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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
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL! Today, Guyanese from all walks of life are celebrating Christmas, at home and in the diaspora. Christmas is a time of joy, peace and goodwill towards all mankind, and to strengthen bonds with loved ones and within communities. In the Guyanese tradition, Christmas is a time to spread happiness with family and friends, enjoy the festivities, attend parties and partake in some of the finest Christmas dishes. This Yuletide season should serve as a period of reflection on our lives and how we must redouble our efforts in the coming year to live in peace and harmony, and to make Guyana prosperous. It is a time when Christians come together to sing carols and joyously celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas 2015 will greet some of us feeling on top of the world, happy to be alive, despite the various challenges. But it will find many others feeling down, some through faults of their own, while others are victims of circumstance––joblessness, poverty or personal illness. We hope that the less fortunate will get the opportunity to experience the joy of Christmas through the generous acts of kindness from those who are better off and are conscious of their obligation to their fellowman. On this festive occasion, all must pray for those who are bed-ridden in hospitals, the less fortunate, and those who have lost loved ones during the year. We must also pray for those battling depression and alcohol and substance abuse, and hope that their spirits will be lifted. It is that time of the year when 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 to even understand the meaning of poverty. We should show compassion to them as Jesus Christ did in an earlier time period. The nativity scene of Jesus’ birth essentially depicts the poor human conditions in Guyana, where those deserving of help are the elderly, the homeless and the single mothers. Christmas is also a time for healing and to forget the hurt, animosity, persecution and bitterness, and to renew our love for one another; hold out a hand of friendship to neighbours and friends; to those from whom we have been estranged and have done us wrong. We must recapture the spirit of the message that brought joy to the world 2000 years ago by the Babe of Bethlehem. However, the spirit of giving has not been made easy for many who wanted to give but are not in a position to do so. Needless to say, the true meaning of Christmas continues to elude the downtrodden in Guyana. Too often, it is the greedy, not the needy; the rich and not the poor who enjoy Christmas. We must not forget the tragedies the country has experienced, the goodness and kindness shown to us by others, and be thankful for the peace that surrounded our nation during a testing election period and subsequent change of administration. Perhaps the holidays will give the political directorate, but more so the opposition, a chance to reflect on themselves and the importance of inclusiveness of all in society, so that they can make better decisions in the interest of the people, and that 2016 will be a year of healing, atonement, cooperation, and genuine and competent leadership. We must all pledge to work to free Guyana from poverty, crime and chronic unemployment; pray for all its leaders and its resilient, loving and caring people, and hope they live to see many more Christmases. Best wishes for a safe, happy and enjoyable Christmas to everyone. Merry Christmas to all!
Friday December 25, 2015
Letters... Where your views make the news
Description of Guyanese Christmas ambience in New York DEAR EDITOR, Christmas and the related end of year season is the most celebrated of all festivals. In New York, an aura of the seasonal celebration is in the air in Guyanese residential neighborhoods (where there are ethnic enclaves) as well as in the main Guyanese business districts such as Liberty Avenue (Richmond Hill), Jamaica Avenue (Queens) a n d F l a t b u s h Av e n u e (Brooklyn), etc, On Liberty Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, and other shopping areas patronized by Guyanese and other Caribbean people, people flocked the stores over the weekend rushing to shop for gifts, decorations,
drinks and food items. Guyanese business leaders complain that business has been down; in fact the same is heard in other ethnic communities as well and the city as a whole; people are not spending as much as last year. But in spite of slow economy, shops on the varied business avenues and the avenues themselves are well decorated (been so since Thanksgiving and some before Diwali) with lights and related paraphernalia comparable to other shopping districts in New York City during the season. Christmas music emanates from many of the stores and one can purchase virtually everything related
to Christmas at any of hundreds of Guyanese and other Caribbean stores in the communities. Most people, from outer city or upstate and even from Brooklyn and Queens Village or Long Island, prefer to come to Liberty Avenue to shop where they meet and reminisce about a Guyanese Christmas holiday and enjoy a hearty meal at one of dozens of Guyanese restaurants; some even patronize the rum shops or clubs as they are called in the city. One can feel the Christmas spirit in the Guyanese communities. Bright multi-colored lights, trimmings, and other paraphernalia are on display in front of homes drawing
onlookers many of whom take photographs or video the spectacle. Around the greater Richmond Hill neighborhood, an abundance of flickering multi-colored lights with a variety of designs line the windows and entrance to the home and displayed on (live) trees outside on the lawn. The season is usually one of expectancy among the large Guyanese population regardless of racial or religious affiliation. Virtually everyone partakes in the Christmas spirit. The Christmas holiday festival transcends religions as trees are brightly lit next to fluttering Jhandis or homes of Muslims. Islamic butcher (Continued on page 29)
How did the State create NICIL that is answerable only to itself? DEAR EDITOR, In the beginning the PNC created a state enterprise economy, then it begat the NICIL. What then happened between the date of creation of NICIL and 2015 is a national tragedy. We accused the PNC of recklessness (KN, 18 /12/2015).The PPP (19922015) is the continuing story of financial and economic debauchery, and the only victims are the impoverished and defenseless citizens of Guyana, the country that God seems to have forsaken. The question is who will put this right? There are many issues, however, the only really consequential one is concerned with the question, where is the money? First, Guyanese should remind themselves that before 1992 the State owned or controlled vast valuable properties in every sector of the economy. What Guyanese must also understand is that all the sacrifices which they made over the past 35 years were significantly impacted by these enterprises. Then, in the 1980’s NICIL was created to spearhead and manage a privatization programme. This is what the PPP inherited in 1992. Second, a key problem for Guyanese is that a full accounting for the things done by NICIL under the PNC and PPP is necessary, to explain how much money was involved, the results, the benefits and what is still state property. In
other words, more than three decades have elapsed without proper accounting for vast sums of money. It is unclear whether the records are in order to permit this, and this is only a small part of the recklessness which we accused the PNC of. The ongoing Audits will generate some records but cannot fill all the gaps, so that more work will be needed. Nevertheless Guyanese should seek redress in the Courts, probably the only place to obtain good answers to the question ‘where is the money’? Third is the legal capacity of NICIL. It remains unclear how ‘the State’ can create a company to manage state property but such a company is at the
same time a law unto itself? The PPP was fond of saying that NICIL is what it is because it was created by the PNC. NICIL’s CEO, Mr. Brassington, PPP Ministers and PPP Presidents have said repeatedly that ‘NICIL monies belong to NICIL, and it has no obligation to report to Parliament’. If this is so then we cynically ask to whom it is answerable? Who is the ultimate boss? Guyanese should ask themselves why this madness happened. Two points flow from this. One is that having created the NICIL statute the PNC knew its power and limitations. Later ‘the Opposition’, led by the PNC, raised a lot of hot air about NICIL. The questions then
are, why did the PNC wait until 2012 to question the actions of NICIL when it already knew that the PPP was engaging in corrupt activities, and why was NICIL not taken to court to stop the abuses, and to force the issue of accountability? Failure to answer these questions adequately may expose the PNC as a hypocrite that became a reckless, intellectually lazy, and a spineless and incompetent political party that did not serve its constituents interests after 1992. The PNC is already indebted to Guyanese, to complete revision of the 1980 Constitution. The recovery of all assets that that passed through (Continued on page 29)
The return of the Labour Bureau DEAR EDITOR, I was pleased to see in the recent news that Government is working on resuscitation/reactivation of what used to be known as the Labour Exchange or Employment Bureau (hopefully, not of the ‘Andy Capp’ variety!). This news coincided with my being utterly amazed at the several very costly halfpage sized, repetitious and separate Vacancy Advertisements in all the newspapers for a DRIVER and an OFFICE ASSISTANT for the Environmental Protection Agency…..the very type of vacancies that used to be costeffectively filled via the Employment Bureau/Labour Exchange in the past. Alternatively, the use of on-site noticeboards, internal circulars and other local channels as well as employer- kept rosters of ad hoc, drop-in inquiries/applications etc are also cost-effective sources that any pragmatic HR Department would normally use for such
common-place vacancies. I vividly recall deliberating over the cost of newspaper advertisements when I was a younger Personnel Officer, when an advertisement that was a mere quarter the size of the referenced EPA Advertisements was reserved for scarce, highly qualified/ experienced potential applicants. To ‘waste’ such expenditure on routine, easy-to-fill vacancies was inconceivable and to repeat them as often as was the case for the current EPA vacancies would have definitely resulted in admonition or more serious disciplinary action. It would be interesting to learn of the rationale for such apparent wasteful expenditure by the EPA (not to mention the valuable trees that were destroyed to produce the paper for their unusually lengthy, un-necessarily verbose and laboriously pedantic Ads.) Nowrang Persaud
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Angry at the incompetence This monstrosity named NICIL of Fly Jamaica DEAR EDITOR, This is the most wonderful time of the year. Inarguably the most festive time, when friends and families from home and abroad get together to celebrate this joyous season. This is a time for merriment. However, I like many other Guyanese have found ourselves in a dilemma, owing to the incompetence of Fly Jamaica Airline. To begin with, I “proactively” arrived way ahead of time at the John F. Kennedy airport to catch my flight which was scheduled to leave at 9 am on Saturday morning, since I am not a last minute person and I also wanted to avoid the congestion at this time of the year as well. By 6 am, I had already checked in and cleared immigration in preparation for my flight; nonetheless, the flight did not get not get airborne until approximately 11:30 am. Although the patrons were visibly irritated, they vented their frustration in hush tones, not realizing that that was sign of an epitome of disaster to follow later. We subsequently arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International airport safely a few hours later and cleared immigration hassle free; were patiently awaiting our luggage. But that festive mood which emanated in the fuselage of the aircraft even before it taxied along the runway , hurriedly diffused and transformed into one of anger after the baggage attendants told us that that was all the luggage that the aircraft had brought. You can imagine how infuriated we all became. Nonetheless, some passengers were even more boisterous because they paid in excess of seventy five dollars for their overweight baggage, only to be greeted with this distasteful news. But, what was even more callous and unprofessional was the fact that no Fly Jamaica representative was available to offer words of consolation or answer any questions. The aircraft was replete with parents and young children from different geographical locations of
Guyana who were hoping to get to their destinations as fast as they could from a trip, which drained them physically. The question is who will compensate us for the lost time, inconvenience and the possibility of larceny which I understand from rumors are prevalent. In my case, I am currently at a hotel because my house was burglarized a few weeks ago, so understandably, there is trepidation and a great deal of reservations about staying there at this moment. Will Fly Jamaica compensate me for the time that I am at this hotel? I will take a wild stab at the dark here and say, no. What consideration has been given to those people from the outlying areas who supposedly do not have relatives in Georgetown and will have to return to the airport to retrieve the late arrival of their luggage? However, a further conversation with an agent at the airport revealed that another Fly Jamaica aircraft was due on the 21st of December, but his wry smile and perfunctory tone did not suggest much confidence that the luggage will be brought. For too long we have been very tolerant with these unreliable airlines that treat us with nothing but contempt and condescension. We are expected to pay exorbitant fees to travel and yet, the services meted out to us can only be described as mediocre. Such disposition speaks volumes about the perception of Guyanese. We are the only nationality that they will treat with disdain. No wonder we are seen as second rate citizens in some other parts of the Caribbean. I know that we have been struggling to get reputable and credible airlines to service our market; it would make a lot of sense that the Government solicits the services of other airlines, after all we pay whatever fees are demanded of us unhesitatingly; all we demand in return is the delivery of quality service. In closing, I will say that in all my years of traveling with Caribbean airlines, I have no recollection of any difficulties with this airline. I have learnt my lesson. Raul Khan
DEAR EDITOR, Brother man! In the realms of brevity I would respond to your very interesting penmanship letter to the Editor of KN publish on this bright warm sunny day, by Kaieture News dated 22nd December 2015. And read by me! And other brethren of mine! And yours I hope. First of all brother man, I appreciate your penmanship at authoring a very edifying letter to the Editor. Firstly, brother man, despite I have a name which makes you think that I am a Hindu, I am sorry to state Brother man, that you are wrong on that score, to conclude that I am a Hindu. I am neither a Christian or a Muslim nor a Rasta. I belong to the Baha’i Faith, one of the four major religions recognized in this country, by an Act of our parliament in 1976. The Baha’I teachings is based on the oneness of mankind, and teaches that there is one God and all mankind are citizen of this world i.e. we, (the races of mankind) are all fruits of one tree and leaves of one branch and that we must not glory that we love our race only but instead glory in the fact that we love all mankind That one misnomer I am happy I cleared up for my brother Ras Sealy brother man.! Secondly - misnomer the name I submitted as author of that letter and published by Stabroek news, is spelt ROOPLALL DUDHNATH and not as published i.e. DUDHNAUTH and maybe the whole world,( I may have to check that one out Brotherman); the only person in Guyana I know of who has that name. If you know of anyone else that have that name brotherman, then it is a mack name!.However, if you can find one let me
know via KN and I may be able to reward you by some monetary reward. But I do not want you to use the money to buy weed with it, so I may consider taking you to one of Guyana’s premier restaurant and buy you some ital food. Thirdly, I have visited about six countries and lived in two of them for a considerable time, now in my winter days I found that Guyana with its warm bright sunshine and seven races is one of the best countries I know of to spend my winter days and to rest my weary bones I have never visited or live in India hopefully one day before I kick the bucket I may visit that holy country and have a good bath or swim with a dhotie in the Ganges river. If I win the bingo lottery, I may offer to take you brother man. And by the way I have a very good close learned friend who hails from Etophaia and now permanently lives in sunshine Guyana. But I can assure you he never touch the WEED or marijuana. Brother man Sealy for the sake of brevity I prefer not to go into the mechanics of the ifs and buts of marijuana here but suffice to state for the sake of brevity if you find comfort in it, provided you do not break the laws of this country then brother man Jaah to you! I love also Ital food and next time you cook Itaall food think of me at least if you do not have an inhibition to ask me around brother man. Use your weed if you want but do not trouble any person or let the law catch up with you! Boy this epistle is getting long; for the sake of brevity take some now and leave the rest for later! But brother man I have never visited India..........sorry to repeat that! Rooplall Dudnauth
An exchange on ganja
DEAR EDITOR, Permit me to share a few more thoughts on the issue and presence of NICIL. There it is: huge, amorphous, ethereal. At times, there is wondering as to whether it is a troubling aberration of besieged imagination. But NICIL is very real. In some ways, it is the equivalent of a holding company standing at the apex of a pyramid overlooking a portfolio of companies and engagements; a portfolio of shadows and cobwebbed beings. If it did not have some distinctive features, I would be tempted to identify it as a political Ponzi scheme; or as a political washing machine of a particular kind. Perhaps, it is some combination of the two, given the unaccounted for funding and the ultra-secretive nature of principals and proceedings. It is where almost everything and everyone involved are part of a very close(d) circle, like Bernie Madoff.
Without a doubt, it is a bureaucratic Auschwitz: things pass through its doors, they evaporate; associated unnamed people end up in a state of suspended non-existence. There are no records. Except, that is, for the crematorium ambience and the crematorium smell. There is another peculiar aspect to NICIL: It answers to no one. Not the people. Not parliament. Not the sitting president. It is bigger than the new president. It is safe to say, all things considered, that it might be bigger than Guyana. Editor, the powerful CIA, and the still mighty KGB, super-secret entities in officially sanctioned clandestine business, do report somewhere and to someone. On occasion, both have been compelled to divulge the gory details. Yet here is NICIL in Guyana claiming and insisting on exemption and privilege. To be blunt, these postures and body language of
its people are: to hell with you! All of you! I do not recall any presidential pardon in this instance. Now the time has come to get real hardnosed and brassknuckled. This monstrosity named NICIL needs to be dismantled company by company, and its overseers carted away. This now insulting presence and finger-in-theeye of Guyanese society must go. Every day of its continued existence reminds of twenty-three years of wickedness. It is past the time for this destabilizing influence to be detoxified and denuded. The financial sponsors to this biggest front (and largest secret society) in Guyana might be out of sight and out of reach. But the homegrown architects must be exposed and punished for the multiple assaults on the intelligence and conscience of this nation. NICIL must go. It must go now. GHK Lall
DEAR EDITOR, Permit me please to address a nationwide stigma that is clearly affecting the LGBT people of Guyana. Please note that this article is opinionated only by me and may not necessarily be viewed the same by all despite their sexuality. The LGBT people of Guyana is one of the most unique set of people this country has. I adore their bravery, their patience and long-suffering with the daily pangs of the battle against homophobic people. They must be applauded for their stand wanting to be themselves and making themselves happy in a society that is prevalent of homophobia. But sadly, they’re most likely being taken for granted. Their lifestyle has become one of the most talked about thing in the country and not in a reputable way. I find it rather offensive than funny to use the lifestyle of LGBT persons as a base of entertainment in the comedy industry. LGBT people have less privilege in the society. They’re discriminated in their work places, on the streets, when shopping, traveling in public transportation and the list goes on. Why? Well, because they’re different. They choose to love the same sex. What people
need to know about them is that they are just as educated and embodied with special talents and skills as the “normal” people. They’re the most intelligent people I’ve come across and most loving persons. They don’t speak hate but embraces love and tolerance. Why should we want to do them wrong? What wrong have they done to us? Why can’t we keep our opinion(s) about them they same they keep their opinion(s) about us? Another thing the society fails to realize is that not only those at the “Cathedral, King St.” consist of the LGBT people of Guyana. There are many “closet” LGBT people in Guyana. Most of them choose to hide their sexuality because of our homophobic nation. Spoiler alert but the homophobic people judge others but they too may have a LGBT person “in the closet” at home. It may be your brother, your sister even your husband or wife so please don’t yell discriminatory slur against them. The society should start putting themselves in the places of these people and try to see if they can live through the daily pangs and distresses. They should start accepting these people as a global change. I patiently
await the time when SASOD and the LGBT community of Guyana come to their goal of freeing LGBT in Guyana. Macklemore, a rapper rapped,” A certificate...won’t change it all but it’s a...good place to start. No law is going to change us, we (society) have to change us ...same love” Ken Barb
Sincere plea for tolerance of the LGBT society
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 25, 2015
Very unlikely Brassington will have future career in public sector By Kiana Wilburg Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, said that it is very unlikely that Chief Executive Officer of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, will have a future career in the public sector. The Minister’s comment was based on his assessment of a NICIL forensic audit report. The document was prepared by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran. “What is clear is that the report is part of a process to ensure that justice is had in the right way. And a number of agencies will be involved in this process, namely the Ministries of Finance, Legal Affairs and Public Security,” Greenidge asserted. “A lot of what was said in the report is in conformity with most of our findings even when we were in opposition. Goolsarran’s report however hammers
- says Foreign Affairs Minister
NICIL CEO, Winston Brassington home the point that Brassington has compromised his integrity. The report shows, too, how he threw ethics, corporate responsibility, and professionalism and even respect for the citizenry out of the window only to enrich his cohorts.” “Given the blatant disregard Brassington has shown for this country, his office and the laws, it is very unlikely that under this administration, he would have
a future career in the public sector. It is going to be difficult for him to return. People have been fired for a lot less and there was no chance of them being rehired.” Brassington held a press conference on Monday, just one day before Cabinet was set to discuss the damning NICIL report. There, he insisted that he did nothing wrong or broke no laws during his tenure at NICIL. He said that he simply followed instructions handed down to him by the former Cabinet. “Pleading innocence is not proof of innocence. And even if Brassington wants to say that he was basically following instructions to do all of the financial lawlessness he did, is it too complex for him to understand that his actions were downright unprofessional? The evidence to support that is also overwhelming.”
