in 1992 until he was forced to turn those vehicles in. The then Jagan government did not spend one cent recovering those vehicles. Talk about financial squander; check out Tacuma and Company. But when I look at the state of the case against former Minister Jenny Westford, I am now convinced it will be thrown out for bungled evidence. Was this a deliberate act? Did these political opportunists collect gold coins from all sides? I rest my case. Tacuma Ogunseye is a political fraudster who is out to deceive the people of Guyana. Watch him as he becomes a FATTER CAT compliments of the taxpayers of Guyana, collecting gold coins using subterfuge and deceit in service to his slave master. Sasenarine Singh

Friday December 23, 2016

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Police replacing funeral home The PNC needs to rethink its it does business with in Linden strategies to remain relevant Dear Editor, I take this opportunity to draw attention to a rather unprofessional, unprincipled and disrespectful manner in which the Linden Senior Citizen Association and Funeral Home was treated by the new Commander of the Guyana Police Force “E” Division, Linden/Region #10 with respect to the funeral service it operates, as told to me by the administrative supervisor; the secretary/ manager and assistant secretary/ manager. T h e LSCA for over 20 years has been providing a much needed and invaluable service to the entire Region 10 by way of its funeral parlour business. Being a main and very prominent funeral parlour in the Town/Region, it has also over the years assiduously served the Guyana Police “E” Division without fail; transporting dead/ decomposed bodies from far-flung remote areas and places in the interior and beyond whenever summoned by the police – day or night. That they have been working along with the “E” Division for all those years is testimony to their reliability, trust and good relation they have placed in them and share, as the officers were quick to point out: every Commander who was here before to the very last one who left, less than two months ago can attest to this. They recall that many of them made it their duty to visit the Association to familiarize themselves with its workings by having discussions with the JP and the administration. However, this is no more the state of affairs, with the arrival of the new Commander things have changed. But why and for what reason? According to the LSCA officers as per usual they were called upon to pick up the bodies of two persons who were killed in an accident at Moblissa on the Linden Highway and take to the mortuary, which they did. But when the bill was

submitted, the Commander in charge rejected it claiming that the cost ($15,000) was too much, thus he refused to endorse it, and according to the executives there are three more such outstanding invoices to date that they are still waiting on. Now what the officers of LSCA are saying is that the price charged is standard and has been stable for some time, $10,000 to remove a dead from anywhere within the Town and $15,000 beyond the Region; this is what ordinary folks have to pay and they have not charged the police one penny more. In fact, they have been most reasonable with them in transporting the two bodies for one price. Please note that Moblissa is a location in Region 4. Thus they consider the Commander to be rather unreasonable. They speak, as they have come to know from experience, of problems encountered in dealing with the dead, more so decomposed bodies which are never always an easy run away, often times they are confronted with the unexpected. They tell of the porter having to be assisted by hired hands that have to be paid “good money”, worse yet at nights when going to remote areas, not to mention the lengthy periods in waiting before they are paid and which they have been bearing up with, without complaining. But what has disturbed them very much is the Commander ’s mode of operation in that, they have only come to know about his disapproval of cost from another official when a call was made to find out about the payment. A question mark still stands against the payment for this last service rendered, since as mentioned above, the Commander is challenging it, including the three other previous invoices that were submitted, and as they say, they are left hanging as to what will be. Even further perturbed, that from the scheme of things, it appears that their

services would no longer be required since from reliable information received, police stations within the Region have been instructed to cease operating/dealing with the LSCA Funeral Home, and was also informed that arrangements have already been made to have another funeral parlour replace them. Again, according to the LSCA executives they weren’t even granted the basic courtesy of being informed about the termination of their service, much less thanking them for the years of service they have provided, as they lamented, everything was done in a most unceremonious manner. In what way can this unfitting behavior by a senior officer of the GPF in charge of any Region be considered as exemplary? How can we still expect such behavior to improve the image and communal cooperation of the police and citizens? Frank Fyffe Editor’s note; below is the police response to this letter; The Commissioner of Police wishes to state that no instruction was given to any Divisional Commander to terminate the services of any funeral home, and that the decision for bodies to be transported to the funeral parlour, rests solely with the duty officer on duty at that time. However, the processing of payments for accounting purposes, has to be carefully examined, so as to ensure transparency and accountability. This system has been employed by the Guyana Police Force in each of its policing divisions and to date there has not been an allegation of cancelled payments by any other funeral parlour. Jairam Ramlakhan Superintendent Public Relations and Press Officer

Dear Editor; As someone who was instrumental in engineering the formation and victory of t h e P N C R - l e d administration, I have over the term of the new government had cause for reflection on its conduct and the policy positions it has adopted. This has reached the stage where at times I almost feel I have to apologize to Guyanese, particularly those who suffered tremendously at the hands of the current administration, but I recognize that we were all in this together -the former government had more than overstayed its welcome after devastating the lives of many Guyanese and making corruption a system of government unto itself. contemplated that the economy needed time to adjust, that in its first year or two the new government would need some latitude to sort itself out and make a few administrative decisions to guide its policy framework. It is now appropriate to seriously take stock of what has transpired and the direction in which the country is going. The PNCR-led administration seems intent on continuing to perpetuate t h e m y t h that it was principally responsible for the Coalition’s victory at the last election, that it had developed all the right policies and had developed the original strategy of linking with the AFC to beat the PPP. This is being accomplished by not incorporating individuals like me who highlighted the systematic corruption within the PPP and pointed out their failures in responding to the needs of Guyanese during their reign, who articulated a broad economic policy framework from which to draw, and who actually engaged both parties for the formation of the Coalition.

The fallacy of the first issue is evident in the vast disparity between the commitments to investment, job creation and good governance on the campaign trail and what currently obtains. Letters to the press have already pointed out that job creation and investment, among other things, have been buried in the administration’s national policy phrase of a Green E c o n o m y, a n d t h e commitment to good governance has been replaced by the scandalous bond deal and the reckless chaos that continue to prevail at City Hall. What is worse is that the very individuals responsible for these affairs find themselves incorporated into the central executive of the PNCR itself, clearly sending the message that the PNCR itself has taken responsibility for the bond deal and what is going on at City Hall. To r u b s a l t i n its political wounds, the mayor has been returned for another year of her three-year term after some behind-thescenes political pressure. Prior to this, was the Budget 2017 about which many sections of the country is much in arms. The budget is an entire issue all by itself, but in a nutshell, as has been pointed out, the restructuring of VAT

as presented will undoubtedly cause inflation, something which Guyana has battled to keep in check since the early 1990s. Further, these represent permanent increases in prices, the type economies could do well without; they being a result of deliberate government policy. While it is recognized that many businesses, particularly professionals such as doctors and lawyers, do not pay their fair share of taxes, applying VAT on water and electricity, which are primary inputs into the production of virtually all goods and services, deserves revisiting since businesses will very likely pass much of the upfront cost of the tax on to an already overtaxed, lowincome population. Quite frankly, the budget is counterintuitive, since it raises costs of businesses, makes our goods and services more uncompetitive, and by taxing an overtaxed population, reduces real incomes, which in turn reduces consumption, and thus growth. T h e a d d i t i o n of parking meter fees will further reduce growth prospects. To rectify this, Finance just needs to retain the old VAT structure and reduce expenditure by the corresponding amount of lost revenue. Craig Sylvester

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Friday December 23, 2016

We always put Jesus Christ in Christmas Dear Editor For many persons, Christmas has many significances, meanings and representations. But the only and true meaning of Christmas can be derived from that passage from the Holy Scripture. God ‘pitching’ His tent in our world as it were, in the person of His Son Jesus Christ, to save mankind from their sins and shortcomings. In the end, he paid the ultimate sacrifice of death on a cross, to save the human race. This is the true message of hope for Christmas. This hope, my friends, should be an inspiration to your lives—families and friends, as you remember the hidden meaning of Christmas, amid the hustle and bustle of shopping, eating, lavishness and drinking throughout this holiday. If God were to send His Son into our world today, it would be a world that pains

and hurts from suffering, injustice, disease, poverty, crime, sexual immoralities, social problems and selfishness in its many forms. Our own country, here, Guyana, bleeds from a myriad of issues and problems among our peoples, politicians even religious leaders. Many seem to be in competition for the fame of giving to the poor and needy, relishing the spectacle to make themselves and their group or organization look good in the eyes of the camera and general public. While others, especially businesses, exploit consumers for personal and other gains propelling the get-richquick mentality among us, creating a divided and unequal society where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. My dear friends, Christmas for me as a child

was the most memorable gift of a lifetime. How can I forget discovering to my amazement gifts in my pillow cases in our house (placed there by mom and dad of course) on Christmas morning; the cooking and baking, the cleaning and illuminated verandah with lights and decorated with our tree. Christmas years ago were the best and most joyous—very traditional and down to earth, and less commercialized than it has become today. In the midst of the noise of commercialization and the distractions of this most holy day of the year, let us f in d o u r s elv es in th e quietude of our hearts and homes, surrounded by those we love and who love us, to share that which the Babe of Bethlehem brought to this world—LOVE and PEACE. Let us too, not be confined to our walls this holiday, let us take joy to others who find it

