Monday February 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 5
Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news
C’BEAN LAWMAKERS SHOULD REAPPRAISE THEIR STANCE ON THE MARIJUANA ISSUE
DEAR EDITOR, There is an interesting saying, usually attributed to Hegel, the 18th century European philosopher, that the result is a corpse that the vital impulse has left behind. Every time I think about the Caribbean, especially about the nature of its political leadership, this saying comes to mind. This saying came to mind when I compared and contrasted the recent statements by the American President, Barack Obama, and the Home Affairs Minister of Guyana on the issue of marijuana and its legalisation. The difference in their
positions highlights the fact that plantation-type thinking and behaviour (the corpse of western civilisation) is still very much a pervasive fact in Caribbean societies. This is evident in the way Caribbean leaders treat the Caribbean people. The way Caribbean leaders treat their people presents a strange paradox. The paradox becomes even more strange when we see Caribbean people’s reaction, or lack thereof, to treatment by their leaders. It is hard to come to grips with the fact that a people that has endured the rigors and agony of enslavement and
indentureship could have the capacity to treat others in any way inimical to the enjoyment of their basic freedom and rights; it is even more difficult to come to grips with the complacent attitude of the victims of these flagrant human rights abuses. This attitude defies logic; it militates against accepted and expected modes of thinking and acting. One would expect, logically so, that a victim of rape show pity and sympathy to other such victims or a person who has lost a loved one in any tragic circumstances show compassion towards others who are suffering the same
British Guiana telephone directory DEAR EDITOR, I make a special appeal to the public at large to search those old cartoon boxes, attics, cupboards, book shelves, garages etc. and hopefully you would unearth another copy of a “British Guiana Telephone Directory” like the one in the photo image provided for your perusal. Also, I am kindly asking whether The Guyana Trust, The National Library, University of Guyana’s Library, National Archives, Guyana National Newspaper’s Limited, Her i t a g e Museum, Historians or anyone else can say whether the item in the photo provided could
be the only existing copy of the” British Guiana
Directory?” T.Pemberton
OUR TOTAL LOSS FIGURES... From page 4 and environs; 21% for Water Street; and, most of all, 14.0% for downtown, from Robb Street to Croal and Smyth Streets, between Alexander and Wellington Streets; 11.2% for Garden of Eden to Nandy Park; 11.8%, E d i n b u rg h t o Wi n d s o r Forest, and 9.8%, Vreed-enHoop to Windsor Forest. These low figures need to be checked, in order to ensure that they are not erroneously low. Although these first results are prone to a number of errors, they nonetheless provide significant information – information which would propel further work in sharpening our estimates of losses in geographical units, and in focusing work to reduce technical losses and eliminate non-technical losses. We have good areas and bad areas, good people and
bad people – we have to celebrate the good, and pursue the bad in order to change their ways. To reduce electricity losses, we need significant material investment, and the most robust and perceptive equipment and systems; and we need, no less, that the overwhelming majority of us citizens of Guyana, all employees of GPL Inc., and customers, accept and insist that everyone pays for what he/she uses. Our historical experiences, our struggles to end colonialism to increase earnings for workers, our disappointments with nationalizations, have all left too many of us cynical, nontrusting and believing that to get by, one must get things free, even if it is by d i s h o n e s t m e a n s . To o many of us fear that we cannot work our way honestly to greater prosperity
– but we can. As seen from our overall electricity-loss figures, a silent majority of us, four out of five, hold differently. Those who steal electricity by one way or another should know that it is not free, that others pay more than they should; those who steal electricity are burdening others who are paying. It does not have to be so: it is an unconscionable act. GPL Inc. has a target of 19.5%, to which total losses should be reduced by 2018. I want us to set our eyes on doing better: equaling, or doing better than, Barbados – no more than 7%. This is not unrealistic, for even now there are areas which are down to 11%. We can be, materially, a thirdworld country, but attaining first-world levels in electricity losses! Samuel A. A. Hinds
fate. Social psychologists describe this attitude as empathy. Caribbean peoples have emerged out of the worst system of oppression, exploitation and subjugation known to man. The methodical cruelty meted out against Caribbean people, particularly Africans, is unparalleled in the history of mankind. Yet, the descendants of those who were the perpetrators of these cruelties are now living is some of the most liberal societies as some of the staunchest advocates of human rights. Conversely, the descendants of the victims of these atrocities and unprecedented human rights abuses are now not only living in countries that are still grappling with the issues of human rights but are themselves perpetrators of some of the most dastardly acts. The case of Colwyn Harding presents us with a glaring example. The marijuana issue is another example of plantation thinking and behaviour in the
Caribbean. In Guyana, the penalty for the possession of anything above 15 grams of marijuana is no less than draconian. How does one explain the phenomenon of young men being forced to serve three or more years in prison among murderers, rapists, robbers and other hardened criminals for the possession and personal use of a plant that is scientifically proven to be less harmful and far more helpful to both humans and the environment than cigarettes and alcohol? There are many instances of persons going to prison for marijuana and coming out far from being rehabilitated (avowedly the objective of the prison system), as recidivists or hardened criminals (This is a classic example of penalties against the use of marijuana being more harmful to the individual than the use of marijuana itself). How does one explain the phenomenon of young men being forever burdened with a criminal record on account of taking part in what is
sometimes a transitory social current among their peers? How does one explain families being disrupted and at times destroyed because of the prolonged absence of the main bread winner whose only crime was to choose a ‘spliff ’ as opposed to an alcoholic drink or some cigarettes? Caribbean Leaders and Lawmakers should now reappraise their stance on the marijuana issue and seriously study its ramifications. Many European countries (and now some American states) have done this and the result is far more leniency in the administering of penalties. Duane Edwards
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 03, 2014
Robeson Benn defends NICIL’s Grace Kennedy applies for banking licence lead on new Demerara bridge …confirms Govt. will have to acquire privately owned lands on E.B.D. Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn, has defended the role of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) in the construction of a new bridge across the Demerara River. Benn was this past week asked why Government did not proceed with the project by itself and according to the Minister it is a case of the funds not being available. He said that since government did not have the funds to go ahead with the project by itself, it decided to partner with entrepreneurial firms to invest in it. Benn noted too that government will be investing partially in the project, but at the time could not put a dollar figure to it. As it relates to NICIL, he said that this is the company which deals with Public Private Partnerships. According to Benn, whenever a vehicle is being created to establish an asset, it is NICIL that has to take the lead. He said that at present, the administration is in possession of a number of proposals for the construction of the new bridge and that these will be vetted in order to identify which is the best one to proceed with. Benn said that when the new bridge is completed, the current Demerara Harbour Bridge will be relocated. He suggested that it can be relocated to the Kurupakari or Puruni rivers or
which ever other location is chosen. The Minister confirmed too that on the eastern bank of the Demerara River, where the bridge will land, Government will have to acquire some of the privately owned lands. This publication understands that the majority of 22 proposals received by NICIL for the construction of the new bridge comprise Chinese and Indian Companies. All 22 proposals were opened privately at NICIL and not at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board publicly, given that it is the Government’s holding company that is handling the project. This latest mega project to be undertaken by the Guyana Government will use the same debt and equity financial structure utilizing a publicprivate partnership, as was the case with the Berbice Bridge, the Georgetown Marriott and the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project. In the call for partners, Government said that the project will be implemented using a Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) model, “in a manner similar to the Berbice Bridge.” According to the Guyana Government, the responses received from the call for expressions of interest will be used to guide the selection of a partner or partners who will work with government to
Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn design and implement the project. The project will see NICIL creating a special purpose company “financed by debt and equity contributions following a public/private partnership model.” The call for expressions of interest had stated clearly that “The GoG is not bound to accept any Expression of Interest.” A pre-feasibility study was done for the construction of a new river bridge by the Public Works Ministry and has identified the best location for the bridge to be between Houston on the East Bank of Demerara and Versailles on the West Bank of the river. As it relates to the tolls to be charged the pre-feasibility study predicts that user tolls were considered to increase at a rate of two per cent per year above the existing regime. The study did point out that “a detailed feasibility study should be done to incorporate exogenous costs and benefits not considered in this study, as well as a financial analysis that addresses the concerns of project-financing and environmental impacts.” The existing two-lane floating bridge was constructed in 1978 by the UK firm Thomas Storey Engineers Limited and had a life of 10 years. From 1995 to 1998 the bridge underwent major rehabilitation by the Damien Ship Yards of the Netherlands at a cost of US$9M and an extended life of 15 years (from 1995). According to the prefeasibility report, at present the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) carries out intensive annual maintenance and element replacement activities on the bridge structure to provide a continuous level of service, and this can be coupled with increasing traffic volumes and level of Government subventions to warrant consideration of bridge replacement.
