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Kaieteur News
Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: Adam Harris Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
TROUBLE BREWING!
Already reeling from the accusations surrounding the cost of the President’s inauguration, it seems that the government has been plunged into another scandal. This time the issue relates to messages purportedly made by the acting CEO of GPL in regard to the purchasing of 28,000 meters. As a State agency, GPL has been criticized for its failure to reduce transmission losses, theft of electricity, its inability to complete projects on time and mismanagement of public funds. Its CEO has been under a cloud of suspicion since being appointed to the position in late August. In spite of the questions raised about his credentials, he was appointed by the subject Minister. If due diligence was not done by the Minister, he should be relieved of his portfolio. This latest incident would be one of the toughest tests yet for this government which prides itself on stamping out corruption. Guyana’s survival depends on having an efficient, corrupt-free and clean government, which means that all financial transactions utilizing state funds must be transparent before the government can be clean. Under the PPP government, political corruption had a seismic impact on the country. It was unchecked and had metamorphosed into an almost incurable sore, decline in morals and the death knell of the PPP. It was perverse, evil and even intergenerational. The impact of corruption by common sense deduction is deleterious on small economies like Guyana. Today, Guyana is still perceived as being corrupt by many of those with the capital to make its economy grow. Its business climate is not yet ripe for sustainable investment; manufacturing has declined and long-term investorconfidence is like a fleeting illusion. Corruption is still rampant at just about every level and in every sphere of society, from the politicians to the police to those in business. And it is not just foreigners who believe that Guyana is overly corrupt, about 80 per cent of Guyanese feel the same way. Naturally and unfortunately, the people who suffer the most from corruption are the poor. As a consequence, the country is in dire straits and continues to depend mostly on rice and the sugar-cane plantation type economy. The PPP which has been in power for 23 years is primarily responsible for corruption, as they watched it descend to an almost incurable state and is now edifices in the minds of local and foreign investors. However, like the PPP, it is alleged that the priorities of this government are pinnacled upon personal friendships and umbilical loyalty to party. Too many in the government hear but do not listen or take advice. The truth is crime will only reduce when jobs are given to the youths. Jailing the youths or having them killed by the security forces under Operation Dragnet is not the solution. It will backfire. Also, if Guyana is to progress, it must also seek help from qualified Guyanese overseas. Where are the principals who presided over corruption and mega losses of the taxpayers’ money? These funds could have been used to help put food on the table for the poor who suffered from the meager five percent annual salary increase. The PPP was obsessed with power and its objective was acquiring and retaining power at all costs. Today, no significant arrest or prosecution has been made despite the billions of dollars which cannot be accounted for at NICIL and other government departments as reported in the audits. The government has to put its resources, financial and human, where its mouth is and stop paying lip service to the people or making half-hearted attempts. Otherwise, the country will continue to stagnate both economically and socially.
Thursday December 24, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
Notes on farming survival in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, In Guyana, we often do not worry enough about the safety and overall wholesomeness of the food we grow and consume. If we are going to have increased tourist arrivals, and if we start exporting more of our locally-grown foods, there are a few areas we will have to take seriously, such as consistency in food quality and supply. With particular reference to food quality, there are two aspects that are of utmost importance – food safety and nutritional value. In terms of preparedness for these marketing opportunities and challenges, Guyanese farmers have a lot to do before they can effectively compete with producers from other countries, including developing countries like ours. There is a profound need to improve productive capacities among our farmers, and at this point I want to re-emphasize the need for an agricultural development bank, which can provide affordable credit financing to farmers, so that they can make the necessary changes to their operations. Do our farmers understand the health implications associated with the use of agro-chemicals and even manures on their farms? The accumulation of pesticide residues or the presence of harmful microbes in their farm products will have implications not only for individual farmers, but for all producers of these commodities in Guyana. In the export market, it takes just two or three persons to fall sick to food poisoning, before traceability tests are done and bans on importation from specific countries are imposed. Similarly, in our own country, should a few visitors become poisoned by traceable pesticide residues or the presence of pathogens in their food, Guyana will be identified as an unsafe destination, based entirely on food-safety issues. In Guyana we probably have more than 35,000 small farmers. This is just an estimate based on the professions stated in the official voters’ list, as there is currently no comprehensive system in place for registering / listing farmers. Most of these we can refer to as “micro farmers” who operate on half an acre or less, and at a little above the subsistence level. This has occurred because of repeated sub-division and sub-letting o f f a r m h o l d i n g s . To
effectively monitor what these farmers are doing, or to provide adequate extension services, presents an undeniable challenge for our agricultural agencies. In addition, porous borders allow easy access to cheap and potentially harmful pesticides, some of which have already been banned on the international (our destination) markets. The challenge is increased when one considers the low literacy level among our farmers, and their limited ability to assimilate and put into practice what is ‘preached’ to them. It would be a whole lot easier if our agricultural service providers had to overlook, maybe, a maximum of eight thousand farming operations (considering an extension service of 450 trained workers). The quality of extension services, farmers’ willingness to participate in extension programmes, and to adopt and adapt what technology has been transferred, will all improve. One key requirement for accessing export markets or
supplying to the tourism industry is farm certification, the ultimate aim of which is to have farmers meet certain international quality standards. There are two important considerations here for farmers: (1) there is a substantial and recurring cost which the farmer must bear, and (2) the minimum size of the farm will matter. For those who will be overlooking food safety / phyto-sanitary practices on farms, and for those who will be coordinating market access and supply, it is important that production, processing and storage be scheduled to match the growing seasons and changes in demand. Again, this cannot be done with micro-farmers. What this means is that the whole organizing of farming has to be reviewed, and guided by the state, if we are to become competitive
and capture future markets. To make our farming operations really competitive, we have to scale-up to a minimum range of maybe 15-20 acres per unit. This means that private consolidation of farms has to be encouraged and financially supported. At the same time we may want to look again at establishing growers’ cooperatives, something the President may have alluded to when he stressed the need to build ‘village economies’. In this regard, we may also want to put out a moratorium on the alternative use of arable lands, so that suitable land can be reserved to facilitate these changes. The sooner we accept that these changes are necessary, and start the process, the closer our farmers will be to the ‘good life’ assured to them. Khemraj Tulsie
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
A generation of Guyanese The connection between stress and suicide in Guyana has been neglected DEAR EDITOR, I appreciate the advocacy that is being given to prompting a national response in finding a solution to the grave situation facing our youths and society as a whole. I agree with much of what has been written on this matter in different sections of the print media, particularly in the editorials of the Kaieteur News of December 12, 19 and 21, 2015. Kindly, permit me to share a few supporting (or complementary) thoughts on this critical issue. I believe the underlying problem with our youths and society is one of vision and ungodliness. I don’t think that there could be anything worse for humans and their existence, regardless of age, than the deprivation of these two things. The scripture says“Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation from God) the people perish…” it also says – “the fool has said in his heart there is no Godthey are corrupt, they are abominable, they are no good.” This is exactly the predicament that we find ourselves in as a people and a nation, and which has contributed heavily to Guyana degenerating to the present condition of a depraved state. Editor, I agree that everyone must be involved and every available option must be explored to give hope to our young people and to preserve the moral fabric of society. But first, we must be honest with ourselves and each other and accept collective responsibility-for we are all at fault; in thoughts, in words and in deeds. How and where we have failed. And what is necessary, if not imperative, to remedy matters. A generation of our young people has been neglected by this nationcreating a state of oppression, suppression and depression which has stifled the potential of our youths; and what we see now are the fruits of that frustration and hopelessness. This is the plight of Guyana’s youth, and even those who are doing okay are also affected, whether they admit it or not. Recently, a youth from
Regional 10 (Kwakwani) wrote to me asking about the possibility of securing a scholarship or financial aid to attend a Form 6 school in Georgetown, after he completes his CSEC examinations next June. He will be writing 9 subjects, the maximum that is allowed at the school he is presently attending. Here is a classic case study of a youth that is academically inclined and gifted who has a vision for betterment and his reaching out for help, guidance and support. What happens if the vision and desire in this progressive youngster’s heart is not realized? One could guess, that it is highly probable that his life trajectory would be redirected making him less likely to fulfill his potential. In the absence of unfulfilled potential- which is guided by vision and purpose, man becomes disjointed and wayward. Man becomes lost. I am of the opinion that this scenario has played over thousands upon thousands of times across the length and breadth of Guyana.
I encouraged and advised this particular youth to focus on first things firstwhich is to get good grades and then we could take it from there. The point is, even the youth that is stable and trying to do the right thing, those we expect to do well, they are not immune from the barriers of this uncaring and broken society. Could you imagine the plight of the delinquent? Editor, I sincerely hope and pray that as a nation about to enter its 50th Year of Independence, we would stop for a moment to consider our sins and make right what has been wronged; and before the first celebration party, I would humbly suggest that we repent and be reconciled. This way, we would truly be able to experience the blessings of Jubilee, and then we could say- that the broken hearted is being healed, the captive is being set free, the blind is getting new vision and the oppressed are getting their freedom- and maybe then we could be hopeful about a new Guyana. Chris Bowman
The voices that divide Guyanese DEAR EDITOR It continues and it is time that those in authority act. Whoever is found guilty must be penalized or we will not rise. The reporters and editors of the G uyana Times newspaper should be scolded. On Sunday, December 20, 2015, the newspaper carried a headline, “Jagdeo reiterates call for unity and development”. The aim of the article seemed to be: to reiterate that “race” (the exact word used) is an issue in Guyana because of the present administration. I am truly appalled at the continuity of ethnically divisive overtones in newspaper articles. The reporter quoted Mr. Jagdeo to the “T” and the editor saw it fit to publish the article as it was. In this modern age, I think the word “race” should only be used when in association with the word track (race-track).
I can call the names of those who continue to portray ethnic favouritism. They appear in many newspapers that condone this practice. I hope that these newspapers do not surpass 28 years. Therefore, to Mr. Jagdeo and the reporters and editors of the Guyana Times newspaper I say, unity and development will come only when you see pass the straightness of my hair (our only difference, as we are all coated with melanin) and recognize that disunity and un/nondevelopment (as you suggest) continues today because of you. Forget the beginning, you are the voices that continue to separate Guyanese. Ayanna Isaacs
DEAR EDITOR, The alarming suicide rate in this country seems surprising. However, it shouldn’t be. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014 placed Guyana on top of the list of countries in suicide rankings. Guyana easily cruises into the top spot with a fourfold higher suicide rate as compared to global figures. All indicators are that Guyana will remain a top contender for a long time to come. This scourge will linger on and even climb, guaranteeing our top spot bearing the fact that society is overburdened with stress that goes unheeded. Stress is dreadful and has damaging effects on the brain. It compromises mental health by rewiring neuronal circuitries disrupting equilibrium and changing its physiology (function) thereby unleashing an abundance of mental health related issues - - - suicide, depression and alcoholism. It is to be remembered that folks who are depressed or are alcoholics are also more likely to commit suicide. Without hesitation stress should be pinned down as one of the key culprits driving this problem.
Who will disagree that our lives are not burdened by unbearable stress emanating f r o m g r a v e p o v e r t y, dysfunctional politics and bloated corruption to say the least? Such a toxic dynamic inexorably hatches a spectrum of secondary problems including: joblessness, bankruptcy, lack of interventions, poor health care outcomes, discrimination, racism, bullying, mental abuse, crime, disrespect, physical abuse and domestic abuse all of which create merciless stress taking a heavy toll on our lives. Given this picture the massive suicide rate should not surprise any of us one bit. An avalanche of evidence from multiple sources supports that stress deals a blow to life. Take for example the WHO report that three quarters of all global suicides occur in low- and middle -income countries suggesting that economic hardships is a potent inducer of stress which ultimately drives suicide. In another example, just within the last few months Mr. Sham Harrinauth, a d e t a i n e e a t t h e We s t Ruimveldt outpost hanged himself as a means of undoubtedly escaping the pains of stress. Who can
argue that Mr. Harrinauth was not under pressure when he was in detention? This is clear cut evidence demonstrating that stress is a propeller of suicide. Had Mr. Harinauth not been in the lock up, he would have been alive today. Moreover, just within this week two rural Wakenaam residents (Sydney Ramphal and Soma Bhyro) committed suicide. An examination of their stories leading up to their deaths revealed that these gentlemen were experiencing stressful life events (ill-health and domestic turmoil) which I (Continued on page 31)
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
Cameron’s office to probe why British Muslim family barred from U.S.
Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron British Prime Minister David Cameron’s office said yesterday it was looking into the case of a family of 11 British Muslims who were refused permission to board a flight from London to Los Angeles to visit Disneyland. The family of two adults and nine children were told by a U.S. official that their right to travel had been revoked as they waited in the departure lounge of Gatwick airport last Tuesday. They say they had been granted travel authorization online several weeks previously and were given no reason for the last-minute reversal. A U.S. government source
said only one male member of the family had been deemed to be prohibited from flying. But because all 11 passengers had booked their travel together, they were all denied boarding at the instruction of the Customs and Border Protection agency of the Department of Homeland Security. The source declined to offer further information about the identity of the family member who was barred, or the reason why. Two sources familiar with the case said that British intelligence agencies were in no way involved in the U.S. decision. A U.S. security official said it was unclear if there was
a counter-terrorism aspect to the case. Lawmaker Stella Creasy, who represents the north London area where the family lives, said she had asked Cameron’s office for help in resolving the case. She told Sky News: “It is not just the family themselves who are livid. The vacuum created by a refusal to provide any context for these decisions is fuelling resentment and debate.” She said there was a growing fear UK Muslims might be singled out following this month’s call by U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to bar all Muslims from entering the United States. A spokesperson for Cameron said: “We are looking into the issue and the Prime Minister will respond in due course.” The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said in a statement issued in London: “The religion, faith, or spiritual beliefs of an international traveler are not determining factors about his/her admissibility into the U.S.” It said U.S. law listed more than 60 possible grounds of inadmissibility, including health-related factors, prior criminal convictions and security reasons.
Police offer million-dollar reward for cop killers
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Police High Command is offering a million dollar reward to anyone who can give reliable information leading to the arrest and charge of the individuals involved in the gun slaying of Corporal Kenneth Davis and Constable Craig Palmer Tuesday night in St Thomas. In the meantime the following men are being asked to turn themselves in immediately to the Yallahs Police in relation to the double
murder: • Marlon Perry, otherwise called ‘Duppy Film’ of Phillipsfield, Yallahs, St Thomas. • Jason Foster, 21, of East Albion, St Thomas. • A man known only as ‘Patta’ of a St Thomas address. According to reports the two lawmen were murdered by men who opened gunfire at them while they were playing dominoes with friends. (Jamaica Observer)
WASA managers moved, Forensic audit ordered
Trinidad Express - Managers have been removed and a forensic audit into operations at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has been ordered by the Authority’s Board of Commissioners, as a result of “certain irregularities”. The decisions were disclosed in a press statement issued by WASA yesterday. The following is the full statement, signed by Romley Thomas, chairman of WASA’s Board of Commissioners The Board of Commissioners has observed certain irregularities in the operations of the Authority and in order
to properly discharge its fiduciary obligations have deemed it necessary to order a Forensic Audit into the operations of the Authority. Upon receipt of the Forensic Audit the Board will consider the findings before considering what further action is necessary (if any). The Board had also made certain changes to the Executive Management with immediate effect: •Dion Abdool, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary will act as Chief Executive Officer until further advised; •Gerard Yorke, will act as Director, Corporate Services;
•Paula Maria Fortun?, Head Legal Services will act as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary; •Raffie David, Head, Tobago Region will act as Director, Operations; •Rachelle Wilkie Head, Financial Planning & Management will act as Director, Finance; •May Ann Diaz, Head, Workforce Planning and Organization Development will act as Director, Human Resources The public will be kept advised as the need arises bearing in mind the need to ensure that the integrity of the audit is not compromised.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday December 24, 2015
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Another $12B earmarked MASQUERADE AT for GuySuCo bailout CHRISTMAS TIME
“COI recommendations have far reaching effects on industry- PM By Abena Rockcliffe Even after spending millions of dollars on a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to examine the sugar industry, the coalition Government is still not clear on the direction in which the industry is heading. It has been over two months since the Chairman of the COI, Vibert Parvatan, handed over the report to the Ministry of Agriculture but the report remains under Cabinet’s consideration. In fact, Cabinet is yet to decide whether it will adhere to the recommendations of the CoI report. Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, recently told Kaieteur News that the report is being “interrogated at the moment and we will see where that will take the industry. Also we want the industry to be able to stand on its own feet.” He said that the government is looking to set aside another $12B for GuySuCo. According to the Prime Minister, these bailouts may very well continue to be
given to GuySuCo “until the industry is able to recover.” “I cannot say much about these things (continuous bailouts) it has to do with the industry showing signs of recovery and then that will determine how much the government will reach out to the industry.” Nagamootoo pointed to the retreat which Cabinet had a few weeks ago to consider the report. He said that that retreat ended with a number of Ministers having several outstanding questions for some of the Commissioners who made mainly power point presentations. “We were shown power point presentations. We asked the presenters to distribute the slides to us. But some of the key Ministers were not there (at the retreat.) These included Ministers who are dealing with the economic and financial issues so we asked for another retreat to bring back the presenters of the report face to face with Cabinet colleagues,” said Nagamootoo.