“The public sector is not like the private sector. In the public sector you have to balance the trust of two bosses, the public and the employer. In the case of Brassington, he obeyed the illegal directives given to him by the former Cabinet only to destroy the trust bestowed to him by the citizenry.” The Foreign Affairs Minister said that Brassington’s excuse is only an attempt to “pull himself out of the mess that he is in.” “But it is a baseless contention. Brassington has a fiduciary responsibility. He also has a corporate responsibility to be professional. You just can’t say that the former Cabinet instructed you to act illegally and so it’s justified for you to cheat the nation. Absolutely not. His excuse is unacceptable and also shows that he doesn’t even have a chromosome of decency left in him.” Turning his attention to the findings of the report, Greenidge said that he found one particular case very appalling. He said that it is “detestable to read that the former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, instructed for the Auditor General (AG)’s negative comments to be removed from the 2007 financial statements of the
Cricket World Cup (CWC).” The audit report made reference to the minutes of NICIL’s board meeting of February 29, 2012, where Dr. Singh was recorded as having stated that “The AG’s qualification of the accounts needs to be removed from CWC Inc.’s Annual Report.” Chartered Accountant Anand Goolsarran said that it is not clear if NICIL followed through with Dr. Singh’s instructions, but noted that if it did, then such an action would be considered an act of professional misconduct. Brassington confirmed at his most recent press conference that this was acted on and the results are pending. “This is most appalling. There should be no interference in the work of the Auditor General. This also brings to light once again, the kind of dictatorial environment we had where the AG’s comments were being censored directly by the Finance Minister. Brassington’s objection on this illegality was absent. He complied and saw nothing wrong with it. It is frightening to have people like this in the system,” Greenidge said. Cabinet met on Tuesday to discuss the report, and coming out of the meeting were several instructions. Cabinet instructed that the reports and accompanying notes of Goolsarran and Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, be handed over to the Commissioner of
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge Police, Seelall Persaud and the State Asset Recovery Unit for investigations. The probe is intended to determine whether any acts of criminality were committed and to take the process forward. To facilitate this new development, Cabinet instructed that Brassington and his Deputy, Marcia Nadir-Sharma be sent on leave immediately pending the outcome of the investigations. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had informed the media that Cabinet gave instructions for the said report to be submitted to Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, for a more precise audit of the issues highlighted in the report. Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, is also expected to give instructions for a transaction audit to be conducted on NICIL.
Man shot, police say he might be a robbery suspect Police are conducting an investigation to determine the circumstances under which a 34-year-old father was shot to the left thigh and hand early yesterday morning, allegedly at ‘B’ Field Sophia, Georgetown. The incident reportedly occurred around 04:30 hrs. Lloyd Scott of 1316 Section ‘B’, Sophia, is a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) nursing two gunshot wounds and a laceration to the head. Scott claimed that he sustained the injuries during a robbery while on his way home from work, but the police are saying that the father of four might have been shot when he and an accomplice tried to rob a businessman. The injured man’s brother, David Scott, who
Shot: Lloyd Scott
took him to the hospital to seek medical assistance, has been arrested as investigations continue. Lloyd Scott has also been placed under police guard at the hospital. According to the police, shortly before the 34-year-old man showed up at the hospital, an incoming
passenger who had travelled from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport was robbed in front of his home at Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt. Liverpool (only name given) reportedly hired a taxi from the airport to take him home. Just as the man exited the car and was making his way into his yard, two men on a CG Motorbike robbed him of his valuables and escaped. An eyewitness to the robbery, reportedly opened fire on the two bandits, wounding one in the process. This newspaper was told that the police were subsequently informed of the incident and ranks were sent to all the hospitals in the city to check whether anyone with gunshot (Continued on page 13)
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Israeli forces kill four Palestinian assailants in West Bank
An Israeli border policeman gestures to Palestinians as another searches a bag in the West Bank city of Hebron December 24, 2015. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma Reuters - Israeli forces killed four Palestinian assailants in separate incidents in the occupied West Bank yesterday, the army said, as a 12week surge in street violence showed no sign of abating. In the latest in a wave of almost daily assaults, a knifewielding Palestinian hurt two guards yesterday near a Jewish settlement in the West Bank and was shot dead, the army said. In other locations in the West Bank, another Palestinian was shot dead while try-
ing to stab a soldier with a screwdriver, and a third after injuring a soldier in a car-ramming, the army said. Near Qalandia in the West Bank, Israeli troops carrying out an arrest raid shot two Palestinians who fired at them from within a crowd of rockand petrol bomb-throwing protesters, the army said. Local medics said a Palestinian was killed and six wounded. The army said two soldiers were hurt in the incident. Among drivers for the bloodshed have been access
to a contested Jerusalem shrine, stalled peace talks and a July 31 arson by suspected Jewish zealots that killed a Palestinian toddler and his parents, an incident which Israeli authorities have not yet cleared up. Video footage of far-right Jews mocking the arson victims sparked outrage in Israel yesterday and debate over whether the leak aimed to sway public opinion in favour of tough interrogation of several suspects who are in state custody.
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 25, 2015
Fire sweeps through Saudi Russia and India cement ties hospital, at least 24 dead with energy and defence deals Reuters - A fire tore through the intensive care unit and the maternity ward of a Saudi hospital before dawn yesterday, killing at least 24 people and injuring 123, officials said. The fire broke out at the general hospital in the southwestern port city of Jazan, the capital of the Jizan region, one of Saudi Arabia’s poorest areas. The civil defence agency said 25 people died but a later statement by Health Minister Khalid al-Falih put the death toll at 24. Two of the dead were security guards and one was a child, officials said. Government-controlled al-Ekhbariya television interviewed a witness who said the cause of the fire seemed to be electrical, and that it took only three minutes to sweep through the hospital. “We could hear the women screaming,” said the man, who was not named. Photographs published on Twitter by the civil defence agency showed heavy smoke and an intense blaze which appeared to have severely damaged the interior of the white-walled hospital. Some rescuers used a ladder to gain access through a window. Criticism of Saudi Arabia’s ruling family is frowned upon, but a string of comments by Twitter users suggested the fire was the
Damage is seen at Jazan General Hospital following a pre-dawn fire in the port city of Jazan, Saudi Arabia December yesterday. REUTERS/Saudi Civil Defense/Handout via Reuters result of official negligence and criticised a series of accidents at public facilities in the kingdom this year. “Does the health minister have the courage to submit his resignation after the fire at Jazan General Hospital? What disaster lies after this calamity?” tweeted one person, whose account identified him as Mohammed Alsubaie, from Riyadh. A correspondent for Saudi-owned al-Arabiya television reported he had seen several emergency doors locked with chains when he visited the hospital after the disaster. He said the hospital had previously received official warnings over safety violations. The region’s Director of Health Affairs, Ahmed alSahli, denied any safety problems, telling al-Arabiya that many people had been able
to escape easily from the blaze because the doors were open and safety equipment was in place. But Eissa Amaish, whose sister was killed in the fire, blamed the hospital’s management. “What happened in this hospital was a crime of murder,” he told al-Arabiya. “This hospital was not equipped at all to deal with a fire.” In a brief statement, Falih said he recognised the ministry had failed, but that it was too early to identify the causes of the disaster and a committee would investigate them. “When we have deaths like this number, there is no doubt that there is a failure in the system of the ministry of health, and we would like to ensure that this will not occur again at any other hospital,” he said.
IS fighters’ families to leave southern Damascus in UN deal -group Reuters - Hundreds of families of Islamic State militants and some injured fighters are expected to leave rebel-held areas of southern Damascus under a U.N.brokered deal, a monitoring group said yesterday. Safe passage would be given from the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk on the outskirts of Syrian capital and neighbouring Hajar al Aswad, said Rami Abdulraham, head of the British-based Syrian Observa-
tory for Human Rights. The families and some fighters will be taken to Raqqa in northern Syria, the stronghold of the militant Sunni Islamist group, and other IScontrolled areas over several months, eventually ending the group’s presence near Damascus. Islamic State has had a significant foothold in Hajar al Aswad, just a few kilometres from President Bashar al Assad’s seat of power.
Syria’s minister for national reconciliation, Ali Haidar, told Reuters that efforts were under way to get militants out of the Yarmouk camp but gave no details. A U.N. spokesman told reporters in New York: “The U.N. is an observer to the agreement concerning Yarmouk, but not part of it, which we understand should come into effect in the coming few days.” Several local ceasefires and safe-passage agreements have been concluded elsewhere in Syria recently. One, brokered with support from Iran and Turkey, halted fighting in the town of Zabadani on the Lebanese border, and in two villages in northwestern Syria. A deal was also reached in the last rebel-held district of the Syrian city of Homs that allowed rebels and their families to leave the besieged area. The U.N. said the agreement could help pave the way for a nationwide truce.
Reuters - Russia and India signed agreements yesterday boosting cooperation in energy and defence, New Delhi aiming to modernise its armed forces and build a nuclear industry and sanctions-hit Moscow seeking investment and new markets. Russian President Vladimir Putin told a joint briefing with visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Moscow supported New Delhi’s “strengthening role in resolving global and regional problems”. Putin said Moscow believed India was “among the most honourable candidates” for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council. But it was energy and defence that topped the agenda. Russia is keen to develop and deepen its Soviet-era economic ties with India and sell new technologies to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies at a time its own economy is stagnant, hit by Western sanctions and a plunge in global oil prices. “We have agreed to increase mutual investment flows thanks to deeper industrial cooperation and implementation of large-scale infrastructure and energy projects,” Putin said. Russia launched the first nuclear unit at India’s Kudankulam power station in June last year and would complete building another one in “a matter of a few weeks”, Putin said. He said Russia would build six nuclear blocks in India in 20 years. Modi said the number of Russian-built reactors in
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, yesterday. REUTERS/Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Kudankulam and at another site would eventually rise to 12, but gave no timeframe. Russia and India will together build multi-task Kamov-226 helicopters, Modi said. It will be the first largescale project of the government’s “Make in India” initiative to encourage local and foreign companies to manufacture in India. A source close to Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-owned arms exporter, had said earlier India would produce 140 of the choppers and Russia the remaining 60. Putin said India and Russia were already successfully producing supersonic, shipbased Brahmos missiles which would be soon delivered to the Indian navy. He said India and Russia planned joint work on a multirole fighter jet and a transport aircraft, but gave no details. India’s ONGC is in talks to increase its stake in the Vankor oilfield in Siberia
owned by Russia’s top oil producer Rosneft, in line with one of the documents signed in the presence of Putin and Modi. The documents call for cooperation between Russian and Indian companies in offshore and onshore exploration and production of hydrocarbons in Russia. Separately, Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Oil India Limited said they had signed a memorandum with Rosneft, which paves the way for acquisition of a stake in Taas-Yuriakh oil assets in East Siberia. Russia’s gas export monopoly Gazprom made five large-scale shipments of liquefied natural gas to India this year, Putin said. Putin said Russia’s statecontrolled diamond corporation Alrosa, which produces 27 percent of all diamonds in the world, would team with India which makes 65 percent of the world’s cut diamonds.
U.S. held secret communications with Syrian government – WSJ Reuters - U.S. officials held secret communications with members of President Bashar al-Assad’s government to try to limit violence in Syria, and explored ways to encourage a military coup in 2011 as the civil war got under way, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday. American intelligence officials identified army officers belonging to Assad’s minority Alawite sect who could lead a coup, but they found few weak spots to exploit, the Journal said, citing interviews with more than two dozen people, including current and former U.S. officials. The moves were made as Assad’s government began cracking down on protests
and soldiers started leaving the army, the Journal said, “The White House’s policy in 2011 was to get to the point of a transition in Syria by finding cracks in the regime and offering incentives for people to abandon Assad,” a former senior administration official was quoted as saying. The Obama administration shifted away from trying to influence Assad’s government and toward supporting Syrian rebels in 2012, the newspaper reported. Senior officials from the United States and Syria spoke directly to each other or sent messages through third parties, including Syrian allies Russia and Iran, the newspaper said.
Deputy Secretary of State William Burns made two phone calls to Syrian foreign minister Walid al-Moallem to warn the Assad regime against using chemical weapons on a large scale, U.S. officials told the newspaper. Burns retired last year. One senior U.S. official said the secret communications were unlike those held with Cuba or Iran, in which the United States thought it could quietly resolve issues, but were more focused on specifics. “We have had times where we’ve said: ‘You could create a better environment for cease-fires if you stop dropping barrel bombs,’” a senior U.S. official told the Journal.
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 9
FACTS OR OPINIONS? The Government of Guyana made a huge mistake when it appointed auditors whose principals were highly critical of the former government to undertake audits of state entities. It is not that these persons are not capable of being objective; it is simply a case that their findings are going to be disparaged and discredited on the basis that findings are being made by persons who had been critical of the very government which they were asked to investigate. For that reason alone, the forensic audits will not be able to be admitted in a court of law, because there will be claims and counter arguments about possible conflicts of interest. There will be interminable legal challenges to the admissibility of these audits. The biggest disappointment is, of course, the State Asset Recovery Unit, an entity that has employed more political operatives than professional accountants. This is not to say that the political operatives cannot be objective. They can. It is just that because of their political affiliations, their findings will be subject to the suspicion of
being politically biased. The government has spent an obscene sum of money on these audits and on the State Asset Recovery Unit, and therefore, questions will be asked sooner or later as to whether the cost of these audits is justified, in relation to the sums that are recovered. One audit report is said to have ordered that the entire Cabinet be charged because they undertook a project without a proper feasibility study being done. Well, if persons are going to be charged for allegedly making poor investments, then how far do we take this standard? What about those involved in the failed bicycle factory, the failed glass factory, the many white elephant projects under the PNC, the failed paint company, the failed Sanata Complex, etc? Should the Burnham Cabinet be subject to the same treatment as is being recom-
mended for the PPP Cabinet? I suppose a case can be made that poor investment decisions constitute public malfeasance, but I am not certain how many of these types of matters have been prosecuted, and prosecuted successfully. A major company has collapsed in the Bahamas. It has thrown the entire economy of the Bahamas into a tailspin. One single hotel project has disrupted the entire economy of the Bahamas. Yet no one is asking that the government be charged for making that investment? What should be investigated is the collapse of Clico in Guyana and the investments that were made in the same Bahamas, and which are not now recoverable. What should be investigated was whether there was regulatory failure. What should be investigated is whether there was the misuse of insider information, in terms of the with-
drawals by persons of their monies in Clico (Guyana) just days before it was deemed bankrupt. Those are what people want to know about? The government is going to be embarrassed by these forensic audits. These audits are calling for the government to do certain things which the government may not feel that it can successfully do, and therefore the government is going to be embarrassed by its non-action on the findings of these audits. The government should try to redeem the situation. A huge question mark will hang over the credibility of these audits if any persons are charged arising out of the findings of those audits. The very credibility of the audits as the basis of charges is going to be challenged. The government should avoid this dilemma. It should try to redeem the problem that it now faces because of its insistence in appointing crit-
ics of the former government to undertake some of the forensic audits. The government should assemble all of the reports of the forensic audits and then appoint an international auditing firm to verify that the findings are grounded in law and not opinions, and that the audits meet international standards. This will allow for greater
credibility to be given to the audits, rather than the barrage of concerns being expressed over these audits, and whether they are based on facts or mere opinions, as is being alleged.
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 25, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
A song for the Guyanese people on this day A very long time ago, in the 19th century to be precise, a book mentioned the story of a little girl carrying a big baby in her hand. Someone asked her if she could manage and she replied; “He ain’t heavy; he’s my brother.” In what history books now refer to as the Age of the Hippies (the sixties and early seventies), an English group, The Hollies, recorded a moving, philosophical ballad that became a huge international hit. “He ain’t heavy; he’s my brother” was recorded in 1969, when more than half the Guyanese population wasn’t born. But the present generation would be familiar with it, because it has been covered endlessly from the time of its recording, and as late as 2012 when a group named “The Justice Collective” that included Paul McCartney, redid it and made it into a number one hit in the UK. The profits from the song were donated to charities as-
sociated with the “Hillsborough Massacre” where 96 persons lost their lives in a stampede during a Premier League football match (source – Wikipedia) They say in the philosophy world that humans tend to behave worse than lower animals. Many folks think that there are lower animals that are preferable to Homo sapiens. But when you listen to “He ain’t heavy; he’s my brother” you may think that there is still a future for Homo sapiens. Here are the lyrics of a wonderfully, touching reflection on the need for humans to be human and humane; The road is long With many a winding turn That leads us to who knows where Who knows where But I’m strong Strong enough to carry him He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother
So on we go His welfare is of my concern No burden is he to bear We’ll get there For I know He would not encumber me He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother If I’m laden at all I’m laden with sadness That everyone’s heart Isn’t filled with the gladness Of love for one another It’s a long, long road From which there is no return While we’re on the way to there Why not share And the load
Doesn’t weigh me down at all He ain’t heavy he’s my brother He’s my brother He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother I dedicate this song to all Guyanese on Christmas 2015. If any country needs to understand that there are poor, powerless and helpless people in whose burden we must share, it is Guyana. This is a very cruel country, where everything seems stacked against the lower classes. One just wonders how the poor make out in this land. I look at myself and some-
times extreme guilt takes over. I went to the supermarket and picked up literally two packets of boneless, fatless beef, a packet of special mince, four packets of skinless and boneless chicken nuggets and a packet of chicken mince. My bill was just over seven thousand dollars. I know I ordered boneless and fatless stuff that cost more but, worldwide, people eat such meat because the cholesterol content is less. I guess working class people will never afford what I bought. The average working class family has to buy the rougher, less healthy meat. This is a country where the electricity bill and water
Dem boys seh...
Soulja Bai, Rum Jattan leadership role in question De new govt is like a chameleon. That is a lizard that does change it colour to suit any situation or condition. If it stand up against a yellow wall it does tun yellow. When it deh near a scamp it does change to look like that scamp. That is what dem boys hear de gov’t heading to. Nuff of de Cabinet people can’t talk freely. A set of dem in de Cabinet telling dem to hush up and shut up when dem open dem mouth to talk about corruption. Dem get orders not to speak to de media. Dem boys beginning to get a change of heart wid Soulja Bai, de lead man in Hap New and Rum Jattan, de lead man fuh Hay Heff See. Dem boys honestly believe that both men were straighter than arrow, but wha dem hearing under de grapevine dem boys beginning to think different. And de problem come about because couple of dem talk to de Waterfalls paper how de Finance Man was refusing to tek action against Brassington. Dem boys hear how he tell Soulja Bai that Brassington is an asset, a church bai, and de best thing after slice bread come to
Guyana. Dem boys want to believe he was an asset, but only to Jagdeo, Ashni, and dem boys want believe, de Finance Man. De same people ain’t only get ban from talking to de media, it look like dem get ban from answering de telephone. Dem boys seh when dem been in de opposition, dem use to call de media to talk. Dem use to ring down all de phone. When dem didn’t get de reporter in office, dem use to call dem at home. Dem mouth run like when baby got diarrhea. Now like dem eat green guava and get constipated. Dem don’t answer de phone and dem don’t return phone calls. And is not dem don’t like to talk, but dem boys believe that de power done fly to dem head. De office got a lot of P and de P stand fuh nuff things, including money. Dem boys don’t want call name because nuff of dem is lawyer and some is liars. Dem boys now finding out de difference between dem. Talk half and hope dem boys wrong about wha dem hearing from inside de Cabinet.