The City Council harassing small income earners again Dear Editor, Recently an announcement was made by the Georgetown City Council that a decision has been made to stop the sale of meat on the city streets, due to the health risks and violations of the public health laws that prohibit the open sale of meat, a practice which is particularly prevalent in the vicinity of Bourda and La Penitence Markets. And in theory and on the surface this sounds quite logical. However in the Georgetown situation it is not! In the markets where the Council would like meat to be exclusively sold, conditions are atrocious. In Bourda the drains in this market always overflow when it rains and the roof also leaks. The gutters smell like a septic tank and the situation is just not healthy. This market has got a lot of giant rats. These harbingers of disease scuttle in swarms around our markets particularly under cover of darkness, and that is why

people prefer to shop in the supermarkets or outside the markets, a much healthier option. The La Penitence Market is no better, with hardly any running water inside the market, forcing vendors to pay “junkies” to fetch in water by the bucket to sanitize the place. Before making such a rash decision, the Council should have the markets properly cleaned, all the rodents flushed out, proper security put in place for patrons shopping in the markets and install proper lighting. But what about the persons who sell cooked food on the pavements both by day and by night? And those who cook on spot, for example, an outlet located on Regent Street in the heart of the city? Should they not all be removed as well? The myth that foods are more wholesome if they are sold in covered and enclosed places in Guyana can be easily debunked with the example of the butchery near to the

Bourda Market that had to be closed for a while by the National Police when it was discovered that meat that was being sold in this enclosed building was not examined or certified by the City’s Public Health Department, was acquired by dubious means, was being delivered to the butchery in the middle of the night under the cover of darkness and the fact that most of it was rotting. This very City Council that is seeking to deprive these small meat retailers of an honest livelihood did nothing about this meat shop that is well known for unhygienic and insanitary practices for years. How unfair! James Mc Onnell

hard to realize that LOVE and PEACE, others who are too poor or sick to truly experience the real joy of Christmas. Let us visit our less fortunate brothers and sisters and take the love of Christmas to them. But let us be careful, for many have chosen to become poor and vulnerable in this day and age, for purposes of sheer exploitation of the kindness of others. Let others see in you, that outward expression of the understanding of this Christmas season. Share love, a smile, or even a meal with loved ones and friends. Our world will hurt and pain less, if each and every one of us starts to do this. The religious elements of Christmas are important, like going to church and concerts and parties. Cleaning, preparing and decorating our homes are

also important. But what about the inward preparation of our lives, and hearts? Have we prepared our inner soul to receive Jesus in the world this Christmas? How does that message inspire us to be better human beings to our families, friends and neighbours? Surely we cannot continue along this path. I’ve visited Georgetown this past week and like many other town centres, it was transformed into a hubbub of e c o n o m i c activities—persons seeking after the best deals and prices and promotions, trying to get out from the business community as much as possible for this holiday. We all want our personal gains. It makes us feel good. What about trying to get the best deals in spreading peace and love across our land? When Christmas has

come and gone the void many of us tried to fill with shopping and eating and drinking will still be there. Dear friends, as you celebrate Christmas this 2016, vouch to be the change maker within your family and community, ultimately your country. Use the simple but profound message of Christmas to stir the zeal and inspiration into your hearts to see life from a different perspective—to see what’s more important and do what is more important. Guyana needs the message of Christmas. Guyanese need to live and breathe the message the Christ Child brings to this fractured world today. Let your lives be transformed inwardly and outwardly not only for this season but for all through the year. Leon J. Suseran

Guyana should prepare itself for the coming global crises Dear Editor; As I looked the news and saw the Russian ambassador to Turkey assassinated and the terrorist attack with a mere truck in Germany, I contemplated about the new geopolitical reality of the world, the Caribbean especially Guyana. It’s very difficult to fight an enemy that’s fanatically committed. The Caribbean is historically and immensely connected to the United States and Europe. They are our number one trading partners. We study in both zones and we have a lot of family and friends that live in both zones. The process of “derisking” is one of the side effects of this global war on

terrorism on Caribbean countries including Guyana. “Derisking” has made doing business in all Caribbean countries more costly and burdensome. I am certain there will be other detrimental side effect to this international war on terrorism. For instance, travelling internationally will definitely become more cumbersome and international trade will become more onerous. There is also a new cold war. The takeover of Crimea by Russia and the civil war in Syria that both US and Russia are involved in supports my assertion. The allegation that Russia interfered in the recent United States presidential election illustrates that this

new cold war will be modern and different from the first Cold War. Preliminary evidence suggests that new geopolitical strategies need to be developed and implemented and that conventional diplomacy will be inadequate. Guyana must become more self-sufficient in response to the volatile geopolitical global situation. We must not wait until this global instability get worse. Guyana must find ways to mitigate the present and future challenges. Guyana will either rise or fall it depends on how strategic we act instead of just reacting. There are always opportunities in difficulties. Brian Ellis Plummer

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Another take! There are small contractors who refuse to do any business with government. The most common complaint is that the government takes a long time to pay. Small contractors cannot afford delays in payments. This destroys their cash flow. It makes them unreliable to their suppliers and to their workers. Credit will be dry up. Workers will go elsewhere; the business suffers. These businesses cannot meet their expenses and can find themselves in difficulty. They therefore refuse to compete for government contracts. It is one thing to be owed by government. It is another thing to be owed by government and have to wait a long time to be paid. But it is even far more injurious to be owed by government, to s u ff e r l o n g d e l a y s i n payment, and then to be told

that a part payment will become a full and final settlement. It is rubbing salt into that wound when on top of being short-paid, the government will turn around and say to these contractors, “take it or leave it.” The government has assumed the debts of Homestretch Development Inc (HDI), a private company set up by the government. The government, however, is deciding how much it will pay. It has stated how it came about the sum of $500M; whether or not it verified the authenticity of the claims made. It is just as reckless for the government to pay out the $500M without any such verification as it is for them to have said “take it or leave it.” If the government is bailing out a private company it has to have verification of that debt. It simply cannot decide to pay out a sum

without verifying that the work was done to satisfaction. Has the government done this? Or is it simply accepting the claims made? Suppose some of those claims are bloated or false? It means that the issue can go beyond short-paying contractors. It can become a case of rewarding persons for shoddy work, and in some instances, even making fraudulent claims. The time has come for a full disclosure as to this project. The time has long passed for defences about patriotic duty. This was a major project. The final cost has either approached one billion dollars or has surpassed it. The government simply cannot ignore the concerns which are being expressed as to the process involved in soliciting donations for this project and the contracting of companies and

Dem boys seh

People got some lash fuh de parking meter people Guyana is two countries because it got two sets of people who seeing two different things. One set seeing sheer trouble and another set causing mischief. When de budget pass one set see de budget as de wuss thing. Dem even tell de media that the budget is de most cruel thing to happen in de country. But dem got de other set who see de budget as de tool fuh ketch all dem crooks. It line up all dem people who not paying dem taxes and living off de poor even as dem same leech hollering. Dem boys seh that dem tek a walk round dem business

place and all who claim that things bad, suddenly telling people that this year better than last year. Then dem got de city council which trying to get in pun de couple cents de people get from Soulja Bai. It get in wid some people who look like de Mafia fuh set up parking meter fuh collect. Dem see nuff car in de city. These cars come from all over and dem full up de street. Dem parking meter people see this and dem know that if de people had to go shopping then dem driver got to find somewhere to park. That is wheh de

parking meter come in, because once dem stop and got to wait, is pay dem got to pay. That is wheh de problem deh, too, because once de parking meter people decide to act, dem got to get tow truck. That is wheh de trouble deh more, because de tow truck can’t move wid all dem vehicle pun de road. De parking meter people gun want to hand out tickets and unless dem can fight, nobody gun tek de ticket. Dem boys waiting to see how de thing gun wuk. Talk half and watch how de parking meter gun start a war.

individuals to undertake the substantial works which were done. The public has a right to know. They have a right to know why the private company was formed in the first place. Was there an expectation that the entirety of this project would have been financed from private donations? According to the minimal record made public, the donations were insubstantial relative to the overall project costs and its debt? So why a private company when the asset to be developed belongs, and still does, to the people of Guyana. The names of those contracted and owed must be made public. From all accounts, the private company was undertaking public works. The National Assembly is owed the names of all those involved and how much each is owed. The people of Guyana are

owed accountability. State funds have to be used to settle debts and therefore there should be no secrecy about the beneficiaries of those funds, the purposes of the debts accrued and the process by which they were accrued. The contractors are owed. They are owed money. They

cannot go to their bankers and tell these bankers, “take it or leave it.”

