Kaieteur News

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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

Warming the heart The smells coming from the homes at this time of the day tell a story. It is a story about having the best that the year has given us. Many of us saved all through the year just for today, to make those in our family circle happy, just as our parents made us happy. Some among us are affluent and it never fails to warm the heart to see these people taking cheer to the less fortunate among us. People have come from overseas because they have discovered that there is no Christmas like a Guyanese Christmas. Some never forgot their roots and took hampers to the various Homes and senior citizens facilities. There were cases when many pooled their resources to undertake this achievement. Everyone with the wherewithal recognizes that Christmas is the season for giving and those who need expect to receive. For this reason shippers gear their operations to cater for the massive shipments of barrels and parcels from their relatives in North America. And for their part, the North American relatives know that they are expected to ship something home for this season. This year was just like previous years. The decorations were overwhelming and the atmosphere was lively as is customary. We will wait to learn the figures on the remittances. Whatever the scenario, nothing has stopped the myriad Guyanese from traveling from wherever they went to earn what they believe they should. Airlines as usual are booked to capacity. Many people who intended to come home for the holidays could not get flights. Those wishing to leave should have no such problems. Guyana is what it always has been, a hospitable country, a country where everybody knows everybody else; where people meet and fraternise at this time of the year, even if they had never met in the past. Not all of us have been fortunate enough to have a blessed and Merry Christmas. Some of us would be spending the season minus a member who has passed on. And there will always be the misfortune that would visit some of us. But for all this, we are known as a people to rally round those who experience some misfortune. We give of our little to make them share the season. It is a pity that such a spirit cannot prevail throughout the year. There are those among us who have felt the wrath of the criminals in our midst. These criminals are people who refuse to contribute meaningfully to the society but who believe that theirs is the right to prey on people who worked all year to make this season the joy it is for many of us. The irony is that many of us know them but we seem to lack the determination to have them behave as responsible citizens. Some of us encourage them by promoting the view that there is no work and that people must live by whatever means. There was a time when people created employment for themselves by pursuing honourable practices. Our businessmen are products of those pursuits. So too are our artisans and our other skilled personnel. True, not all of us are skilled and not all of us have the business acumen, but all of us can undertake meaningful activities. We note that the crime is not confined to one community. No longer is Georgetown the crime capital as the people of Berbice and other parts of the coast are finding out. This needs to change. In the same way we embrace each other to celebrate what is unquestionably the greatest season on earth, we must embrace the culture of protecting our community against the people who would want to harm those in our midst. As we celebrate, let us do whatever we do in moderation because our indiscretion could lead to grief of people we certainly do not want to hurt. Merry Christmas.

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Letters... Where your views make the news

A most disrespectful United States Govt. DEAR EDITOR, I have noted the statements in the media about the USAID Project that was disapproved by Cabinet. I have particularly noted the US Ambassador reportedly stating the US intention to implement the project notwithstanding Cabinet’s disapproval. I have also noted the insistence of the US Ambassador that the Government of Guyana was consulted on the Project. I have also noted the political opposition supporting the US Ambassador’s line that the Government had no good reason to object to the project. Mister Editor, at this stage the issue is the US Ambassador’s apparent

contempt of the Cabinet of Guyana an act that can have serious repercussions. He has been reported in the Press to have instructed that Cabinet’s disapproval be ignored. The Ambassador is playing with words with regards to consultation. I still contend Guyana was not consulted. The Project was conceived by the American authorities. The Project was funded by US Congress. A bid was tendered, the US organisation, International Republican Institute, won that bid and was awarded the contract to implement the project. It was subsequent to those actions by the American authorities that the US Ambassador approached the Government of Guyana.

I challenge the Ambassador to indicate at what point was the Government of Guyana consulted about this project. The US Ambassador presented the Government with a fait accompli. His apparent contempt of the Government of Guyana begs the question and supports our contention that the Ambassador is of the opinion that the US Authorities can execute projects in Guyana at will. This is a dangerous proposition that all right thinking Guyanese and indeed sovereign states must repudiate. Dr Roger Luncheon Head Presidential Secretariat Office of the President

A BLATANT ABUSE OF POWER DEAR EDITOR, I pleaded “Not guilty” and was placed evidence, not even the officer who The nasty work within the Guyana on $80,000 bail on each of the three conducted the investigations. Police Force (G.P.F) to harass and charges with a date then given for The magistrate, in his ruling, stated embarrass persons wrongfully from a statements to be served. that if he has the power he would have position of power is responsible for me From the statements submitted to ordered cost against the police whom he being a victim, only to endure much the D.P.P.’s office, no mention was castigated for being so absurd to cause suffering and inconvenience in relation made of me having produced a valid me to suffer such a glaring injustice to my bona fide property. receipt to the police for the trailer with He also pointed out that there was no Some time in October last year, a the one from the investigating rank legal basis for the police to remove and policeman attached to the Aurora being false and misleading to give a impound the trailer. He made reference station removed my trailer which was wrong impression ever so much to the evidence given by the victim not involved in any breach of the law detrimental to me. which did not link me to having while it was stationary in my yard at During the hearing of the charges committed any offence whatsoever. Huis’t Dieren. It was removed before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the The Magistrate advised me to unknowing to me. They used a Suddie court on Thursday November approach the police to get back the privately-owned tractor and lodged it in 21, last, the prosecutor did not offer any trailer and I did so in writing the very the compound there. evidence on the forgery of receipt for next day, November 22 last. A response Out of curiosity, on learning about the trailer and this was dismissed as well is still being awaited. The earlier this can the removal which was indeed baffling as the other two on no case submissions be given the better it would be for me. to me I proceeded to the station to made by my lawyer at the close of the Just to make it known, had the police ascertain the reason for such an action. prosecution’s case. approached me for a statement which I Without any rank uttering a word, I was The only two witness called by the was always willing, ready and prepared dumped into the lock-ups without an prosecutor in the false pretence case to give the truth of what transpired explanation for my incarceration which were the victim and his sister from would have been revealed. lasted for almost eight hours before I whom he testified he borrowed At no time was any money given to was released on $10,000 cash bail. $250,000 to give to me as an advance for me and from my own belief the charges Before leaving a request was made making of the trailer. against me were trumped up because the for me to produce the trailer receipt The lone witness in the fraudulent victim owes me a substantial sum of which I did not hesitate to give to the misappropriation case was the victim money. With his wife being a member of Superior Officer who never returned it whose evidence was that he entrusted the Force, she and the investigating rank back to me but it did not make a me with $120,000 to purchase piles but from the same station mischievously difference as I kept a photo copy of it. that I converted the money to my own designed a well orchestrated plan to put Still confused about what was use and benefit. me in trouble but did not succeed. taking place against me, I visited the No police rank was called to give Naresh Rani office of the then Divisional Commander who promised to look into my complaint but nothing further was ever heard from him. Much to my surprise, DEAR EDITOR, technical assistance which I did in writing two exactly one year later, the Growing vegetable crops in my roadside times by registered post to his head office in police came to my home and informed me that a file was plot at Suddie, Region Two has always been a the city. There has been no response and this returned from the DPP’s office joy of my life. Now sadness prevails from the neglect in such a serious matter is not good with instructions to charge me fatal destruction of the plants in a enough at all. No other Ministry can be of help to me. Clearly some form of action is urgently for three indictable offences “mysterious” soil disease. Through no fault of my own the area that needed to determine the nature of the disease, namely (1) Forgery of receipt for the trailer; (2) Fraudulent used to be under cultivation has become what is responsible for its existence, how it misappropriation; and (3) useless, idle and abandoned because of the could be avoided, what treatment could be obtaining money by false alarming death rate. These things make living administered to exterminate it or whether it is conditions all the more difficult for me. not curable. pretence. Plants especially in tomatoes, boulangers With a research centre at NARI, I don’t Here again I had to suffer know of the facilities that exist there but the the indignity of being placed in and peppers no longer exist on my plot. It grieves me very much to be divorced symptoms show a parasite in the soil from the Suddie Police station lockups where I spent overnight from this pleasurable and beneficial activity ground level eating out the bark and causing until the next day when I was when it was possible to be self sufficient and the plants to wither and then die. The findings whether good or bad will be taken before a Magistrate at to use vegetables conveniently and lavishly. the Charity court to answer the The situation is now different. I have to come very useful as for sure it would save me from out of my pocket to make purchases and to wasting more money on drugs not helpful to charges. the cause. It is useless to have land when it After an application was skimp on what I buy, sometimes. My only recourse now is to seek the cannot be utilized beneficially. made by the prosecutor for the Baliram Persaud matters to be taken summarily, intervention of the Minister of Agriculture for

MYSTERIOUS DISEASE KILLS ALL FOOD CROPS

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Kaieteur News

Letters... Where your views make the news

Merry Christmas to all DEAR EDITOR, Christmas is a joyous occasion for Christians and others to come together and sing carols, give praise to Jesus and be merry. At this time of year, as most people celebrate Christmas, the poor and less fortune suffer the psychological pangs of financial and material deprivation. It is at Christmas that the poor feel most acutely the deep distress of not being able to provide for their families as they would like, particularly their children who are too young and innocent to have accepted poverty as a way of life. It is at this time that even the most embalmed of consciences awakens to help the poor as Jesus Christ did in an earlier time period. Among the poorest and most deserving of our attention at this time are the elderly, the homeless and the single mothers in Plastic City and elsewhere who have to fend for themselves. While Christmas is a festive season that represents peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind, our sympathy goes out to all those who have lost loved ones during the year, especially the mothers who were murdered by their spouses in domestic violence. We are still all in shock at the senseless murders of so many young men and women who had so much to offer but have been cut down in the prime of their lives. At this time of peace, happiness and goodwill we call on our fellow Guyanese to love one another and be kind to all. As Guyanese, let us pray for those battling depression and substance abuse and hope that their spirits will be lifted. In the midst of their collective grief, the mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and relatives of all those slain in such contentious circumstances must continue to hope that good is coming to the land and know that they are not

alone in their pain and sadness. As concerned Guyanese, we urge the government to make sure that justice be done so that the parents and relatives of the slain could have closure. So in this festive season of sharing and goodwill to all, we want to gently remind all Guyanese wherever they may reside that Christ did not believe in such brutality. The Old Testament speaks to the Law of Moses especially in the Ten Commandments that said, “Thou shalt not kill” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Needless to say, the true meaning of Christmas continues to elude many Guyanese because of their poverty and unbearable living conditions. There are three groups of people most worthy of support at this joyful time; the very poor, the elderly (especially shut-ins), single mothers and young children. We therefore urge the Church leaders, the well-to-do and corporate entities as well as the political directorate to focus and give to these groups so that their spirits can be lifted and they too can enjoy and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. Too often, it is the greedy, not the needy; the rich and powerful, not the poor and the powerless that get the most attention at Christmas. So in this festive season,

we pray for the prosperity of Guyana and all Guyanese both at home and in the Diaspora and for commonsense and understanding to prevail in their actions. We also pray for peace and goodwill towards all and for love towards each other. Perhaps the holidays will give the political directorate a chance to reflect on a national plan that is inclusive, so that they can make better decisions in the interest of the people and we hope that 2014 will manifest into a year of healing, atonement, worthiness and success for all. Our fervent wish in this season is that all will put their shoulders to the wheel to develop and build Guyana so that all and not only a selected few can share in the bounties of prosperity. We love our politics but we love Guyana and the people more. God bless our beautiful Guyana and more important God bless a resilient people who like Teflon will see the changes through to the end and who will outlive the corruption, oppression and the selfish politics foist upon the nation by a merciless, uncaring and contemptuous regime. We remain extremely proud of the people of Guyana and wish them a merry Christmas and a bright and prosperous future. Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh.

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Greenidge accuses Govt. of buying votes with supplementary provisions “How will the Minister spend $500M in a few days when that sum is way more than the initial sum approved in the budget for an entire year?” That was the concern expressed recently by Former Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge. The Opposition Member of Parliament is adamant that the $500M approved two sittings ago in the National Assembly for the Amerindian Development Fund has nothing to do with national interest. Greenidge described the supplementary provision as the most disgraceful one he has ever witnessed during his tenure as a politician. He said that it is being asked for to ‘buy votes’ and for Amerindians to campaign for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). Greenidge told Kaieteur News that both of the opposition political parties know that it is an impossible task to spend $500M, for “development,” in a few days, unless contracts are involved. Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan had filed a motion to cut $300M from a request for supplementary provision for the Amerindian Development Fund. This money was allocated to fund the provision of transportation, health care and education. This motion attracted a protest during that sitting. Some of the placards displayed by the demonstrators read ‘AFC & APNU will no longer get our support’ and ‘We demand development just like any other Guyanese.’ But the AFC’s motion was unsuccessful as it didn’t attract a majority vote. Members of Parliament vote resulted in the motion to reduce the provision not being carried in the Committee of Supply. On votes to pass the provisions, 30 members abstained, two members voted against it and 32 MPs voted in support. Greenidge was one who abstained. The Shadow Finance Minister for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) called the request an irresponsible one on the floor of the National Assembly and was

AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan

Former Finance Minister, Carl Greenidge subsequently rebuked by the Speaker Raphael Trotman. Accepting the Speaker’s contentions, Greenidge called for a justification in the validity, feasibility and acceptability of the large request. Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai told the House that the $500M supplementary funding comes on the heels of the just concluded National Toshao’s Council meetings, which sought to provide a forum for Amerindian village leaders to plan developmental projects for their respective communities. According to her, it includes coverage: of transportation costs for school children using both the roadways and waterways; and costs to develop roads and access paths to promote trade and agriculture, among other priority areas. AFC Member Valerie Garrido-Lowe noted the time frame of the submission, two weeks before the end of the year and few days before school closed. She noted too that the supplementary is more than

APNU Leader, David Granger

Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai the initial sum approved in the 2013 Budget, $392M.Greenidge told Kaieteur News that the government is using the money to pay mostly young Amerindians to Campaign for the PPP. “The government is telling us it is for transportation but for children. Yes, the money is being used for transportation but to transport people to come and picket…but it is illegal to use money for other reasons that you state.” Greenidge asked why “the parties” would abstain from the vote knowing full well that the money is not going to be spent the way it is put forward to be. The former Minister said that his personal view is that those opposition MPs who abstained or supported have neither faith nor belief in the Amerindians. “They think that the Amerindians are not smart enough to know that the PPP is using them. The Opposition is basically afraid to antagonize the Amerindians.” The politician said that he has confidence in the Amerindians and that even if they miss a trick once, overtime they will realize that they are being used to keep the PPP in power. He called on Amerindians to mobilize and take necessary actions “since the political parties seems not to have faith in them.”

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Cabinet at odds with US Ambassador “...elements of rejected USAID project seek to usurp its authority”- Dr. Luncheon Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, has lashed out at US Ambassador D. Brent Hardt over comments he would have made with regard to the USAID Project that h a d b e e n r e j e c t e d by Cabinet. Luncheon in his post cabinet press briefing held yesterday at Office of the President, said the US Ambassador ’s comments were arrogant and contentious. He said Cabinet reviewed the status and the current developments regarding the A m b a s s a d o r ’ s implementation of the rejected project. “Cabinet felt that the Ambassador ’s public comments were arrogant, contentious and those utterances that the US Ambassador made indicating that notwithstanding a rejection, a disapproval of the USAID project that they intend to and are implementing the project, is really of severe significance.” According to Dr Luncheon, Cabinet is even more perturbed by the Ambassador ’s delay in responding to a formal, written request for the clarification from the US authorities with regard to the disapproval of the project and taking into account the public response in the exclusive interview with Stabroek News. In that article the US Ambassador made public his intention to ignore and disregard Cabinet’s disapproval. Dr Luncheon said too that the Ambassador accused the administration of falsehood and that there was consultation with the Government of Guyana. Dr Luncheon said the project was conceived and designed, and a contractor procured to implement all before approaching the Guyana Government. He said

that on obtaining the details of the tendering process for the International Republican Institute to implement the project, the US Ambassador’s assertion will be tested. He underscored that this information would in fact confirm that the project was completed long before it was presented to the administration. Asked why it is mandatory for USAID to have Cabinet’s blessings before proceeding with such a project, Dr Luncheon explained that this is so because their presence is based on an agreement. “This is nothing earthshattering… any country in which they operate in it is based on an agreement that mutually recognizes our obligations under the agreement.” Dr Luncheon was asked if Government will press for the recall of the Ambassador or ask the IRI members to leave the country, he said “Cabinet has not explored this what if scenario” He pointed to the ‘note verbale’ which was sent to the US State Department which seeks to obtain a formal indication from the US authorities over what the Ambassador had undertaken to get done, “we want it in writing.” Dr Luncheon added, “I do believe if such were provided, one would now readily resort to the agreement. This, he said, would be the early if not only resort to the agreement to see if provision is made for the Ambassador or USAID to operate independently and there is no need for agreements. “I think for us, really for us what is alarming; what is unacceptable, we haven’t gotten a written response and we were provided with an exclusive interview.” Dr Luncheon reminded that the presence of USAID in Guyana is subject to terms

US Ambassador to Guyana, D. Brent Hardt and conditions of agreement. Asked specifically what was in the project that the Government objects to apart from the process, he pointed to a policy of the administration to provide support for political parties, including the opposition. He said that the four components of the projects were analyzed by Cabinet and one contained major activities that captured a relationship between USAID and individual political parties in Guyana. This he said was a source of concern, given that Guyana does not have a public policy by government for the support for political parties. He said that there is nothing like that in the law nor in practice and the Americans through the project “invited a profoundly sensitive issue.” Dr Luncheon said that this is something that has not been dealt with by any postindependent Guyana Government and further “for us represented a usurpation of our authority.” He said that this was drawn to the attention of USAID which was asked to make the overtures and activities to be a relationship between institutions such as Parliament or the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and not parties.