Frederick Kissoon bill for average income earners combined are about $12,000 monthly. A house, with just a fridge and six fluorescent tubes with an electric iron incurs an electricity bill of $10,000 monthly. I know this because this happens to my nephew whose income is $40,000. An overseas friend of mine left two $50,000 school vouchers tenable at Austin’s Bookstore. He advised that I invite people to apply for them. I couldn’t cope with some of the sad stories I was receiving. I gave the vouchers to a foundation and quickly told those who contacted me that the process was over. In the realm of distributive justice, this country is one of the most oppressive in the entire world, in the context of class structure. Go to the Georgetown Hospital on any given day and see how worthless life is in this country. In war-torn lands, medical urgency is probably more assured than at the Georgetown Hospital. Many of the doctors at this hospital are a disgrace to the Hippocratic Oath they took, if they took it in the first place. In the realm of the law, only poor people are prosecuted. Accused facing life imprisonment and unrepresented in court are reduced to mincemeat. This is life in Guyana on Christmas 2015. Help the helpless, because he/she is your brother and sister.
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 11
Non-payment of one-month salary bonus disappoints Joint Services
While most public servants are rejoicing, enjoying the Christmas season, thanks to the tax-free $50,000 bonus, members of the Joint Services are fuming at not receiving the extra month salary they had grown accustomed to under the arrangement with the previous government. Since the beginning of the 2002 crime wave, ranks of the Joint Services, namely the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Fire Service, the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Prison Service, have been gifted a tax-free one month salary bonus, and this year they expected no less. But with a new administration in place that arrangement came to a screeching halt, leaving some ranks in a quandary. This is despite them receiving a small retroactive salary increase earlier this year and the recently paid out $50,000 bonus. The first hint that something was amiss was at the Guyana Police Force breakfast, when some of the officers tried to ‘pick President David Granger’s
mouth’ on the payout. But the President gave nothing away. They waited anxiously for the Commander-in-Chief, President Granger, to make the announcement at the annual Christmas Luncheon for Officers of the Guyana Defence Force. But the President not only did not make the announcement, he did not show up, choosing to go to Bartica instead. “Many ranks, maybe foolishly, had made plans for the one-month salary bonus, since they had grown accustomed to it over the years. So when they did not get it, it was obviously disappointing,” a senior police officer stated. But many are questioning why the Joint Services should benefit more than the other Public Servants, including teachers and nurses. The answer from the ranks is that, “we have to make more sacrifices, like risking our lives and being far away from our families.” The biggest losers though are the senior officers, with their “big salaries”. But that is not lost on the junior ranks, who feel that
SERVICE WITH A SMILE! President David Granger serves Christmas Lunch at Location Eteringbang. poetic justice has been served. “It’s time for the officers to holler now. I want them to see how we the junior ranks feel when we have to make do with the pittance we are paid,” a Lance Corporal of Police told this newspaper.
His sentiments were echoed by several other junior ranks who felt that President Granger did the right thing. “They (officers) shouldn’t cry; the $50,000 share equal. They should just enjoy what
we the small man does enjoy. Maybe then they will see how we survive on our salaries. But then again they does collect they own in ‘envelopes’,” another Constable stated. Some ranks are of the opinion that President
Granger, being a former military man, would have been able to relate to the plight of the members of the armed forces. But while he might have disappointed them this Christmas, he did promise betterment in the coming years.
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 25, 2015
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 13
Fear sparks division in Cabinet The tone of Cabinet meetings has changed. In the beginning there was great freedom; freedom to criticize those on the outside, and more importantly, freedom to deliver constructive criticisms on those members within Cabinet. However, now, some Cabinet members have to “think twice” before trying to criticize their colleagues lest they be reprimanded or made to feel like outcasts. This situation was related to Kaieteur News recently by several Government officials. The officials are of the impression that “fear” has made its way into Cabinet to the point where it has sparked division. One official explained, “Based on the proceedings over the last few weeks, one gets the distinct impression that Cabinet members are not encouraged to criticize their colleagues, whether in or out of Cabinet. An environment is not being encouraged to facilitate that. “Some colleagues,
- Govt. Officials because of the nature of some of the disagreements in there, do not feel as though they can speak freely without people throwing tantrums, making them feel ostracized.” Another government official supported this contention. “Indeed certain persons feel that they don’t enjoy the freedom to speak about their colleague’s sloppiness. You find yourself between a rock and a hard place, especially when you expose something and no action is taken of your concerns. That has happened several times. There have been instances where members walked out of meetings because of this situation.” Kaieteur News understands that this situation seemed to get worse since the completion of the forensic audit report on the National Industrial and
Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). The report which was conducted by Chartered Anand Goolsarran was finished for over a month and the administration had not taken any action. Cabinet members were given the report to review. Several members of Cabinet had made it known that they were in favour of Government pursuing a case for criminal charges against NICIL’s Chief Executive Officer, Winston Brassington. They indicated that his “acts of corruption against the nation just can’t be pardoned.” The report says that Brassington bypassed internationally recognized and credible companies only to engage criminal entities for the construction of the Marriott Hotel. It stated that he failed to justify how millions of dollars were spent on the Linden Mining
Man shot, police say he... (From page 6) wounds would show up to seek medical assistance. Lloyd Scott subsequently showed up at the GPHC with his brother shortly after. Initially, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) released a statement saying that Scott was walking along the roadway to his home at ‘B’ Field, Sophia, when he was attacked by a man armed with a firearm. A scuffle ensued during which Lloyd Scott was shot. The perpetrator took away a bag with alcohol and clothing from Scott and escaped. However, investigators are now trying to determine whether the siblings were involved in the robbery at Aubrey Barker Road or whether the 34-year-old man is really a victim of a robbery. At the hospital yesterday, the wounded man said that he is confused. He said that when he thought he
was giving police a statement as a victim, all along, they considered him a suspect in a robbery. According to Scott, he is a supervisor at the Pegasus Hotel Poolside. He explained that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) had its annual staff party at the hotel and he was busy working. “Me and my manager were the last persons to leave. I took a taxi to go home. I didn’t get drop directly in front my yard because my street bad, so I had to walk a piece. While walking, I see a bus man and he asked me if I see a man with all black watching me, so I said yes and I also tell he (bus driver) that I see another man at the other corner too,” the wounded Scott related. He added that after the bus driver drove away, he continued walking until the man in black rode up and pointed a gun at him. “He said to me ‘what happen with y’all, you want
I buss up yuh f***ing face’ and I asked he what he mean, and he come off the bicycle and walk up to me with the gun and tell me to empty my pocket and don’t waste his time,” the wounded man recalled. He added that the gunman pushed his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “I grabbed onto his gun and shirt and we fall into the trench and we continue fighting and he pulled the trigger and shoot me twice,” Scott said. He revealed that he managed to take the gun away and threw it onto the road. “He come out the trench and run to get the gun and I run home and tell my brother that I get shoot let he take me to the hospital,” Lloyd Scott lamented. He was subsequently taken to the hospital. Investigations are ongoing.
Enterprise, and to properly account for their assets. Goolsarran, with credible evidence in hand, also exposed how Brassington, on behalf of NICIL, hid $1B in a secret account. The money was intended to aid in the construction of the Marriott Hotel. Brassington also paved the way for NICIL to illegally fund the preparation of the Pradoville Two scheme, and kept $26B from the Consolidated Fund. One Government Minister said, “The more the people
read about the NICIL corruption, the more alarmed they get and the faster they want to see justice. But the Ministry of Finance seems reluctant to act. Why is Brassington still within the confines of the Ministry of Finance? “Brassington could and should have been sent home,” the government official opined. On Wednesday, he and his deputy, Marcia Nadir-Sharma, were ordered to proceed on immediate leave to facilitate an investigation.
The official said, “There were members who were angry because statements were made about the Finance Minister; these comments were brought to his attention before and no action was taken. It is no coincidence that since Kaieteur News published the article, among others, that action was taken.” “It is sad that this fear of antagonizing a colleague is creeping into the Cabinet level and it needs to be removed. It is not a good sign for this coalition government.”
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 25, 2015
“Sex work is work; end violence against such service providers” Focused on the elimination of violence against sex workers in observance of the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) and the USAID-funded Advancing Partners and Communities (APC) - Guyana Project presented its fourth installment of “Lunch Talk” on December 17. In recent years, there has been an upsurge of murders, violence, and attacks against sex workers in Guyana. The one-hour lunch-time discussion forum was aimed at addressing these issues with key stakeholders, particularly with the human rights and legal fraternity, and sex workers themselves. The panelists included Attorney-at-Law Emily Dodson; Board Member of Artistes In Direct Support (AIDS), Cracey Fernandes; Board Member of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), and Miriam Edwards,
- Guyana Project forum stresses Director of the Guyana Sex Work Coalition (GSWC). The discussions were moderated by SASOD’s Social Change Coordinator, Jairo Rodrigues. THE LEGALITY OF SEX WORK IN GUYANA Calling it one of the oldest professions in human history, Dodson revealed that sex work – that is exchange of sexual relations for money and other benefits – of itself is not illegal but the activities related to it are prohibited under law. Though there are no references to the term “sex work” in Guyana’s laws, any legislation prohibiting such would be deemed unconstitutional. Dodson quoted Article 22 (I), “Every citizen has the right to be rewarded according to the nature, quality and quantity of his or her work, equal pay for equal work, or work of equal value, under just conditions of work”; and Article 22 (II) “Every citizen who is able to work has a duty to work.”
Article 149 of the Guyana Constitution sets out that: “no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her right to work.” That is to say, the right to free choice of employment. Dobson further argued that under Guyana’s laws, specifically Sections 165-166 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act Chapter 8:02, does not rule sex work, itself, illegal in Guyana. “It is a man living off the earnings, running a bawdy house or brothel, and other offenses related to sex work that have been deemed illegal, but the actual sex work is not being deemed illegal.” Quoting from the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01 which criminalises: anyone who publicly sells or exposes any obscene book, pamphlet (Section 350); any male person who in public or private, commits or is a party to the commission or procures, or attempts to procure the commission by
Panelists at the Lunch Talk (l-r) Attorney-at-Law Emily Dodson, Board Member of Artistes In Direct Support (AIDS); Cracey Fernandes, Board Member of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC); Miriam Edwards, Director of the Guyana Sex Work Coalition (GSWC) and Moderator, SASOD’s Social Change Coordinator, Jairo Rodrigues. (Photo credit: Theresa Campbell, APC) any male person of any act of gross indecency with any other male shall be guilty of a misdemeanour – this holds a two-year imprisonment charge (Section 351); finally, anyone who commits buggery either with a human being or with other living creature shall be guilty of felony and liable to imprisonment for life (Section 353); It is also an offence to attempt to commit the act of buggery (Section 352). Commenting on the criminalisation of same-sex intimacy, Dodson opined that whatever is done by consenting adults in the privacy of their homes is nobody’s business. Section 354 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 8:01 states anyone who does an indecent act in any place to which the public has, or is permitted to have access, or does any indecent act in any place intending thereby to insult or offend any person shall be guilty of a misdemeanour. There is a two-year sentence for this offence. She noted that though there are no offences, that is, no section of the law which prohibits sex work, in court they would refer to vague interpretations that cannot be substantiated; what most cases would be based on is finding a link between sex work and human trafficking,
trafficking in persons, holding a brothel, violating the age of consent and statutory rape. “SEX WORK IS WORK AND WORK IS WORK” Board Member of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) Cracey Fernandes and Executive Director of the Guyana Sex Work Coalition (GSWC), Miriam Edwards, posited that there needs to be more done to protect sex workers in the society. Fernandes talked about the work of local and regional organisations in addressing issues affecting sex workers, noting that most advocates employ a human rights-based approach. In his opinion, there needs to be constitutional reform to strengthen the rights of all Guyanese and to foster a more supportive society, he called for a revised understanding of what’s really in the books – the average citizen does not understand the laws and this ignorance fosters intolerance and prejudices. For him, there is a need for increased public awareness and training for service providers including police and healthcare professionals; Edwards reiterated this call saying that there needs to be more support, cooperation and work with local institutions, particularly the Guyana Police Force.
Giving an example of disdain and reject from police officers to sex workers who were abused by clients, and even some cases where officers themselves commit assaults, Edwards expressed that the Force needs to be educated on the laws and even their sense of responsibility to serve all citizens regardless of their occupation. “Sex work is work,” she said “and work is work.” Edwards noted that violence and discrimination meted out to sex workers is alarming. “The Guyana Sex Work Coalition (GSWC) advocates for the rights and protection of sex workers. We have to look out for one another,” Edwards said. She shared a tragic story of a woman being abused by a police officer and left naked and afraid in public. Other times it’s harassment from the public or abuse by their own partners, depression and suicide, as a spin-off. Even intimate partner violence and murders are all factors contributing to the vulnerability of sex workers. Helping this vulnerable group is not a short-term project, but requires extensive amount of time with focused care, mentioned Fernandes. Dodson said that services offered by the state to the citizenry regarding support and making reports do not end at the Guyana Police Force; abused or victimised sex workers can go to the Police Complaints Authority, or/and the Office of the Ombudsman to report that their report was rejected and there was nothing being done by state officers.
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
GTU embraces Granger’s notion of “no place for untrained teachers” “There will come a time when there will be no untrained teachers in the public education system,” said President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mr. Mark Lyte, recently. Lyte’s remark comes on the heels of a declaration by President David Granger that there is no place for untrained teachers in the public education system. “We are hoping to encourage all of our teachers who are not trained to get themselves qualified once they wish to remain in the system, because there is no doubt we must have trained teachers who are better equipped to implement the curriculum,” asserted Lyte. Once teachers embrace the importance of being trained they will be on course to ensuring that the system only has the services of trained professionals, he said. If a teacher is not qualified he or she has a temporary employment status. This therefore means that their service could be terminated at any time. There is however no stipulated period by
GTU President Mark Lyte which a temporary teacher must elevate his or her academic status. “Their service could be terminated at short notice and providing that we have enough trained teachers in the system, the Ministry can move to get rid of them and simply inform that there is no longer a need for untrained teachers because they are temporary,” said Lyte. In order to address the training issue, the GTU President has recognised the need to make training more accessible to teachers. This,
he noted, is especially important for teachers in the riverain areas. “The riverain areas are the most affected...Some teachers there are desirous of being trained but they are not getting the necessary opportunities,” Lyte explained. He has also touted the need to offer incentives to train teachers in order for them to be attracted to hinterland and riverain schools. “We have a lot of unqualified teachers in those schools because nobody wants to go there...there are no incentives to leave your home and go into those places. We feel that the Ministry (of Education) has to come up with more attractive things to get trained teachers in those areas, and I think that would solve the problem in a great way. “They have to provide things like better housing, transportation, incentive for promotion, higher allowances,” said Lyte. He disclosed that because of the unwillingness of teachers to venture into some locations,
Health Ministry mulls ‘National Eye Bank’ As the demand for corneal transplants increases, the Ministry of Public Health is engaging in talks for the development of a National Eye Bank in 2016, along with legislation which will see tissues and organs being retrieved from dead bodies for the advancement of medicine. Speaking to Kaieteur News yesterday, Minister George Norton revealed the ministry’s plans for the development of the bank, which he says will require little funding. “A lot of patients have been benefitting from corneal transplants of recent at the Georgetown Public Hospital and we have noticed the success of these surgeries with our own local surgeons. And so in order for us to continue along this line, we are looking at the development of a National Eye Bank,” Norton said. He stated further that it would not require a lot of infrastructure to develop. “The development of such a bank would be cheap and tissue would be easily accessible and not just any tissue but fresh tissue,” he noted. Presently, the hospital depends on overseas sources for donor tissue, which is
...as demand increases for corneal transplants very expensive. Corneal transplants become necessary when a person’s corneas no longer allow light to enter the eye correctly because of scarring or disease. During the transplant - a procedure called a keratoplasty - a portion of the cornea is removed and replaced with a new section from a tissue donor. Norton indicated that the formation of the bank could only function efficiently if the relatives of potential donors cooperate with the hospital. He said, therefore, it is important for legislation to be passed to allow for such tissues and other organs to be donated to persons in need. He noted that there is a lot of potential donor tissue going to waste in the hospital’s mortuary. However, he stated that while some persons may want to donate their tissues and organs to science, many of their families would not approve of it. “…but we are still evaluating such a legislation, even though it is not high on our agenda,” he added,
stating that there many capable surgeons in Guyana to carry out such transplants. So far the hospital has conducted over 15 corneal transplants within the year. This is an improvement, since transplants of this kind were not performed at the hospital for many years. Norton stated that the figures might be small, but there is a large number of persons suffering from eye diseases. “It is not so much, but there have been improvements and we hope to improve upon those improvements,” he said. The figures vary slightly at the Balwant Singh’s Hospital, where evaluations are being carried out for the development of a private eye bank. Several transplants were performed during 2014 and this year by the hospital’s Ophthalmologist Dr Neeraj Jain, who has also raised his voice for the development of such a bank. Minster Norton was the first ophthalmologist to perform a cornea transplant in Guyana four years ago at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
schools have in the past had to be closed. At a recent GTU forum President Granger observed that despite not having the adequate qualifications, about 1,700 untrained teachers were recruited during the period 2012-2015. This has translated to an annual average of 433. “This suggests that a significant number of untrained teachers still exist within the system even as a large number of trained teachers are leaving (for various reasons),”the President added. But according to him, “We need to think of career teachers who will remain in the system and would want to be trained in order to fulfil the requirements of the profession.” He therefore stressed the need for training. “Why do you think parents would want to send their children into classrooms where over 1,700 teachers are untrained? You are begging for trouble. There is really no place for untrained teachers in the education system.”
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$50,000 bonus does not extend to pensioners - Harmon A recent $50,000 bonus for public servants does not extend to pensioners, Government says. Responding to questions on Wednesday related to the bonus announced earlier this month to certain categories of workers, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, explained that the $50,000 payment is for serving public servants who are earning less than $500,000 monthly. Harmon admitted that previously, it was the practice to give pensioners the level of increase that public servants would receive. The official insisted that his Government, which came into office back in May following early general elections, has always taken serious steps to ensure that pensioners “…persons who have actually worked their life, given the best years of their life, in the public service…” actually receive them (increases). According to Harmon, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, in addressing benefits for pensioners, had noted that it was the beginning of a number of measures to improve their
lot. Meanwhile, responding to increased benefits for sweepers and cleaners hired to do work in schools across the country, the minister told reporters that the arrangements for them are still being worked out. The sweepers and cleaners, he said, are not in the same category of workers as other public servants as they work for certain hours. “I met last month with the (Guyana) Public Service Union and I gave them the assurance that we continue to work on this issue to make sure that it is resolved in the shortest possible time. So I understand the union’s anxiety, but we have also asked the sweepers/ cleaners…we ask that they understand that we have their interest at heart and that specific features of the kind of services they provide, the hours of work which they provide on a daily basis…will have to be categorized so we can make a decision in that regard.” Harmon does not see any major hurdles in having the issue resolved next year.