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Thursday December 23, 2016

Anil Nandlall sent Kaieteur News a coin with one of its two faces rubbed off Anil Nandlall published a letter in the Kaieteur News last Monday (December 19) with the heading, “PPP Government in the 50s and after 1992 developed Guyana.” I will come to the letter in a few paragraphs. But first a little digression. I taught Anil Nandlall when he was a student at UG, and I would say most honestly; any of his teachers could have seen that he would have turned out to be very successful in the career he pursued. I saw a

competent intellectual in Nandlall. I wasn’t wrong. I believe he has a fine legal mind. Even though I found his immersion in the PPP and his conduct in politics extremely unpalatable, I will not take away his fine analytical ability. But I am wondering if he has joined the ranks of intellectually barren PPP leaders on a list headed by people like Clement Rohee and Donald Ramotar. The letter in question is unworthy of a quality lawyer like

Nandlall. It is infantile and silly, and bound to bring derision on Nandlall. People with a sound education in politics should not write such childish ramblings. Here is a quote from the letter; “Whenever the PPP is in Government there is economic progress and freedom in this country; and whenever the PNC is in Government there is economic decline and authoritarianism.” Nandlall could be accused of preaching an extreme form of genetic superiority, and there has been nothing superior about the politics of the PPP since the split between Jagan and Burnham. The PPP ruled for 31 years — from 1956 to 1964, then from 1992 to 2015. The PNC was in government for 30 years beginning 1964 to 1992 then from 2015 to the present time. The dates show that they have the same amount of years in their domination of Guyana. It is foolish and unworthy of a trained mind to say it was 31 years of progress under the PPP with economic development and democracy, and it has been 30 years of

stagnation and dictatorship under the PNC. If you read the entire letter you will do to Nandlall what you do to Rohee and Ramotar when they write their letters to the newspapers – laugh. The entire letter waxes lyrical on the 31 years of PPP’s achievements, and by contrast, is a total dismissal of the elegant and superb record of Burnham’s economic and i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l accomplishments and the phenomenal transformational politics of Desmond Hoyte, that puts him as of the most courageous leaders of the postcolonial world. Historians must reply to Nandlall, because innocent young minds in the PPP enclaves all over this country may believe Nandlall. How can any decent analyst dismiss the fantastic balance sheet of Burnham – UG at Turkeyen, NIS, Linden Highway, Demerara Harbour Bridge, Canje Bridge, MMA, National Park, religious holidays, CARICOM Secretariat, indigenous commercial banking, Cyril Potter’s College, free water, free education from nursery

to tertiary; local manufacturing. The list is definitely too long. Desmond Hoyte had a greater appreciation for the value and worth of democratic institutions than any of the PPP’s presidents – Jagan, his wife, Jagdeo and Ramotar. Desmond Hoyte was one of the great risk-takers in world politics. Sadly the textbook doesn’t give him credit for that. There is a section of Nandlall’s letter in which he really descends to clownish levels, and that is so unfortunate, because he is capable of higher and more profound thinking. Here is that section. “In two short years, the equation has changed drastically. From a l l i n d i c a t i o n s authoritarianism is on the rise again.” Pay attention to the word ‘again.’ By again, he meant when Burnham and Hoyte were presidents, that is, when the PNC was in power. Now if in 31 years of power, there weren’t authoritarian features in successive PPP governments, but in just 18 months of the PNC back in power, there is dictatorship,

Frederick Kissoon then we have a simple case of genetic superiority. This is what Nandlall is saying. The people who make up the PPP are by nature good people that produce good governments, and have done so whenever they were in government. The people that make up the PNC are bad people, have produced bad governments when they were in power, and will always produce bad governments. Now surely Mohabir, either that observation is racist or infantile. It could be both. Now where does that leave the historian? How do African Guyanese who comprise half the population feel about its leaders being genetically unfit to produce good government? The historian I think is livid. It isn’t funny Mohabir. Don’t toy with history, Mohabir.

Friday December 23, 2016

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Friday December 23, 2016

Businesswoman gets 3 years for trafficking in-law for sex …ordered to pay victim $2M restitution Sharlene Oxley has been jailed for three years and ordered to pay $2M in compensation to a 23-yearold woman she trafficked to French Guiana and forced into prostitution. Oxley has to pay compensation to the victim, she was given no alternative. O x l e y, 5 1 , o f 2 0 8 Pattensen, East Coast Demerara, was convicted for engaging in Trafficking in Persons (TIP). She recruited, transported,

transferred and harboured the woman - who was at the time in a relation with her brother’s stepson - for sexual exploitation. During her ruling yesterday, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan told the court that she was satisfied with the evidence led by Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers. According to the Chief Magistrate, the evidence proves that Oxley was aware the woman was prostituting and even took proceeds the woman earned from doing it.

Oxley’s attorney Dexter Todd had told the court that the victim plotted with his client’s niece to make a false report against her. Todd argued that the victim was at the time a consenting adult and appeared sensible. The lawyer disclosed that Oxley’s niece - who also resides in French Guiana - and Oxley, were not on friendly terms and prompted the victim to make the allegation against his client. Todd also argued that

there was no evidence to support that the victim was forced into prostitution by his client. Oxley had admitted to Prosecutor Jeffers that she took the woman to Cayenne, French Guiana illegally via the backtrack route, since she was not in possession of a visa. In fact, Oxley told the court that she was unaware if prostitution occurs in Cayenne, although she has been living there for the past 26 years. But denied receiving €219 from the victim, monies the woman earned from prostituting.

Attorney Todd argued that Oxley took the woman to take care of her younger daughter, since she was expected to be out of the country. Todd pointed out that the victim was an invited guest at his client’s home, where they shared a good relationship, and there was no evidence to prove that her movements were controlled. “From the time she (victim) entered French Guiana she kept her passport and she testified that the passport remained with her in a separate room. She also kept her cell phone, which she testified was in working order for over two years. At no time did she indicate to the court that Ms. Oxley had control of those things.” Todd pointed out that the woman was not prevented or stopped from communicating with persons around the world since she had access to the internet. He said, “She had so much access to the internet that she was able to setup a Facebook account for Oxley.” On September 5, the

Chief Magistrate found businesswoman, Joyce Lawrence guilty of trafficking her then 16year-old niece for the purpose of labour exploitation and unlawfully withholding her national identification card. The sentence as it relates to TIP was an order by the court for Lawrence to pay $884,000 as restitution to the victim, with an alternative of 12 months imprisonment. Lawrence was also fined $50,000 on the charge of withholding the identification document or, in default, eight weeks’ jail. Chief Magistrate McLennan had found the 43-year-old woman guilty of trafficking the underage girl between December 12 and 14, 2014, at her home in Samatta Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara, by means of threat. The Chief Magistrate had said, “Trafficking in person is a crime that inflicts harm on the most vulnerable in society. It is an example of modern day slavery which cannot be tolerated.”

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Kaieteur News

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Toyota Allion PVV series: TV Camera, HID, lights, alarm & remote start $2.2M negotiable Call: 649-0956 Leyland DAF 65 (sand truck). Call: 623-3895 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257

Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana p assport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Eagle’s: Re-gas -$8,000, Washing machine repairs, Gas Stove, Plasma flat Screen & more. Call: 697-2969/6460966 Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206 Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822

Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158

VACANCY 1 General Domestic, must be able to prepare vegetarian meal, apply in person @ Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling. One kitchen assitant . Call: 621-7862/ 225-3700 The #1 Plant Shop, sale staff and general maintenance and sales persons 20-30yrs. Call: 643-7193 One experienced computer legal clerk. Call: 624-7087/ 2580213/ email:husainsaphier@ yahoo.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 House & Land available for sale. Contact Pacific Development Inc: 223-6035/ 227-8274 Two buildings on lot at180 Charolotte Street Bourda (W30XL120). (Price negotiable). Call:624-7341/ 227-6817/226-5183

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Spacious one bedroom upper flat at 239 Herstelling E.B.D. Call: 265-0204/ 601-0223/6459921 EDUCATIONAL Private Custom Brokerage, certificate training course in Jan 2017, Register & get 50% discount for Christmas. Call: 694-8322/671-9603

YEAR END SPECIAL: 2012 TOYOTA RACTIS -$2.6M, 2010 TOYOTA FIELDER $2.6M 4WD, 2009 TOYOTA ARIUS -$2.6M. CALL: 6427295 CHRISTMAS SALE: 2009 FIELDER $2.5M, 2009 RAUM -$2.3, 2009 NOAH $2.6M. CALL: 617-2891

Repairs to refrigerator, gas stove, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar

Nissan Dualis 2007 for sale $3M; sunroof, alloy wheel, 2WD, CD/DVD player, PVV series Call: 611-8121/695-9548

Pearl white Raum -$850,000 negotiable, owner migrating. Ralph: 613-9390/ 662-5052 One 2009 Super GL Pitbull bus, just registered.Contact: 691-5086 1 AT 192 Carina and 1 Mitsubishi Dingo for sale. Call: 695-0704

TO LET

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Organic Potting soil -$900, lawn grass -$1400, Ficus, Exora, Crotons, Foxtail palm, Supari palm, Ashok trees. Call: 626-1044 Cargo trawler- Call: 682-8724, 616-5954 Drop Cords for Christmas lighting. Call: 225-3480 Taxi Service for sale (Georgetown) Prime location, including 16 radio sets. Call: 695-0704 1 Stem bow boat and engine 200HP with power steering kit -$2M negotiable. Call: 6585299/ 638-7748 Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, phone games, applications & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 2653231 Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 Dredge mining operation: excavator, dredge, camp, truck, ATV bike, welding set with gas bottle. Call: 676-7943

1 Fully furnished apartment located in Eccles, E.B.D, Internet, parking, cable etc. Call:667-2536

1 Hilux Surf 4WD with music system -$1.7M. Call Ravi: 6221782/ 269-0642

Two and three bedrooms luxury apartments to rent fully furnished, long term and short term. Call: 665-3505

White Ford F-150 1997 4WD Plate #GJJ 5305, excellent working condition, a bargain sale @ $2.8M. Call: 662-5133