Dem boys seh ...
A marshal mek laugh off Clinty de Willie A lawyer see Clinty de Willie at de court. De man didn’t know wha he was doing there suh he ask him, “Wha going on jumbo?” Clinty seh that he come here to shut dem boys mouth wid one lawsuit. He tun and tell de lawyer that eh feeling hurt. That is how de lawyer tun and tell him, “But is only de truth does hurt.” He suck he teeth, tun ee back pun de lawyer and walk in de court. A marshal call dem boys two hours after de lawyer did call dem boys and could not stop laughing. De marshal tell dem boys two things and he was uncontrollable wid he laughing. Dem boys believe that de man hear some joke. Dem ask he fuh share and he laugh till he choke. De first thing he tell dem boys was, “That man wha y’all seh like eat jumbo prawns and big basha seh that he gun mek al’you pay fuh all dem prawns and basha that y’all seh he eat.” Right away dem boys get scared because dem don’t have that kind of money. Dem boys never buy so much sea food in de lifetime. Dem boys done plan a defence. Dem buying a 60-foot trawler, one li’l more big than BaiShanLin barge. Dem also plan to buy de Ice House in Water Street to keep de seafood fresh and in a large quantity because if de quantity ain’t large Clinty gun get vex. De crew will comprise Jagdeo, de captain; Ashni, de shaat scamp gun be de First Mate and Brassington gun be de bosun. Dem gun name de trawler Li’l Willie and everything should alright after that. De second thing he tell dem is that Clinty de Willie vex because dem boys talk bout some ass and how it tun up. Is then dem boys confirm that de marshal was digging kicks because dem boys does mek tantalise. Talk half and wait till Brassington sue because dem boys talk bout he ass.
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo Nagamootoo said that on that occasion, Ministers will get their outstanding questions answered. “Then we will need another retreat to specifically deal with the recommendations.” Therefore there is no way that sugar workers will get any word about the inquiry before next year. Nagamootoo said, “I do not believe that it is something that we will want to put off for too long but at the same time this step by step evaluation and consultation process must be finished.” He indicated that the recommendations are very weighty and he used that to explain why Cabinet is taking so long to deal with the report. “I do not think we just want to rush over because we are dealing with some serious recommendations. I can tell you that they are very serious, I have seen the recommendations and they have far reaching effects on the future of the sugar industry,” said Nagamootoo. He added, “While we (continued on page 31)
G o v e r n m e n t commissioned forensic audits into a number of state-owned agencies. The preliminary reports of some of those audits are out. The public is expecting fireworks because the public was led to believe that there was massive corruption taking place under the PPPC. The failure of the APNU/ AFC government to produce evidence of illegal conduct under the PPP administration is making the PPP look good, especially since the government is yet to get a grip on the economy and their Ministers are being burdened with running bureaucracies when they should be dismantling these structures. The cost of the forensic audits are said to be about $133M and counting. By the time it is finished those audits will cost more than the monies they will recover. Yet we are now told that there is need for the matters investigated in one instance by forensic auditors to be handed to the police to investigate further. There is a need for the government to explain just what is meant by forensic audits. If these audits are forensic in nature, then these audits should have traced all the monies that were missing, determine who was responsible and compile the evidence, if any, of criminal actions. There should be no need for the police to investigate further. There will be a need for the police to prepare the matters for possible prosecution How can the police be asked to investigate further? That is not the work for the police. The forensic auditors should be recalled and told to
gather the necessary evidence including statements. That is the work of forensic auditors. The revelation of the government therefore that it intends to send certain matters to the police looks like window-dressing. It also appears as if the government has succumbed to public pressure over its failure to prosecute anyone for the alleged crimes of corruption which it, the ruling coalition said existed. The public is asking about the action that is being taken by the government. The public is not inventing anything; they are simply asking questions based on what the government said it had uncovered. It was said that tonnes of gold were unlawfully exported from Guyana. The matter was supposed to be under investigation. Where is the gold? If it went to the United States, will that country be asked to return the gold? What has happened to that investigation? Why have the forensic auditors not been called in for that one? The government said that persons were taking fuel illegal from GUYOIL. The government actually gave persons the opportunity to repay the monies? What has happened to this case? How many persons have repaid. Since the public was told that persons took petrol illegally, then they are entitled to be told what has happened to the investigation. This should not be state secret.
The government then said that it was investigating a possible $100 fraud in a government ministry. We are told that the file is with the police again. Why were the forensic auditors not called in to investigate these matters? Persons were sent on administrative leave pending audits. We have not heard anything about the outcome of these audits and whether any persons fingered were afforded the opportunity to offer explanations before the audit reports are dispatched to the government This is seven months that the government is in office and all that we are hearing is about wrong doing, forensic audits and now having to call in the police to probe further. The police cannot be second guessing forensic audits. Do the police have the investigative capability to investigate some of the financial matters that they are being handed? What game is the government playing?
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Kaieteur News
Thursday December 24, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Unmanageable insanity on the roads tonight People drive horribly on the roadways of this country. The main culprits are taxis and minibuses. To look at how these two categories of humans use the roads is a sad indictment of Homo Sapiens. What is man made of when you look at the behaviour of taxi and minibus drivers? Are these people really higher animals? I have seen uncivilized driving from these two categories of drivers that would not be tolerated in other parts of the globe. It is just the savage use
of a vehicle. I think living in Guyana and watching the people behind the wheel of a hire-car and a minibus must cause you to lose your faith in the human being. I could just imagine a foreign visitor saying, “Are these people humans? There are ingrained attitudes of these drivers that are simply incredible to comprehend. They do not observe lanedriving. They are completely contemptuous of that. Secondly, they frown on the waiting process. Once they drop off, they drive off immediately totally oblivious to oncoming traffic. Thirdly, you cannot get a minibus to pull up on the parapet to pick up a passenger. The parapet is territory they do not recognize.
What goes through the mind of a foreigner in Guyana when he/she sees a hire car or a minibus just stop suddenly right there on the road to collect a passenger and the traffic behind comes to a stand-still? Is there an answer to the psychosis of driving that afflicts these two categories? The answer is yes, but I doubt whether there is the will of the authorities to embrace that solution. There are band-aid remedies being talked about. One such plaster is the importation of huge buses that will do non-stop journeys on long distances and probably will have more responsible drivers. How that is going to put an end to psychotic driving by mini-buses and taxis is a mystery. These men will still
do crazy things on the shorter stops. The solution lies right in front of our eyes. It is just that our leaders (forget our police officers; they are a visionless bunch) do not have the will power to tackle the insanity on the roadways. Increase the fines for lawless driving enormously. Make it punitive. We may not like the draconian measure the Americans adopted but they felt it was necessary to deport convicts back to whence they came if they were not American citizens. Many European countries do not offer children citizenship if their parents are not from the land in which the babies were born. Take Singapore; once a child is born there to nonSingaporeans, that child will not get citizenship. The Europeans have done this to stop non-Europeans birthing their children in Europe, and then claim the right to stay because their offspring were born there. When a country faces a social sarcoma, it has to
confront it. Guyana is not confronting the mini-bus and taxi culture. Once found guilty, the licence should be suspended. A repeat offender should be told that a third violation means automatic jail. We are treating the semicivilized minibus culture with kid gloves. A guilty plea results in a $5000 fine and the driver continues his sickness on the roadways. His licence is not withdrawn. Another band-aid solution is the surveillance cameras. They catch erring drivers but the fine is between $5000 and $10,000. Why do the policy-makers think that taxi madmen and lunatic mini-bus drivers care about a $10,000 fine? It will hurt them if they have to pay $50,000 for lawless conduct on the roads even for the most non-lethal offences. It will hurt them if the fine is accompanied by licence cancellation. The vehicles on the streets in Guyana are now becoming countless. Imagine then what happens when in this world of metal thickness
Frederick Kissoon taxis and minibuses continue to create mayhem. Policymakers surely must have seen this crazy attitude of these drivers because they use the roadways. Who in this country that owns a vehicle is not fed up with the way taxis and minibuses are driven? You could be the biggest, most fanatical supporter of the working classes of Guyana, but your embrace will stop at taxi and minibus drivers. They are just lawless people unfit to use the streets of this country. Of course there are exceptions. Of course there are well behaved hire-car drivers and minibus drivers but in general, these two categories are people that must be condemned for their reckless behaviour. They have to be stopped before it is too late. Or is it already too late?
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Impose sanctions against Ashni Singh Every Finance Minister since 1992 has grossly abused the use of the Contingencies Fund, says a reputable financial analyst. The Chartered Accountant said that this is a well documented fact given the evidence outlined in the annual reports of the country’s Auditor General, Deodat Sharma. While this is the case, he emphasized that if the government is serious about cleaning up the “financial mess” which has polluted the state of the country, then sanctions need to be imposed against those who abused the Contingencies Fund. He said that sanctions need to be imposed against former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh. He said that under his watch “some of the most appalling violations of the Fund took place.” He noted that this Fund is only supposed to be used to meet expenses that are “unforeseen, urgent and for which expenditure has not been appropriated for in the National Budget.” He said that the Finance Minister, Winston Jordan recently brought a schedule of supplementary provision on the current and capital estimates totaling $3,239,601,366 for the period 2011 to the end of 2014. The
Financial paper to clear the unapproved spending under the former government was laid in the National Assembly last week and will be considered on December 30. However, after examining the purpose for which some of the monies were taken from the Contingencies Fund, the forensic auditor noted that they simply don’t meet the requirement. He noted that the monies which were taken for the Ministry of Home Affairs, is a clear example to support this point. The Finance Analyst said, “Under the former Ministry of Home Affairs, $105M was taken for expenditure incurred in relation to increased patrols in interior locations and given the increase in fuel prices. Another $2M was incurred for increased usage of fuel for cooking at the Guyana Prison Services. Then over $40M was expended on additional security guards in certain regions. Are these expenses emergencies, urgent and unforeseen? This is a very clear cut case which shows the abuse of the Contingencies Fund and the administration needs to impose sanctions. It is simply in a mess.” He said that because of the actions of the former Finance Minister, the
- says Financial analyst Contingencies Fund has found itself in a position where it hardly has any money to properly deal with a real emergency case if the need arises tomorrow. “The Contingencies Fund, at this point, does not have enough money to truly service any unforeseen circumstance. All of these unapproved spending under the PPP has to be cleared. The Finance Minister has a real predicament before him. “Furthermore, the administration has a responsibility to see that Dr. Singh is made to face the music for breaching the financial laws of the country. The country’s accounts are in a chaotic state. Law and order needs to be restored to the accounting system of this country. Government is saying all the right things, now it needs to act.” The abuse of the Contingencies Fund is one that has been well documented by the country’s Auditor General. In his 2010 report, Sharma pointed to the abuse of amounts totaling over $550M drawn from the Fund and utilized to meet expenditures that did not meet the eligibility
Haags Bosch Landfill fire still smouldering after four days - operations halted The Haags Bosch landfill fire is still smouldering after an internal combustion occurred on the site on Sunday. The fire, which started around 3:30pm on Sunday, is still blazing through acres of garbage on the dumpsite. Site Manager Lloyd Stanton told Kaieteur News yesterday that the fire will continue to burn for another few days. “We haven’t been able to put out the surface fire as yet and until we do, it is very dangerous to be on the site,” he said. Some of the operations on the site have been halted
because of the fire. Garbage trucks are being re-directed to the Lusignan dumpsite on the East Coast of Demerara. “We haven’t been able to have the trucks dump their garbage here since the fire started,” he added. The fire has so far destroyed 12 acres of the site. On Sunday, an employee was leaving the premises when he noticed smoke emitting from a section of the garbage dump and quickly alerted others. Employees joined forces and began to put out the flames but the situation worsened. The fire is believed to
have started underground and is expected to continue to burn for several more days. But the authorities have managed to subdue it. A source had indicated that there is a high chance that mismanagement of waste could have been the cause for the fire. Stanton, however, had rebuffed this assertion, stating that the waste was usually properly compacted. Stanton said that the garbage and the wind were fuelling the flames but once it is subdued they would have excavators search underneath the piles for the source of the fire.
criteria as defined in the laws. In his 2012 report, he said that $95.661M in advances was illegally drawn from the Fund. For the year 2013, he reported that $510M was withdrawn from the Contingencies Fund which did not meet the specified criteria. The 2014 report once again flagged the inappropriate use of the Fund under the previous administration, as $962M was withdrawn without meeting the specified criteria. The Financial Analyst questioned, “Who is going to account for this? Does government intend to forgive the sins of those who abused the country’s laws in this manner?” Over the years, the abuse of the Contingencies Fund was a topical issue for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) while they served as the Parliamentary opposition. AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan had emphasized on several occasions that the National Assembly is the first device or mechanism for which emergency advances
Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh can be protected from abuse. The politician had asserted, “The (PPP) has been abusing its understanding of the criteria of an emergency under the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act. “When we run to the Fund it is only to be used for emergency cases, like if there is a serious flood in Mahaicony and we need to remove citizens, money would be used in that case. But I understand that they are using the Contingencies Fund to relieve the National Communications Network.”
He had even appealed for the former President, Donald Ramotar, to assent to the amendment made to the FMA Act. “The amendment seeks to clarify a part of the Act which has to do with officers who can be prosecuted for the abuse of the Fund. But it is the Minister (Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh) we understand to be giving such directions. “He gives the permission for the money to be used, and as such he needs to be held accountable. The (former) President, by not assenting to this amendment, is also condoning this and allowing criminality to continue. “I am begging the people of this nation to understand that it is their money that is being abused and to realize what kind of government they had,” Ramjattan had said. The Public Security Minister was also one who constantly called for sanctions to be imposed against Dr. Singh for his financial transgressions. The Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2015 was tabled by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan in the National Assembly and was passed.
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The bulk of the homeless population remains on the street by choice - social welfare committee will start evaluation to remove them By Jeanna Pearson As levels of homelessness continue to swell, Night Shelter Administrator, Sheila Veerasammy, says that the majority of the population remains on the street by choice. She said many homeless persons are of the opinion that they have more freedom on the streets as opposed to living in a home or a shelter. “They remain there because a shelter has rules. When they are living under a roof they have responsibilities. But when they are on the streets they don’t pay water rate, light bills and rent; all they do is beg and eat. So in their minds they are free,” she said. She said that the Night Shelter has a large mobile homeless population which “comes and goes” every day. “Some of them come in and then we never see them again, or some come and we see them two to three weeks later,”
she explained. Guyana should treat the issue of homelessness with utmost importance since most of these persons are afflicted by some type of psychological illness. According to the New Nation May 2014 edition, many homeless persons were suffering from some form of mental illness, ranging from clinical depression, schizophrenia to bipolar disorders. Many of these individuals can be seen wandering the streets, rummaging through garbage bins for food or sleeping on pieces of cardboard outside of businesses. They have little or no idea of time or what is occurring around them. Veerasammy said that it is imperative for the homeless population to be re-integrated into society. She said that much evaluation must be done along with vigorous counselling sessions for this change to occur. “We need to get them to
understand that there is an alternative to sleeping on the streets...to condition their minds to understand that here, there is a warm bed and hot food,” she posited. It is estimated that some 500 persons were living on the streets of Georgetown, Veerasammy said, noting that part of the population included children and young adults. However, she said many of them are afraid of staying in a shelter. “...When you come here you have to take a bath, you have to brush your teeth and wash your clothes....street people are not accustomed to that”. Conversely, she said that the Night Shelter has not given up hope on these people. It tries its best to have individual counselling with these homeless people whenever they visit the shelter. She also stated that the shelter is lobbying for more programmes to be integrated in the curriculum for 2016.