One of the Caribbean’s most powerful companies, Grace Kennedy (GK) Limited, has signaled its intentions to move into Guyana’s banking sector. GK, according to the group’s Chief Executive Officer, Don Wehby, is also eying the mobile money market. According to a report last week in the daily online newspaper, Jamaican Gleaner, Group CEO Don Wehby said that GK was awaiting a reply from Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, regarding its interest in a commercial banking licence. “He has forwarded the letter to the governor of the Bank of Guyana and we are looking forward to having further discussions with him shortly,” said Wehby. According to the report, GraceKennedy first disclosed its intentions to enter the banking sector through subsidiary First Global Bank, during celebration of its 20 years of doing business in the South American country in April 2013. The Jamaican
conglomerate is also considering expansion into the Eastern Caribbean. Its banking push into Guyana resulted from an assessment of the country’s fast-growing economy that the International Monetary Fund projects will expand by 5.5 per cent this year. Within Guyana, Wehby said First Global was considering the offer of small business US-dollar loans at competitive rates. GK is also reviewing opportunities in mobile money services for that market, a venture which, Wehby said, would require a custodian bank in keeping with international best practice. Grace Kennedy is one of the Caribbean’s largest and most dynamic corporate entities. The company started in Jamaica in 1922 as a small trading establishment and wharf operator. It has expanded and diversified over the years, changing from a privately-owned enterprise to a public company listed on the stock exchanges of Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.
GraceKennedy’s CEO, Don Wehby Today, the Grace Kennedy Group comprises a varied network of some 60 subsidiaries and associated companies located across the Caribbean and in North and Central America and the United Kingdom. Its operations span the areas of food processing and distribution, insurance and remittance services, like the Grace Kennedy Remittance Service/Western Union, together with an investment in building materials retailing.
Gospel Festival 2014 a night of spiritual upliftment
Israel Haughton and New Breed at the Providence National Stadium, Guyana By Rehanna Ramsay A unique blend of gospel music contributed to an atmosphere of praise and worship, last Saturday, as patrons flocked the Providence National Stadium, for Gospel Festival 2014. Those in attendance at the concert, headlined by Grammy Award-winning American Christian music artist Israel Houghton and his band New Breed, were also entertained by a combination of local and regional gospel acts. The crowd sang, danced,
wept and lifted their voices in adulation as each artist brought to the stage their individual style of praising God. “This is that time of the year when we come together to specifically thank God for all his goodness, blessings and mercies that he has showered us with, and thank him for his continued mercy and goodness towards us as a people,” one patron noted Patrons were both entertained and inspired by dancehall/reggae type renditions, such as “His Love is Amazing,” vocalized by
Guyana’s David Yasin (Solid Youth) and “Giving up is not an option” by Barbados’s Hoszia Hinds. Local highlights included a duet, “Without You,” by Miriam Corlette Williams and her teenage son, Jeremiah, and the locally produced solo “What a Restoration,” sung by Eon Greaves. Other performers included Cherlyn Malloney, Trenacia Esseboom, and the singing quartet, Circle of Love. However, before the show could go any further a young (Continued on page 18)
Monday February 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 7
Demonstrators disregard Thai poll, vow march to oust PM BANGKOK (Reuters) Thai anti-government protesters planned to forge ahead today with efforts to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, a day after a disrupted election that is unlikely to settle the country’s long-running political conflict. The demonstrators blocked balloting in a fifth of the country’s constituencies and say Yingluck must resign and make way for an appointed “people’s council” to overhaul a political system they say has been taken hostage by her billionaire brother and former premier, Thaksin Shinawatra. Yesterday’s election, which the main opposition party boycotted, is almost certain to return Yingluck to power and with voting passing off peacefully across the north and northeast, Yingluck’s supporters will no doubt claim a legitimate mandate. But the vote is unlikely to change the dysfunctional status quo in a country popular among tourists and investors yet blighted by eight years of polarization and turmoil, pitting the Bangkokbased middle class and royalist establishment against
the mostly poor, rural supporters of the Shinawatras. Apart from a few scuffles, the election was peaceful, with no repeat of the chaos seen the previous day, when supporters and opponents of Yingluck clashed in north Bangkok, with seven wounded by gunshots or explosions. Voting was disrupted in 18 percent of constituencies, 69 out of 375, nationwide, the Election Commission said, affecting 18 of 77 provinces. Neither the result nor the turnout were announced. The disruptions mean it could be weeks before parliamentary seats are filled, so Yingluck will remain a caretaker with no policy authority. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban told a crowd of supporters he would lead a rally to a central Bangkok park today. He vowed to press on with his bid, launched in November, to rid politics of the influence of the Shinawatra family. “Having gone through more than two months of protests, the election will strengthen Yingluck’s position, but her troubles are not over yet,” said Kan
the monarchy, which he denies. The anti-Shinawatra demonstrators enjoy broad support from southerners a n d B a n g k o k ’s m i d d l e class and are tacitly backed by a royalist oligarchy that sees Thaksin as a corrupt crony capitalist and resents the rapid rise of his political order. Thaksin has lived abroad since 2008 to avoid a jail term for a graft conviction he says was politically motivated. Critics say Yingluck is merely a stand-in for him.
Protesters demanding the right to vote argue with security and election officials at a Din Dang district office where voting was called off in Bangkok yesterday. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj Yuanyong, director of the Siam Intelligence Unit thinktank. “We’ll see a continuation of the conflict, the standoff remains and the likelihood of more violence could increase.” The Election Commission said it expected legal challenges to be lodged as early as today to try to
invalidate the poll and attack the legitimacy of the government Yingluck said the election was a “positive signal”, but a lasting solution was needed. “This election is part of the democratic process,” she told reporters. “I hope all sides can help solve each of the country’s problems.”
The protesters say former telecoms tycoon Thaksin has subverted a fragile democracy with money politics and populism, doling out subsidies, cheap loans and healthcare to woo the poor and guarantee victory for his parties in every election since 2001. Thaksin’s critics also accuse him of disrespecting
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 03, 2014
Monday February 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
APNU reviews Parliamentary list amidst Backer’s expected resignation A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is expected to extract a candidate from the 2011 Parliamentary list to replace the coalition’s front bencher, Deborah Backer, in anticipation of her quitting for health reasons. The ailing veteran People’s National Congress and APNU parliamentarian is expected to resign her assembly seat this week, but sources within the coalition say they expect that Opposition leader, David Granger should replace her with someone to fill the crucial Foreign Affairs portfolio which she has held for several years. Backer, an attorney at law, is reported to be overseas receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed illness. Her absence from recent sittings of the House meant that the Opposition operated without its one-seat majority and therefore, Backer is moving to give up the
APNU front bencher and Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Deborah Backer position, ensuring that she is replaced to allow the combined Opposition to regain its majority. Sources say Granger and top APNU leaderships are leaning towards replacing her with a female but some party insiders say former diplomat and ex-assemblyman Aubrey Norton should have been the natural replacement for Backer, given his vast
experience on Foreign Affairs. APNU’s executive member Joseph Harmon told Kaieteur News yesterday that while no disclosures have been made regarding Backer’s case, names from the 2011 Parliamentary list will be reviewed as replacements in the “unfortunate” event that the front bencher should be replaced. He explained that Backer plays a crucial role in her function on the opposing team. To replace her, he indicated, would be a herculean task since, “she is very experienced and reliable.” Harmon noted that, she is very versed and is keen on the rules of Parliament having been a veteran in that area. He noted also that not only is it a loss to the party but also a great loss to Parliament, where Backer also sits as the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Harmon said, however, that he would expect that
Monday February 03, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): You're ready to blaze a new trail. Anyone who thinks they can stand in your way is delusional. When you're fixated on a goal, you easily vault over obstacles. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Working behind the scenes boosts your creativity. It's a relief to be able to obey your own impulses. In the past, a controlling authority figure discouraged you from adding imaginative touches to your work. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Working on behalf of a good cause will put you in contact with some interesting people. You're tired of being surrounded by cynics. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): An opportunity to change the status quo should not be missed. If a position at the top of the organisation becomes available, apply. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Studying an unconventional subject will add a welcome dash of spice to life. Although you enjoy comforting routines, it's easy for you to get caught in a rut. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): An intense romance will sweep you off your feet. It feels wonderful to be the object of so much desire. ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct.
22): A partnership that gives both parties plenty of freedom is best for you. In the past, you become overly dependent on romantic partners. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Taking an unusual job is a good move. When you're forced to mix things up, you take a greater interest in your work. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): An offbeat hobby fills you with excitement. You've always hated popular trends. Going off the beaten path gives you distinction. It also allows you to meet people who share your rebellious nature. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Adding unusual design components to your home will be fun. You don't have to spend a lot of money to achieve a stunning effect. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): A wonderful idea for a novel, screenplay or 'How To' book will occur while you're running errands. Get started on this concept right away; you don't want to lose any momentum. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): A moneymaking prospect fills you with excitement. It's a relief to get a break from your regular line of work. If you've always wanted to launch your own business, this would be a good time to try.
Norton would have been one of the candidates to be reviewed. It is anticipated that Backer would make an announcement before the next sitting of Parliament, Kaieteur News was told. PRO Mark Archer explained that Backer and her family will make the disclosure, when the time comes. He mentioned that Mrs. Backer would have over a decade’s worth of experience and held several leadership roles in her political functions. Aubrey Norton, former Foreign Service Officer and People’s National Congress Reform executive, has expressed his agreement to function. He noted that while the decision lies with the APNU, he would have no objection serving for his party, a part of APNU. Given his experience and knowledge in the area of Foreign Affairs, he agreed that his talents would be crucial, while adding also, that it would be a great loss if Backer resigns. A replacement for Deputy Speaker will have to be voted on, if Backer is to step down.
