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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
Violence spoiled this Christmas The Christmas season must go down as one of the most violent in the history of this country. Generally, people concentrate on making a reality of the general slogan that this is the season of peace and goodwill. Of course there would be the excesses; people would drive at excessive speeds as they try to capitalize on the crowds. These are the people who would cause the smash ups during the season. In fact, the police records always showed a spike at this time of the year when it comes to accidents. Then there are the excessive bouts of drinking. Drunk drivers are responsible for most of the road deaths in the country. Yet these calamities did not make this season one of the most violent. Rather the general attitude of the people contributes to this perception. For one, gunmen made life miserable for many. They robbed and beat at least three families. One of the households included holidaying Guyanese. The gunmen relieved the victims of cash and jewelry and where the victims offered resistance, the gunmen were not averse to discharging a few rounds in their direction. Two men were shot in the hands and legs and in one case; a few people were beaten in their heads with guns. In every case where there was a robbery, the victims spoke of being threatened with guns. The clerk who was relieved of $17 million and the staff of the Works Ministry who were relieved of nearly $8 million all spoke of being at the wrong end of guns. Yet those incidents paled into insignificance when the nation recalled the killings, most of which occurred in the hinterland locations of Guyana. A man was beaten to death by two friends. His crime was merely to get the two incensed. A young man killed a miner two days before Christmas Day because he wanted to rob the miner. There was no altercation, but simply a case of someone wanting what the other possessed. The attack was cowardly (the killer hid and attacked the miner from the back) then stabbed him in the neck. But perhaps the bulk of the violence involved men and women, people who might have shared a relationship at one time. There were two men who slashed their spouses’ throats. In one case the woman had moved on in her relationship, opting to share her life with a younger man. There are now reports that the killer had planned to kill both the woman and her new spouse during this Christmas season. The following day another man slit his spouse’s throat. He too was said to be reacting in a fit of jealous rage. Again the killing occurred mere hours before Christmas Day but this time the killer took his own life. A man shoots his seventeen-year-old former lover because she refuses to continue a relationship that she had ended some months ago. A woman kills a man over a $1,000 plate of food; and the list goes on. What is most worrying is the fact that the killers are young people. On Christmas Day a 23-year-old man is stabbed to death during a drinking session. This would have brought to five, the number of people who died during the three days between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. A few weeks earlier another young man barely out of his teens killed his step sister because she dared to report to the police that the killer had molested her daughter. The woman was not the only victim; the young killer also stabbed and killed the woman’s son. We must now ask ourselves about this spate of killing, this utter disregard for human life. It comes with the decline in society; when there is a decline immorality. Of course, sociologists insist that this decline coincides with lower educational standards. The people working in the goldfields and chasing money tend to be very impatient. This may explain why they killed so violently during the Christmas holidays. They could not go home.
Saturday December 28, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
U.S. help needed to nudge parties towards genuine democracy DEAR EDITOR, I write with reference to your news article titled, “Cabinet at odds with US Ambassador” (Dec. 25th) and note that Dr. Luncheon said that Cabinet particularly objected to (only) one of four components of the $300 million project: the one that allowed for a “relationship between USAID and individual political parties in Guyana”. As a long-time activist on behalf of political causes in Guyana I have a particular interest in the single objectionable component. The problem that ails Guyana is ethnic parties and too high levels of ethnic voting. I would assume that USAID would use this relationship with all existing
parties to gain leverage, and then to use this leverage to gently nudge them to transform themselves into genuine non-racial parties. Absent this relationship and leverage we have to ask: Is the project worth it? Let me put it this way: If the project is implemented, and at the end of it PPP and PNC remain with their pure ethnic images – and all Africans and Indians continue to vote 95 percent strong for their respective ethnic parties, then the country remains at status quo. No movement towards a real non-racial democracy. Such an outcome will have to be considered a failure, unless the project was designed with other hidden aims. When Cabinet approves
of three of the projects’ components, and objects to the one that calls for USAID to have working relationships with individual parties, Cabinet is signaling “don’t interfere with status quo”. There is another important issue in this U.S. Government vs. Guyana controversy, namely the sovereignty issue. Can the U.S. Government have an overt as opposed to a covert role in the electoral environment with clear and defined objectives to move the country along the path of a genuine non-racial democracy? The U.S. government in 1990-92 played a major and successful cajoling role (not interference) in gently nudging all parties towards
free and fair elections. You bet that was a clear precedent. Dr. Luncheon wants to deny that precedent. As SN blogger Emile Mervin says, “Dr. Luncheon wants to eat his cake and have it too”. A well known Indian Rights’ activist and pro-govt. blogger (blog name LR7) in a sharp retort to Mervin says: “And it obviously flew over your head that an invitation is not enough, there must be consultation and agreement by ALL parties. Try to spin that”. President Hoyte will be turning in his grave, if he only hears what LR7 is arguing, “Agreement by ALL parties”. You suddenly realize that president Hoyte was a true statesman. He did (Continued on page 05)
Politicians must quickly come to the realisation that the poor need help DEAR EDITOR, I read with interest the letter in your Christmas Day edition from Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh relating to Christmas. Particularly the first two paragraphs: “Christmas is a joyous occasion for Christians and others to come together and sing carols, give praise to Jesus and be merry. At this time of year, as most people celebrate Christmas, the poor and less fortunate suffer the psychological pangs of financial and material deprivation. It is at Christmas that the poor feel most acutely the deep distress of not being able to provide for their families as they would like, particularly their children who are too young and innocent to have accepted poverty as a way of life.” What they have said is so very true, not only in Guyana but also here in Britain. Many people living overseas may not be aware that, since the present ‘Conservative’ government took office they have reduced welfare benefits, reduced financial assistance given to the elderly in the form of heating allowances, introduced a system where, if a family receives Housing Benefit (money towards the cost of their rent) and has one spare room (two children of the same sex are expected to share a room and two children of different sexes under ten are expected to share a room) their Housing
Benefit will be reduced by 25% and for 2 spare rooms by 40%. Many families have tried to find homes with less bedrooms, but they are simply not available. All of this, and a number of other moves, some still to come into force, have resulted in the creation of about 5,000 food banks where, in the last twelve months, over 500,000 free food packages have been issued. These packages have sufficient food to last three
days, but a family can only get this help three times and are then expected to find some other form of help before returning to the food bank.It is the duty of government to cater and provide for all members of the community, particularly the poorest. Let us not forget that Jesus did not help and talk to the rich and good, he worked among the poorest and the excluded of society. In those days, people lived far shorter lives than we do now and the
thought was constantly at the back of the mind ‘what will happen when?’ Access to the Kingdom of Heaven was seen to be controlled by either the Temple or the Synagogue, but there were many people who were excluded from both because of illness, i n f i r m i t y, o c c u p a t i o n , widows, orphans and homeless. And it was to these very people that Jesus came with his message of love and particularly the message that (Continued on page 08)
We have all benefited from our diversity in so many ways DEAR EDITOR, As we celebrate the festive season of Christmas and the New Year, it is important that we reflect on how far we have advanced as a nation in terms of the pursuit of our national motto of “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”. There can be no doubt that despite our ethnic and cultural make-up, we have managed to forge a cohesive society in which there is respect for, and appreciation of, our diversity. This is reflected in the way we live our lives and the manner in which we relate to religious and national festivals and celebrations. We have all benefited from our diversity in so many ways. The pepper pot is now an integral part of our Christmas menu. The same is true of ham and bacon along with garlic pork, which is in great demand at this time of the year. And no Christmas dish is complete without some sponge cake and a glass of wine. The point I am seeking to make is that there is much more that unites us as a people than we sometimes take credit for. I have always maintained that we are a peaceful and
cohesive society. There is religious and cultural tolerance unlike what happens in some other societies where people are persecuted for their religious beliefs and political affiliation. At the political level there is multi-party democracy where political parties are allowed to participate in free and fair elections. There is freedom of expression and freedom of the press. The rule of law is the basis of rule. In short, we have every reason to celebrate and to be optimistic. There are challenges that we still have to confront but with the right attitude there is no reason why we cannot overcome and move forward. As someone once said what is needed is not the power to achieve but the will to conquer. Let us all put our shoulders to the wheel and together we shall overcome. There is no place for parochial thinking and petty minds. Let us think big. Let us think Guyana. Let us work together to realize the Guyanese dream of one people, one nation with a common destiny. Hydar Ally
Saturday December 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
Letters... Where your views make the news
Talk or Speech DEAR EDITOR, The (St.) Kittians have this saying: ‘You talk a lot, but you ain’t make no speech’. The year-end press conference by the Minister of Labour, as reported in the press, may have earned such a riposte. To have organised a presentation on employment or unemployment, while admitting in the same breath, the Ministry’s inability to provide its own relevant statistics, can only be seen as a ‘talk a lot’ exercise, that was projected to transform into a ‘speech’, but only on the completion of the 2012 census conducted by the Bureau of Statistics. One crumb of information proffered was that of ‘4000 registered persons’, nearly 3000 workers were placed in various (unnamed) sectors (KN, 20.12.13). Then Kaieteur News followed with a curious non-sequitur: ‘The job areas that employers are seeking to fill’ include ‘sales personnel, clerical staff and security personnel’. KN’s reporter did not attempt to pursue enquiry into
any juxtaposition between the suggested need for more UG graduates in IT, Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and what were the specifically identified needs of employers. Turning to Stabroek News (20-12-2013) one became more immediately engaged with the manner of ‘speechmaking’ regarding the facility with which the aforementioned graduates are being absorbed into ‘the labour force’. The descriptor ‘labour force’ is at least puzzling. But then an inattentive reader would be distracted by the reference to training under the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), where all the “persons provided with skills are in high demand, resulting in most finding employment...” Surely the Ministry of Labour would have the capacity to provide its own numbers at least for 2012 and 2013 (if =only to prove job market growth). Further the BIT would be expected to categorically cite for 2013 the respective numbers of
trainees, and the duration of the various programmes in the purported ‘skill’ areas: ‘engineering, masonry, blockmaking, electrical installation’; and as if these were for males only, women have been singled out for ‘cosmetology’ and ‘clerical skills’. A possible further depletion of the information pressed on reporters, is the total absence of mention of a single employer related to the BIT programmes. Note SN’s quote: ‘more and more persons are clamouring to the Ministry for workers’ The reference to private sector initiatives was possibly intended to cover this void, however superficially. Finally PT’s obfuscations would be enlightened by the fact that a disproportionate number of contracted employees are at the level of Cleaners, Office Assistants and other under-skilled, deliberately making these workers vulnerable to termination by notice at any time, without explanation and without resource to redress. The sugar industry has no parallel situation. E.B. John
The season of giving DEAR EDITOR, There are a plethora of reasons for celebrating the holidays, besides the fact it is the biggest season globally and one of joy and goodwill. The Christmas and New Year holiday season is a time for giving, not for avaricious greed and self-indulgence. It is a season of sharing and caring. The season provides people with an opportunity to rest and brings people of varied backgrounds, as well as former enemies, together at social functions. It allows for harmonious relations, especially at a time when there is so much conflict among different groups in our small nation and the difficulty of getting politicians to cooperate. As your paper and several others commented, we must stay focused on the message of the season to love and appreciate each other and to help our fellow humans and care for the animals. We need to be reminded that Christ’s
life was one of service to fellow man and so ours must be as well, as that is what the celebration is about. We should think about the season in terms of uplifting our lives spiritually and materially, and to show respect towards others as well as help others. We should look to improve the wellbeing of our families as well as others around us and the wider community. It is my fervent hope that social bonding will be eternal and not just seasonal and that we will learn to appreciate each other. We need all the peace and understanding, among all people, because of the serious problems the country faces and the perennial problems of group confrontation and political conflict. The season is associated with praying, especially among religious people. I pray for goodwill and the way out of all the terrible acts and criminal activities that threaten our country. I pray
that all who suffer sorrow and grief due to loss of jobs, deprivation, poverty, violence, etc. may find solace, comfort and enlightenment in their lives. And I pray that people’s lives this season will be brightened up. In the olden days, we used to care for our neighbours. People were not as selfish as they are today, even though they are materially so much better off now. People have become very selfish and think only of enriching self and not helping the less fortunate. We should think about the season in terms of uplifting others and helping others also become wealthy. We must extend special feelings and assistance to those in need; give help to the less fortunate and care for all. Let us not just enrich ourselves and forget about the poor. Let us turn from selfishness and deceit to help others. May you have a joyful season and Happy New Year! Vishnu Bisram
U.S. help needed to nudge... From page 4 what was good for his country rather than what was good for his party. Would the PPP leadership rise to the level of Hoyte’s statesmanship? Why would Cabinet (or any government for that matter) be opposed to anything that may change the status quo? Of course it’s the fear of los-
ing power. What is more important for the country – solving the national and compelling issues of the day or deferring to the ruling Indianethnic ruling party and letting it hold on to status quo? We are a small and poor country: no more than 650,000 people with annual per capita income of USD
3,500. We absolutely need the ABC countries to help us work through our differences to help us evolve into a genuine non-racial democracy and much more – to help reduce the high crime rate, provide investment capital and even to develop traffic regulations to end the daily road carnage. Mike Persaud
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Kaieteur News
Saturday December 28, 2013
Works Ministry demolishes BM Soat properties The stand-off between BM Soat Auto Sales and the Ministry of Public Works ended with the auto dealer who had invested more than $8M in property on the government reserve, watching the property destroyed by the government officials. The Ministry of Public Works officials descended on the property yesterday and commenced destroying the fence. Irate relatives and employees protested the move. When the demolition crew attempted to destroy the office building they sought to form a human barricade. Several armed and unarmed police ranks descended on the scene as there were threats of violence being hurled against the public works officials. Both parties were armed with Court Orders in their favour. At least one worker claimed that he was slapped by one man who protested the businessman’s property being destroyed. The victim was advised to lodge a report at the police station. BM Soat is owned by Bashair Mohamed and his son, Rameez Mohamed, the General Manager. The manager spearheaded the move to form a human barricade by standing next to the building under the section that was under threat by the Ministry workers. The Ministry claimed that the fence and office building were constructed on Government reserve while the Mohameds claim that it is transported property. Attorney-at-Law, Khemraj Ramjattan, who secured the order restricting the Ministry from destroying the property was on hand and sought to no avail to have the police or the ministry officials to respect that Order. But he had not served it
in keeping with the procedure. The writ should have been served on the Chief Works Officer who was not on hand for the service. Among the police ranks that were on hand was the commander for the division Assistant Commissioner, Christopher Griffith, who was presented with the Court Order. Shortly after a bit of deliberation, the Mohameds were told that the Ministry’s Court Order stands and that the workers must be allowed to proceed to destroy the property at which point in time the demolition of that building began. Ramjattan told media operatives he did not understand how the Ministry officials could be allowed by the Police to proceed, saying that the Commander was in possession of the Conservatory Order secured by him for BM Soat. According to Ramjattan, he secured the legal document about 13:30 hrs which would have been shortly after the Ministry officials would have begun destroying the fence. This publication understands that the reason the officials were allowed to destroy the buildings was the fact that the Order had to be served to the Chief Works Officer. He was nowhere to be seen and instead another Ministry official was supervising the workers. Rameez Mohamed told media operatives that the Ministry officials turned up at the property at about noon yesterday and started breaking the fence. He said that they produced to the Ministry Officials a legal document which purportedly prevents the Ministry from destroying the fence but this did not dissuade them.
