Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

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

Are the police a law unto themselves

DEAR EDITOR, Over the years members of the Guyana Police Force came in for praise and criticism for their actions on various issues. However, over the past several months, the police have been making the news for all the wrong reasons. We heard of the case of a Rupununi woman being beaten by a policeman known by his infamous alias “Shuggah” last year , the Colwyn Harding case, the ranks who assaulted a TV host at Sparendaam, the drunk rank who drove his car into a canal in Sophia ,damaging a fence in the process, the ranks who allegedly assaulted a 16-year-old and now we have an admirable public figure in the name of Mr Rawlston Adams who was verbally assaulted by one of these “powerful” men in uniform. One therefore begs the following questions. Are police ranks a law onto themselves? Are there rules which apply to

these men and women of the law? ARE THERE WEEKLY OR EVEN DAILY meetings between rank and superior? Are these ranks,especially the uncouth hooligans , given reinforced messages as regards dealing with the public? Do the commanders of the various divisions meet with ranks (not their immediate superiors) and scold them whenever media reports highlight their bad public image? Is the GPF ashamed of the image it is portraying these days? One wonders what is going through the minds of those other police officers who have worked tirelessly over the years to upkeep the image of the force. I commend those officers for their contributions to law enforcement. I wish however, that the Administration of the force wield out those characters who are tarnishing its image. After all, a police officer’s role is to serve and protect. Paulette Harvey

The day the police invaded the hospital DEAR SIR, I have read with some interest an article in the Guyana Times, January 20, 2014 captioned “Policeman goes berserk at NA hospital”. It was accompanied by some photographs of what was the damaged portion of the hospital. The burning question that I have to ask is —is there a special law for policemen and one that is separate and exclusive to civilians? We have nurses who were simply earning a living as employees at the New Amsterdam hospital and a doctor. They were petrified by the behaviour of the police and prison officers. It is not clear what precipitated the damage to property of the Hospital but is that what we should expect from our uniformed upholders of the law? They appeared to be under the influence of more than alcohol and were suffering from lacerations at the time. They chased nurses and a doctor around the compound and even assaulted a doctor. One may even question the security for both employees and patients at that institution. Funny, isn’t it that the matter has been so hush hush! The public needs to be informed about the sanctions, if any, against these policemen. I have been pacing the halls of our various courts since that eventful morning hoping to catch a glimpse of the perpetrators as they would have been brought to face the long arm of the law. That was a despicable behaviour. It was a display of blatant disregard for law and order and at a public hospital

at that. Minister Rohee, the immovable Minister, have you ordered that any of these hoodlums be charged? Is there an investigation into that vandalism? Why has no one been charged? Then there is the issue of causing death by dangerous driving that took place well over six months ago. An inspector of police was driving his car and struck down a man at the Fyrish road on the Corentyne. The policeman has not been charged as yet. In a similar situation a very prominent doctor caused the death of an individual by accident and this doctor was charged a few days later. Let us not forget the infamous robbery at No 48, on the Corentyne which allegedly involved policemen. It resulted in “harry wrong to Harry right” being transferred to various locations. But has anyone been charged? If it is known that policemen were involved in that robbery (I am not saying that policemen were involved) why has no one been charged? Then not so long ago two

very dedicated traffic policemen in New Amsterdam were ordered remanded and they blatantly refused to attend their remand, which I understand is a special holding place at Eve Leary. They were doing brisk business on the roads in Berbice in full view of the presiding Magistrate who ordered them remanded. What disrespect and disregard for the law that they have sworn to uphold. Of course they were questioned on their next court date by the said magistrate and both these officers had no excuse. How could they offer a reason for their refusal to obey an order of a court? The matter ended on that note. Is there a special law for policemen and separate one for civilians? What is the Minister doing to save face in all of the above? Is there anyone in authority in this Government who can offer any explanation for the abuse of law and order by police in this country? And we are not even going to look at the dark tinted cars that they own Thank you. Charrandass Persaud

EMPOWER VOTERS AND PARTY MEMBERS

DEAR EDITOR, Further to an idea I have floated around for parties to allow members to elect their leaders and to hold primary type elections to choose candidates (nominees) for elective office or even party leadership in, Guyana and elsewhere, the idea is being experimented with by the Congress Party of India. Rahul Gandhi, scion of the ruling Congress and its Vice President and prospective Prime Ministerial candidate, announced that he would like for the high command of his party to play less of a role in selecting candidates for elections. He feels the role of candidate selection should be played by voters in a district since they are in a best position to select who will be an effective representative. He feels the party members should choose their nominee. The primary process is used effectively in America allowing the voters to choose their nominee – and it was handed down by judicial ruling. That process should be emulated in