Page 17
Security personnel shot in attempted carjacking A 35-year-old security personnel attached to Bhena’s Footwear and Kaieteur News was shot in the left shoulder at around 05:00 hrs early yesterday morning by two bandits in Middle Road, La Penitence while taking a worker home. The injured man is Omar Bynoe of Agricola. He was admitted in stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. Police in a statement said that Bynoe was in a car at Middle Road when he was confronted by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. During the altercation, the security guard was shot and injured while his attackers escaped. Bynoe said that he had just reached in front of his colleague’s yard when he noticed two men heading in his direction, after exiting a cross street. “When I see them, I told her to stay in the car and let them pass. When they reached like 25 to 30 feet behind, I turned and I was speaking to her (colleague). While talking, I felt somebody
on my right and when I looked I saw this guy pointing a gun at me,” the injured man recalled. He said that from the way the youth was holding the gun, he noticed that the bandit was nervous. “His hand was trembling but I realized that he was serious because his weapon was already cranked and his hand was on the trigger so I didn’t want to take any chances.” The attack appears to be an attempted carjacking, since the bandits then ordered Bynoe to exit his car. According to Bynoe, while he was about to open his car door, the bandit opened fire, injuring him and shattering his windscreen in the process. “As soon as I was about to open the door, the man opened fire and I (still) opened the door and when they saw my gun, they run. I discharged a few rounds in their direction and I notice one of them stumble so I guess he was struck,” Bynoe said. Police are still to arrest any suspects in connection with the attacks.
Mother seeks mentally... (From page 13) eyes and ears and to help me find my baby.” The woman said that she will not be able to rest until she is certain that her son is home safely. “I don’t know if my son could survive alone in this world, but all I know is that he needs me, he needs his mother, or at least a knowing face.” Williams said that the man’s stepmother had told her that he (“Fadil”) was last seen strolling in Georgetown. “I don’t remember which street they said, but since they tell me that, is everyday we get somebody searching in the city.” Apart from the police, Fadil’s loved ones, comprising of his stepsiblings a n d s t e p f a t h e r have formed a search party and are desperately trying to find Fraser. The woman told this newspaper that ever since “Fadil” was eight years old, he started living with his biological father, because she (Williams) had become ill and was unable to give her son the special attention that he needed. Anyone with information about Fadil Fraser’s whereabouts can contact his mother on telephone numbers -267-2965, and 6696979.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 03, 2014
“Work in the interest of the young people of this region” (From page 19)
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- Youth Minister urges CYP representatives Minister of Culture Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, has emphasized the need for the implementation of suitable methods that will preserve the future of young people, from across the region. Dr. Anthony was speaking at the recent two day conference convened by the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) to review national and regional priorities for youth development. “If we don’t invest now we will lose the people that matter the most.” Minister Anthony also highlighted the need for the implementation of methods that will safeguard young people against the dangers of substance abuse and diseases as he noted that the meeting is one of significant importance that will see decisions being made, which will profoundly impact, generations of young people, in the Caribbean. “I would therefore expect that over the two days you would pay more attention and apply yourselves diligently because the decisions that we are going to be taking are not going to be light ones, and therefore what we have to do as a region is to work in the interest of the young people of this region,” the Minister told the group of regional senior government officials, assembled at the Regency Hotel last Wednesday. The Minister commended the CYP for its accomplishments in
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Bel- Air -$100,000, Lamaha Gardens - $US1000, Atlantic Gardens – US900 – Contact Diana:227-2256; 626-9382
addressing the needs of the region’s youth and underlined the importance for the presence of the CYP in Guyana “We here in Guyana would have had the privilege of hosting the centre, and from where we stand, we can see the impact that CYP would have made over the last 40 years.” Among the dignitaries in attendance at the meeting were Director of Youth Affairs at the Commonwealth Center Ms. Katherine Ellis and Regional Director of CYP (Ag), Glenyss James. During a brief interview with this newspaper, Ms. James explained that the agenda of the CYP is to create an enabling environment, for youth development. “We are reviewing policies, so that when we look at the financial sector, the education sector, the health sector, the social sectors, and the political sectors we can see where our young people are being represented so that we can meet their needs.” She explained that as part of the plan to achieve this objective, training exercises and workshops will be conducted. “The CYP has always been cognizant of the challenges that commonwealth youth in the region face, which primarily include unemployment, crime and access to better
education.” In this regard, James says that the CYP has sought to empower Directors of Youth Departments in the Caribbean. “The CYP has assisted these youth leaders through policy programmes and initiatives that will assist them in tackling the issues through partnership with their local stakeholders.” “Some Member States have been very successful in their efforts to reach the young people, through community based research and partnerships with their respective education sectors to create specialized programmes where training is available for youths in and out of school.” Meanwhile, the Director of Youth Affairs at the Commonwealth has noted that she believes it is essential that the voices of the youths are heard and that government decision makers have the right policy tools available to them. “While economist and pundits are focused on GDP and growth projections, it is all too easy to lose sight of the needs and potential of young people who are often worst hit by economic crisis. This generation can make an enormous contribution to national development with the right prioritization and investment.”
Gospel Festival 2014... (From page 6) couple was engaged. The surprise marriage proposal brought a brief but pleasant intermission to the show. The next act was Jamaican artiste and Minister of the Gospel, Junior Tucker. He urged the gathering to usher in the presence of God through worship as he called on participants to lift Guyana, “through sheer prayers.” Tucker’s piece prepared the worshippers for the next level, Israel and his band. The band motivated the crowd to a high point in praise. During the performance, Houghton called the patrons to be spiritually united for the building up of the nation. “Anybody and everybody should worship regardless… it is what we were created to do.” Even after the band had retired, the crowd was still on the tarmac, many with hands lifted up and tears streaming down their faces. Last Saturday’s event is the third consecutive gospel music show to be promoted by local entertainment company, Inspire Inc.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Yog Mahadeo described it as “a phenomenal success” “It keeps getting better every year, all we wanted was to inspire... when I looked into the crowd and saw thousands of people gathered in one place, some with hands lifted up and some in tears…I think is truly phenomenal.” Questioned about his vision and faith to bring gospel entertainment to Guyana, Mahadeo said “I believe that although there might be different denominations and religious beliefs we have one Creator, who deserves the glory.” Mahadeo promises that Inspire Inc will continue to promote events that will cultivate to an environment of unity and fellowship in Guyana. The theme of this year’s event is peace, love and unity through gospel. Last year, American superstar and 10-time Grammy award winner “Cece Winans” performed at the Fulfillment gospel concert.
Monday February 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
FOR RENT
LARGE QUANTITIES O F H IGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICKSILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
One 210 Hyundai Excavator with one complete 6" Dredge and also 4" Dredge Contact: 650-2391
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
M.F Tractor 3650, 4X4, 131 H/P, 6 Cylinder Turbo Diesel Tel: 228-5040; 662-9848 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 Extra Cab 2002, Nissan Frontier 4X4 Extra Cab 2002, DJ System – Tel:695-9807 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Greenheart Piles - Tel:6393450 270 Amps Portable Honda Welders and 1-2002 Tundra Tel: 611-5114 Live/pluck chicken call: 6504421, 220-9203 1- 500 Ton Cargo ship - Tel: 676-6933 House Lots in Housing Scheme, Elaine Ville – 1,500 Acres of land in Berbice Contact:223-8479; 647-3768; www.spaceseek.gy 1 Farm at Yarrowkabra 20.1 Acres – Tel:617-8379 Yamaha R1 motorcycle. Excellent Condition - Tel: 685-1231 1-5 head 12" Robinson Moulder needs motor price for quick sale - $1M – Tel: 652-5601 House and land situated at Lot 95 La Penitence Street, Albouystown. Land -7,933 Sq./Ft. – Call:592-687-5851; 604-589-1852 Pioneer, JVC car deck with flash drive port - $22,000, $26,000, car accessories and alarm – Tel:661-6793 Two plot of land ¼ Acre or 3X25 Rod each @ Lot 15 & 16 Doctor Dam, La-Grange WBD - Tel: 697-5009; 665-7022 Zmodo Surveillance System – Tel:609-2815 Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call:672-2566 Blackberry 9360 with 2GB with memory card – Tel:6752239/ BBM 25C58FEO
One Toyota Camry SV40, AC, mags, alarm, $950,000 negotiable – Tel:661-2391 PVC Ceiling Panels. Best Quality! Tel: 614-8564; 6800862 Angle Grinder, Circular Saw, Belt Sander, Routers, drilling machine, foam spray and general hardware – Tel:6148564; 629-0372 German Shepherd Pups. Tel: 220-2277; 220-8904; 626-0910 Original Games- Call:6722566 Turbo Bedford Dump 330 truck. Any Reasonable Offer Call: 657-4072 Commercial Land on Charlotte St. -$400USD, Executive Houses @ E.C.D , E.B.D & Georgetown, Investment Properties @ Georgetown - Contact:2238479; 647-3768; www.spaceseek.gy TOYOTA VIOS PMM SERIES – SPECIAL EDITION SILVER GREY – TEL: 641-7383 2005 Yamaha R6 motorcycle Tel: 609-2815 Honda CG & 125 Fan for sale - $260,000 negotiable – Tel:684-5402 One Long base Canter. Contact Chubby on : 6290592 or 651-3092 1-2640 MF Tractor 4wd with 1 – Rome Plough 20 dish, 1CAT Satndby 3306,194KVA 3 Phase 60 Cylinder – Tel:6934596 2 – M132 Laverda Combine, 3- Pressure Pump 4x3 for gold field – call:627-0447 1 Double Door Display Cooler very good condition – Tel:679-6040; 601-5055 One 14 -16" Bore Trailer Pump. One 8’X6’ Box 4 wheel Trailer. Selling Below Cost – Tel:227-1830 Puppies; breed: Pekingese & Tibetan terrier. Contact: 6441972 / 661-2837
1 Chinese seine boat complete + 1400lb nylon seine - Tel: 223-4552; 691-3633. Clearance Sale, Slightly Damage Zinc Sheets, steel rods ½”&]!. Reasonable Price - Call: 657-4072
CAR RENTAL
Pools. Table. Cloth. Balls. Pocket. Cuestick. Coinshute. Rubber. Chalk - Tel: 669-9927
Untouchable, low rates, low deposits - Call:226-9668; 677-4613.