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 25, 2015
GuySuCo ends year with over 231,000 tonnes The second sugar crop for 2015 officially ended on Wednesday evening, with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) achieving 231,145 tonnes 3,702 tonnes more than its target of 227,443 tonnes. The second crop realised 150,007 tonnes, surpassing the target of 146,300 tonnes, breaking an 11-year period of a second crop not fulfilling its goal. Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, Errol Hanoman told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that such achievement has come about because the management team was very motivated and workers gave of their best and most importantly, the corporation was allowed to do the job without interference “We have been allowed to manage. The management team focused solely on getting the tasks done, there were no distractions,” Hanoman reiterated. The Coalition Government, cognisant of sugar ’s importance to Guyana and the livelihoods
of the industry’s 17,000 workforce, appointed a new Board of Directors to manage the ailing company, and instituted a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to look into the company’s operations. The last time the industry achieved its production target was in 2004 when it produced 325,317 tonnes of sugar. This is despite the company over the years, consistently lowering its set targets. Last week when the second crop target was achieved, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had commended the workers and the management for their accomplishment, reminding that the corporation has to work on regaining its profitability. Meanwhile, Hanoman said he is keen to begin working on next year’s target which has been set at 242,287 tonnes, a five percent increase over the 2015 target. “My mind is now on 2016. We will be working to achieve 240,000 tonnes so we have to start refining our strategies to be able to be on
top of our game. There will be lots of challenges, so at every level we have to go systematically to achieve the target, and so as we go into the new year’s production, we all know where we stand,” the CEO stated. Hanoman told GINA that the company’s debt is still huge, standing at $78.6 billion, down from the $82 billion it had racked up by July of this year. But while it has achieved increased production, the company has to address its huge debt, and high production cost. Production is only one element to returning the corporation to viability. Reminding of the two strikes called by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU), which affected the corporation attaining its sugar target earlier, he said, “We are looking forward to a healthy, constructive relation with all the unions. All of us are working toward the same goal of ensuring viability of the company and security of employment for the
workforce.” Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on Wednesday, speaking on the issue of viability, said that some estates may have to merge. Wales and Uitvlugt, the West Demerara Estates are two targeted for merging. Cabinet held a retreat on November 28, where members were briefed on the state of affairs at GuySuco, based on a detailed report from the COI. Harmon stated that it was agreed at Cabinet that “because the industry is vital to many people whose livelihoods depend on GuySuCo and also because GuySuCo is important to Guyana’s overall economy, that there is a need for much wider consultations, with all stakeholders and (the) general public, regarding the future direction of GuySuCo.” He noted that based on the nature of GuySuco and its great value, the COI’s report will be sent to the National Assembly for deliberations before any decision is made. The report of the COI will be put before the Economic Services Committee of the National Assembly next week. Over the years, the previous government injected billions of tax-payers’ dollars into the sugar sector, yet it remained in a dire state. The industry’s output over
the last two years did not meet expectations. The 2013 production was a meagre 186,770 tonnes, and only a modest target of 215,910 tonnes was set for 2014. This is despite the industry receiving huge sums as bailouts. The removal of preferential prices which African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries like Guyana enjoyed from the EU, worsened the corporation’s problems. Guyana has to compete in a volatile sugar market, where market prices continue to decline. Removal of the preferential market, therefore has forced GuySuCo to be more efficient, to remain competitive. Meanwhile, with regard to sugar sales, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder reported on Wednesday that the world market prices impacted negatively in this regard. “This was very evident from sugar sold to the European market where the price received is very much related to the World Market Price. Sales of value added sugar increased significantly from 2014 levels and our presence was re-established in most of the CARICOM countries. Sales of our latest brand of package sugar “Enmore Crystals” which is aimed at the North American
CEO (ag), Errol Hanoman market, commenced in 2015 in both the USA and Canada,” he explained. Guyana anticipates export sales to the amount of 210,000 tonnes by December 31. Apart from the rising production cost that GuySuCo has to battle, the issue of wages and salaries impact greatly on the corporation’s operating costs. Wages and salaries have accounted for about 65 percent of GuySuCo’s operating cost. The sugar industry’s recovery will not be without many challenges and setbacks however, the coalition government is adamant that it will do all that it can to return the industry to a viable state. It has said that sugar ‘is too big to fail’.
Legal Affairs Ministry to host public consultations on Anti-Terrorism Bill The Ministry of Legal Affairs has seemingly taken into consideration the many concerns raised by the parliamentary Opposition and the business community with regards to the lack of consultation on the AntiTerrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill 2015. As a result, the Ministry has decided to host public consultations on the Bill for the benefit of all stakeholders. Kaieteur News understands that the consultations will begin on Monday. It will be held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. The forum will begin at 10:00hrs. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams will be chairing the proceedings. This comes as a result of preliminary proceedings which caused the tabling of the Bill to be deferred. The A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition Government was accused of undermining parliamentary democracy when it first attempted to pass
this Bill at the last sitting of the National Assembly. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo moved a motion to suspend the Standing Orders to allow for the Municipal and District Councils and Local Authorities (Amendment) Bill No 14 of 2015, the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill No 15 of 2015, and the AntiTerrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill No 16 of 2015 to go through all three stages (first, second and third readings) during the Thursday, December 17 sitting. But the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) opposition was against this. The Opposition complained that it had only seen the Bill for the first time two days before it was to be passed. The PPP/C contended that it was being denied the opportunity to fully examine the piece of legislation. PPP claimed that the AntiTerrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill is an entirely new 98-page legislation which it never saw
before, but Williams took the party up on this, noting that the Bill was drafted by Clement Rohee during his time as Minister of Home Affairs. The local business community had also taken the government to task over the lack of consultations. In a statement, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) said it was surprised and concerned to learn from the media that these two pieces of legislation were about to be tabled and read in Parliament with “no apparent consultation with the business community”. “There is growing concern regarding consultation and we would hope that this latest example will be the last piece of legislation done in this manner. Vital pieces of legislation should and must be brought to the attention of affected stakeholders from civil society and the Private Sector so that Article 13 of the Constitution is implemented,” the PSC statement said. The government compromised and decided to hold off on the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill.
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Businessman on $1M bail pending appeal of rape conviction By Rehanna Ramsay Convicted Charlestown businessman, Kevin Jordan, has been released on $1 million bail, pending an appeal of the jail term imposed on him for sodomising a seven-yearold boy. Last October, Jordan, 58, of Lot 524 Republic Park, East Bank Demerara was sentenced to 18 years in prison for rape following an in-camera trial, at the Georgetown High Court. The sentence was handed down by Justice Dawn Gregory. The trial judge had imposed the penalty after a mixed 12-member jury returned a majority guilty verdict. The verdict was 11; guilty – 1; not guilty. However on Monday, Jordan's lawyers petitioned the Court of Appeal for him to be granted bail, pending an application to overturn his conviction and sentence. The bail was granted by Court of
Appeal Judge, B.S Roy, following arguments by State Attorney Judith GildharieMursalin, and a team of lawyers representing the businessman. The team of lawyers comprising Senior Counsel Rex McKay, Attorneys Neil Boston and Brendan Glasford, based application on a claim that the jury had not deliberated on the case within the specified time. The attorneys claimed that the jurors had delivered a majority verdict in 80 minutes, which is less than the time specified for them to consider such a decision. Article 158 of the Criminal Law Procedure Act 10:01 outlines that in matters of noncapital offences, if the verdict is majority and not unanimous (common and undivided), the jury is required to deliberate for at least two hours before arriving at a decision. Further, it is said that in
such cases, the jury must return the verdict in the time specified before it could properly received by the trial Judge. However, Jordan's lawyers are adamant that the procedure had been breached. As such, they are seeking a decree by the Court of Appeal that the verdict is invalid. In the interim, the attorneys requested that Jordan be released on bail. Senior Counsel Mc Kay specifically asked the Judge to start with an amount of $250,000 for bail. However, State Counsel Gildhar i e - M u r s a l i n r e quested bail in a substantial amount. She argued that Jordan was found guilty of a horrific act by the court and therefore is no longer presumed innocent. The State attorney noted that in instances, which the time of delibera-
tion by jury is being queried; it could be verified by examining the information recorded in the Judge's minute book. Gildharie-Mursalin further argued that at this stage, it’s not a matter of Jordan being completely exonerated since in circumstances which the time of deliberation is the issue, a retrial is usually ordered. After listening to the arguments, Justice Roy released Jordan on $1 million bail, pending the appeal of his sentence. The bail was granted, since it is likely that the businessman could be successful with the appeal. However as a condition of his bail, Jordan was also ordered to lodge his passport/travel documents with the Court. When the allegations surfaced in 2007, Jordan, the proprietor of Jordan's
On bail: Businessman, Kevin Jordan Spare Parts at High and Broad Streets, Charlestown, was charged for sexually assaulting four minors. The victims were all boys, aged between six and eight years old. The acts were allegedly committed at the man's business place. However, the details did not come to light until a seven-year-old student of a primary school located a short distance from the Spare Parts dealership, complained
of a pain in his rear. Blood was found after the child was examined. The boy was subsequently questioned and he implicated the businessman. Three other boys came forward also alleging that Jordan had committed sexual acts on them during the lunch period at his business place. However, the latter cases never made it to the High Court.
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 25, 2015
Guyana achieves COP21 agenda - pushed negotiations for protection for SIDS, other vulnerable states The Guyana delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference; (COP21), held earlier this month in France, attained its agenda to secure a legally binding Paris Agreement to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and protect vulnerable states. The delegation, which was headed by Mr. Raphael Trotman, Minister of Governance; and Minister of Finance, Mr. Winston Jordan; also included Mr. George Talbot, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations; Mr. Andrew Bishop, Chief Negotiator, Ministry of the Presidency; Mr. Troy Torrington, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations; Negotiator, Ms. Kandila Ramotar – Climate Change Officer; and Negotiator, Ms. Michelle Kalamandeen – Biologist and Civil Society Representative; Ms. Jocelyn Dow – Civil Society Representative; Mr. Stefan Rickford Knights – Student and Youth Representative; and Ms. Teresa Gaime – Technical Officer, Department of Natural
Resources. GUYANA’S PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES Guyana’s principal objectives going into the negotiations were to secure a legally binding Agreement, a long-term goal for deep emission cuts consistent with a 1.5 degree warming pathway, led by developed countries; an article that anchored REDD Plus (+) and previously approved COP decisions in the Agreement, provisions for finance for helping developing countries combat climate change, anchoring the loss and damage mechanism in the Agreement and the provision in the Agreement for special consideration for low-lying coastal countries and small islands (SIDS) in terms of finance, mitigation commitments and reporting. The Conference, while centred on the larger negotiations for the creation of a climate agreement, offered the opportunity for the advancement of a number of bilateral and multilateral relationships which Guyana sought to capitalize upon. Guyana played a key role in the negotiating blocks of
Guyana’s Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman (at left) in discussion at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference in France CARICOM, Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Coalition of Rainforest Nations. CARICOM countries stood firm in their call for 1.5 degrees as the warming limit to be included in the agreement and its support of the REDD+ framework, which is particularly important to Guyana and Suriname. In addition, Guyana pursued a number of bilateral engagements, meeting with the Norwegian delegation, Italy and the Green Climate Fund. Meetings were also held with high level representatives from
Conservation International and the World Wildlife Fund. The Green Climate Fund, which administers the financial mechanism within the UNFCCC supporting projects and programmes in developing countries for climate change mitigation and adaptation, accepted a readiness support proposal from Guyana. Guyana’s proposal for institutional strengthening of its Climate Change apparatus to implement its Climate Resilience Strategy and Action Plan (CRASP) which is currently being developed; and to increase its access to GCF funding for future projects, was approved for the US$300,000 grant to be implemented over the next year. At the close of the Conference, a dedicated Article for Forests, in particular REDD Plus, which secures the previous COP decisions on REDD Plus as a framework, provides for support, including through results based payments, for
forest conservation and sustainable management of forests; and provides a corresponding COP 21 decision, which provides for financing for REDD Plus; was established. Guyana played a leading role in securing this Article and Decision. A Finance Article which provides for developed countries to provide financial resources to developing countries for both mitigation and adaptation; for developed countries to take the lead in mobilizing the required financial resources; was also reached. A Mitigation Article which provides for a long term goal of well below two degrees while pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees; developed countries to take the lead with emission reduction targets, with developing countries preparing and communicating strategies, plans and actions, but moving over time to emission reduction targets also; early peaking of emissions, but with
developing countries taking longer; nationally determined contributions by all Parties, to be submitted every five years, and which should be progressively ambitious over time, fostering adaptation and low emission development in a manner that does not threaten food production, was also agreed to by the parties. An Article for Loss and Damage (those impacts of climate change which we would not be able to adapt to), which includes enhancement of action and support for early warning systems, emergency preparedness, risk management and risk insurance facilities was also reached in Paris. RECOMMENDATIONS There were several recommendations aimed at strengthening Guyana’s fight against Climate Change. An early assessment of the implications, opportunities and way forward within the provisions of the Agreement in terms of the ratification process, project development, and access to finance and implementation would be valuable. As such, the repositioning of Guyana’s Climate Change Agenda through review and possible structural changes, clarification of roles and reporting channels of Office of Climate Change, Project Management Office and the Sustainable Development Unit with the aim of ensuring a more coordinated approach is demonstrated, has been recommended. The policy framework within which Guyana can target new opportunities for support, based on national priorities, is required, and necessitates the formalisation of the Green Economy Strategy as a critical next step, has also received (Continued on page 27)
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 27
Housing Ministry pursues new direction Seven months ago, a programme began with an objective to ensure that everybody is housed in cohesive and sustainable communities. During the period, May to December, staff of the housing and water sector has been able to lay the ground work for the implementation of this new housing programme. “What we have done is aimed at and pursued creating a new concept in housing and by developing affordable houses at a much lower cost than existed in the past, and also we are trying to develop a community concept where we have people not seeing themselves as part of obtaining a house lot or a house, but being part of a cohesive community,” Minister within the Ministry of Communities, with responsibility for Housing and Water, Keith Scott explaining the new housing concept. The implementation of the housing programme is part of the overall strategy of the new government of building cohesive and sustainable communities. Thus, the new Government is moving away from the previous approach of just delivering house lots. Apart from infrastructure development and the allocation of lots, the development of ‘affordable’ houses in planned housing schemes, engaging communities and gaining an understanding of their issues and involving them in developing solutions to address these issues, all play an equal part in the new approach to housing. Minister Scott, speaking on the issue of building cohesive communities, replied, “If you are to use a scale of one to 10 with ten being the highest…we can comfortably say we got 8 out of 10.” For 2015, not only did the Ministry hand out 180 house lots and 290 titles, but it also worked to ensure that every Guyanese who wants a house lot or a house that the needs will be met. The ministry set up an active community development department to
address the concerns of the populace and to build the capacity at the community level, for the implementation of key projects within. In pursuit of this goal, community outreaches were held in La Parfaite Harmonie, Angoy’s Avenue, Eliza and Mary (also known as Little Africa,) and Lethem, where residents were able to raise concerns about the challenges they face in accessing housing and infrastructure and exploring possible approaches to resolving these issues. Additionally, six community meetings were held in Regions Three, Four and Six. These reached a total of 126 persons. These meetings addressed issues such as electing community leaders, identifying and implementing community projects and identifying stakeholders with which these communities can partner. Communities reached in these meetings include La Parfaite Harmonie, RechtDoor-Zee Phase Two core houses beneficiaries, Westminster Multi-purpose building Management Committee, Plum Park Sophia, ‘A’ Field Sophia Community Group and Eliza and Mary. In terms of building capacity, a total of 22 community leaders were trained in Region Six. These include leaders from Ordnance/Fortland and the newly elected, Eliza and Mary Community Development Group. Meanwhile, three community projects were implemented during the reporting period. This include a Project Steering Committee elected and street naming exercise completed in RechtDoor-Zee Phase Two and the playground fence construction completed at Ordnance/Fortland in Region Six. Meetings were also held with the National Community Development Council to discuss the approach to community development from the perspectives of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), and identifying areas for collaboration.
Guyana achieves... (From page 26) recommendations for it to be examined while considering REDD+ and related forestry linkages, a closer review and assessment of reforestation and reclamation plans as matters of priorities, has also been recommended. Further, it has been also recommended that Guyana should pursue the potential partnerships for assistance in establishing green towns. The government indicated that it is highly appreciative of the support provided by the UNDP, WWF, Conservation International (CI), and the Guyana Policy Forum that ensured Guyana’s successful participation.
GWI CEO Dr. Richard Van West Charles (centre) and Senior Managers examining sections of the Mahdia water supply system. Part of the challenge of the housing programme is to devise methods to ensure that persons including those who have occupied informal settlements there are eligible for regularisation. Towards this agenda, in the past seven months, 148 lots were allocated to persons in squatting areas under regularisation and 250 titles were issued to persons in squatting areas under regularisation. With regards to the hinterland, particular focus has been on the issue of affordability and provision of suitable living conditions. In this regard, building on the success of the second low income settlement programme, the Ministry has been successful in getting the Inter-American Development Bank to expand its core home programme in the hinterland. The ministry is set to receive an additional US$3M to build 200 more homes. Not only do these homes speak to affordability, but the structures’ construction will take into account the low population density, the reliance of the population upon subsistence farming, and the humidity of the areas among others. The provision of safe potable water plays a critical part of building cohesive communities. The past seven months saw particular focus on providing more access to this service. Particular attention was paid to providing developing communities with access. This resulted in communities like Barnwell North, East Bank Demerara among others receiving water for the first time in 15 years. A total of $422M was provided for coastal water programmes in 2015. More than $236M was invested to improve the urban water supply, $130 M to improve the quality of water supply in hinterland communities, $65M to improve the quality
Minister Keith Scott (third from left) with other officials at the Recht-Door-Zee housing development of service for residents in Linden and in excess of $526 M went to the Linden Water Supply Rehabilitation programme. Achievements under the Coastal water programmes include the drilling of four new wells at Hope, East Coast Demerara, Cotton Tree, West Berbice, Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara and Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. GWI also commenced drilling a new well at Port Mourant which will benefit approximately 8000 customers. The water company also upgraded three water treatment facilities at Eccles, Timehri and New Amsterdam. The programme involved the installation of more than 10 km of mains to provide new service connections to at least 1,000 customers. Under the Urban water supply programme, six water service improvement projects were implemented to enhance the level of services received by customers in city communities. Four of these projects involved the installation of more than 10 km of mains in Georgetown to
replace deteriorated and damaged mains which resulted in an improved level of service and a reduction of non-revenue water (water lost through leaks and breakages). Meanwhile, the hinterland water programme saw the implementation of seven projects to provide more access to a safe water supply for Guyanese living in hinterland communities. These include the installation of an engine, pump and distribution network at Mabaruma Settlement and Kamwatta, Region One to resolve the water supply challenges affecting the communities. At Port Kaituma, Region One, GWI rehabilitated several tanks as well as the distribution network.
The company also commenced treatment of the water supply system to provide better quality water to the entire community. Mahdia, Region Eight also benefitted from the rehabilitation of the distribution system including the reservoir and catchment areas. A potable water well was drilled for residents of Monkey Mountain as well as a photo-voltaic system and a new distribution network installed. Residents of Princeville and Campbelltown, Region Eight and Kako, Moruca, Region One also benefitted from a new potable water well, the installation of a photovoltaic system and a new distribution network.