Friday December 23, 2016

LAND FOR SALE Land at Lot 432 Section ‘A’ Block ‘X’, Plantation Great Diamond, E.B. Demerara – Call: 718-598-7149 Lot 12 Mon Repos ECD, First Street. Call: 220-7330/ 6024105 House lot at Herstelling. Call:614-2377 La Parfait Harmonie (front) 50X100 -$2.5M , Diamond 21st Street (transported), Land of Canaan with water & light 6.5 per acre. Call: 2312199/ 618-7483 Diamond – Grove Area $1.8M, La Parfait Harmonie (upfront, Graded, Clean)$1.6M- Call: 611-7223

WANTED 1 Offset Printer to operator AB Dick machine. Inter services Enterprise. Call:2261877/641-3687 (attractive salary) Live in or live out babysitter/ domestic. Call: 223-7500 Monday-Saturday 8:15-4:15 Need immediately dry cow mold 400 bags, preferably from Berbice Area. Call: 6437193 One live in waittress $70,000$80,000 monthly, boarding & lodging free, 18-30yrs. Call: 610-3974 One live in couple to work as domestic and clean yard, in Mahaicony River. Call: 6446905/655-9419

Rooms with bed to let $20,000 & $25,000 per month. Call: 223-9677 8am-5pm Two bedroom house, tiled kitchen, tiled bathroom, parking. Call Joy: 649-9059/ 621-1088 FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578

We are buying land in Eccles, Herstelling, Bartica, La Parfait Harmonie, Farm, Zeelugt, Utivlugt. Call: 611-7223 One female able bodied, must know how to cook and clean. Call: 218-3108/ 671-1168

Cambellville 2 storey house -$31M, $45M, South Ruimveldt -$17.5M, $25M, 32M, Grove -$9M, East $12M. Call Shawn: 231-2199/ 618-7483 CAR RENTAL

LEARN TO DRIVE

PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).

WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIAL OFFER FOR THE SEASON. CALL: 690-6494

AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPESTRATE . Call: 698-7807

ACCOMMODATION Harmony Inn: furnished apartments and rooms, ideal for overseas visitors from $6,000 per night. Call: 6680306/ 218-1400/ 694-7817 Fully furnished air condition apartment for local and overseas visitors -$4,000 & $5,000 per night. Call: 2230994

Kaieteur News

Friday December 23, 2016

$61.7M allocated to repair defective Kato Secondary Government has allocated the sum of $61.7M to carry out repairs to the structurally unsound $1B Kato Secondary School in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni). The school was constructed by Kares Engineering Company and was expected to open in January this year, however the project came under intense scrutiny following the discovery of a number of defects. A technical audit was subsequently carried out by a private company and the findings were presented to the National Assembly by Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson some months ago. The audit revealed that approximately 60 percent of the project was defective, with another 30 percent just over the borderline. Only 10 percent of the project was deemed structurally sound, according to Patterson. Cabinet also examined the report, the roles of the supervising consultant, construction and cost of remedial works to be done. The findings had resulted in cabinet recommending that the Attorney General’s Chambers review the report. “The building of the school at Kato, what those findings revealed (are) nothing short of criminal,” the Minister of Natural Resources was quoted in the media as saying. The project is the brainchild of the former administration – the

P e o p l e ’s P r o g r e s s i v e Party/Civic (PPP/C) and was initially billed at $780M, but the then administration later disclosed that the final tally could be about $1B. The school was intended to be a ‘super structure’, which would cater for 400 students, 250 of whom will be accommodated in the dormitory. The 2017 allocation is provided for under a provision of $465.8M under the Ministry of E d u c a t i o n ’s C a p i t a l Secondary Education delivery 2017 work programme. This was according to Junior Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry, during the consideration of her Ministry’s estimates in the National Assembly on Wednesday last.

This $465.8M allocation, based on the 2017 Estimates of the Public Sector, also includes funds for the completion of the South Ruimveldt Secondary School ground; the extension of The Bishops’ High School; the multi-purpose complex at Queen’s College; and the reconstruction of St. Rose’s High School. D u r i n g t h e consideration of the estimates also, the Minister said that the company had indicated its interest in effecting the needed repairs. She explained that $66 Million was budgeted for the school’s completion in 2016; however, the money was not expended due to the legal issues arising from the defects in the school’s structure.

Bandit captured after attempting to rob Diamond Fire Station The police were able to capture one of three bandits who tried to rob ranks at the Diamond Fire Station, East Bank Demerara (EBD) yesterday morning. A c c o r d i n g t o information received, two firemen were about to open the gate to the Fire Station when they were confronted by the trio. When the ranks

put up a fight, two of the men escaped while the firefighters managed to hold onto one of the bandits, who is said to be the driver of the car. The suspect was handed over to the police and the vehicle was impounded at the station. The bandits were not armed.

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Friday December 23, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Foreign trade programme needs more funding - Teixeira Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira strongly believes that more needs to be done to advance the development of the foreign trade programme within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Teixeira opined that it is disappointing to see in the 2017 budget that there have been significant reductions in staffing of the programme and funding. Teixeira made these comments during the consideration of the 2017 estimates of revenue and expenditure for the budget on Tuesday. She informed the subject Minister, Carl Greenidge that in 2016 the foreign trade programme benefited from a staff of 63, but has decreased to three persons for 2017, and the single administrative staff for the programme remains the same. The opposition member

said that the proposal for 2017 is disappointing since during the last budget debate it was agreed that the programme should be beefed up. She said, “It (the programme) is still I believe, under-supported by finances and resources.” According to Greenidge, in his response, there has been the transfer of staff to other programmes, which accounts for the reduction in numbers. He said too, that one of the reasons responsible for the reduced amount in funds allocated to the programme is that one of the directors has also been transferred. He added that the employment of technicians trained in foreign trade is a matter which is engaging his ministry and the Public Service Commission. Greenidge said that some of the officers are presently

undertaking work in trade under the category of Foreign Service officers under another programme, also justifying the reduction in funds allocated to the development of foreign trade policy. Based on the Minister’s explanation, Teixeira said that it is hard to get a proper sense of how much the Ministry is spending to deal with trade issues. “One cannot get a clear a picture as to what is in the budget so that we can deal with the ACP (African,

Caribbean and Pacific group of states), CARICOM and bilateral, UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) and everything else.” According to Greenidge, the reason for having officers under different programmes resulted from the structure which the government inherited, which was placing a strain on the ministry. He said that he hopes a much easier mechanism can be developed to deal with the matters to ensure the programme is well

established. Teixeira reiterated her point, saying that under the new system it is hard to measure what the country is doing with its foreign trade negotiations with countries such as Mexico and Cuba. “I know for example in Cuba, a rice farmer is negotiating with the Cuban government to deal with rice, but it is not going through the Guyana Rice Development Board, and it appears to be subfinanced. My discomfort with this is that this is supposed to be foreign trade

PALM COURT LAUNCHES... From page 33 also have the opportunity to look outstanding. According to Shurland, “Our event was success, we had a great turnout and just after the event finished there were orders for costumes”. Guyana's very own, Dancehall and Soca star, Timeka Marshall delivered an amazing performance, especially to her hit song, “I won't stop”. Marshall proudly wore one of Shurland's costume designs for her performance with a creative and beautiful headdress. Even if she wanted to, Marshall did not have the opportunity to invite a male onto the stage. Instead, a brave young man who calls himself “Kevin” jumped on to the stage and joined the Guyanese songstress during her

performance. Soca King, Jumo, without question, entertained his crowd with ease. The “Unruly” singer in concluding his performance gave the ladies a tease of the ripples of chocolate coloured muscles he had hidden under his shirt. He performed his hit single called “wine up” and showcased his flexibility with a spilt on stage which had the crowd cheering. However, as the Queen of Bacchanal sang her final song and was about to depart, the crowd started chanting “We want Destra!” And being the great star that she is, she came back on the stage to please the crowd, inviting the costume models to join her as everyone had a taste of what's to come for Mashramani 2017.

dealing, with this as the guardian and custodian.” The Opposition Chief Whip asked the Minister if he was satisfied with the $1.6M increase in funds allocated to the programme. In 2016 $33.685M was allocated and in 2017 $35.299M has been approved. According to Greenidge, the figure shown in the estimates represents what has been requested by the agency with consideration of all the constraints which the programme would have previously experienced.

Kaieteur News

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Friday December 23, 2016

St. Lucians indicted in Paradise man accused of robbery connection with murder of Brooklyn landlord under-arms A 27-year-old man was yesterday remanded to prison for robbery underarms by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that on August 22, last, Leon Blades of Paradise Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, armed with a shot

gun, robbed Joshua Mohamed of two cellular phones, two flashlights and one ounce of raw gold, all totalling $284,000. The incident occurred at A r a u M o u n t a i n To p , Essequibo River, Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones opposed bail for the defendant based on the fact

that he provided police with conflicting addresses. The prosecutor also pointed out the nature and gravity of the offence and the fact that a gun was used to commit the act. The Chief Magistrate remanded Blades to prison until January 9, when he will make his next appearance.