Basil B’s ‘Wake Up Guyana’ show spreads Christmas cheer While corporate agencies have not wasted a day in December in spreading Christmas cheer, HBTV’s Wake Up Guyana Show has chosen the most appropriate day to disperse merriment. Today in the studios of HBTV, Basil Bradshaw, host

of Wake Up Guyana, in collaboration with HBTV and Ram and McRae Chartered Accountants have arranged to treat 100 children to goodies and presents. According to Bradshaw, the occasion marks the fourth of its kind. “Every year we know that

children look forward to being treated for the season. Over the years, various institutions do this for kids but it’s never enough. So Wake Up Guyana decided to contribute in a similar way; hoping that more caring institutions would follow suit,” he expressed.

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Letters... Where your views make the news

Disrespecting an Indian national by a

surprising to read that despicable individual thisItisn’twastheevenfirstmore time that this individual has DEAR EDITOR, I write this letter with a heavy heart and disgust. I read an article in your newspaper regarding the inhumane treatment of an Indian national by the owner of a store in your newspaper dated December 12, 2013 and December 13, 2013. It surprises me that individuals like this businessman are allowed to come to Guyana and ‘dish’ out this type of treatment to their own people in our land. I fear to even think how they would treat local employees if that’s how they treat their own.

been reported to the Ministry of Labour. Maybe no reaction by the Ministry gave this individual extra courage to continue as a slave master? On his next court appearance on January 7, 2014 and I really hope an example is made of this individual so that these lawlessness doesn’t continue. I also hope the victim is reimbursed and paid monies owed to him with interest! In conclusion, I’d like to commend the work done by the Guyana Women Miners’ Organization, the Human Services Ministry and the Guyana Police Force. David Singh

Jagdeo disrespected President Ramotar DEAR EDITOR, As one of the guests attending the wedding of West Indies cricketer Ramnaresh Sarwan last Sunday night at the Convention Centre I was appalled at the gross disrespect shown to His Excellency President Donald Ramotar by former President Dr Bharat Jagdeo. Jagdeo, who admitted to not having much experience as a husband to give advice on the subject, was in the middle of his speech when the Head of State arrived at the venue. I was shocked when Jagdeo did not miss a beat and continued speaking even as President Ramotar was walking to his seat without any acknowledgement that he

was in the same room with Jagdeo. Jagdeo acknowledged that this was not a political podium but still could not resist taking a jab at the opposition by referring to the one seat majority they held in Parliament. To m a k e m a t t e r s worse, during the President’s speech, just after he disclosed that unlike Jagdeo he has a wealth of experience as a m a r r i ed man (either by coincidence or design), the microphone was disconnected, leaving President Ramotar to finish his speech without the benefit of a mike. Only those close enough to him heard anything he had to say after that. I was amazed at how

intimidated President Ramotar seemed of Jagdeo, who acted as if he was still Guyana’s President. He surely has the current President in his shadow. At the end of the formal p a r t o f t h e We d d i n g , Jagdeo again assumed the position of President and ‘the Boss’ as he is often called, went about meeting the guests and taking photos with them as if he was on an elections campaign. He had in tow Housing Minister Irfaan Ali and all the while President Ramotar was in his seat. I f o u n d J a g d e o ’s arrogant behaviour distasteful as he give the impression that he was still in charge. And maybe he is. Disappointed Wedding Guest

M O N T E G O B AY, St James — General Secretary of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Dr Horace Chang has warned t h e p a r t y ’s p o l i t i c a l representatives that they will not contest future e l e c t i o n s o n t h e J L P ’s ticket unless they are performing. “I suspect that I will be even more unpopular this year, but I will be very hard on the constituencies. If you are not doing it (performing), we are going to find someone else to do it, and I have no apologies for that,” Dr Chang stressed. “You may be my friend, but in politics this year I have no friends, all I have are colleagues, no friends; so if you do the work you will get my support, and if you don’t do the work you will have to step aside.” The JLP general secretary, who is also the member of Parliament for North West St James, was addressing delegates at Sunday’s meeting of the party’s Area Council Four,

which covers 16 constituencies across the parishes of Trelawny, St James, H a n o v e r, We s t m o r e l a n d a n d St Elizabeth. The meeting took place at the Bellfield Great House in Montego Bay. He told the delegates that the country has been going through difficult times and as such the citizens are seeking leadership from the JLP, adding that if the party is to form the next Government, it will have to focus on winning all of the seats in Area Council Four. Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for North West St Elizabeth, J C Hutchinson was nominated unopposed to succeed Dr Christopher Tufton as the deputy leader in charge of Area Council Four. Dr Tufton resigned amid controversy surrounding his nomination for the position earlier this year. On Sunday, he told the delegates that his decision to withdraw from the

process should not be perceived as an indication that he was leaving the party. “I am in no way, shape or form leaving the party or abandoning the party, or the efforts of the party to regain state power. I remain a member of the party but sometimes you have to retreat and reflect, and I am at the stage where I believe I need to do that,” he told the delegates. A former minister of agriculture and fisheries, Dr Tufton was up to early November a member of the S e n a t e a n d t h e J L P ’s spokesperson on foreign affairs and foreign trade. But following the party’s bitter leadership race between Party Leader Andrew Holness and his challenger Audley Shaw, the member of Parliament for North East Manchester, which s a w H o l n e s s retaining the party’s top post, Dr Tufton was left out of the Senate and was not renamed as a member of the shadow Cabinet.

Chang issues warning to non-performing JLP reps

Heavy rains hit Dominica ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – Heavy rains yesterday caused widespread flooding and damage to several homes, particularly in the southern part of Dominica, Acting Prime Minister Reginald Austrie has said. Austire, who chaired an emergency Cabinet meeting that was also attended by officials from the Office of Disaster preparedness, said that teams were now assessing the damage caused as a result of the inclement weather. “About one third of the island has been affected, mainly towards the south.

There have been some issues in the east, in Castle Bruce and Good Hope…but most of the damage is in fact concentrated in the southern side of the island,” Austrie told the state-owned DBS radio. The Meteorological Office said that the inclement weather was due to moisture and instability associated with a trough system and warned that Dominica and other islands in the Caribbean would be affected by isolated thunderstorms and heavy rains as well as strong winds. They urged people residing in low-lying areas to prepare to be evacuated

especially as the land has been heavily saturated as a result of the rains. The radio station reported that many peop l e i n t h e south of the island were forced to walk to the capital to complete their Christmas shopping and Austrie said “there had been some infrastructural damage. “The roads in the Roseau Valley and some areas towards south Soufriere are still cut off and we are now heading off to the field to do an assessment,” he said, adding that most of the homes had been damaged in Bath Estate, just on the outskirts of the capital.

PM: Let’s work together to build T&T Trinidad Guardian - Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar has urged citizens to work together to build T&T to rid the nation of hunger, poverty, violence and inequity. She said T&T was a country with prosperity for all. She said every citizen should put “our proverbial shoulders to the grind and turn the wheels of national development to make our d r e a m s a r e a l i t y. ” T h e Prime Minister made the statement in her Christmas message to the nation. She said Christmas was a time to put aside all differences and to reach out to fellow human beings in a spirit of love and forgiveness. “It is important for us to refocus, re-evaluate, and to redirect our thoughts on the Christ Child and the message He embodied,” she said. Persad-Bissessar said it was her special Christmas prayer that the light of understanding would abide in every human heart. She added: “Let us plan and work together in harmony so that the blessing of peace shall come to our nation and every nation. May the true

meaning of Christmas continue to guide us in all our future ways.” She said Christmas provided “us with the opportunity to bring out the best in ourselves and to give meaning and action to the message of Christ today and every day by the way we live and by the way we treat with each other.” She said there were many people who were hurting. She added: “Who else can offer help but us? When we accept this innate divine calling we follow in the steps of Jesus who came, not to be served, but to serve. “All too often we can get caught up in the ‘busy-ness’ of the Christmas season and we forget what it is really a b o u t . “ We g e t o v e r l y concerned about the curtains, the food, the gifts, etc, that we lose sight of the most important thing, the birth of Jesus and what it means for all of us. “This beautiful event

sometimes becomes lost in the revelry, succumbing to over-indulgence and compromised by consumerism and base tendencies, all anathema to the real and true spirit of the holy season.” She said: “As we open the doors of hospitality to our colleagues, friends and family this Christmas, let us also open the doors of our hearts to those in need.” She said as Prime Minister she was mindful of her responsibilities. “I always endeavour to keep in my mind the wellbeing of all my fellow citizens. “The real mandate of every government is to work for the benefit of all citizens, especially the most needy and vulnerable in society. “This is a responsibility that my government will not shirk for we recognise and appreciate that this is essential to good governance, holistic development and prosperity,” she said.

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Wednesday December 25, 2013

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Guyana must produce its own heroes I have the highest regard for Glenn Lall, the publisher of this newspaper, but there are some issues on which we disagree. But we do so without affecting our lifelong friendship. Glenn is someone that respects differences of opinion and one of the differences that I have with him is over Nelson Mandela. Glenn believes that Mandela must be counted as the greatest individual of the 20th century. One night when we were discussing Mandela he asked me to name one human being who could be locked up for twenty-seven years in a harsh and brutal prison environment and yet when he was released harboured no bitterness for his captors. I admit that I could not think of any such individual I however do not share all of Glenn’s praises for Mandela, but there are two things that I agree with him about. The first is that regardless of how his life is assessed, no one should attempt to tarnish the good name of Mandela. This column has no intention of doing so. In due course, I will

undertake a balanced assessment of Mandela. The focus of today’s column is however on a strongly held opinion of Glenn Lall and one that I share. Glenn believes that the respect that the people of South Africa had for Mandela was mainly responsible for that country not going down the route of Zimbabwe. Glenn is now fearful that with Mandela gone and with the failure of the South African government to address the growing inequality in that country, South Africa could well - and one hopes that it does not go down the terrible route that Zimbabwe went when White farms were invaded. Mugabe made some huge mistakes. But Mugabe’s ability to deal with the inequality issue was primarily as a result of the betrayal of the British government in not honouring the terms of the Lancaster House Agreement which was supposed to have led to increased funding for land reform. The failure of the British government to honour its obligations meant that for almost two decades after Independence the White

Dem boys seh...

A Christmas wish fuh de greedy Is Christmas and is a time fuh giving. But if dem have people giving dem got to have people taking. Dem boys see dem gyal who spend de whole of yesterday taking dem time wid wha dem got to buy. Some of dem only get five per cent and is magic how people mek a dollar stretch. One woman see cheapness in dem Chinee store but then she study that most of dem things gun only wuk fuh two day suh by de time Old Year’s come round dem ain’t got nutten. De Waterfalls boss man was in a giving mood but not in a forgiving mood. He does pray fuh de Almighty to show him a way how to forgive all dem crooks, especially two of dem, de Rat and Brazzy, but he ain’t finding that way. He give he staff a bonus then he hold a million-dollar lottery. He tell dem boys that Bobby does try fuh do all that he do and if he really care bout people de least he can do is mek he staff happy. De government mek de Gee Nah people happy because although it didn’t give dem a bonus and although Gee Nah was not suppose to have money it sport dem at Palm Court. Dem boys seh that de Palm Court bill was enough to pay five per cent to GeeNah, Chronicle, Hen See Hen, and Kwame. That is de same GeeNah that had to exist on one dollar fuh a whole year. Yet dem had money to sport. And now fuh de wishes. Those who send dem boys gift that dem accept and appreciate; we wish dem and dem families a happy and blessed Christmas. Fuh those who send gifts and think dem could bribe us and dem boys return dem boys have no wish fuh dem. Dem who send cards, dem boys give three-quarter of de wish wha dem give de first set. Those who forget to send to us, cards or gifts, fuh whatever reason, because either dem brain lef fuh go behind de Rat and de Bees, including Brazzy, Shaatie, Irfaat, and Rob de Earth, dem boys wish dem a halfhearted Christmas. But all dem who hate dem boys, and de whole country know dem and dem know demself, well de wish is that dem get de most lousy Christmas. After all Aunt Dora waiting in Uncle Sam, in de New Year fuh jail dem. Talk half and wait fuh de New Year.

minority group dominated ownership of the land, to the extent that it frustrated the legitimate aspirations of those who had fought in the liberation struggles. South Africa faced similar problems with inequality as was faced by Zimbabwe. But South Africa did not go down the road to perdition, and this may be because of the Mandela factor. We in Guyana can learn from that! Throughout the entire period of mourning for Mandela, a number of local bloggers superficially asked: Where is the Mandela-like figure in Guyana? Mandela is a unique individual. But one has to say also that Mandela is a product of South Africa and their struggles. You cannot take a Mandela and expect him to be the same person in Guyana, just as how Martin Luther King Jr. cannot be transposed to some other part of the world or a Gandhi outside of India. These persons are products of their own countries’ struggles. Each country must find its own heroes. Right now Guyana does not need a Mandela. Right now Guyana needs more Glenn Lalls! Ironically, it was former President Bharrat Jagdeo who many years ago said that Guyana needs more Glenn Lalls. I am sure he is not

saying that today. Why does Guyana need more Glenn Lalls? It does because Glenn has seen through all the schemes of the former administration and knows the dangers that the country faces from what has taken place under the Jagdeo administration. Everything that has come to pass was predicted from day one by Glenn Lall. Unfortunately not many people took him seriously. Glenn continues to warn us of the dangerous road down which this country is proceeding. Glenn is not sounding these warnings out of any self-interest. He is doing so because he wants Guyana to avoid the mistakes of others and to avoid problems that can keep this country back. He does not wish to see this country go down the drain and I believe he envisages that problems, serious problems, can arise unless steps are taken to reverse some of the excesses that took place and which are continuing. I believe that unless the Donald Ramotar administration - and there are many good men and women in the government - wakes up to what is taking place in Guyana, this country may end up in dire problems. No one wants this to happen. What is happening in Guyana did not happen even

in the harsh days of the dictatorship. This country is experiencing levels of cronyism never before seen. Policies were made to make it seem as if they were intended to serve the good of the people of Guyana, but these policies were intended to fatten a small, avaricious economic oligarchy that is gobbling up the wealth of this country. I know this is not the type of sentiment one wishes to read on Christmas morning, but let us not pretend that everything is honky dory in Guyana. Let us not let the spirit of Christmas force us to pretend that this country is not facing challenges similar to what was faced in Zimbabwe and what is being faced now in South Africa. We cannot create the same personalities as other countries. We have to find our own saviours, those who will lead us to the promised land of peace and betterment. But we must learn from the mistakes of other countries so that we do not repeat them. The Donald Ramotar administration has to wake up to the reality that a small band of individuals, using political influence, are gobbling up the wealth of this country and are shamelessly flaunting this wealth while nurses are forced to take to protest action during their lunch breaks and sugar workers

have to strike for a day just to get the annual production incentives that they are contractually obligated to receive. Why? Can you imagine also, a situation where a handful of minority shareholders have more voting rights on the Board of the Berbice River Bridge than those who own 76% of the shares in that entity? Can you imagine that being allowed to happen anywhere else in the world? Is that not eye pass to the highest extent? The Guyanese people are looking on and they are seeing for themselves what is taking place. They are not blind or ignorant as some would have us believe. They may be divided, but the masses have never been dumb politically. No one, least of all this column and Glenn Lall, wants to see Guyana go down the road to problems. But unless things change in the New Year, the patience of the Guyanese people will be tested. Merry Christmas and let us hope for peace and love in the New Year!