Guyana if politicians truly believe that the people are the source of power. In Guyana, people are not pleased with candidate selection. In an opinion poll I conducted some five years ago in Guyana, people stated they did not like some of the candidates offered as their M.Ps or some in leadership positions. There was/is a disconnect between the party leadership and representative with the masses and they complained that the leadership was not responsive to their complaints of ineffective representation and poor leadership. The party leadership chose who they wanted to be the M.P (nominee) and the point person for an area and or party executive against the advice and opinion of the people. Some of the M.Ps and regional Chairs were most unpopular; people had contempt for them. In the NACTA opinion poll, people overwhelmingly endorsed the idea of a primary but voters also stated that they don’t think the parties

will accept primaries because it reduces the power of the leadership of the parties; voters could reject their unpopular corrupt nominees. None of the parties in Guyana allows one man one vote to choose party leadership or nominees for office. All the parties have disappointed the population and none of them have proposed any idea to empower voters or consult with voters on policymaking as is done in the developed countries. I should note that recently the SPD in Germany sent out a survey to query its members on whether the party should join the ruling CDU in forming a coalition government. The leader of the SPD was against the coalition but the majority of the members (from the survey feedback) approved of it and the SPD is now in a coalition. Similarly, in Delhi, the AAP leader was initially against forming a minority government but the party sent out a survey to test support Continued on page 29

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Culture Ministry plagued by poor management…

Mahaica suspect Status of National Trust held 10 years after financial reports “unknown” farmer’s murder The exact statuses of the financial reports of the National Trust which are to be presented to Cabinet still remain unknown at this time. This finding came to the foreground via a meeting held by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday last. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King came under much examination by members of the committee and was subsequently challenged to answer on a number of issues. To begin with, the financial reports on the National Trust which is responsible for the preservation of historic buildings and sites in Guyana were not submitted to the Auditor General on time. It

was revealed that this occurred because the reports were riddled with inaccuracies. It was also disclosed that the reports of 2004 to 2011 were sent to the Auditor General to be reviewed. However, the Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, at the said meeting said that he assumed the reports came over the weekend but he did not see it on Monday last. King said that the inaccuracies delayed the process as it had to be corrected, but noted that measures have been put in place to ensure that it does not repeat itself. But the success of this recently implemented mechanism was not the next concern of the members of the Committee. Instead, King was asked to answer two basic questions: “Where are the reports which are to be before Cabinet?” and “What led to the inaccuracies?” Neither of the questions he was able to

answer satisfactorily. Instead, King was instructed to return to his Ministry to do several checks to determine the status of the reports. Committee member, Gail Teixeira had asked the Permanent Secretary as to the status of the reports and why they are not before Cabinet. King struggled for an answer, but Teixeira at the end of his remarks instructed that he conduct a meticulous search in order to determine the status of the reports. She said, “I would like to know where they (the reports) are and when they are going to be before Cabinet. To my knowledge none is at cabinet.” King up to this point was still unable to provide a definitive answer as to whether the reports for Cabinet were at the Ministry of Culture, or still with the National Trust. King was then challenged by Committee members to state who normally monitors the reports to ensure it is completed in a timely manner. After indicating that he is tasked with that responsibility, he was then asked about the oversight which occurred between 2004 and 2009 that led to the reports being submitted just recently. “I won’t be able to say, but the Trust provides quarterly reports to the Culture Ministry, and we have

Alfred King, Permanent Secretary of the Culture Ministry systems now to ensure now that proper work is done,” King said. Another PAC member, Jaipaul Sharma, then asked King to comment on what really prevented the Trust from getting the reports accurately prepared. The Permanent Secretary then informed that there was an issue of miscommunication and a meeting was held to address the procedures in relation to the said reports. The matter, he explained, was subsequently resolved. Sharma then stressed for there to be someone or a system in place to continue proper management of the Trust.

The rope of freedom finally ran out for a 32-yearold man who was captured by police over the weekend and made his first court appearance for the murder of one of his villagers, 10 years ago. Radesh Guyadeen also known as ‘Bruks Man’ was remanded to prison by Magistrate Sueanna Lovell at the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court, for the May 4, 2003 murder of 37-year-old farmer Nandram Manouar called ‘Nanu’ of Lancaster, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara. It is alleged that Guyadeen ,who was 22 years old at the time, stabbed Manouar in his chest shortly after he left a wedding house in the village. On that fateful day, Manouar had accused someone of puncturing his bicycle. Minutes later he cried out to a friend that he had been stabbed. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation but died before receiving treatment. Guyadeen, who was the prime suspect, subsequently fled the jurisdiction and was reportedly hiding out in Suriname for the past 10 years. Despite his absence, Guyadeen was charged with murder. After several call-ups, the Preliminary Inquiry was put down sine die (indefinitely) in 2007. It was then discharged in 2011. According to a source,

thinking that all was forgotten, coupled with the longing to see his relatives again, Guyadeen quietly slipped back into Guyana sometime in December. His new looks kept him safe for awhile as he maintained a low profile. On Saturday night he could no longer maintain that status and took the chance to go liming by a known drug block in the village. He did not cater for the vigilant members of the village’s Community Policing Group, who along with Police Constable Elvis Jones, who resides in the area, were on patrol. They raided several hotspots and spotted Guyadeen smoking a marijuana joint which he hurriedly threw away upon seeing the police. He was arrested by the ranks, who were about to book him for loitering. The murder accused was almost spared the murder charge since the police rank who arrested him did not recognize him. However, one of the CPG members recognised him and informed the police at the Mahaica Station, where Guyadeen was taken. The information was relayed to the Divisional Headquarters at Cove and John where the records were checked and it was confirmed that Guyadeen was wanted for the murder of Manouar. The accused is to return to court on March 11.