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Kaieteur News
VACANCY Porters and salesgirls, apply @ D. Singh & Sons – Call: 226-1316; 691-0230
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Friday December 25, 2015
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 New model Raum: A/C, TV, Mags, PMM series, excellent condition never work hire $1.350M- Call: 619-1047 Toyota 2 RZ BTT Series, power window, sunroof, TV, fog, mint condition, owner leaving country- $1.6MCall: 612-6121 Toyota Dyna (enclosed), never registered, lift gate (hydraulic), back camera, excellent condition, low mileage -$2.6M –Call: 629-4494 Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, Bluebird, 212, IST, Fielder, Spacio- Call: 6523820/ 665-4529 One Axela Mazda -$1.550 negotiable, one Nissan Titan, one Audi A4; all vehicles in excellent condition-Call: 6653038; 226-4356 Original Set of size 15 Hilux rims, set of Size 16 used pick up tyres- Call: 685-0942, 6450240
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Crazy Deals: Dell/HP desktop & laptop computers from -$49,000, free games & educational programs @ FutureTech: 231-2206
PS3 -$35,000, XBOX360 $25,000, XBOX one-$100,000, plastic barrel -$4,000-Call: 621-7497; 603-8643
Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244
CAT 930- Front End Loader, CAT D4H bulldozer, 9wheeled Pneumatic, Roller – Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 Leyland DAF 55 Dump Truck, CAT 320 BL excavator. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225
Toyota Raum, L-Touring Wagon, AT192, EP71 Starlet, Nissan 4 Door pickup, Yamaha R1 & R6, Honda 600RR-Call: 644-5096; 6971453 Noah & Voxy in ‘G’ series, fully loaded, never registered -$1.7M –Call: 617-2891
1 –XBOX one with 2 controllers, kinect, black ops 111 & mortal Kombat X, perfect Christmas Gift. Call: 683-8386 AMERICAN BULLY DOGS, REMYLINE & GOTTILINECONTACT HARRY: 6100068/220-7933, WHATSAPP: 667-4845 Pure bred pit-bull pups for sale –Contact Lisa: 697-8867 Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, Tibetan Terriers & Dachshund – Call: 6806426
Unregistered Toyota Premio 2007, push start, reverse camera -$3.1M negotiable, Honda Ridgeline, 4 door extra cab-Call: 655-3400
Music Set: 2 speaker boxes, Gemini & Peavey Amp, Gemini Preamp, Peavey Crossover, Sound Barrier equalizer- Call:685-0942; 6450240
Unregistered Fielder Wagon, fully loaded, rims, camera, bodykit, HID, dark interiorCall: 617-5536
New Electric Grinder, English Made Drill Press, 5GL Buckets with cover –Call: 685-0942, 645-0240
2 Bedrooms apartment in a healthy & safe environment –Call: 698-6496
One mobile diesel driven ice cream cone truck, fully equipped-John Deere Power generator-Call: 227-1830
2 Bedrooms apartment for rent at Lot 7 Durban Street Lodge -$45,000 monthly – Call: 690-5796
1-30 ft. Concrete - high ceiling structure containing all equipment for casting brass and aluminum - Call: 227-1830
Rooms in Albertown and apartment in Eccles–Call: 225-3234 Eccles apartment; fully furnished, includes: A/C, Cable, internet, studio, etc, (short term) –Call: 2332770 One two bedrooms house, water tank, parking space – Call Joy: 218-1285; 649-9059
EDUCATIONAL Registered for Phonics, Reading, Spelling etc, classes for all ages, private tutoring also offered –Call: 675-4379 RISING STAR DAY CARE & KINDERGARTEN – Phonics, Reading, Numeracy, monthly fees @ 28 Cummings St, Close to Middle Street. Call: 690-9378
2 storied transported concrete property- upstairs: 2 bedrooms apartment, downstairs: 2 bedroom apartment, block ‘8’ MonRepos, E.C.D -$19M neg. Call: 625-1514; 231-7255 Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street Bourda, between Albert & Oronoque Streets -Call: 227-6817; 624-7341; 226-5183
Spare for washing machine, microwaves, fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, motors, etc Call: 225-9032, 647-2943
Toyota Fortuner 2012 yearCall: 624-6702
Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461.
1 Leyland DAF 55 Truck, excellent condition, seldom used since arrival, owner migrating –Call: 675-4287; (evening) 233-5454
Mitsubishi Canter for sale; GTT series, next to new –Call: 611-5354; 615-4728, price reasonable
Holiday Discounts!! Get a gift with the purchase of unregistered: Allion, Bluebird, Axela Fielder, Etc @ City Motors-Call: 6267478
PROPERTY FOR SALE
1 Complete Music Set, 2 MX 2000 QSC, 2 MX1500 QSC, 2 Gemini 1000W, guggler, mixer crossover, EQ, etc –Call: 2533070, 686-1887 SALON Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black O p a l , M a b e l l i n e . Nail Technician Course Call: 6471773/660-5257
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WCD road upgrade 20% completed
Road widening ongoing at Anna Catherina, WCD
Works being conducted at Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo In spite of the challenges which delayed the commencement to the expansion works for the West
Coast Demerara (WCD) highway from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, the project is now approximately 20 percent
completed. According to Kester Hinds, Project Coordinator of the Ministry of Public
Infrastructure, the scope of works for the project, which is expected to be completed over the next three years, includes widening of the road in some areas to accommodate cycle lanes and pedestrian sidewalks, the reconstruction of a bridge at Groenveldt, repairs to existing culverts, capping the entire surface of the road and raising some sections, and construction of concrete drains in heavily populated areas. Additionally, the corridor will be widened to accommodate the comfortable parking of vehicles and stopping of passenger vehicles without traffic being disrupted. “The extensive nature of the work is being done from the Hydronie section coming back to Vreed-en-Hoop… that’s the final six kilometres… that’s where we started most of the works and we’ve added the first layer to about two kilometres of that section,” Hinds said. The widening of the West Coast Demerara road from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie is a partnership project between the Government and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) valued at US$46.8M. This project which is being executed by overseas construction company, Surrey Paving and Aggregate Company Ltd, in joint venture with local c o m p a n y, BK International, will see approximately 36 km of road being widened.
Ansa McAl takes Christmas to Berbice kids Prominent importer and Beverage Giants, Ansa McAl Guyana Limited, continued their annual Christmas tradition by taking Christmas to children and other less fortunate persons across Guyana. One such activity was recently held at the entity’s New Amsterdam head office located at Main and Essex Streets, New Amsterdam. In attendance was Managing Director Beverly Harper who acted as Santa Claus and distributed gifts to all the children present. Also attending were Public Relations Officer, Ms. Darshanie Yussuf, Berbice branch manager, Mark Bikhai and Sales Representative Alicia Anderson. The children who were drawn from a number of Orphanages were treated to a sumptuous meal, sang songs and received gifts while participating in a number of games.
Ansa McAl Guyana Limited’s Managing Director Beverly Harper (sitting) chats with a lucky young lady who just received a gift
How did the State create NICIL that is answerable only... From page 4 NICIL increases that debt. The other point is the mentality of the PPP. This party inherited NICIL in 1992 and recognised its weakness. The right thing to do was to provide leadership in the National Assembly, revise the law and strengthen NICIL to better serve the people. This approach would have represented behavior that is consistent with the trust which the people placed in their elected representatives. The fact that the JagdeoRamotar cliques used it, as inherited, and abused it, mean that they were(and still are) incapable of knowing what is right, and far worse, displayed no intention of doing the right thing in the interest of the people. Why therefore would anyone elect people like these? They cannot be trusted with anything; cer-
tainly not with authority or power (very dangerous commodities), much less the wealth of the nation. Fourth, what happens next? Many serious questions remain unanswered e.g. (a)Exactly how much money passed through NICIL? (b) What was the money spent on? (c) What assets are still held? (d) Who will answer for missing assets? The people need help that they will not get it from a complicit political class. The place for this interrogation, to secure answers, is a court of law. It means that a suit should be filed against the PPP and NICIL, on behalf of the people of Guyana. Are labour and the media ready and able? Ivor Carryl
Description of Guyanese Christmas ambience in New... From page 4 (halal) shops do well this season as do roti shops. Hindus and Muslims may not attend church mass but like other Guyanese they prepare that special holiday meal and beverages and join in the “Christmas spirit” with the rest of the Guyanese and other Americans. Cakes, pastries and bread have being baked from last weekend onward. The end of the year season is also a time for party at businesses owned by Guyanese or where large numbers of Guyanese are employed. Several businesses hosted fetes. However, bashes at five star hotels are conspicuous by their absence as in previous years when this writer would get several invitations. Traditional Guyanese food, such as dhal puri and curried mutton, chicken, goat, duck, and alou, and fried rice, channa, chowmein were served. Several Mandirs also held year- end holiday concerts over the last couple weekends. Last Saturday the Indo-Caribbean Federation hosted a luncheon for seniors on Liberty Avenue. And this Sunday, community leaders hosted its annual Christmas luncheon at Rousseau catering restaurant where some 500 were presented gifts after a delicious meal - all done by volunteers. As usual on the streets in the shopping districts, men engage in “rum or beer drink-
ing”. Guyanese bars (rum shops) and night clubs have been busy although owners complain of slow business. Traditional music (local Indian songs, calypso, parang, Bollywood and golden oldies from yesteryear) are blasted at varied shops. Many Guyanese prefer to celebrate Christmas “at home” with making yearly pilgrimage to Guyana which has been a tradition - want to experience the good old Guyana Christmas. But seats are unavailable as Caribbean Airlines and Dynamic were long sold out. Christian churches in Guyanese neighborhoods have mounted nativity scenes on their lawns. People are expected to flock to church for mid-night mass on Christmas Eve.The Christmas holiday will be at fever pitch from Thursday when many businesses will close for the rest of the season. Schools go on break from Thursday and reopen the first Monday into the New Year - not as long holiday as in Guyana. The youths are looking forward for their gifts (new or latest electronics). And parents are not expected to disappoint. Yes, the New York Guyanese community is getting into the spirit of the season gearing up for the end of year holiday festivities - parties, family get together, church service, etc - as they would in their homeland. Vishnu Bisram
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Today Christmas is celebrated across the world. Best wishes are extend to all Guyana, and we at Kaieteur News hope for Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all Guyanese and their families. Below are some messages from various organisations on the occasion of Christmas 2015.
PRESIDENT DAVID GRANGER Christians all over Guyana celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ today. Jesus’s humble birth in a manger over two thousand years ago fulfilled God’s exalted promise recorded in the Holy Bible of peace on earth and good will toward men. Jesus’s glorious work in an obscure country, with a small band of disciples, a long time ago brought renewed hope to humanity and transformed the world. The flame of hope has been relit in Guyana this year. It is written in the Holy Bible, “… old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” Hope is alive again in our country. This hope comes with the promise of tangible and lasting change for a better life for all of our people. Christmas is a time to rejoice in Jesus Christ’s miraculous birth and his marvelous message of hope. It is also a time to rekindle the Guyanese spirit of goodwill and to be grateful for the service and sacrifice of others. We join other Guyanese to make Christmas this year a day of “good tidings of great joy.” Christians - through thought, word and work exemplify Christ’s message of mercy and compassion. They make Christmas a special, sacred sea-
son. Guyanese of all religions have also been inspired by the season’s spirit of charity and sense of social responsibility. Ordinary people everywhere reach out with compassion and generosity to help their brothers and sisters in need. Christmas this year, provides an opportunity to call on everyone to join in improving the lives of others; in bridging the gaps that keep our people apart; in reducing inequality; in ensuring a safe and secure country; in delivering the good life for all, including the needy, the sick, the infirm, the lonely and the forgotten that we especially remember and embrace. We call to mind today our children, the aged, the poor and other vulnerable citizens. We remember our soldiers and servicemen who are spending time away from home, on our borders and in farflung regions, separated from their families. We recognise the service of our technicians, nurses and other workers who maintain our public utilities and public health services so that others could be safe and comfortable. May all Guyana find comfort in the message of Christmas, a message that offers hope and the promise of a better future! A Blessed Christmas to all!
PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM (PNCR) The miraculous birth of Jesus Christ – celebrated by most Christians on the 25th December – is recorded in the Gospel according to St Luke as heralding an era of “peace on earth and good will toward men.” Jesus’ humble birth took place in a common manger in a tiny town in an obscure country. He was able, nevertheless, with a small band of disciples, to preach a gospel that transformed the world in a most fundamental way and created a remarkable Christian civilization of which we are all heirs. The Christian spirit of charity continues to inspire Guyanese of all religions. Ordinary
people everywhere reach out with compassion and generosity to help their brothers and sisters in distress. We call to mind the plight of the aged, the poor and other vulnerable citizens. We remember our servicemen and soldiers who will spend this joyous festival separated from their families at sea and on our far-flung frontiers. Christmas has become more than a religious festival when we rejoice in Jesus’ miraculous birth and his marvelous message to mankind. It has become an occasion to rekindle the Guyanese spirit of goodwill and to be grateful for the service and sacrifice of others.
FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT TRADE UNIONS OF GUYANA A joyous festival of celebration of a miraculous and divine birth is now an occasion that transcends Christianity and embraced by all. Guyanese have made Christmas all their own. If it is sometimes too commercial it is nevertheless still characterized by the spiritual aspect which Christian belief teaches. The drama of the virgin birth in a tale complete with expressions of poverty, even King Herod’s murderous exploits in killing male babies he was jealous of. But the Baby Christ survived and he became a saviour for the later Christians and all who would believe. The foregoing sentiments inform the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) message for our Christmas Guyana 2015. Our leaders all promise us good things – for workers, youth, women, hinterland residents, et al; policies and programmes are structured for our benefit, we are assured. But do we as a people receive the good consequences of those promised? Yet there is a lot of charity at Christmas. The gift of the Baby Christ does inspire a plethora of gift-giving at
this Season. FITUG is happy at this spirit. However, our thousands of members look beyond charity and gifts for their future.
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
“I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of all people as fellow travellers on life’s path, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.” Charles Dickens once penned this message and it is one that rings true across our nation at this time. To all Guyanese celebrating Christmas, I extend season’s greetings for a joyous holiday and best wishes for love, peace, prosperity and good health from myself and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Members of Parliament (MPs). As day set aside to mark the birth of Jesus
GUYANA PUBLIC SERVICE UNION (GPSU) What makes Christmas special for us as Guyanese is the spirit of goodwill that characterizes of its celebration. If the season is known to be of particular significance to people of the Christian faith, for us as Guyanese it cuts across religion, race, ethnicity, creed and culture. Christmas is, indeed, the season of love, of sharing and of festivities. The Carols proclaim “joy to the world,” “Peace on Earth” and Goodwill To All Men.” We at the Guyana Public Service Union embrace those sentiments. Indeed, we believe that the importance of Christmas reposes in the respite that it offers from conflict and confrontation. At this time, we reach out, first and foremost to every Public Servant across Guyana and those who continue to serve us in for-
eign lands. We salute, as well, those servants of the public in our disciplined forces. We reach out too to our leaders across the political divide, to our Ministers and Parliament and to His Excellency and his family. At this time of year we reserve a special place in our hearts for that category of Public Servant designated simply – and in our view, condescendingly – as Sweeper/Cleaners; these guardians of the environment in our schools, workplaces and other public places who, for years, and to our national shame have been consistently denied the entitlement of a minimum wage. This Christmas, the Guyana Public Service Union wishes to renew its commitment to what we regard as an uncompromising struggle to correct this historic injustice.
INDIAN ACTION COMMITTEE The Indian Action (formerly Arrival) Committee (IAC) extends Season Greetings to all. We call on Guyanese to strive to truly make it a season of giving in the spirit of bringing joy and happiness to each other. Christmas is another festival that transcends religious boundaries and has sustained its tradition of forging unity among all of our people. The camaraderie and sharing over time have resulted in our unique style of
GUYANAAGRICULTURALAND GENERAL WORKERS’ UNION The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) finds it easy to welcome and participate in the festival of Christmas 2015. Before the traditional 12 days which celebrate the Birth of the Christ Child – the bedrock of the Christian Faith, we Guyanese are all caught up in some form of preparation if only to welcome a New Year. This Christian festival is almost now secular in nature that it is embraced by all groups of Guyanese. GAWU knows that is so because of the universal symbolism of the Christmas Story of the Birth of Hope. It is said that “hope springs eternal in the breasts of men”. What is life if not blessed with the future of hope?
Christ, it has become a signal of hope, given the lessons left behind – messages of compassion, peace, charity and goodwill – principles that transcend Christianity, cutting across religion, creed, culture and ethnicity. At this time, Guyanese can reflect on these principles, as well as the fact that we have been through much as a people – moments of joy, sadness and struggle. However, we must also acknowledge the fact that Christmas inspires hope, which extends beyond our circumstances. As such, we can use this time to renew our sense of commitment as we look forward to the year and all we hope to achieve together. May the spirit of holidays, which brightens this time of year for all Guyanese, guide us through 2016, as Christmas is for more than one day.
But the Infant’s birth was surrounded with the realities of mankind’s earthly vices and “values” of greed, lust and power. It must also be noted that according to Christian beliefs, the adult Christ became a spiritual leader extraordinaire. He taught compassion and offered spiritual salvation but his “Everlasting Life” seemed not for those leaders who preyed on the poor and sought to accommodate wealth selfishly. Let us hold both our past and new leaders to such standards that the Christ exemplified. We must be provided with the hope of a bright future collectively – as promised in all the election campaign manifestos. The Birth of the Christians’ Lord provided hope and salvation.
making a Guyanese Christmas a truly enjoyable experience. We trust that all would be able to so indulge. The IAC would also like to urge that in this season of goodwill, we be reminded of the pertinent messages in an effort to foster peace and tolerance. The IAC recalls the part of the nativity story relates the challenges that Mary and Joseph encountered in their efforts to secure a resting place to give birth to the Saviour Jesus Christ. We believe that the humility they demonstrated through this story and the humble upbringing of Jesus Christ, remain a beacon for all mankind to be guided by. Further, we believe that humility and respect are integral in the quest for universal peace which appears to be elusive. The IAC would like to urge that as we celebrate, we remember those who would be unable to do so for various reasons and for them to be kept in our prayers. In every society, the celebrations are therefore never holistic. Closer to home, the IAC remains cognizant of the challenges some of our fellow countrymen and women face that would prevent them from partaking in the related celebrations. The IAC hopes that in the spirit of goodwill, such situations can be amicable be resolved. Once again we wish each and every Guyanese a merry Christmas.
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Govt. mum on media reports Forensic audit regarding dismissal of Central ordered into WASA Bank Governor
Trinidad Guardian - The board of commissioners for the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) has ordered a forensic audit into Wasa’s operations. A release from WASA yesterday stated, “The Board of Commissioners has observed certain irregularities in the operations of the Authority and in order to properly discharge its fiduciary obligations has deemed it necessary to order a forensic audit into the operations of the
Authority. “Upon receipt of the forensic audit the Board will consider the findings before considering what further action is necessary (if any).” The Board has also made certain changes to the executive management with immediate effect: Dion Abdool, general counsel and corporate secretary, will act as chief executive officer until further advised; Gerard Yorke will act as
director, Corporate Services; Paula Maria FortunP•, head legal services, will act as general counsel and corporate secretary; Raffie David, head, Tobago region, will act as director, operations; Rachelle Wilkie, head, financial planning and management, will act as director, Ffinance; and May Ann Diaz, head, workforce planning and organization development, will act as director, human resources.
Bunting Says Security Forces Are In Control In Crime Fight
The Gleaner - The National Security Minister, Peter Bunting, is seeking to assure Jamaicans that he and the law enforcement bodies are in control of Jamaica’s crime situation. However, he is admitting that it is not easy for the security forces to control crime
especially because some of the factors influencing the violence are socio-economic. Meanwhile, Bunting is appealing for more Jamaicans to help the security forces keep Jamaica safe. The police are on the brink of recording at least 1,200
murders for this year or 20 percent more than last year. The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party has criticised the government for its response to the crime situation, asserting that murders tend to rise when the People’s National Party is in power.
Trinidad Express - A new campaign to help combat crime is expected to be launched in January. This was revealed by public information officer for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Ellen Lewis during the weekly news briefing at the Police Administration Building, on Edward Street, Port of Spain. This initiative has been titled the “Help Solve Crime” campaign and will see a deeper relationship being sought between members of the public and the Police Service. “The Commissioner of
Police has mandated in 2016 that there must be a greater effort to encourage collaboration with the public and the TTPS with respect to bringing about a safer Trinidad and Tobago. In this regard the TTPS has embarked on a help-solvecrime campaign, beginning January 2016, that would require the support, and active involvement, of the national community and the media,” said Lewis. “There will be particular focus on unsolved murders and missing persons. We believe that with the public’s help and cooperation, in be-
ing our eyes and ears collectively, that we can improve detection rates for murders, thus allowing a measure of closure for relatives. The TTPS views the ‘Help Solve Crime’ campaign as a police/public initiative which must be sustained and supported for the good of the people of this country,” she added. “For us to win this ongoing fight against crime, the TTPS needs the public’s support. Tell us what you know. Help us solve crime and make Trinidad and Tobago a safer place for you and all your family members,” said Lewis.