Thai protesters vow to hound PM, cling to promise to thwart poll (Reuters) - Thai antigovernment protesters abandoned efforts to block candidates from signing up for a February election yesterday but vowed to hound Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and thwart a poll she is expected to win. The protesters want Thailand’s fragile democracy to be suspended, fearing the February 2 election would only entrench the power of Yingluck’s billionaire family, which is hugely popular among the rural poor of the populous north and northeast. At their peak, rallies seeking to overthrow Yingluck and install an appointed government have attracted more than 200,000 people, with strong backing from Bangkok’s middle classes. Many among the Bangkok elite believe rural voters have been bought off by populist policies that have fuelled government graft. Thirty-five parties have signed up for the poll, despite attempts by protesters to stop them when registrations

Yingluck Shinawatra opened at a Bangkok sports stadium on Monday. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy premier famed for fiery speeches, called off the blockade on Tuesday but promised to ramp up the campaign and chase Yingluck from office. Yingluck, the sister of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, called a snap poll two weeks ago to try to deflate the protests. The noisy but mainly peaceful protests are driven

by anger over Thaksin’s influence over his sister’s government. “If Yingluck doesn’t resign or stays until February 2, we will block all parts of Bangkok and will not allow a single Bangkokian to cast a vote,” Suthep told supporters. “If you see Yingluck, no matter where she is, please call us, or post it on social media and we’ll send our mobile units to chase her everywhere,” he said. Yingluck has been in her Puea Thai Party’s northern strongholds courting support while her credibility is attacked in Bangkok. She has been on the road for six of the past eight days and on Tuesday extended her trip until the New Year. The election has been made more uncertain by a boycott by the main opposition Democrat Party, which draws its support from Bangkok and the south, the same base as Suthep’s group. The Democrats have not won an election in 21 years but are backed by a powerful Bangkok establishment of

generals, bureaucrats and influential conservatives with deep disdain for Thaksin, a man they say bent laws to enrich his family and cemented his power through cronyism and political patronage. The latest round of turmoil in the eight-year crisis has taken its toll on the economy, Southeast Asia’s second biggest, and has affected tourism. It has delayed plans to spend $65 billion on infrastructure, which the government had hoped would offset struggling exports. The baht fell to an almost four-year low against the U.S. dollar low on Monday. A central bank official said on Tuesday the bank had moved to smooth excessive volatility in the currency but gave no details. Uncertainty surrounds whether the election will actually take place or if protests, which so far have failed to stop the government from working, will turn violent in the hope a coup-prone military with little love for Thaksin would intervene.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 25, 2013

== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

My Christmas gift to my wife Many moons ago, I did a column with the title; “What are you doing the rest of your life?” As I searched for the meaning and message for this year’s Christmas column, the idea just hit me that I should ask that question once more in another column. In a country like Guyana, that question is as perennial as the grass. I cannot count the number of Christmas Day articles I have done, but I know this particular one for 2013 makes me feel uneasy. I have turned over and over in my mind why I am so peculiar about Christmas 2013. After all, Guyana has not changed since the fifties. Yes, large buildings are going up, but that literally is all that is happening, and the reason is commonsensical. You have space on the ground. A person buys that space and puts up a fivestorey building. One other change can be seen as distinct

from the fifties. We have a growing Brazilian population. I have not included the Chinese, because in the fifties they were in Guyana. Basically then when you look at Guyana, these are two differences. What else has happened to make you feel that for the rest of your life, if you stay in this land, Guyana will be better? There was a little news item tucked away in an unnoticed part of the newspaper. I doubt anyone paid much attention to it, but it tells the story of how unchanging we are as a nation since the fifties. The item is about bringing recorders to the judges’ tables so they won’t have to write the hundreds of thousands of spoken words every day in each court case before them. Do you know how long the practice of judges writing down what witnesses and lawyers say in court cases has gone out? We are nearing fifty

years of Independence and we are about to introduce recorders, and given the way government moves in this country we may have to wait another few years. Do you know the speed gun was introduced in Guyana four years ago? And do you know how it happened? The British High Commission presented the police force with six of them. If there wasn’t that donation, we would never have seen such items in the hands of traffic cops. Do you know in small Guyana, the number engaged in banking is extremely small, given our population of just about 800,000 of which sixty percent is under 21 years. Do you know Guyana has less than a dozen public companies making our stock exchange one of the smallest in the world? Yet, I repeat, yet it takes four days before a cheque

deposited in your account from an institution or business place can be recorded in your account so you can withdraw cash. The large buildings and the influx of Brazilians could and should be regarded as positive developments though most, yes, most citizens would tell you that some of that money that is behind those structures may not be from legitimate sources. So apart from these two positive sources, are there anymore? And even if there are at this Christmas, are there competing negative images? Never before in any Christmas season, have I seen Georgetown so garbageladen. Georgetown has experienced its worst ugliness at Christmas 2013 than in previous years. But the most heart-breaking of these negative features is the widening gap between the rich and poor. It is at a

demonic level and Guyana cannot have a stable future if this horror story continues. That is why I ask you; “What are you doing the rest of your life?” Here is my Christmas gift to my wife on this day. It is a song titled; “What are you doing the rest of your life.” Here are the lyrics: What are you doing the rest of your life? North and south, east and west of your life I have only one request of your life That you spend it all with me All the seasons and the times of your days All the nickels and the dimes of your days Let the seasons and the rhymes of your days All begin and end with me I want to see your face in every kind of light In the fields of dawn and

Frederick Kissoon forests of the night And when you stand before the candles on a cake Let me be the silent wish that you make Those tomorrows waiting deep in your eyes In the world of love you keep in your eyes I’ll awaken what’s asleep in your eyes It may take a kiss or two Through all of my life Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall of my life All I ever recall of my life Is all of my life with you.

NEW RIVER TRIANGLE DEBACLE

Luncheon denies implicating Jagdeo Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, despite this and other publications reporting him saying that it was former President Bharrat Jagdeo who resuscitated the idea of mining in the disputed New River Triangle, is denying those utterances. Dr Luncheon held a press briefing at Office of the President yesterday and said it was the Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, who was at the time in charge of the mining portfolio, and the whole of Guyana knows that it was he who took the proposal to Cabinet and that it was rejected. “I can’t imagine you are actually saying to me that you have a taped transcript… a transcript of a tape where I have denied thus...this is impossible.” Dr Luncheon in denying his words uttered at the previous briefing said, “apart from it being profoundly illogical for a public officer of

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon my standing, my experience to repudiate a known fact, I am not an ordinary run-ofthe-mill Liard man. Please give me some credit, it is 21 years I doing this work.” Dr Luncheon in insisting

that he made no such comment said that, “there is no way that I could… in the context of I know, Cabinet know, Prime Minister know, Jagdeo know…ever in any forum anywhere in the world

get up and say that Jagdeo was supportive of mining, they would think that Luncheon is a mad man, because it is precisely contrary to the position.” According to Dr Luncheon, ever since the proposal by Prime Minister Hinds was rejected he has never returned another. Dr Luncheon in denying that he said Jagdeo sought to pursue mining in the area said that, “the whole world knows what former president’s position was, emphatically, dogmatically, no.” Asked if he would have listened to Office of the President’s audio or video copy of what he said on Wednesday last, Dr Luncheon said “no” Below is the verbatim account of what Dr Luncheon had said: “KN: When was the policy changed? Luncheon: What policy? KN: The policy not to

Bharrat Jagdeo pursue mining in that location. Luncheon: I am uncertain that there was indeed an explicit policy, we’re divided, we are divided and this division does not extend to all other levels other than cabinet so we have indeed over the last, I think it was the 2006 term of President, Former President Jagdeo did indeed

discuss the issue of mining and exploring in the New River Triangle, in that area, sorry instead of saying New River Triangle, in that area at that time the President had a strong position that was not consistent with others in the cabinet but we are an advisory body as you would recall. KN: So the President gets what the President wants? Luncheon: I didn’t say that, we are an advisory body as you would recall and therefore the President’s view held sway. That was 2006 to 2011…2006 to 2011 KN: And President Ramotar is continuing? Luncheon: I am not saying anything further- 2006 to 20113 In his denial of saying those words, he told reporters yesterday that it was an uncharitable comment that was attributed him and that Kaieteur News’ editor-in-chief, Adam Harris, should explain.

JAMAICANS DENIED ENTRY INTO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FILE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – Two of the 13 Jamaicans who were denied entry to Trinidad and Tobago in November, have filed an official complaint with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the twin-island republic. An additional three of the

13 who were also refused entry into Port of Spain on November 19, have inquired about the possibility of seeking redress. AMinistry of Foreign Affairs official confirmed that the three have specifically inquired about a refund of their airfare. The Ministry of Foreign

Affairs had said that, in order to conduct further investigations, those who were denied entry into Trinidad and Tobago had to submit a signed written personal statement, outlining details of the incident. It also urged nationals to submit such a report whenever they are refused entry into any

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. The November 19 incident led to a high level meeting between Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran and his Jamaican counterpart, A.J. Nicholson

and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said it was now implementing the agreed CARICOM complaints procedure, which includes liaising with the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Unit in Barbados. The Ministry of Foreign

Affairs said that the Guyanabased CARICOM Secretariat has also been instructed to intensify the training and sensitisation of immigration officials across the region on the issue of free movement of Caribbean nationals across the region.

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Bids submitted for structures at Track and Field facility Under the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, bids were opened yesterday by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for the construction of Synthetic Track and Field Facility - Phase 3 Lot 1- Construction of Club House/ Pavilion, Leonora, Region three.

The Office of the President received bids for the Supply of Fibre Optic Fusion Splicers.

Eccles to Providence...

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry received bids for the Develop, Supply, Deliver, Install and Test of DRIMMS Software.

The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs received bids for the Provision of Security Services.

Tenders were opened for the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) for the procurement of goods Lot I- Supply of Shade Materials Lot 2- Supply of Irrigation Equipment.

The Office of the Elections Commission received bids for the construction of a Corriverton Office.

The Ministry of Housing & Water received bids for the construction of Core Houses at (1)Belle West, Ph II, WBD, Region #3, (2)Recht-Door-Zee Phase I and Phase 11 and Westminster, Ph 1, EBD, Region #3, (3) Block 8 Tuschen, Phase 11, EBE, Region #3, (4) Ordnance Fortlands, Canje, Berbice, Region #6, (5)Amelia’s Ward, Linden, Region #10.

From page 3 lots? Now we are dealing with land shortages.” According to the Member of Parliament, what is even more insulting to Guyanese who badly want a house lot is the fact that it appears a decision was taken to give out the front lands and whatever was left, to the poor applicants. “These are like scraps of meat, a slap in the face for Guyanese. You will recall that after giving out all these lands… and again we don't know at what price… President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali, announced this year that they wanted more lands, so they are opening 1,000 more lots behind here. You tell me…where is the love and respect for hardworking Guyanese in all this? This is same kind of transparency we're talking about on the other projects.” Ramjattan said that he is fully aware and prepared for excuses by the Housing Minister that the lands were advertised in the Guyana Chronicle from June. “Explain to us then how some of these developers have been on the lands…some doing infrastructure works from more than a year now? Further, for something like this, should it not be advertised so that all Guyanese can see it? We are seeing a trend that whenever an asset of this country is being sold or passed over to a close friend or relative, they always hide it away where nobody can see…So much for the transparency that this Government has been talking about.” According to the leaked document, the lands in question lie behind the Eccles Industrial Site and stretch behind Republic Park and

Nandy Park to Mocha Road. “Now they say that they don't have any more lands on the East Bank and want to open new ones along the Soesdyke/Linden highway. We have another set of land, just over 318 acres, that has been allocated for remigrant schemes in this same Providence/Eccles area? How much has been taken up? How do we know these are not ending up in the hands of some of the cronies of this administration?” According to the leaked map, 1,000 house lots (roughly 250 acres) have been made available at Eccles for house lots and just over 400 acres behind Providence for more. “We are not clear if this map is telling us that the new 1,000 house lots behind Providence are part of this 400 acres. We also are not sure what is happening to lands between Herstelling and Diamond. Were these given out also? We don't know. We are sending this map to the Minister along with a number of questions for answers. What we do know that is the poor people have been virtually pushed into the backdam.” Among some of the private developers are Caricom Insurance; Kishan Bacchus; Citiwide; Sunway; Courtney Benn; Buddy's; Duraville; Vikab; Nabi and Sons; B.K. International; Dax and a company linked to Odinga Lumumba, a Presidential Advisor. In October, Housing Minister Irfaan Ali had disclosed that around 400 acres have been granted to private developers. The Opposition had signaled since then its intentions to table questions in the National Assembly, the country's highest law-making forum. The Opposition had

wanted to know which private developers have been allocated lands; the amount paid; when it was paid and whether the process was advertised. The private developers that had submitted proposals, according to the Housing Ministry, were Windsor Tech. Inc, Navigant Builders Inc., Queensville Housing Development, A and R Jiwanram Printery Inc., Buddy's Housing Development, Ray Dan Housing Enterprise, DC Construction/Comfort Sleep, Caricom General Insurance Inc., Romell Jagroop General Construction Services, Lakeville Executive Homes Inc., Mr. Gentle P Elias & Mr. Brian Chase, Chung's Global Enterprise, Hi Tech Construction Inc., and Prembury Consultants T&T Ltd. It is this particular disclosure that has raised the eyebrows of the AFC and APNU. “How are we advertising in June for proposals when several of these developers have been operating on lands for over a year now? Some of these firms have been selling lands and homes to people already. There seems to be something secret about this.” “We are not asking the Minister for new proposals that have been submitted. We are asking clearly for details of the lands already allocated to private developers.” Meanwhile, Kaieteur News has been able to confirm that lands further along the East Bank of Demerara have also been allocated, also under unclear circumstances. Some 400 acres in the Coverden area have been granted to a businessman close to the administration.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Administration playing politics with police careers BY DALE ANDREWS The wait will continue indefinitely for the hardworking police ranks, who are desperate for promotions. Indications point to no promotions being announced at the beginning of the year, as is customary. The reason being touted is the absence of the Police Service Commission. While the Police Service Commission (PSC) is responsible for the promotion and other matters related directly to the senior ranks of the force, the junior promotions will suffer, since there will hardly be room for their upward mobility if the vacancies are not created at the top of the Force’s administration. Without the Police Service Commission there can be no promotions from Inspectors up to Assistant Commissioners of Police. This will come as a major disappointment to several ranks, both senior and junior, many of whom have been stagnated in one position for several years. “The junior Promotion Board has already met and finalized the promotions, but the commissioner is not too keen on making that announcement in the absence

of the senior ranks’ promotions,” a senior police source told Kaieteur News. This newspaper has been making repeated enquiries about the establishment of the PSC, but the responses have been less than satisfactory from senior government officials who are directly or indirectly responsible. Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon had indicated at one of his Press Conferences that the administration was looking at the establishment of several Commissions, the PSC being one of them, when the question was posed to him. A month ago, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee had promised a press conference to deal with the establishment of the PSC and other matters - of course that engagement never came off, although he regularly hosts his Party’s media conference. “These people are playing with our careers,” one Police Officer lamented. Officers of the Guyana Police Force are worried that the situation that occurred in 1999 when there was no Police Service Commission (PSC), could visit them again. The Police Officers are hoping that that situation, which resulted in no police

- Promotions pushed back to February

Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

Leroy Brumell

promotions for three years, would not reoccur, especially since there appears to be no urgency on the part of the administration to deal with the issue. “For a year now there has been no movement, and it is okay to assume that no work has been done since the Chairman died,” a senior officer of the Guyana Police Force said. The last Commission was chaired by Dennis Morgan who subsequently died in