“These people are the vulnerable sector of society, they need our help and we must help them in whatever way possible. So we want to start offering therapy and life skills training for them in the next year,” she added. She appealed to the public, the government and all non-government organizations to join the shelter in getting these people re-integrated into society. She also indicated that some homeless persons want to change their lives but do not know how. “Not all of them are there because they choose to, some of them are there because of bad choices or because of life circumstances,” she noted. Currently, the Social Protection Ministry is collaborating with a welfare committee to tackle the issue. The committee, which is a spin-off from a Mayor and City Council Programme, is being chaired by Major General (Ret’d) Joseph Singh. Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, told Kaieteur News that the sub-committee has completed its preliminary investigations and is moving ahead in 2016 to have the homeless removed from the streets. She said the committee includes persons from the Ministry of Public Health, the Mayor and City Council and the Ministry of Legal Affairs. She stated that a part of the programme will incorporate medical evaluation by the Public Health Ministry to determine if the individual was battling with a social issue or if they have a psychological illness. Once the evaluation is performed, Lawrence explained, the committee will decide on whether to place the person in a shelter or in a mental institution. However, she stated that the Night Shelter in its present condition does not have the accommodation for a lot of homeless people. She said so far, some homeless persons were removed from the shelter and taken to the rehabilitation centre in West Coast Berbice. “We have done some restoration on the shelter but it can only hold so much,” she said, adding that the committee is looking forward to tackling the issue of homelessness and removing them from the streets— regardless if they are there by choice or because of some medical impairment.
Thursday December 24, 2015
Suspect in money changer’s disappearance might be in Suriname - Police
Wanted: Kevin Boodhoo
As investigations continue into the disappearance of a 56-yearold Berbice money changer, police have confirmed that they are on the hunt for a teenage boy, who they believe may have fled to neighbouring Suriname. The suspect has since been identified as 19-year-old Kevin Boodhoo of Number 65 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Kaieteur News was told that the victim, Mohamed Fizal Mahmood Baksh, was last seen around 8:00 hrs on Monday when he received a telephone call from Boodhoo. Baksh, called ‘Sugar Cake’ of Crabwood Creek, reportedly left home to meet with the suspect who had informed him that there were two elderly people who wanted to change some foreign currency. A police source close to the investigation said that what is scary at this time is that both suspect and victim have disappeared. The source said that they have received enough information which suggested that the suspect was the last person to have met with the money changer before he disappeared. Also, a taxi driver confirmed that Baksh was seen walking into the street where Boodhoo lived. “We got information that he may have fled to Suriname via the back track route,” the source related. Boodhoo’s aunt, Seeta, said that her nephew moved in with her in June after his father passed away. She said that he had been selling household items in her yard to financially support himself. The woman said that she has no idea where her nephew is at this time. She said that she last saw him around
midday Monday when she left home to go to Western Union. “Me and Kevin were not talking so much because he went behind my back and did certain things. I left him home on Monday and when I went back home, he was gone for good,” the suspect’s aunt noted. She revealed that she and Boodhoo had an argument about a week back and he told her that he would be leaving home. Last week, the woman said, she found a letter which Boodhoo had left behind. “In the letter he said that ‘If I die, Aunty Seeta you are the cause. And mommy I love you’ but I tear up the letter because I thought everything was normal afterwards because he came home.” According to Seeta, Monday night, relatives of the money changer visited her home and inquired about Kevin’s whereabouts. “I asked them what happened and they said that it was about Baksh’s disappearance and that he left to go meet Kevin. While they telling me, Kevin called on the landline for his sister so I asked him what is going on with this man Sugar Cake,” the woman related. She added that she was informed by her nephew that he had indeed called the money changer, but he never met with him. “He said that he does get clients for this man and that the man does give him a li’l raise and that was it. I didn’t hear back from him,” Seeta stressed. A search is underway for the money changer. Early yesterday, police found a decomposed body of a male at the Kitty seawall, Georgetown. The body is still to be identified.
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Detained Guyana rice to remain in storage for Christmas Belize (www.reporter.bz)Three container loads of imported ‘Grade A’ rice from Guyana will remain locked up in storage at the Big Creek Port in Stann Creek for Christmas, despite earnest efforts by the importer, businessman Jack Charles (Jitendra Chawla) to gain access to unload and start retailing the product. Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Jose Alpuche said publicly and in clear terms this week that Guyanese rice does not represent fair trade with local rice producers. “The reality is that rice in Guyana is heavily subsidized and we don’t offer subsidies to our large scale commercial producers here. So what would come in from Guyana would represent an unfair trading advantage.” Director General of Foreign Trade, Dr. Leroy Almendarez, made reference to the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, saying the agreement protects all member countries. “The major objective of this Treaty is economic development for all members’ states; not for one, but for all. There are also sensitive industries protected under the revised Treaty. Belize is LDC, which means Lesser Developed Country. You have MDC [More Developed Countries], of which Guyana is one. But we must understand here that Belize and Guyana has no dispute…I was at COTED (Council for Trade and Economic Development), recently…There is a process that it goes through. The member state must be allowed to respond and you respond, and then the discussion takes place or then you solve it bilaterally. “We met with the head of Guyana Rice Development Board; we met with the Minister of Trade…and they assured us that it would be a government to government issue…If we are not open to give market access to that rice, they will not impose it on us.” Sergio Garcia, the technical consultant for Charles’s RC Imports and a former Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Trade, pointed out that the signal Belize is sending to a fellow CARICOM country and the rest of CARICOM, has got to be unwelcome treatment, particularly since Belize is preparing to start increasing trade with some of its CARICOM colleagues in the near future. “If the Guyanese were to take the same approach, like what we are suggesting to protecting our national
industry, let’s say that all the countries in CARICOM – oh Belize wants to protect, let us do the same thing. What happens? Our products will start to stay here. There is much more corn producers than rice producers in this country. This will put a black eye on our trade,” he said. But Almendarez debunked that notion, saying he has been having frequent meetings with the CARICOM Trade Technocrats and there was no problem with Guyana over rice. “It does not give us a black eye or a bad reputation. Let me just give you some examples: Grenada has tried to get honey into Trinidad for the longest time. Grenada’s honey is still not into Trinidad, because they are talking about quality and standards, etc. We have tried to get our poultry into Trinidad, we have tried to get
some of our other products into other markets within CARICOM and they are still not there,” he said. Almendarez pointed to the fact that Belize is selfsufficient in rice production, but Charles argues that he is importing only 20 percent of the country’s demands, which is allowed under the same Treaty. It is his view that Belizeans should have an option to better rice for a cheaper price if they so desire. Charles was the man who, in 2014 when a flood rendered Belize short of rice, revealed that the Government had imported three million pounds of Guyanese rice, labelled it as a product of Belize, and continued to sell it for the same price as the more expensive Belizean rice. Charles, who has indicated that if he must take the matter to court he will, is proposing to retail the rice for
The stranded containers of rice from Guyana.
69 cents per pound, still cheaper than Belize’s ‘Grade C’ (30 percent broken rice, which as of December 23rd should start to sell for 90 cents per pound.) But even so, Alpuche says while this is the new price, some merchants
may sell for more. “We’re not telling you that you have to sell rice for 90 cents. We’re telling you that the maximum you should pay for it is 90 cents,” said Alpuche. Local farmers produce
around 21 million pounds of rice each year – an amount which is sufficient for local consumption. Meanwhile, Guyana’s rice exports increased by six percent up to last October, (continued on page 27)
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Thursday December 24, 2015
Brassington, Deputy sent on leave pending SARU, Police probe - Cabinet orders By Kiana Wilburg After deliberating on the forensic audit report on the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Cabinet finally instructed that the report be forwarded to the Guyana Police Force and the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU). While this is being done, Cabinet also gave clear instructions for NICIL’s Chief Executive Officer, Winston Brassington, and his Deputy, Marcia Nadir-Sharma, to be sent immediately on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigations. Making this statement yesterday was Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during a press conference at the Ministry of the Presidency. Harmon said that the Cabinet meeting which was held on Tuesday could be described as an “historic one.” He said that Cabinet discussed critical matters which could have far reaching effects. The Government Minister noted one of those topics to be the damning NICIL report which was conducted by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran. In the company of Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul
Sharma, Harmon explained that Cabinet deliberated on various issues relating to the NICIL report and took into account the recommendations submitted by Goolsarran. He noted that recommendations were also submitted by Minister Sharma and those were also up for consideration. Harmon said, too, that Cabinet was advised that the NICIL Board of Directors had not yet deliberated on the report. Be that as it may, Cabinet instructed that the reports and accompanying notes of Goolsarran and Sharma, be handed over to the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud and SARU for investigations. He said that the probe is intended to determine whether any acts of criminality were committed and to take the process forward. The Minister of State also informed the media that Cabinet gave instructions for the said report to be submitted to Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, for a more precise audit of the issues highlighted in the report. Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, is also expected to give instructions for a transaction audit to be conducted on NICIL.
Harmon was reminded that Brassington during a press conference on Monday to defend his actions, made it clear that his decisions were approved by the former Cabinet. Should the police find areas of criminality regarding the involvement of the former Cabinet in Brassington’s actions, Harmon was asked what the next step would be? “Well I don’t want to second guess what the police will find or what the precise forensic audit will find from the AG’s office. But what I can say is in Cabinet’s view, there is sufficient information provided in the report for the agencies, which the report was sent to use as a basis for further action. Cabinet is not saying anybody should be charged. “Cabinet said that based on the reports, it should be sent to the relevant bodies for them to explore further and dig deeper, so as to determine whether criminality occurred and if they do find criminality, then they should take whatever action they deem necessary.” Harmon said that with such a serious matter, the administration cannot act on impulse. Should Brassington ponder fleeing the jurisdiction, the Government
NICIL CEO, Winston Brassington and NICIL’s Deputy Executive Officer, Marcia Nadir-Sharma Minister said that if the police feel that based on their investigations someone is likely to be charged, then they have adequate methods at their disposal to retain that person in Guyana. The forensic report on NICIL exposes how Brassington bypassed internationally recognized and credible companies only to engage criminal entities for the construction of the Marriott Hotel. He failed to justify how millions of dollars were spent in the Linden Mining Enterprise and to properly account for their assets. He also paved the way for NICIL to illegally fund the preparation of the Pradoville Two scheme, misappropriated billions of dollars, and kept $26B from the Consolidated Fund.
Based on that and more, Goolsarran made several recommendations on the way forward regarding the entity. Most of these were followed by Cabinet, given their announcements. He also recommended that moves be made to institute criminal and/or disciplinary actions for the interception of State revenues totaling $26.858 billion in violation of Articles 216 of the Constitution and the related sections of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMA). He said that disciplinary action is provided for under the following sections of the FMA Act: (a) Section 48 — Misuse of public moneys; (b) Section 49 — Liability for loss of public moneys; and (c) Section 85 — Liability of an official.
Goolsarran also called for the institution of criminal and/ or disciplinary actions against all those responsible for violating Article 217 of the Constitution, by causing expenditure to be incurred without parliamentary approval. The Chartered Accountant called for NICIL to be liquidated and for the appointment of a Receiver to oversee the liquidation process. He said, too, that Government should reactivate the Privatisation Unit as a department of the Ministry of Finance to manage the Government’s residual investments after liquidation proceedings have concluded. In this regard, he noted that the existing staff of NICIL could be transferred to the Ministry of Finance.
Public consultations to decide GuySuCo’s future Government is not likely to make any major decisions soon, when it comes to the future of the country’s sugar industry. A recently completed report of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is currently being assessed by the Cabinet of Ministers. There was confirmation yesterday that the new administration wants more public consultations. Speaking to the press yesterday, following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting during which the industry was a major focus, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, disclosed that the CoI report had been given to the Ministers to study and make recommendations. According to Harmon, Minister of Agriculture, Noel
Holder, has submitted a number of proposals for consideration to help the struggling industry back on its footing. “His proposals have to do with the options available to make the industry viable, in the near future.” It was agreed in Cabinet that given the importance of the sugar industry, to the national economy and the number of persons who depend on it for a livelihood, that there was need for wider consultation with all stakeholders and the general public, Minister Harmon said. The Ministers on Tuesday also agreed that the CoI report will be sent to the National Assembly for deliberations before any final decisions are made on GuySuCo. Responding to questions
yesterday, Harmon admitted that the CoI report recommended increased efficiency for GuySuCo’s estates in Demerara and Berbice. Already, a number of actions are being taken, including the merging of estates to cut costs. One of these includes closer collaboration between Uitvlugt and Wales estates on West Demerara. GuySuCo is mulling recommendations to have Uitvlugt grind the canes instead of both factories in operation. Harmon noted that even before the CoI report, GuySuCo had started taking some action to increase efficiency. Sugar has been a major drag of the economy in recent (continued on page 28)
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Youman Nabi messages PPP: HEED THE MESSAGES OF YOUMAN NABI The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) would like to extend to all Guyanese, especially the Muslim community, greetings on the occasion of Youman Nabi which is being observed today. This occasion which commemorates the birth and death anniversary of the Holy Prophet, Muhammad (On Whom Be Peace), is sacred to the Islamic community. It has been observed as a national holiday for decades in Guyana underling the freedom of religion enshrined in our Constitution. Our religious holidays further exemplify the tolerance and appreciation which abound in this multifaceted society of ours. The PPP urge that the pertinent messages that a r e a s s o c i a ted with this sacred occasion be a reminder to us all on virtues, humility and compassion which can forge and further strengthen bonds among our people. To our Muslims brothers and sisters, we remain cognizant of the stigma that has unfortunately befall your glorious religion of peace in
some quarters internationally. This occasion of Youman Nabi offers yet another opportunity for continuous education and enlightenment on the virtues that Islam gives to the world and rejection of those who use the name of your faith to bring it into disrepute. The PPP is also cognizant of the challenges Muslims face on a daily basis, and which appear to be continually exacerbated in some parts of the world. To this, we urge tolerance and understanding on behalf of those and encourage continuity in your propagation and adherence to the virtues of your religion, which is a hallmark of peace. The local traditions on this day, Christmas Eve, are expected to unfold unhindered, demonstrative of the profound religious tolerance that is associated with Guyana. This surely provides another opportunity to imbue a sense pride and accomplishment as a people in a diverse country. Once again, our Party extends Youman Nabi greetings to all and reminds to the relevant messages it continues to present as a guide for all humanity.
Lindeners charged with $$M armed robberies Three Lindeners were yesterday remanded to prison after they pleaded not guilty to charges of armed robberies, when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Nicolai Carmichael, 22, of Lot 28 Blueberry Hill, Wismar Linden; Dexter Mc Calmont, 22, of Lot 103 Block 22 One Mile, Wismar Linden and Khalil Mustafa, are accused of robbing Shawn Bissoon of a Bedford truck valued $12M, fuel and other items to the value of $14,160,000— property of Julius Ferreira. The men were further accused of robbing Bissoon of a cell phone and cash. The trio was alleged to have stolen a $37,000 gold band belonging to Lakeram Shabdar during the robberies. The incidents were allegedly committed at gunpoint on October 3, at Mabura Access Road. Carmichael, Mc Calmont and Mustafa pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mustafa and Carmichael were charged with two other armed robberies. It is alleged that the two men, while armed with guns robbed Marlon Bissoon of a Bedford Truck, several barrels
of diesel, gasoline and hydraulic fuel, a quantity of beverages and two ladders— total value of $15.2M property of Ryan Ferreira. The last charge alleged that the men also robbed Marlon Bissoon of a cell phone and $35,000 in cash while brandishing a gun. The two men denied both charges. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones objected to them being granted their pretrial liberty on all charges. The Prosecutor’s objections were upheld by the Magistrate, who wished the men a Merry Christmas before ordering them remanded. They will make their next court appearance on December 30, at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.
MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CIOG “We have not sent you the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal is but as a mercy to the entire a national holiday. The Prophet’s life and his universe”. Today as we face a conduct has become a model rapidly changing world on which every Muslim dominated by man’s aspires to build his life inhumanity to man. Where according to the situation in might is right and the poor are which he finds himself, as taken advantage of by the ALLAH SWT says in the rich, where women and Holy Our’an: Prophet Muhammad children are abused and we witness daily the senseless (owbp) participated fully in acts of war, where innocent social life. He married and had people are killed in large a household. He was ruler, numbers in the name of judge and fought many fighting terrorism, we must battles in which he underwent ask ourselves, are we better painful ordeals. In life, both off today or more advanced as an orphan and adult, he than our ancestors? underwent many hardships. The answer is simply, No. In spite of, this, he always Fourteen hundred and exhibited humility and tolerance. thirty years ago God He also made time to detach Almighty, ALLAH SWT sent himself from the hustle bustle of the Prophet Muhammad daily life and indulged in (owbp) and in a period of contemplation and meditation. twenty-three years, he was By this practice, he integrated able to change the conditions his physical aspect of his life of his society which were with spiritual activities. similar in almost every respect I therefore, on the to the one we are living in occasion of the birth presently. He did this with the anniversary the Holy Prophet message of the Quran and his Muhammad call on all beautiful conduct of living. Guyanese to reflect on the Each year, Muslims all message of the Holy Quran over the world celebrate with and the numerous examples joy, the birth of the Holy left by the Holy Prophet Prophet Muhammad (owbp) Muhammad (owbp). By and this celebration of the doing this we would be able Prophet’s birthday is known to change our lives and be to Muslims as Eid Milad un successful in this life and in Nabi or Youman Nabi. the life to come. In Guyana and many Fazeel. M. Ferouz countries in Africa, the President Middle East and the far east CIOG allowed anger and hatred to PNCR The People’s National determine his actions. We, in Guyana, can Congress Reform extends Youman Nabi Greetings not benefit from the legacy by only to our Muslim brothers using it as an instrument, not for promoting and sisters but to all onl y understanding among our Guyanese. Youman Nabi or Mawlid various ethnic, religious and al-Nabi or Eid-e-Milad, fixed social groups, but also, and at the 12th day of the month more importantly, for bringing of Rabi al-Awwal in the a healing towel to dilemmas Muslim calendar, is a and challenges which affect celebration of the Birth the nation as we usher in our Anniversary of the Holy 50th year as an independent Prophet Muhammad, the state. As we all celebrate founder of Islam. The day is marked by Youman Nabi 2015, we need sermons, recitation of litanies, to recommit ourselves to the honouring of religious achievement of the ideals of dignitaries, gift giving, and a a truly multi-cultural, multifeast. The occasion also ethnic and multi-religious serves as a reminder that society where there is unity whatever trials and tribulations in diversity. Happy Youman Nabi to all we face, the prophet of God faced even greater and yet he never Guyanese!
Detained Guyana rice to remain in ... From page 13 compared with the same period last year, but it has earned less on the market because of a significant drop in the world market price and also because one of its larger business partners, Venezuela, has stopped buying rice from there. In 2014, almost 30 percent of Guyana’s rice exports were to Venezuela, for which the country and the farmers were receiving higher than above
world market prices for the rice and paddy. Guyana earned US$480 per metric ton of paddy from Venezuela. For white rice, it now receives only between US $390 and US $398 per metric ton, compared to US $780 received for the same amount from Venezuela last year. Venezuela had notified Guyana from 2014 that it would no longer import its
rice, but the loss of this market was only made public when the government changed this past May. Since then, Guyana has endeavoured to look for new markets. Mexico is one of a few countries that have made agreements to import its rice. With an import demand for rice at a million pounds per year, Mexico is now one of Guyana’s larger business partners.
FITUG The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) representing the majority of Guyana’s registered trade union members joins the nation’s Muslim community in celebrating the Birth of Prophet Mohamed (On Whom Be Peace). This year ’s Islamic observance falls hours away from the Christians’ celebration of the Birth of their Messiah – the Baby Jesus, who was to become their spiritual savior and after whom an entire religion was named and founded. Whilst elsewhere in this world persons of one faith or tribe attack and harm people of different beliefs, Guyanese are blessed with the wisdom and tolerance to understand, to p a r t i c i p ate in and even celebrate both of these anniversaries in some way. May this phenomenon of peace and unity continue to prevail. The Holy Prophet (On Whom Be Peace) must be
disappointed at the stupendous loss of life and human displacement born of numerous conflicts now being waged in his part of the world and sometimes, allegedly, in his name. FITUG rejects that abuse for it mis-represents the very essence and foundation of Islam. The Prophet (On Whom Be Peace) taught the values and virtues of morality based on respect for others; on the principles of devotion to a Higher creator and the acts of kindness and practical consideration for the less fortunate. FITUG knows that those claiming to wage numerous wars in Islam’s name are themselves unfaithful to their faith. But Youman Nabi is happy anniversary. The Islamic community in Guyana is appropriately placed to be a catalyst for peace, unity and all-round progress. FITUG enjoins that community to live up to such ideals. Happy Youman Nabi 2015
GAWU The Islamic celebration of the birth of Prophet Mohamed (On Whom Be Peace) can fall at various times of any given year – early on or much later, as in this year 2015. The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) – the country’s largest trade union boasting hundreds of Muslim members and workers – joins in this reflective Birth Anniversary celebration. It must be noted that in the Prophet’s area of this world many of the virtues he preached – sacrifice, charity, peace, unity and understanding – are all seemingly in very short supply. Conflicts of all types beset countries surrounding the Prophet’s Birthplace. Refugees cry out for help holding on to the Prophet’s teachings to keep them alive and sane. May this Youman Nabi join envelop them and rid their leaders of intolerance and lust for pure power. Therefore, the Islamic community in Guyana has a lot to be thankful for and to celebrate at this time Youman
Nabi 2015. Some of our leaders preach social cohesion, peace, equality and economic fair-play and progress. That is what any society needs to survive and prosper. What is preached needs to be sincerely translated into action. In terms of social cohesion and peaceful coexistence in communities, our Muslim community has been exemplary – from their economic and commercial acumen engendering manufacturing and employment, to their characteristic charity. This year, of course, it does not escape GAWU and all Guyana that Youman Nabi is being celebrated on Christmas Eve – the day before Christians worldwide celebrate the Birth of their Jesus – the Son of God. Guyana is really unique to be able to enjoy these birth anniversaries of Hope in Peace. May all this continue into the New Year. Eid Mubarak! Happy Youman Nabi to Muslims and all Guyana from GAWU.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday December 24, 2015
IDB funding secured for critical surveys on crime, labour and living conditions Government, yesterday, took an important first step by crafting effective national and local responses to crime, domestic abuse and incidences of victimization, unemployment and living conditions. Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, signed three non-reimbursable technical cooperation agreements valuing US$1.3million ($268,450,000) with the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for the design and implementation of three surveys. These surveys will provide critical data for effective planning and policy making. The Crime and Victimization Survey, Labour Force Survey and Household Survey on Living Conditions will enable state agencies to improve their capacity to gather and analyze available social and economic data as well as monitor and evaluate the impact of government
policies and programmes. These are the first surveys of their kind in more than a decade, the Ministry of Finance said after the signing yesterday. Minister Jordan, during the signing, said that he was heartened by the agreements as very early in the life of the Government, a premium was placed on statistical data so that government policies and plans can be undertaken in a structured and more informed manner which in turn, will ensure that resources are optimally expended so that they bring the greatest benefits to the country. The grants will cover both expenses related to training the staff of the Bureau of Statistics and the actual execution of the surveys. Under the household survey of living conditions, information will be gathered on income, health, employment, educational
Sitting from left: Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, Sophie Makonnen, IDB Country Representative and a Rep. of IDB. Standing from left: Lennox Benjamin - Head of Bureau of Statistics; Sheranne Isaacs: Head Multilateral Institutions Financial Dept. MOF and Dr. Hector Butts: Finance Secretary MOF attainment and housing conditions. This data will allow for the calculation of poverty rates and income inequality.
CLEAR WATER or TRENCH WATER? The driver of this water delivery truck lost control and sent this vehicle into the trench along the Coldingen Public Road, yesterday. No one was hurt.
Information on unemployment and employment participation will be gathered under the labour force survey which will be conducted on a quarterly basis. The crime and victimization survey will examine perceptions on crime, violence, and domestic abuse
as well as the underlying issues of pervasiveness, underreporting, socioeconomic profiles, and geographic patterns. Sophie Makonnen, IDB Country Representative, said that the signing is the first of the 2016 support Guyana will receive from the bank. It is as a result of a collaborative
effort between the Ministry of Finance and the IDB. She pointed out that data on living conditions and unemployment are from 2006 and 2007 respectively. The surveys will address gaps and weaknesses that emerged during the past decade and will be executed within the next four years.
Labourer remanded for alleged robbery, escaping from police Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan remanded a labourer to prison yesterday, after he was brought before her to answer charges of escaping from lawful custody and robbery under arms. It is alleged that on September 22, last, at Georgetown, Kerry Cromwell, while armed with a broken bottle robbed Eon Hikel of a gold chain, Identification (ID) card among other personal items. Cromwell of 130 King
Edward Street, Albouystown, is also accused of escaping from lawful custody on October 2, while at the Ruimveldt Police Station. He was further accused of resisting arrest and assaulting a peace officer. To these charges, Cromwell pleaded not guilty and was remanded to prison until January 12, when he will appear before Magistrate Alex Moore. Attorney Ronald Daniels, who made a bail application
on behalf of the defendant, told the court that his client has no antecedents. However, Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones objected to bail citing the gravity of the charge. Jones told the court that Cromwell and the complainant reside in close proximity. Jones said that he fears the defendant might tamper with the prosecution’s witness and urged the court to deny pretrial liberty.
Public consultations to decide ...
Male nude, decomposing body found ... From page 3 noticed by an overseas-based Guyanese home for the festive season, while he was walking along the seawall about 8:00hrs. He called 911 but was allegedly told by the Police officer that he was onto the Kitty Police station, and that he needed to call the Alberttown Police station to file a report. He said he became furi-
ous and asked the police on the other side of the line, why she can't call the Alberttown Police Station since he is unaware of the number for the station. Eventually, another man who was walking along the seawall managed to get the attention of two traffic officers who in turn, summoned other police ranks to the scene.
While the body was discovered a stone's throw away from the 1823 monument, the security guard on duty said he couldn't be concerned with what was happening on the seawall, as he was not on duty when the body was discovered and neither is it any of his business. The police is said to be investigating.
From page 14 years with production falling to a two-decade low and targets continually missed, despite billions pumped annually to prop the industry. With an estimated 16,000 workers, GuySuCo is struggling with production costs double the price it is selling for. The David Granger administration, since taking office in May, sacked the entire GuySuCo Board of Directors and its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Raj Singh, appointing a CoI which findings would have helped map the way forward for the industry. This year, for the first time
in more than a decade, the industry has managed to surpass its annual target. Sugar production as of yesterday stood at 229,215 tonnes, surpassing the projected target of 227,443 tonnes. For the second crop, four estates - Skeldon, Albion, Blairmount and Uitvlugt exceeded their production targets with the Skeldon factory recording its highest output since its commissioning. It is anticipated that there will be no canes carried over into the first crop of 2016. The Skeldon factory performed creditably during the second crop and the
average throughput was 230 tonnes cane per hour which is a marked improvement from previous levels, the Ministry of Agriculture reported yesterday. The Ministry also reported that the World Market Price (WMP) for raw sugar continues to be way below the levels of two to three years ago, and impacted negatively on the price GuySuCo obtained from sugar sales. Sugar production for 2016 is projected at 242,287 tonnes, a five per cent increase over the 2015 production. Grinding operations for the first crop will commence at the end of January.
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
Take precautionary measures to prevent Zika virus - says Health Ministry The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is reminding Guyanese to adopt all of the necessary precautionary measures to avoid the contraction of the Zika virus, which is transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Polynesiensis mosquitoes. Zika disease is a member of the Flaviviridae virus family and the flavivirus genus. In humans, it causes a disease known as “zika” (pronounced zee-kuh), “Zika disease” or Zika fever. Zika is related to dengue yellow fever, west nile and Japanese encephalitis. Symptoms of the Zika virus include fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, rash and sometimes swelling of the limbs. Some persons may also experience vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. According to information released from the Health Ministry, in order to control the spread of the Aedes Aegypti and Aedes Polynesiensis mosquitoes, persons should conduct systematic searches in and around their environment for any stored, exposed body of water and remove these sources of mosquito breeding. Natural substances, household insecticidal sprays, coils, candles, among other things, can assist in reducing the presence of mosquitoes around the home. Screening of windows, doors and other openings along with closing-up in the evening can also aid in
Berbice Bridge robbed
The Aedes Aegypti mosquito reduction of mosquitoes in the home. Additionally, persons should rid their environs of tyres, punch holes in discarded containers, properly cover containers with stored and drinking water, pour a little oil in contained water for domestic use, and change water regularly in vases, pet containers and plant saucers. The MoPH continues to take all precautionary measures to ensure that the Zika Virus does not enter Guyana and health officers are on guard to identify any cases. The Health Ministry outlined that in order to prevent the entry of the Zika Virus into Guyana; persons should avoid unnecessary travel to places where the virus is known to be present. If they must travel to these areas, then all precaution must be taken against being bitten by mosquitoes. Persons, who travel to Guyana should inform the Port Health Authority at the airport, seaport or land
Last minute shopping ... From page 22 sometimes it does spoil... “I used to go and buy lettuce and bora and so...When I open the bag when I reach home – because when you getting it cheap you don't check – the lettuce wasn't good, it spread open the inside was brown and had thing like fruit worms... I couldn't go back because it was already late...People does be buying out all the fresh greens too...” she said. Acting Chief Inspector of the Food and Hygiene Section of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) , Deonarine Arjune, yesterday that they are currently in the process of inspecting however, since their work force is limited he is asking that consumers play their part in ensuring that foods especially meat, display the relevant “stamps”. “We are asking that when consumers purchase meat, especially beef and pork, to ensure that it has stamps that show “M&CC or TC (Town Clerk) fit...We have also done some inspections (grocery storage) of large businesses where we inspected their
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bonds, cold storage, expiration dates of items... ” Arjune stated. While there were some issues relating the stacking of products both dry and cold, Arjune said that the overall preparedness by business owners – that were inspected – was “satisfactory”. Director of the Guyana Analyst – Food and Drugs Department (GA-FDD) Marlon Cole is advising that consumers be on the lookout for falsified products; to take an extra look at labels and packages before buying. He also pointed out that consumers should pay extra attention to dairy products such as repackaged milk powder to reduce the risk of possible food poisoning. While it is difficult to expedite the GA-FDD efforts to ensure that quality products are available for consumption, Cole sated that it difficult and challenging therefore, consumers must take all the necessary precautions to ensure that they get value for their money.
crossing or contact the nearest health facility, if they had symptoms of fever within the last week. The necessary advice and follow up care would be provided. Some mosquitoes bite during the day also, so using repellants and wearing protective clothing can help prevent bites. Particularly, the MoPH is advising that all pregnant women and children must sleep under a mosquito net. The Zika virus causes some abnormalities in developing fetuses so it is now strongly recommended that all pregnant women avoid being bitten. Persons who experience any of the symptoms, including fever are advised to seek medical advice at the nearest health facility or call the Ministry of Public Health on 226 5124 or 226 1224 or email cmoguyana@gmail.com.