…company to sue for damage to property
The Public Works Ministry as it demolishes the BM Soat Office Building yesterday
Mohamed said that they will definitely be taking up the matter in the courts and will be filing for damages. “We have a transport…everything we did here is legal, we have a transport and it’s on the first plan.” He said that what the government did was to design a new plan for the area when the four-lane highway was approved. The new plan, according to Mohamed takes 14 feet away from their property and that of their neighbours. “If the Government wants 50 feet, all they have to do is create a new plan?” Having successfully destroyed half of the building which the Ministry insisted was on its reserve the workers headed to the eastern end of the property where they again destroyed another property. This property housed a delicatessen and was located on the eastern section of the property. Those operating that
facility were seen frantically trying to rescue what they could including freezers, ice cream makers and an AC Unit among other items. Earlier this week when the Ministry attempted to execute the demolition exercise, the employees of BM Soat had placed several vehicles as obstacles. This time around this did not occur. Mohamed explained that the Ministry officials informed him that the order they have in their possession dictates that even if the vehicles would be damaged in the process they should go ahead. Yesterday’s melee snarled traffic for miles on either side of the road forcing the police to eventually divert traffic to the railway embankment The Public Works Ministry had previously issued statements to BM Soat
informing the business that it had constructed a fence on 14 feet of Government reserve. The Ministry stated that the auto dealer would have to move the fence from the reserve since it was impeding the four-lane road expansion works being conducted there. The Public Works Ministry yesterday issued a statement seeking to clarify its position. That statement said that the Ministry awarded a $671.6M contract to Dipcon Engineering Ltd for the fourlane upgrade from Better Hope to Mahaica East Coast Demerara. Those works commenced in October 2011 and the proposed completion date was expected to be July 2012. The statement said that during construction the contractor ceased operation because of an illegal
construction which inhibited works. “This illegal construction was on the government road reserve on the southern half of the Public Road at Success, ECD. The Ministry said that Bashair Mohamed, owner of BM Soat Auto Sales at Success ECD, through his Attorneys-at-Law Kemraj Ramjattan and Neil Persram filed an application for Constitutional Redress and subsequently took the Ministry of Public Works to court preventing the upgrading of the road. The matter was heard by the Chief Justice (ag), Ian Chang, for a period of approximately one year. The Ministry was represented by Eusi Anderson Esq., Principal Legal Advisor from the Attorney General Chambers and the matter was concluded this August. According to the Ministry, Chang’s final judgment was handed down last week Friday and he deemed Mohamed’s claim “legally misconceived”. The Ministry has since adopted the position that there are no legal impediments stopping it from proceeding to demolish the illegal structure. This publication understands that the neighbouring structures found to be on the reserve will also be removed. On Friday last, when the injunction was thrown out of the court by Chang, the Public Works Ministry gave the auto dealership eight hours to remove the fence or have it removed by the Works Ministry. BM Soat did not comply.
Cops arrest BM Soat workers The standoff between BM Soat and the Ministry of Works escalated last night with police detaining several of the auto dealer’s workers who had re-erected a section of a fence that was demolished earlier yesterday. Police sources confirmed
that “about eight to ten” workers were arrested and detained at the Cove and John Police Station for “provoking a breach of the peace.” However, it is unclear whether any of them will be charged. The arrests occurred after some of the
workers, in defiance of the court order granted to the Works Ministry, used welding torches to re-erect part of the structure that the Ministry had demolished. The Ministry claims that the fence and BM Soat’s office building were constructed on Government reserve, thereby impeding the East Coast Demerara road extension project. However, management of the auto dealership claim that the land is transported property.
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Kaieteur News
Saturday December 28, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
There is no contradiction in the Procurement law DEAR EDITOR, The procurement law as legislated by Parliament in 2003 did prescribe a role for Cabinet in the procurement system. Yes it did! The Cabinet is an equal stakeholder in the procurement process like anyone else and they have a right to lodge their displeasure, objection; call it what you may, with the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) if or when they believe the Minister of Finance and his agent in the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board ((Tender Board) has failed in following best procurement practices. In other words, the Constitution grants the cabinet the power to intervene, even against the Minister of Finance, if he does not follow the rules established by Parliament in the procurement process. Therefore, there is no contradiction in the procurement laws. So for the Minister of
Finance to say that there is a contradiction in the procurement law is erroneous and misleading to say the least. What the government wants is for the cabinet to have special powers, but such powers are only granted to the PPC which comprises members of the PPP and the main opposition party. That was the wisdom of the then Parliament and it is a much more superior to the political poppycock that the Minister of Finance wants us to believe today. We want to be absolutely clear that the entire procurement system from the invitation of bids to the evaluation of tenders and to the award of contracts is 100 percent controlled by the agents of the Ministry of Finance. Who is in charge of the Ministry of Finance? Is the Ministry of Finance not part of the Cabinet of Guyana? So why the incessant fluff from the Minister? And why is the opposition allowing him to turn Parliament into a
Politicians must... From page 4 to reach the Kingdom of Heaven did not mean how often you attended synagogue, Temple or church but how much trust, love and faith you have in Almighty God. He told them: if you have sinned in some way come to God and say that you are sorry - and mean it - and he will forgive you
sins. The sooner some of our politicians, in all countries, realise that when the time comes they will be judged by how much they have helped the poor and needy the better, and the poor and needy does not include bankers on huge bonuses or politicians on massively inflated expenses claims. Donald Johnson Wallasey, UK
farcical institution? The Minister continues to mislead the nation by trying to pretend that upon the establishment of the PPC, the Executive and Cabinet will have no say in the Procurement Process. This is absolutely false! As we stated above, they can lodge complaints with the PPC like any other stakeholder to the system. What else do they want; a golden seat at the table? We are now certain that this administration will stop at nothing until they have total control over all the people and gain full access to all of the country’s finances and resources. But what is even worse is that the entire Parliament, including the majority opposition, voted with the PPP to defer the establishment of the Procurement Commission by up to six months? What are these Parliamentarians really thinking? When is the opposition going to represent the interest of the people? The people have already lost faith in their noncombative and lackadaisical style in Parliament. The PPP continues to bully its way by causing an undue delay in the establishment of the Procurement Commission and to force the Anti-Money Laundering Bill through the House. If the majority opposition does not secure a fully established Procurement Commission before the AntiMoney Laundering laws are passed, then they have only themselves to blame, as they will more than likely end up with no Procurement Commission, no local Government election, no assent to the Bills passed by Parliament, and no progress on good governance. Under this system, all members must vote in accordance with their party unless otherwise stated. Anyone who violates this cardinal rule will be asked to resign both his/her seat in Parliament and as a member of the executive of his/her party by the leader of the party. This will be a classical example of party discipline and strong leadership. It will convince the people that the party is serious and ready to govern. Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh
Saturday December 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
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PERSONA NON GRATA The United States Ambassador to Guyana should enjoy his Christmas here in Guyana. From all accounts, it may be the last one that he spends here as a diplomat because it seems most likley that he will be recalled to Washington, unless he withdraws his statements that a USAID project that the government of Guyana is opposed will go ahead. If in the face of the government’s withdrawal from the project, there was a statement from the embassy that the project will go ahead, this amounts to a direct defiance of the wishes of the government of Guyana. This is reason enough for the Guyana Government to declare the responsible party as persona non grata. The Guyana government has shown extreme tolerance in dealing with this issue. In some parts of Latin America, if any US Ambassador had dared to make such pronouncements, he or she would have been derecognized immediately and ordered out of the receiving State. The Guyana government has however, not opted to go that route. It has instead dispatched a memorandum to the US State Department. In effect, it has filed a complaint and given the US
government an opportunity to take corrective action. The US State Department is likely to take action and that action may well see the recall of the present US Ambassador to Guyana. It need not have reached this point. The British would have handled the situation differently. They would have diplomatically explained that differences had arisen between the government of Guyana and themselves over the project that they were prepared to engage the government with a view towards narrowing these differences. But not the Americans. They have a different conception of the world and how they should relate to developing countries located in the western hemisphere which under the Monroe Doctrine they considered as their backyard. Instead of using conciliatory and diplomatic language to mend differences, they have adopted an approach which has been interpreted as open defiance of the wishes of the receiving State. No self-respecting sovereign country should tolerate such impunity. Can you imagine the US trying such tactics with the Morales government of Bolivia?
Dem boys seh...
BEE JAY GOT EXPERIENCE WID HUSBAND Christmas come and Christmas gone. Dem boys visit nuff place. Dem spend hours at de Tower Boxing Day; dem been to Gravity; dem been to Palm Court; dem pass by Seeta plus Geeta; dem ain’t see none of dem crooks. Dem ain’t see de Rat, dem ain’t see Brazzy, dem ain’t see Bobby, nor Irfaat, nor Rob de Earth, not Boyah, none of de Brians, neither de Fish Hook. Dem boys decide to fly over Pradoville 2 mansion to see if dem had any private thing going on wid dem li’l boys. Dem ain’t only see nutten, dem ain’t see nobody. De big question is wheh dem been. Dem boys seh that dem start living underground. Dem boys did hear through de grape vine that dem was planning fuh build a bunker fuh hide after dem boys talk bout Aunty Dora and Uncle Sam. Dem crook hide de whole Christmas holiday. One of dem seh that he been wid Bee Jay and he talk bout de Bee Jay. Everything he seh is Bee Jay. When message sent to people dem man does talk wid pride how de message come from Bee Jay. Donald does tell he secretary fuh get on to Bee Jay. Bee Jay does pick up phone and announce that is Bee Jay calling. You do exactly as Bee Jay seh. Dem boys wish he would call dem. That would be de fuss and last time. He would get de right time and de right pronunciation fuh de Bee Jay. De Bee stand fuh Big and de Jay stand fuh that things wha Donald like call people. Dem boys like de Bee Jay but dem gun continue calling he Rat. This was de man who guh to de cricket man wedding and tell people how he ain’t got experience dealing wid wife. A man shout out, “Like you got experience wid husband?” Talk half and keep you eye pun dem de New Year People.
Morales has already ordered USAID out of his country. Do you believe that the US Ambassador to Venezuela would have dared to respond to the government of Venezuela in the way the US Ambassador to Guyana responded to the Guyana government? That would never have happened. And can you imagine any US ambassador having the temerity to tell a Forbes Burnham that the US will be proceeding with a project which the government of Guyana is opposed to? APNU and the AFC have in typical fashion defended the project. But they have failed to understand that the issue at contention is not so much the project itself, which can always be redeemed, but rather the temerity of the
announcement that the project will proceed in spite of the wishes of the government of Guyana. This flies in the face of Guyana’s sovereignty. The United States is a sovereign nation. Guyana is also a sovereign nation. Relationships between countries involve agreements between States. The United States government cannot enter into an arrangement with parties within a sovereign nation without the consent of the government of the receiving nation. This is the basis upon which relationships between states are built and on which the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is predicated. USAID is not a non-
governmental organization. When USAID undertakes any work, it does so as an agent of the United States government. As such, the consent of the Guyana government is required in keeping with customary international law. Regardless of the merits of any project, so long as the government signals its objection, then that project has to be put on ice. USAID cannot take any decision to move forward with any project which is opposed by the receiving State because its agreement is with the State and not with the subjects which will benefit from the project. A few years ago, the British designed a security project for Guyana which the government had problems
with. The British withdrew and sought diplomatic engagements to resolve the differences. The issues are not yet fully resolved but this is the route of diplomacy; it takes time. The British did not decide they will go ahead. The Americans erred when they arrogantly decided that they would go ahead with the USAID project. They have insulted Guyana’s sovereignty and its government by daring to indicate that the project will go ahead. It is time to start over.
22-yr-old remanded for Timothy Adams’ murder On Monday last, news came that Timothy Adams, a 57-year-old miner, was brutally murdered at Turtle Creek, Five Star Backdam, in the Port Kaituma area. Reports had indicated that a few hours later after the incident occurred, a shopkeeper arrested a suspect who is said to have robbed the deceased of $19,000 in cash, and a quantity of gold after fatally injuring the miner. Yesterday, the suspect who was identified as 22year-old Marlon Freeman of 14 Hodge Lane, Linden was whisked before Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry soon after landing in the city. Freeman was flown to the city from Port Kaituma and was ordered held after he made his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. In court, he stood accused of murdering Timothy Adams at Turtle Creek on December 22, in the course of the furtherance of a robbery. He was not required to plead to the charge since it was an indictable charge. Corporal Bharat Mangru, the Prosecutor, said that about 16:00 hours on December 22, the deceased
left Powis Landing en route to his mining camp which is located some distance. Around 9:00 hours the next day, Adam’s body was found lying next to an ATV with a wound to the left side of his neck. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Pakera Hospital. Additionally, news from the area stated that a woman saw Freeman “running like a mad man” from the location where Timothy Adams was killed. She said too that she saw Adams’s all-terrain vehicle (ATV) but took it for nothing. As investigations were being conducted, Freeman reportedly admitted to committing the murder whilst under caution. The police are also investigating reports that Freeman may have been
involved in two murders at Mowasie Landing. He has reported admitted to the police that he had killed a Brazilian and a Guyanese at Mowasie Landing. According to reports, the accused stated that he had been at Mowasie Landing before moving to Port Kaituma just over two years ago. Mrs. Pamela Adams, wife of the slain miner, recalled that her husband had a prior encounter with Freeman. Yesterday, she was finalizing arrangements to bury her husband on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the matter has been transferred to the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrates’ Court and the accused is expected to make his next court appearance to answer to the murder charge on February 3, 2014.