November 2012 while serving in that capacity. The Police Service Commission, a five-man body, was rendered inactive following his death. Kaieteur News understands that in light of the imminent delay in the establishment of the PSC, the administration of the Guyana Police Force is hoping to announce its promotions by next February to coincide with the country’s 44th Republic anniversary. “Unless something dramatic occurs, like the fast tracking of the PSC, there will be no promotions until maybe February,” the senior police officer stated. Some ranks have been stagnant in one position for long periods, some as long as 20 years without promotion. It was explained that some ranks have pending disciplinary matters that are hampering their advancement. However, it was pointed out that constables will receive automatic promotion once they have served 15 years or more and have no pending disciplinary matters. One worrying factor is the apparent lack of objective criteria whereby ranks, particularly gazetted officers, are evaluated for advancement in the GPF. Anecdotal evidence suggests that among the reasons persons are not promoted, are to be found in two principal areas, namely (i) pending disciplinary matter(s); and(ii) adverse annual confidential report(s). However, it is not unknown that favoured officers have been beneficiaries of promotions, sometimes to the extent of superseding more worthy candidates. Some of these (un)worthy things have been given a free ride, never having experienced the travails of professional policing. The other side of that coin

is that those officers, who find themselves in disfavour, are stagnated sometimes to the point of opting to resign in circumstances that can aptly be described as constructive dismissal, or to not rock the boat and go with the flow until retirement, so as not to jeopardise their retirement benefits. Two such cases come to mind, where until her retirement, the most senior of Assistant Superintendents was passed over for promotion for more than 10 years. The other instance is where the most senior of Superintendents has been consistently superseded by persons less experienced/ qualified for a number of years. The ostensible reason is that there are pending disciplinary matters against both of these officers. The fact that these people’s right to a hearing has been violated, contrary to the principles of natural justice, seems not to have made any impression on the force’s administration. “To regularly raise the spectre of disciplinary inquiries whenever the time approaches for the PSC to consider promotions recommendations, reeks of vindictiveness sheltering in an unstructured, opaque and disorganized process,” one male observer pointed out. He noted that many of those promoted to their level of incompetence are prone to exhibit the worst form of leadership behaviour, including oppressive and tyrannical conduct towards subordinates. But of even greater concern is the stagnation of more than 40 cadet officers. In 2008, then President, Bharrat Jagdeo, challenged the Guyana Police Force to appoint 50 Cadet Officers over three years in a move that was intended to strengthen the officer corps of the organization. However, five

years later, Cadets, even from the first batch, are still waiting to be confirmed in the gazetted position of Assistant Superintendents. The reason being given for this apparent administrative hiccup is the lack of vacancies in the Assistant Superintendent bracket. Cadet Officers are ranks who have been earmarked to be gazetted officers of the Force. The rank is just above that of an Inspector. The Cadet Officers eventually become Assistant Superintendents upon successful completion of their Cadetship. Under what is being touted as the ‘Jagdeo Cadet Scheme’, the first batch of 15 police cadet officers graduated from the Basic Cadet Officer Training Programme in 2009. This group was followed by larger groups of Police Cadet Officers in the following years, up to the last batch of two in 2011. There were four batches in all that satisfied Jagdeo’s mandate for the Force. But according to a police administrative expert, there was no provision to accommodate the Cadet Officers into the gazetted police ranks. It was explained that the system could only accommodate a certain number of Assistant Superintendents and there is a preference for experienced Inspectors and Chief Inspectors to fill positions that become available from time to time. Jagdeo’s 2008 mandate to have 50 Police Cadet Officers appointed and trained, has placed the Force in the dilemma of also stagnating the elevation of some categories of ranks. “The Police, in their haste to satisfy Jagdeo’s mandate, fast-tracked the Cadetship Programme without making the necessary provisions. Now these Cadets are languishing in their Cadet position for years,” the senior officer added. This newspaper was reliably informed that after two years as a Cadet Officer, once there is no blemish in their files, the officers are eligible for promotion to Assistant Superintendents. “We trained with people from the army and those guys have already been confirmed; some have even been promoted higher, while we are still Cadets,” one of the affected Cadet Officers stated. As a consequence of their stagnation, the Cadet Officers are being denied the benefits of their gazetted colleagues, including dutyfree vehicles.

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Bahamas govt. silence on CLICO guarantee ‘a tragedy’ By Alison Lowe Nassau Guardian Business Editor NASSAU, Bahamas — Nine months after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that The Bahamas government must “accelerate” the liquidation process, the government has been urged to bring a resolution to the CLICO (Bahamas) case as it said it would do before year-end 2013. Bishop Simeon Hall, a CLICO (Bahamas) policyholder and a former member of the creditors committee, who resigned in protest in March of this year over the government’s failure to issue a guarantee of the liabilities of the insolvent insurer, said it is a “tragedy” that so many Bahamians continue to be “waylaid by this debacle”. “I think the government should be held accountable, particularly given that there are 30,000 people who have been waylaid by this. The government should find some

Bishop Simeon Hall money,” said Hall, adding that even up until last Thursday he had received a call from a member of the public concerned over the status of the CLICO (Bahamas) liquidation.” “I know a lady who said she was putting this money aside for when she died, because she didn’t want to be a burden on her children. “She said she can’t die right now because she’s waiting for this thing to be fixed. The elderly and the poor

are challenged. We should be more forthcoming.” Bishop Hall reiterated his statement that the CLICO (Bahamas) situation was a result of major oversights in the part of authorities. “I have money in there that I was putting aside for my retirement. I don’t know how to say it without blaming someone because I think the authorities that allowed this to go belly up are to be held accountable.” While liquidator Craig Gomez is under a courtordered gag order which restricts him from speaking to the media, Guardian Business understands that there has been little movement on the question of the guarantee this year. Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis, who earlier this year told The Nassau Guardian that the government intended to bring a resolution to the CLICO (Bahamas) liquidation by the end of 2013, has not answered phone calls from Guardian Business in over a month and did not return texts

“IPA Group brings Xmas cheer to children’s homes”

From left, Group Marketing Manager, Mr. Shafeez Ali, Sales Executives: Tulsedass Sukhu and Shirlean Alexander; Administrators at Joshua’s Children Home: Ryan Gursahai and Susan Rijkard IPA Group, yesterday, donated over 500 Christmas gifts to Children Homes and Orphanages in the city. The presentation took place at its Head Office on Camp Street. Group Marketing Manager, Mr. Shafeez Ali, said that the Company owes a social responsibility to those kids who would have lost their parents or were being neglected.

“There is no better feeling than seeing the sparkle in the children’s eyes when they receive a gift at Christmas”. He said that the Chairman of IPA Group, Lloyd Singh, gives back to the community year round, but at Christmas, he would give a little extra, and would prefer to bring that extra special cheer to the lives of underprivileged children during this festive season.

Ali added that there are some kids who will not get a gift this Christmas, and so urge others who can assist to give generously. While IPA is not able to give every little boy and girl a gift, we will make every effort to give as many as possible. IPA Group consists of the home for Clear Waters and Multi Builders, IPA Pharmacy and IPA Health Care.

and emails sent this week seeking comment on the government’s intentions with respect to the CLICO matter. Earlier this year, he said the government had the funds to offer the guarantee. However, government finances have since come under significantly more scrutiny, with plans to implement value-added tax (VAT) having placed a microscope on the level of government expenditure. CLICO (Bahamas) began experiencing cash flow problems in 2009, months prior to being placed into liquidation, as evidenced by its inability to pay US$2.6 million of claims in the Turks and Caicos Islands, where it operated a branch, in addition to those claims in The Bahamas and Belize. As a result of various inter-company loans from the company to its subsidiaries, the company faced liquidity problems and was challenged to fund its daily operations. The last official report from the liquidator, Craig Gomez of Baker Tilly Gomez, was published on December 12, 2012, on the website set up to provide information on the liquidation process just over a year ago. At that time, Gomez said he was continuing the company’s operations on a limited basis, attending to the

existing policies. “I continue to urge policyholders to continue making premium payments on their respective policies. Only policies currently in force will be assumed by the new insurance provider,” said Gomez. Gomez said he was in discussion with three prospective buyers seeking to acquire CLICO’s life, health and pension policies. The liquidator said that government had stated it would provide a guarantee of $30 million to CLICO to “assist in the anticipated shortfall in the liquidation”. “The guarantee in its proposed state as communicated to me will provide the following: (a) Death coverage up to B$300,000.00 per person; (b) Executive Flexible Premium Annuity would receive up to B$100,000.00 per person; (c) Annuity holders (fixed deposits and pensioners) would receive up to B$100,000.00 per person; (d) Life insurance - full coverage; (e) Accident and sickness full coverage.” Gomez said the government would be reimbursed for any funds utilized under the guarantee from funds received by liquidator from the sale of CLICO’s assets and “from funds otherwise recovered”.

“The guarantee is being drafted by the Office of the Attorney General and as at the date of this report the document has not been completed. I am preparing to meet with Prime Minister Perry Christie’s administration to continue my discussion on the guarantee. A meeting with the Ministry of Finance is tentatively scheduled for July 30, 2012,” said Gomez. He added that he had directed Trinidadian attorneys to “actively pursue the enforceability” of the US$58 million guarantee from CLICO (Bahamas) Limited’s Trinidadian parent company, CL Financial. At end of June 2012, the portfolio of CLICO (Bahamas) contained 13,835 policies with a total surrender value of $20.074 million and cumulative sum assured of $1.093 billion. The Bahamian balance sheet of CLICO (Bahamas) showed a solvency deficiency of $22.162 million at June 30, 2012, with total assets worth $44.794 million outmatched by liabilities totalling $66.956 million. In April 2013, the International Monetary Fund in its assessment of the stability of the Bahamian financial sector called on the government to “accelerate” the resolution of the CLICO (Bahamas) liquidation.

Page 22

Kaieteur News

WANTED Magazine writers needed. Email resume & CV to teshawnalall@gmail.com. Contact: 629-2206 Attractive live in waitress to work in bar – Tel: 686-4818 Wanted: contract cars & experience dispatcher @ West Site Taxi - Tel: 6130419; 600-0688 1 Couple or small family to live and work on live stock farm @ New Hope E.B.D 2662711, 609-4594 1 Professional Chef & Baker - $10,000 daily - Tel: 2336517/ 622-1957 URGENTLY WANTED: Thirty five (35) Security officers. Apply: SECURITY ALLIANCE Barrack Street, Kingston (upstairs FedEx) Person to slaughter and clean pigs at new Hope, E.B.D. call: 266-2711, 609-4594 Experienced roti/ puri cooks, pastry makers, counter servers, cleaner & handy boys. Apply @ Hack’s Halaal @ 5 Commerce St Scrap Metal – Tel:615-5315; 658-9045 Live-in waitress, bartender and going and coming cooks – Tel:643-9007; 6641804 1 Boy to work in interior salary - $80,000 age 20-35 call between 9-5 – Call:6757043; 697-1164

PROPERTY FOR SALE

VEHICLE FOR SALE

FOR RENT

VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community - Call: 592624-8704/ 592-684-9203

2 - 2007 Toyota Avensis - Tel: 698-0674

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

One two- storey concrete house, Ave A DiamondTel:643-5161 One two storey business property (Transported) @ Brickery Public Road E.B.D Tel: 660-8128 Bel-Air - $55M, Prashad-$40, $54M, Subryanville - $55M, Meadowbrook - $45M – Tel:231-2199; 618-7483 2 Flat Concrete Building @ Chateau Margot ECD – $32M Tel:661-9431 Two storey business property (Transported). Situated in Tuschen New Scheme EBE - For more information Call: 627-6305/ 668-6858

VACANCY Barber - Call: 683-1534; 6094983

Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131 Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www. dolly sautorental.com Premio, Vitz call:347-9339790, 639-4452. Aidan’s Car Rental & Pickup - Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807

Driven Auto – Xmas Blowout Sale – Unregistered fully loaded Toyota IST $2,295,000 & Madza Axela $2,295,000 – Tel:643-6565; 226-9931 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms - Call: 680-3154 BMW sports (unregistered)Contact: 650-0979 2008 Fielder – unregistered Tel: 617-2891

4 Corner property Broad & Charles St – Tel:677-3406

We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154

FOR SALE / FOR RENT Vacant corner lot 58"X30" @ Garnette & Republic Streets, Newton Kitty - Tel:645-0616 American pool table - Tel: 277-0578

1½ & 2 Ton Canters with power gate, unregistered, $ 2 . 4 M & $ 2 . 7 M - Tel: 617-2891 1-55 Leyland DAF truck, excellent working condition. Price $2.8M, Must Go!Contact:656-8346

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Waiakabra, Linden Highway: 1,409’x403’ or 13.73 acres. Concrete house thereon. 1,100 feet from Highway Call: 619-4152

TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 347933-9790, 639-4452. Newly built house call:6986496

Blankenburg Public Road WCD (38X150) & (39X150) $16M each - Tel:666-3619 Land for sale @ Lot 12 MonRepos Tel:220-7330 Parafaite Harmonie (High Income) $2.5M– Tel:675-7292 Parfaite Harmonie - $1M- Tel: 675-7292 Parafaite Harmonie (High Income)- $2.2M- Tel:675-7292 Parafaite Harmonie (High Income) - $2M – Tel:675-7292 High Income Land for sale @ Diamond - $5.5M negotiable - Tel: 683-9699

24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant - Call: 6910894/684-2838

Vacancies for mechanical maintenance, Technicians on food packaging machine (overtime available)- Contact Allison: 603-1089

Salon station to rentContact:695-5336

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One boat cupeller R-H -24" – Contact:676-8324 Household Items: Electronics, 4x4 Wheels, food warmers, steel grills, carpets, colognes, motorcycles, cars & much more. Tel: 223-1885 12 Pure bred German Shepherd pups – Six [6] weeks old – Tel:638-5778 Metal scaffold, size 5"X5" & 6.6"X5"-Call: 267-1563. Price negotiable

Dog’s- Young Adult Terrier ready for reproduction – Call:696-7467 Builders and Home Owners (1) Beeson Windows and Doors are located At New Eccles Industrial site Tel# 622-4197 1 Toyota Rav-4; excellent condition, one owner – Contact:626-9582 Original Games- Call:6722566 1 smothie machine,2 ice machine- Contact:2310655,683-8734 1 Boat, 40ft cabin Cruser – Contact:665-2314 RABBITS - $2000 EACH – TEL: 642-8843 Dachshund mixed with Pekingese pups for sale BBM #:28E84848, Tel:6772476 1Brand new Brazilian beef saw – Tel:671-7482 1 Stall @ Stabroek Market – Tel:658-0115; 718-757-8031 Terrier fluffy puppies – Tel:645-0240 SERVICES Computer repairs in homes Tel: 675-7292 Services and repairs to gas stoves, washing machines Call: 688-0183

Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032,647-2943

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Vacancies exist for production line workers, previous production experience desirable (overtime available) - Contact Allison: 603-1089 Car wash attendantCall:694-4148 or 225-6296

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

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VACANCY

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LAND FOR SALE

FOR SALE

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CAR RENTAL

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Wednesday December 25, 2013

PEN PAL Mixed male 24, seeking females 18-23yrs – Telephone:696-9746

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LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964 (Continued on page 23)

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Kaieteur News

Page 23

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

A research agreement that benefits all Guyanese DEAR EDITOR, It has been with great consternation that I have been reading the past week’s Stabroek News and now the Kaieteur News in relation to the utterings over the award of a Permission of Geological and Geophysical Survey (PGSS) in the south of Guyana to the Guyanese company Muri Brasil Ventures Inc. I am puzzled as to the motive behind all the negative light in which this potentially large scale investment is being cast. This is a survey which holds great promise for Guyana, yet the motives of many of the objectors such as the Guyana Human Rights Association, A Partnership for National Unity’s Joseph Harmon and several political pundits remain, at the best, unknown. I am yet to comprehend what it is that they want, despite reading all of the complaints, accusations and demands. Some I have seen call for the resignation of the Minister of Natural Resources Robert Persaud, the rescinding of the PGSS, a separation of Ministerial duties and Protection of the Environment. I have also noticed that this matter only came to the fore when there was a discussion about an illegal road being built by a Brazilian in the Parabara area. For the record the builders of that road and Muri Brasil Ventures Inc. are not connected, nor is Muri involved in any road building. So far, all of the articles seem to hint and make the assumption that there is some level of corruption involved. However, to date, I have not heard anyone stating that the agreement signed between the Minister and the company is illegal. In my humble opinion, once it is a legal agreement it must be honoured. It is time that the government state this fact regardless of the reasons given by some persons who feel, that this legal agreement, is not in the best interest of Guyana. I would like to state why legal binding agreements must be honoured. I refer to two more popular cases from our recent history. 1: The agreement with the GT&T which created a “monopoly” and 2: the Omai mine agreement, both of these agreements were questioned by all on sundry and attempts were made to rescind them. The GT&T issue is still ongoing and I will not comment. Following the change of Government in 1992 there was an official

investigation and inquiry into the Omai agreement, led by Dr. Maurice Odle. The determination was that the agreement was fully compliant with the law. On a historical note, this is not the first time the area in question is being studied visà-vis research activities to determine the type of minerals. Were there any previous studies in this area? The answer is yes, several decades ago studies were done by: 1. the United Nations Revolving Fund Programme whose findings are a matter of public record, 2. studies were also done in the late 70’s by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) headed by Geologist Chris Barron , 3. under the stewardship of Commissioner William Woolford further studies were done by Mr. Nestor, GGMC, these findings should also be public knowledge. 4. Studies have been done by a Guyana / Brazil team over the Mursi area, I am not aware if these findings have been made available to the public. The above is proof, that studies for minerals in this area were conducted by Government over its territory. The only difference, today, is that the studies are being carried out by a private firm.