A BBC vehicle parked at the Central Police station yesterday. The Berbice River Bridge may very well be rethinking its decision to lower their fare after the company was hit with a $5M robbery on Wednesday. The take included both cash and cheques. Reports are that around 06:00 hrs on Wednesday, operatives at the De Edward, West Bank Berbice River end of the bridge were in the process of making a deposit at the nearby Republic Bank when they were robbed by a lone gunman with a hand gun. According to Chief Executive Officer of the Berbice Bridge Company, Omadatt Samaroo, the
Supervisor was in the vicinity of the Republic bank and had just exited the vehicle to make a deposit into the safety deposit box when a lone bandit appeared and pointed a gun to her head and demanded she hand over the cash that was in two night deposit bags. The man grabbed the bags from the startled employee, jumped the bank fence and escaped in the nearby cane fields. It is not sure if the BBCI staff was accompanied by any security detail, however people in the vicinity stated that none was available. It was a regular practice
by the BBCI not to have security details accompany their employees when they are depositing money. It is understood that security details at the Bank who are usually unarmed scampered for cover, some hiding under tables when they saw the man with the gun. The matter was reported to the police who responded promptly and scoured the area. A man was subsequently nabbed in the vicinity and is in custody. He is said to have been seen with a change of clothes. Investigations are continuing.
Larparkan working to ensure customers collect barrels, packages before tomorrow Employees of Larparkan Shipping have been putting in the extra hours of work, to ensure that customers receive their packages and barrels before Christmas Day. The Christmas Season is the highest point of business for many companies during the year and the shipping corporation is no different. Speaking from the Lombard Street, Georgetown office, yesterday General Manager of Laparkan Freight Forwarding Division, Rohan Beekhoo, the department has adapted its “peak season readiness plan” to tailor operations to suit in the busy season. He said that the plan aids the process and allows for a smooth flow of cargo distribution during the peak season. Additionally, Beekhoo said that the department has been open to the public, for at least two hours past the regular working hours each day leading up to Christmas, to facilitate costumers. The General Manager said that thousands of Guyanese have since cleared countless gift packages and barrels at Larparkan. The cargo
originated mainly from the Diaspora in North America and other parts of the Caribbean. Kaieteur News understands that the shipments that are popular at this time of year, are mostly of a personal nature- the barrels and boxes are filled with food stuff, clothing, toys, toiletries and over-the-counter health-care items - commercial consignments were dealt with in earlier months. The Department Head noted however, that there have been “no delays or hiccups,” with the cargo, so far. He explained that
Customs officers have also been on location to conduct the examinations and to ensure that the consignments are in keeping with the rules of the Guyana Revenue Authority, (GRA). Over the past decade, Laparkan has expanded its Freight Service to cater for shipping by air and ocean. The company has also expanded the Courier Service, and now caters to online shoppers. Laparkan offers financial services, as well. Owing to the wide array of services offered, Beekhoo
said that Laparkan’s client base has increased significantly over the years. “Laparkan offers premium costumer service, the best rates and is reliable- we work to ensure that customers get their packages delivered in time… we want to ensure that people’s cargo is available to them, in time for Christmas, “said Beehkoo As such, the General Manager noted that the Freight Forwarding Division will be open from 8:00 -11:00 am today to facilitate customers who are yet to collect their packages.
Miner remanded to prison on attempted murder charge A miner from Mahdia will be spending Christmas behind bars after he was remanded to prison after making an appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on a charge of attempted murder. Brian Williams, 23, who resides at Mahdia, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on December 20, at Prince Village, Potaro River, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Troy
Daniels with intent to murder. The Magistrate remanded him to prison. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, objected to bail for the accused. He told the court that the defendant tried to take a life. He cited the seriousness of the offence. The Prosecutor also told the court that Williams provided the Police with falsified information about his address. Williams will another Court appearance on January 18 at the Mahdia Magistrates’ Court.
Brian Williams
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Kaieteur News
VACANCY Porters and salesgirls, apply @ D. Singh & Sons – Call: 226-1316; 691-0230
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@ y a h o o . c o m . Call: 2256496, 662-6045 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 2310655; 683-8734. Omar Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezersCall:629-4946 or 225-4822 REPAIRS & SPARE, FRIDGE, FREEZER, A/C, WASHERS, STOVES – CONTACT NICK: 6831312, 627-3206 INNOVATIVE MARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. Desmond Repair Services Fridge, AC, gas stove, microwave, washer, etc on the spot repairs –Call: (592)6788683; 687-9709
WANTED Damage batteries in any quantity, best price offeredCall: 696-5728, 656-2783, 6225941, 648-9395, 223-1111 Attractive female bartender to work in Trinidad 30TTD/hr. Contact Deborah Batson +868-326-0821/ email:debra_batson@ yahoo.com
PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
Qualified Accounts, bond clerks, drivers @ Rosignol, Bond clerks & drivers @ Melanie- Call: 330-2399; 3302772; 623-5920
Computer genius needed to work in private business organization, attractive salary -$80,000 per month- Call: 6857064
Accounts Clerk: Requirements: 5 CXC subjects, computer literate, MS Office, 2yrs experienced. Email:shellramsburg@gmail. com, A&B Ramsburg Providence.
Experienced cashier at American Variety Store, Lot 140 Regent & Light Streets. Call: 225-1864
Experienced and mature pharmacy assistant and general cashier/staff to work in Pharmacy. Call: 661-3124; 675-8790
Experienced Pastry Make/ Cake Decorator, Driver, Counter Server, Roti Cook. Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, Parfaite Harmonie, Uitlugt, East Coast area –Call: 611-7223; 604-2207
Night Security- send application to: P.O. Box 10109, Georgetown, by 8th January, 2016.
Truck Driver to work in G/ town –Call: 218-1156 FOR RENT
TO LET 2 Bedrooms apartment in a healthy & safe environment –Call: 698-6496 2 Bedrooms apartment for rent at Lot 7 Durban Street Lodge -$45,000 monthly – Call: 690-5796 Rooms in Albertown and apartment in Eccles–Call: 225-3234
CAR RENTAL
Full & Part time & Seasonal, local & international work available, training provided $5,000 plus daily – Call: 6221957/ 233-6517, www.jobfairworldwide.com
Eccles apartment; fully furnished, includes: A/C, Cable, internet, studio, etc, (short term) –Call: 2332770 One two bedrooms house, water tank, parking space – Call Joy: 218-1285; 649-9059
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 2 Storey @ Robb Street Building, top flat furnished, 3 bedrooms apartment for living/office/storage, bottom flat for business-Call: 2272454 One 3 bedrooms apartment, one master room, two bathrooms, kitchen, dining, laundry rooms. Call: 671-1474 Top flat, 2 bedrooms @ East Street opposite Balwant Singh Hospital, no children. Call: 227-6776; 667-3062
Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494
SALON
VEHICLE FOR SALE
-Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline. -Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257
One Honda CRV, immaculate condition –price $1,650,000Call: 626-2884
PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461. 2 storied transported concrete property- upstairs: 2 bedrooms apartment, downstairs: 2 bedroom apartment, block ‘8’ MonRepos, E.C.D -$19M neg. Call: 625-1514; 231-7255 Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street Bourda, between Albert & Oronoque Streets -Call: 227-6817; 624-7341; 226-5183 Business & residential property @ EBD Public Road, all amenities including security camera & grilled, best cash offer accepted – Call: 684-2119 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244
LAND FOR SALE Providence house lots, size 50ftX100ft -$7M –Call: 6002031; 233-5535 Parfaite Harmonie -$1M, $1.5M, Dairy – (100ftX50ft fenced)-$2.8M, Zeelugt (High Income) -$1.8M –Call: 604-2207; 611-7223
Apartments @ Nandy Park, free WiFi, fully tiled & renovated -$90,000 negotiable – Call: 227-5194 1 Two bedrooms apartment next to UG, young couple, UG students or foreigners, no children-Call: 222-3896; 660-6416
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807
Thursday December 24, 2015
FOR SALE/RENT American Pools table-Call: 277-0578
Registered for Phonics, Reading, Spelling etc, classes for all ages, private tutoring also offered –Call: 675-4379
Toyota 2 RZ BTT Series, power window, sunroof, TV, fog, mint condition, owner leaving country- $1.6MCall: 612-6121 Toyota Dyna (enclosed), never registered, lift gate (hydraulic), back camera, excellent condition, low mileage -$2.6M –Call: 629-4494 Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, Bluebird, 212, IST, Fielder, Spacio- Call: 6523820/ 665-4529 One Axela Mazda -$1.550 negotiable, one Nissan Titan, one Audi A4; all vehicles in excellent condition-Call: 6653038; 226-4356 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 Mitsubishi Canter for sale; GTT series, next to new – Call: 611-5354; 615-4728, price reasonable AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 Toyota Raum, L-Touring Wagon, AT192, EP71 Starlet, Nissan 4 Door pickup, Yamaha R1 & R6, Honda 600RR-Call: 644-5096; 6971453 Noah & Voxy in ‘G’ series, fully loaded, never registered -$1.7M –Call: 617-2891 Holiday Discounts!! Get a gift with the purchase of unregistered: Allion, Bluebird, Axela Fielder, Etc @ City Motors -Call: 626-7478 Honda Accord, 2003, leather, TV, DVD, radio, 35,000km, like new, price negotiableCall: 689-1194 Unregistered Fielder Wagon, fully loaded, rims, camera, bodykit, HID, dark interior-Call: 617-5536
ACCOMMODATION Inner Retreat Hotel Restaurant & Bar, Retreat Road Parika. Indoor / Outdoor bar in Picturesque setting – Phone: 260-4504; 685-6934
EDUCATIONAL
1 New model Raum: A/C, TV, Mags, PMM series, excellent condition never work hire $1.350M- Call: 619-1047
Saturdays & Sundays after lunch @ Inner Retreat Hotel Parika: Bar-B-Que & games: pools, darts, table tennis etc – Phone: 260-4504.
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Crazy Deals: Dell/HP desktop & laptop computers from -$49,000, free games & educational programs @ FutureTech: 231-2206 Hobart Bread Mixer for sale -$3.4M, in good condition with accessories, price negotiable –Call: 696-9399 1 Leyland DAF 55 Truck, excellent condition, seldom used since arrival, owner migrating –Call: 675-4287; (evening) 233-5454 PS3 -$35,000, XBOX360 $25,000, XBOX one-$100,000, plastic barrel -$4,000 - Call: 621-7497; 603-8643 CAT 930- Front End Loader, CAT D4H bulldozer, 9wheeled Pneumatic, Roller – Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 Leyland DAF 55 Dump Truck, CAT 320 BL excavator. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc Call: 225-9032, 647-2943 1 –XBOX one with 2 controllers, kinect, black ops 111 & mortal Kombat X, perfect Christmas Gift. Call: 683-8386 AMERICANBULLY DOGS, REMYLINE & GOTTILINE - CONTACT HARRY: 6100068 / 220-7933, WHATSAPP: 667-4845 Pure bred pit-bull pups for sale –Contact Lisa: 697-8867 Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, Tibetan Terriers & Dachshund – Call: 6806426 50% Sales on Clothing at Courtney’s Boutique, Stall “A” Bourda Market- Call: 227-3407 VEHICLE FOR SALE Unregistered Toyota Premio 2007, push start, reverse camera -$3.1M negotiable, Honda Ridgeline, 4 door extra cab-Call: 655-3400 Toyota Fortuner 2012 yearCall: 624-6702
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Foundation for Umana Odyssey Transport spreads Yana completed Christmas cheer to hundreds - next phase to begin early 2016
The completed foundation works for the Umana Yana. The re-construction of the Umana Yana, a site of significant importance to Guyana’s indigenous peoples, is moving apace, to the extent that the foundation has been completed one month ahead of schedule. Kieraj Bissessar, Project Engineer from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure disclosed that the project will now be handed over to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs early in January for the implementation of the next phase of work. Contractor, R.P. Construction, was hired for the foun-
dation works of the Umana Yana which totalled $7.135M. This was to be completed in two months. While the foundation was raised to approximately 12 inches to prevent possible future flooding, it is the plan to install solar electrical distribution and cooling systems, along with a sprinkler system. The new benab will be constructed using traditional methods by members of the Wai Wai tribe with materials being supplied by the villages of Masakenari and Moraikobai. The Umana Yana was erected in August of
1972, as a VIP Lounge and Recreation Centre. The palmthatched benab was erected for the Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Guyana. The 55-foot high coneshaped benab was constructed by Amerindians of the Wai Wai tribe from thatched allibanna and manicole palm leaves, and wallaba posts lashed together with mukru, turu and nabbi vines. The Umana Yana was destroyed in 2014 by fire believed to have been of electrical origin.
Guyana earns less from rice... From page 8 preferential prices. Hassan also touched on the Mexican rice deal. Though not the first time Mexico has taken Guyana’s rice, the re-initiation of the trade agreement between the two countries was touted by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. According to Hassan, all the requisite information required by the Mexican parties has been provided and is currently being reviewed. He expressed optimism that by the first quarter of 2016, all issues relating to sanitary protocols will be finalized and export can begin.
Hassan added that the possibility exists that in 2016; there would be a small reduction in the volume of rice cultivated per acre. Hassan put this development down to the weather. Many in the rice industry had projected even worse numbers of farmers moving away from the industry, as they continue to struggle with high production costs and little money to show for it. “Once we get good weather in the first crop, we have projected that the growth that this industry has been experiencing over the past few years will continue,” Hassan said, “as well as maintaining and
expanding markets.” Co-Chairman of the Rice Producers Association (RPA), Jinnah Rahaman, also gave some insight into the present rice situation. According to Rahaman, the next rice crop is expected to see a marked drop in production. “A significant number of rice farmers in Essequibo and other parts of the country have not been able to cultivate their lands due to low prices,” Rahaman, who also sits on the board of the GRDB, said. Rahaman also asserted that farmers are very upset about the loss of the Venezuelan market.
The connection between... From page 5 am sure were undoubtedly tied to the poverty-stricken conditions that have enveloped this country. One might rightly question, given the fact that we are all in the same boat why we are all not committing suicide? However, it must be noted that while we are all in the same boat many of us are on different decks: i.e. there are individual differences. There are those who can cope and there are those who are incapable of coping due to biological, social and psychological differences. Those incapable of coping resort to alcoholism and suicide as escape routes. This is maladaptive. The Hindus of Indo-Guyanese descent fall right into this category. Surely, when the Hindus run into insurmountable stress and are incapable of coping they resort to ramp up booze or commit suicide. This is
clearly evident in society. So stress coupled with maladaptive coping strategies is buckling the Hindus into suicide and driving up the statistics. There is no need to kid ourselves that hiding pesticides, ropes and other methods used to commit suicide will address this problem. This strategy isn’t going to get us anywhere. Folks who are stressed will find a way to seek out alternative options of killing themselves. It gets even more ridiculous when we enlist police officers to tackle this problem. What we need are social workers, psychologists, clergymen and politicians whose priorities are to create jobs, increase educational opportunities and create safety nets for those who are being drowned by social pressures. Stress needs to be significantly minimizing to put a dent into the massive suicide rate. Dr. Cecil Dilip Kumar
Last Sunday, more than 1000 children from Parika and Meten-Meer-Zorg were treated to toys and goodies as Odyssey Transport Services hosted their Annual Christmas party. The party was held at the company’s wharf in Parika.Manager of the company, Troy Khan told Kaieteur News that the company will continue to do charitable works in the commu-
nity. He said that many children are not fortunate to be presented with a toy around this joyous season and stated that the company will continue to put smiles on their faces. He pointed out that the party continues to get bigger and better every year. The event is spearheaded by CEO, Feroze Barakat.
Another $12B earmarked for... From page 9 want to see the production going up and that attention is paid to worker conditions etc, we also want to see the industry start making profits so it can pay its debt and not go under because of its indebtedness.” He admitted that taxpayers are basically subsidizing GuySuCo. Many, especially those in the sugar industry, remain concerned about the findings of the COI set up to examine the sugar industry; government remains tightlipped, refusing to let out any detail. Back in November, some six weeks after the report was released, Cabinet finally decided to set aside time to examine the findings. The report was late in itself, since the commissioners had asked for additional time to complete its
work. Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder had said that it would be premature for him to make any pronouncement relating to the report before it reaches Cabinet. The Minister indicated that following Cabinet’s perusal of the report, a decision will be made at the next Cabinet meeting as to the way forward. But that did not happen. Instead, Kaieteur News is now hearing that at least two other retreats will be required. The government had said that a COI was urgent and many were of the opinion that implementation of the recommendations would have been equally important. Chairman of the COI Vibert Parvatan presented the Commission’s findings to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, George Jervis on October, 17.