Marlon Freeman, murder accused
Page 10
Kaieteur News
Saturday December 28, 2013
No discrimination in East Bank Twenty three women brutally housing allocations - Irfaan Ali killed by men during 2013 - slams AFC’s leader over “haul your ass” comment The Ministry of Housing yesterday came out in defence of its programs on the East Bank of Demerara, insisting that the sale of large plots to private developers were all conducted in an “above board’ way and was in no way discriminatory to ordinary applicants. According to Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali, lands in the front part of the area between Eccles and Providence which were sold to developers for between $4MS-$6M per acre, cannot be more than the value of the others located further behind. There have been criticisms that the lands sold to the developers were done in a less than transparent manner, with normal Guyanese being pushed further behind. The private developers have been building in some cases, gated communities, with each plot being sold for as much as $15M. Turn-key homes are also being built. A map of the Eccles to Providence area indicated that the front lands were allocated to mainly the private developers. Leader of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, in an article published on Wednesday, December 25th, signaled his intentions to question the process. However, Minister Ali, during his end of year press conference to speak about housing developments over the past year, made it clear that lands further behind Providence are just as important as the ones more to the front. This is especially so as a planned road to link Ogle, on the East Coast to the East Bank, will push value of homes up. The Government
Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali
AFC’s Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan
officials also made it clear that Expressions Of Interest (EOI) were advertised starting in 2010 up until last month, in the Guyana Chronicle. Yesterday, the Ministry said its housing programs are not done in any haphazard manner but rather is based on studies, and in keeping with similar models in India, South Korea and Australia, among other places. Ali also expressed disgust with Ramjattan whom he said was invited to the press conference yesterday but was disrespectful to his secretary allegedly saying that the Minister should “haul his ass”. A further email invitation saw the AFC leader responding in the same rude manner. Calling the AFC leader unethical, Ali demanded a public apology to his secretary. Challenging critics, the Minister also said that his portfolio has always been transparent, with its “One Stop Shop’ exercises to allocate house lots and turnkey homes as clear evidence. Regarding the East Bank Demerara development, the official said it was once a
swamp area. In addition to the $4M$6M being charged for one acre, the private developers are also saddled with infrastructural costs that could end up pushing final costs to $10M-$15M per acre. Responding to Ramjattan’s questions as to the criteria used to select the developers, Ali pointed out that the requirements were all contained in the advertisements for the EOI. Had the private developers been given options, they would have probably applied for the lands that are further behind, he said. Ali also debunked a report in the same Christmas day article which said one businessman close to the Government was able to purchase 400 acres of land in the Coverden area, a village located further up the East Bank of Demerara. Questions over a piece of land granted to Presidential Advisor, Odinga Lumumba, in Providence, was also cleared up by Ali who said it was in exchange for another plot that Government had acquired from that official.
Twenty -three women have been murdered in 2013, with four of the victims slain within the last week. Statistics from the Ministry of Human Services show that all were victims of domestic violence. The women were all brutally murdered by male spouses and relatives. The victims who lost their lives during 2013 include Bhanwattie Devin Bacchus, 28 of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, who was hacked to death by her reputed husband on January 16, Parbattie Mangru, 19, of Soesdyke, Linden Highway, strangled by her boyfriend in May, Angela Mc Allister, 17, who was mercilessly beaten and chopped to death by her boyfriend on August 8, and Shaneza Ramdatt, 23, of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, who was knifed to death by her reputed husband on June 2. On August 3, Vanessa Richmond- James, 26, of Jonestown, Mahaica, was also stabbed to death by her husband, while Siromina Lokhnauth, 47 of Campbellville Georgetown was shot in the head by her husband on November 23. Meanwhile, Molly James, 34, of Moblissa Creek, Linden Soesdyke Highway, was stabbed to death by her stepbrother on November 30 and Samantha Bagot, 36, of Corentyne, Berbice was hacked to death by her husband, on March 15. Sherry Ann Tiwari, 23 of West Ruimveldt, had her throat slit by her lover in November. On June 2, Geeta ‘Diane’ Bhishundial, 28, of High Reef Albion, was strangled by her spouse. Other women who suffered gruesome deaths at the hands of males during the year are Mayann Sunita
Siromanie Lokhnauth
Lalita Basdeo
Angela Mc Allister
Parbattie Mangru
Nauth, 31, of Albouystown, who was stabbed to death on May 11 by her husband, 18 year old Gweneth Alexander who died on July 25 as a result of stab wounds inflicted by her partner, 47 year old Maharani Parmanand of Lusignan who was severely beaten to death on October 23 by her lover, Tameshware Narharry , 51, of Zorg, Essequibo whose lover doused her with gasoline on October 23, and 36 year old Shanta Devi Persaud of Sophia who was stabbed to death by her ex-partner on October 12.
The most recent victims include Sunita Lall, 24, of Endeavour, Leguan, whose husband slit her throat on Christmas Eve; Moreen Ramlogan, 34, of Ogle who succumbed on December 20 to injuries she sustained at the hands of her reputed husband; Lalita Basdeo, 37, of Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, who was stabbed 29 times by her reputed partner and Theiana Andrews, 17 of Moraikobai Village, Mahaicony, shot by her estranged lover on (Continued on page 23)
Saturday December 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 11
Guyana’s accountability framework remains a disaster - Greenidge Despite efforts this year by the government through the Ministry of Finance to enhance the ability of several agencies to be more accountable and transparent, thereby boasting and improving Guyana’s accountability framework, the Financial Spokesman of the Opposition Coalition, Carl Greenidge asserts that the country’s framework still remains in a disastrous state. Just a few months ago, a four-day workshop was held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Georgetown. The “Building on Indicators Training and Evaluation Workshop” trained more than 30 public servants from the education, judiciary, legal affairs, health, housing, tourism, and finance sectors on the importance of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E). Also of note, was the feature address of the Junior Finance Minister, Juan Edghill. During his presentation he stated that (M&E) is important for various reasons which include contributing to transparency and accountability of projects and funds through written reports. More significantly, he said that the country’s accountability framework is “as strong as it can possibly be.” To this day, this is a position, the Junior Finance Minister still holds firm to. However, while the workshop and other efforts were welcomed, Greenidge believes that Edghill’s comments were conjured up some place far removed from Guyana as they were “disgraceful and erroneous.” Greenidge said that it is
unfortunate that the Junior Minister would make such a statement, “because the workshop on M&E would be of little benefit if it is being carried on the totally unrealistic assumption that our accountability framework is anything but a disaster and to this date it still is because of the corrupt acts by the government and especially that of NICIL.” In addition, Edghill, at the conference, had told members of the media that the Ministry of Finance has been paying attention to two important ministries - Health and Education. He said, “They are responsible for about $50 billion of our budget. When we combine the two with Housing and Human Services and examine what we are spending, we realize that our National budget has been allocating 30 percent or more to those sectors on an annual basis.” Edghill said, “We will always admit that better can be done. We are not afraid to admit that we have made mistakes. We acknowledge that a lot of things have not gone well. We still have maternal deaths and that is of serious concern and we acknowledge that …” Greenidge however said, “I am afraid that his perception that the country’s accountability framework is as strong as it can possibly be, is a reflection of his delusion rather than of reality.” Greenidge said that if Edghill would take the time to read the annual reports of the Auditor General for the years 2009 and 2010, for example, he would find that the comments applicable to the Ministry of Finance, Health and
Carl Greenidge, APNU’s Shadow Finance Minister Education and the regions tell an entirely different story from his. He said, “The Health Ministry is a cover for one of the biggest procurement scams perpetrated on the people of Guyana.” “The award of $1billion per annum contract to the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation for the purchase and storage of drugs for the Georgetown Public Hospital has long been a widely discussed scandal.” “So much has been written on this case that the Junior Minister should have been ashamed to make that statement. There are also innumerable cases involving full payment for incomplete contracts and other forms of overpayment and payment in spite of substandard work.” “As regards the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (IBRD) report, it pointed to the dissatisfaction with the quality of work associated with projects that are
Juan Edghill, Junior Finance Minister themselves appropriate to alleviating poverty.” “The government is so drunk with power that the Public Procurement Commission which it agreed to establish, is now to being held hostage to the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) demand that the cabinet be given a de facto veto over the award of contract,” Greenidge asserted. Greenidge stressed that as a consequence of that type of practice and approach, Guyana has been ranked as the second most corrupt country in the Caribbean for the longest while and that is the difference between output and impact.
He expressed that one of the challenges of making M&E effective is the generation and dissemination of information as the reports by the M&E unit are supposed to be semi-annual. But the Shadow Minister then asked, “How widely disseminated and discussed are these reports? When was the last one produced? He said, “As regards the process of M&E, the World Bank in providing assistance to the government in the past to help in this area has observed that Guyana’s ability to monitor and evaluate policies in general, and in the PRSP in particular, remains weak.” “The PRSP details weaknesses in the statistical system, including the national statistics office as well as difficulties with coordinating activities across the line
ministries and among government, donor agencies and Non Governmental Organizations.” “In the case of education, they referred to the need for actions to increase teacher retention in the Guyana educational system and the reduction of teacher absenteeism.” “They also spoke of excessive centralization and the need for local government reform and surprise, surprise the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in this case, pointed to the need to undertake a more extensive reorganization of the civil service, within a sustainable public sector wage setting mechanism.” Greenidge said that the PPP politicians themselves need to draw on the lessons which the workshop is intended to convey.
Page 12
Kaieteur News
Saturday December 28, 2013
Region Eight willfully neglected by Government - Regional Chairman The deplorable Bartica/ Potaro Road in Region Eight, is yet to be repaired even though its importance was amplified in July 2012 when protestors shutdown Linden, preventing the flow of traffic in and out of the interior. This is according to Mark Crawford, Region Eight
Chairman, during a recent interview with this publication. Crawford added that along the Bartica/ Potaro Road is the Cassandra Crossing Bridge (the Denham Suspension Bridge at Garraway Stream) which has been in need of repairs for
numerous years. Miners and residents in neighbouring communities have been advocating for the stretch to be rehabilitated. Following the protest in July 2012, government had acknowledged the need to repair the roadway. But, according to Crawford this is
yet to materialize. He says he is not surprised though, since Government does not seem keen in providing Mahdia with key infrastructure such as roads, potable water and electricity. According to Crawford, members of the ruling People’s Progressive Party have been traveling to the North Pakarimas spreading propaganda that the opposition parties in the National Assembly are responsible for the Region’s condition. Crawford has dismissed this as an “untruth,” claiming that since the National Elections in 2011 when the majority of the residents voted for the Alliance For Change, Government has been unkind to that Region. Crawford stressed that he is cognizant of the numerous troubles that exist in the Region but is unable to help since Government is holding back resources. “We don’t handle
resources…All revenue obtained from the Region goes to central Government and they give back what they want,” he said. According to Crawford, Region Eight has 23 villages and seven settlements and only $28M was designated for road maintenance. This allocation included the Mahdia road, which is the highway to the villages in the North Pakarimas. The Chairman stressed that the allocation was inadequate, adding that Government should have known it is costly to rehabilitate roads in the hinterland. To ease the burden of Central Government in road repairs expenditure, Crawford said he had requested an excavator from Minister of Local Government, Ganga Persaud to no avail. He said the excavator would have helped tremendously in building roads in the North Pakarimas.
Mark Crawford “How can we fix the problems in the communities if Government does not provide the resources?” He stressed that for the past two years Region Eight has been stifled by Government even though it urgently needs funds to repair the Bartica/ Potaro Road and the Salbora Water System. According to Crawford, Government needs to take the politics out of Region Eight and treat residents as citizens of Guyana. He described Mahdia as a ticking time bomb with residents at the boiling stage.
Home Affairs Ministry urges CPG members to exercise restraint The Ministry of Home Affairs has expressed regret at the fatal shooting of Belle Vue resident Godfrey Jaggroo, while cautioning Community Policing Group members to exercise restraint when armed. Jaggroo, 20, was shot on December 18 last with a firearm owned by the Chairman of the Belle Vue Community Policing Group. The alleged shooter has since been charged with murder, but the incident has raised questions about the conduct of some CPG
members, and whether these members should have firearms. “The Ministry of Home Affairs wishes to express profound regret at the death of Mr. Godfrey Jaggroo who was fatally shot by the use of a licensed firearm owned by the Chairman of the Belle Vue Community Policing Group,” a release issued yesterday stated. “Community Policing Group members are trained by the Police to engage members of their communities whenever breaches of the law are committed by such members,
in a civil and polite manner.” According to the statement, training in the use of firearms is also given to the members, who are required to exercise restraint when armed, and must discharge a firearm in accordance with the rules governing such action. “The Ministry stands completely adamant against any form of unprofessional conduct that besmirches the image of Community Policing in Guyana. The conduct demonstrated will be investigated with the expectation of having a satisfactory outcome. Sincere condolences go out to the aggrieved at this time of their grief and sorrow.” In an interview with Kaieteur News, Alliance for Change Leader Khemraj Ramjattan suggested that CPG members carry stun guns and other equipment, rather than firearms. According to Ramjattan, CPG members are not expected to engage criminals in armed confrontations. Rather, they are supposed to gather information and contact the more equipped Guyana Police Force. “I have asked on numerous occasions for these people to be given stun guns…, which can knock you out, and not kill you. Why don’t they invest in that for the Community Policing Group? That’s the kind of investment that the Alliance For Change would like to see.”
Saturday December 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
Chief Librarian accident...
Police deny involvement in accident Following the tragic death of Chief Librarian of the National Library, Gillian Thompson, the Guyana Police Force has denied having any involvement in the accident which resulted in the death of the 47-year-old woman. On Christmas Day, Kaieteur News published an article captioned “Chief Librarian dies in smash up with Police” which explained that relatives were told that the car which slammed into the library-owned bus, killing Thompson, was being operated by police ranks who were at the time, in pursuit of bandits. Other reports gathered by this and other newspapers at the time, suggested that the errant car was being driven by bandits who were speeding away from police officers north along Shiv. Chanderpaul Drive when the car slammed into the bus which was heading west along North Road, Georgetown. Meanwhile, in a press release yesterday, the Guyana Police Force said that it “wishes to emphatically state that no police vehicle or no vehicle in which there were police ranks was involved in the accident.” It added also that “the ensuing investigations did not unearth any information or evidence that the motor car involved in the accident was
Gillian Thompson being pursued by the police.” The police force has urged journalists to seek clarification on such matters. According to the police, investigations have resulted in 24-year-old Odedo Underwood of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown, being charged with causing death by dangerous driving, breach of insurance, being an unlicensed driver and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Underwood appeared in court yesterday before Chief Magistrate Priya BeharrySeenarine where he pleaded “not guilty” to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving and “guilty” to the other charges. He has since been placed on bail in the sum of $500,000. The matter has been adjourned to December 31, 2013.