New campaign in January
Cocaine found in fried fish on J’can flight - among top 10 seizures in 2015 WASHINGTON (CMC) – The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says cocaine found in fried fish on a flight from Jamaica was among its top seizures in 2015. In a report on Wednesday, CBP said on June 15, its Office of Field Operations (OFO)
officers at Miami International Airport seized over two pounds of cocaine concealed inside fried fish that was carried in the luggage of a passenger arriving from Jamaica.During an X-ray examination of the passenger’s luggage, the officers at the airport noticed “anomalies” in
some of the fish. On further examination, the officers observed that the bellies of some of the fish were sewn together and certain fish felt thicker than the rest. The OFO officers discovered about 2.3 pounds of cocaine and subsequently seized the illicit substance. “CBP officers are an instrumental part of the detailed inspection process designed to detect illegal narcotics entering the United States,” said Miami International Airport Port Director Christopher Maston.
Dr. Keith Rowley PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government yesterday refused to confirm or deny media reports that Central Bank Governor Jalawa Rambarran has been dismissed from his post. “I have been saying for the last few weeks that the only person who could comment on the Governor of the Central Bank is the Minister of Finance (Colm Imbert). That position has not changed because of stories appearing in the newspaper,” Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC). Both the Trinidad Express and the Trinidad Guardian newspapers reported yesterday that Rambarran, who earlier this month announced that Trinidad and Tobago had “officially” gone into recession” was dismissed after Cabinet took a decision to recommend to the President that his employment be terminated. President Anthony Carmona is overseas on vacation and Senate President Christine Kangaloo is acting as President. Under the Constitution she has all the powers of the President and therefore is the competent authority to act upon the Cabinet’s recommendation. The Trinidad Express reported that one of the key factors affecting the Cabinet’s decision was that the Government had several legal opinions which indicated Rambarran had breached the provisions of the Central Bank Act and the Financial Institutions Act.Earlier this week, Prime Minister Dr. Keith
Jalawa Rambarran,
Rowley, speaking on radio here, said that he had no difficulty with the statement made by the Central Bank Governor that the country had gone into recession since during the election campaign his party had always indicated that the economy had become stagnant. “You have to diagnose properly before you can prescribe and we were of the view that the economy was not growing. We went through an election campaign…and during that period we were saying that the economy was not growing. The government of the day was saying it was growing, the minister of finance was saying it was growing by 1.2 per cent and we were saying we were not seeing this. “So we are not surprised to hear that the country is now in a recession that the country was in a recession for the last year, what we were surprised is that we only now being told from those quarters,” Rowley said, adding that his administration still does not have any official “number’ to indicate the oil rich republic is in a recession. “We don’t see the numbers as I speak to you now I have not seen the numbers, all I have I that he say so, the governor of the Central Bank. I am saying I am not surprised to hear that and I would like to see the numbers. “However we have been in a situation where numbers on the performance of the economy have not been available,” he said recalling his first days as an opposition legislator here dating back to 1987 “and all the way up until
a few years ago, I always argued in the Parliament on the basis of documents presented…which showed the performance of the economy in a variety of areas… “Right now we are in a downturn of some kind, how far down we don’t know except looking at the prices on the revenue side but we don’t have the actual numbers and that is an unacceptable situation,” he said, noting that it is the responsibility of the government through its agencies to provide the numbers. “We ought to have those numbers coming to us from the Central Statistical Office. That office has not been properly functioning for years and we were again in the opposition saying that this is deliberate because the government did not want us to have the actual numbers and we are now confined to taking and dealing with what the minister say,” he added. The Trinidad Guardian newspaper reported that while Rambarran enjoyed support from the Opposition and even gained support in the form of an online petition to keep him in office, his continued clashes with the Government made his position irretrievable. The private sector had complained publicly at the decision by Rambarran to name a few companies which he said had used up a significant amount of foreign exchange resulting in at least one conglomerate signalling its intention to take legal action against the embattled governor for that alleged breach of confidentiality.
Friday December 25, 2015
UN concerned over political uncertainty in Haiti NEW YORK, USA — United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over growing political uncertainty in Haiti and urged the two candidates in the presidential run-off there to help the electoral process move forward while preserving the c o u n t r y ’s democratic gains. “The secretary-general is concerned over the growing political uncertainty in Haiti, following the publication of the results of the 25 October elections,” which included the first round of presidential polls, read a statement issued through his spokesperson. While taking note of the efforts by all stakeholders, including the establishment of an electoral evaluation commission on 16 December to address the concerns of opposition parties and ensure the successful and timely conclusion of the presidential elections, Ban in his statement stressed “the responsibility of all political actors to discourage violence and encourage a spirit of unity throughout the country.” According to the statement, the UN chief “calls for
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Haitians voted in the second round of the senatorial and parliamentary elections and the first round for their new president, in Haiti’s capital Port au Prince. Photo: UN/MINUSTAH/Logan Abassi the urgent intensification of dialogue to ensure the transfer of power through elections, within the constitutional timeframe, maintain stability and preserve the
country’s democratic gains.” “The secretary-general urges the two candidates in the presidential run-off to engage in good faith with the relevant institutions to iden-
tify and implement measures to help the process move forward,” the statement said. According to press reports, the run-off had been set for 27 December between
Jovenel Moise from the governing party and former government executive Jude Celestin, but the election has been postponed until further notice.
In his statement, Ban reaffirmed the commitment of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the entire UN system to continue supporting the Haitian people in the fulfilment of their democratic aspirations. In a statement to the press, the members of the UN Security Council trusted that, with the support of the international community, the Haitian people will build upon the first two rounds of Haitian elections and be able to bring the electoral process to a successful conclusion in the upcoming final round. “The members of the Security Council expressed their strong commitment to supporting free and fair elections and called on all political forces to work through the electoral process to ensure that the will of the people is reflected in the outcome of the election,” the statement added. Council members also called on all candidates, political parties, and political actors to publicly commit to the electoral process and timely government formation in accordance with the constitutional timeframe, including the inauguration of a new president by 7 February 2016.
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‘We’re just one good day away from a turnaround’ - Holder ESPNcricinfo - Jason Holder looks, acts and speaks like a captain. He is thoughtful about the game, firm in his own opinions, and speaks his mind. He is only 24, but he pulls his players into line when necessary. He also has the potential to be the most important player in the West Indies line-up: he has played only 11 Tests, but already has a Test century and two fifties to his name, and offers consistency with the ball if not bags of wickets. But it is a hard road ahead for Holder, who so far has captained his team in three Tests for three losses. In those matches, he himself has taken just three wickets at 47.33 and scored 97 runs at 16.16. But those Tests have all been away from home in challenging conditions, in Sri Lanka and then Hobart. There had been glimpses of promise from his team during those Tests, but the challenge is to create more than just
glimpses. “It’s not a burden, I’m enjoying the challenge,” Holder said of the captaincy, ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. “It’ll take time before we get the results we’re looking for. We need to build and keep building. We need to put something on the table that we can build on. At the present time we’ve been fluctuating with a good performance here and then a bad performance there. “It’s never been something that we can just make a steady progression forward with. That’s the main thing for me. We need to understand the position we’re in. We have a very young side, very inexperienced, and we have some guys that we need to build a core of players around. Once we understand that it’s easier to move forward.” The three-day defeat in Hobart could have the potential to crush the confidence
Whitie bar to host 20/20 dominoes Whitie Bar of Best Road, Vreed-en-Hoop will be hosting 20/20 dominoes tournament on Sunday starting at 14:00 hrs. Entrance fee is $10,000,
the winning team will t a k e h o m e a t r o phy and $100,000, runner up a trophy and $50,000 and third place $30,000.
of the young West Indies side, but Darren Bravo’s first-innings 108 and Kraigg Brathwaite’s 94 in the second innings showed that their batsmen are capable of troubling Australia’s bowlers. Putting it all together in one performance is the task for Holder and his men. “For me personally I’m always upbeat,” Holder said. “I think we’re just one good performance from turning things around. That’s the way we have to look at it. We can’t be negative all the time, we just have to find ways to pick ourselves up. We’re just one good day from a turnaround and that’s the way I’m taking it going forward.” While the lack of batting support for Bravo and Brathwaite in Hobart was a major issue, the lack of incision from the bowling attack after the first session of the Test - in which they claimed three wickets - set the tone for the match. Jerome Taylor and Kemar Roach in particular are experienced fast men with the skills and pace to do some damage in the Australian conditions, but nobody was able to stop the 449-run
Stag Super XVI... (From page 37) others. Seon Bobb, scorer of Uitvlugt’s lone goal, will again lead their quest for a win with assistance from David Blake, Keion Duke, Sherland Grainger, Alex Moore, Montel Dainty, Jamal Petty, Lennox Torrington and Owen McGarrell. Ann’s Grove, beaten finalists in the inaugural final last year by Grove Hi Tech will be coming strong following their 2-1 win over Eagles of West Demerara. Jermain Rogers and Shafeer Sainicher netted in that win and will again lead along with Quincy Barry, Kevon Barry, Jermain Clark, Levon Adams and Travis Allen. Beavers, recording the largest margin of victory so far, 6-1 against Herstelling Raiders, will start afresh against Ann’s Grove and aim for that high level of finishing again. Junior Wiltshire will be going after more goals following his brace in that win which was the first of the competition. He will look to the likes of Junior Withrite, Kevin D’Andrade, Gavin Sheckle, Delroy Hinds and Jumaal Holder. Unfortunately, Esan Nelson who had netted a hattrick, will have to sit out this match after he was red carded after being booked twice.
partnership between Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh. “I wouldn’t say we let them off the hook,” Holder said. “I thought we bowled reasonably well to Shaun Marsh up front but Voges was scoring pretty freely at the other end and that took a lot of pressure off of him. If we could be a lot more disciplined when we get new batsmen to the crease, especially those kinds of positions, then we’d be a lot better off. We have to be a lot more disciplined than we were in that first Test match. “We had a bad game. If you look at our performances for the last couple of months our bowlers have been pulling us through. They’ve been bowling well up to that point. All throughout in the Caribbean we played Australia and England, then we went to Sri Lanka and they did really well there as well. I just put it down hopefully to one bad Test match and hopefully
Jason Holder - “It’ll take time before we get the results we’re looking for. We need to build and keep building” © Cricket Australia/Getty Images we can pull our socks up.” While legspinner Devendra Bishoo might come into contention at the MCG after Jomel Warrican was used in Hobart, one forced change will be made to the pace attack after Shannon Gabriel flew home with an ankle injury. Allrounder Carlos Brathwaite is favoured to make his Test debut ahead of fast bowler Miguel Cummins, who only
joined the squad as a replacement for Gabriel. “We’ve got to look at everything,” Holder said. “Carlos is an allrounder, Miguel is just an out-and-out fast bowler. Carlos has been in the squad for a little while now and he’s waiting for his opportunity, so he’s pretty much front line to go ahead of Miguel. But we’ll see how the conditions are tomorrow.”
Friday December 25, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Keep your feelings to yourself if you want to avoid embarrassment. It might be best to keep your ideas to yourself today. Refrain from arguing with your mate. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Don't hesitate to voice your opinions when it comes to matters pertaining to work. You should not be concerned with coworkers who insist on spreading rumors. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Changes in your home will be positive. Property investments should payoff. You should channel your efforts into getting rid of bad habits. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Family members may feel anxious if you make promises you don't deliver. You can learn valuable information if you listen and observe what others are doing and saying.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Use discretion in your dealings and refrain from making verbal promises of any kind. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Real estate investments could be to your advantage. Your emotions will be touched off concerning recent encounters with your lover. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You can get ahead if you present your ideas to superiors. Communication must be open, precise, and honest. Don't let your emotional partner upset you today. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Don't let anyone take credit for a job you did. Spend time by yourself to avoid any conflicts with family members. Take the time to do something nice for your friends and relatives.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Take time to deal with the concerns of children. Romantic opportunities will develop through friends or relatives.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You're in need of love. You may interest some of them in a service you have to offer. Look into any educational activities involving the whole family.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Think about your priorities. Don't make promises that you can't possibly keep. Your family needs to spend some time with you, too.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Residential moves are evident. You're in the mood to get out and visit friends. Your honesty will not only win you points but also respect.
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 25, 2015
Guyana NRA Fullbore Section honours leading shooters Following a hectic 2015 where the biggest event for the Caribbean was the World Championships and Palma Match at Camp Perry, Ohio, USA, local riflemen settled down to contest the National Championships at the Guyana Defense Force Ranges, Ya r r o w k a b r a , L i n d e n Soesdyke Highway. When the dust was sett l e d f o l l o w i n g t h r e e days of shooting at the 300, 500, 600, 900 and 1000 yards ranges, a new national champion emerged in the form of Ransford Goodluck who dethroned Lennox Braithwaite in the process. Apart from being crowned champion and being rewarded by the Guyana NRA at a presentation ceremony that was held on Friday last at the Crown Mining Supply Roof Gardens, Middleton Street, Campbellville, Goodluck was also crowned king of the Long Range and received the
King of the Long Range Ransford Goodluck (seated 2nd right) flanked by Guyana NRA President Brigadier Mark Phillips (2nd left), Lennox Braithwaite (right) and Mahendra Persaud (left). O-Class winner Sherwin Felicien is standing at centre while others from left are Roberto Tiwari, Gordon Richards, Peter Persaud and Ryan Sampson.
Football resurfacing on the Essequibo Coast with steady competitions
President of the Essequibo/ Pomeroon Football Association, Wesley Haynes giving an update on the current status of football on the Essequibo Coast has revealed that the sport was dormant on the Essequibo Coast until members of the Guyana Football Federation paid a visit to the Region in May of 2013. The outcome of that meeting resulted in the formation of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) which further saw Mr. Walter Joseph been elected as Chairman of that body. Joseph initially regrouped some of the old persons that were involved in football over the years and from then the game became active again.
However, on the 17, of October, 2015 an election was done whereby the Essequibo / Pomeroon Football Association (ECPFA) Wesley Compton Haynes was elected president, Maxine Stewart Vice President, Jennifer Jeffrey Secretary, Travis Bowen Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, Second Vice President Ms. Tucker of Supenaam and Kenesha Coates Treasurer. Haynes believes that with the current working group and the help of the GFF, football will definitely rise to the next level. Haynes said that it is his greatest wish to sit and see top level football playing in Essequibo. Haynes contended that it will make him happy.
Meanwhile, in recent matches played at the Mainstay Lake Community playfield saw a quality evening of football played between Dartmouth Dominators and Mainstay Cold Star. The first half of the match produced exciting and excellent performances from Randy DeYounge and Collins DeYounge both of Mainstay Cold Star and Darius Garraway of Dominators, however no goals were scored in that half. The second half saw both teams missing numerous chances, but it was Mainstay in the 61st minute that picked up a goal lead to come out winners over the Dominators. (Yannason Duncan)
Denise Carryl Long Range Trophy for his efforts at the 1000 yards shoot. Goodluck also won the 500 yards shoot and took home the Valladares trophy. Braithwaite, the reigning Caribbean Individual champion was named Club Champion, while he also won the 10-round shoot with National Vice Captain Dylan Fields taking the 7Round shoot and the 600 yards aggregate. Sherwin Felicien was crowned the O-Class champion while Roberto Tiwari took top honours in the Tryo Class for beginners. Gracing the occasion with is presence was Guyana NRA President and Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Mark Phillips, MSM. National Captain Mahendra Persaud thanked the shooters for their efforts during the year whilst promising that 2016 will be hectic.
Entries sponsors, roll in for Mohammed “Nankoo” Shariff Memorial Horserace meeting Entries and sponsors have begun to roll in for the Mohammed “Nankoo” Shariff Memorial Horserace meeting. The event which is set for Sunday 3rd January will be held at the Rising Sun, Arima Park, West Coast, Berbice track. It is organized by the Rising Sun Turf Club and is being staged in collaboration with the Inshan Bacchus Trucking Service, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Banks DIH Limited. Apart from the names mentioned Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall and Rising Sun Cattle Ranch and the Chester Fried Chicken at Bush Lot have already indicated their willingness to be a part of the day’s activities.
The event will mark an early start for the 2016 racing season and will be a fitting tribute to the late Mohammed “Nankoo” Shariff a prominent racehorse owner, trainer, breeder, importer and promoter. Seven races are listed on the programme with over $4M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for the taking. Already a large field has taken entry. The featured event will be the Shariff Memorial 1400M classic for animals classified D and lower for a first prize of $700,000 and trophy. The other races are the E and lower 1400M event for a winning take of 500,000 and
trophy. The G class event has a winners money of $300,000 and trophy over 1400M. There is an event for horses classified H2 and lower with the winner set to take home $220,000 and a trophy. The horses classified J and lower will be racing for a winner’s cheque of $180,000 and trophy over 1100M. The final two events are for animals classified J and Lower and K and lower respectively. The distances are 1100M and the winner will take home $150,000 and $100,000 dollars and trophies respectively. Race time is 12:30 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
Windies embrace fans in fun day ahead of Boxing Day Test MELBOURNE, Australia (CMC) — West Indies players brought smiles to the faces of thousands of fans as they participated in the annual Family Day at the G event at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here Wednesday. The day of fun was geared toward young fans and over 4,000 fans turned up at the iconic venue to be part of the festivities. The Australian team also participated as players signed autographs and took photographs. “It was a fantastic event
for the players and the fans,” West Indies team spokesman Philip Spooner said. “The players were all delighted to see so many cricket lovers, young and old, from all walks of life, and from several parts of the world, who came out to see the training session and then participate in the day’s activities. “It was a great day with excellent weather at the MCG as we build up to the Test match this weekend.” West Indies and Australia are preparing for the sec-
ond Test of the three-match series, which will be played at the MCG, starting Boxing Day. The West Indies last played the historic Boxing Day Test back in 2000. Significantly, the Caribbean side will be using the game to attempt to haul themselves back into the series after losing by an innings and 212 runs in the opening Test in Hobart a fortnight ago. West Indies have not won a Test Down Under in 18 years.
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 37
What cricket means to West Indies (Part 12)
Shivnarine Chanderpaul appointed 28th WI captain Seven players put on black list for signing sponsorship contract Chris-Gayle sits on the field after reaching another ton.
Sean Devers interviews Shiv Chanderpaul for CMC Radio on his captaincy debut at Bourda.
Sarwan & Chanderpaul scored tons to help West Indies to the highest successful run-chase against Australia.