Parvatan had told Kaieteur News that he accepts the harsh reality that whatever has been recommended will certainly not meet the expectations of all as, “there will be persons who are not satisfied.” The Chairman noted that there were political sensitivities to the subject given its importance, relevance and significance to Guyana and its people. He explained that the report includes an executive summary, the special technical subcommittee reports, a section on Human Resource and industrial relations, and finance and economics. There are also sections on factories, fields and marketing. Parvatan had declined to speak on the actual findings of the report, stating that due process has to be followed.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday December 24, 2015
C’bean countries warned to look for alternative sources of oil post-PetroCaribe BASSETERRE, St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): Caribbean countries are being warned about the possibility of having to look to alternative sources of oil, after the recently elected opposition coalition in Venezuela announced it will review agreements under the PetroCaribe energy agreement. These countries include the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) states, which obtain Venezuelan oil on concessionary terms. Prior to the recent parliamentary elections in Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro during a trip to St Vincent and the Grenadines stressed that PetroCaribe was more than just an energy pact. “There should be no doubt in our minds that PetroCaribe today is the backbone of the energy, social and economic development of our region,” he said. The Venezuelan president now has to contend with a parliamentary majority in Caracas intent on taking a critical look at PetroCaribe. One leading parliamentarian, Tomas Guanipa, the re-elected deputy to the National Assembly is quoted as saying that Venezuela’s oil is for Venezuelans. “We cannot continue selling oil in 20 years when we are in need of immediate resources. We will promote that our oil is for Venezuelans,” he said. Antigua-based analyst Arvel
Grant told WINN FM that PetroCaribe has made a significant impact on the region. “PetroCaribe is a fundamental part of the reason most of the Caribbean economies have survived the crisis that we’ve all gone through over the past eight years,” Grant contended. “I think that any significant change in the way it is configured now will probably cause some significant difficulty for most of the economies,” he said. Vincentian Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves says while PetroCaribe is important to Kingstown, the country does have other options. “By the end of 2018 I expect to have 80 percent of the electricity in this country generated by renewable energy,” Gonsalves explained. Along with Cuba and the Dominican Republic, ten of the countries of the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have signed on to the PetroCaribe agreement. They include Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Kitts and Nevis. St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris has been saying that PetroCaribe is important to the federation, and any watering down of the arrangement would impact in a negative way. (Caribbean News)
Venezuela opposition says Socialists seek to challenge 22 new lawmakers CARACAS (Reuters) Venezuela’s opposition Tuesday accused the ruling Socialist Party of seeking to block 22 lawmakers from taking office in January in what it described as an effort to undermine the opposition’s commanding victory in this month’s legislative election. However, Venezuela’s Supreme Court put out a statement late Tuesday evening saying that no judicial action had been received with the objective of challenging election results. Since the opposition won a two-thirds majority in the Dec. 6 legislative vote, the government of President Nicolas Maduro has set up a parallel grassroots assembly and said it will tap new Supreme Court judges before the new National Assembly convenes in January. The head of the opposition coalition, Jesus Torrealba, said the Socialist Party had filed a request to the Supreme Court that they
Jesus Torrealba
prevent the lawmakers from taking office on Jan. 5, when the next Congress convenes. “Today they want to win in the halls of bureaucracy what they couldn’t win with the votes of the people,” said Torrealba during a news conference, flanked by leading opposition figures, including two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles. “With this attitude, opposing the will of the people, they’re losing what little legitimacy they had.” Torrealba did not say which deputies would be pre-
vented from taking office, nor on what grounds the Socialist Party was lodging the legal challenge. The Socialist Party were not immediately available for comment. Contesting election results in Venezuela generally involves making appeals to the National Electoral Council to allege irregularities at polling stations that could have altered results or formally challenging the vote tallies used to determine the winners. Maduro has not announced plans to mount a challenge via the electoral authority. He has instead called for an investigation into what he called large numbers of null votes, and one party leader has called on prosecutors to investigate alleged vote buying by opposition activists.
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
Amnesty says Russian bombing of Syria may be a war crime
Residents inspect a damaged site from what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in Nawa city, Deraa, Syria, November 21, 2015. (REUTERS/ALAA AL-FAQIR) Russia’s bombing of Syria has killed many civilians and may amount to a war crime, Amnesty International said yesterday, presenting what it said was evidence that Moscow’s actions had violated humanitarian law. “Russian air strikes in Syria have killed hundreds of civilians and caused massive destruction in residential areas, striking homes, a mosque and a busy market, as well as medical facilities, in...attacks that show evidence of violations of international humanitarian law,” Amnesty said in a report. Russia’s Defence Ministry strongly rejected the allegations, saying the Londonbased rights group’s report was full of “cliches and lies”. The Kremlin began its campaign of air strikes against militants in Syria on Sept. 30, saying it wanted to help the Kremlin’s main Middle East ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, defeat Islamic State and other militant groups. It has repeatedly and forcefully denied targeting civilians, saying it takes great care to avoid bombing residential areas. But the Amnesty report, whose charges echoed those of some Syrian and Western
observers, said Russian air strikes had killed “at least 200 civilians and around a dozen fighters” up to Nov. 29. “Such attacks may amount to war crimes,” said Philip Luther, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Amnesty International. Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Defence Ministry, told a news briefing in Moscow that the Amnesty report contained “fake information.” “The conflict in Syria has been going on for almost five years. Around 300,000 people are estimated to have become
its victims. It’s strange that Amnesty International avoids a question about who committed war crimes in Syria before the appearance of a Russian air force group there,” he said. Amnesty has in fact been issuing reports on abuses by various parties in the Syrian civil war since it broke out in 2011. It said the latest one, which focused on six attacks in Homs, Idlib and Aleppo, was based on interviews with witnesses and survivors, as well as on video evidence and images showing the aftermath of attacks.
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Thursday December 24, 2015
U.N. council backs Libya peace China says in advanced talks deal, no Western air strikes sought with U.S. on five graft suspects
The U.N. Security Council yesterday endorsed a U.N.brokered agreement among Libya’s warring factions to form a national unity government, a deal Western powers hope will bring stability and help to combat a growing Islamic State presence. Libya’s U.N. ambassador, Ibrahim Dabbashi, said Libyan authorities have no
plans to request Western air strikes against Islamic State militants anytime soon, if at all. He dismissed media reports citing him as saying the resolution would lead to a swift Libyan appeal for Western military intervention. The unanimously adopted resolution, drafted by Britain, made clear that Libya’s future unity govern-
ment should be the sole representative for the North African country, where competing governments have long vied for power. Four years after Muammar Gaddafi’s fall, Libya is deeply fractured, with a self-declared government in Tripoli and an internationally recognized one in the east, each backed by coalitions of former rebels and militias. Hardliners in both Libyan factions reject the peace deal. The resolution said the council welcomed the formation of the so-called Presidency Council in Libya and urged it to a form a unity government within 30 days as called for in last week’s agreement. It also urged the Presidency Council to finalize interim security arrangements necessary for bringing stability to Libya and called on U.N. member states to “respond urgently to requests for assistance” from Libya’s unity government. This did not mean Libya wanted U.S., British, French or other countries conducting bombing sorties against Islamic State militants in Libya.
The Chinese government is in advanced talks with the United States on repatriating five of China’s most wanted corruption suspects and will hand over whatever evidence is needed by its U.S. counterparts, Chinese state media said yesterday. In April, China published a list of 100 of its most wanted corruption suspects who have been targeted with an Interpol red notice, many living in the United States, Canada and Australia. About 18 have been recovered so far this year. China’s efforts have long been hampered by Western nations that balk at signing extradition deals, partly out of concern about its judicial system and use of torture and the death penalty. China is currently seeking U.S. judicial help in repatriating the five, four of whom are still at large, to face trial in China, the official China Daily quoted an unnamed official with the graft-fighting Central Commission for Discipline Inspection as saying. “We are negotiating with our U.S. counterparts on the five major corrupt fugitives, including Yang Xiuzhu, who is suspected of illegal immigration and is in custody awaiting deportation proceedings,” said the official. “And we have decided to conduct joint investigations of the major cases.” Yang has filed for asylum in the United States. The report did not name the other four suspects.
The official said the United States had asked China to provide more evidence to help with their investigation. “We are in advanced negotiations with U.S. judicial authorities on the five major cases, including Yang’s, and will exchange information in a timely manner and offer necessary evidence to the U.S. judicial authorities for further investigation,” he added, without providing details. A spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department said that at recent law enforcement meetings, Chinese officials agreed to provide evidence regarding priority fugitive cases so that U.S. law enforcement officials “could assess whether prosecution or removal of these individuals is appropriate.” The United States could only cooperate when a country provided sufficient evidence for U.S. law enforcement agencies to investigate cases in accordance with domestic laws, the spokeswoman, Katina Adams, said. “The United States does not politicize the removal process and all cases must work their way through the immigration system,” she said. Reuters has found that some of China’s most wanted are living openly in the United States and Canada. Last week, a top Chinese anti-graft official said corruption suspects who have fled abroad have been abusing legal systems of host countries to prolong their cases in what is a big challenge to China’s efforts to get them back.
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
PM rejects opposition claims of re-introducing income tax Daily Observer - Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris has “categorically” denied suggestions that his administration is moving to re-introduce income tax in St. KittsNevis describing the statement made by the Opposition Leader Dr. Denzil Douglas as “hysteria”. Douglas, responding to the EC$808.3 million (One EC dollar =US$0.37 cents) budget presented to Parliament earlier last week by Prime Minister Harris disagreed with the government’s projection that it gets a 40 per cent increase in revenue from taxes. Instead he told legislators that the Team Unity government was probably thinking of re-introducing personal income tax and that it cannot justify the projected increase while admitting that it had lost revenue from the Value Added Tax (VAT) because it had earlier been removed from food, medicine and funeral services. “The Ministry of Finance presented to the country …that income taxes are projected to increase by nearly 40 per cent or EC$15.9 million. And so I ask the other side …where will this increase come from in a period when total revenues would be falling an economic growth based on the projection of the
Dr. Timothy Harris IMF (International Monetary Fund) is likely to average a meagre 2.5 per cent,” Douglas said. But speaking on radio here, Harris said I categorically deny it as nonsense, it’s hysteria. “It is a man who is paranoid having left the office of government and will chat every nonsense that he can to undermine the progress that we have made,” Prime Minister Harris told WINN FM. “The IMF (International Monetary Fund) has said that the economy has enough buffer and we do. We recorded a surplus for 2015. We are on target to achieve another remarkable growth, so growth
is continuing, 4.6 per cent. “I could tell you now the Social Security in 2015 is going to exceed its target. It had projected about EC$82 million in contributions, it is now targeted to achieve some EC$90 million, so every indicator is that the economy is strong and resilient.” He said the economy is doing well and there is no need to bring back personal income tax and dismissed suggestions by Douglas that the fiscal package is a continuation of his administration policies. “The truth is the budget reflects our priorities, our agenda for going forward,” he added.
Panama’s supreme court orders former president detained in US PANAMA CITY, Panama — The Supreme Court of Justice of Panama, in a joint order, has directed that the country’s former president, Ricardo Martinelli, be detained in the United States and held without bond, pending his extradition to Panama. Martinelli has a dozen cases pending against him in Panama City, the most prominent being his illegal electronic surveillance program, which spied upon 150 of Panama’s most powerful leaders, wealthy businessmen, and their wives, which most Panamanians found extremely distasteful, and regard as an espionage operation, directed against the people of Panama Martinelli, who has been living openly in Miami of late, reportedly expressed anger at the Supreme Court action; his attorneys have been attempting to interpose every technical legal roadblock possible, in a futile effort to delay the cases, including Martinelli’s bogus appointment to the
Ricardo Martinelli Central American Parliament, and denying that he has received proper notice of the proceedings. Martinelli is rumoured to be a cooperating individual for a US law enforcement agency and whether Panamanian pressure to extradite a corrupt leader trump his alleged deal with the United States to face justice in his native Panama remains an
open question. Kenneth Rijock is a banking lawyer turned-career money launderer (10 years), turned-compliance officer specialising in enhanced due diligence, and a financial crime consultant who publishes a Financial Crime Blog. The Laundry Man, his autobiography, was published in the UK on 5 July 2012. (Caribbean News)
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Thursday December 24, 2015
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Dr. Ashni Singh, Dr. Luncheon just as Don’t pay bribe, culpable in NICIL’s dealings - Gaskin take the ticket
Financial Analyst, Ramon Gaskin
Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh
Former NICIL Director, Dr. Roger Luncheon
Financial Analyst, Ramon Gaskin, has said that former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, and former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, are both culpable. They served as officials on the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) board. According to Gaskin, while NICIL Chief Executive Officer, Winston Brassington, carried out Cabinet’s bidding, Dr. Roger Luncheon served as a Director on the NICIL Board. In addition, Dr. Ashni Singh served as Chairman of the Board. Gaskin noted that they all carried out the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration’s policy and thus the buck must stop not only at the officials, but also at the former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Cabinet responsible for them. Since the launch of the
forensic audit into NICIL, several breaches of the country’s financial regulations were flagged. The report on the forensic audit had implicated Brassington as committing some of those acts, but it had also named Dr. Singh, and Dr. Luncheon. The audit had stated that there was misuse of public money by both of these office holders. It had also highlighted that they played an important role, one way or another, in providing the conditions necessary for some of the questionable transactions that took place at NICIL. Other members of the former NICIL Board, as well as former Cabinet Ministers and officials were also flagged. Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, had commented on the report at the time. He had highlighted three sections of the Fiscal Man-
agement and Accountability Act (FM&AA) 2003 that were called into question. He had said that the audit justifies holding Singh and other members liable for misuse of public moneys as Section 48 of the FM&AA states that, “A Minister or official shall not in any manner misuse, misapply, or improperly dispose of public moneys.” A perusal of Section 85 outlines what can be deemed as the liability of an official. That section of the Act says that an official who, falsifies any account, statement, receipt or other record issued or kept for the purposes of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, the Regulations, the Finance Circulars or any other instrument made under the Act; conspires or colludes with any other person to defraud the State or make opportunity for any person to defraud the State; or knowingly permits any other
person to contravene any provision of this Act, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable on conviction to a fine of two million dollars and to imprisonment for three years. The report also speaks to the liability for loss of public moneys at NICIL as it refers to Section 49 of the Act, which says that if a loss of public monies should occur and, at the time of that loss, a Minister or official has caused or contributed to that loss through misconduct or through deliberate or serious disregard of reasonable standards of care, that Minister or official shall be personally liable to the Government for the amount of the loss. Sharma had confirmed that criminal charges were recommended against Brassington in relation to several cases of reported fraud and “financial lawlessness” which were found during the audit. Since the start of the audit, it has been shown that NICIL collected some $1.7B from the Guyana Water Authority, the Guyana Forestry Commission and the Guyana National Cooperative Bank (GNCB). This sum was supposed to be spent on constructing the Marriott hotel, but was instead kept in an account. In 2010, the then cabinet had also authorized NICIL to privatize state lands. The unit spent $200M developing prime sea front land, before parcels were sold to PPP Ministers and affiliates, at prices below the market value.