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Kaieteur News
PROPERTY FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
FOR RENT
VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community - Call: 592624-8704/ 592-684-9203
2 - 2007 Toyota Avensis - Tel: 698-0674
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Wanted: contract cars & experience dispatcher @ West Site Taxi - Tel: 6130419; 600-0688
One two storey business property (Transported) @ Brickery Public Road E.B.D Tel: 660-8128
1 Couple or small family to live and work on live stock farm @ New Hope E.B.D 2662711, 609-4594
Bel-Air - $55M, Prashad-$40, $54M, Subryanville - $55M, Meadowbrook - $45M – Tel:231-2199; 618-7483
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4 Corner property Broad & Charles St – Tel:677-3406
1 Madza PPP series-Tel: 668-6329
Transported property : House + property for sale by owner @ Lot 153 Sparendaam Scheme - Call: 592-220-8573; 592-672-2348
We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154
Guyana perfect property: one - 3 bedrooms house with 2 chicken pens. (5.5 Acres land) – Asking price: $16M – Tel:642-0231
1½ & 2 Ton Canters with power gate, unregistered, $ 2 . 4 M & $ 2 . 7 M - Tel: 617-2891
URGENTLY WANTED: Thirty five (35) Security officers. Apply: SECURITY ALLIANCE Barrack Street, Kingston (upstairs FedEx) Person to slaughter and clean pigs at new Hope, E.B.D. call: 266-2711, 609-4594 Live-in waitress, bartender and going and coming cooks - Tel:643-9007; 6641804 1 Boy to work in interior salary - $80,000 age 20-35 call between 9-5 – Call:6757043; 697-1164 1 Live in maid to work in Diamond – Salary $50,000 Call:675-7043; 697-1164
1 Toyota NZE corolla, AT192, AT212, AT170, IST, Funcargo, Rav-4, Hilux pickup 4x4 - Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms - Call: 680-3154
1-55 Leyland DAF truck, excellent working condition. Price $2.8M, Must Go!Contact:656-8346 1- LN 170 Hilux pick-up. Excellent condition! - Tel: 663-3537
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
LAND FOR SALE Waiakabra, Linden Highway: 1,409’x403’ or 13.73 acres. Concrete house thereon. 1,100 feet from Highway Call: 619-4152 Herstelling - $4M - Tel:6757292 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at Parika- Call: 226-7968
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Saturday December 28, 2013
Blankenburg Public Road WCD (38X150) & (39X150) $16M each - Tel:666-3619 Land for sale @ Lot 12 MonRepos Tel:220-7330
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Parafaite Harmonie (High Income) $2.5M– Tel:675-7292
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VACANCY Writer needed. Web and article copywriting. US$1,000/month. www.capitaltyping.com/gypro for details. 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant - Call: 6910894/684-2838 Canter Drivers from E.C.D, Male Security Guards and Factory Assistants, accommodation available. 266 4427 Vacancies for mechanical maintenance, Technicians on food packaging machine (overtime available)- Contact Allison: 603-1089 Vacancies exist for production line workers, previous production experience desirable (overtime available) - Contact Allison: 603-1089
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SALON
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Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
FOR SALE
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Dell computers complete with 20" LCD $69,000, 6 months warranty @ Futuretech- Call:231-2206
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FOR HIRE
PROPERTY FOR SALE
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TOURS Suriname Old Years Into New Years return Trip December 29th –January 2nd Tel:644-0185; 639-2663; 665-5171; 227-8290 (Continued on page 23)
Saturday December 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
Twenty three women brutally killed by men... From page 10 Boxing Day. Earlier this month the Ministry of Human Services had reported that seventeen women were killed this year, as a result of domestic violence. In 2012, twenty -two women lost their lives to domestic violence. However, according to the data provided by the documentation center of the Human Services Ministry, there has been a notable fluctuation in the number of murders dating back to 2007. In 2007 twenty four (24) women were killed by their male partners or relatives within an eleven month period. The year which had the least recorded domestic carnage was 2009. Fourteen women were killed that year. On December 14, the Ministry held a vigil in remembrance of this year’s victims. The event marked the conclusion of 16 days of activism for International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women as well as International Human Rights Day. At the event, Minister of Human Services, Jennifer Webster noted that the
number of women killed by their partners in 2013 is ‘too high.’ Minister Webster reminded the gathering that the women were all mothers, daughters, sisters, neighbours, friends and relatives with the potential of helping to craft the nation’s development. “Moreso, this vigil is symbolic to emphasize the fact that we lost productive daughters of the soil. The loss of a mother to violence has a severe negative impact on children throughout communities of the world.”
(From page 22)
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SERVICES Kerrin Stanley Immigration Services, Canada, U.S, U.K visa services. Authorized by Government of CanadaContact:645-4789, kerrinstanley@gmail.com Computer repairs in homes Tel: 675-7292 Services and repairs to gas stoves, washing machines Call: 688-0183
We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar Technicians available for appliance repairs – washers, dryers, microwaves, stoves, deep fryers, etc – Tel:6190793; 218-0050 School bus available between Land of Canaan, Grove - Georgetown - Tel: 646-5147
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Battered woman stranded in Granny Backdam, needs medical attention A woman brutally beaten and robbed in Granny Backdam, Omai, on Christmas Day is still awaiting the intervention from the police and medical attention. During an interview via telephone yesterday, Fiona McDonald, recapped the
brutal attack and the inaction by the Mahdia police. According to the woman, around noon on Christmas Day she was imbibing with some friends in Granny Backdam. She recalled that a man name Dexter approached her and requested to follow her
to collect her phone from another fellow. During a short walk away from the celebrations, the man took a piece of wood and dealt a blow to her knees, which sent her to the ground. Apparently, Dexter had an accomplice, Delon, waiting on
him to return with the prey. McDonald said Delon snatched her hair and dragged her into the bushes. Both men then started to beat her severely about the body whilst demanding money and gold. McDonald said they relieved her of money but she
had no gold to give them. This infuriated the men who continued to beat her. She recalled screaming for help and hearing someone approaching. But, the men managed to shut her up and drag her further into the bush. The woman recalled that
Dexter subsequently left but Delon remained kicking and cuffing her. Her screams for help intensified and by that time Delon picked up a big rock seemingly to smash her head. Thankfully, a man who was passing intervened and begged for the woman. But, injustice to the woman did not end there. Calls for help to Mahdia police to get out of Granny Backdam to seek medical attention and to lodge a complaint against the assailants were disregarded. According to a woman, who is keeping McDonald at her camp, following the ordeal the injured woman was brought to her camp. Because, no one at the camp knew the phone number for the Mabura Police Station, she called the fire service and was provided with a number for the Mahdia Police Station. The woman subsequently called the Mahdia Police Station and spoke to a female police rank, who was pleasant. The rank informed that no vehicle was available and asked that they bring the injured woman out if possible. Around 18:00hrs another call was made to the Mahdia Police Station. This time, a male police rank answered the phone and was very rude, the woman claimed. The woman said that she threatened to call Eve Leary because the police were adamant that they had no vehicle to bring the woman out. She said they kept insisting that she place the injured woman in a vehicle and send her out. The woman said if vehicles were traversing the stretch she would have hired one but that was not the case. She said from observation the woman is in a terrible condition, vomiting blood and has swelling about the body. According to Simona Broomes, President of Guyana Women Miners’ Organization, the interior is being treated as if it is not part of Guyana. She is appalled that the police force would beef up security in the City and leave the hinterland areas vulnerable. Broomes said that these matters are reported to the police in the interior but nothing ever becomes of them. She said had the woman been dead the police would have found a vehicle to go and retrieve the corpse. She argued that if anything happens to this woman the police should be held responsible. Broomes stressed that McDonald is helpless and desperately needs medical attention. Region Eight Chairman, Mark Crawford, has always been calling for the Mahdia police to be equipped with more vehicles to access mining camps and respond to these situations. But, his calls have fallen on deaf ears.
Saturday December 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
World powers, Iran to resume expert nuclear talks on Monday BRUSSELS/ANKARA (Reuters) - Experts from Iran and six world powers will resume talks on Monday on how to roll out last month’s landmark nuclear deal in Geneva, hoping to resolve numerous technical issues before the accord can take effect. A spokeswoman for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who oversees diplomacy with Iran on behalf of the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, said talks were scheduled to last one day for now. Two rounds of negotiations have been held so far since Iran agreed on November 24 to curb its most sensitive nuclear work in return for relief from some economic sanctions that are damaging its oil-dependent economy. In comments that highlight the challenges facing negotiators, Iran’s nuclear chief said yesterday Tehran was pressing on with tests of more efficient uranium enrichment technology. His comments appeared aimed at soothing the anger of Iranian hardliners over possible new U.S. sanctions on Iran. The nuclear experts have to work out when the deal will
Panama economic growth eases in October government Safeguards (R), leave a news conference at the headquarters of the IAEA in Vienna. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger be implemented, triggering the loosening of economic restrictions by the EU and the United States. A key sticking point appears to be what information Western governments will receive in advance to verify that Iran is meeting its end of the deal before they lift some sanctions. Other outstanding issues address how exactly sanctions will be eased and practical details of Iranian concessions. Some diplomats from the six nations have said they hoped the deal could be put fully in place by the second half of January. The talks resume at a sensitive time. Iranian hardliners, irked by the foreign
policy shift since moderate President Hasan Rouhani was elected in June, oppose the Geneva deal and call it “a surrender to America’s pressure” by the government. A group of 100 hardline Iranian lawmakers are seeking to oblige the government to increase uranium enrichment to 60 percent, a level that can produce bomb-grade material if enriched further, if new U.S. sanctions are imposed on Tehran. It is not clear if the bill will be debated in Iran’s 290-seat parliament as the country’s most powerful authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has repeatedly backed the Geneva talks.
India seeks possible U.S. tax violations as stand hardens in row NEW DELHI (Reuters) India has sought details about staff in American schools in the country for possible tax violations and revoked ID cards of U.S. consular officials and their families, retaliatory steps for the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York. The measures suggest that the two countries are no closer to a resolution of a diplomatic dispute over the treatment of Deputy Consul General Devyani Khobragade this month on charges of visa fraud and underpayment of her housekeeper. Khobragade, who has denied the charges, was h a n d c u f f e d a n d s t r i psearched while in custody, sparking outrage in India. An Indian government official said yesterday that New Delhi had asked the U.S. embassy to provide details about people working in American schools and other U.S. government facilities to determine if they had permission to do so and if
Devyani Khobragade they were paying taxes that are mandatory under Indian law. Diplomats’ spouses who take up work in schools or other embassy facilities are supposed to inform the host country. Violations of this kind had often been ignored, but now India would not turn a blind eye, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The U.S. embassy declined to comment on the
latest steps. India had also withdrawn some privileges U.S. diplomats and their families enjoy and would treat them as Indian officials are treated in the United States, the Indian official said. U.S. Ambassador Nancy Powell has been refused special privileges at New Delhi airport. “We have said all access is on a reciprocal basis,” the government official said. “She is not going to get the benefits that the Indian ambassador in the U.S. doesn’t get.” U.S. consular officials and their families have been asked to surrender identity cards that gave them a degree of immunity. Under a new regime, consular officials - but not their families - will be given identity cards with fewer privileges. “Spouses and children have no more immunity. So if there is a parking offence or ... something else happening in Bangalore etcetera, they would be held liable,” the Indian official said.
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Govt says revenues falling short of target Jamaica Observer - NEW tax measures implemented by the Government to support the 2013/14 Budget in April are not yielding the projected revenues, so more taxes are likely by early next year to top up the flow. Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Peter Phillips and Governor of the Bank of Jamaica Brian Wynter made the admission in their latest quarterly communications with the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Christine Lagarde. The communications were tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday as Ministry Paper 136/13, fulfilling the commitment to release the information after deliberations with the Fund. The Government blamed the revenue situation on lower imports and weak economic and labour market conditions. However, the Opposition, in its initial reaction, indicated yesterday that it would not support any changes that would result in more taxes for businesses and consumers. Opposition spokesman on industry, investment, commerce and energy Karl Samuda told the Jamaica Observer yesterday that the Opposition would not support any new tax measures, saying that increased taxation would only create more burden on businesses and consumers and discourage growth and the creation of jobs. “The Government should be challenging the IMF’s view that incentive is inappropriate as countries, the world over, are realising that only with
Opposition opposes plan for new taxes more incentives can we increase production and employment,” Samuda said. According to Ministry Paper number 136/13, the IMF staff review confirmed that Jamaica met all quantitative targets and structural benchmarks for the period April 2013 to September 2013, and was on track to achieve future targets. The IMF Board, on December 8, completed the second review of Jamaica’s performance under the current Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme. The Fund’s deputy managing director, Nayouki Shinohara, noted that implementation of the programme “remains strong”, and that “there are tentative signs of a gradual economic recovery”. However, Shinohara stated that the growth agenda needed to be bolstered by speeding up structural reforms to reduce bureaucracy and improve Government’s interface with the business community. Completion of this second quarter review will enable Jamaica to access the third drawdown under the EFF of approximately US$31 million, bringing the total approved to date to approximately US$948 million. The positive second quarter review should also facilitate access to loans from the World Bank and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). But there are obviously some clouds on the horizon, as indicated in the communications from the Jamaican Government to Lagarde, especially in terms of tax revenues and the
possibility of new tax measures to finance the budget and meet fiscal deficit targets. The Government, in its letter to the IMF chief, pointed out that it has implemented all the necessary structural benchmarks included in the programme. However, it explained that economic growth remained weak, unemployment was “much too high”, and fiscal performance in the first half of 2013/14 was “mixed”. “Relative to the budget, revenues underperformed mainly due to lower imports and weak economic and labour market conditions,” the Government admitted. For the same reasons, the new tax measures implemented at the beginning of the fiscal year are not yielding the intended results, the Government explained, adding that it had to contain recurrent and capital expenditure to be able to meet the fiscal performance criteria, including the primary balance target, the overall public sector balance target, and the indicative targets on revenues and social expenditure. However, reforms to strengthen tax and Customs administration and the reformation of the General Consumption Tax (GCT) are expected by next year to assist the Government in closing some of the gaps. Probably the most controversial being the plan for a study of the tax on petroleum products, which would result in the introduction of GCT on petroleum products.
Saturday December 28, 2013
Jack Warner criticises T&T gov’t over turning back of Jamaicans Jamaica Gleaner Trinidadian government officials are facing more criticisms at home over the recent decision by immigration officers to refuse entry to 13 Jamaicans. This time, the criticism has come from Austin ‘Jack’ Wa r n e r, the controversial former national security minister in the Kamla PersadBissessar administration. According to Warner, the decision to turn back the Jamaicans would not have happened if he was still the minister in charge of immigration. “I felt that it was inhumane … I offered ministerial grace so they could stay and get their papers,” said Warner. He rejected suggestions that some persons might have been refused entry because they had criminal records. “There is no database at Piarco International Airport that tells you when you land what charges you have.” He declared that during his short tenure as national security minister he made it his business to facilitate regional immigration. “I made it my business not to be hard on individuals coming and staying here because we may have some degree of g o o d f o r t u n e n o w, b u t Trinidadians are rushing to Canada, United States and England and looking for greener pastures.
“In the same way we expect them to take us, and they remit money back home to take care of their families, it’s the same thing happening here,” Warner told The Gleaner. “I went to pains to make it legal for people to be accepted here. When I was m i n i s t e r, I n e v e r g a v e anybody any instructions to deport anybody. I never did that. Moreover, the detention centre up at Aripo is overcrowded with black people. “One, they are black Caribbean peoples and two, they were Jamaicans and Guyanese in the main,” charged Warner. H o w e v e r, the outspoken former minister said the entire immigration impasse was being blown out of proportion and has been badly handled. “The Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association
has piggy-backed on the immigration issue for their own purpose. But I put it to you that they have no concern about Jamaicans being deported and I tell you that in Trinidad and To b a g o t h e c o n c e r n i s almost minimal, in terms of this (deportation) issue.” Wa r n e r a rg u e d t h a t i n s t e a d o f Tr i n i d a d ’s foreign affairs minister, Wi n s t o n Dookeran, travelling to Jamaica for talks following the incident, it should have been the Jamaican minister o f f o r e i g n a ff a i r s , A . J . Nicholson, travelling to Port of Spain for talks with Gary Griffith, the minister of national security and minister of trade. “That being said … I do agree that the minister o f n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y ’s outburst and petulance was not called for. If he had a problem, he could have discussed it with his minister of foreign affairs. But the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing and nobody is talking to each o t h e r, o b v i o u s l y, ” s a i d Warner. “Dookeran saying one thing; Gary Griffith saying another thing, and the prime minister coming in and saying nothing. What she has said amounted to both of them being right. Foolishness. At the end of the day, somebody has to take the bull by the horns and t a k e a s t a n d , ” Wa r n e r charged.