At the age of 30 and on his home ground Bourda, Shivnarine Chanderpaul became the 6th Guyanese and fourth player of East Indian decent to be appointed captain of the West Indies cricket team when a depleted regional side without star batsman Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle took the field to battle South Africa in the 2005 home series. Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kalicharran and Derrick Murray were the other players of East Indian decent to captain the West Indies in test cricket. The bitter row between the WICB, the WIPA, the new sponsors Digicel and past sponsors Cable &Wireless left the region’s game in tatters as seven C&W contracted players were deemed ineligible by the WICB due to a contract dispute. Lara was later cleared to play since his signing of his
C&W contract was done before the others and with the ‘blessing’ of the WICB. Lara however indicated by letter to the WICB that if the other players were not made eligible he would feel uncomfortable playing. He was not selected for the first test in Guyana. On a ground on which he made his debut 11 years before and where countryman Hooper made his captaincy debut against South Africa in 2001, Chanderpaul joined fellow Guyanese Kanhai and Kalicharran as the players of East Indian decent to lead the side. In 1973, Kanhai had become the first player of East Indian decent to captain the West Indies. After an encouraging start in Guyana when the South Africans, on the back of a dogged last day century from Jacques Kallis, held on for a draw after being asked to follow on, the home team
(strengthen by the return of Lara, Gayle, Sarwan and Bravo) were soundly beaten in Trinidad and Barbados in the next two tests despite brilliant centuries (196 & 176) from Lara who became the leading West Indian centurion after his magnificent 196 in front of his home crowd in the second test. On a ‘feature bed’ track in Antigua, the final test ended in a predictable draw as a record eight centuries, including a monumental 317 from Gayle were registered in the first two innings of the match. Gayle, Sarwan, Chanderpaul and Bravo all scored tons for the home team as they pilled-up their third highest test total (747) as batting records tumbled at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) and nick named the Antigua Records Ground by the fans. The Sir Vivian Richards Trophy was handed over to
Graeme Smith as the visitors took the 4-test series 2-nill. Gayle’s triple ton in the final test was a meaningless effort in relation to the outcome of the series after he had just managed 12 in his four previous innings. Lara’s centuries were in losing causes, while Chanderpaul’s captaincy came under fire. The final test was a predictable end to a disappointing series for the West Indies and despite the runs scored by the home team batsmen, did little to inspire hopes of a revival in the fortunes of West Indies Cricket. Pakistan arrived in May 2005 for a two-test series hoping to register their first series win in the Caribbean. In their previous tour to the West Indies in 2000, some decidedly dodgy umpiring on the final day of the last test in Antigua denied the visitors certain victory. With nine wickets down Walsh gloved a ball to short-leg but was given not out by umpire Billy Doctrove. Following the first ever ‘Whitewash’ in the Caribbean (5-nil) in the ODI series against South Africa, Chanderpaul became the first West Indies Skipper to lose eight consecutive ODI matches when Pakistan also Whitewashed the home team 3-nil as the West Indies endured 12 matches (4 tests & 8 ODIs) without a victory to start 2005. The first test against Pakistan in Barbados was the 43rd at that venue since the first test in the West Indies
was played there and marked the final game at Kensington Oval before the entire ground was dug up to prepare for World Cup 2007. It was indeed fitting that the West Indies broke their winless period in test since beating Bangladesh almost a year before with a comprehensive 276 victory with a day and a half to spare giving Chanderpaul his first win as West Indies Captain. Between 1935 and 1994 the West Indies had been unbeaten in tests at Kensington Oval, but before the 2005 win, had lost five consecutive tests at that venue. The win against Pakistan was the 21st at Kensington while seven tests were lost and 15 drawn there. Home boy Fidel Edwards grabbed a five-wicket haul in the first innings with raw pace, while Lara’s brilliant 130 in the first innings and knocks of 93 and 153 not out from Chanderpaul along with a fivewicket haul in the second innings from Gayle sealed the win for the home team, although Shahid Afridi blasted an explosive century for the visitors. Although Pakistan were missing some of their key players including captain Inzaman, the win rejuvenated the West Indies as they headed to Jamaica for the second and final test. Lara’s century, his first against Pakistan and 29th in tests, made him the only West Indian to score a test century against every test playing nation (Australia, South Af-
rica, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh). His previous highest score against Pakistan (the team he made his debut against) was 93 in his home land of Trinidad and Tobago. In the final test in Jamaica the West Indies were hoping to at least earn a draw to win their first test series since beating Bangladesh a year before. However, an all too familiar batting collapse in the second innings when set 280 to win, West Indies fell for 143 with Lara and Chanderpaul both being removed by legspinner Danish Kaneria who also had Sarwan hit wicket for eight to finish with 5-46. Although Lara scored 153 in the first innings (West Indies 404) and Corey Collymore had 7-78 in the Pakistan first innings (374), his second five-wicket haul in tests, the result was yet another indication of the lack of consistency and mental strength in the Caribbean team. Pakistan’s second innings 309 was built around an unbeaten 117 by skipper Inzaman-ul-Haq who was dropped first ball off Collymore by wicketkeeper Courtney Browne as his penchant for dropping top opposition batsmen early in their innings only to see them go on to make big scores continued. After another loss in their own back yard, the West Indies had little time to lick their wounds before taking off for the two tests series in Sri Lanka in July 2005.
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Kaieteur News
Kelly, Andrews successful at GBBC exam
Junior Kelly and Stephen Andrews Junior Kelly and Stephen Andrews, both 24 years old, were successful at the recent Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) examination. Both officials made their
debut in the Pepsi/Michael Parris U16 championship which was held from December 23-24 at Andrew Lewis Gym. Kelly told Kaieteur
Sport that he is elated at his achievement and will work feverishly towards attaining heights, while Andrews expressed gratitude to all those who have assisted him.
Johnson and Jacobs spread joy to less fortunate children By Sean Devers Someone once said that Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most. Guyana Jaguars’ skipper Leon Johnson and his teammate all-rounder Steven Jacobs visited the Guyana Convalescent Home last Wednesday to spread some Christmas cheer. Jacobs, a regular donor at the institution, partnered with Johnson who spent the majority of his life just a stone’s throw away from the institution, tapped into the good cause of gifting by donating some fun education items to the underprivileged children at the home. Caregiver at the Durban Backlands based Institution Amocia Vanvield received the items from the National Cricketers. The Convalescent Home provides care and support for children five years and under in the form of shelter, food and through promoting their safety, welfare, physical, mental and emotional devel-
opment with the ultimate goal of family reintegration, foster care and or adoption. “It is always a good feeling to give back. It is our hope to bring some joy to the hearts of the young ones but we also hope that the little we did will motivate others to give back, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year,” Jacobs stated. Johnson and Jacobs hinted at starting their own foundation as they plan on making continuous donations, not just toys, but food, clothing and items to help with academic development at numerous homes. The pair says they are privileged to have gotten to where they are today and will not turn a blind eye to those who still need the basics; food, water, shelter and hope for the future. Both the 28-year-old Johnson and the 27-year-old Jacobs are fathers of a son each and will take a break from their preparations for NAGICO Super50 which starts next month to spend
some quality time with their families for the holidays, something the Children in the Home would not be able to do. “It is great feeling to do sometime for those who don’t have a family of their own but I am sure that the wonderful Caregivers here and their extended family, will ensure they feel loved and cared for. But they can’t do it on their own and need your help and support with donations not only at Christmas but throughout the year,” Johnson said. Both Cricketers have attended University and on Wednesday Johnson took his three-year-old to share in the experience of giving. Young people like Amocia Vanvield play a huge role in the lives of the child at the Home and many times sacrifice her family to bring smiles to the faces of the little ones. Wednesday was one of those days but for Amocia and others like her it brings joy to their lives when they see the children happy.
Friday December 25, 2015
BCCI clears India’s tour of West Indies ESPNcricinfo - The BCCI has decided to revoke the suspension imposed on bilateral tours with the West Indies by clearing India’s tour of the Caribbean in mid-2016. The approval is subject to the WICB committing to complete last year’s abandoned tour of India. Although the BCCI has not commented on the matter, WICB president Dave Cameron informed via a media release that the BCCI president Shashank Manohar had confirmed India would tour the Caribbean in 2016. It is understood that both men spoke over the phone earlier this week to reach an understanding. Manohar pointed out to Cameron that the WICB needed to give a firm commitment to the BCCI that last year’s incomplete tour would be played in India. According to the ICC’s bilateral tours programme, India are scheduled to tour the West Indies for a four-Test series between July and August. “West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President, Dave Cameron, today (December 23) confirmed that following discussions with BCCI President, Shashank Manohar, the West Indies will host India in the Caribbean in 2016,” the media statement said. “This agreement is subject to the WICB and the Players Association giving a joint commitment to complete, at a later date, the tour which prematurely ended in October 2014.”
That pull out by the West Indies players was led by then captain Dwayne Bravo, citing the failure of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) and WICB to respond convincingly to their questions relating to the memorandum of understanding and collective bargaining agreement signed by the two parties in September 2014. West Indies were supposed to play five ODIs, a T20 and three Tests on that tour, but they withdrew after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala. Ever since that pull-out, the WICB and especially Cameron have had to face a lot of criticism not only from the Caribbean community, but also from the BCCI. Calling the abandonment a “monumental disaster”, the then BCCI administration slapped punitive damages upon the WICB amounting to $41.97 million. This was followed by a brief lull as the BCCI itself underwent a quarrelsome transition in its administration with initially the late Jagmohan Dalmiya taking over as board president, f o l l o w e d b y M a n o h a r. The change in guard allowed Cameron to buy more time, and he sought an audience with Manohar, on October 17. A ray of hope emerged the next day, after the BCCI’s working committee was updated on the WICB request. Besides tendering several apologies, Cameron and WICB CEO Michael
Muirhead also conveyed to the BCCI top brass comprising Manohar and board secretary Anurag Thakur its inability to compensate financially. Instead, the WICB expressed its desire to make up for it by touring India for a series in 2017. After the BCCI’s annual general meeting on November 9, though, Thakur had remained non-committal. “There is still plenty of time to go and play in West Indies. We will decide at the appropriate time. They met us recently - the CEO of the West Indies Board and the chairman (president) of the West Indies Board. They have given their viewpoint. We will take a call,” he had said. Cameron did not provide any details about the tour or the talks between the boards. “Cricket remained the centrepiece of our discussion and we are happy to be at this juncture,” he said. Incidentally, while responding to readers’ questions via BCCI’s Facebook page on Wednesday, Manohar had pointed out the he had the opportunity to speak to his all-time favourite cricketer, Garry Sobers, recently. According to Manohar, Sobers, a former West Indies captain, had spoken to Manohar on the state of West Indies cricket. “I was fortunate enough that one month back when he (Sobers) was in India, he spoke to me about West Indies cricket. It was a very happy moment for me.”
Zeelandia/Maria’s Pleasure, SS Jaguars secure final berths Zeelandia/Maria’s Pleasure and Sans Souci Jaguars have secured their places in the final of the Badri Prasad Memorial T20 competition after recording victories in their respective semi final games played recently in Wakenaam. Zeelandia/Maria’s Pleasure defeated Noitgedacht Sports Club by 51 runs at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground. Batting first, Zeelandia/Maria’s Pleasure posted 163-5. Ryan Adams struck 63, while Navishaul Pooran got 22 and Ajay Ghansam 15. Neil Ramalho and E. Chung took two wickets each. Noitgedacht SC were sent packing for 112 in 16 overs in reply. Ramalho made 28; Pooran, Ricardo Adams and Bernard Lewis claimed two wickets apiece. SS Jaguars overcame
Ryan Adams
Zameer Zaman
Good Success by 20 runs at the said venue. SS Jaguars took first strike and managed 140 all out in 19 overs. Zameer Zaman cracked 48, Nokta Moses 33, Safraz Mohamed 23 and Rashaad Rasheed 18. Imran Khan snared 3-23, Wazir Khan 2-25, Nazeer Mohamed 2-26 and
Vickram Ramnarine 2-29. Good Success responded with 120 all out in 19.4 overs. Imran Khan hit 43 and Ramnarine 34. Nokta Moses claimed 3-24, Beesham Moses 2-25 and Siddique Mohamed 2-26. The final will be played on Sunday at the said venue.
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 39
Stag Super XVI - Quarter Finals starts today @ Farm Gr. EBD Grove Hi Tech face Pouderoyen; Den Amstel tackle Mahaica Den Amstel Football Club and Mahaica Determinators will battle in the first quarter final match of the second Stag Super XVI knockout tournament today at the Farm Community Centre ground, East Bank Demerara after they were the final two teams to qualify following wins on Wednesday evening at the Den Amstel ground, West Coast Demerara. Today’s feature match and the second quarter final will see defending champions Grove Hi Tech facing off with Pouderoyen of West Demerara in what is anticipated to be a humdinger of a battle, the respective winners will earn semi final slots on December 29th. The final two quarter final matches are set for tomorrow at the Golden Grove ground, East Coast Demerara where East Coast teams Victoria Kings and
Ann’s Grove will throw down the gauntlet to West Demerara’s pride, Uitvlugt and Beavers respectively in two potentially bruising encounters. On Wednesday night on the West Side, home team Den Amstel needled Agricola Red Triangle, while Determinators brushed aside Kuru Kururu Warriors 3-0 as they both moved one place closer to the top prize of 1.5 million dollars compliments of Stag Beer. The main event produced even exchanges with Agricola’s only lapse costing them the game in the 20th minute. One of the Assistant Referees had raised his flag for an offside but the Referee overruled that decision. When Agricola’s goalie Shemroy Kendall in the meanwhile had spotted the ball for a kick but on seeing that the referee had
Samuel Charles (left) and Quincy Holder Mahaica Determinators marksmen. overruled his assistant, Den Amstel’s Gavin Graham ran on to the ball and kicked same into the back of the nets which promptly drew the referee’s whistle and signal to the middle confirming that it was a goal. This decision infuriated the Agricola team which
protested but had to accept the decision reluctantly so. Neither team were able to find the back of the nets as the game ended 1-0 in favour of the home team. The Linden Soesdyke Highway based Kuru Kururu Warriors almost produced a flawless first half
in their clash with the East Demerara based Mahaica Determinators, but the latter had other ideas as they nailed their first goal in the 40th minute, it was the first of a double for Quincy Holder. The Warriors, fielding a young side tried their best to match strides with the Determinators but found themselves two goals down in the first minute of the second half, Samuel Charles inking his name on the score sheet. Sixty-seven minutes on, it was done and dusted for Mahaica, Holder netting his second of the match and Mahaica’s third to seal a comfortable win while securing their quarter-final date with Den Amstel today at Farm from 18:00hrs. The main event today between Grove Hi Tech and Pouderoyen will see the home team being led by Sherman Doris, Lloyd Matthews, Akeem James,
Orson Francois, Moses Fraser, Mervin Squires and Seon Simpson who starred between the uprights in their grueling penalty kicks win over Golden Stars on Tuesday night last. Pouderoyen, which also won via penalty kicks against Soesdyke Falcons, will look to Adrian Giddings, Clement Brown, Delon Josiah, Marvin Griffith, Glenville Hazel and Cleveland Walcott. In tomorrow’s matches, Victoria Kings, coming off a 1-0 win over Stewartville will hope to go a step further in their match-up with Uitvlugt who were also 1-0 winners over BV Triumph United. The Kings will bank on the services of their goal scorer Alden Lawrence, Calvin De Souza, Winston Pompey, Aubrey Gibson, Desmond Granada, Dion Solomon, Orwin Bishop and Ron Collins among (Continued on page 31)
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 25, 2015
GFA/Banks Beer Cup Football tournament
Beacon clip Flamingo’s wings; Camptown overcome Northern Rangers in thrillers Beacon FC and Flamingo FC played to a goalless first half but made amends during the second session, each scoring one goal apiece to push their game into extra time and consequently penalty kicks where the former team prevailed 4-1, when the action resumed in the G FA / B a n k s B e e r C u p Football tournament at the Georgetown Football Club Ground last Wednesday evening. During regulation time, Christian Garraway netted from the penalty spot for Beacons in the 70th minute, while Sheldon Gourick’s 83rd minute success ensured that the Flamingoes stayed in contention. Thereafter, both teams then tried valiantly to seize the initiative but at the end of that period and subsequently extra time, neither could find
the magical goal to surge ahead and the game was eventually decided on penalty kicks where Garraway featured once again, breaching the o p p o s i t i o n ’s g o a l f o r Beacons FC to eventually prevail 4-1. One game later, Sunburst Camptown FC cemented its place in the next round with a decisive 2 nil victory over Northern Rangers followin g g o a l s f r o m R ishawn Sandiford on the stroke of half time and Anthony Sancho during the second half period. Sandiford’s success came off a free kick just outside the 18 yards box and his swirling kick reduced the opposition’s goalie to a mere spectator as the ball sped past him to rest in the network. Northern Rangers
Christian Garraway received the perfect opportunity to resort the situation to equilibrium when Desmond McKenzie received a pass that landed plumb on his right foot with
Reshawn Sandiford
no one, not even the goalkeeper, in his way. He swiveled and then to the horror of the spectators and his team mates, the striker nonchalantly approached the
task and totally missed the ball. That faux pas seemed to have become an epidemic when McKenzie was given a chance to redeem himself with another simple offering
and as if on cue, botched the chance. It certainly did not help Northern Rangers’ morale when Orandel Squires received a caution after a dangerous tackle that left his opponent spread-eagled on the turf. As the m a t c h dwindled, Camptown turned up the heat and the opposition must have welcomed the rains that sprinkled down simultaneously and sent spectators scampering for cover. Unfortunately, Camptown did not conform to such logics and intensified its aggression to the point that Anthony Sancho’s contribution came just around that time. Camptown now play We s t e r n Ti g e r s w h e n activities resume tonight. (Michael Benjamin)
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 41
Flying Ace Cycle Club to stage race to begin Guyana’s 50th anniversary celebrations The Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) of New Amsterdam Berbice is at it again. This time the club will be hitting the ground running, as it continues to set the pace. The club in recognition of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary will be staging a cycle race, which will be the first for the New Year. The event, which is a 40mile affair, is open to all cyclists countrywide and is set to pedal off on Sunday 3rd January on the Corentyne highway at 10:00 hrs. There will be a number of categories on show with the main party set to pedal off from in front of the Lewisons’ Auto Parts, cycle and General Store at Rose Hall Town, proceed to NO51 Police Station and back to the starting point. A number of lucrative prizes put together by a number of business entities and personalities in Berbice
are up for grabs. Prizes will be awarded to the first six finishers, first three juniors and the first three club cyclists. There will also be 10 prime point prizes up for grabs. Among the donors are Mark and Neil Lewis of Lewisons’ Auto Parts, cycle and General Store of Rose Hall Town, Peter Lewis of Peter Lewis Construction, overseas based Guyanese Kenrick Taylor of Canada, S herw in P hoto Works among others. O n Tu es d ay main Sponsor Neal Lewis of the Lewis store presented a cheque for a hefty sum to organizer Randolph Roberts at their business entity at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice. Officials of the Government are expected to be on hand to start the race and help with the distribution of prizes. Cyclists are reminded that they must participate in their club
colours. Interested participants are asked to get in contact with coordinator Randolph Roberts. Meanwhile, young and upcoming cyclist, 14 year old Zamar Khan, a new entrant to the club was the recipient of a new racing cycle compliments of businessman Steve Edwards. Khan who showed keen interest in the sport was without a proper cycle. Roberts saw the interest of the young rider and his struggles and decided to do something to assist and made some contacts and not long after got some positive response. One such was from Mr. Edwards who stated that he was always impressed with the work ethics of Roberts and the number of youngsters he has brought to the fold, sometime amidst trying circumstances. (Samuel Whyte)
Businessman Neal Lewis of the Lewisons’ store at Rose hall Town presents a cheque to organizer Randolph Roberts, while young cyclists Zamar Khan displays his new bike.
t r o Sp Stag Super XVI - Quarter Finals starts today @ Farm Gr. EBD Grove Hi Tech face Pouderoyen; Den Amstel tackle Mahaica
Players from Den Amstel (Black) and Agricola Red Triangle doing battle in the final round-of-16 match at Den Amstel on Wednesday.