1 Stall @ Stabroek Market Tel: 658-0115; 718-757-8031
Aidan’s Car Rental & Pickup Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807
Newly Built Apartments on W.C.D Furnished and unfurnished – Tel:698-6496 CAMP STREET, Prime Business Space Call:6394499 3 Bedrooms apartment at 371 East Cummings Lodge – Tel:601-2472 Commercial Offices & Commercial Buildings, Executive Apartments & houses @ Kitty, Subryanville, Shamrock Gardens, Ogle, Bel-Air Contact:223-8479; 647-3768; www.spaceseek.gy Short term and Long term apartment - $58,000 monthly Tel: 646-5147 Fully furnished apartment in Nandy Park, suitable for a single person or coupleCall:619-4824 for further information. Norton Street, Werk-EnRust. One Newly constructed two storey building for office/residence Tel: 623-7594
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WANTED One maid preferably single between ages 40-55. Must Be Living Around E.B.D and be dog friendly – Tel:6292206 One Computer Literate Clerk, Two Security Guards & Labourers, One Receptionist. Text or call 6270799 / 225-8645 / 6227933
WANTED
PROPERTY FOR SALE
Labourers - Call:225-6070; 225-4492
VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, selfcontained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community - Call: 592-6248704/ 592-684-9203
Cashiers & Porters for Yog Yog’s Frozen Yogurt 79 Albert & Laluni Streets in Queenstown “Nimbus Building” Call:231-7002
Corner lot @ 54 Stanley Town New Amsterdam Berbice - $7M - Call:223-5641
Supervisors to work at 704 Bar – Contact:223-5273/4 Female worker needed, 3 CXC subject or sound secondary school education- Call:626-8586 Watch man to work at Lamaha & Albert Street. Contact: 223-5273/4 White Queen Size sheet set at reasonable prices – Tel:668-0306; 660-9961 Experienced Roti / Puri Cooks, Pastry Makers, Counter Servers & handyboys. Apply at Hacks Halaal, Lot 5 Commerce St. 1 Truck Driver with Fork Lift & Bobcat experienced – Tel:274-0424; 274-0435
Rooms. Price Negotiable Tel: 699-2727
Experienced taxi drivers – Tel:667-9013
One bedroom apartment self contained, Fully grilled @ Land OF Canaan E.B.D – Call Navo: 266-5563; 615-9441 American Slate pool table – Tel:616-8328
Boys to work @ Car Wash, paying - $12,000 weekly. Norton and Creen St. Ask 683-9516 Live in waitress to work in a bar - Tel:650-4309
EDUCATIONAL Courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration - Tel: 670-2653; 618-1706 IAE @ 194 Camp St Register for CXC 2014 Classes: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science . Flexible Timing Tel: 683-5742; 223-0604 Princeton College Forms 1-5 CXC and adults classes, afternoon lessons. Phonics & Mathematics for slow learners -Tel:223-7906; 690-5008 Swimming Classes @ Colgrain Pool. Thursday & Saturday 5:30-6:30, 6:30-7:30, all ages – Tel:669-3757; 6412571; 690-1559 Makeup Classes starting February 3rd @ J’ adore makeup by Natalie. Come & Be Apart! To Register Call:676-3916; 615-5028
1 Secretary to work in office Call: 617-8369; 665-3550 One Garden / Handyman, age 40 & above. Preferably from Georgetown & East Coast Demerara – Tel:699-4152 LAND FOR SALE 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at Parika- Call: 226-7968 82 Acres @ Hogg Island, 120 Acres @ Mahaicony & 11 lots @ Wakenaam. Tel: 686-4994; 225-3070 Lot 12 Mon-Repos E.C.D, Market Street – Tel:2207330 Long Creek $1M, Queenstown 60x244 - $100M, 40x80 -$25M - Tel: 231-2199; 618-7483 Private Development 50X100 @ Greenwich Park, EBE Tel: 690-5061
FASTEST GROWING FOOD IMPORTER / MANUFACTURE SEEKING CANTER DRIVER & SALESPERSONS. EXPERIENCED & POLICE CLEARANCE – CALL:2318344;223-1035 FOR INTERVIEW
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant Call: 670-8893/684-2838
One Male cook for interior – Tel: 688-1087 1 Barman at a popular hotel, between the vicinity of Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika. Tel: 638-1627
Receptionist. Apply to Hick’s Ville Hotel, Contact:227-7714 or info@hicksvillehotel guyana.com Machine Operator to work at Garment Factory - Tel:2222541 One Experienced Pastry maker, specialize in various pastries – Tel:696-9999
PEN PAL
50 Acres Estate land at Grant Lester, Lower Pomeroom. Tel:671-8100
Overseas Male Seeking female 29yrs & up. No Text – Call:661-3299
2 Business Property on Whim Public Road Berbice - Tel: 619-7134; 225-6481 One three storey business property @ Middle Street Georgetown - Tel: 619-7134; 225-6481 Eccles Residential (Transported) 2 flat building 4 bedrooms, large patio, garage (3 vehicles), & large shed. Flood Free Area! - Tel: 652-5601 Concrete 3 bedrooms transported property @ New Scheme Tuschen E.C.E $8.5M – Tel:692-3454 Charlestown Corner Property - $35M - Tel: 6735882 Rice Factory @ Wakenaam Tel: 686-4994; 225-3070 Regent Street - $46M, Herstelling - $10M, Happy Acres - $45M, Camp Street $36M – Contact Diana:2272256; 626-9382 Satya Cinema Good Faith Mahaicony – Call:641-8472
VACANCY
Network Technician, must be able to work out of town email applications to jobs@awngy.com
House lot for sale @ Parafaite Harmonie – Tel:677-7682
One - 2 Storey House @ Avenue A Diamond - Tel: 643-5161
Secretary! Send written application to Shakoor Seafood, 80 industrial Site, Eccles EBD
MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:678-7499
LEARN TO DRIVE Learn To Drive on your time, experienced teacher – $10,000 For two weeks, 3 times a week – Tel:687-7017 Ultravoilet Driving School – Contact:231-2372;6022583;658-4015 (Continued on page 18)
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Kaieteur News
US president hints at deal offering undocumented Caribbean immigrants legal status WASHINGTON - CMC – US President Barack Obama has hinted that he may accept a deal offering undocumented Caribbean and other immigrants legal status rather than full citizenship. “If the speaker (of the House of Representatives) proposes something that says right away: Folks aren’t being deported, families aren’t being separated, we’re able to attract top young students to provide the skills or start businesses here and then there’s a regular process of citizenship, I’m not sure how wide the divide ends up being,” said Obama in a CNN interview on Friday. “The question is, is there more that we can do in this legislation that gets both Democratic and Republican support, but solves these broader problems, including strengthening borders and making sure that we have a legal immigration system that works better than it currently does,” he continued. Obama said that under his immigration reform plan, illegal Caribbean and other
Barack Obama immigrants would still have to go through “a very long process of earning citizenship” by learning English, paying back taxes and going “to the back of the line.” During his State of the Union address last Tuesday, Obama urged the US Congress to enact immigration reform that will allow the more than 10 million immigrants without legal status, including Caribbean nationals, to apply for temporary legal status and, eventually, United States
citizenship. His address was welcomed by Caribbean American Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, who had written to him on several occasions, urging him to suspend deportation of Caribbean immigrants. “A policy of comprehensive immigration reform will also support our economy by preventing the exploitation of workers who lack legal status despite, in some instances, living in the United States for almost their entire lives,” Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC). Ahead of his State of the Union address, Clarke had again written to Obama to stop deporting Caribbean and other immigrants. In a joint letter with Arizona Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva, Clarke, appealed to the president to “respond to the crisis of deportation in the undocumented community.”
ST. LUCIA-POLITICS-New opposition leader appointed CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC – The appointment of Dr Gale Rigobert as the country’s new Leader of the Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has now been confirmed. Dr Rigobert was selected a week after Parliamentary Representative for Castries North, Stephenson King, was voted out of the post by his UWP colleagues. On Saturday, an official letter sent to the Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy to formalise the process, has been accepted. “Pursuant to Section 67 of the Constitution of St Lucia and subject to the provisions of the said Constitution I do hereby appoint you the said Gale Tracy Christiane Rigobert, to be the Leader of
the Opposition with effect from February 1, 2014, with all the powers, rights, privileges and advantages to the said Office belonging or appertaining,” the Governor General’s appointment letter read. Rigobert who lectured at the University of the West Indies, previously served as a member of the Senate, and advisor to the National Development in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and National Development. She won her Micoud North seat in the 2011 general election and was elected deputy political leader of the UWP in July 2013. In November 2013 she was made the Ambassador for peace for the Universal Peace Federation.