Court supports Food and Drug Dept. decision Chief Justice (ag) Yo n e t t e C u m m i n g s Edwards last week discharged the Order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari in an application by Looknauth Durbhiji, on the ground that Marlan Cole, the Government Analyst-Food a n d D r u g Department/Director of Food and Drug, has shown sufficient cause that his decision on February 4, 2016 to refuse entry to the A p p l i c a n t ’s c o n t a i n e r currently detained by the Guyana Revenue Authority was lawful, and done in

accordance with the Food and Drugs Act. in conjunction with the Customs Act. Last year November, Mr. Durbhiji ordered a container of “Best Milk” sweetened condensed milk to be shipped to Guyana. He delivered a sample of the product to the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department/Director of Food and Drug along with the Certificate of Analysis of the product in accordance with the Food and Drugs Act, Chapter 34:04. The court ruled that upon

examination and analysis, the milk failed to meet the requirements as set out in Part IV, Division 5 (Dairy Products)(13) of the Food and Drug Regulation 1977. The Applicant’s customs entry form was subsequently stamped “Entry Refused” as the product was not a dairy product in accordance with the prescribed Act, but a vegetable-based product. Durbhiji was represented by attorney Anil Nandall while Ms. Judy Stuart appeared on behalf of the Respondent, Marlan Cole.

Expect delays in mail from several territories - GPOC Mail coming for Christmas is experiencing delays from some territories. Ye s t e r d a y , t h e Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) advised that there has been a delay in the

arrival of incoming mail transiting through Barbados. This is due to a reduction of the regular air carrier’s cargo capacity. Customers expecting items from the following territories may be affected -

St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Great Britain, M o n t s e r r a t , To r t o l a , Antigua, Dominica, Grenada and Barbados. GPOC, apologising for the inconvenience, said the delays are beyond its control.

Erskin Felix (C)

NEW YORK, CMC – Three St. Lucians were indicted on Wednesday in connection with the 2014 abduction and murder of Menachem Stark, a landlord from Brooklyn. Acting Brooklyn District Attorney, Eric Gonzalez, said a 38-year-old St. Lucian man, who lives in Brooklyn, has been indicted for murder and kidnapping, while he and two of his compatriot codefendants have also been indicted for conspiracy. The defendants have been identified as Erskin Felix, 38, and his brother, Kendall Felix, 28, both of Crown Heights, Brooklyn; and cousin Irvine Henry, 35, also of Crown Heights. A jury has already convicted Kendel Felix, of

first-degree kidnapping and second-degree murder in the case. He is awaiting sentencing and faces up to 25 years to life in prison. According to the investigation, cousins Erskin and Kendel Felix accosted Stark on the street as he left his office on Rutledge Street in Williamsburg on the night of January 2, 2014. After he fought unsuccessfully to escape, Gonzalez said Stark was forced into a waiting vehicle and driven away from the location. Kendall and Henry allegedly joined their relatives. “At some point, apparently while being restrained, Stark died of asphyxia,” said Gonzales. According to the investigation, Erskin Felix, who was in the construction trade with Kendel Felix and Irvine Henry, had done work for Stark. “Erskin Felix allegedly planned to extort money from Stark and enlisted Kendel Felix to help kidnap him, forming a conspiracy which also involved both Kendall Felix and Irvine

Henry,” the Acting District Attorney said. “Upon discovering that Stark was dead, the four relatives allegedly returned to Rutledge Street, intending to dispose of Stark’s body,” he added. “Upon arrival, Erskin and Irvine Henry got out of the vehicle, only to find the crime scene already flooded with police. “As alleged, Erskin then directed Kendel and Kendall to go elsewhere to dispose of t h e b o d y, ” c o n t i n u e d Gonzalez, stating that they drove to Nassau County in nearby Long Island, “threw the body in a dumpster and set it on fire.” “This indictment is the latest step in our journey toward justice for Menachem Stark, his seven children and the rest of the family his killers took him from,” Gonzalez said. “The tireless work of NYPD [New York Police Department] investigators and prosecutors from my Office will ensure that all involved in this grievous crime are held to answer for their despicable acts.”

Friday December 23, 2016

Kaieteur News

Assad Govt takes full control of Aleppo (CNN) The Syrian regime says it has taken full control of Aleppo, state-run media announced Thursday, marking a major turning point in the country’s fiveyear civil war. Government forces and their allies now control eastern Aleppo, ending more than four years of rebel rule there. The battle came from both the ground and sky. President Bashar al-Assad’s troops and supporting militias entered eastern

Aleppo by ground in late November. The regime and Russia — its most powerful ally — have decimated neighborhoods with airstrikes. Neither hospitals nor civilians are immune. In many cases, children have fallen victim to such bombings. An estimated 400,000 Syrians have been killed and more than 4.8 million have fled the country since the w a r b e g a n i n 2 0 11 , according to the United

nightclub and that the two had consensual sex in her home under the influence of alcohol, and possibly drugs, before he killed her. He denied murdering her, telling investigators that he had pushed her and that she had hit her head when she fell over. Olsen came from Florida and had been living in Florence for three years before her death. Friends said she had moved to Italy to join her father Walter Olsen, who was teaching in the city.

The case attracted considerable international media attention and investigators were keen to avoid any repeat of the drawn-out saga that followed the 2007 killing of British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia, not far from Florence. Kercher ’s American flatmate Amanda Knox and her Italian boyfriend spent almost four years in prison for the crime before finally being acquitted last year by Italy’s highest appeals court.

Passenger removed from flight after confrontation with Ivanka Trump A JetBlue airline passenger, who media outlets and a witness described as making angry remarks at the sight of Ivanka Trump on his flight, was removed from the plane yesterday by the airline. JetBlue Airways Corp confirmed in a statement that a passenger had been removed from a flight set to depart from New York’s J o h n F. K e n n e d y International Airport, but provided no information on the incident. Another passenger on the flight, Marc Scheff, said that when the man saw President-elect Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka, he “did a double take and said ‘Oh my God. This is a nightmare!’” “The decision to remove

a customer from a flight is not taken lightly,” JetBlue said in a written statement. “In this instance, our team worked to re-accommodate the party on the next available flight.” Reuters was not able to identify the passenger who was removed. A Twitter user cited by TMZ, Matthew Lasner, said his husband was going to confront Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, at the airport. “Ivanka and Jared at JFK T5, flying commercial,” wrote Matthew Lasner (@mattlasner) in the sincedeleted tweet. “My husband chasing them down to harass them. #banalityofevil.” Lasner, a professor at New York’s Hunter College, did not respond to requests

Man freed after serving 35 years for rape he did not commit

Nations. The government already controls western Aleppo. Now, regime control of the east spells the end of the rebels’ last urban stronghold, puts the government back in control of the country’s four major cities and make an opposition government less likely. It’s also a major setback for activists who have long sought an end to four decades of Assad family rule.

Migrant in Italy gets 30 years for murder of U.S. woman A Senegalese migrant was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Thursday for the murder of Ashley Olsen, a U.S. woman who was killed in the Tuscan city of Florence in January. Diaw Cheik Tidianee, 27, was arrested by police on January 14, five days after Olsen’s body was found dead in her apartment. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled and also had two fractures to her skull. Florence prosecutors said Tidianee had met the 35year-old Olsen in a local

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for comment directed to his Twitter account, which has since been taken offline, or to messages left at his office or sent to his Facebook account. Scheff, who told Reuters he was sitting in the row in front of Ivanka Trump on the flight, which was set to take off for San Francisco, said of the passenger who was later removed from the flight, “He started shaking.” Scheff, 40, added that after JetBlue staff approached the man to “make sure he was calm,” the passenger said, “They ruin our country, now try (to) ruin our flight!” Scheff said the passenger was “clearly agitated” but did not “scream or yell.”

Lawrence McKinney (R) (CNN) A Tennessee man who served 31 years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit is petitioning the state to compensate him $1 million for the years of his life that were taken away. All he’s gotten so far is $75. In October 1977 a Memphis woman was raped in her home by two intruders. She later identified one of them as her neighbor, Lawrence McKinney, who was 22 at the time. He was convicted on rape and burglary charges in 1978 and sentenced to 115 years in jail. DNA evidence cleared him of the charges in 2008,

and when he was released in 2 0 0 9 , t h e Te n n e s s e e Department of Corrections gave him a $75 check to restart his life. “Because I had no ID it took me three months before I was able to cash it,” McKinney told CNN. Now the 61-year-old is asking Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam to exonerate him. The Tennessee Board of Parole, which makes recommendations to the governor, denied McKinney’s request by a 7-0 vote at a hearing in September. A formal exoneration could open a pathway to $1

million in compensation from the state Board of Claims for the decades McKinney was wrongfully imprisoned. “The (parole) board reviewed all relevant information related to the crime, conviction and subsequent appeals, as well as all information provided by the petitioner,” said Melissa McDonald, spokesperson for the Tennessee Board of Parole. “After considering all of the evidence, the board did not find clear and convincing evidence of innocence and declined to recommend clemency in this matter.”

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Kaieteur News

Friday December 23, 2016

Friday December 23, 2016

Police Commissioner to step down KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Commissioner of Police, Dr. Carl Williams will be will be leaving office next month. The Jamaica Gleaner reports that it has obtained a copy of a letter Williams wrote to the Police Service Commission in which he indicated that he will proceed on early retirement on January 6. The Gleaner says Williams i n d i c a t e d t h a t h i s decision to step down is based on personal reas o ns. “Having enlisted in the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) in February 1984, it has been my honour to have given more than three decades of tireless service to my country,” Williams said. The Commissioner is preparing to leave the JCF as the country grapples with a high crime rate. Police figures for the period January 1 to September 21 this year, show that 894 murders had been committed averaging at least 100 murders a month. In an interview on RJR’s Hotline call in programme on December 17, Williams said domestic murders were causing a great worry within the force and that the increase in murders comes amidst a reduction in the number of all

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Kaieteur News

Dr. Carl Williams other serious crimes. He said there were escalating problems in gang controlled areas and crime hotspots, such as Kingston Western, Spanish Town, Montego Bay and Westmoreland, as another factor contributing to the increase in the number of murders. “Generally, the problems that we’re facing across Jamaica with gangs have resulted in a number of killings that have contributed to the 100-plus (increase in murders),” he said, adding that he does not intend to quit his post after two and a half years. “I have some months, perhaps a year, or even more… We’ve been having discus-

sions from very early in my tenure about succession planning…but at an appropriate time I will speak to the public about exactly where we’re going,” he then said. Williams was appointed Commissioner in September 2014.