Johnson and Jacobs spread joy to less fortunate children
BCCI clears India’s tour of West Indies
Amocia Vanvield, a Caregiver at the Convalescent Home collects books and other items from Guyana Jaguars Skipper Leon Johnson (with his son) and Jaguars all rounder Steven Jacobs at the Durban Backland Institution on Wednesday.
The West Indies players pulled out of their tour of India last October Š BCCI
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Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 07A
Christmas at the Drop-In Centre…
A buffet dinner and pajama party – the prelude to a memorable day By Sharmain Grainger ‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the Drop-In Centre at Hadfield Street, Georgetown, there was the echo of much laughter from children with stomachs that might have been too full for them to simply fall asleep without some restless banter about what the next day would bring. A weary woman was heard uttering warnings that they should go to sleep, otherwise Santa Claus would leave them no gifts. They, hours earlier, had gleefully indulged in a buffet dinner and then a pajama party which was undoubtedly an exciting way for them to usher in what is expected to be one of their most exciting Christmases ever. Christmas Day is a holiday celebrated all over the world in remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a Christian tradition, but the celebration is certainly not exclusive to this religious group. The Celebration today usually starts with the giving of thanks to the Creator and is followed by lots of eating and drinking, usually referred to as ‘merriment’, and of course there is the exchanging of gifts. While some of the 20odd children at the Drop-In Centre would have wished for exciting new gadgets today, most of them are simply yearning to belong to a happy family. And it is just this feeling of ‘belonging’ that Ms. Norma Hamilton hopes to give them today. Hamilton, a petite and pleasant Amerindian woman, has only been working at the Drop-In Centre as the Assistant House Services Supervisor for a few months now. She however disclosed to me during an interview that she intends to help make the children’s celebration this year the most exciting they’d ever experienced. She plans on dedicating her entire day to making the children feel ‘extra special’. This means that Hamilton will not be spending Christmas with her biological family but her “adopted” Drop-In Centre “babies.” “They are my family
Planning for the Christmas Day celebrations. Sitting is Ms. Norma Hamilton; next to her is Ms. Melissa Gentle and Ms. Claudette Mentor (right). now, too, and I want to do what I can to ensure they enjoy this day with me,” she shared. Yo u s e e , i t w a s Hamilton’s passion for caring for children that really prompted her to take up an available appointment at the Children’s Home, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of Social Protection’s Child Care and Protection Agency. And so it was no surprise that s he’d long vis ualized elaborate plans for the Christmas celebration at the Centre this year. She was the architect of the very filling buffet dinner and enthralling pajama party. These activities she had envisaged would serve as the main prelude to an absolutely joyous Christmas Day. And Hamilton, a week before Christmas, was already hoping to take along her young grandson for the experience too. Even at the planning stage, she intimated to me “I am going to be wearing my pajama, too, and we are going to have a nice little session on Christmas Eve. I am looking forward to having our nice Christmas tree and on Christmas morning they are going to find gifts under that tree, and I want them to open their gifts. It is really going to be like home…home away from home,” said a smiling Hamilton.
The decision to prepare a buffet-style dinner was premised on Hamilton’s desire to allow the children to simply indulge in a lavish feast. “I want them to serve themselves; take whatever and as much as they want to fill their bellies,” she joked. Christmas Day, she’d related, would be repeat of the day before, with just a bit more festivities and a whole lot of thankfulness. “I won’t be missing out on anything, because just what I would have at home…I will be having here – a bunch of happy faces having a good time,” said Hamilton, when asked about being away from her family on Christmas Day. The Home, according to Manager of the Centre, Ms. Melissa Gentle, is one that accommodates children who were left without anyone to care for them because of the death of one or both of their parents and no relative was located or was willing to take up the responsibility of caring for them. Other reasons that have caused children to be placed at the home include custody battles and various forms of abuse. “Reports are usually made to the Child Care and Protection Agency and after doing thorough investigations and it is found that the child cannot stay in his or her (home) environment anymore, we
have to remove them, and that is why they may be here,” said Gentle. She too has never been around for a Christmas at the Drop-In Centre. But a week before Christmas she disclosed “like any home we are putting away and then we will do our decorations. We will ensure that the children are not denied any amenities”. This, Gentle explained, will include gifts, many of which were donated to the home, and decorations of all types that are bound to brighten the atmosphere so that it pleases the hearts of the children. Added to this, she noted that the Centre will be catering to every Christmas feasting need of the children. The menu, which was already planned weeks before Christmas, included black cake, pepperpot, bread, baked turkey, ginger beer, mauby, cookies, and, according to Gentle, confectionery, were already procured in abundance, just for the holidays. “Our goal is to ensure that they (the children) are made to feel as if they are at home with their own families,” Gentle assured. She however considered that there is only so much that can be done for the children, who are in some cases rescued from some very daunting family situations. “At the end of the day
they deserve a good family,” she emphasised. But as part of staffers’ efforts to help make the children feel at home this y e a r, H o u s e S e r v i c e s Supervisor, Ms Claudette Mentor, said “we are going to include them as much as possible in all of the preparations and activities.” Currently the ages of the children at the home range from two to 18, and, according to Mentor, while some people may be of the belief that they are difficult to deal with because they may be from dysfunctional families, this is not necessarily the case. “ I t is n o t h a r d to communicate with them, but sometimes you find you might have to repeat things over and over to them. It is
not that they don’t understand, but like normal children you have to keep telling them the same things over and over,” Mentor said. But preparation for Christmas wasn’t a challenge. The children’s excitement to be involved in the preparation for the celebrations surpassed their desire to just venture outside to play. T h e e v i d e n t enthusiasm had Mentor concluding that “this Christmas will just be a crazy fun time for them…lots to eat and drink and a whole lot of fun too. I know they would always prefer to be outside playing, but it’s something about the Christmas season; you can see that they want to be involved.”
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 25, 2015
A pleasant surprise at St. Thomas More Men’s Homestead
The St. Thomas More Men’s Homestead in Kitty. By Suraj Narine So Christmas is finally here, and like they say “every man, woman, child and dog must have their share.” First off, before I get started, I would like to say Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to the media fraternity, especially to my colleagues at Kaieteur News, who stole all the good ideas for their features. So ultimately, I was caught a day before the deadline with nothing but a chewed down pen and my notepad, pondering. Pondering what I should write for my Christmas Feature. But then it struck me! I remembered my time in Kitty when I used to pass by the St. Thomas More Men’s Homestead (located on Lamaha Street between Gordon and David Streets) and get a li’l “hail up” as I passed by; you know a lil “aye, wham deh youth man?” So I decided to do my feature on the home. St. Thomas More is a Catholic Homestead that is presently the residence of 18 men ranging from 55 to 90 years young, and they are far
from what you would expect, trust me! So I was granted permission to interview the residents of the homestead and as I entered the yard I was greeted by a cheerful smile, and an extending arm from a man with a golden voice. “Hello Sir, my name is C o m p t o n Yo u n g , a n d welcome to our humble abode,” he said gesturing towards the door. What took me by surprise was his joviality; the way he looked at me grinning from ear to ear. Anyway, I left him at the porch admiring the sunset as he rocked back and forth in his wheelchair to a Beres Hammond tune that was blasting from a car which was parked further up the street by a wash bay. ‘I WAS ONCE THE MAYOR OF GEORGETOWN’ It was after I sat down and began my interview with the other residents that Mr. Young joined us. He was trying to line up his wheelchair to get through the doorway when I offered to help. “No, no it’s alright sir, do
Some of the residents enjoying a game of dominoes. continue what you’re doing,” he said gripping his wheels tightly. I was speaking to Mr. Roel Stoll, a resident of the home for the past 10 years. He was just about to tell me about the homestead’s famous pepperpot when he was interrupted by Mr. Young. “I was once the Mayor of the Garden City, Georgetown, in the ‘80s, where I served for five years. I am a Justice of Peace – well, that’s one thing they can’t take away from me,” said Mr. Young. I began to laugh, but it was short lived after I saw the stern look on his face. I felt like an idiot, I felt like the entire world was looking at me and if a hole had opened in the ground I might have jumped in. “What did you say Mr. Young?” “I said, dear sir, that I was once the Mayor of Georgetown.” I mean how? It couldn’t be; I was being lied to. Nah man… It was after a caregiver confirmed his story, that I found myself intrigued with the man. Mr. Young was born in Georgetown and though he
can’t remember the exact day, he remembers the year, which was 1940. He has been a resident at the home for almost three years and he describes it as “a joyful, exciting hotel”. He remembers Christmas as being something that he would always look forward to - a day to be joyous; a day to be shared with loved ones; a day to pray and a day to reflect on the past year; “to see where yuh went wrong and try to be better”. Asked what Christmas was like in the home, Mr. Young said, “Well we have a Christmas party you know; we have some music, some pepperpot and bread. The cooks would prepare breakfast on Christmas Day and the pastor comes over and we pray. We also do gift exchanges. It is really beautiful here during Christmas. It’s like a fivestar hotel…I think St. Thomas More is better than the most of the prominent local hotels…” CHRISTMAS IS FOR THE YOUTHS On the question of what he would like for this Christmas he replied, “Me? Not a thing son. Christmas is for the youths, it is their time to enjoy life and mommy and daddy’s love. I have had enough, too many Christmases in my days. I just hope that the youths understand and appreciate the meaning of Christmas.” While some of us prefer to be around family members during the holidays, Mr. Young remembers never spending Christmas with relatives. The reason for this, he explained was because his mother and father were the only family he ever had. “My father was coming to Guyana on the ship form China when it stopped at Grenada, and my mother a Grenadian, got on board and it was the first time that they saw each other. She a black
Housemother, Lucille Hutson (sitting) and cook, Viola Bradford- Charles. woman and he, a Chinese man. She never saw a Chinese and he never saw a black woman, it was love at first sight,” he laughed uncontrollably pausing for a while to catch his breath then continuing again. “She used to stay at another Grenadian in town and she went to buy something at a shop in Lombard Street one day, and there she saw my father again for the second time and things began to, you know…” Mr. Young said he grew up at the corner of South Road and Orange Walk where at a young age, he got into the floral business. He opened a small shop on North Road, the rent he said, was somewhere around $10 a month. And as the 80s arrived, he was selected to be Mayor of Georgetown. He managed to be Mayor of the city and still run his floral business because back then, being Mayor ($1,000 a month) didn’t require being in office 24/7; he would usually work on appointments. MOST MEMORABLE CHRISTMAS After avoiding the question of how he met his wife, he finally gave in. “My wife was a Chinese woman, she was a Carmelite sister. I knew her as a nun you know, she was Sister Louisa, and she used to reside at a Catholic home where all those Catholic girls used to stay on Lamaha (Street). I had to drop flowers one day and I saw her in town and I stopped and I called out to h e r. We e x c h a n g e d pleasantries and things went from there,” he said grinning. Louisa, he said,
now lives in the United States where she went to continue her employment with the United Nations. He also has a son, Terrence Young, who currently resides in Australia, and would make contact with him mostly during Christmas. Asked what happened to the flower business, he replied, “Well I sold out the business and I moved to Light Street where I stayed for some time before moving into the homestead. They brought my bed, my wardrobe, all my clothes and stuff...this place is like home now.” What was your most memorable Christmas, Mr. Yo u n g ? ” o n e o f t h e residents, a Mr. Pile, asked. “Well I can remember one time, I’m not sure if it was Christmas Day but it was sometime during the season. I went for a stroll at the Gardens. I was heading out when I saw something in the trench, so I decided to take a look and I saw... oh my, it was the statue of Lady Victoria and I was shocked. So immediately, I went and I told Desmond Hoyte what I had seen and you know what he said to me? He said, ‘what you want me to do Compton? Man look, take the blasted thing home yeah!’” As I was preparing to take my leave, Mr. Young bade me farewell and requested that I take my time on the road. “Be careful on the road sir; take your time, I don’t know where all these vehicles coming from now. The city is ‘ram’ packed. Back in my days you could have played football on Regent Street during the day. Oh and merry Christmas,” he said as he raised his hand, goodbye. To be continued next year, God spare life…
Friday December 25, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 33A
50 years ago: Essequibo’s idyllic Christmases By Leonard Gildarie A lot of folks would tell you that the best Christmas is in the country. The throwback life, breeze, wafting music all lend to an atmosphere that is truly unforgettable. Imagine a life when few cars ran the roads; when the roads were red bricks and all your neighbours were like close family. In that world there is no electricity and the horse and donkey carts are the main way to head to school. Those days are gone, but many of the older folks are wishing them back. Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed would be one who wistfully looks back at the days when life and Christmas in the country were things that had no equal in any modern setting. The Lombard Street businessman/philanthropist from Johanna Cecilia, Essequibo Coast, has moved on in life, building an empire from America Street that stretches from cambio, gold trading and real estate. His family owns the iconic City Mall on Regent Street. Despite it all, he fondly recalls the simple life on Essequibo.
“Christmas in Essequibo… 50…60 years ago, was something really amazing. It was a close-knit area where neighbours were like families.” Uncle ‘Shell’, as he is known, now in his early 60’s, remembers Christmases filled with ginger beer, cake and buns and visits to those neighbours. But for all the festivities and the good stuff to eat and drink, the businessman recalled the masqueraders. “Everybody turned up to see these masqueraders as they moved from village to village. It was nothing like what we see in Georgetown now. People from different part of the communities would select someone who can blow the flute. They would make this cow, complete with horns, and this serious-looking man would be riding the cow.” The masqueraders would be given “a small change” for their entertainment of music and dance. “It was not about the money. It was more of an entertainment. Thousands of persons in the community and the on the coast looked forward to this. It was one of the high points of the season.”
Nazar ‘Shell’ M ohamed
Back then, it was all about farming with almost every family boasting a little kitchen garden, minding a few fowls for meat and eggs. The only linkage between the Essequibo coast and the city was via MV Malali, a government-run ferry. There were no speedboats. Life was predictable, with little crime and maybe a few reports of someone stealing a yard fowl. “There wasn’t lots of money. People worked hard and were contented. They saved everything…not like
what we seeing now…everybody spending,” Mohamed recalled. In those days, the homes of neighbours were open to each other. “Neighbours were close. Indians, Africans, everybody…you could have gone to anybody’s home, go into their pots…no questions asked. The most serious crime was Customs running down a few persons for making ‘bush rum’.” Mohamed remembered vividly the “ginger beer and
big buns.” “Christmas was a big occasion. We were all busy cleaning up and weeding up the yard. There was this little hill that everybody went to get whitewash, and the homes and fences were all given a fresh coat. There was this whole atmosphere.” Shopping was at Suddie and Anna Regina. But there were lots of community shops, most Chinese that had everything. Most the boys would get toy guns with dolls for the girls. We would use the toy guns to make cowboy movies on the beach.” In addition to the children running around and neighbours visiting, indulging in drinks and food, families were also continually planning for Old Year’s Night. “There were village parties. The older folks with big yards would host parties, with everybody partaking. The people were filled with contentment and lived within their means.” Fast forward to now, the businessman believes that declining moral values have changed the atmosphere. “There is not much going on now. When you heard someone use indecent
language it came as a shock. Now it is normal. Lots of drinking now in the rum shops, with disorderly behaviour a norm. There are lots of nice houses now on the Essequibo, but there seems to be no community spirit. I would love to go back to those days.” With no electricity and television, families were left to reading books, telling jokes and stories of the past. There were record players, stereo sets and radio grams but these were battery operated. You had music, not great sounding like today, but it sufficed.” Back in those days too, there was not much fear of accidents on the roads as there were only few vehicles around. “There were horse and donkey- drawn carts and brick roads. So you were happy when one came along when you are leaving for school.” Those were the days also of bell-bottom pants and can-can shirts. The big thing in the village also was cricket. “ We h a d p e o p l e travelling for miles to cheer their home teams. Some walked, some rode…it was a good life. Those were simple but beautiful days.”
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Kaieteur News
Friday December 25, 2015
Christmas: An annual economic blessing By Kiana Wilburg P e r h a p s i t ’s t h e prototypical merge of giftgiving and Christmas spirit that motivates us to go shopping. Perhaps it’s the bargain prices or the profoundly advertised new technologies and deals, or it’s the feeling of selfsacrifice that we get when giving a gift to a family member. Whatever the reason, there are many things that motivate Guyanese to sometimes go on massive spending sprees at Christmas. Even though some may end up regretting how they have exhausted most of their funds, they seek comfort in the fact that the exchanging of gifts is one of the core aspects of the modern celebration. It is this very reason, some contend which makes the Christmas season the most profitable time of year for retailers and businesses throughout the country. Christmas is typically a peak selling season for all forms of businesses in Guyana. The “Christmas
shopping season” starts as early as October and radically increases several days before the December 25 holiday. T h e b u s i n e s s environment may or may not have seen fluctuations for the booming Christmas shopping which took place yesterday, Christmas Eve, as this saw the observance of the Muslim holiday, Youman Nabi. Muslims countrywide celebrated the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. They emphasised that Youman Nabi also represents the struggles for justice, peace and equality. QUARTER OF ALL PERSONAL SPENDING According to the Ministry of Finance, it has been calculated that a quarter of all personal spending takes place during the Christmas/holiday shopping season. The Ministry admitted too that it cannot be emphasized enough how much Christmas is a “make or break season” for businesses. In fact, it said that spending during this time of
the year is what brings most businesses out of the red. In support of this statement, some businessmen have said that without the Christmas season shopping, their businesses would not have been able to survive. Spending during the Christmas season takes various forms, and it invariably sees businessmen and women raking in the big bucks. Companies in some
cases host extravagant Christmas parties as they go all out on the most expensive alcoholic beverages and divine delicacies at the most posh entertainment spots in city. In this same exchange, the club owners are also guaranteed to make millions during this time as parties throughout the December period are held almost daily as opposed to only on the weekends. Spending on the gifts perhaps rakes in the hog of the national revenue made during this time, outside of the increase in exports, says the Ministry of Finance. There is absolutely no doubt that many will want to let their children experience a glorious Guyanese Christmas; enjoying good food in abundance and toys of all imaginable descriptions. For the adults, gifts such as clothing, gadgets, jewellery and other high end items are always in high demand and are often the highest-selling items on the market. The small and large boutiques noticeably change their marketing strategy too as the ensembles they offer are clearly designed to suit the Christmas parties held within the second week of
December and the celebrations of two other days; Old Year’s and New Year’s. They too, have boasted of increases in profits during these occasions. The Christmas season is without a doubt one of the most important holidays to the economy as it even serves to stimulate employment for various small, medium and large scale businesses. Based on the size of their profits, many employers also give bonuses at year-end, and the retailers are able to afford this, as many disclose that they would have big year-end sales to clear out remaining merchandise. AN ANNUAL ECONOMIC BLESSING It is also noted that during this period, businesses, depending on their size and spending power, exhaust millions of dollars in advertisements in hopes that they would secure the largest audience to purchase their products. Each year they have to find innovative ways to maintain or increase their sales volume during the holidays. Creative marketers find numerous ways to
create a longer selling season, because it means that more of consumers’ hardearned cash is available to buy their products. One of the most important marketing tactics generated by businesses is that they try earnestly to generate the “Christmas spirit” in the stores and shopping districts, sometimes two months before December. I n i t i a l l y, h o l i d a y decorations on businesses remind shoppers of the season and add to a festive feeling of involvement in it. Soon there is seasonal music—usually of a secular sort to avoid offending the non-religious—and it is a very important element in convincing shoppers to buy more and more. Soon enough, the public is persuaded by the advertisers’ cunning techniques, and shopping begins at the earliest for the perfect Christmas gift. I t i s f o r t h e aforementioned and more, Christmas is certainly deemed to be an annual economic blessing, as it serves to boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) considerably and in a short space of time.