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - The growth of Panama’s vibrant economy eased slightly in October, weakened by slower traffic through the Central American nation’s trademark canal and ports, official data showed yesterday. Economic activity increased 8.26 percent in October compared with the same month last year, figures from the government’s statistics office showed. That was a slowdown from September, when the economy expanded by 9.29 percent. Growth that month had originally been reported at 8.15 percent. In a statement, the office said container traffic and activity in the Panama canal had decreased while the construction, mining, tourism
and air transport industries continued to grow. The office did not quantify the developments. The finance ministry projects Panama’s $33 billion economy will expand 8.5 percent this year. Though the economy is stepping back from the double digit growth Panama has posted in four of the past six years, it is still one of the fastest-growing in the region. The growth is spurred by massive infrastructure spending, including the ongoing $5.3 billion expansion of the Panama canal, which began in 2007, and the $1.8 billion construction of Central America’s first metro rail system. Minera Panama, a subsidiary of Canada’s First
Quantum Minerals Ltd is also building a $6.2 billion copper mine on the Atlantic coast, expected to become one of the world’s biggest open-pit copper developments. But traffic through the canal and ports has slumped, weighed down by the global slowdown in trade. A six-month delay in the opening of the expanded canal has persuaded shippers to use alternative routes where they can carry goods more cheaply on bigger ships. The economy has also been dampened by a dispute with two of Panama’s biggest trading partners, Colombia and Venezuela, which has disrupted the Colon Free Trade Zone, the world’s largest duty-free area after Hong Kong.
Austin ‘Jack’ Warner
Union claims company Panama economic growth aware of source of oil spill eases in October – government PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – CMC - The Oilfield Workers Union (OWTU) is accusing the state-owned oil company, PETROTRIN, of being aware of the source of the oil spill as the cleanup operations continue unabated in the south of the island. “All the clean-up operations would make no sense if the oil well is not killed,” OWTU president Ancel Roget told a news conference. He said PETROTRIN was well aware of where the leak was occurring, contrary to what was being reported to the media. “For those of us who know the offshore drilling operation would know that once a leak is observed from casing conductor pipe that is as serious as can be because
that is sub sea. Therefore the remedy for that is to kill the well. All of this was reported to PETROTRIN…No information subsequent to this was made available to the public or to the media.” Roget said that there was no oil spill containment infrastructure available at the platforms, which was in direct breach of health and safety codes, insisting that senior officials at PETROTRIN and the Ministry of Energy should have been aware of that information and all efforts should be made to contain the leak. PETROTRIN has said it is unable to determine the source of the leak, which has spilled oil into the waters in the Gulf of Paria over the past seven days. The spills have affected
residents in La Brea, south of here, and Roget described the situation there as a tragedy. He said the oil spill at another facility was nothing more than a “cover up” and that PETROTRIN was shielding its leased companies. He said all lease agreements should be made public regarding companies contracted to conduct operations on PETROTRIN lands.Meanwhile, PETROTRIN in its latest statement, said the clean-up operations were continuing and that “significant progress has been achieved”. It said the “affected coastline is beginning to look the way it did before the incident. Encouragingly, no new volumes of oil are washing ashore in the affected areas in La Brea.”
Saturday December 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Derick Richmond wins national...
From page 33 block. Gibson continued attacking early in the third round but Park had managed to reassert herself and dished out a few thunderous offerings of her own much to the delight of the crowd. Both boxers appeared to be spent in the final round but Gibson dug in and scored to her opponent’s midriff with Park gamely attempting to match the blows. Subsequently, Park lashed out with a wicked blow, missed and fell to the canvass. That much weight is not easy to manage
and she spent the better part of 5 minutes attempting to return to an upright position. When she finally did with the help of referee, Frankie Brisport, she was met by several close quartered combinations that sealed her fate. All three judges, Francis Abraham, Eion Jardine and Carlton Hopkinson voted in favour of Gibson. Despite registering a draw, the second of his fledgling career, Kelsey George has shown vast improvement, with crisper punches. He did manage to push Norville on
the back foot on several occasions but the Harpy Eagles pugilist also demonstrated determination and grit. The final decision was a true reflection of what transpired in the fight which also provided entertainment for the crowd. For all his pre-fight ranting and predictions, Norville failed to uncover Matthews’ Achilles heels and the latter fighter boxed circles around him in the early stages of the fight. Norville got his rhythm around the third stanza and managed to evade Matthews’ right crosses before unleash-
Saturday December 28, 2013 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You can be a little stubborn, and it seems that you're in the process of giving a wonderful demonstration of this. You can be a little slow when you need to move, but once you get started, it's very hard to get you to stop! TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You may feel like you can no longer explore your inner feelings, but you must persevere. You have a tremendous capacity to bury problems deeply, and you can go through life obliviously surfing on top of them. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You're in the process of changing directions in your professional life. This can't be done in a day. It's sometimes painful. Things will be going slowly and require you to think and confront yourself honestly. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You'll have to demonstrate your endurance today. Much is required of you, and you have no choice but to make the contribution expected of you. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You may have some very good ideas relating to your professional field, but do you have complete mastery of them? If not, accept the fact that you can still learn from courses or experts in your field. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) There may be some worries nagging at you. Perhaps you have a financial concern or minor health complaint.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may feel somewhat grumpy and sluggish, like you have an energy deficit. But the oppressive mood of today will also lend objectivity and reality to any examination you make of what's happening in your life. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) The mood is somewhat oppressive today. If you could, you'd send away anyone who tries to put obstacles in your path. Or maybe you'd prefer to go away yourself! The day ahead is good for a realistic test of the waters. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You've decided to blow the whistle on yourself! All of a sudden it's obvious that you're not performing as well as you should be. It's time to put your self-discipline to work. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Career or family? Social recognition or personal gratification? You may feel torn between two poles and spend the better part of the day searching for answers to such questions. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You'll have to deal with some internal and external conflict. Often you're so happy to be lost in your dreams that you don't really focus on what's going on in the real world. But today alarm bells relating either to work or finances rudely awaken you. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Your legendary impatience is playing tricks on you. You're in too much of a hurry. You may have changed things on the outside but you haven't changed who you really are.
ing some of his combinations. In the end though, Matthews’ experience stood out as he employed stiff right crosses that kept Norville at bay which in the end cost him the fight. Judges Trevor Arno and Carlton Hopkinson both scored 58-56 in favour of Mathews, while Clairmont DeSouza scored similarly but in Simon’s favour. Earlier, the fans received the appetizer to the main course when several amateur boxers out of the Mining Town engaged in four action packed
exhibition encounters. Those in action were Kurley Hooper up against Ronald Andrews in the 75-79lbs class, while Joshua Corbin squared off against Daukyan Miller in the 84-90lbs class. Hakeem Alexander took on Carlos McPherson while Ejad Alli and Troyston Ward faced off, both fights in the 160-165lbs division. Several lucky spectators also received lucrative gate prizes after their stubs were selected from among the other paying patrons.
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Letter to the Sports Editor
WHAT WE NEED IN BASKETBALL DEAR EDITOR, I am penning this letter to the basketball fraternity, in fact to everyone who is genuinely concerned about the state of the game in Guyana. I am not throwing any stones, since I am of the view that the failures of basketball have accumulated over many years. It is a combination of factors that have led to its current state: neglect, poor administration, selfishness, indiscipline, ineptitude and the lack of a unified approach. Some are quick to blame the National Federation for everything. But we must remember that the Federation can’t succeed by itself. It is the construct of the subassociations and represents all stakeholders. The right thing for each stakeholder to do - players, clubs, sub-associations, government, sponsors and fans at large - is to ask of themselves - where have we failed and more importantly how can we help to improve the game? That’s exactly what my associates and I have done and our efforts have resulted in (a) eight successful years of organizing the National School Basketball Festival
(National Championships) and (b) the establishment of Youth Basketball Guyana with its various components. It is what Paul and Patrick Haynes of the Haynes Foundation with their establishment of the Guyana Basketball website and through their many acts of charity has done. It is what Lugard Mohan did by establishing the Guyana Basketball Official Council (GBOC) and now voluntarily giving of his time to developing the next generation of elite athletes. It is exactly what Ann Gordon is doing in Kwakwani. Despite all the challenges she faces, she still selflessly dedicates her life to nurturing young people through basketball and education. Further it is exactly what the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the National Sports Commission have been doing for the last eight years, through the InterGuiana Games. They are providing the only pathway our junior basketball players have had in order to gain international exposure and experience. But much more has to be done. But the point is we must
take collective responsibility and action in order to achieve more success in the game we all love. Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG), is not an affiliate of the GABF, although we have tried, and we will continue to work for this recognition, because it is too important not to. Whilst we will not have a representative in attendance at the upcoming meeting and election of the National Federation, YBG is hopeful that this process will provide an opportunity to begin rebuilding and rebranding the sport. As such we would like to encourage those who do have a say in determining the direction of the game to think broadly about what we need in basketball. In my humble opinion, what we need in basketball is: A. To establish a common vision- essentially a clear sense of where the game is going for the short and long term and to effectively communicate this to key stakeholders for them to embrace as a framework for the future. In addition, the sport needs to clarify its values and have consensus on priorities. B. To change the way
the game is structured and managed. We must move beyond electing a few volunteers just because they show up or have been around a long time. We need a broader more professional model of governance and one that includes all stakeholders and is managed by skilled professionals. While the game should remain amateur at its core- we need to employ new methods if we are going to change the trajectory. C. Establish an aggressive strategy for fundraising, marketing, promotion and fan development. D. Change the culture we need a new breed of committed leaders who can get the job done and who do not have anything to prove other than the development of the sport. I am praying that all will go well with the GABF meeting and elections, and for our sport to have multitude of successes in 2014 and beyond. I take this opportunity to wish everyone in the basketball fraternity a peaceful Christmas and prosperous New Year. Respectfully, Rev. Chris Bowman Youth Basketball Guyana
Bowling gives us the edge - Dwayne Bravo ESPNcricinfo - Dwayne Bravo, West Indies’ ODI captain, believes his bowling attack will give his team the definitive edge in the fivematch ODI series against New Zealand. Following a tense two-wicket win to lead the series 1-0 at Eden Park, Bravo heaped praise on his new-ball attack of Ravi Rampaul and Jason Holder. “There’s a confidence in the bowlers and it showed. They put the pressure on the Kiwis and helped our fresh faces integrate into the lineup,” Bravo said. “I’ve had honest and open chats with them and as the frontline, it’s important to discuss our brand of bowling and the attitude out there. This is what I’d like to see as a leader. Our bowling from Ravi and Jason was tight and precise and factoring in Sunil Narine, this gives us an advantage.” Bravo himself picked up 4 for 44 while his opening bowlers took two apiece. He indicated that their bowling was something he felt they underplayed in the recent Test display as well as the visit to India. “Over the past few years, we’ve always had strength in bowling and we must play to
this. We made sure to execute our game plans with the ball against New Zealand and I, myself, had to improve after coming into question as a death bowler this year,” he said. “So we all knew we had to step it up. Our bowling and fielding were spot on and we still have to note that there’s room to improve with the bat. The pitch wasn’t the best to bat on but it was a good one to deliver to.” While Darren Sammy (43*) and Lendl Simmons (34) shone with the bat, the captain reiterated that his bowling attack was one that could easily adapt and interchange among the various pitches in New Zealand. He added that while their batsmen may have a more testing time acclimatizing, his bowlers were quicker geared to adjust to different situations. “With our bowling display so far and our net sessions, I can see they’re (bowlers) all relaxed and definitely, after yesterday, the morale is high. I will look to carry on my momentum also but as long as our bowlers keep at it like we did in the first ODI, we’ll stand a great chance of taking the series,” he concluded.
WIBC congratulates St. Therese’s Win Heart of Oak Masters Chanderpaul on achieving milestones this year Inter Primary School Christmas Football ST JOHN’S Antigua significant strides. The
Hearts of Oak Masters Football Organization continues to play its part in the development of Football in the New Amsterdam/Canje area, Berbice and Guyana in general with the staging of another youth football tournament this time for Primary schools which was won by St. Therese’s Primary. The tournament dubbed the ‘Hearts Oak Masters Christmas Inter Primary School Football tournament’ was played recently at the All Saints Scott Church Ground on Princess Elizabeth Road in New Amsterdam and saw four school participating namely St. Aloysius Primary, St. Therese’s Primary, New Amsterdam Primary and All Saints Primary. St. Therese’s won two and drew one of their games in the round robin one day competition to come out victors. Results of the day’s games saw Delon Alleyne scoring the lone goal to give Therese’s a 1-nil win over St. Aloysius, while N/A Primary and All Saints Primary played to a nil all draw. A defence error gave St. Therese’s a 1-0 win over N/A Primary while
The winning St. Therese’s School team and Heart of Oak officials. game four saw St Aloysius edging out All Saints by another 1-0 score with Kelly Amsterdam being the goal scorer. The All Saints verses St. and Therese’s clash ended 00 all, while Jaden Nedd helped St. Aloysius to a 1-nil win over N/A Primary. The second place went to St. Aloysius Primary. The top two teams each received a trophy. At the end of the tournament trophies were
presented to outstanding players. The best goalkeeper was Tyrese Rogeo of St. Therese’s; most goal award went jointly to Dellon Alleyne also of Therese’s and Jaden Nedd of St. Aloysius. The most promising player award was picked up by Timothy Harris of St Therese Primary. The tournament was coordinated by Neil Humphrey who thanked all the players who took part in tournaments organized by the
Heart of Oak Masters Football Club throughout the year. He promises an action packed 2014 and noted that the club will continue to concentrate on the youths. He also expressed his thanks to the many sponsors, wellwishers and friends both local and overseas who assisted the club. In total the club was successful in staging nine competitions at various ages, the most he stated in Guyana. The BFA has not staged any.