Government to consider medical marijuana in 2017 ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says his administration will discuss the issue of medical marijuana in the coming year. Skerrit who was a guest on a local radio programme on Wednesday said the topic must be discussed in a focused and informed manner, in order to take full advantage of the use of the herb, which many have sworn has saved their lives. “We have started the conversation. I think we maybe need to put a better structure in place where we can have a more structured, informed dialogue or discussion on medical marijuana, to see how we can take advan-

tage of this. I think in the New Year you will see a more focused, more structured approach to the discussion…I think that if there is a plant in our country which people are swearing by as having saved their lives or assisted them in reducing the pain or managing their ailment, then I think it is important for there to be a very serious discussion about it, and to see how we can go about taking advantage of this development,” the Prime Minister said. He suggested that Dominica could adopt and tweak measures from other countries that have been successful in the use of medical marijuana.

The Prime Minister said while the government is not opposed to the eventual legalization of marijuana several things must be carefully considered before such a decision is brought forward. “It is not something that we are opposed to, but it has to be in a very structured and focused manner—rather than just legalizing the herb. I don’t think that is the approach that we should take to the discussion…” he stated. Skerrit said that very serious discussions must take place, before letting “the country decide, at an appropriate time, how we proceed with addressing the issue of marijuana for medicinal purposes.”

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Friday December 23, 2016

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Friday December 23, 2016

NBA Africa academy France rugby team to... to open in Senegal Senegal’s Gorgui Dieng was on the NBA’s opening roster. (Getty Images)

BBC Sport - The US National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced it will open its first African training academy in Senegal early next year. Amadou Gallo Fall, the NBA’s vice-president for Africa, told the BBC the centre would train boys and girls aged between 16 and

18. He said the centre would be part of its global network of elite training academies. Several Africans have played for top teams in the NBA league. Mr Fall, who is originally from Senegal, said the pan-African academy would use its network to scout for players

from around the continent. He said the players would be given access to facilities and resources available to elite players including nutritionists, personal coaches and physiotherapists. The centre will be in Thies, 60km (40 miles) east of the capital, Dakar. Senegal’s national teams - men and women - have traditionally been among the strongest in Africa. Mr Fall said those who don’t make it to the NBA would have other avenues, such as “other great leagues around the world, including the NBA development league or in US universities”. He said 14 African-born players on the NBA opening roster this year had come from the NBA’s grassroots program, Basket Without Borders, including Senegal’s Gorgui Dieng and Cameroon’s Pascal Siakam. He added the NBA had a long association with the continent, citing legendary players such as Hakeem Olajuwon, Manute Bol and Dikembe Mutombo. “That generation has paved the way and they’ve inspired and ushered a significant number of other young players over the years, a lot of them from Senegal,” he said. The NBA launched three academy centres in China in October, one in India last month and is planning to open another global centre based in Australia. The NBA held its first game in Africa in 1 August 2015 in the South African city of Johannesburg.

(From page 42) Virimi Vakatawa will continue to be available for France. “Obviously, it’s not retroactive. Those playing can continue playing but it’s a strong signal for French academies and our youngsters that we’ll play a maximum number of Frenchmen,” added Laporte, the former France head coach who was elected president of the French Rugby Federation on 3 December. World Rugby rules allow a player to represent another country if he has lived there for three consecutive years and has not played for

anyone else, although the global governing body is looking to extend the period to five years. France have become renowned for picking foreign players in recent years as the financial strength of the Top 14 has brought a flood of foreigners into their top division at a time when the national team has been struggling. In the past five years, France have come fifth four times in the Six Nations and last on the other occasion. However, virtually all Tier One teams field players who have qualified on residency grounds. The issue of foreign-

qualified players has also been highlighted by the plight of the Pacific Islands Fiji, Samoa and Tonga - who often lose talented players to the bigger and richer nations. Some beneficiaries of the residency rule Josh Strauss: Born in South Africa, the backrower joined Glasgow in 2012 and has nine caps for Scotland. CJ Stander: South Africa-born forward who joined Munster in 2012 and now has 10 caps for Ireland. Nathan Hughes: Fijiborn back rower who joined Wasps in 2013 and has three caps for England.

Friday December 23, 2016 (Mar. 21- April 20)

You may be emotionally unstable if you let someone you care about get away with verbal abuse. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21)

You have to let go of your past if you wish to get out of any sentimental mood that might be hanging over your head. Travel will be favorable. GEMINI (May 22-June 21)

Don't expect anything for nothing and you won't be disappointed. New interests are preoccupying your time. CANCER (June 22-July 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23)

Don't let relatives make demands of you. You can increase the value of your dwelling. Look into residential moves that will give you more space. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)

Your high energy should be spent pleasing your mate. Don't give them the use of your credit card. Travel will promote romantic connections. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21)

Loved ones may be annoyed if they feel restricted. Your family may be feeling neglected and unloved. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20)

Do not get involved in joint financial ventures. Yo u m a y b e m o r e emotional than usual. You will have a problem sorting out your true feelings when it comes to your relationship.

You're in the mood for love. You may not see your situation clearly. You will have to face each issue separately and in person.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22)

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19)

Travel is evident, but be cautious while in transit. Be prepared to lose friends or alienate loved ones due to your stubborn nature lately. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23)

Try not to overreact to the loss. Complete those hobbies you started a long time ago.

You can expect to have some problems with skin, bones, or teeth if you haven't taken proper care of them. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20)

Travel will be exciting. Get motivated and follow up on some self-improvement resolutions. Your mind may not be on the job.

Kaieteur News

Friday December 23, 2016

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Amir Khan: Boxer to launch mixed martial arts league in Britain in 2017 BBC Sport - Boxer Amir Khan is planning to launch a team-based mixed martial arts league in Britain in 2017. The Super Fight League will see eight teams from different parts of Britain competing in a league format. “MMA is big and getting bigger,” Khan, a financial stakeholder in Indian MMA promotion Super Fight League, told BBC World Service. “Fighters like Conor McGregor are making a lot of noise. MMA is hitting some high numbers on pay per view.” Irish fighter McGregor, 28, became the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s first dual division champion

in November. Earlier this year, Khan said he would be willing to “put friendship aside” and fight McGregor in the UFC. The Bolton fighter, 30, added: “I am always going to be involved in boxing but to have my foot in the door with MMA is brilliant. “The market is massive for us. We want to reach countries like India with a population of 1.2 billion people.” Khan on Kell Brook Last week, Kell Brook’s camp revealed they were in talks with Khan about a fight in May 2017. Khan had said that Brook, 30, was not a big enough name for him to fight but has since changed his mind after the Sheffield

f i g h t e r ’s b a t t l e w i t h Gennady Golovkin, who stopped Brook in September. “It’s a fight that I would love to have,” added Khan. “I have changed my mind because of the Triple G [Golovkin] fight. “Kell was smart taking that fight. He knew he was going to get beat but he still took it because he knew he was going to get paid well and make a name for himself.” Asked about how he rated Brook, Khan said: “He is not a bad fighter. It takes a lot to step in the ring with someone who is bigger than you and he did that so he deserves credit where it’s due. “I still think he is not the best in Britain. I still think

I’m the best. The number one fighter in Britain. So time will tell.” Khan on family feud Khan was also asked about the public family feud between the boxer’s family and wife, Faryal Makhdoom, and the impact it might have on his career. The boxer’s dad, Shah, said last week the row was an

embarrassment and that he did not see the argument ending. Khan added: “I am going to look after them [my family] the way I have always looked after them. “Sometimes things change in boxing. Your manager changes, advisers change but family is always going to be your family.

“It’s always a challenge when you are in a situation like this and it’s very hard for me being in the middle. “To be honest with you I never let things like that get to me because it can destroy you. “I have to make sure I am physically and mentally very strong. I think right and I think happy.”

7th Annual Atkinson Brothers 5-a-side Football Tournament

Expendables win big on 2nd night against Attackers Action in the 7th Annual Atkinson Brothers 5-a-side F o o t b a l l To u r n a m e n t continued on Wednesday night with seven matches completed, at the Kumaka Recreational ground, Region 1. In the opening fixture, Santa Rosa United cruised past Kairie 2-0 with Ronaldo Rodrigues netting in the 17th minute, while Dane Atkinson’s 20th minute strike completed their tally. In the second game of the evening, Newcastle enjoyed a similar result against Golden Eagles with Shemeka Abrahams and Brandy Phillips firing in solitary strikes in the 5th and 9th minutes respectively. The third encounter saw Construction and Avengers

played to a nil-all stalemate, before the former prevailed 3-1 on penalty kicks. The fourth game between Netrockers and Kairie was won by the former 1-0 on penalty kicks after regulation time ended nil-all. Silver Sands then squeezed past Cart Market 1-0 through a solitary strike off the boots of Delon Fernandes in the 22nd minute. Yo u n g G u n s t h e n hammered Golden Eagles 30 with Denzil Vieira firing in a brace in the 1st and 10th minutes, while Brandon Atkinson completed their tally with a 22nd minute effort. In the final game of the night, Expendables led by a double from Deon Narine in

the 4th and 30th minutes and a single goal each from Randy Narine 14th and Raul Archer 29th beat A t t a c k e r s 4 - 1 . Responding for Attackers was Romanio Henry in the 25th minute. Meanwhile, in the men’s category, the winners will receive $200,000 and the winning trophy, while the runner-up take home $75,000, while in the women’s segment the champions will cart off $100,000 and runner-up $40,000. The tournament is set to conclude on Boxing Day, at the same venue. Among the sponsors on board are Peanut & Sons Speed Boat Service, Trophy Stall, Ivor Domingo and Clement La Cruz.