So why all the fuss about this study? There are many statements being placed for public consumption that are at best most misleading. The first is that of the map purporting to show mining on the borders, any preliminary investigation would show that there is a definitive area on all Guyana ‘s borders in which mining can and cannot be conducted. This is the law of the land. The second bit of information which states that this agreement is a “sell-out” and that 2.2 million acres (approximately 4% of Guyana) has been granted to this company is ingenious in its ambiguity and designed to arouse the patriotism of Guyanese citizens. The fact however remains that the major beneficiary of this research, which would involve a foreign investment of 10s of millions of US dollars, is Guyana. PGSS agreements have been implemented simply because the GGMC does not have the technical or financial resources to do this type of research. There is an agreement that after a few years Muri will have the option to apply for prospecting licences, however what is not stated is these licences will not be

chosen from the 2.2 million acres being researched. As with all previous agreements (I have not seen the Muri agreement) areas have to be released by the companies each year as per a schedule, that allows for approximately 50% in the first year and 25% in the second year and so on. From what I understand this agreement will see at least a 30% release of the first year. So exactly how many acres are being given in the form of prospecting licences? Based on what has been the precedent, the average PL is 12,000 acres, it means that the acreage to be prospected could be around 216,000 acres. Needless to say if after years of prospecting one decides to apply for mining licence, the maximum acres is 20,000 acres. I am also aware that there have been applications by local miners to do prospecting in the area and I recall the Minister stating that he has not approved any prospecting licences in the area only a PGSS . As a matter of policy, the GGDMA has always stated that all applications must be accepted by the GGMC and following the proper checks and research, the applicant must be informed if he can or cannot be issued a

permission and a reasons must be given. It is sad to see that there has been no comment or response from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission or its board on this matter. The Private Sector Commission, whose current chairman was the Chairman of GGMC, has remained largely silent on this issue which threatens to drive away, not only this, but future foreign investment into Guyana. In conclusion, Guyanese are aware of the claims by the Venezuelan Government in the Essequibo which has, and will continue to restrict large scale development such as the Upper Mazaruni Hydro Development Project and the Beal Space Project. We are also aware about the claims by Suriname which is apparently also restricting development in the New River Triangle Area. Personally, I can understand where these foreign countries are coming from but it is totally incomprehensible to me why our own people (Guyanese) are against the development of Guyana for the benefit of all Guyanese. Edward Shields Fmr. Directorof GGMC Retired Executive Director GGDMA

UN’s Ban calls for thousands more South Sudan peacekeepers UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. chief Ban Kimoon asked the U.N. Security Council on Monday to send 5,500 more peacekeepers to South Sudan as soon as possible to protect civilians from worsening violence that threatens to plunge Africa’s youngest country into civil war. Ban made the recommendation for the twothirds increase in the size of the force in a letter to the 15member council, in which he also called for 423 more police officers. Currently some 6,700 U.N. troops and 670 police officers make up the U.N. force in South Sudan, which is known as UNMISS. The Security Council is due to vote on Tuesday afternoon on a resolution to approve the increase in peacekeepers in the landlocked oil-producing nation, said French U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud, who is president of the council for December. The council met to discuss Ban’s request on Monday and Araud said the reaction by all members had been positive. The United States circulated a draft

Ban Ki-moon resolution on the increase. “We’re eager to work with the (U.N.) secretariat and troop contributing countries and other member states to ensure that the mission has the assets and resources that it needs to fulfill its mandate,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told reporters after the council met. Ban said the additional troops would be drawn from other nearby U.N. and African Union missions, such as those in Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sudanese regions of Darfur and Abyei, Liberia and Ivory Coast. He said five infantry battalions, three attack helicopters, three utility helicopters, one C-130

military transport aircraft and three police units should be transferred to South Sudan. “I would be grateful if the Security Council would approve the transfer of the relevant personnel and assets to UNMISS on an urgent basis in order to help ensure the protection of civilians and the protection of United Nations personnel and assets,” Ban wrote in his letter to the council. He said the United Nations was obtaining consent from troop and police contributing countries and coordinating with the “peacekeeping operations concerned to ensure that the timing and duration of this proposed temporary redeployment does not

prejudice the implementation of their respective mandates.” Riek Machar, the former vice president of South Sudan leading a rebellion against the government, told Reuters on Monday he was ready for dialogue to end the conflict but said President Salva Kiir must first release his detained political allies. Machar said he had spoken on Monday to Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom, leader of a team of African mediators trying to end more than a week of fighting that has killed hundreds of people and driven thousands from their homes. Ban told reporters earlier on Monday that some 45,000 civilians were seeking protection at U.N. bases in South Sudan. “UNMISS is protecting civilians at its bases, supporting humanitarian deliveries, monitoring the human rights situation and investigating reports of abuses,” he said. “The world is watching all sides in South Sudan. Attacks on civilians and the U.N. peacekeepers deployed to protect them must cease.”

(From page 22)

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,6626045,223-8115 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. U l t r a C o o l , call:225-9032,647-2943 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) Brains Construction & Rental Services: Excavator, Bobcat, Truck, Tools – Tel:6015024/ 227-4536 (Bobcat & Excavator Operator needed) We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar Technicians available for appliance repairs – washers, dryers, microwaves, stoves, deep fryers, etc – Tel:6190793; 218-0050 School bus available between Land of Canaan, Grove - Georgetown - Tel: 646-5147 Kerrin Stanley Immigration Services, Canada, U.S, U.K visa services. Authorized by Government of CanadaContact:645-4789, kerrinstanley@gmail.com

Page 24

Kaieteur News

“Mastermind” in Port Kaituma gold heist slapped with murder charge After about five court appearances for other charges, the man believed to be the “mastermind” who carefully crafted the multimillion gold heist in Port Kaituma from the El Dorado Gold Trading Company has been slapped with yet another charge. At the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Neville ‘Sunil’ Chandrawattie stood before the Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, accused of killing Darran Chanmangra at Port Kaituma on Saturday, April 21, 2007. The accused who resides at Lot 33 Sparta, Essequibo was told that at this stage he was not required to plea to the charge since it was indictable. The prosecution claimed that Chandrawattie, along with others, planned a robbery during the course of which, Chanmangra was shot

Neville Chandrawattie and killed. The men had reportedly escaped and two persons were previously charged. However, during the court hearing yesterday, Police Prosecutor Corporal Bharat Mangru told the court that on November 8, 2013, the said El Dorado Gold Trading

Company was robbed once again, but the investigations conducted this time around uncovered some new details. He said that while the “mastermind” was being cross examined, he owned up to planning the 2007 robbery hence the present charge was instituted to him. The court heard that Clairmont Williams and Sherwin ‘One Eye’ Henry were previously charged for the murder of Darran Chanmangra. However, the Chief Magistrate further remanded the accused. Chandrawattie is expected to make his next court appearance at the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrates’ Court. Added to yesterday’s charge, on February 3, 2014, he will face other charges at that court; simple larceny, possession of firearms and ammunition, unlawful wounding as well as this murder charge.

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Chief Librarian dies in smash up with police Gillian Thompson, Chief Librarian of the National Library, died at around 14:30hrs yesterday, after a speeding white Toyota Allion car slammed into the bus that she was in. According to reports, bandits were speeding away from police, north along Shiv Chanderpaul Drive when the car slammed into the libraryowned bus which was heading west along North Road, Georgetown. The car ended up in a nearby canal (between Church Street and North Road) while the blue bus (PDD 4017) slammed into the

rail of the bridge which connects North Road and Church Street. Relatives of the 47-yearold woman were told that it was not bandits in the vehicle, but rather, police officers who were chasing after bandits. “Is the police who supposed to be protecting people deh driving speed, speed, and killing people,” one relative said. Thompson died on the spot, while the rescued men were treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital for minor injuries, and are assisting with investigations.

DEAD: Gillian Thompson

No bail for miner caught smuggling shotgun cartridges into G/T Prison Just two days ago, a warder at the Georgetown Prisons found two 12-gauge shotgun cartridges stashed in a pair of Nike sneakers. And yesterday a 29-year-old miner was brought before the courts for allegedly attempting to sneak same into the prison. Appearing before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court was Kellon Benjamin, who the prosecution claimed had in his possession two live rounds of ammunition on December 23 at the prison, whilst he was not the holder of a firearm licence at the time. The prosecution was represented by Police Prosecutor Corporal Bharat Mangru who told the court that on that day, Benjamin visited the prison to take clothing and footwear to an

inmate of the prison, Anthony Watson. He said, however, at about 11:30 hours the plan was unearthed after a routine search was conducted and the two cartridges were found in the left side of the Nike sneakers whilst in the ‘hands’ of the accused. Anthony Watson is one of the inmates accused of a series of criminal offences, among which are the November 4, 2009 arson attempt at the Supreme Court and of the murder of a civilian. He has reportedly been on remand since December 2010. Newspaper reports indicated that the discovery of the ammunition has sparked fears that a weapon may have already been smuggled into the prison. Up to late Monday evening, the entire prison population was allegedly on ‘lockdown,’

while police and prison officials scoured the premises. Meanwhile, at the court hearing, the accused was represented by a Defence Attorney who stated that his client had been working in the interior for three months. He said that the package which his client attempted to deliver was merely a ‘favour’ for someone. He claimed that Benjamin did not know what was concealed therein since the errand only extended to him collecting and delivering the package. In response, the Chief Magistrate refused bail and the miner was remanded to prison where he will await his next court appearance. The matter was adjourned until January 14, 2014 for report and fixtures.

The car ended up in the nearby canal

Fisherman kills wife, commits suicide A 29 – year – old fisherman of Endeavour, Leguan, Essequibo Islands, brutally murdered his wife by slitting her throat, early yesterday morning. The man, identified as Youvindra Jagdai, committed suicide a few hours later. The dead woman was identified as Sunita Lall also known as ‘Dolly.’ “The Police engaged in a manhunt for

suspect who was later found hanging at a koker several miles away from his home,” a source confirmed.” “Neighbours had said that Jagdai fled the scene with a rope, which signaled his intention of committing suicide soon after the killing occurred.” “Apparently the couple had a fight and the wife picked up a rolling pin and the husband picked up a knife to defend himself and he stabbed her,” the source said The suspect’s mother, Phulmattie Jagdai reportedly received a call at about 03:00hours from a neighbour, who informed her about the tragedy. Mrs Jagdai also provided details about the deceased. She then explained that she has no idea what took place, since she has not spoken to her son within the past year. Neighbours related that the couple frequently argued and abused each other, verbally and physically. However other reports suggested that the murder stemmed from allegations of an extra-marital affair. Meanwhile, in a brief

interview with this newspaper, the dead woman’s mother said that she could not understand the motive behind the crime. “Me nah know what happen but dem send fuh call me this morning and dem tell me that meh daughter dead…when meh reach she lie down pun de bed in blood and de police say I got fuh move cause dem got fuh do what dem got fuh do,” the aggrieved parent said. She confirmed that the couple was having problems, but said that she never believed that it would turn to murder. “Me aint know what happen. Me went to Parika Sunday and buy toys fuh dem children and then was de last time meh see me daughter.” The women said that her six-year-old granddaughter witnessed the murder. “She tell me how she daddy knock she mother with de rolling pin and then tek de knife and stab she.” The couple shared a common law relationship for almost seven years and had three young children together.

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Kaieteur News

Bangladesh opposition calls for protest at ‘farcical’ election Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia (in pink) arrives for a rally in Dhaka. REUTERS/Andrew Biraj

DHAKA (Reuters) Opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday urged Bangladeshis to march to the capital Dhaka at the weekend to protest against what she called “farcical” elections on January 5, and declared: “Democracy is dead.” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ruling Awami League want to do away with a tradition of introducing a caretaker government to oversee elections The opposition, led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) head Khaleda, says it will not participate unless an interim government is installed and Hasina steps down. With the BNP’s boycott, more than half of the 300 parliament seats will go uncontested, dimming hopes that an inclusive ballot could

restore stability in one of the world’s poorest countries. Khaleda, a former premier, urged people to stage the protest on Sunday. “Please come forward to resist the farcical elections on January 5 which the government is staging to steal power,” she said. “It is not an election but a shameless selection,” she said, referring to the 154 seats the Awami League will win uncontested. “Democracy is dead today,” she said, adding: “Come forward to save democracy.” The European Union and the United States have decided not to send observers to monitor the elections as most parties are not taking part in the polls. The crisis has spilled onto the streets, where people are shot, beaten or burned to

death daily in clashes between rival groups and police. More than 200 people have died in political violence this year, half of them since November 25, when the Election Commission announced a date for the vote. Rolling general strikes staged by the opposition and blockades of roads, rail lines and waterways are also hurting the $22 billion garment industry, which supplies some of the world’s top retailers, employs four million people and accounts for 80 percent of the country’s export earnings. Hasina and Khaleda have dominated politics in Bangladesh for more than two decades, and mutual suspicion bordering on hatred has blocked attempts at reconciliation between them.

Qaeda-linked group claims attack on Iraq TV station Baghdad (AFP) - An Al-Qaeda-linked militant group claimed an attack on an Iraqi television station headquarters that killed five journalists, while the UN and US yesterday condemned the targeting of media in Iraq. At the direction of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s “war ministry,” militants attacked “the headquarters of the Salaheddin satellite (channel) which... distorts the facts and fights the Sunni people,” the group said on online jihadist forums. It said two militants took part in the attack on Monday, although police said four suicide bombers assaulted the channel’s headquarters in Tikrit, north of Baghdad. The attack killed five of the channel’s journalists - the chief news editor, a copy editor, a producer, a presenter and the archives manager - and wounded five more employees. Iraq has come in for repeated criticism over the lack of media freedom and the number of unsolved killings of journalists. The country is experiencing the worst violence against journalists in years, with 12 killed in attacks since October 5.

“I am increasingly and gravely concerned about the targeting of journalists by terrorist elements during the past few weeks,” United Nations envoy Nickolay Mladenov said Tuesday. “This latest blatant act of terrorism at the Tikrit television station should be properly investigated and measures taken to prevent such heinous acts in future. “I call upon the Iraqi government and (parliament) to ensure that adequate protection is provided to journalists and media outlets in Iraq,” the UN envoy added. The US embassy in Baghdad also condemned the attack. “This is the latest of several recent attempts by the so-called Al-Qaeda in Iraq organisation to intimidate journalists and other members of the media,” it said. Violence has reached a level not seen since 2008, when Iraq was just emerging from a brutal period of sectarian killings. More than 6,650 people have been killed in Iraq since the beginning of the year, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.