(CMC) — President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron, has praised veteran middle order batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul for achieving several miles stones in his career this year. Chanderpaul played his 150th test match during the recent series against India and earlier this month became the seventh player to pass 11,000 runs in test cricket playing in the series against New Zealand. In his Christmas message, the WICB president described the Guyanese batsman as ‘durable’. “I must salute Shivnarine Chanderpaul for achieving 150 Test appearances and 11,000 runs in Test cricket. Shiv continues to be a shining champion of whom we are all proud,” said Cameron. “We have also seen several others players making strides in their world rankings even as our team performances have not always been as strong as we would all like them to be”. Cameron, elected as president earlier this year, said his tenure has been tough so far but that WICB has made
president said based on the work being done by the WICB, he is expecting more success in all formats for both men’s and women’s teams. “At the Board of Directors and management levels we continue to be committed to the hard task of the redevelopment of the game for future successes,” said Cameron. “We are doing the critical work behind the scenes to ensure that we continue to produce world class players and to help to improve the team performance in all formats.” Cameron says 2014 promises to be an exciting year for West Indies cricket. The season begins with the NAGICO Super50 in Trinidad next month before heading into a home limited-over series with Ireland and England. “The West Indies men’s team will defend the World Twenty20 title, the West Indies Under 19 will challenge for the Youth World Cup and the Windies Women will battle for the World T20 title as well,” said Cameron. “Your support of the game and our teams is as vital as it has ever been.”
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Weightlifting continues to persevere despite tough challenges - focus on youth will continue in 2014
Denoila Bristol Darren Williams
Sheriah Melville
By Franklin Wilson For any sport to be viable, a necessary ingredient has to be athletes and in the weightlifting fraternity it is a well documented fact that this sport has suffered tremendously over the past few years from a dearth of athletes. But in spite of this challenge, a major one too, the President, Secretary and executive of the Guyana Amateur Weightlifting Association (GAWA), Frank Tucker and Deion Nurse have been leading a revival of the sport with a heavy emphasis on youth. In fact, for the year 2013, the association was not able to again run off their senior championships due to obvious reasons but this fact has not deterred the body from pushing ahead with its development, according to Nurse. The long standing administrator, like his
president was re-elected to serve the sport this year until 2015 and they have embarked on a plan to revive the sport. All the necessary ingredients are in place which includes the support of the Pan American and International Weightlifting Federations along with the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA). Guyana, for some years would have owed affiliations fees to the international bodies but the way is now cleared with the local body being able to pay off its debt of US$3,000 earlier this year. Nurse, in summarizing the year, said that it was significant and successful for GAWA pointing out that the attended the Pan American Weightlifting Federation Symposium for Leaders as well as the Congress held in Houston, Texas in February. Both President and Secretary attended; the duo also represented Guyana for the first time at the World
Federation Electoral Congress which took place in Russia in May, a huge plus for Guyana according to Nurse. As a result of Guyana’s participation at the world congress where the outstanding affiliation fees were paid off, Guyana has been enjoying and will continue to enjoy improved assistance for its development programmes. During the month of May, GAWA celebrated its 73rd anniversary with a number of events including educational programmes. In the area of competition, the youths were the focus and in unique circumstances. They themselves created history since they donned national colors in making their respective debuts at any level. Fourteen year-old Sheriah Melville journeyed to Cancun, Mexico in early September when she competed at the Under-17 Pan American championships, achieving a Snatch of 48kg, Clean and Jerk 62kg for a total of 110kg.
Horserace meet rescheduled to 19th January 2014 The inclement weather that pervaded the country on Boxing caused the postponement of a number of activities. One such affected was the big Boxing Day horserace meet organised by the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) at the Club’s entity Bush Lot Farm Corentyne, Berbice. Eight races were slated for the day while over $9M in trophies and cash incentives were up for grabs. The heavy rain fall left the entire KMTC arena inundated forcing the organisers to call an emergency meeting at which the decision was made to call off the day’s action. However all is not lost since a new date has been set
for 19th January 2014. Over 60 horses, most of which were already at the venue and were set to race in the traditional Boxing Day meet, had entered. All arrangements remain the same for the new date. The events listed are the feature A and lower event for a hefty pole position taking of S1.5M and trophy over one mile. The co-feature event is for 3 years old West Indian maiden and Guyana bred horses also over one mile. The other events are the race for E and lower horses, the D3 maiden gallop which will also see the animals cover a distance of six furlongs, the race for two year old animals,
the G1 and Lower race. There is the race for animals classified I3 and lower, while there is als o a r a c e f o r horses classified J and lower. The outstanding jockeys, trainer and stable will all received trophies and other accolades compliments of Trophy Stall Bourda Market and the organisers. For clarifications, persons can make contact with Justice Cecil Kennard on telephone numbers 2261399, 225-4818 or 623-7609, club Secretary Niketa Ross on 662-4668, Roopnarine “Shine’ Matadial, 325-3192, Ivan Dipnarine 331-0316, Isabella Barton (693-7812) or Dennis DeRoop 3253301(609-9143).
Later in September, Melville was joined by the 15 year-old duo of Darren Williams and Denoila Bristol as part of Guyana’s delegation to the inaugural South American Youth Games which was hosted in Lima, Peru. Williams and Bristol, like Melville also made their respective debuts at the competitive level. Williams competed in the 77kg category, Melville in the +63kg division, while Bristol contested the 53kg class. While the athletes didn’t medal, they all achieved personal bests. Manager and Senior National Coach Sean Cozier complimented his charges for their brave performances despite the cold weather experienced at the time. He said that they have
excellent potential that needs to be honed. Cozier, himself was a beneficiary of training through the GAWA when he attended a high level Coaching Course in Colorado Springs, August 10 – 15. The year 2014 will be another interesting year for GASA since they will be aiming to have their senior championships where a number of junior athletes are expected to feature. That apart, Nurse informed that athletes will have lots to aim for at the international level. GAWA is seeking to send at least one senior athlete to the South American Senior championships set for Chile
in March while efforts will also be made to have Guyana represented by at least two junior competitors at Pan American Championships slated for Peru, May 6 – 11. The Peru championships will also serve as prequalifying for the Youth Olympics slated for August 2014 in China. Nurse on behalf of GAWA extended best wishes to all for a prosperous 2014 while expressing thanks to the Guyana Olympic Association, Banks DIH, The Trophy Stall, JJ’s Fashion, Evergreen Adventures and John Fernandes for their support through the year.
Steyn six brings South Africa... From page 34 decided to not offer a stroke and lost his middle stump. Cue a flood of Nohit jokes, a derisory nickname he’d thought he had left behind with the golden run back home leading up to this series. A fired-up Steyn kept up the short-ball onslaught, hitting Rahane twice with the second new ball, signalling to the batsman that he was keeping count. Virat Kohli was less troubled by that strategy, authoritatively pulling Steyn to midwicket for four. Kohli was in the form that brought him a century and 96 in the Johannesburg Test, and he showed that off with a series of defensive pushes down the ground, several of which reached the rope. With Vernon Philander getting nothing from the new ball, Rahane was settling in, the partnership grew and India were slowly asserting themselves again. Morne Morkel, though, changed that with a short ball ten minutes before tea that Kohli guided to AB de Villiers, who
reacted rapidly to collect that chance. The runs came quickly after the break with Dhoni in the middle and Rahane latching onto anything short. For the third innings in a row, India had batted out more than 100 overs, not something that was predicted before the tour began. The pair added 32 in five overs and just as India seemed to be taking a firm grip, Steyn returned. He had Dhoni chasing one outside off to nick to slip to break the stand, and expose India’s lower order. Ravindra Jadeja became the first victim of spin in the game, as he gave Jacques Kallis his 200th Test catch to exit for a duck. A leaping, acrobatic take from de Villiers to send back Zaheer Khan left Rahane wondering whether he would reach his maiden Test halfcentury. He got there but soon after the innings ended, with the final five wickets going down for 14 runs. South Africa’s batsmen had to negotiate 20 overs before stumps and they began
at a T20 pace. India’s new-ball bowlers couldn’t get the ball to deviate, and offered some easy putawa y s w h i c h Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen pounced on. Like Philander, Zaheer Khan was taken off after just three overs. The introduction of I s hant Sharma made it tougher for the batsmen, as both Smith and Petersen were left groping outside off. There was more excitement when Jadeja came on, as he first got appreciable turn off the footmarks when bowling to Smith and then off an unblemished surface to Petersen. There was no breakthrough, though, as Petersen kept dispatching the bad ball on offer and South Africa maintained a punishing pace. By stumps, South Africa’s openers had reduced the deficit to 252, and ensured their team dictated the second day as much as India had the first. Scores: South Africa 82 for 0 (Petersen 46*) trail India 334 (Vijay 97, Rahane 51*, Steyn 6-100) by 252 runs.
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Cricket Review: Controversy continued... From page 35 Guyana Amazon Warriors, which included International non Guyanese players, produced Guyana’s best effort on the field. In 2013, Shiv Chanderpaul became the first West Indian to play 150 Tests and the second behind Brian Lara to reach 11,000 Test runs. Part two: Jan 6-20: Final Caribbean t20 Guyana began the year with an impressive showing in the last Regional Caribbean t20, which was replaced by the CPL. The South Americans beat CCC in their opening game and got the better of Barbados before losing to T&T in their last game in Trinidad. They then lost to Jamaica and beat the Leewards and Windwards in St Lucia. Guyana got past Jamaica by six wickets in the semi finals in St Lucia. Trinidad & Tobago trounced Guyana by nine wickets with 45 balls to spare in the lop-sided Final after the South Americans made 116-6 off 20 overs and T&T responded with 120-1 from 12.3 overs. Chris Barnwell scored the most runs in the tournament (245 from 8 matches) while Chanderpaul (153 from six matches) was the only other Guyanese with 150 runs. Bajan Tino Best finished with the most wickets (10), while Ronsford Beaton and Steven Jacobs (7) were the leading wicket takers for Guyana. Barnwell had a useful all-round display by taking six wickets, the same as leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo. Guyana had a chance of qualifying for their second Champions League tournament after playing in South Africa in 2010 but T&T captured their third consecutive t20 title to spoil Guyana’s party. Feb 9-March 7: Regional four-day: This was the 47th firstclass cricket tournament held in the West Indies and seven teams competed in the round-robin tournament followed by the semi-finals and a final. Barbados beat T&T in the Final after Guyana, who drew with the Leewards in their opening game, lost to Barbados, Windwards, T&T, and Jamaica. Their only win was against CCC. Guyana finished at the bottom for the second consecutive year. Devon Smith (700) scored the most runs in the tournament while Leon Johnson was the top Guyanese run scorer with
Tagenarine Chanderpaul
June Ogle
430 from six matches, with a highest score of 87. Assad Fudadin (289) was Guyana’s next best batsman, while Nikita Miller and Shane Shillingford captured 52 wickets each to be top the bowlers. Veerasammy Permaul (30), Bishoo (20) and Steven Jacobs (17) were most successful Guyanese. Feb 7-April 21: Regional Super50. Guyana won just two matches in this tournament which was won by the Windwards. Like in the First-class competition, Devon Smith scored the most runs (344), while Johnson was again Guyana’s top run getter with 204 runs from six matches. Trevon Griffith (152 from 6 matches) was the only other batsman to reach 150. Shillingford had 17 wickets while Beaton was the leading wicket taker for Guyana with nine. Bishoo and Paul Wintz with eight each were the next best bowlers for Guyana. July 14 & 16: Pakistan vs West Indies: International cricket returns to Guyana The West Indies opposed Pakistan in the first two ODIs in a five-match series at Providence, marking a return to International cricket to Guyana after a twoyear absence. The hosts lost the first match before leveling the series in the next and the return of international cricket to Guyana was deemed as good for local businesses and the tourism industry by Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Indranauth Haralsingh. The CPL was played just after the Pakistan series and GTA Director said the CPL was also good for Guyana. “The Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a huge investment in cricket, for the first time we have a Guyanese branded product that is fully sponsoring the CPL, so this is a signature accomplishment. It will not
only help with the product branding, but also with the branding of the destination,” Haralsingh said. The GTA Director added that all of the hotels in and around Georgetown were filled with CPL officials, media operators, and cricket fans from all around the world. July 30 –August 24: CPL in Guyana: The Chris Gayle led Jamaica Tallawahs took the inaugural CPL tournament by beating the Ramnaresh Sarwan led Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Final as the Guyana based team produced an impressive run until the finale. The Warriors whipped T&T in the semis after they had gotten past them in their opening game on home soil at Providence. Barbados Tridents’ Shoaib Malik (272 runs from 8 matches) was the tournament’s leading run scorer, while Trinidadian Lendl Simmons scored the most runs for the ‘Warriors’. Next on the aggregate list for Guyana Warriors was New Zealander James Franklin (203), the only other batsman in the Guyana based side to reach 200 runs. Jamaican left-arm seam bowler Krishmar Santokie, playing for Guyana, was the top wicket-taker in the competition with 16 scalps, while Permaul was the next most successful Guyanese bowler with 10 wickets. The CPL was a huge success and attracted massive crowds which produced a carnival-like atmosphere for all the games in Guyana. October 5-21: Bangladesh tour to Guyana: Cricket returns to Albion The Bangladesh under19 team embarked on their first tour to the West Indies and for the first time ever an entire series in the West Indies was played in a single country. The conditions and pitches in Guyana more
suited Bangladesh and they won the seven-match series 4-3 as the West Indian teenagers struggled badly against spin. The sixth ODI was held at Albion in Berbice as WICB cricket returned to the venue for the first time since September 2011. An inspection team from the WICB had at that time declared the ground unfit to host the regional one-day between Guyana and Barbados after the Berbice Expo had badly damaged the ground. The crowd in Berbice for the Youth ODI was the biggest of the series and the condition of the Albion ground and Media Centre was once again fit for FirstClass Cricket. Guyanese Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shemron Hetymer and Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai represented the West Indies youth team. July 12-26: Regional Youth cricket: Under-15: Guyana finished third in this year’s regional under-15 tournament in Jamaica. Trinidad and Tobago won the competition but Guyanese Renaldo Mohammed copped the Most Outstanding Cricketer Award. Mohammed’s teammate, Richie Looknauth won the trophy for Best Bowler, while T &T’s Captain Kirsten Kallicharan was adjudged the Best Batsman. Mohammed, known more his batting, was the leading bowler in the Tournament, finishing the tournament with 33 wickets, inclusive of a match haul of 14 wickets against the Leewards. Guyana was adjudged the Most Disciplined Team while Guyana’s Ashmead Nedd was identified among the most promising players. June 29-July 8: Under17: Trinidad and Tobago won the Regional under17 tournament held in Tobago and Guyana finished last despite Shimron Hetmyer (192 runs) finishing fifth among the runscorers. The Berbician was one of only two batsmen to score a century in the tournament. No Guyanese bowler had 10 wickets. July 9-17: Regional under-19: 50 overs Jamaica won the tournament while T&T left-hander Jeremy Solozano scored the only century. Guyana finished fourth in the 50-over version with Shemron Hetymer led the Guyana scoring with 167 runs with a highest score of 92. Tagenarine Chanderpaul
(127) was the only other Guyanese to get a fifty while Shawn Pereira was the only Guyanese to take 10 wickets. July 19-August 9: Regional Under-19: Three-Day Jamaica won both the Regional under-19 three-day and one-day titles in St Kitts as Guyana failed to win its first one-day title since the competition began in 1998. In 2007, also in St Kitts, Guyana were crowned threeday champions. This was the last time they won a three-day under-19 title. Guyana finished third in the Three-day competition after and along with T&T, who finished second, were the only teams to register two outright wins. Guyana suffered a 131run loss to T&T and by eight wickets to Barbados before rebounding with two wins in their last three matches. Tagenarine Chanderpaul made 66 and then 66 not out while Berbician Ashkay Homraj scored a first innings ton when Guyana defeated the Windwards. Pereira took five wickets in the first innings and Motie-Kanhai four in the second. Guyana finished with a 10-wicket win over the Leewards as Chanderpaul fashioning a classy unbeaten 104 and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai took two five wicket hauls in the game. Guyana took first innings points in a draw against Jamaica. Aug 5-14: Women’s Regional super50 Demerara Captain June Ogle scored the most runs (226 from 4matches) in the Women’s Super 50 tournament in Grenada and was one of only two batters to make a century while Berbicians Tremayne Smartt (103) and Shemaine Campbell (165) were among the top 10 batters in the tournament. However, Guyana failed to win their semi-final game against T&T who beat Jamaica in the Final. Campbell was the only Guyanese to finish among the top 10 bowlers with five wickets. August 16-21: Women’s Regional t20 The t20 tournament was played just after the 50 overs tournament and Guyana led again by the batting of Campbell (101) and Ogle (89) played unbeaten to reach the semi finals which they lost to Jamaica. July 18-21: Regional Girls U-19: The Guyana Under-19 female cricketers experienced mixed fortunes in the TTCB T20 Competition in
Trinidad. Won by T&T, rain hampered the tournament with Guyana beating St Lucia for their only win. January 10-24: Senior Inter-County four-day Without their senior players who were in Trinidad for the Caribbean t20, Demerara still emerged winners of the 2013 four-day Inter-County tournament when they defeated Berbice by four wickets in the final round of the unsponsored competition at Everest. Half-centuries from Rajendra Chandrika and Shemroy Barrington and a five-wicket haul from offspinner Zaheer Mohamed led Demerara to the title after the other final round game at Wales between Essequibo and the President’s X1 ended in a draw. Sewnarine Chattergoon scored the only ton in the competition although fellow Berbician Anthony Bramble fell for 96 against the President’s X1. September 21-28: Senior Inter-County 50 overs Defending champions, Demerara and Berbice played to a historic first ever Tie in the Pepsi InterCounty 50-over final at the Albion and were declared joint winners. Set a revised target of 151, Demerara finished on 150 -9. Needing 13 from the final over, Demerara’s last pair of Paul Wintz and Andre Stoll scored 10 runs off the first five balls. With three to get off the last ball, a fumble allowed the batsmen two to tie score. December 3: GCB Awards Ceremony: After not holding an Awards Ceremony last year the 2013 GCB Awards Ceremony was held at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) on December 3 to honor their outstanding performers for the year. Johnson and Ogle copped the Male and Female cricketers of the year respectively while Tagenarine Chanderpaul was adjudged Junior Cricketer of the year. December 5-18: Senior Inter-County four-day: The GT&T/Hand-inHand four-day Inter-County tournament, scheduled to start in November, was postponed due to heavy rain and floods and was played in December with Berbice dethroning Demerara as champions. Royston Crandon and Vishal Singh scored centuries while Devendra Bishoo was the leading wicket taker with 25 wickets. Singh (244) scored the most runs.