Dr Gale Rigobert She was due to take her oath of office on Tuesday, however this has now been rescheduled for February 11. On the weekend, Regobert began a series of pre-budget “community meetings” essentially to “listen to the needs of the people and assess priorities for the constituency.” She told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC), that she would also respond to questions on recent developments in the opposition United Workers Party which has recently been plagued by disagreement over the expulsion of King as opposition leader.
Monday February 03, 2014
PM: T&T in bid to host Arms secretariat Trinidad Express Trinidad and Tobago has made a formal bid to host the secretariat for the Arms Trade Treaty here given its geographic location which has made the country vulnerable to the trafficking of arms and ammunition. Upon her return from Havana, Cuba, after attending the third Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar said Saturday despite the country not manufacturing guns and cocaine, it had become a transshipment point for the illegal trade. “What we put forward in Havana is to make a bid to host the secretariat for the Arms Trade Treaty and the rationale for why we feel Trinidad and Tobago will be an ideal location for the secretariat for the arms trade treaty is our geographic location has made us very vulnerable to the trafficking of small arms and light
weapons. “As I said in Cuba, we do not manufacture guns or ammunition, we do not manufacture cocaine and other hard drugs, yet we are a transhipment point and of course guns are creating havoc and great sadness in our own country here,” said Persad-Bissessar. She made the statement at the Diplomatic Lounge of the Piarco International Airport following her return Saturday afternoon. Persad-Bissessar said another declaration was drafted during the summit which was aimed at controlling the drug trade within the region. This trade, she said, was a major challenge to Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean islands and Latin American states. “As such we have found it necessary to find policies to deal with this illegal activity so they not only include measures for the prevention and detection of the drug trade but also to deal with
Kamla PersadBissessar treatment and rehabilitation of persons suffering from addiction of drugs,” she said. On December 20, cocaine with an estimated street value of $644 million was found concealed in cans bearing the labels of Trinidad Orange and Grapefruit juices at the Port of Norfolk in Virginia, United States. It was later revealed that the 20-foot container in which the drugs were found had originated from this country.
World Bank helps Caribbean prepare for and manage disaster risks, climate change WASHINGTON - CMC – As the Caribbean grapples with the effects of climate change, the World Bank says it is helping the region and other developing countries to better prepare for and manage disaster risks and climate change. The Washington-based financial institution said through the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) – a World Bank-managed fund supported by 21 donor partners, the European Union, the World Bank and the United Nations – over 80 developing countries, including the Caribbean, were “better able to identify, prepare for, and recover from natural disasters” during fiscal year 2012-13. The bank said that the facility’s annual report covering July 2012 to July 2013 “showcases its work toward a goal of helping over 1 billion people in 34 developing countries to better cope with and adapt to the effects of natural hazards and climate change. “Working with a number of partners, including governments, international and technical organizations, private sector and civil society, GFDRR achieved a number of tangible results during the fiscal year,” said
the statement, adding that 10 Caribbean countries are “now able to share disaster risk data online as a result of GFDRR training.” Through GFDRR, the World Bank said it “aims to mainstream disaster risk management and recovery into country development plans and polices through the operations of major multilateral organizations.” Recently, the International Development Association (IDA) – the World Bank’s fund for the poorest – “committed to
screening all country strategies and operations for climate and disaster risks,” the World Bank said. In the past year, over 80 countries received GFDRR assistance in the form of financial or advisory support, the bank said. While GFDRR’s grants are relatively small, the World Bank said “they often bring about major investments in disaster risk management projects and infrastructure by governments and international organizations.”
US says it addressed significant threats in the Caribbean during 2013 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - CMC – The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says it addressed significant threats, while “optimising resources and building partnerships” in the Caribbean last year. In its review of fiscal year 2013, CBP said its efforts were possible through “collaborative operations and partnerships with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, which have become an integral part of CBP’s procedures within the Caribbean, in order to generate reductions in illicit activity throughout the area,” it said in a statement. “Throughout the year, the men and women of CBP played a decisive role in ensuring our nation’s security and prosperity,” said Acting Commissioner Thomas S Winkowski. “From border security to travel facilitation and trade enforcement, these numbers illustrate CBP’s combined efforts in 2013 to accomplish its critical mission,” he added. CBP officers and agents in the Caribbean seized over 31,962 pounds of narcotics, with an estimated street value of about US$320 million, and seized about US$3.5 million in unreported currency in fiscal 2013, which runs from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013.
Monday February 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Tufton wants Jamaicans to open eyes to economic realities Jamaica Observer Jamaicans will have to come to terms with some stark realities that presently face the nation and focus anew in order to deal with them, former Senator Dr Christopher Tufton has said. Tufton, who relinquished his position as Jamaica Labour Party chairman of the St Elizabeth South West constituency last Tuesday, told the Jamaica Observer in an interview before he made that decision that the Jamaican economy is on shaky ground and the various stakeholders must get more involved to deal with some of the underlying issues needed to resurrect it. “The truth is that every administration has demonstrated areas of success. Despite the challenges of the seventies, the constant struggles
between ideological viewpoints — communism and capitalism — social policies, maternity leave for example, were positive things. So one can, and it is appropriate when the time comes, weigh the options, make some qualitative distinctions and choices which are healthy for democracy,” said Tufton, who served one term as member of parliament for St Elizabeth South West (20072011), before he was beaten by Hugh Buchanan in a close contest. “While qualitative distinctions can be made between different administrations in specific areas, I am a party man and I can point to several achievements under the administration of the JLP,” Tufton said. “During the fouryear period when I was
minister, crime did come down by 40 per cent. The dollar was stable for a period of time, interest rates were at a 20-year low and so there are a number of things that one could identify with and claim credit for. “At the same time, all of us have to come to the realisation that Jamaica is in a perilous state. To a large extent, our democracy, which is not just a function of the party, but a function of the people, the stakeholders, voters included, has more challenges to overcome than many, many years back, and in a sense, some level of collective responsibility has to be assumed,” he said. Tufton stated that there is going to be a need to demonstrate a difference in management and approach, which can lead to better results, things he said that no
No-Cover Up Grifith: Government, PNM will not be spared in drug bust probe Trinidad Guardian National Security Minister Gary Griffith is maintaining a hard line with the current investigation into the multimillion dollar drug bust in the US in December. Griffith, in a telephone interview Saturday, dismissed any speculation that he would cover up the findings in order to protect the names of those under investigation. “I swore an oath to this country and let me tell you this, if it turns out to be someone in Government, someone in Opposition, even if it’s one of my own family members, they are going down for this,” Griffith said. He stood by previous statements that no Government or Opposition official needed to be kept abreast of the unfolding drug investigation, but reiterated that the lack of communication did not stem from a lack of trust. “We still have that banana republic thinking that Government needs to be involved in everything, and that is not so. There should be no politics in national security. There is no place for it, because national security is for the whole country,” he said.Griffith said he will always “put country first” and do whatever it takes to ensure T&T is no longer a major transshipment point for drugs. There has been speculation that two events—the reported break-
Gary Griffith in at the Citrus Growers Association in Laventille, and the fires at the Beetham landfill—were distractions to divert the media and the population’s attention away from the ongoing drug investigation. Griffith denied this: “That is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard. That is totally irrational,” Griffith said. “I have never worked on hearsay and ol’ talk,” he said. Griffith said although investigations into those two issues continue, there is “no evidence” that anyone from the Opposition, Government
or residents of Beetham had a hand in the incidents. “I will continue working with the relevant ministers to resolve those two matters,” he said. He said he did not need to distract from the drug bust, as it was a “good thing,” explaining: “The more drugs seized via using our country as a transshipment point, then the better for us. This was not happening before; less hits meant ... greater ... opportunity for the drug cartel, as they saw us as an easy target,” he said. Taking on the Opposition and those public officials who were only seeing “this glass as halfempty,” Griffith said, “This glass of opportunity should be seen as half-full, because the more drugs seized, then the greater the deterrent and the greater the deflection of the drug trade to more lucrative and softer targets. “My immediate priority in this illegal drug trade is to stop it in our country. The only persons who should be concerned over recent major drug busts are criminals themselves, as it is their trade that is being stifled here,” he said.