Guyana earns less from rice exports in 2015 - Despite increased exports By Jarryl Bryan Guyana’s rice industry has seen record breaking bumper crops in 2015, but according to figures released by the Ministry of Agriculture, there has been a significant decrease in money earned from these exports, compared to the corresponding period of 2014. During a press conference, yesterday, at the Ministry, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder revealed that the value of the rice exports that Guyana has got for 2015 is 15 percent lower than last year’s. For 2015, Guyana earned US$211.8M from rice exports, versus US$249.5M in 2014. As at December 16, 2015, paddy production stood at 1,051,563 tonnes. This is equiva-
lent to 683,516 tonnes of rice. The paradox comes as there have even been more exports for the period of January to December 16, 2015, than last year’s figures. According to the Ministry, up to December 16th, 2015, rice exports stood at 510,807 tonnes, while in 2014 exports were at 501,208 tonnes. According to Holder, the loss of the Venezuelan market contributed to this disparity. Last month, the Venezuelan oil for rice agreement with Guyana came to an official end. The former arrangement saw Guyana exporting rice to Venezuela at concessionary prices, with the money saved going to a PetroCaribe account. The money from the PetroCaribe account was
Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder
GRDB General Manager, Nizam Hassan used, among other things, for paying farmers in a timely manner. In the wake of the market’s loss, Government had identified several other target countries for Guyana’s
rice, inclusive of Mexico and Portugal. Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager, Nizam Hassan, revealed that the greater part of Guyana’s rice exports went to Europe. Europe actually filled the void created by the loss of the Venezuelan market, Hassan said. He did admit, however, that this was at world market prices and not at any (Continue don page 31)
- Top Cop urges
Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud has repeated the call for persons not to encourage corruption by offering his ranks bribes. The Top Cop had made the call last week while talking to reporters following the presentation of this year’s Best Cop award. Mr. Persaud said while corruption cannot be completely eliminated from an organization with the size of the Guyana Police Force, there are things that can be done to limit it. He said that his administration is very concerned about the perceived high level of corruption among members of the Guyana Police Force, hence the implementation of action to ensure accountability of ranks and to investigate unprofessional behaviour. “We are very concerned about corruption. And we know that there is no way we can have a Force of 5000 persons and don’t have people who will behave bad,” Persaud said. He made the point that corruption is a worldwide phenomenon that manifests itself not only in police forces, but every sector of society, and it’s a reality that has to be dealt with in a collective way. “So we could tell members of the public, ‘listen, a traffic man stops you for a violation and he asks you to leave a raise, ask him for your ticket, ask to go to court’. Don’t encourage it (corruption),” the Commissioner advised. But that is easier said than done as the Commissioner acknowledged. “A lot of times they (members of the public) are more often than not willing to pay the police. A lot of times they are making these offers. And so if you encourage a corrupt police force, that is how they
will respond to when matters are concerning you.” The Police Commissioner explained that once members of the public encourage corruption, they cannot expect members of the Force to remain professional on the streets. He referred to the leaner driver examination where it is believed, and rightfully so, that corruption is pervasive. Persaud said that a lot of thought and measures have been put into addressing that, since there were several allegations of corruption in the driver’s licence process. As a result of this, the force engaged its partners in the faithbased organizations, who have agreed to assist in invigilating the learner driver examinations. “We know that there was unprofessional behaviour, because in the first wave there were about 30 percent blank sheets collected. There were persons there who did not prepare to write that exam but they show up there believing that they would have passed the exam without writing it themselves,” Persaud said. He declared that the move has paid dividends, because persons are now ensuring that they prepare themselves for the exams, knowing that the system has changed and they can no longer pay a bribe to pass.
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Thursday December 24, 2015
Berbice Softball teams to participate 76ers maintain dismal record in Unity Cricket on January 30 following Grizzlies mauling
Four softball teams from Berbice will participate in the Legacy and 007 Promotions’ ‘Unity Cricket’ at the Providence Stadium on January 30. The Organizers have collaborated with corporate sponsors and received support from the Guyana Cricket Board and the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association. The event culminates with a galaxy of International stars competing under lights in a t20 game for the President’s trophy and $1 Million. Berbice Masters face-off with Demerara Masters (over 45s) in a 15-over affair for a winner’s prize of $150, 000 and a Demerara female team oppose Berbice with the winner of the 15-over game collecting $200,000. Two of Berbice’s top two teams, including Karibee Boyz, should provide a stern test for city sides Wolf Warriors and Regal in what promises to be two exciting semi-finals with the winners clashing for $500,000 and a trophy under lights in the final. This game will precede the t20 match which starts at 20:00hrs. The action begins at 11:00hrs with the first 10/10 semi-final between Wolf Warriors and one the of the Berbice teams before the second Semi-final between Regal and the other team from Berbice commences immediately after that game. The 10/10 final will start at 17:30hrs after a Demerara Masters Team face a Berbice Masters in a 15-over fixture and the Demerara
girls take on their counterparts from Berbice. Left-hander Wayne Jones, Ricky Deonarine and Lloyd Rooplall are expected to feature for the Demerara Masters, while Berbice Cricket Board’s President, the big hitting Anil Beharry should represent his home County although he now resides in the City, while Troy Kippins and John Sumir should play for Berbice. The Berbice girls will depend on West Indies female players Shemaine Campbell, Tremayne Smartt and Eva Giddings, while Demerara should have in their line-up Latoya Smith, Kavita Yadram and Haseena Mohamed. Regal’s Richard Latiff and Shien Gittens and Wolf Warriors’ Mark Harold and Amit Ria are expected be in action before the largest crowd they have played in front of since Berbice softball has a large following. An anticipated capacity crowd should also see players like Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Krismar Santokie, Riyad Emrit, Nick Pooran, Leon Johnson, Rajendra Chandrika, Chris Barnwell, Jonathon Foo, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Steven Jacobs, Raymond Reifer and Jevon Searles, compete against each other. The Organizers are expecting confirmation from two of most exciting t20 players in the world.
Thursday December 24, 2015 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) Try to stay calm and do the best you can. Leave your checkbook and credit cards at home. TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) Assist a relative or good friend by setting of a budget for them. Try to enlist the help of those you trust in order to fulfill the demands being made of you. GEMINI (MAY22-JUNE 21) Trips will be enjoyable, and communication with your lover will clear up any misconceptions. Those who have been too demanding should be put in their place or out to pasture.
LIBRA (SEPT. 24 -OCT. 23) Your emotional partner will push all the right buttons today. Travel will be favorable. Resist overspending on luxury items. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) You will accomplish the most in the work environment today. Try to be patient with their inability to accept your new beliefs. Go over their important documents and take the time to suggest alternatives. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Don't get intimately involved with a coworker. You can make successful moves. You can get a promotion if you put in a little extra detail.
CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) Sudden changes concerning coworkers may surprise you. Take the time to sort out your personal papers and double-check your financial investments.
CAPRICORN (DEC 22.JAN. 20) You will get along well with your colleagues today. Get out and about. Things at home may be somewhat rocky.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Abstain from getting involved with married individuals. Social activity should be on your agenda. Be aware that minor accidents or injury may prevail if you are preoccupied.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) Minor accidents could cause trauma and major setbacks. Hide your cards and learn to say no. Limitations will set in if you haven't followed the rules.
VIRGO (AUG. 23 -SEPT. 23) Relatives will want to get together. Be sure to look into travel opportunities that will provide you with mental stimulation.
PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Social events will be favorable. Problems with your partner are apparent. You will want to complain about the injustice that is going on.
(Reuters) Philadelphia became the first team to start an NBA season with 29 defeats in 30 games following a 10490 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, the 76ers dropping to 1-29 on the back of another thrashing. Coach Brett Brown highlighted turnovers as the main culprit for their shortcomings against Memphis, though the team’s problems appear to be on a far wider scale. “To just come down and
cough it up after you’ve played decent defence for most of the game...” Brown told reporters. “It’s deflating for them and what we’re trying to build.” The 76ers have attempted to rebuild through acquiring top draft picks following regular losing seasons but the plan has drawn heavy criticism and produced very few positive results. Philadelphia is the young-
est team in the NBA, with just one player older than 25, and that immaturity has been exposed both on and off the court. The team’s third overall pick in this past draft, Jahlil Okafor, has played well but was involved in a public altercation that was caught on camera earlier this year. Joel Embiid, the third overall selection of the 2014 draft for Philadelphia, has yet to debut in the NBA after undergoing foot surgeries.
Foo hammers unbeaten 67 in... From page 42 overs with Chris Barnwell and Vishaul Singh at the crease. Barnwell was his usual aggressive self and effortlessly pushed pacer Keon Joseph into the Rohan Kanhai stand before lofting him over mid-off for a one bounce boundary. Singh slapped Joseph, who was operating into very strong breeze from the bottom end, for four when he bowled too short and wide to the lefthander but left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul soon re-
moved Singh for 13 when he pulled a short ball to short mid-wicket. Barnwell was then bowled by pacer Romario Sheppard for 18. Royston Crandon and Foo were the next pair to bat and the inform Foo gave himself room and spanked Permaul to the point boundary as Crandon played the supporting role in the best put together partnership of the day. Foo, who helped Guyana snatch victory in the nail-biting final against Barbados,
hitting a 17-ball 42 under immense pressure in the inaugural CPL final to earn for them in a place in the 2010 Champions League tournament in South Africa, smashed Barnwell for three consecutive sixes; the second landing on Regent Street. Crandon (21) was caught and bowled by 20-year-old left arm spinner Gudakesh Motie as this pair reached 90-1 in 10 overs. Permaul and Anthony Bramble were the other two to bat yesterday before Sheppard sent Permaul’s offstump cart-wheeling in spectacular fashion.
Goalkeepers shine as Grove Hi Tech and Pouderoyen... From page 41 flawless from the spot. Captain Shermon Doris, Francois and John Matthews all sank their shots to send Grove through, breaking the hearts of the home team and supporters in the process. The evening’s opening match was also decided via penalty kicks and a similar 42 result in favour of West Demerara’s Pouderoyen over East Bank’s Soesdyke Falcons following a goalless stalemate in regulation and extra time. Both sides created a few chances but were unable to penetrate in each other’s attacking third. From the spot, Pouderoyen were perfect from the four kicks that they needed to seal their quarter final date with Grove Hi Tech. Marvin Frank, Deron Chilcott, Adrian Giddings and Delon Josiah were all spot on for Pouderoyen. On target for Soesdyke Falcons were Kelcey Benson and Larrey Steel, while missing the target as a result of goalkeeper Sherwin Bernard’s efforts were Alvin Adams and Andy Higgins.
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Pistons find range to No DRS until it becomes douse Heat in Miami ‘foolproof’ - Manohar
Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson (0) drives to the basket as Detroit Pistons guard Steve Blake (22) defends during the second half at American Airlines Arena. (Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports) Reuters (The Sports Xchange) - The Detroit Pistons have had their best long distance shooting performances against the Miami Heat so far this season. The Pistons made 15 3pointers Tuesday night and erased an early 18-point deficit in a 93-92 victory over the Heat at AmericanAirlines Arena. The outcome ironically came down to a pair of jumpers that the Heat missed. Heat guard Dwyane Wade had a chance to give the Heat (16-11) the lead in the closing seconds, but missed a pullup jumper that was rebounded by Pistons forward Andre Drummond with 1.9 seconds left. Drummond left the door open for Miami, however, when he missed two subsequent free throws. But Heat forward Chris
Bosh missed on an open look with a foot on the 3-point line at the buzzer as the shot bounced off the rim. A replay later showed that the shot would not have counted as time expired with the ball still on Bosh’s hand. Detroit (17-12) made a season-high 16 3-pointers in its first game against the Heat on Nov. 25 which resulted in a 104-81 victory. On Tuesday, the Pistons won their fifth game in their past six, largely by making seven triples in the second quarter as they outscored the Heat 36-18 following a 34-18 first quarter in favor of the Heat. After suffering its worst defeat of the season the last time it faced the Pistons, the Heat put an emphasis on starting strong. The Pistons entered the game shooting only 32.7 percent from 3-point range, but shot 15 of 29 (51.7
percent) after shooting 16 of 31 (51.6 percent) in their first meeting. Detroit made 10 3-pointers in the first half as guards Stanley Johnson and Miaminative Steve Blake each hit four. Guard Reggie Jackson led the Pistons with 18 points. Guard Kentavious CaldwellPope hit a 3 with 2:01 left in fourth to give the Pistons the lead and finished with 14 points. Johnson also finished with 14 points and Blake had 12. Drummond scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Bosh finished with 20 points and Wade had 19. Heat center Hassan Whiteside finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds. But contrary to the Pistons’ red-hot long-range shooting, Miami shot only four of 18 from 3-point range (22.2 percent).
Son of ex-IAAF chief Diack ready to testify - report Dakar, Senegal (AFP) — Papa Massata Diack, the son of former world athletics chief Lamine Diack, denied Tuesday any involvement in bribery or corruption and refuted claims he helped finance Senegalese president Macky Sall’s election campaign in 2012. Papa Diack, a former marketing consultant with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), said he was ready to “give evidence, but in Senegal”. “I’m in Senegal, where it’s (possible) to send a letter of request. I’m a Senegalese citizen, but not a French citizen,” Papa Diack said in an interview with Senegalese radio station RFM. “I’m absolutely calm. After the investigation, lots of surprises are going to be revealed. “People wanted to say we covered up doping
cases in exchange for secret payments. I never took part in financing (Senegalese political) rivals, in distributing money to them. “I never received any money from the hands of Valentin Balakhnishev,” he added, referring to the former Russian Athletics Federation president. Lamine Diack, 82, was arrested by French investigators last month and on Monday was hit with new corruption charges, having also been charged with corruption, money laundering and conspiracy. Just last week, he denied accusations in French newspaper Le Monde that he had received a donation from Russia of 1.5 million euros (US$1.6 million; £1.1 million) to help fund Sall’s presidential election campaign in 2012. Diack was quoted by Le Monde as saying that Balakhnishev, also an ex-IAAF treasurer, had made the payments to help fund Sall’s presidential election campaign.
ESPNcricinfo -Shashank Manohar, the BCCI president, has closed the door on the Decision Review System (DRS), saying that unless the system became “foolproof”, India’s stance would remain unchanged. Responding to questions from the public on BCCI’s Facebook account, Manohar said that India’s sole issue with DRS concerned lbw decisions. Manohar pointed out that he had raised this issue even during his first stint as BCCI president, between 2008 and 2011. “Actually telling you the truth, the BCCI was never against the DRS system right from the time of my earlier tenure,” Manohar said. “We had issues only regarding the leg before decisions to be decided by the DRS system. For everything else we were accepting the DRS system.” Manohar said that in his previous tenure as BCCI president, the ICC had asked India to accept DRS as a whole, which the board rejected. “At the ICC meeting, it was decided that either we accept the DRS system as a whole or we don’t accept a DRS system. We were not willing. And today also we are not willing to accept the DRS system for leg-before system because when you shoot it from a distance, a parallax develops and then you are not able to give the exact direction of the delivery. “Secondly, instead of the umpire imagining the bounce
Shashank Manohar “It was decided that either we accept the DRS system as a whole or we don’t accept a DRS system. We were not willing” © AFP
and the direction of the trajectory, it is the person sitting behind the camera who is going into the DRS. He is going to have his imagination put in the place of the umpire’s imagination with regard to the bounce.” According to Manohar, he had posed the same question concerning lbw decisions to the DRS manufacturers at an ICC executive board meeting back in 2011. “Even the person who has evolved this DRS system was not able to answer me and was not able to satisfy all the members of the ICC,” Manohar said. “And as you know, there are lot problems even in the DRS systems which are raised by various countries. Therefore unless and until the DRS system is foolproof with regards to legbefore decisions the BCCI will not accept it.” The BCCI has never favoured the DRS ever since its inception. Manohar’s rea-
soning is similar to his successor N Srinivasan, who served as BCCI president till 2013. Srinivasan consistently opposed the DRS, calling the referrals system “faulty” as there was a lot of luck involved, which he did not support. Manohar’s remarks are bound to hurt the ICC, which has remained optimistic. After the ICC’s annual conference in Barbados in June, Dave Richardson, the ICC’s CEO was confident that the “modern player was more amenable to new ideas and innovation.” A couple of those modern Indian players, including the country’s Test captain Virat Kohli and lead spinner R Ashwin, have expressed openness to the DRS without offering any in-depth view. Kohli had said that he would like to discuss the DRS with his team, while Ashwin had pointed out that he would not mind the DRS minus the predictive element.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday December 24, 2015
Narine banned from the Chelsea’s players must Super50 series - REPORT look in mirror, says Hiddink PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Embattled West Indies spinner Sunil Narine has been banned from participating in the NAGICO Super50 series to be played in Trinidad and Tobago and St Kitts from January, cricket sources in the twin-island republic have reported. The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has reportedly rejected a request from the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (T&TCB) to allow the off spinner to take part in the tournament. The Guardian newspaper has quoted a source within the T&TCB as saying that the request was turned down because the WICB did not want to go against the findings of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Narine has been banned from bowling by the ICC who says his action is illegal after he was reported during the second ODI between West Indies and Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka last month. He recently failed a test on his bowling action at the Loughborough University testing centre in England. Narine’s bowling woes began last year in India during the Champions League where he was banned from bowling in the final of the tournament by the Kolkata Knight Riders. He rebounded
Sunil Narine…bowling woes began last year in India during the Champions League where he was banned from bowling in the final.
from the setback and was allowed to make his international return in the Sri Lanka series after missing the World Cup in Australia/New Zealand
because he was working on his action. Narine bowled T&T to the Nagico title last season with figures of six wickets for nine runs.