Amir Khan (left) and Kell Brook have tweeted about the possibility of facing one another in the ring. (Twitter)

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Friday December 23, 2016

STAG Nations Cup KO Football – East Bank takes center stage today

Uitvlugt prevail via kicks from the spot over Northern Rangers; Pouderoyen edge Mahaica Uitvlugt Warriors were stretched to the hilt but prevailed via kicks from the penalty mark as Northern Rangers were out of range on the night handing the former a place in the final eight and a date with Santos on Christmas night. It was day 5 action of the STAG Nations Cup knockout football championship that took place on Wednesday night last at the Leonora Track and Field Facility Football Field. Uitvlugt defeated City side Northern Rangers 3-0 on kicks from the penalty mark after the two sides battled to a 1-1 stalemate in regulation and extra time. The win completed a clean sweep for the West side teams on the night following Pouderoyen’s come from behind 2-1 win over East D e m e r a r a ’s M a h a i c a Determinators which squandered a number of chances early in the piece and was made to pay for that in the end. Uitvlugt also were made to come from behind against a tough Northern Rangers unit which took the lead in the 29th minute compliments of a Stephon Reynolds goal that silenced

the West Side supporters. Uitvlugt, the #1 team of the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) looked a very scratchy unit and played very timid against a side that’s down the pecking order in the city. But as the match matured, Uitvlugt got into their stride and responded in like manner just before the half time whistle. A David Blake goal was the neutraliser for Uitvlugt which gave the host side the momentum going into the break. End to end exchanges marked the second 45 minutes but no goals were scored. The added extra 15 minutes after regulation time had elapsed did not separate the sides. Kicks from the penalty mark were the next available option and it was all Uitvlugt. Keon Duke scored the first for the winners; Lerone Jacobs hit the post for their second while the next two shots taken by Carlsie Carrol and regulation time scorer, David Blake sailed into the back of the nets to secure victory for Uitvlugt. Northern Rangers never found the desired range and floored all their shots, two of

Pouderoyen FC

which were saved by goalkeeper Shawn Brower from kicks taken by Nigel Denny and Tefon Daly. Gavin Bobb missed the t a rg e t a l l t o g e t h e r.

Pouderoyen abided their time against the nippy Mahaica Determinators and despite falling behind after the side from the East Coast scored in the 35th minute through a well taken goal by Eon Abel, gradually wrested the initiative as they carved out a memorable win. Three minutes after falling behind, a long range

shot taken by Kiode King just over the half way line, it was a huge surprise to all that the ball ended in the back of the nets between the legs of custodian Royden Ramsay. The game was sealed Pouderoyen’s way before the first half ended, thanks to a 42nd minute strike from Esan Nelson. The win sets up a Christmas Day quarter

final clash between Pouderoyen and Western Tigers. Meanwhile, the final two round-of-16 matches will be contested today at the Grove Playfield when home team Grove Hi Tech entertain New Amsterdam United in the main event, the curtain raiser featuring Ann’s Grove and Den Amstel.

France rugby team to stop selecting ‘foreign’ players, says Laporte BBC Sport - France will stop selecting non-French players who have qualified under the three-year residency rule, national federation boss Bernard Laporte says. He announced the move after meeting World Rugby president Bill Beaumont. “I told Bill that we’ve taken the political decision to stop playing foreign players in the national team,” Laporte said. Foreign-born players who currently play for France will remain eligible but new players will require a French passport. The decision means the

Uini Atonio was born in New Zealand but has 20 caps for France. (Getty Images) likes of New Zealand-born prop Uini Atonio, South Africa-born full-back Scott

Spedding and Fiji-born wings Noa Nakaitaci and (Continued on page 40)

Kaieteur News

Friday December 23, 2016

Braithwaite wins ICC T20 performance of the year

Carlos Brathwaite NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — West Indies T20 captain Carlos Brathwaite won the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 performance of the year yesterday, for his 10-ball 34 not out, including four sixes in the final over, to clinch a stunning victory over England in the World Twenty20 final. India’s Ravichandran Ashwin was named ICC cricketer of the year, topping off a sensational period in which he has dominated the Test bowling rankings. The spin-bowling allrounder, who starred in India’s 4-0 Test series victory over England, was also named Test cricketer of the year for the voting period, which covered the 12 months to September 20. He becomes only the third Indian player to win the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, following in the footsteps of batting greats Sachin Tendulkar (2010) and Rahul Dravid (2004). “It feels great to follow the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in being named as the ICC cricketer of the year,” Ashwin, 30, said in a statement. “To also win the ICC Test cricketer of the year makes it even better.” During the September-

to-September voting period, Ashwin took 48 wickets and scored 336 runs in eight Tests. He also snared 27 Twenty20 international wickets. The Chennai native consolidated top spot in the ICC Test bowling charts after he took a series-leading 28 wickets in the five games against England, which wrapped up this week. Quinton de Kock, South Africa’s wicketkeeperbatsman, was named oneday international cricketer of the year after he scored 793 runs in 16 50-over games.

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Smith to play in the English Leagues C H A P E L G AT E , England, CMC – Littleknown English league side Scholes have announced the signing of veteran Windward Islands Vo l c a n o e s l e f t - h a n d e d opener Devon Smith as their overseas professional for the coming season. Scholes plays in the Huddersfield League in the north of England and said they are looking forward to Smith making a big impact for the club. “Devon is a top-quality player and it’s great for the club to be able to get someone of that calibre on board, because we want to be challenging again for honours,” said club captain James “Keith” Noble. “We know the level that’s required to win trophies and, with the quality Devon brings, we feel he will help massively in that.” Noble added: “At Scholes, we have had international cricketers here

in the past and it’s always been a great experience for our local lads to play alongside them. “It helps your homegrown players to develop and Devon, with his experience and the coaching he will also be doing, will play a vital role for us.” The 35-year-old Smith, who has played 38 Tests and 47 One-day Internationals for West Indies, has been the most prolific batsman ever in the WICB Regional 4-Day Tournament, amassing a career total in excess of 8,000. He is expected to fill the shoes of little-known New Zealander Tom McRury, whose more than 1,000 runs and 40 wickets last season, helped Scholes finish in the top echelons of the League last season. “We believe (Smith) fits into our side really well as a prolific batsman and offspinner,” said Noble. “His experience with bat

Devon Smith to play for Scholes in the Huddersfield League and ball will be key and when someone of this ilk comes on your radar and shows so much enthusiasm to get involved and get the deal done, it makes you feel very good about the whole thing.” Noble said: “We did very well with Cup runs and finishing fifth in the

Premiership last season, but we maybe just lacked that extra little edge in quality which we believe Devon will bring. “We are looking forward to seriously challenging this time – especially with a couple more arrivals maybe on the horizon.”

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Friday December 23, 2016

Simmons appointed Patriots head coach Former West Indies head coach Phil Simmons is now in charge of the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots made their second bombshell announcement yesterday, disclosing that they have appointed Phil Simmons to be head coach for the next

season of the Caribbean Premier League. Simmons’ appointment comes a little over three months after his dismissal from the post of West Indies head coach, following what the West Indies Cricket

Board described as “differences in culture and strategic approach”. His appointment to direct strategy for the Patriots, replacing South African Eric Simons in the position, is the third major announcement in

recent days that has allowed the fledgling league to make headlines during its offseason. “I am delighted to take up the role as head coach of the Patriots,” said Simmons. “I would like to thank the owners and management for offering me this exciting opportunity to lead the squad. “I am aware of the immediate challenges we are facing and I will do all possible to ensure that we achieve improved results.” Simmons’ appointment f o l l o w s l a s t w e e k ’s announcement that talismanic opening batsman Chris Gayle was acquired by the Patriots in a big transfer move from defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs and the Barbados Tr i d e n t s r e v e a l e d o n Wednesday that prized opener Dwayne Smith was returning. The Gayle move has excited the taste buds of the new Patriots coach and allows him to reunite with one of the key players that helped him guide the West

Indies to a second Twenty20 World Cup title last April in India. “I am very pleased with the recent signing of Gayle,” he said. “This is a major boost for me coming in as the new coach and I look forward to working closely with Chris to bring the desired success to the St. Kitts & Nevis franchise.” Uday Nayak, co-owner and principal of the Patriots, was no doubt delighted to have a coach with Simmons’ resume which includes former West Indies opener, as well as former Zimbabwe and Ireland coach, to the franchise. “We expect that Phil’s

experience and local knowledge will help the Patriots achieve improved performances in our 2017 CPL campaign, and will bring the ultimate success that our fans and sponsors deserve,” he said. The Patriots owner described Simmons as “the right coaching choice at this very crucial time in the development of our franchise”. The Patriots participated in the CPL for the first time l a s t y e a r, e f f e c t i v e l y replacing the Antigua & Barbuda Hawksbills, and play their home games at Warner Park in the St. Kitts capital.