administration could avoid. He described the present IMF agreement as “clearly the most tangible manifestation of that”. Elements of the agreement, he insisted, could have been negotiated differently. “In my case, for example, I have long outlined in the Senate, the extent to which these targets are not sufficiently subject to e n v i r o n m e n t a l considerations in a country where we are prone to hurricanes and so on. “Something should be done more tangibly to deal with assessment, preparation, those sorts of things, because external debt is the leading cause of debts in the Caribbean, inc l u d i n g Jamaica, and CaPRI (Caribbean Policy Research Institute) just did a study on it,” Tufton said. “Six of the 10 most indebted countries in the world are in the Caribbean and a big portion of that is external driven. So any agreement that you lock yourself into should deal with
Dr Christopher Tufton some of those external vulnerabilities. “If you don’t do what is necessary to contain our appetites to support bureaucratic inefficiencies, to build out entrepreneurship through insolvency legislation and doing business, to deal with crime, tailor education to what the job market requires, to focus on early childhood, which is the base, rather than just higher levels, you are not going to go anywhere,” he said. Describing them as
“fundamental issues” that any Government has to take on, Tufton said that because of the IMF’s involvement, there is an opportunity for a more deliberate, targeted and focused attempt at resolving issues, due to Government’s back being against the wall. It requires determination, he said, and also a lot of political collaboration. “The extent to which that collaboration can be facilitated, where the Government is the driver and must take ultimate responsibility, but must do sufficient to accommodate, where the Opposition must say these are negotiable, but we reserve the right to do certain things; the extent to which that can be done is the extent to which there can be greater levels of hope in moving the society forward,” Tufton argued. “The extent to which it cannot be done, either because of a leadership deficiency or otherwise, is the extent to which the hopelessness will be preserved and enhanced,” Tufton said.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 03, 2014
The high cost of calling off Carnival
Masqueraders parade through the streets of Port-of-Spain on Carnival today. Photo: Shirley Bahadur Trinidad Guardian - The last time Carnival was cancelled for security reasons was during World War II. Taking the same action now, even with a high murder toll and increasing concerns about safety, could cost the country millions of dollars, economist Indera Sagewan-Alli warned. “The losses would run into the hundreds of millions, if not billions. Remember Carnival in Trinidad is a fixed event in the country’s calendar of events, preparation and so expenditure for Carnival of the next year starts immediately upon the completion of this year’s event. “There are some stakeholders, for example mas bands, whose total annual revenue is generated at this time. Can they withstand such a loss and have the capacity to prepare adequately for another year?” she asked. Sagewan-Alli said Carnival season in T&T was like Christmas for the retail sector in other countries. “There will be the lost to the foreign participants who have already made travel arrangements, loss to the airline industry, the loss of ticket sales and the additional resources they must have already expended to ensure that there are sufficient seats to meet this peak demand. Loss of revenue to taxi drivers, vendors, hotels, guest houses, fete promoters. The resources already expended by mass bands in preparation, the National Carnival Commission (NCC),” she said. She added that cancelling Carnival would be sending a bad signal to the international community about the state of crime in T&T. “Firstly, to do so would
be admitting that crime has in fact gone rogue and that the state and the security forces are unable to manage and control it. This can in fact worsen the situation. This message sent to the rest of the world would have negative implications for the regular tourism inflow and for investments.” Calling off Carnival is not an option, the economist said. Instead, Government needs to rein in crime to ensure that economic activity is not stifled. “Government needs instead to ensure that this scourge of crime is brought under control so that the normal economic activities of the country, in this case Carnival, can be hosted uninterrupted,” Sagewan-Alli said. Penny Gomez, communications manager at Digicel, said it would be unfortunate if Carnival could not take place because of high crime. “A ban on Carnival would be an unfortunate, especially for those who earn their livelihood from Carnival and the thousands—locals and visitors alike—who eagerly look forward to the festival each year.” Gomez said Digicel has invested deeply in culture since it entered the T&T market seven years ago. “The cultural significance of Carnival has been one of the main factors for our support of the festival, support which is aligned to every aspect of Carnival—the music, the parties and the mas,” she said, even as she expressed concern about the negative effect of crime on society. “Like everyone else, we at Digicel are very concerned about the hike in crime and the damaging ripple effect it has on our society. Digicel, as a law-abiding citizen, will adhere to any
changes in procedures as passed by Government in this regard,” Gomez said. Louanna Chai-Alves, executive director of the Trinidad Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Association, said T&T needs to better manage its image and promote “brand T&T” in a more professional way. “Crime has the potential to be a threat to buyers of our product. It is important that we go out there and say that T&T is a safe destination so that people will not only be hearing negative thing,” she said. Bhai-Alves said T&T needs to market itself because few people know about the country as much as they know about Barbados or Jamaica. “We have an incredible product but we need better product development. Throughout the Caribbean arrivals are increasing and so are the revenue generated from it. However, T&T’s rates are less that the rest of the region. It is unfortunate that out political directorate cannot see that. 30,000 people in T&T are employed by this sector and they need to see that,” she said. She said the hotel occupancy rates, based on recent statistics, are high but people are staying for shorter periods than in past years. “In past years the occupancy started peaking from the Wednesday before Carnival but this year it is from Carnival Friday. Our data is showing it is a shorter stay and this impacts on revenues,” Chai-Alves said. There are a number of reasons for this, but the main one may be economic. It is likely that because of the international economy and changing world that people are not travelling as much as they used to,” she said.
Monday February 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
Turkey says open to alternatives to Chinese missile defense system MUNICH (Reuters) Turkey’s Foreign Minister said yesterday Ankara had not yet decided which missile defense system it would buy and it was open to bids from other companies besides the current Chinese favorite if these guaranteed joint production. NATO member Turkey’s decision last September to choose a $3.4 billion offer from the China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corp (CPMIEC) irked Ankara’s Western allies as the Chinese company is under U.S. sanctions for violations of the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act. U.S. and NATO officials also voiced concerns that a Chinese product would not be compatible with other NATO systems. “Turkey did not decide yet which system should be bought.. for us three criteria are important - joint production, the time of delivery and price,” Ahmet Davutoglu told a panel at the Munich Security Conference. The deal would mark a breakthrough for China in its bid to become a supplier of advanced weapons. But Davutoglu said Turkey was still negotiating and he had held a meeting with a U.S. company a day earlier. “The Chinese company was the first because they offered us joint production. Joint production was
Ahmet Davutoglu important for us,” he said. Rival offers from FrancoItalian Eurosam SAMP/T and U.S.-listed Raytheon Co RTN.N, the maker of Patriot missiles, were also in the running he said. “If the other two companies give us the assurance of joint production in Turkey and the transfer of technology, of course we wish to have this with NATO allies.” NATO’s top military commander urged Turkey last November to buy a missile defense system that is compatible with other NATO systems. “Everyone knows how difficult it is if you want to buy something from the United States, there is a long process of getting permission. If those companies are offering us joint production it is negotiable,” Davutoglu added.
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U.S. immigration bill ‘in doubt’ this year, Republican Ryan says (Reuters) - Republicans will be unlikely to compromise on immigration reform unless U.S. borders are first secured, and the possibility of a broad immigration bill reaching President Barack Obama’s desk this year is “clearly in doubt,” Representative Paul Ryan said yesterday. “Security first, no amnesty, then we might be able to get somewhere,” Ryan said on ABC’s “This Week.” Immigration reform legislation, which the Senate has already passed, has stalled in the Republicancontrolled House. Ryan’s comments follow a House document released last week that presents a path toward legal status for 11 million undocumented workers now in the United States. The plan, rolled out by House Republican leaders, outlines “principles” for immigration reform and embraces an agenda that gives their candidates a campaign message that goes beyond political attacks on Obama. Asked if Obama would get a bill to sign this year, Ryan replied: “I really don’t know the answer to that question. That’s clearly in doubt.” It remains unclear if the House principles will advance any further amid deep Republican divisions. The principles are seen as gauging the party’s willingness to tackle such a controversial issue during an
election year, when all 435 House seats are at stake. Last June, the Senate passed a comprehensive bill that would provide a path to citizenship for the approximately 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally and tighten border security. The bill stalled in the House, and some conservative Republicans in both chambers remain staunchly opposed to offering legal status for millions of adults who live in the United States unlawfully. Obama last week hinted in an interview that he might be open to a plan that would first give undocumented workers legal status, as long as they were not permanently barred from becoming citizens. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said the principles offered by the House Republican leadership appeared to represent “pretty good progress.” He added: “We feel pretty good that we will get a bill this year.” Obama and his supporters may soon face a hard decision over whether to shelve the creation of a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants and instead embrace border enforcement efforts that they have previously criticized.
Paul Ryan “The bottom line here is that he (Obama) doesn’t want to see an America where we have two permanent classes - citizens and non-citizens,” McDonough said. Ryan said Republicans have made it clear that they will not be forced to compromise with the Senate on a deal and refuse to go to conference committee with the Senate immigration reform bill. “This is not one of those issues that has a deadline,” he said in the ABC interview. Ryan emphasized that securing the U.S.-Mexico border was a crucial first step before changing rules around legal residency. “We don’t know who’s coming and going in this country. We don’t have control of our borders,” he said. “Doing nothing on the security side of this isn’t the responsible thing to do.”
House leaders must contend with several conservatives who are suspicious of Obama’s agenda and are reluctant to give the president a longsought legislative victory. “We are still having a debate in our caucus,” Ryan said. House Republican Leader Eric Cantor, appearing on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” said his party wants to make progress on immigration, “step by step.” “We want to help the situation,” Cantor said. Incumbents facing a primary challenge or a close general election in t h i s y e a r ’s c a m p a i g n season may have an incentive to oppose the plan’s path to citizenship. Still, many lawmakers agreed to revamp U.S. policy on immigration after exit polling showed Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney won just 27 percent of the Hispanic vote in 2012. The Republican National Committee made it a priority to reach out to minority voters after the election. Louisiana Republican Governor Bobby Jindal said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that Republicans should go ahead with immigration reform since it remains the right thing to do and not “because of what some pollster tells us.”