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Cricket Review: Controversy continued... From page 35 Guyana Amazon Warriors, which included International non Guyanese players, produced Guyana’s best effort on the field. In 2013, Shiv Chanderpaul became the first West Indian to play 150 Tests and the second behind Brian Lara to reach 11,000 Test runs. Part two: Jan 6-20: Final Caribbean t20 Guyana began the year with an impressive showing in the last Regional Caribbean t20, which was replaced by the CPL. The South Americans beat CCC in their opening game and got the better of Barbados before losing to T&T in their last game in Trinidad. They then lost to Jamaica and beat the Leewards and Windwards in St Lucia. Guyana got past Jamaica by six wickets in the semi finals in St Lucia. Trinidad & Tobago trounced Guyana by nine wickets with 45 balls to spare in the lop-sided Final after the South Americans made 116-6 off 20 overs and T&T responded with 120-1 from 12.3 overs. Chris Barnwell scored the most runs in the tournament (245 from 8 matches) while Chanderpaul (153 from six matches) was the only other Guyanese with 150 runs. Bajan Tino Best finished with the most wickets (10), while Ronsford Beaton and Steven Jacobs (7) were the leading wicket takers for Guyana. Barnwell had a useful all-round display by taking six wickets, the same as leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo. Guyana had a chance of qualifying for their second Champions League tournament after playing in South Africa in 2010 but T&T captured their third consecutive t20 title to spoil Guyana’s party. Feb 9-March 7: Regional four-day: This was the 47th firstclass cricket tournament held in the West Indies and seven teams competed in the round-robin tournament followed by the semi-finals and a final. Barbados beat T&T in the Final after Guyana, who drew with the Leewards in their opening game, lost to Barbados, Windwards, T&T, and Jamaica. Their only win was against CCC. Guyana finished at the bottom for the second consecutive year. Devon Smith (700) scored the most runs in the tournament while Leon Johnson was the top Guyanese run scorer with
Tagenarine Chanderpaul
June Ogle
430 from six matches, with a highest score of 87. Assad Fudadin (289) was Guyana’s next best batsman, while Nikita Miller and Shane Shillingford captured 52 wickets each to be top the bowlers. Veerasammy Permaul (30), Bishoo (20) and Steven Jacobs (17) were most successful Guyanese. Feb 7-April 21: Regional Super50. Guyana won just two matches in this tournament which was won by the Windwards. Like in the First-class competition, Devon Smith scored the most runs (344), while Johnson was again Guyana’s top run getter with 204 runs from six matches. Trevon Griffith (152 from 6 matches) was the only other batsman to reach 150. Shillingford had 17 wickets while Beaton was the leading wicket taker for Guyana with nine. Bishoo and Paul Wintz with eight each were the next best bowlers for Guyana. July 14 & 16: Pakistan vs West Indies: International cricket returns to Guyana The West Indies opposed Pakistan in the first two ODIs in a five-match series at Providence, marking a return to International cricket to Guyana after a twoyear absence. The hosts lost the first match before leveling the series in the next and the return of international cricket to Guyana was deemed as good for local businesses and the tourism industry by Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Indranauth Haralsingh. The CPL was played just after the Pakistan series and GTA Director said the CPL was also good for Guyana. “The Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a huge investment in cricket, for the first time we have a Guyanese branded product that is fully sponsoring the CPL, so this is a signature accomplishment. It will not
only help with the product branding, but also with the branding of the destination,” Haralsingh said. The GTA Director added that all of the hotels in and around Georgetown were filled with CPL officials, media operators, and cricket fans from all around the world. July 30 –August 24: CPL in Guyana: The Chris Gayle led Jamaica Tallawahs took the inaugural CPL tournament by beating the Ramnaresh Sarwan led Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Final as the Guyana based team produced an impressive run until the finale. The Warriors whipped T&T in the semis after they had gotten past them in their opening game on home soil at Providence. Barbados Tridents’ Shoaib Malik (272 runs from 8 matches) was the tournament’s leading run scorer, while Trinidadian Lendl Simmons scored the most runs for the ‘Warriors’. Next on the aggregate list for Guyana Warriors was New Zealander James Franklin (203), the only other batsman in the Guyana based side to reach 200 runs. Jamaican left-arm seam bowler Krishmar Santokie, playing for Guyana, was the top wicket-taker in the competition with 16 scalps, while Permaul was the next most successful Guyanese bowler with 10 wickets. The CPL was a huge success and attracted massive crowds which produced a carnival-like atmosphere for all the games in Guyana. October 5-21: Bangladesh tour to Guyana: Cricket returns to Albion The Bangladesh under19 team embarked on their first tour to the West Indies and for the first time ever an entire series in the West Indies was played in a single country. The conditions and pitches in Guyana more
suited Bangladesh and they won the seven-match series 4-3 as the West Indian teenagers struggled badly against spin. The sixth ODI was held at Albion in Berbice as WICB cricket returned to the venue for the first time since September 2011. An inspection team from the WICB had at that time declared the ground unfit to host the regional one-day between Guyana and Barbados after the Berbice Expo had badly damaged the ground. The crowd in Berbice for the Youth ODI was the biggest of the series and the condition of the Albion ground and Media Centre was once again fit for FirstClass Cricket. Guyanese Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Shemron Hetymer and Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai represented the West Indies youth team. July 12-26: Regional Youth cricket: Under-15: Guyana finished third in this year’s regional under-15 tournament in Jamaica. Trinidad and Tobago won the competition but Guyanese Renaldo Mohammed copped the Most Outstanding Cricketer Award. Mohammed’s teammate, Richie Looknauth won the trophy for Best Bowler, while T &T’s Captain Kirsten Kallicharan was adjudged the Best Batsman. Mohammed, known more his batting, was the leading bowler in the Tournament, finishing the tournament with 33 wickets, inclusive of a match haul of 14 wickets against the Leewards. Guyana was adjudged the Most Disciplined Team while Guyana’s Ashmead Nedd was identified among the most promising players. June 29-July 8: Under17: Trinidad and Tobago won the Regional under17 tournament held in Tobago and Guyana finished last despite Shimron Hetmyer (192 runs) finishing fifth among the runscorers. The Berbician was one of only two batsmen to score a century in the tournament. No Guyanese bowler had 10 wickets. July 9-17: Regional under-19: 50 overs Jamaica won the tournament while T&T left-hander Jeremy Solozano scored the only century. Guyana finished fourth in the 50-over version with Shemron Hetymer led the Guyana scoring with 167 runs with a highest score of 92. Tagenarine Chanderpaul
(127) was the only other Guyanese to get a fifty while Shawn Pereira was the only Guyanese to take 10 wickets. July 19-August 9: Regional Under-19: Three-Day Jamaica won both the Regional under-19 three-day and one-day titles in St Kitts as Guyana failed to win its first one-day title since the competition began in 1998. In 2007, also in St Kitts, Guyana were crowned threeday champions. This was the last time they won a three-day under-19 title. Guyana finished third in the Three-day competition after and along with T&T, who finished second, were the only teams to register two outright wins. Guyana suffered a 131run loss to T&T and by eight wickets to Barbados before rebounding with two wins in their last three matches. Tagenarine Chanderpaul made 66 and then 66 not out while Berbician Ashkay Homraj scored a first innings ton when Guyana defeated the Windwards. Pereira took five wickets in the first innings and Motie-Kanhai four in the second. Guyana finished with a 10-wicket win over the Leewards as Chanderpaul fashioning a classy unbeaten 104 and left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai took two five wicket hauls in the game. Guyana took first innings points in a draw against Jamaica. Aug 5-14: Women’s Regional super50 Demerara Captain June Ogle scored the most runs (226 from 4matches) in the Women’s Super 50 tournament in Grenada and was one of only two batters to make a century while Berbicians Tremayne Smartt (103) and Shemaine Campbell (165) were among the top 10 batters in the tournament. However, Guyana failed to win their semi-final game against T&T who beat Jamaica in the Final. Campbell was the only Guyanese to finish among the top 10 bowlers with five wickets. August 16-21: Women’s Regional t20 The t20 tournament was played just after the 50 overs tournament and Guyana led again by the batting of Campbell (101) and Ogle (89) played unbeaten to reach the semi finals which they lost to Jamaica. July 18-21: Regional Girls U-19: The Guyana Under-19 female cricketers experienced mixed fortunes in the TTCB T20 Competition in
Trinidad. Won by T&T, rain hampered the tournament with Guyana beating St Lucia for their only win. January 10-24: Senior Inter-County four-day Without their senior players who were in Trinidad for the Caribbean t20, Demerara still emerged winners of the 2013 four-day Inter-County tournament when they defeated Berbice by four wickets in the final round of the unsponsored competition at Everest. Half-centuries from Rajendra Chandrika and Shemroy Barrington and a five-wicket haul from offspinner Zaheer Mohamed led Demerara to the title after the other final round game at Wales between Essequibo and the President’s X1 ended in a draw. Sewnarine Chattergoon scored the only ton in the competition although fellow Berbician Anthony Bramble fell for 96 against the President’s X1. September 21-28: Senior Inter-County 50 overs Defending champions, Demerara and Berbice played to a historic first ever Tie in the Pepsi InterCounty 50-over final at the Albion and were declared joint winners. Set a revised target of 151, Demerara finished on 150 -9. Needing 13 from the final over, Demerara’s last pair of Paul Wintz and Andre Stoll scored 10 runs off the first five balls. With three to get off the last ball, a fumble allowed the batsmen two to tie score. December 3: GCB Awards Ceremony: After not holding an Awards Ceremony last year the 2013 GCB Awards Ceremony was held at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) on December 3 to honor their outstanding performers for the year. Johnson and Ogle copped the Male and Female cricketers of the year respectively while Tagenarine Chanderpaul was adjudged Junior Cricketer of the year. December 5-18: Senior Inter-County four-day: The GT&T/Hand-inHand four-day Inter-County tournament, scheduled to start in November, was postponed due to heavy rain and floods and was played in December with Berbice dethroning Demerara as champions. Royston Crandon and Vishal Singh scored centuries while Devendra Bishoo was the leading wicket taker with 25 wickets. Singh (244) scored the most runs.