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Wednesday December 25, 2013

Iran’s Rouhani eyes rebuilding relations with United States BERLIN (Reuters) - Iran wants to improve bilateral relations with the United States and other Western powers, President Hassan Rouhani said in comments published in a German newspaper on Monday, broaching an issue he has so far avoided since he took office. Rouhani won a landslide election victory in June promising a policy of engagement with the West and has had regular diplomatic contacts with the United States, but they h a v e been limited to negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program. “We want to rebuild and improve our relations to European and North American countries on a basis of mutual respect,” he said in a contribution prepared for Project Syndicate, which distributed it to its member publications including Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung following approval by Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. “We are striving to avoid new burdens on relations between Iran and the United States and also to remove the tensions that we have inherited,” said Rouhani, who has promised to reduce Tehran’s isolation and to win an easing of sanctions. Tehran and Washington severed relations after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution. Iran cannot forget

Hassan Rouhani everything that has affected relations with the United States over the last 60 years, he said, but added: “We must now concentrate on the present and orientate ourselves towards the future.” Rouhani’s diplomatic pragmatism has already resulted in significant progress. While in New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September, Rouhani held an historic telephone call with Barack Obama, the first time the presidents of the two nations have spoken in more than three decades. Iranian officials subsequently emphasized the call was to support a diplomatic resolution of Iran’s nuclear program and did not concern direct bilateral ties. Two months later Iran and world powers signed an interim deal to curb part of

Iran’s nuclear activities in return for some sanctions relief. Rouhani, a former nuclear negotiator, said he was doing whatever he could to end tensions over Tehran’s nuclear activities, which have raised concerns in the West that Iran is seeking to develop an atomic weapons capability. Iranian officials have repeatedly denied such suggestions. “We have never even considered the option of acquiring nuclear weapons,” Rouhani said. “We’ll never give up our right to profit from nuclear energy. But we are working towards removing all doubts and answer all reasonable questions about our program.” Iran agreed under the November 24 accord to stop its most sensitive nuclear work - uranium enrichment to a fissile concentration of 20 percent - and cap other parts of its activities in exchange for some limited easing of sanctions, including trade in petrochemicals and gold. On Sunday, world powers and Iran suspended their technical talks in Geneva on how to implement the agreement until after the Christmas holidays following slow progress. In a posting on Facebook on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said they would resume early next week but he described all stages of the talks as complex.

‘Thousands’ killed as South Sudan slides towards civil war Juba (AFP) - Thousands of South Sudanese have been killed in over a week of violence with reports of bodies piled in mass graves, the UN said yesterday, amid ongoing battles threatening to slide into civil war. The top UN humanitarian chief in the country Toby Lanzer said yesterday there was “absolutely no doubt in my mind that we’re into the thousands” of dead, the first clear indication of the scale of conflict and ethnic violence engulfing the world’s youngest nation. However, the government also celebrated yesterday the important and strategic recapture of the key town of Bor after a nearly week-long rebel occupation, although large areas remain out of their control. Earlier, UN rights chief Navi Pillay said a mass grave had been found in the rebel-

held town of Bentiu, while there were “reportedly at least two other mass graves” in the capital Juba. The grim discovery follows escalating battles between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing his rival Riek Machar, a former vice president who was sacked in July. The official toll nationwide has stood at 500 dead for days, although numbers are feared to be far higher, aid workers say. Witnesses that AFP has spoken to recount a wave of atrocities, including an orchestrated campaign of ethnic mass killings and rape. The unrest has taken on an ethnic dimension, pitting Kiir’s Dinka tribe against the Nuer tribe to which Machar belongs. UN chief Ban Ki-moon has warned warring factions that reports of crimes against

humanity will be investigated, as well as asking the Security Council to nearly double the size of the UN mission in the country. However, Machar said for the first time yesterday that he was ready to accept Kiir’s offer of talks, suggesting neighbouring Ethiopia as a neutral location. “We are ready for talks,” he told Radio France Internationale (RFI), adding that he had spoken earlier in the day to US Secretary of State John Kerry and Ethiopia’s Foreign Minster Tedros Adhanom. “We want democratic free and fair elections. We want Salva Kiir to call it a day,” Machar said, listing his demands, which follow days of shuttle diplomacy by African nations and calls from Western powers for fighting to stop.

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Kaieteur News

Uruguay will keep peacekeepers in Haiti through 2014

Uruguayan UN Peacekeepers patrol a street on March 4, 2005, in Les Cayes in southern Haiti (AFP Photo/Thony Belizaire) Montevideo (AFP) Lawmakers in Uruguay voted to keep peacekeepers in Haiti through the end of 2014, but said the government would keep open the option of an earlier full withdrawal. The legislation approved in the Senate, and which had already passed in the lower house, calls for all peacekeepers to remain in the impoverished Caribbean nation until April 30, 2014. At that point, one-third of the roughly 950 Uruguayan peacekeepers currently deployed in Haiti would be withdrawn. The remaining

Blue Helmets would stay in place until year’s end. But the legislation said that Uruguay’s president could “at any time” pull out an increased number of forces deployed, up to and including a total withdrawal, if circumstances warranted such a move. The UN Security Council in October said it was reducing the size of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to just over 5,000 soldiers, from 6,233. The UN force was initially sent in to end political strife in 2004 and played a key

role in the aftermath of the devastating January 2010 earthquake. It has faced controversy over a cholera epidemic that has been traced to a river next to a UN camp in Haiti where Nepalese troops were based. Four Uruguayan sailors were detained in September 2012 on charges stemming from the alleged rape of a Haitian man in 2011. Sexual assault allegations were later thrown out. Uruguayan President Jose Mujica said in October that he would pull the peacekeepers out to a lack of democratic progress in Haiti.

Brazil leader overflies flood-hit region Brasília (AFP) - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff yesterday flew over the flood-hit southeastern state of Espirito Santo, where at least 14 people have died in days of torrential rain. A Civil Defense statement raised the death toll from 12 to 14 and said nearly 50,000 people were forced to leave their homes, up from the 46,000 reported earlier. It said 47 cities in Espirito Santo, which borders Rio de Janeiro state, were affected by the flooding, including many left without communications, drinkable water and power. Rousseff said two helicopters and army trucks would be sent to the area to deliver food and medicine to those affected. “The tragedy in Espirito Santo destroyed homes, roads and dreams. We are going to try to rebuild them,”

the president said after her aerial tour. Espirito Santo Governor Renato Casagrande, who Saturday declared a state of alert in the area, said the rains were the worst in the past 90 years. Some 13 centimeters (five inches) of rain fell on Sunday night alone in the state capital Vitoria and civil defense officials on Tuesday warned of further flooding as rivers burst their banks. The local church and several schools in Itaguacu were turned into makeshift refuge centers. The rain and landslips have left many roads closed and several bridges have collapsed, with authorities saying two thirds of local districts have been affected. Heavy rains also hit the neighboring state of Minas Gerais, where 15 fatalities

Dilma Rousseff have been reported since October 15. Rousseff also pledged federal help to Minas Gerais. Meanwhile in early December, a storm left 16 people dead and flattened more than 200 houses in the city of Lajedinho in the northeastern state of Bahia.

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Palestinians spurn U.S. security ideas for peace with Israel RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - The Palestinians rejected ideas raised by visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday for security arrangements under a possible future peace accord with Israel, a Palestinian official said. There was no immediate response from the United States or Israel, which has long insisted on keeping swathes of its West Bank settlements, as well as a military presence on the territory’s eastern boundary with Jordan, under any peace deal. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity and declined to elaborate on the proposals, said Kerry presented them to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas after discussing them separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “The Palestinian side rejected them because they would only lead to prolonging and maintaining the occupation,” the official told Reuters, referring to Israel’s hold on the West Bank, where, along with Gaza and East Jerusalem, Palestinians seek an independent state. In remarks to reporters after his three-hour meeting with Abbas in the West Bank hub city of Ramallah, Kerry commended “his steadfast commitment to stay at the peace negotiations, despite the difficulties that he and the Palestinians have perceived in

the process”. Kerry said they had discussed “at great length issues of security in the region, security for the state of Israel, security for a future Palestine”. “I think the interests are very similar, but there are questions of sovereignty, questions of respect and dignity which are obviously significant to the Palestinians, and for the Israelis very serious questions of security and also of longer-term issues of how we end this conflict once and for all,” he added. Abbas did not join Kerry at the Ramallah media appearance. Disputes over proposed Israeli land handovers have bedeviled peace efforts for two decades, along with other issues like the status of Jerusalem and fate of Palestinian refugees. Kerry revived the talks in July and set a nine-month target for an accord, but both sides have signaled pessimism. Palestinians worry that Israel’s settlements - deemed illegal by most world powers - will not leave room for a viable state. Israelis question whether Abbas could commit the rival, armed Palestinian Hamas Islamists who govern Gaza to coexistence with the Jewish state. Kerry, who met Netanyahu earlier yesterday and returned to Jerusalem in the evening to confer again with the Israeli leader, said “some progress”

had been made in the peace talks. Acknowledging Israel’s fear that ceding the West Bank could make it vulnerable to attack, Kerry said he offered Netanyahu “some thoughts about that particular security challenge”. Neither he nor Netanyahu gave further details, citing the need to keep the diplomacy discreet. Both described Israeli security as paramount, something Netanyahu said would require that his country “be able to defend itself by itself”. Israel quit Gaza unilaterally in 2005, after which Hamas came to power. The sides have repeatedly exchanged fire since. Israeli media have reported that Kerry’s proposals included security arrangements for the Jordan Valley, between the West Bank and Jordan. An Israeli official said that in recent weeks U.S. officials had visited Jordan Valley crossing points. Kerry was due to depart today after a helicopter tour of the West Bank and other areas with Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon. In Ramallah, Kerry said he may return to the region for more talks next week “depending on where we are”. “So the discussions will go on, the effort will continue, and our hopes with them for the possibilities of peace for the region,” he said.

ROSEAU, Dominica CMC – Heavy rains yesterday caused widespread flooding and damage to several homes, particularly in the southern part of Dominica, Acting Prime Minister Reginald Austrie has said. Austire, who chaired an emergency Cabinet meeting that was also attended by officials from the Office of Disaster preparedness, said that teams were now assessing the damage caused as a result of the inclement weather. “About one third of the island has been affected, mainly towards the south.

There have been some issues in the east, in Castle Bruce and Good Hope…but most of the damage is in fact concentrated in the southern side of the island,” Austrie told the state-owned DBS radio. The Meteorological Office said that the inclement weather was due to moisture and instability associated with a trough system and warned that Dominica and other islands in the Caribbean would be affected by isolated thunderstorms and heavy rains as well as strong winds. They urged people residing in low-lying areas to prepare to be evacuated

especially as the land has been heavily saturated as a result of the rains. The radio station reported that many people in the south of the island were forced to walk to the capital to complete their Christmas shopping and Austrie said “there had been some infrastructural damage. “The roads in the Roseau Valley and some areas towards south Soufriere are still cut off and we are now heading off to the field to do an assessment,” he said, adding that most of the homes had been damaged in Bath Estate, just on the outskirts of the capital.

Heavy rains hit Dominica

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Bolivia leader - an ex-child worker - opposes child labor age La Paz (AFP) - President Evo Morales said he opposed any outright ban on child labor or setting a minimum age for workers in Bolivia - as a former child worker, himself. “It should not be banned,” the socialist president, 54, said, drawing on his own experience to explain his opposition to legislation under consideration that would set a minimum age of 14 for child workers. Morales, the country’s first elected indigenous leader, worked as a helper in a bakery and making bricks when he was young. Child labor as such “should not be banned. But (children) should not be exploited either,” he said. And “the State should be in charge of making sure that children are taken care of and protected,” he added. However, the president did not say the government could or would provide benefits generous enough to prevent all those under 14 from needing income from work. Morales met in his office with members of young people’s groups opposed to the legislation, which would bring Bolivia in line with International Labor Organization norms. The ILO does not state that all work is bad for children, but it does set out the age 14 minimum for developing countries. “Some of the kids complained about the ILO document, which does not acknowledge the huge efforts

Evo Morales

children make for many different reasons, family circumstances, having lost one or both parents, which make them have to work,” the president explained. “I happened to agree with these children this morning,” said Morales who, in addition to his childhood jobs, went to Argentina with his father on sugar harvests at around age five, and, later, as a teen played the trumpet on the street busking for cash. “When you start working as a child, you grow up with more of a social conscience,” Morales said. Bolivian lawmakers will continue work on the issue in coming months.The Andean nation of 10.5 million is South America’s poorest. Some 850,000 Bolivian children are at work and not in school, official data show. Despite recent declines in the worldwide incidence of

child labor, much more must be done to tackle the issue, the Third International Conference on Child Labor heard in Brazil in October. At that conference, International Labor Organization (ILO) DirectorGeneral Guy Ryder urged redoubled efforts, decrying that a target to eliminate the worst instances of child labor by 2016 will not be met. Latest ILO global estimates show the total number of child laborers has dropped by one-third to 168 million since the last conference in The Hague in 2010. The ILO also aims to highlight the plight of children working in difficultto-monitor sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and illegal or hidden economic activities. These are where most child workers in Bolivia toil.

Worker’s union silent following talks with Barbados government BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) is keeping silent following three hours of talks Monday with officials from the Ministry of the Civil Service in the wake of the announcement by the Barbados government that it would retrench at least 3,000 workers as it seeks to revive an ailing economy. Last week, the NUPW, which represents the majority of public workers here, said that it had submitted six proposals to the government in a bid to save the jobs of thousands of workers who are likely to be retrenched from early next month. Media reports last week, said that the proposals include voluntary retirement; amendments to the Pensions Act which would allow officers to receive their pension and gratuity at age 60; incentive for early retirement at age 55 which would include one year’s salary in bonds and reduction of the work week. But as he emerged from the closed door meeting on Monday, NUPW general secretary, Denis Clarke, would not comment on the outcome of the meeting.

But he did indicate that the union was hoping for a miracle in keeping with the Christmas season. The union is due to hold another meeting with its membership following the Christmas break. The government said that the first 2 000 job cuts would take place by January 15, followed by others by March 1. Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Chris Sinckler said that the plan to cut public service jobs would result in the government saving as much as DBS$143 million (One BDS dollar = US$0.50 cents) and that the government had also agreed to institute a “strict programme of attrition” across the central public service, filling posts only where it is absolutely unavoidable, over the next five years, ending 2018-2019. “This attrition is expected to reduce central government employment levels from approximately 16 970 to 14, 612 jobs – a projected loss of 2 358 posts; and savings of BDS$121 million. Over the current 19-month adjustment period public sector employment will be reduced by an additional 501 jobs with a projected savings of BDS$26 million,” he added.

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Kaieteur News

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Fistic action to brighten Lindeners... IPL franchises allowed to From page 33 (1 draw). Obviously, he will want to use this fight as the starting point to get his career back on track. He fights Romeo Norville who is also a good fighter but paid the price for complacency when he fought Richmond earlier this year and was stopped. The latter boxer would have learned from the losing experience and is sure to come out slugging for the win. An interesting battle looms. Cassius Matthew will also be on show against Kishawn Simon in a 4 rounds catchweight bout.

The latter fighter had had a jerky start to his career but has recovered with a decisive victory in his last bout. The Matthews bout will be somewhat challenging as the Lindener is experienced and fights out of an awkward and unorthodox style. Simone remained unperturbed during a press conference earlier this month and has vowed to overcome Matthews and get on with his career. Those four professional bouts will be supported by a similar number of amateur encounters, all exhibition bouts between pugi-

lists out of the Mining Town. Kurley Hooper will come up against Ronald Andries in the 75-79lbs class while Joshua Corbin squares off against Dauryan Miller in the 8490lbs class. Hakeem Alexander will tackle Randolph Williams in a 160175lbs shindig just before E j a d A l l i a n d Tr o y s t o n Luard square off against each other. Fans are also set to benefit after the organizers have put up several gate prizes including one I-Pad, one cell phone and two cash prizes of $10,000 each. The admission price is $1000.