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 03, 2014
Israeli Prime Minister rejects Pakistan Taliban want Imran Khan Kerry’s boycott warning as representative
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday rejected U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s warning against a growing boycott movement against the Jewish state should peace talks with the Palestinians fail, saying the stance undermined Israel’s legitimacy and the chances of reaching a peace agreement. The latest brush-up with the United States comes as Israel is negotiating with the Palestinians against a backdrop of increasing international pressure to reach a deal, coupled with a growing call for boycotting Israel over its settlements in areas it captured in the 1967 Middle East war. A small but growing number of European businesses and pension funds have begun to drop investments or limit trade with Israeli firms involved in the West Bank settlements. At a security conference in Germany this weekend, Kerry warned that a breakdown in Israeli-Palestinian talks would accelerate this trend and could threaten Israel’s economic prosperity and its safety. “You see for Israel there’s an increasing delegitimization campaign that has been building up. People are very sensitive to it. There are talk of boycotts and other kinds of things,” Kerry said. “Today’s status quo
Benjamin Netanyahu and John Kerry absolutely, to a certainty, I promise you 100 percent, cannot be maintained. It’s not sustainable. It’s illusionary. There’s a momentary prosperity, there’s a momentary peace.” At the opening of his weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said international pressure on Israel would backfire and only cause the Palestinians to harden their positions. “Attempts to impose a boycott on the State of Israel are immoral and unjust. Moreover, they will not achieve their goal,” he said. While Netanyahu refrained from taking aim at Kerry, some of his ministers were harsher. Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz, of Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, called Kerry’s comments “offensive, unfair and insufferable.” “You can’t expect the
state of Israel to conduct negotiations with a gun pointed to its head,” he said. Economics Minister Naftali Bennett, from the religious, pro-settler Jewish Home party, said all “the advice givers” should know that Israel will not abandon its land because of economic threats. “We expect our friends around the world to stand beside us, against antiSemitic boycott efforts targeting Israel, and not for them to be their amplifier,” said Bennett, a fierce critic of the Kerry-led talks. “Only security will bring economic stability, he said. Tzipi Livni, Israel’s chief negotiator, came to Kerry’s defense, saying he was merely expressing concern for Israel’s future. Aiming to clarify, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Kerry’s only reference to a boycott was a description of actions undertaken by others that he has always opposed. “Secretary Kerry has a proud record of over three decades of steadfast support for Israel’s security and wellbeing, including staunch opposition to boycotts,” she said in a statement. “Secretary Kerry has always expected opposition and difficult moments in the
process, but he also expects all parties to accurately portray his record and statements.” Over the past six months, Kerry has held endless backand-forth talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in hopes of reaching a framework for a peace agreement. He is expected to present his ideas in the coming weeks and both sides have balked at some of his expected proposals. Israeli nationalist leaders like Bennett, for instance, oppose a Palestinian state that is based on the pre-1967 borders. More than 500,000 settlers live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 war and which the Palestinians now hope will be part of their future state. Known to religious Jews as Judea and Samaria, they are parts of the biblical land of Israel and hard-liners object to ceding either area on both spiritual and security grounds. Any expected peace accord would put the fate of dozens of settlements at risk. But European officials have warned that Israel could face deepening economic isolation if it presses forward with the construction of more settlements. In the latest example, Denmark’s largest bank, Danske Bank, blacklisted Israel’s Bank Hapoalim because of its links to settlement construction. Once dismissed as a fringe issue, the boycott threat is now increasingly taking center stage in Israeli public debate. Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid recently said that even in the case of a limited boycott that reduces Israeli exports to the European Union by 20 percent, the damage would amount to about 20 billion shekels ($5.7 billion) in exports annually.
DERA ISLAMIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) — The Pakistani Taliban wants five well-known political and religious figures including excricketer Imran Khan to represent them in peace talks with the government, according to a statement from the militant group yesterday. Khan’s party said he was unlikely to accept the role. But the Taliban statement is one of their clearest signs to date welcoming the negotiations proposed by Pakistan’s prime minister. “The Taliban want to negotiate with the government with full sincerity and seriousness,” the group said in an emailed statement. It said the group “evolved a consensus on setting up such a team that could contact the government’s team easily, and that could relay the Taliban’s view to the government and Muslims of Pakistan effectively.” Khan, whose Tehreek-eInsaf party runs the government in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the Taliban’s tribal strongholds, said in a statement that the Taliban should select is own members as representatives. However, he said his party will discuss how it “can be of further assistance to further the dialogue.” Khan is strongly pronegotiations and has led a campaign against U.S. drone strikes targeting militants in the northwest. The Taliban has been fighting to topple the government and enforce their hard-line brand of Islam across the country, killing thousands of civilians, soldiers, police and government officials. The other four prospective negotiators, three members of right-leaning parties and a hard-line cleric, indicated in recent days that they might speak for the militant group after media
Imran Khan reports that the Taliban had been considering them. One, Maulana Abdul Aziz, is a cleric at the famed Red Mosque in the capital Islamabad where government forces killed scores of militants in a 2007 military operation. “It is a noble cause,” he told local Dunya TV. “We want enforcement of Shariah in this country.” One of the politicians, Maulana Samiul Haq, is the head of a large hard-line seminary in the northwest where Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar and several of his top commanders are said to have studied. He agreed to be part of the Taliban team and urged upon Khan not to refuse the offer. He said Khan had been supporting negotiations for many years. “He shouldn’t drag his feet now,” he told local Geo News TV. Haq said the Taliban would come up with another team of eight or nine members from their group. The militant group’s statement was a response to the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s recent announcement in parliament that his government would like to stick to its policy of a settlement through negotiations.
Monday February 03, 2014
Kaieteur News
Sri Lanka rejects ‘reckless’ U.S. criticism of its rights record COLOMBO (Reuters) Sri Lanka rejected U.S. criticism of its human rights record as “grossly disproportionate” yesterday, a day after a senior U.S. official said Washington would table a U.N. resolution against Colombo. Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal expressed frustration on Saturday over Sri Lanka’s failure to punish military personnel responsible for atrocities in a civil war that the government won in 2009 against separatist Tamil rebels. Biswal, speaking in Colombo after a two-day visit, said the United States would table a third U.N. human rights resolution against Sri Lanka in March to address the war crimes allegations as its human rights climate has been worsening. “The (U.S.) claims... are unsubstantiated. Reckless and irresponsible statements without evidence have been recoursed to in order to create an impact to give way to prejudged action,” Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Ministry said in a statement. In her criticism, Biswal also referred to attacks on mosques and churches on the island and said some Sri Lankans felt unable to practice their faith “freely and without fear”. Sri Lanka’s majority Sinhalese are largely Buddhist and its ethnic Tamil minority is mainly Hindu. The country also has small Christian and Muslim minorities. The ministry said claims of religious intolerance were
based on an attempt to present isolated incidents as commonplace. “Attributing blame to the government is totally unwarranted. While legal action has been taken with regard to some incidents, others have been settled amicably. Therefore, the criticism is grossly disproportionate and politically motivated,” it said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government, which finally crushed the 26year rebellion by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009, has rejected calls for an international inquiry, saying these were aimed at pleasing a large Tamil diaspora living in Western countries. Senior U.S. officials declined to say what would be in the planned UN resolution, but U.S. embassy officials said it may repeat the call for an international investigation in Sri Lanka. The External Affairs Ministry said that, as a sovereign democratic state, Sri Lanka “does not wish to be dictated to by others in the international community”. A top Sri Lankan official said in Washington last week that an international inquiry into war crimes would bring “chaos” and insisted that the government’s national reconciliation process must be given several more years to work. British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he would push for an international inquiry into war crimes allegations if Sri Lanka does not conduct its own probe by March.
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After surrendering, C. African fighters flee in the night Bangui (Central African Republic) (AFP) - Around 200 fighters in the strife-torn Central African Republic who surrendered to African Union troops at the weekend in a key northern town have fled, a military source said yesterday. “Unfortunately they fled in the night. They’ve gone to Kaga Bandoro,” an officer in the AU force known as MISCA told AFP. Kaga Bandoro is some 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of Sibut, the town that former members of the mainly Muslim Seleka rebellion seized last week — causing terrified residents to flee — before MISCA troops recaptured it on Saturday. It is thought the ex-rebels fled because of fear of revenge attacks by members of Christian militia known as “anti-balaka” (anti-machete), in a cycle of violence that has raged nearly unabated in the volatile country for 10 months. The former French colony descended into chaos last March when the Seleka overthrew the government and installed one of their leaders, Michel Djotodia, as the country’s first Muslim president. Around 80 percent of the population is Christian, but it has a significant Muslim minority who live mainly in the north. Djotodia failed to control his fighters, who began targeting Christians, prompting revenge attacks on Muslims amid reports of murder, mutilation, rape and looting by both sides. By the time Djotodia was effectively ousted by regional
French army general Francesco Soriano (C), commander of the French-led ‘Operation Sangaris’ in Central Africa, speaks with a local resident during a visit of the town of Yaloke, north of Bangui, yesterday. (AFP Photo/Issouf Sanogo) leaders on January 10 for his failure to end the spiralling bloodshed, about a million people were displaced in a population of 4.6 million. Violence has persisted despite the election of transitional President Catherine Samba-Panza last month with a mandate to pacify a country whose central government has always struggled to assert its authority beyond the capital. Fighting has in fact escalated recently, even in Bangui, with Red Cross officials saying Friday that they had collected 30 bodies after clashes in the capital that also left 60 people wounded. In Sibut, the former rebels had initially agreed to be held by the African peacekeepers — a Gabonese contingent that entered the town on
Saturday. ‘We want secure camps’ But Colonel Abdelkader Djelani, a Seleka officer who was among those who fled Sibut, said security was a key issue for them, asserting that anti-balaka fighters had attacked Seleka members confined to camps in Bangui. “We want solutions and really secure camps,” Djelani said. A Sibut resident told AFP by telephone that most residents who fled had returned home by late afternoon Sunday. The African soldiers occupied most of Sibut’s strategic locations, he said, while a MISCA officer said they had encountered no resistance as they went about securing the town. Meanwhile the antibalaka have begun handing
in their weapons to MISCA, the officer said. The taking of the northern town was the latest challenge faced by peacekeepers struggling to maintain order in a country the size of France with a long history of coups, attempted coups and army mutinies. MISCA is supported by a French contingent of around 1,600 troops, and the European Union has committed a further 500 troops. However, Samba-Panza has said more troops are needed to deal with the lawless interior, where few or no foreign troops are present. The capture of Sibut came on the same day that MISCA received pledges of $132 million (98 million euros) from other African states.