Kaieteur News

Friday December 23, 2016

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Bravo, Narine help Renegades silence Thunder MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – A tidy all-round performance from Dwayne Bravo and steady bowling from f e l l o w We s t I n d i e s Tw e n t y 2 0 s t a r S u n i l Narine contributed to a 49run victory for the Melbou r n e R e n e g a d e s over defending champions Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League yesterday. Bravo collected 2-27 from his allotted four overs and Narine 2-32 from his four, as the Thunder, chasing 180 for victory, were bowled out in 19.1 overs in the third m a t c h o f t h i s y e a r ’s competition at the Docklands Stadium. Andre Russell, another West Indies T20 star, failed to fire with the bat again, scoring just two, as all but three of the Thunder’s batsmen fell for single figure scores to give the Renegades their first home victory since the 2014-15 season. Earlier, Bravo struck a four and two sixes in 24 from

Aaron Finch’s half-century also highlighted how Melbourne Renegades would miss him when he leaves for national duty in January © Cricket Australia/Getty Images Dwayne Bravo takes off the bails to catch Jake Doran short of his crease, Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder, Big Bash League 2016-17, Melbourne, ©Getty Images 16 balls for the Renegades, but it was their captain Aaron Finch, the Australia international, that powered their innings with three fours and four sixes in 63 from 37 balls, as the home team reached 179 for seven from

their allocation of 20 overs. Russell was the most successful, if not economical Thunder bowler, grabbing 2-42 from his allotted four overs. The Thunder have a week to regroup before they

host the Brisbane Heat at the Sydney Showground Stadium next Wednesday, a day before the Renegades host the Perth Scorchers at Docklands. The Big Bash League continues on Friday with a

double-header which features a contest at the WA C A b e t w e e n t h e Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers , w h o s e s q u a d i n c l u d e s We s t I n d i e s T20 star Kieron Pollard and Barbados-born,

England all-rounder Chris Jordan. S cor es : M elbou r n e Renegades 7 for 179 (Finch 63, Ferguson 38) beat Sydney Thunder 131 (Gibson 39, Cummins 37) by 49 runs.

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Friday December 23, 2016

Digicel gallops with KMTC Xmas Meet Sir Garfield, 1966 Shell

Shield champions honoured

Digicel’s Ms Louanna Abrams (right0 hands over the cheque to Justice Cecil Kennard Cellphone provider DIGICEL has continued its support of the Annual Kennard Memorial Turf Club Boxing Day horserace meet set for December 26th, next at

Kennard’s Turf Club, Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice. D i g i c e l ’s S e n i o r Sponsorship and Events Executive, Ms Louanna Abrams handed over the

sponsorship cheque to Justice Cecil Kennard, organiser of event which will cover the E & Lower category of races which has a top prize of $500,000 and a trophy.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers was among a select group of former players honoured by the Barbados Cricket Association at a special ceremony on Wednesday here. The incomparable allrounder, who celebrated his 80th birthday earlier this year, was given the award as a member of the 1966 team which played in the first-ever Shell Shield Tournament 50 years ago which marked the start of the modern era of the WICB first-class championship. Among the guests present were members of the current Barbados and West Indies teams. Barbados won the inaugural Shell Shield tournament early in 1966, a few months before the island gained political independence from Britain on November 30.

I n t h a t s e a s o n ’s tournament, Barbados played four matches and won three, with the other interrupted by rain. Receiving the awards at the BCA’s annual Christmas lunch at Kensington Oval were former West Indies players, fast bowlers Charlie Griffith and Richard Edwards; wicketkeeper David Allan; batsmen Seymour Nurse, Peter Lashley and Robin Bynoe; all-rounders Tony Howard and David Holford, as well as other team-mates. “It is great to be honoured by the BCA and by your country,” said Sir Garfield. “This team from back in 1966 was a great team. We were following on from the great work started by the Three Ws – Worrell, Weekes and Walcott – so we had a great legacy to carry-on. “ We h a d a f e w youngsters in the team so everyone was really excited

Sir Garfield Sobers and did a great job.” N o e l Ly n c h , c h i e f executive officer of the BCA, said: “It’s always great to have the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers with us at the home of cricket in Barbados and we are delighted to honor him and his great team. “They were fantastic, winning the first ever Shell Shield back in 1966, and today – 50 years later – we continue to salute them for what they did for Barbados and the great game of cricket.”

Kaieteur News

Friday December 23, 2016

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Stag Beer fuels Kennard’s Memorial Club Xmas Race Meet Kennard’s Memorial Club, in Corentyne, Berbice will be kicking off its annual Xmas Horse Race Meeting on December 26, 2016. After over 50 years of competition the event is slated to be one of the committees biggest yet with over 70 horses competing, and jockeys from throughout the region participating in a total of seven events. Committee member, Justice Cecil Kennard wished to extend gratitude to “Ansa McAl, through its Stag Beer brand for coming o n b o a r d . ” Justice Kennard informed that this event would be their

third meeting for 2016 and the company has supported every single one. ” We s e e c o r p o r a t e sponsorship as integral to the sport’s success and look forward to Stag’s continued support in the future.” Justice Kennard also mentioned that spectators could look forward to a fun filled day of racing, with well-known horses such as Golden Blue Echo, Climate Change and Spitfire, among others, expected to keep the crowd entertained Ansa McAl’s Beverage Marketing Manager, Robert Hiscock, also expressed his excitement about the club’s

upcoming meet stating that: “We at Ansa McAl see sport as crucial to developing our local communities. Horseracing is no different, and it is because of that, that we are happy to be on board with Stag as a sponsor of this event. We anticipate a great turnout as horseracing is incredibly popular in this part of Guyana.” The Kennard’s Memorial Club, Xmas Race Meeting, is slated to take place at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice from 13:00hrs on December 26, 2016. Prize monies at stake will amount to over $4,500,000 over seven races.

Ansa McAl’s Robert Hiscock presents cheque to Justice Cecil Kennard.

Ashwin bags brace of ICC annual awards (Reuters) India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin was named the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricketer of the Year on Thursday for taking 48 wickets and scoring 336 runs in eight tests during the voting period. The 30-year-old Ashwin, the world’s topranked test bowler, became the third Indian to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy while also scooping the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year award for the period from Sept. 14, 2015 to Sept. 20, 2016. “It’s an absolute pleasure to be awarded with this great honour,” said Ashwin, who won the man of the series awards in each of India’s last four test series before the five-match rubber against England. “It feels great to follow the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in being named as the ICC Cricketer of the Year. To also win the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year makes it even better.” S o u t h A f r i c a w i c k e t k e e p e r- b a t s m a n Quinton de Kock was named ODI (one-day international) Player of the Year, while West Indies’ Twenty20 captain Carlos Brathwaite won the T20 Performance of the Year award. Brathwaite was honoured for belting four consecutive sixes in the final over off England’s

India’s Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates the wicket of England’s Jonny Bairstow. (REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui) Ben Stokes to lead West Indies to victory in the World T20 final earlier this year. Bangladesh medium pacer Mustafizur Rahman was adjudged Emerging Cricketer of the Year, while Afghanistan w i c k e t k e e p e r- b a t s m a n Mohammad Shahzad was named the Associate and Affiliate Cricketer of the Year.

Four England players made the ICC test team of the year, captained by Alastair Cook, with their recent drawn series in Bangladesh and 4-0 loss in India falling outside the voting period. India test captain Virat Kohli was named as captain of the ODI Team of the Year. Te s t t e a m : D a v i d Warner (Australia), Alastair

Cook (England, captain), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Joe Root (England), Adam Voges (Australia), Jonny Bairstow (England, wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (England), Ravich a n d r a n A s h w i n (India), Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka), M i t c h e l l S t a r c (Australia), Dale Steyn (South Africa), Steve Smith (Australia).

GCC to host T20 softball on Tuesday The Georgetown Cricket Club will be hosting a four-team T20 softball tournament on Tuesday at Bourda. The competition is expected to be keenly contested since teams such as HS Masters, Mike’s Wellman, Fisherman Masters and Trophy Stall Masters taking part. The event which is being organised by Trevor Wharton will see the batsman with the highest score, bowler with the most wickets and man-of-the-match in the final receiving awards. Among the players expected to grace the venue are Yunnis Yusuf, Richard Persaud, Mike Singh, Ricky Deonarain, Lloyd Rooplall and Greg De Franca. The event is being sponsored by Trophy Stall.

t r o Sp STAG Nations Cup KO Football – East Bank takes center stage today

Uitvlugt prevail via kicks from the spot over Northern Rangers; Pouderoyen edge Mahaica

Kayode King - Pouderoyen FC scorers

Uitvlugt Warriors FC

Esan Nelson - Pouderoyen FC scorers

7th Annual Atkinson Brothers 5-a-side Football Tournament

Expendables win big on second night against Attackers

Part of the action in this year’s Atkinson Brothers 5-a-side Football Tournament.

Players battle for ball possessionin the Under-15 game.

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