Wednesday December 25, 2013 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Today is about reevaluation. Dreams or ambitions that you may have abandoned could resurface. You could be forced to confront difficulties in your current situation. You might decide to call in a few favors from people you haven't heard from in ages. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Happy and painful memories of childhood could come to mind today, bringing new understanding of how your early experiences affect your present situation. Unexpected insights could bring a new perspective on the present and future.. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20):While you may be comfortable with your environment, you could receive an unmistakable signal that it's time for change. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Sudden financial success could produce upheaval in your lifestyle. Therefore, rethink your current situation and consider the pursuit of cherished old dreams that you may have abandoned. Spiritual goals and interests may change. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): You spend much of your life serving others. Now you may reevaluate your "duty" toward them. Perhaps someone is taking unfair advantage of your good nature. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): You always see both sides of a situation clearly. Today you might judge possible future courses of action in view of the past.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22):Someone you've known for a long time may disappear from your life. This could leave you feeling disoriented and unfocused. Your ideas of truth, honor, ethics, and morality might require some revision in light of recent events. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Though communication is one of your strong points, today you might find it hard. You may feel introspective, but open, honest discussion could be what you need now. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Stress-related health complaints could force reevaluation of your current situation, particularly your job. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): Your inner child surfaces today. Memories of past good times bring out your playful side. You might want to try forms of amusement that you once enjoyed but have long since abandoned. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18):Renegotiating relationships may cause sorrow today. You may find that trying to fix one won't work. Past emotions that have created difficulties may resurface. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Today you might put aside your usual tendency to push ahead without a backward glance.Today is all about adjustment.

retain up to five players From page 33 which they are paid. Players will be paid an additional 10% of their IPL fee, if they play in the Champions League T20 for their franchise. Money brackets for retaining players Irrespective of the IPL fee agreed to between the franchise and the retained player, a fixed amount will be

deducted from the franchise’s salary cap per player retained. The break-up is as follows: Capped players Player 1 - Rs 125 million Player 2 - Rs 95 million Player 3 - Rs 75 million Player 4 - Rs 55 million Player 5 - Rs 40 million Uncapped players Rs 40 million for each uncapped player retained

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Wednesday December 25, 2013

Samuels returns home Two power matches heralds from NZ with wrist injury Chico/K&S Secondary Schools Football

festive celebrations today

It’s the yuletide season but while the average citizen relaxes today and feast on the many treats that is synonymous to the joys of the season, players of 4 football teams are getting ready to excite their fans when action in the Chico/Kashif & Shanghai Secondary Schools Football Tournament continues at the Number 5 Village, Corentyne, Community Centre Ground, this afternoon. Fresh f r o m i t s 3 - 1 victory over Stewartville S e c o n d a r y, P r e s i d e n t ’s College (PC) will be brimming with confidence when it faces Ash Education in the feature attraction of a potentially scorching double header while the opening encounter will see Bladen Hall Secondary locking horns with A n n ’s Grove Secondary which should serve as the side dish to the main course. Stedman Martin is the PC’s front man and he is a

hard worker. One suspects, though, that he will be keenly watched by the opposition and he will be required to really pull off all the stops to have his own way. He will receive support from Von Harding and Yuon Armstrong whose dexterity has stood them in good stead in previous matches and should be a sure asset in today’s encounter. Brother Abby is the Coach of the Ash Education squad and he said the PC is the least of his worries. The winner of this encounter will oppose Annandale Secondary tomorrow afternoon and already the Ash Education coach is looking ahead to that encounter. “ We h a v e a s t r o n g lineup and are least worried by the PC; rather, we are fixated on the Annandale encounter because that team is indeed a force to be

reckoned with,” said Brother Abby. He said that he is banking on his captain, Kevin Layne who he described as a deadly midfielder. “We also have competent players, the likes of Atlin Browne, Gary Webster and Akimo Watts,” he said while adamantly stating that his team will beat PC. Meanwhile, when the action resumes tomorrow afternoon at the Buxton Community Centre Ground, Wisma r S e c o n d a r y w i l l oppose the winner of the Bladen Hall Secondary/ Ann’s Grove Secondary encounter to support the Annandale/winner of Ash Education/PC encounter. The action then returns to Georgetown, at the GFC Ground on Thursday when Waramadong Secondary play Charlestown Secondary at 15:00hrs followed by the feature match at 17:00hrs between St George’s and Mackenzie High School.

ESPNcricinfo - Marlon Samuels, the West Indies allrounder, has been ruled out of the New Zealand limitedovers series with the recurrence of a chronic wrist injury. The injury, on his right wrist, will require surgery. West Indies’ physiotherapist CJ Clark confirmed that Samuels is returning home. “It will require surgery management and he returns home to seek that surgical opinion and advice from the WICB medical panel, headed by Dr Akshai Mansingh,” Clark said. Coach Ottis Gibson said Samuels absence will be hard to cope with for an alreadystruggling team. “Marlon’s injury is unfortunate at such a tough time for the team,” Gibson said. “But it gives another player the opportunity to make a name for themselves in this series.” West Indies are already without two of their biggest names, with Chris Gayle’s hamstring and Kieron Pollard’s knee keeping them out of the series. Dwayne

Bravo, the ODI captain, said it would be difficult without the trio. “Chris Gayle, Samuels and Pollard are three of our better players, we can’t hide that,” Bravo said. “We’re definitely going to miss them, because they are three world-class players and despite the talent we have, I don’t think any of us can actually fit those shoes. For me as a captain, I’m going to miss their ability as well as their experience, but it’s a good opportunity for other players, they get an opportunity now to make a name for themselves and try to stamp their authority. They’re definitely going to be missed, but I’m not going to use it as an excuse if we don’t play well. If we play to our true potential, we’re going to do well.” Wicketkeeper-batsman Chadwick Walton will remain in New Zealand following the Tests as Samuels’ replacement. Walton has played two Tests and two ODIs, but is yet to score a run in one-day cricket. Gibson said he was

confident, though, that Walton would make use of opportunities that came his way. “Chaddy has been on tour with us from the start, including the tour of India, without getting an opportunity. He has been working hard and growing as a player, and I feel confident that when his opportunity comes he will make the most of it.” Samuels had been in patchy form in the three Tests, which West Indies lost 0-2, scoring one half-century but not touching 25 in the other five innings. His bowling action had been called into question during the series, and though he was cleared to bowl his part-time offspin by the ICC following biomechanical analysis, he was banned from bowling his quicker delivery - his elbow was found to flex beyond the permissible 15 degrees when he bowled that ball. West Indies play five ODIs against New Zealand, starting in Auckland on Boxing Day, followed by two Twenty20s.

RHTY&SC cricket teams complete successful multi-million Christmas Programmes The cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) since 1990 have organised a series of programmes during the festive season each year with the main aim of making a positive difference in the lives of children, the elderly and less fortunate. The teams during the period December 5 – 22, 2013 hosted a series of activities under the multimillion dollars Christmas programme. The programmes were organised by the Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes Under15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under19 and Intermediate, Gizmos & Gadgets First Division and Under-21 and Metro Female Teams. Among the major programmes was a Christmas party for 500 less fortunate children, a joint project with the Radio Needy Children Fund. Each child received a warm meal, liquid refreshments, a special Christmas goodies bag and a toy each. Three thousand children across the Ancient County also received toys from the cricket teams via their churches, Non Governmental Agencies, schools and cricket clubs while 300 food hampers were shared out to less fortunate families. A total of 120 senior citizens on Sunday December

Members of the RHTY&SC pose with Sanata Claus 22, were also treated at a luncheon and also received special food hampers and collection of items including cosmetics valued of $8,000 each. Hundreds were also provided with warm meals during the general feeding programme while the teams also sponsored several Christmas related Television Programmes on DTV-8. Hundreds of less fortunate youths and families also received $2M worth of clothing, footwear,

educational and hygiene kits. Staff members of the Rose Hall Town Post Office and several members of the Guyana Police Force also received hampers. All members of the Club’s First Division Team each received a special collection of gifts. The teams also provided toys to the Berbice Cricket Board for distribution to the Eden Children Home and those in the Children Ward of the New Amsterdam Hospital. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club also sponsored a

series of Christmas programmes for its founder the St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Youth Group which include the 2013 Christmas Concert, gifts for every church member, toys for every Catholic child in Region 6, Youths get together and lunch and toys for orphans at the Port Mourant Canaan Children Home. The St. Francis Youth Club also benefitted from sponsorship of prizes including a bicycle and educational materials for an

Essay competition. Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster remarked that this year’s programmes was the largest in the history of the Club and was the result of the hard work of club executive and members of the different cricket teams. Foster disclosed that the entity strongly believes in making positive differences in the lives of others and noted that the Club is the only of its kind in Guyana that spearheads such large scale

charity programmes. The RHTY&SC cricketers are taught via these programmes that all sportsmen and women must make contributions to the development of society and those less fortunate than themselves. The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and its young cricketers would like to express gratitude to the numerous donors to its Christmas outreach and they include GT&T, Bakewell, Southland International, Bermudez, Farfan & Mendes, Sterling Products, Beharry’s, Impression, Hand-in-Hand, Food for the Poor, CIDI, Len’s Craft, Bank of Nova Scotia, Bounty Farm Ltd, Cirkel, NCN Radio Children Fund, Busta, DDL, Banks DIH, H.A Snacks, Namilco, De Sinco, Ansa Mcal, Bissan’s, Berbice River Bridge, A.M. Khan, Kanhai Electrical Agency, Lotto, Churches Chicken, Starr Computers, Toucan, Gizmos & Gadgets, F.H Printery, DTV-8, Kris Jagdeo Construction, Ministry of Public Service, Marcel Crawford S.C, Minister Jennifer Westford, John Lewis Style, Sentinel Security, Noreen Gaskin and Ms Linda Williams. Thanks are also expressed to the hundreds of residents who donated food items and toys and are too numerous to mention.

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Kaieteur News

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GCU&SA closes season on Zach Randolph gets doublea high despite challenges double, Grizzlies beat Jazz The Georgetown Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (GCU&SA) closed the 2013 season on a high note despite a number of challenges. One of its youngest member Ryan Banwari topped the Caribbean in the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) final written examination while another member, Javed Persaud was the only Guyanese that was successful in the preliminary exams. President of the association, Shannon Crawford, expressed satisfaction with the performances of the umpires in 2013 adding that apart from fulfilling its mandate of supplying umpires for the Georgetown Cricket

Association (GCA) they were able to assist with games on the East Coast, East Bank and West Demerara area despite limited human resources. Crawford said that one of the main challenges the association is faced with is to attract young umpires. He stated that the fees at the domestic level are not very attractive when compared to other territories, but they managed to secure a ten percent increase from the GCA. “Many people are afraid of umpiring because of being criticized by players, media and fans. One of our objectives is to draw young and female umpires and a number of training sessions are planned for the New Year. It is important for umpires to

start their career at a young age so that they can have a better chance of reaching the higher levels. We will target the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education”, he added. Crawford indicated that GCU&SA is currently going through a transition period where they are grooming young umpires. He informed that they will assist other associations including West Demerara, Upper Demerara and East Coast Demerara to regain their vibrancy in 2014. Meanwhile, Crawford and Colin Alfred are on the Regional panel while Nigel Duguid is on the International Cricket Council panel. (Zaheer Mohamed)

CCL 2014-15 Update: 11 teams in, 13 more to go MIAMI – The process to determine CONCACAF’s representative at the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup is in full swing as 11 of the eventual 24 qualifiers for the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League are already known. On Sunday evening, Alajuelense became the latest team to book a place in the seventh edition of the confederation’s annual club championship, when it overcame Herediano 5-3 on penalty kicks after their Costa Rican Invierno final ended 00 after two legs. From an historical perspective, Isidro Metapan (El Salvador) became the first team to qualify for every edition of the competition. Olimpia (Honduras) is the only other side possessing the potential to match that mark. The 2014-15 tournament will also see L e o n ( Mexico) and the Portland Timbers (USA) make their debuts. With 13 coveted CCL berths still at stake, the first five months of 2014 promise a football feast for fans throughout the region. Here’s an update on the 2014-15 CCL qualifiers (previous appearances in parentheses): NORTHAMERICA Canada – 0/1 To be determined … 2014 Amway Canadian Championship winner Mexico – 2/4 Leon (0) … 2013 Apertura champion Club America (1) … 2013 Apertura runner-up To be determined … 2014

Clausura champion To be determined … 2014 Clausura runner-up United States – 4/4 Sporting Kansas City (1) … 2013 Major League Soccer champion New York Red Bulls (1) … 2013 Major League Soccer Supporters’ Shield winner Portland Timbers (0) … 2013 Major League Soccer Western Conference champion D.C. United (2) … 2013 U.S. Open Cup champion CENTRAL AMERICA Belize – 0/1 To be determined … champion with most points over both seasons Costa Rica – ½ Alajuelense (4) … 2013 Invierno champion To be determined … 2014 Verano champion

El Salvador – ½ Isidro Metapan (6) … 2013 Apertura champion Guatemala – ½ Comunicaciones (3) … 2013 Apertura champion To be determined … 2014 Clausura champion Honduras – ½ Real España (2) … 2013 Apertura champion To be determined … 2014 Clausura champion Nicaragua – 0/1 To be determined … champion with most points over both seasons Panama – ½ Tauro (4) … 2013 Apertura champion To be determined … 2014 Clausura champion CARIBBEAN – 0/3 To be determined … 2014 CFU Club Championship top three finishers

Zach Randolph put up 22 points and recorded 10 rebounds and 7 assists in a tremendous all-around performance to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a victory over the Utah Jazz, 104-94. The Grizzlies took quality shots, finishing 39-83 (47.0%) from the field, including 1120 (55.0%) from beyond the arc. Memphis (12-15) has won just three of their last 10 games. Randolph shot 8-14 and converted 6-6 from the free throw line. Other key performers for Memphis were Jon Leuer with 11 points and 5 rebounds, and Kosta Koufos with 10 points and 7 rebounds. On 5-12 shooting (2-6 on 3-point attempts), in addition to going 6-6 from the free throw line, Trey Burke put up 18 points for Utah in the loss. Trey Burke contributed 18 points and 5 assists, Derrick Favors finished with 16 points and 6 rebounds, and Gordon Hayward put up 16 points and 11 rebounds. The Grizzlies posted a sterling assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.00. This year, they are undefeated (6-0) when they exceed 2.50 in this metric. Conversely, the Jazz are 1-4 when allowing their opponents to achieve such a stellar ratio. Utah (8-23) couldn’t get consecutive victories after beating Charlotte on Saturday. Coming up next, the Grizzlies battle the Houston Rockets, who are 1811 on the year. The Jazz match up with the Los Angeles Lakers, currently 13-14 this season. The Grizzlies are 0-1 versus Houston this season. Pistons 115, Cavaliers 92 CLEVELAND — The Detroit Pistons brought their impressive road record into Quicken Loans Arena two days before Christmas and smashed the Cleveland

Zach Randolph

Josh Smith

Cavaliers 115-92 on Monday night. Pistons forward Josh Smith, who is playing at an All-Star level, had 25 points, eight rebounds and three assists. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 23.8 points in his last six games. The Pistons (14-16) improved to 8-6 on the road this season. Point guard Brandon Jennings was another standout for the Pistons with 21 points and a game-high 13 assists. Center Andre Drummond added 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, while power forward Greg Monroe had 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Pistons’ defense was so suffocating, the Cavs (1017) had trouble running their offense. They shot just 38.6 percent from the field. Detroit shot 47.9 percent from the floor and also thumped the Cavs on the boards 50-39. All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving had 21 points and seven assists for the Cavs, who had won five of their last six games at home. Power forward Tristan Thompson added 17 points and six rebounds for the Cavs. Center Tyler Zeller had a season-high 13 points and four rebounds. He made 6 of 7 field-goal attempts. Reserve

guard Matthew Dellavedova had 10 points and six assists. It was the Cavs’ most lopsided loss at home this season. The Pistons’ late spurt in the third quarter opened up a 25-point bulge, 89-64. They outscored the Cavs in the third 31-24. Center Andrew Bynum missed all 11 shots from the field for zero points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes. Things got even worse in the second quarter for the Cavs. Their shooting percentage dipped to 27.5 percent from the field, as the Pistons stormed to a 58-40 lead. The Cavs’ Bynum, C.J. Miles, Jarrett Jack and Anthony Bennett shot a combined 0 of 19 from field in the first half. The 7-foot Bynum was particularly ineffective with a 0-for-9 performance. Smith was the best player on the court in the first half with 20 points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. Jennings added 11 points and five assists in the first half. Irving fired in 19 points in the first half, which included a 3-for-6 performance from behind the arc. The Pistons led by 21 points at one point in the first half.