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Kaieteur News
Seahawks shackle Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII blowout USA Today - EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Defense wins championships. Russell Wilson and Percy Harvin do too. The Seattle Seahawks’ Legion of Boom frustrated Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos while Wilson managed the game plan with aplomb in a dominating 43-8 Super Bowl XLVIII victory Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The Seahawks limited the Broncos to 306 total yards and intercepted Manning (34-for49 passing, 280 yards) twice, claiming the first Super Bowl victory in franchise history. “Sea-HAWKS,” chanted the rowdy Seattle fans, who have become known as the “12th Man.” Wilson, meanwhile, stayed within himself, avoiding turnovers. He completed 18 of 25 passes for 206 yards, ran for 26 yards and threw two second-half touchdown passes to Jermaine Kearse and Doug Baldwin to set the final score. When Harvin returned the second-half kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown and a 29-0 lead, the lights were out in Jersey. Manning, who won his fifth regular-season Most Valuable Player award on Saturday night, had another
Russell Wilson Super stumble, falling to 1-2 in title games. He was intercepted by Kam Chancellor with 59 seconds left in the first quarter, setting the Seahawks up at the Denver 37. Seven plays later Marshawn Lynch blasted over from the 1-yard line to make it 15-0 Seattle three minutes into the second quarter. Denver (15-4) didn’t gain a first down until 10:32 of the second quarter. When they finally seemed to be getting untracked offensively, boom went the dynamite. A crushing hit by Cliff Avril allowed Malcolm Smith to pick off Manning and race 69 yards for a touchdown, making it 22-0 Seahawks at 3:16 of the second quarter.
Things went sideways for Manning and the Broncos in a hurry. An errant shotgun snap from Manny Ramirez sailed past Manning’s head on the game’s first play from scrimmage at the Denver 14. Knowshon Moreno was tackled in the end zone giving the Seahawks a safety and a 2-0 lead 12 seconds in. It was the quickest score in Super Bowl history. The Seahawks (16-3) marched 51 yards on nine plays on the ensuing possession before the drive stalled. Steven Hauschka’s 31-yard field goal made it 5-0 at 10:21 of the first. Seattle went up 8-0 about eight minutes later, Hauschka hitting a 33-yard field goal. The Broncos, boasting the league’s best offense during the regular season, ended the shutout bid by scoring on the final play of the third quarter, Manning finding Demaryius Thomas for a 14-yard TD. Weather wasn’t an issue in the first outdoor Super Bowl at a cold weather venue. Temperature at kickoff was 48 degrees. Super Bowl XLVIII marked the fifth time a team allowing fewest points faced off against a team scoring the most points. The defensive team has won all five NFL championship games.
Monday February 03, 2014
NAGICO Regional Super50 cricket
Bajans spoil Trinis party with 28-run win By Sean Devers in Trinidad In Association with Digicel, Carib Beer, Giftland Office Max, Payless Varity Store & Leisure Inn & Car Rentals Carnival is scheduled for March 3 & 4 but last night it was like ‘Carnival come early’ as the largest crowd of the tournament, dancing to pulsating Soca Music, created a fantastic atmosphere and passionately urged the home team on. But by the time the dust had settled Trinidad & Tobago had slipped to a 28-run victory over archrivals Barbados under lights at the Queens Park Oval in the NAGICO Regional Super50 cricket competition. A cultured 109 from Man-of-the-Match 26year-old Jonathon Carter, who faced 111 balls in his second List ‘A’ century with nine fours and five sixes, along with a swashbuckling 83 aided by 10 fours and three sixes from 30-year-old Dwayne Smith, propelled Barbados to 269-8 off their allotted 45 overs. Ryad Emrit took 4-50. The then visitors restricted Trinidad & Tobago to 241 although Denesh Ramdin (48*), Darren Bravo (40) and Lendl Simmons (37) offered token resistance to left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn who captured 4-39 and Jason Holder 3-29. Barbados won the toss in the match reduced to 45 overs due to a 105-minute late start due to overnight and morning rain. Smith and Kraigg Brathwaite took the score to 26 with Smith starting in his usual pugnacious fashion. He was especially severe on Ravi Rampaul. But Skipper Dwayne Bravo bowled Brathwaite (2) with a beauty that jagged back into the right-hander in the fourth over as Trinidad and Tobago, the most decorated team in Regional 50-over cricket with 10 titles, made the break through. Smith entertained the fans with an array of audacious shots, while R a s h i d i B o u c h e r, w h o greeted pacer Kevon Cooper for two gloriously driven consecutive cover boundaries, was not to left out of the party. The pair brought up the Bajan 50 in 8.2 overs
before Boucher (13) was trapped LBW to legspinner Imran Khan with the score on 57-2. The explosive Smith, who scored a robust ton on his Test debut in South Africa, reached his 20th List ‘A’ fifty with a nonchalant six off Khan. His 50 came from 39 balls eight fours and two sixes. Carter gathered three boundaries in two overs off Ryad Emrit before Smith clobbered Cooper back over his head for six as the pair put together 103 for the third wicket in quick time to the dismay of the vocal flagwaving fans that produced a Sea of red beyond the boundary. The left-handed Carter reached his 50 from 67 balls, decorated with six fours and a six, but soon after Smith, who faced 73 balls, lofted Emrit to long off to leave Barbados on 160-4 in the 29th over. Skipper Kevin Stout was bowled for a duck by Emrit without addition to the score and the Carib Girls in the Trini Possie were dancing in the stands. However, Carter continued to bat positively and was dropped by Darren Bravo off Emrit on 82 at 2114. Carter added insult to injury by hooking a high full toss from Emrit into the stands. Carter soon became the
second centurion for the tournament and only the second non Trinidadian to reach three-figures on this ground. He reached his hundred from 106 balls and was aided by seven fours and five sixes and added 91 with Shane Dowrich (35) for the fifth wicket. Barath and Evin Lewis took their team to 24 before Holder removed Barath (10) to a low catch at third man as he slashed at the towering fast bowler who had Lewis (13) caught behind in the same over four runs later. Darren Bravo and Simmons tried to repair the damage and 50 was posted in the 14th over. Bravo dumped Benn for effortless sixes in consecutive overs and exquisitely square driving Stout for four before he was bowled by Benn for 40 from 40 balls with four fours and two sixes. Dwayne Bravo (16) was LBW to Benn as the hosts slipped 113-4 before Simmons hit Ashley Nurse for consecutive fours to keep hopes alive but when he was bowled by Benn for 37, the smiles were fast disappearing from the faces of the Trini supporters and contest was as good as over d e s p i t e R a m d i n ’s l a s t minute effort.
Everest Cricket Club AGM set for February 28 The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Everest Cricket Club will be held on Friday 28th, February 2014 at 18:30 hrs at the club’s pavilion. Ordinary members are reminded that only those who have paid their full membership fees and subscription for the year 2014 and settled all outstanding dues including bar bills up to Dec 31, 2013 , will be allowed entry and to participate in the elections. Associate members are allowed to attend but not to vote. Members are also asked to note that provisions will not be made to receive subscriptions/dues on the day of the elections and are therefore advised to ensure that all fees must be paid on or before February 27, 2014.
Specialists win opening round of Robert Williams Memorial Dominoes Specialist marked 82 games to win the opening round of the Robert Williams Memorial Dominoes competition on Wednesday night last at R and R venue in Meadowbrook. R and R with 75 games placed second, while Dream Team placed third with 65. Paul Lewis scored 17 and Mark Rodrigues 16 for the winners, while Orin Favorite chalked up 17 and Milton Brown 15 for R and R; Eon Kishan made 16 for Dream Team. The competition continued yesterday at La Belle Hotel and bar. The champion team will pocket a trophy and $200,000, the runner up a trophy and $100,000, third place a trophy and $50,000 and fourth place $25,000. The most valuable player in the final will be given $5,000.