LONDON (Reuters) Guus Hiddink believes it is still possible for Chelsea to finish in the Premier League’s top four but has told the club’s players to have a long look in the mirror. The Dutchman is embarking on a second stint as interim manager at Stamford Bridge and is under no illusions about the task he faces having answered Chelsea’s distress call in the wake of the decision to sack Jose Mourinho last week. “Mathematically it is possible,” a relaxed Hiddink, who proved highly popular in 2009 when he took over from sacked Brazilian Luis Felipe Scolari, told reporters at a news conference at the club’s training base. “If you can add up then it is possible but this league is very strong, which has been especially proven this year with all respect to the clubs at the top - Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Watford... it is amazing and refreshing. “It means that all the teams can kill each other.” Chelsea are in 15th place, having lost nine of their opening 17 Premier League games, 10 points behind seventh-placed Watford whom they host on Saturday at the start of a hectic Christmas schedule that also includes a clash with Manchester United. They are 11 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. Hiddink watched Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over Sunderland last weekend, the first match after Mourinho’s departure, from the stands, and was aware of booing directed at certain players whom the fans felt had contributed to Mourinho’s downfall. He called on the whole squad to pull together. “Yesterday I talked fully to the squad about the past,” said the 69-year-old. “I said why I was here and I want everyone to look in the mirror and be critical. “We cannot ignore what has happened in the past but I told them to be professionals and look forward. “There must be a great desire from the players and if they don’t have that I want them to knock on my door, then we can chat, but it
New Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink arrives for the press conference. (Action Images via Reuters / Matthew ChildsLivepic) might not be a long chat.” Since signing off a successful spell by winning the FA Cup with Chelsea in 2009, Hiddink has struggled in charge of Turkey, Russian club Anzhi Makhachkalka and most recently the Netherlands whom he failed to steer to the Euro 2016 finals. He said his return to Stamford Bridge was a surprise but that results had forced the club’s owners to make a decision. “I shouldn’t be here halfway through the season. It means things are not going well. But anyhow, I am glad to be back. It is a few years ago I was here in a similar situation,” he said. “Last week they were one point off the relegation places which was frightening for everyone in the club.” Hiddink refused to rule out the possibility of his second spell as Chelsea manager lasting beyond next May. “I have to feel inside my heart that I have that passion to work with the guys. We said let’s go to May and then we’ll see what will happen,” he said.
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Goalkeepers shine as Grove Hi Tech and Pouderoyen advance on PKs Stag Super XVI...
It an unusual night of football at the Golden Grove ground, East Coast Demerara on Tuesday night last, both matches in the second edition of the Stag Super XVI knockout tournament were decided via penalty kicks. It was also a night where the respective goalkeepers from defending champions G r o v e H i Te c h a n d Pouderoyen stepped up to be recognized since their respective matches had to be decided via the penalty kicks route having ended in a stalemate at the end of regulation and extra time. Battling home team Golden Stars in the feature game, Grove Hi Tech, aiming to become back to back champions had to pull out all the stops as Golden Stars clawed their way back twice to push the game into extra time. Seasoned campaigner for East Bank’s number one side Grove, Orson Francois netted for the visitors on 20 minutes to hand his team the advantage as they dominated the home team early on. With their fans out in fair numbers urging them on, Golden Stars kept in the hunt even though the equalizer took some time in coming. The first half ended with Grove in the ascendancy but it was the Stars that shone bright early in the second half. Eight minutes into the half, Moses Fraser found shooting range and did not make any mistakes in banging the ball past
was going to be the hero for the defending champions at the death. Grove restored their one goal cushion in the 64 minute compliments of a Denzil Crawford goal. But while the on field action was in full swing, the elements above was equally consistent as rain poured th
Sherwin Bernard, Pouderoyen’s Goalkeeper
Seon Simpson - Grove Hi Tech’s Goalkeeper custodian Michael Matthews in the 53 minute to bring the home team back into the match. Grove suffered a setback when goalkeeper Matthews suffered a dislocated left shoulder and had to be replaced by Seon Simpson in the 61 minute. Little did anyone know that Simpson rd
st
Soesdyke Falcons’ Colin McLean in control but closely watched by Pouderoyen’s Glenvil Hazel.
down but did not dampen the end to end action by no means. After Grove went ahead again, Golden Stars never let up and were rewarded with another goal through Dexter Archer’s effort in the 72 minute to equalize proceedings yet again. The remaining minutes nd
did not yield any more goals as did extra time. Penalty kicks was then required to determine the winner. Golden Stars’ goalie ….. was perfect as was Grove’s Lloyd Matthews with their respective opening penalties. Carambo Holder them sent his shot wide for Golden Stars on their second
attempt, while Grove’s goalie Simpson saved their third attempt that was taken by Stephon Walcott. Despite scoring their 4 attempt through Justin Bristol, Grove Hi Tech was able to seal a date with Pouderoyen on Christmas Night at the Farm ground since they were (Continued on page 38) th
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Kaieteur News
Thursday December 24, 2015
Foo hammers unbeaten 67 in Simulation match
Jonathon Foo on the go against Gudakesh Motie during his unbeaten 67 at Bourda yesterday.
Jaguars step up preparation for NAGICO Super50 By Sean Devers The Guyana Jaguars stepped their preparations for next Month’s NAGICO Super50 with their first simulation match at Bourda
yesterday and 25-year-old Berbician Jonathon Foo was the star of the show with a blistering unbeaten 67 from just 35 balls with eight fours and four sixes. Jaguars Head Coach
Eusan Crandon informed that after a short break for Christmas the players will be involved in a training session at Providence on December 27 before playing two 50over practice games on
December 28 & 30 at the Stadium after which the squad for the Super50 tournament will be selected. Jaguars, who reached this year’s final before Sunil Narine, who has been
banned from playing in next year’s competition due to his bowling action, grabbed 6-9 as Guyana collapsed to 65 all out in Port-of-Spain. Coach Crandon said he was pleased with his team’s showing in the PLC FirstClass tournament in which they have won all of their five games and is confident that his charges can go one better than they did in the 2015 NAGICO Super50 when they start they their campaign on January 7 against the Windwards in St Kitts. Yesterday four pairs were required to bat for 10 overs each, chasing imaginary targets with openers Assad Fudadin and
Kevin Boodie being set 40 in 10 overs. Fudadin looked very purposeful and stroked a couple of fours and a six off Paul Wintz in the same over, while Boodie whipped Ronsford Beaten off his hips for six after turning him off his legs for four. The pair reached 53 off 9.2 overs before the rain chased the players off the field with Fudadin on 23 from 26 balls with three fours and a six, while Boodie’s 25 lasted 29 balls and was decorated with a similar amount of boundaries. The middle order was given a target of 45 from 10 (Continued on page 38)
Assad Fudadin caresses Paul Wintz through cover.
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 43
Steve Smith wins cricketer and Test cricketer award Indies) T20I Performance of the Year: Faf du Plessis (South Africa) Emerging Cricketer of the Year: Josh Hazlewood (Australia) Associate/Affiliate Cricketer of the Year: Khurram Khan (UAE) Spirit of Cricket Award: Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) Umpire of the Year (David Shepherd Trophy): Richard Kettleborough
Stafanie Taylor
ESPNcricinfo - Australia captain Steve Smith has been named cricketer of the year and Test cricketer of the year by the International Cricket Council. He becomes the fourth Australian to lift the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy after Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Michael Clarke. South Africa’s AB de Villiers won the ODI cricketer of the year award for the second year in a row. Australia captain Meg Lanning was named the Women’s ODI cricketer of the year. Smith, 26, was the sixth highest run-scorer in Australia’s triumphant World Cup campaign this year, with 402 runs at an average of 67, and made 1,734 in 13 Tests, at an average of 82.57.
He succeeded Clarke as skipper of the national team and led his side to a 2-0 Test series win over New Zealand last month. Englishman Richard Kettleborough was named umpire of the year for the third time. International Cricket Council awards in full: Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for cricketer of the year: Steve Smith (Australia) Test cricketer of the year: Steve Smith (Australia) ODI cricketer of the year: AB de Villiers (South Africa) Women’s ODI cricketer of the year: Meg Lanning (Australia) Women’s T20I cricketer of the year: Stafanie Taylor (West
Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and racing stables, PMTC expresses appreciation From page 45 success. The members of the management Committee would like to say a big thank you Beverage Giants Banks DIH Limited, Jumbo Jet Auto sales, Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Chung Global Enterprise, Annirude Ramcharitar Construction, Kris Jagdeo Construction, the Family Of Mohamed “Nankoo”Sharrif, Chester Fried Chicken Of Bush Lot, Inshan Bacchus Trucking Service, Assuria Insurance Company, Mr. & Mrs Justin Ally-Bullet Auto Sales, Avi’s Racing Stables
of the USA and Nathan Ramnauth of The USA and the Crown Vibes Sound Systems among others. According to coordinator Nasrudeen (Jumbo Jet) M o h a m e d J u n i o r, t h e committee will also like to say special thanks to Commander B Division, Assistant Commissioner Christopher Griffith and ranks of the Guyana Police Force and to all for their unstinted support and look for their continued patronage in the New Year and for the next race meet. (Samuel Whyte)
Steven Smith put down two chances in the slips, Australia v New Zealand, 3rd Test, Adelaide, 2nd day, November 28, 2015 ©Getty Images
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Kaieteur News
Thursday December 24, 2015
Simmons ‘frustrated’ by missing T20 stars ESPNcricinfo - West Indies coach Phil Simmons has admitted he is “totally frustrated” by seeing West Indian cricketers light up the Big Bash League while his Test squad battles to be competitive. Simmons said it was up to the WICB to find a way to keep the region’s best players and he cited the example of New Zealand, a team with similar resources but which has managed to retain its stars for Test cricket. Jason Holder’s young outfit collapsed to a threeday loss to Australia in the first Test in Hobart and they face the challenge of lifting themselves for the Boxing
Andre Russell, at 27, could still offer West Indies many good years, but he has played only one Test five years ago © Getty Images
Day Test in Melbourne. Meanwhile, Andre Russell has been bowling with impressive pace for the S y d n e y T h u n d e r, a n d Dwayne Bravo and Chris Gayle have turned out for the Melbourne Renegades, continuing their tour of domestic T20 tournaments. “I’m totally frustrated,” S i m m o n s s a i d . “ I t ’s enjoyable to see Andre Russell bowling at 140 clicks, and Bravo hitting three or four sixes, and Chris back in it. It is frustrating that we don’t have them here playing the Test series. “But it’s something that’s been going on for a while and it’s up to the administration to work out how we get to the stage of, let’s say, New Zealand, because they have similar things and they’re getting all their players to p l a y. I t ’s u p t o o u r administration and our bosses to find out how is the best way that we can get these guys on the pitch.” It is not as simple as to say that all three men would be in the Test team if available, for Gayle has a back injury that will affect his chances of ever adding to his tally of 103 Tests, and Bravo was not picked for a Test for more than four years before he officially retired from the format in January. This month, Bravo said he remained committed to West Indies cricket but was unhappy with the way players were treated in the Caribbean. “It’s gets frustrating ... not only for myself but all the other cricketers: Gayle, Sammy, Pollard, Russell,” Bravo told the Age last week. “We’re all committed to West Indies cricket, but sometimes with the way we’ve been treated over the years, sometimes we second guess and ask ourselves why should we actually fight with
We s t I n d i e s ’ c r i c k e t [administrators] when the rest of the world are opening their hands for us?” Gayle and Bravo are both in their 30s but Russell, at 27, is a man who could still offer West Indies many good years, but he has played only one Test five years ago and believes his knee would not stand up to Test cricket. But chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd said in January that Russell was one of the best allrounders in the world and could be in the Test side if he was willing to play. “It’s such a waste that we have a guy who could be a great cricketer who is now not thinking of playing both formats,” Lloyd said in the 2015 New Year’s Lecture in Cape Town. “We have contracts, probably not as exorbitant as others, but they are getting good money. It doesn’t seem playing for our country is paramount where these players are concerned.” Lloyd has arrived in Melbourne ahead of the Boxing Day Test, and will help mentor Holder, who at 24 faces the enormous challenge of leading a side of limited talent while also finding his own way in the game, having played only 11 Tests himself. In the absence of some of the region’s more senior players in the squad, Holder has had to rely heavily on the off-field staff of past legends to help him develop as a captain. “Off the field he’s getting help from the coaching staff,” Simmons said. “I’m sure he’s getting help from someone like Clive Lloyd. I’m sure he’s speaking to him, one of the greatest captains we’ve had. He’s getting a lot of advice from Clive too. Having ‘Lloydy’ around is always a good thing. Guys go and speak to him one on one. It’s a good thing to have him here.”
Thursday December 24, 2015
Kaieteur News
Alex Bunbury to visit Guyana in January, 2016
Alex Bunbury An international team of sports and business professionals led by Guyanese-Canadian HallOf-Fame footballer, Alex Bunbury, is scheduled to visit Guyana on January 10, 2016. Over a 2-week period, the Plaisance-born coach Bunbury will host a series of free football clinics for girls and boys aged 12-14. USbased coaches, Mr. Stan Harmon and Mr. Sam Bunbury(Alex’s brother), and a Guyanese-based coach (tba) will assist Alex in managing these clinics, the first of which will be held in
the Plaisance/Buxton school districts, thus affording the Bunbury brothers an opportunity to give back to their community of birth. A d d i t i o n a l l y, M r . Bunbury’s business team will hold discussions with stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, pursuant to his bold vision to build and manage the Alex Bunbury Sports & Academics Academies (ABSAA), a series of ecofriendly, sports, academics and resort facilities in the Caribbean region, starting with Guyana. A private, high-level meeting with the honorable President David Granger and select government ministers is currently being finalized, at which the ABSAA-Guyana vision and architectural model will be presented along with specific details on financing, human resource management, operations, and the projected socioeconomic impact of the US multi-million dollar project on Guyanese youth and targeted communities. The group is scheduled to tour potential project sites in Guyana, assess existing sports, recreational and
Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and racing stables, PMTC expresses appreciation
Coordinator Nazrudeen Jumbo Jet Mohammed Jr speaks to the media about horseracing and the Guyana Cup rematch event in company with his wife.
T
he organisers, coordinator and organizing committee of the recently held Guyana Cup Rematch horserace meet will like to take the opportunity to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all the below listed sponsors, the members of the public and the various media houses in Guyana who contributed in one way or the other in making their one day horserace meet a success. The event was held on Sunday December 20th 2015 at the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne Berbice and was a (Continued on page 43)
academic facilities, and compile primary research data to augment and complete the ABSAAGuyana feasibility study and comprehensive business plan. During the course of his visit, Mr. Bunbury looks forward to engaging with the local media and general public via press conferences, town-hall meetings and autograph-signing sessions.
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Goalkeepers shine as Grove Hi Tech and Pouderoyen advance on PKs
Grove Hi Tech on offensive from a corner against Golden Stars at the Golden Grove ground on Tuesday night.
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