Saturday December 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Derick Richmond wins national middleweight title and enhances reputation By Michael Benjamin The recent devastating knockout victories over Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) middleweight champion, Edmond DeClou and upcoming prospect, Romeo Norville, seemed to have emboldened Derick Richmond and he replicated those accomplishments when he delivered a wicked right hook that crashed into James ‘Sack’ Walcott’s temple and sent him to bed in 2:57secs of the fourth round when the Nations Promotions, in collaboration with the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) staged ‘Linden Showdown’ at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground Thursday December 26 last. For his efforts, Richmond clinched the v a c a n t l o c a l super/middleweight title while retaining the enviable tab of knockout artist. Inexplicably, that fight was the main supporting bout to the Shelly ‘Boom’ Gibson/Shondell Park 4 rounds heavyweight shindig which ended with the former boxer earning a unanimous decision over the latter. Cassius Matthews then utilized his vast experience to take a close split decision from Kishawn Simon in t h e i r 6 r o u n d s junior/welterweight bout, while Kelsie George and Romeo Norville engaged in an entertaining four rounds super/middleweight contest which was eventually deemed a draw. Caribbean Boxing Federation heavyweight boxer, Shawn Corbin also flew in from his Trinidad and Tobago base to engage Anthony Augustin in a heavyweight duel and came out successful after the latter fighter sustained a beating and decided to quit on the stool at the end of the second round. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, Richmond bustled forward in round one and tagged Walcott with several punches but the taller Wa l c o t t l i m i t e d h i s opponent’s movements while quartering the ring and delivering pinpoint right crosses in a round where both pugilists scored telling blows even as they engaged in the ‘feel out’ process. When the bell to start the
second round sounded, Richmond sprinted out but Walcott was ready and pasted him with several straight punches. Walcott then unleashed a wicked 1-2 combination that sent Richmond to the canvass and forced the referee to institute the mandatory eight count. He rose, more surprised than hurt, and the two fighters finished the round in a heated exchange. Richmond started the third round aggressively, bouncing around and delivering an occasional ‘bomb.’ Not to be outdone, Walcott quartered the ring and retaliated with several crunching shots of his own. The fight was progressing at a fiery pace with both boxers giving as much as he received. It was a small crowd but the boxers could not have asked for better support as fans vociferously cheered them on. Richmond unleashed several head shots at the start of the fourth round but Walcott covered up and countered with several salvoes of his own. The latter boxer then upped the tempo with a stiff three punch combination that had his man covering up. It was also clear that Richmond was having a torrid time as his mouth hung open and he was gasping for air. Shortly afterwards, Walcott attacked and pushed his opponent into one of the neutral corners. Richmond attempted to evade the assault and inadvertently stepped onto a wet portion of the ring where his leg sprawled and he sunk to the canvass, his face contorted in pain. The Berbician pugilist also looked the worse for wear after sustaining a small abrasion over his left eye as Nurse Patricia Green was called into action and, assisted by another nurse from the Linden Hospital, treated his injury before approving the continuation of the bout. Walcott smelled blood and in his anxiety to finish off his man, carelessly advanced and walked straight into a sucker punch, a wicked right hook that landed on his temple and he crashed to the canvass. Referee, Eion Jardine jumped in and needed a mere
Sends James Walcott to the ‘Sack’ 5 seconds to assess the situation before waving the bout off. Nurse Green and her assistant were hurriedly summoned to the ring where Walcott lay for the better part of five minutes. His befuddled mind might not
have been able to immediately assess the situation but when he fully recovered yesterday morning he might have discovered that his carelessness would have cost him the national
super/middleweight belt. Tipping the scale at a mammoth 415lbs, 108 more than her opponent, Park assumed an early lead with several clubbing wallops to Gibson’s head that sent her tossing around the ring. With such huge poundage, it was not surprising to see both boxers wheezing midway
into the first frame and by the time the bell to end the first round sounded, both appeared to be winded. ‘The Boom’ defied her tiredness and stepped up the pace early in the second round with a flurry of blows that breached Park’s defence despite her most valiant attempts to (Continued on page 29)
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Kaieteur News
Saturday December 28, 2013
Marcel Crawford, Berbice lawyer, horse racing enthusiast, dies Senior Counsel, veteran horse racing enthusiast, community leader, former national cycling champion and sports enthusiast Marcel Crawford has died. The country is now poorer with the sudden demise of Marcel Christopher Crawford. Born to Ryan Crawford, a Scotsman, and Sarah Millicent Harrington, he was the second of seven children and the older of two boys. Born on October 13, 1937, at Salton Village (Little Alness) on the Corentyne, he resided at Alness, one village away from his birthplace. Marcel Crawford was a household name in Berbice, Guyana and the wider Caribbean for many reasons and his success is attributed to hard work and many sacrifices. He rose to the rank of a Senior Counsel and at the time of his demise was the only one in the Ancient County which in itself is an extraordinary achievement. Couple that with being a former national cycling champion and multitalented sports personality and living a life as a horse racing magnate and pace setter, and you get the picture. He was married to the late Lillian Crawford nee Sooklall, a union that bore them two sons – Marcel Jr., who resides in the United States, and Ryan, who is also a lawyer and straddles between Guyana and the United States, where he
Senior Counsel Marcel Crawford
Marcel Crawford (left) with one of his winning racehorses. practices. Marcel Crawford was a high flyer at school. He first attended St. Marks Anglican School in Alness, before going on to the Rose Hall Scots and Corentyne High. He began his work career as a teacher at the Kildonan Scots School on the Corentyne. Crawford is particularly proud of his days at Rose Hall Scots, a school which produced an Executive President (the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan), two senior counsel, in himself and Clarence Hughes, and a Chancellor of the Judiciary, Madam Justice Desiree Bernard. At school, apart from being in the top echelons of his class in academic
performance he participated in almost all the games available, with success. He chose cycling as a launching pad and dominated the sport in a few years. He left school in 1956 and by 1960 was selected in the squad to represent Guyana at the Rome Olympics. After leaving school he taught for a bit. However, when the time came for the team to leave he was told by the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) and the Cycling Union that they had no money and thus he would be unable to participate. That experience changed him and in frustration he quit the sport and set sail to England in August 1960, to further his educational career. After leaving school
Chico/Kashif & Shanghai Secondary Schools Football Tournament
Ash Education maul President’s College; Ann’s Grove outlasts Bladen Hall Multi One day before Ash Education faced off with President’s College (PC) in the Chico/Kashif & Shanghai Secondary Schools Football To u r n a m e n t a t t h e Number 5 Village, West Berbice, Community Centre Ground, Wednesday evening last, coach of the former team, Abu Huriarah, had predicted that his boys would have easily breezed past their opponents and go on to play Annandale Secondary School one day later.
I n d e e d , H u r i a r a h ’s words were prophetic and his boys literally mauled their opponents 12-0 and up to press time yesterday afternoon, were engaged in a battle for honours with Annandale Secondary School at the Buxton Community Centre Ground. Ann’s Grove and Bladen Hall Multilateral School also faced off on Wednesday a n d the former team prevailed 3-0 on penalty kicks after regulation time yielded 1 goal apiece for both teams. Those scorers
were Daniel Pellew, in the 8th minute for Ann’s Grove and Kevron Durant in the 20th for Bladen Hall Multilateral. Atlin Brown was on fire and breached PC berth in the 23, 45+1, 66, 73 and 88 minutes. He was ably supported by Lester Cummings (12, 39, 45 55), Neil Munroe (2, 12, 16) and Akimo Watts (61). The results of the Ash Education/Annandale Secondary and the Ann’s G r o v e / B l a d e n H a l l ’s game will be published in tomorrow’s issue.
he taught a bit whilst pursuing his cycling career. He initially wanted to pursue medicine and enrolled at Westminster College in London. He recalled being intensely homesick. Crawford later met longtime pal and former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard, with whom he taught and who was studying in England at the time. Kennard encouraged him to stay on and switch to Law. He took the timely advice, and the rest was history. In April 11, 1961 he enrolled to read law at the famous Lincoln Inn in London. On June 24, 1964 he was admitted to the bar in England. In the same year
1964 that he returned to the Caribbean to practise, stopping first in Trinidad and then later in the same year he returned to Guyana and was admitted to practise. During his stay in England he journeyed to Scotland in search of his relatives. He found some of them in Edinburgh. Horse racing was so much in his blood that during his time overseas he participated in horse racing and dog racing. Mr. Crawford’s work as an attorney was so outstanding that he was given numerous offers to work in various parts of the Caribbean and areas of the Government. He was asked to serve as a Magistrate, Judge, Attorney General, but refused, because he wanted to remain simple. He however performed duties as State Counsel and also served as Police Legal
advisor. He worked among many legal luminaries including Rex Mc Kay, Clarence Hughes, Keith Massiah, Donald Trotman, Charles Ramson, Doodnauth Singh, Wi n s t o n P o m p e y a n d Bernard De Santos among others. During his time he carved out an outstanding pathway in the courts and performed in many memorable and outstanding matters. A listing of his outstanding performances will fill a few pages For his exemplary and outstanding performance he was made a Senior Counsel in 1991. At the time of his death he was the only Senior Counsel in Berbice. He was one of four at one time – the others were Stanley Hardyal, Bhairo Prashad and Milton Persaud. At the time of his death he was still into active practice. His family established their own facility, the Alness Race Track, now, the Ryan Crawford Memorial Turf Club and Sport Facility (RCMTC&SF) in 1975. He died not seeing one of his dreams fulfilled in seeing the liberalization of the horses racing sector and the passage of the horse racing legislation It is understood that he suffered a heart attack on Christmas Day at home. He was rushed to the Anamayah Hospital on the Corentyne where he died.
Steyn six brings South Africa roaring back ESPNcricinfo - The second day began with grey skies and a persistent rain that wiped out the morning session but when play began, more than three hours behind the scheduled start, it was in blazing sunshine with the fans reaching for the sunblock. Dale Steyn’s mood similarly brightened as he ended an unprecedented 69.2-over wait for a wicket with a triple-strike that brought South Africa right back after the first day was d o m i n a t e d b y I n d i a ’s batsmen. Steyn returned after tea to roll over the lower order in a pumped-up spell and finish with 6 for 100, his 22nd fivefor, as India ended on 334. It was a high-class display on a
surface that offered little for quicks, and showed his adaptability. With his usual outswinger not working, he relied on express pace and hostile short balls. In between, India had a couple of sprightly partnerships involving Ajinkya Rahane, another young batsman whose reputation has been bolstered on this tour. First, he put on 66 with the in-form Virat Kohli and then 55 with MS Dhoni to ensure India didn’t keel over without resistance. M Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara, utterly in control all day yesterday to take India to 181 for 1, had a couple of nervy moments early on against Steyn as both batsmen edged past the
staggered slip cordon. On the sixth over of the day, Steyn broke through. After a bunch of short balls, Pujara only went half-forward to a pitched-up delivery and nicked through to the keeper. For Vijay, the early stumps yesterday came at the worst time, as he had a night to ruminate over a possible first century overseas. He spent 47 deliveries in the 90s - including that edge past slip for four - before a Steyn short ball had him gloving to the keeper, three short of a milestone to cherish. The next delivery was one that will likely haunt Rohit Sharma for a while. With Steyn reversing the ball in, Rohit had a brainfade and (Continued on page 31)
Saturday December 28, 2013
Kaieteur News
Page 35
Cricket Review: Controversy continued to mar Guyana’s cricket in 2013 Guyana failed to win any title at any level
Frank Anthony Compiled by Sean Devers The year 2013 began with the unresolved dispute among cricket Board executives which continued from early January 2011 when two factions of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) were elected at two separate elections. The DCB Bisoondyal Singh faction and the DCB Raj Singh faction were both installed but the current GCB has since recognized the Raj Singh faction after receiving a report from a special committee mandated to investigate and recommend which faction should be recognized. A Legal opinion was also presented by committee member Andrew Pollard of the Law firm Hughes, Fields and Stoby. New President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Jamaican Dave Cameron endorsed the current GCB as the Administrators of cricket in Guyana and slammed the Cricket Administration Bill currently being tabled in Parliament. In a letter on October 24, 2013 sent to Sherlock Isaacs, Clerk of the National Assembly the WICB
Leon Johnson (left) collecting his Cricketer of the Year Award for GCB secretary Anand Sanasie expressed non-support of the document. While expressing the need to see the game being managed in a proper way, the WICB clearly stated that they cannot support the dissolution of the existing GCB. They also expressed concern over aspects of the new constitution drafted during the process. The WICB, while not wanting to dictate constitutional reform of any of its members, will want any changes in the running of any member organisation be done in the proper and democratic way as stated in the laws of the WICB and its parent body the International Cricket Council (ICC), who is against government involvement and dictates in the sport. When the final sitting of Parliament was held on December 19 the Cricket
Bill was not addressed. January 27: GCB Elections sparks controversy: The GCB elections on January 27, 2013, at which Dru Bahadur replaced Ramsay Ali who resigned as President, only sparked more controversy which severely marred the smooth running of Guyana’s cricket in 2013. A C r i c k e t Administration bill was tabled following a dispute between the Government of Guyana, its Interim Management Committee (IMC) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) over the state of cricket in Guyana. Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony moved the second reading of the Cricket Bill when the 63rd sitting of the National Assembly of the 10th parliament reconvened
in November, 2013. The bill was returned to the National Assembly on August 7, but was deferred until the parliamentary recess ended in October. The bill sought to establish the GCB and county boards as corporate bodies and was tabled by the Guyana Government in December 2012 in a bid to end the Cricket impasse. Cricket is considered the National Sport in Guyana. It provided constitutions for the GCB, the Demerara, Berbice and the Essequibo Cricket Boards. Chief Justice Ian Chang had thrown out the matter on the grounds that all of the associations embroiled in the matter were legal non entities and had been so from their inception. Therefore they could not sue or be sued. He opined that the Sports Minister should get involved
in an effort to fix the problem. In the name of Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, the bill tabled in Parliament seeks to remedy this by establishing the boards as bodies corporate and conserves their status and operations. The bill was the subject of much discussion by critical stakeholders within the cricketing fraternity, and was reviewed by a Special Select Committee of the National Assembly of Guyana. The members of the Select Committee are Christopher Jones, Joseph Harmon, Basil Williams, and Dr Rupert Roopnarine of APNU, Kemraj Ramjattan of the AFC, while Odinga Lumumba, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony and Neil Kumar represented the government. Several amendments have been made to the bill including changes to provisions that the WICB had objected to. In the initial bill, one of the provisions stated that the “rules, regulations, bylaws and constitutions of the former Guyana Cricket Board are replaced by the Constitution of the Guyana Cricket Board” and further that “each and every office established under the rules, regulations, bylaws and constitutions of the former Guyana Cricket Board shall cease to exist at the commencement of this Act.” This provision was at the crux of the cricket impasse as the WICB had said it will not recognise any dissolution of the GCB. The Guyana Court of Appeal unanimously upheld the appeal filed by the Guyana Cricket Board
(GCB) and instructed the initial Trial Judge, Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang S.C., to issue the order nisi sought by the Cricket Board to quash the decision of the Minister of Sports, Dr Frank Anthony to disband the GCB. In its decision, the Court of Appeal, which was read by Acting Chancellor Carl A. Singh CCH, the Court also made short thrift of another decision of the Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang SC in Haniff v Ali, which was to the effect that the GCB was a legal non-entity and could not bring legal proceedings. The Court of Appeal agreed with Sanjeev Datadin acting for the GCB that the GCB was a private entity which received no Government funding to carry out its objectives. The Court of Appeal further ruled that the GCB could lawfully institute the proceedings which was before the Court and was entitled to be heard. The cricket politics, unavailability of grounds because of non cricketing activities, (especially in Georgetown and the East Coast), the absence of most of the top players due to overseas contracts, the financial inability of many clubs to maintain a strong cricketing structure, the lack of two-day club cricket in Essequibo and the rapidly declining standard of division one cricket were among the reasons why cricket in Guyana continued to go downhill. The Berbice Cricket Board and the Georgetown Cricket Associations, were once again far ahead of the others in organising games and acquiring sponsorship. Guyana failed to win any title at any level although the (Continued on page 32)
t r o Sp
Derick Richmond wins national
P.33
middleweight title and enhances reputation Sends James Walcott to the ‘Sack’
Shondell Park (right) tries desperately to fend off Gibson’s two fisted attack
James Walcott’s efforts dwindled to naught after Richmond connected and spread him out on his back
Bowling gives us the Steyn six brings South edge - Dwayne Bravo Africa roaring back P.34 P.30 Dale Steyn exults after a wicket. (Associated Press)
‘Our bowling and fielding were spot on and we still have to note that there’s room to improve with the bat’- Bravo © Getty Images'
Marcel Crawford, Berbice lawyer, horse racing enthusiast, dies P.33
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