The Kickboxing division of the Trinidad and Tobago Karate Federation was the most active group in 2013. T h e d i r e c t o r, S e n s e i Rodney Ramlal did an excellent job in bringing this sport to the forefront of T&T martial arts and the rural areas of the country. He was graded to 4th Degree by the global arm of the Brazilian Traditional Kickboxing Federation (CBKBT). CBKBT is recognized by the Brazil Sport Ministry and has over twenty thousand members in Brazil with

b r a n c h e s i n s e v e nteen countries. CBKBT President id Carlos Silva. Sensei Ramlal is also a 2nd Degree in Shito-Ryu Karate and 3rd Degree in Nihon Ju-Jitsu. In addition he is also a graduate of the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) Coaching Principles course. Very few instructors have his credentials. Under his continued supervision TTKF-Kickboxing will keep expanding. TT kickboxing clubs may call Sensei Ramlal at 706-4583 to register for 2014.

Sensei Rodney Ramlal

Kickboxing Division of TTKF is most active in 2013

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 25, 2013

2013 was fairly successful year for Judo – GJA President

DCC, GCC head GCA/Carib Beer T20 points standings GYO, TSC lead Noble House 2nd division Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) are atop of the points table in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)\Carib Beer T20 first division tournament following the conclusion of the 2013 season. DCC have amassed 52 points in zone B while GCC have 36 followed by GYO

with 20 in Zone A. Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) are in the lead with 43 points in Zone B of the Noble House Sea Foods second division two-day tournament; Transport Sports Club head Zone A with 38 points. Chairman of the GCA Competition Committee, Shaun Massiah informed that both tournaments will continue in 2014.

Members of the Kitty Jamaat Dojo after a training session. When the new executive of the Guyana Judo Association (GJA) were elected to office in March the Association was in disarray. Now, nine months later President of the GJA Raaul Archer described 2013 as a fairly successful one for the Association despite being able to hold only one competition for the year. Archer attended the International Judo Federation (IJF) Congress in Rio, Brazil in September and when he returned he meet with Guyana’s Sports Minister Dr Frank Anthony. According to Archer, at the October meeting with the Parliamentarian, the Sports Minister expressed a willingness to assist the GJA once they put their house in order. To this end the GJA is in the process of doing their financial Audit. The IJF recognizes the

GJA as the only governing body for the Sport in Guyana and the Minister give Government’s commitment to purchasing mats which have already been sourced from Kissoon Furniture Store. The lone competition held was the National Judo Championships in November with Randy Phillips emerging overall Champion. This Championship was held at the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, while the Grading was also done this year. Archer disclosed that the Association’s biggest challenge is to spread the sport nation-wide and generate funds to properly run off tournaments locally. Presently there are no clubs in Berbice or Essequibo. The Bell West Judo Club in West Demerara and the Multilateral Judo Club, the Kitty Jamaat Judo club, the House of Water

Judo club, the Rising Sun Judo club and the Kingston Judo club in the city being the only functioning clubs. The GJA’s General Council Meeting was held on November 20 and a number of important measures were adopted. “If Corporate Sponsors and the Government come forward we will be able to produce possible Gold Medals at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Our three International Judokas…. Hamza Eastman, who is also a National Cyclist along with Delroy Murphy and Raul Lall are already earmarked and with Government support and proper preparation, could medal at the next Olympics,” Archer opined. Archer said Judo is the third highest ranked Sport in the Olympics behind athletics and Swimming, adding that anyone interested in Judo can

contact the President on telephone number 610-3536 or GJA Treasurer Hilbert Archer on telephone number 613-0260. Children under-18 requires their parent’s permission. Ghees (training outfits) are also available for sale from any executive of the GJA. The GJA thanked their main sponsors Khan’s Auto Sales, Sankar’s Automotive, Akbar Auto Sales and Samaroo’s Investments. Meanwhile, results from the National Championships are as follows: Open: Randy Phillips (winner), Kelbert Archer (2nd), Erskine Trotman (3rd) 78KG: Delroy Murphy (winner), Amir Eastman (2nd), Compton Simon (3rd) Heavyweight: Terrence Williams (winner), Winell Azeez (2nd) Women: Gada Silvia (Winner), Lisa Andrews (2nd) (Sean Devers)

Controversy swirls around Brian Lara in Trinidad PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — A lobby group in Trinidad and Tobago is making another appeal for the completion of the controversial Brian Lara Stadium. The Union Park Committee, headed by David Mowlah Baksh, wants the Government to complete the facility which so far has been estimated to cost more than $1 billon (US$157 million). The Union Park Committee is also getting the support of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) to have the stadium completed and strongly feels that the name of one of TT’s a n d t h e We s t I n d i e s ’

Brian Lara greatest cricketing heroes is being tarnished by the continuing controversy

clouding the project. “We always lobbied for an international venue against the background of Lara’s achievements and we are always hoping to engage the cricket board and are happy that they have added their voice for the completion of the facility,” said Mowlah-Baksh. The stadium, which was originally scheduled to open to host matches in the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup which was hosted in the region, was budgeted to cost about $750 million. However, the planned state-of- the art training centre and international class venue named after arguably

the greatest batsman to have played the game has been mired in controversy with no date yet for its opening, according to a recent report. It has been reported that the Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives, Dr Roodilal Moonilal said that a further $185 million would be required to have the stadium ready. In supporting the committee, the TTCB has also cautioned that an assessment must be done to determine whether there are any engineering flaws in the design of the facility and also a study of the geological factors which may impact on a project of this scale.

T&T cricketers for Super50 warm-ups Trinidad & Tobago Newsday - Port of Spain, Trinidad - Trinidad and Tobago’s cricketers will begin their preparations in earnest for the upcoming regional Super 50 tournament and the four-day tournament with three one-day matches to be staged at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain. The matches which will involve some of the leading players on the Red Force roster will be staged on December 27, 29 and 30 and will get underway at 9.30 am. Missing from the squads are T&T players who are currently on duty with the West Indies team in New Zealand and they include national captain and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne and Darren Bravo, Sunil Narine, Shannon Gabriel and Ravi Rampaul. Team “A” with Adrian Barath, Jason Mohammed, Derone Davis, Samuel Badree and Kevin Cooper in their line-up will clash with Team

“B” which has Evin Lewis, Kjorn and Yannick Ottley, Stephen Katwaroo and Yannick Cariah. National coach Kelvin Williams will manage the “A” team while his assistant David Williams will perform similar duties with the “B” team. The teams are as follows: Team A: Adrian Barath, Justin Guillen, Jason Mohammed, Johnathan Agustus, Vikash Mohan, Adrian Ali, Imran Khan, Derone Davis, Samuel Badree, Navin Stewart, Tevin Robertson, Ricky Jaipaul, Kevon Cooper. Kelvin Williams (Coach), Ronald Rogers (Trainer). Team B: Evin Lewis, Kjorn Ottley, Ranga Latchana, Petroc Nicholas, Khesan Yannick Ottley, Sherwin Ganga, Steven Katwaroo, Daron Cruickshank, Yannic Cariah, Marlon Richards, Vishal Nipaul, Kissoondath Magram, Nicholas Pooran, David Williams (Coach), Clinton Jeremiah (Trainer).

Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Former national goalkeeper

Newark eleced President of Old Fort

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BCB, RHTY&SC bring Christmas cheer to BCUA

Chairman of the BCB Special Events Committee and RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster(left) hands over the hampers to BCUA President, Mr. Roshan Moakan and another representative. Newly elected President of Old Fort Hockey Club Allan Newark (3rd right) poses with executive and club members recently. One of the founders of Old Fort Hockey Club Allan Newark was elected to serve as President when the entity held its Annual General Meeting to choose office bearers recently.

Newark, a former national goalkeeper will have as his Vice-Presidents J o h n A b r a h a m (Administrative), Askofu S i m o n ( Te c h n i c a l ) , Treasurer- Chris Low-Koan,

Secretary- Sonia Gordon, Assistant Secretary Treasurer- Mark Fraser and Committee members Lavern Fraser, Jason Da Santos and Dexter Wyles.

Fistic action to brighten Lindeners festive season tomorrow night By Michael Benjamin The weather forecast over the past two weeks has been grim with heavy showers that have left some parts of the country inundated. It seems though more is to come and this time the Lindeners are scheduled to feel the effects when more than 600lbs of human flesh, Shondell Park and Shelly ‘The Boom’ Gibson, clash at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground when the Nation’s Promotions Group presents 26 rounds of fistic fury tomorrow night. The highly anticipated slugfest between Shondell Park and Shelly ‘The Boom’ Gibson is expected to satiate the appetites of Lindeners who have been starved of good fistic action for far too long. The two female gladiators will clash in a super/heavyweight contest the Nation’s Promotions Group, presents 26 rounds of fistic fury at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground on Boxing Day, December 26 next.

Organized by a group of former boxers with former world contender Terrence Ali in the midst, the card will also feature several other potentially action packed affairs and already the Derick Richmond/James Walcott 12 rounds shindig for the local super middleweight title has sparked the interest of the pundits. Richmond has earned the reputation of a devastating puncher after delivering a vicious left hook that sent current CABOFE middleweight champion, Edmond DeClou to the canvass and then to the hospital while nursing a broken jaw. He has promised a similar experience for Walcott and judging from his last two bouts which ended prematurely, one cannot take his threat lightly. Wa l c o t t , f a m i l i a r l y known as ‘Sack,’ said that he is unimpressed and promises to dish out a first class licking to Richmond. “I am not DeClou and I plan to

teach this kid a thing or two about the sport,” said Walcott in response to a question of his strategy for the bout. Indeed, Walcott is an experienced customer with superb boxing skills and will not be easily lured into close combat. Further, the lanky pugilist who also doubles as coach for the Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym, packs a mean punch which compliments his boxing ability and could pose problems for Richmond. Some boxers perform when they are adequately recompensed and the prospects of clinching the national title coupled with the lingering opportunities might just provide the urge for Walcott. H o w e v e r, a l l t h i s i s speculation and will only be confirmed or dispelled when the gong clangs tomorrow night. Kelsie George is a relatively young professional and is still to register a win after 7 fights (Continued on page 25)

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) with sponsorship form the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) on Saturday last donated sixteen Christmas hampers to the Berbice Cricket Umpires Association (BCUA). This is the fifth successive year that the two organisations have joined hands to bring cheer to the Umpires Association. Recently reappointed BCB Special Events Committee Chairman and RHTYSC Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, in handing over the hampers worth $70,000 praised the Berbice Umpires for the professional way they

operated and for the high standard they bring to Berbice Cricket. The Berbice Cricket Board, Foster stated, was very satisfied with the outstanding relationship it shared with the Umpires’ Association and he urged them to always strive for excellence and to never lower their standards. Cricket in Berbice, Foster disclosed would see massive progress during 2014 with the Special Events Committee back in action after a six months absence due to his health. He wished the Umpires and their families a Merry Christmas, a very productive and peaceful 2014 and he

expressed the wish that the cordial relationship between the Cricket Board and the Umpires’ Association would be strengthened in the future. President of the Berbice Cricket Umpires Association, M r. R o s h a n M o a k a n , expressed gratitude to the Berbice Cricket Board for their kind gesture and he pledged that all Umpires in Berbice would work hander in the new year so that Berbice Cricket would be taken to a new level.The Berbice Cricket Board would be donating toys to children homes in Berbice and also be visiting the Children Ward at the New Amsterdam Hospital today, Christmas Day.

IPL franchises allowed to retain up to five players ESPNcricinfo - IPL franchises will be allowed to retain up to five players ahead of the 2014 auction, and have the option of buying back additional members of their squads at the auction via “right to match” cards, according to the rules released on Tuesday. The auction will be on February 12, and carried into February 13 if required, at a venue yet to be decided. The right to match essentially gives a franchise the first right of refusal to its players, allowing it to buy its player back after other franchises have completed

the bidding process for him. For example, if Mumbai Indians have already retained five players but want Player X, they merely have to wait till the bidding in the open auction for Player X is over and match the highest bid offered for him. The number of right to match cards available to each franchise will depend on the number of players already retained. A franchise retaining between three and five players will have one right to match card, while a franchise retaining up to two players will have two right to match cards; those not retaining any player will

have three cards to play. In all, combining players retained before the auction and those for whom the right to match is exercised, a franchise cannot retain more than four capped India players. The salary cap for franchises is set at Rs 600 million (approx US$ 9.6 million at the current exchange rate) for 2014. All players, including uncapped Indians, will go into the auction. Indians will be paid in rupees starting from the 2014 season, while overseas players have the option of choosing the currency in (Continued on page 29)

Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 25, 2013

All roads lead to KMTC for Boxing Day Meet W i t h a l l t h e arrangements in place and sponsors on board the crowd is expected to journey to the Kennard M e m o r i a l Tu r f C l u b (KMTC) for its usual December 26 Boxing Day Horserace Meet at the Club’s entity Bush Lot Farm Corentyne, Berbice. Eight races are slated for the day which will have a whopping $9M in trophies and cash incentives available. T h e K e n n a r d M e m o r i a l Tu r f C l u b (KMTC) undoubtedly has the best facilities among the horseracing tracks in Guyana and the organisers are putting everything in place to make sure it remains that way. However with the inclement weather the track is expected to be on the slow side, according to c o o r d i n a t o r, R e t i r e d Chancellor Justice Cecil Kennard, the track is expected to be in top shape for this meet which promised to see a good day of racing. Over 60 horses have entered for the event. Over the past week a number of sponsors have been confirming their deal for the race meet from a long line which includes Beverage giants Ansa McAl Guyana Limited and DDL, the Kharag Family of USA owners of Metro C o m p u t e r a n d O ff i c e supplies in Guyana. Among the others on board are Republic Bank, Neal & Massy (Guyana)

Ltd, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Winston & George Baijnauth – Sawmillers, Digicel, Pomeroon Oil Mill, Nand Persaud & Co, Berbice Bridge Co. Inc, Gobin Agri Spares Center, Goodwood & Horse Shoe Racing Services, N. Mattai & Co, Ariel Enterprise, P & P Insurance Brokers, Kanhai Guyana Electrical Agency, Torginol Paints Inc, Gift Land Office Max Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall Bourda market and City Mall and Guyoil. The feature A and lower event for the Deo Kharag Memorial stakes and trophy and is sponsored by the Kharag family of the USA, owners of Metro Guyana Limited, for the hefty pole position takings of S1.5M and trophy over one mile. The co-feature event is for 3 years old West Indian maiden and Guyana bred horses also over one mile. The other events are the race for E and lower horses, D3 maiden gallop which will also see the animals cover a distance of six furlongs, the race for two year old animals, G1 and Lower race. There is the race for animals classified I3 and lower, while there is also a race for horses classified J and lower. The outstanding jockeys, trainer and stable will all received trophies and other accolades compliments of Trophy Stall Bourda Market and the organisers.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Holiday message from WICB President

WICB Media - Kingston, Jamaica –President of the West Indies Cricket Board Mr. Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron has sent a Christmas message to the West Indies Cricket family. Here is that message. A message from the President Dear West Indies cricket fans, sponsors, stakeholders, officials, media and general public, On behalf of the Board of Directors, the players and the management and staff of West Indies cricket I take this opportunity to extend warm and blessed holiday greetings to each of you, your families and friends and loved ones. We thank you for your resolute and unyielding support of our noble game throughout 2013. Cricket is what binds and unifies us and you have demonstrated this in so many ways this year. We look forward to your continued support and rallying in 2014 and onwards. This year has been a challenging one for West Indies cricket on the field but it has been one which we have seen some significant successes and made some marked strides on the field and off it as well. I must salute Shivnarine Chanderpaul for achieving 150 Test appearances and 11,000 runs in Test cricket. Shiv continues to be a shining champion of whom

we are all proud. We have also seen several others players making strides in their world rankings even as our team performances have not always been as strong as we would all like them to be. We believe that once we put in the hard work necessary, successes in all formats for both the men’s and women’s teams are not far off. At the Board of Directors and management levels we continue to be committed to the hard task of the redevelopment of the game for future successes. We are doing the critical work behind the scenes to ensure that we continue to produce world class players and to help to improve the team performance in all formats. 2014 promises to be a most exciting year for West Indies cricket. We will commence regionally with the NAGICO Super50 before heading into a home limited overs series with Ireland and England. The West Indies men’s team will defend the World Twenty20 title, the West Indies Under 19 will challenge for the Youth World Cup and the Windies Women will battle for the World T20 title as well. Your support of the game and our teams is as vital as it has ever been. Season’s greetings to you all, Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Wednesday December 25, 2013

Kaieteur News

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