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Minister says government using “wrong medicine” to deal with economy BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – Less than a week after he publicly indicated that he would speak out on the economic problems facing Barbados, Agriculture Minister Dr. David Estwick says the Freundel Stuart administration is using the “wrong medicine” to deal with the economic problems facing the island. In an interview with the online publication, Barbados TODAY, Estwick, a former finance minister, said that while he understood the strategy being adopted by the government to turn around the ailing economy, it was not going to achieve the desired goal of fixing a BDS$1.4 billion (One Barbados dollar =US$0.50 cents) current account deficit. “So you can’t cut and tax out of that, which is the old budgetary tool, which is a classic IMF [International Monetary Fund] way of delivering it. I am not afraid to say what I have to say because I stand by my inferences and by my reasoning and my common sense. Where that leads me, it will lead me,” he told the publication. Last weekend, the government began laying off the first batch of 3,000 public sector workers over the coming months. Workers employed at the National Housing Corporation (NHC) were among the first to receive dismissal letters after the government that had earlier this month rejected proposals from the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) as not going far enough to meet the objective of a significant cut in public sector expenditure. Finance and Economic Affairs Minister

Dr. David Estwick Chris Sinckler said that the government has already drawn up the list of public workers to be dismissed. Sinckler said that the plan to cut public service jobs would result in the government saving as much as BDS$143 million (One BDS dollar = US$0.50 cents) and that the government had also agreed to institute a “strict programme of attrition” across the central public service, filling posts only where it is absolutely unavoidable, over the next five years, ending 2018-2019. Estwick said that instead of the government focusing on cutting wages and salaries, it should be concentrating on addressing what, he argued, was a $10.9 billion debt service. He said he plans to present an alternative plan to the Cabinet on Thursday “What I have to do now is to ask the Prime Minister to accede to a full power point presentation with the entire Cabinet. “Once that happens, and the Cabinet is in agreement, then I am in a

position, with the agreement of the Prime Minister, to come to the public and say, ‘Look, these are the things we think we can add and do, X,Y,Z. So what I was trying to do was to get a hearing, so they (Cabinet members) understand that these tools require supporting tools to achieve what I want to achieve; that is nationally economic development and growth. “So it’s not a matter of, as some people were trying to suggest, of fighting against Sinckler,” Estwick told the Barbados TODAY, adding “you need to look at other things. So that is really what I push for and it is the other things I will speak to fully, publicly, once I get the Cabinet concurrence and once I get the support of the other members and the Prime Minister. “But I am confident that the measures are going to be measures that will stand on their own reasoning and as a result of that, will stand on their own inferences as to what conclusions will come from those particular measures.” Estwick is insisting that the government cannot tax and cut out of a current account deficit of $1.4 billion at the end of fiscal year 2013/14 by the old traditional methods. “You cannot do it, if you don’t have concomitant growth going along the same time, so that you can absorb any of the public sector contractions by loss of jobs. We don’t have the growth strategy going, because the growth strategy is compromised by cost. And all that happens because of the high debt and the high fiscal deficit position. So we are in a vicious cycle,” he added.

WOMAN WITNESS SHOT DEAD Cop a ‘person of interest’ in killing of 25-year-old mom Trinidad Express - A Couva woman who was a State witness in a court case was shot and killed on the street Monday, weeks after she received death threats not to testify. Stacy Roopan, 25, was shot dead at Isaiah Street as she walked towards a preschool to pick up her threeyear-old son. Roopan’s killing was recorded as the 50th person to be murdered this year. She is the eighth woman to be killed this year. A police officer is a person of interest in the killing, according to investigators.

Roopan’s father, Lutchman Roopan, said that in December, his daughter’s car, a Nissan Sylphy, was broken into and her identification cards and other personal items were stolen. A note was left in the vehicle, with a threat that she would be killed if she testified in a court matter. Her father told the Express he last talked to his daughter around 1.25 p.m. at their home at Isaiah Street. The man said he would usually pick up his grandson from the pre-school. However, he was not feeling well and his daughter said she would go. Roopan said he went into his bedroom and she left the

house. He said within five minutes he heard several loud explosions. The father said: “I told her husband that is not a firecracker, that is a gunshot. I told him to go and see what happened in the road.” Roopchan’s husband found his wife’s body roadside. She had been shot at least six times, police said. Police were yesterday searching for a white Nissan Tiida which they were told was seen speeding away from the crime scene. In January another State witness, Ricaldo Sanchez, was also killed after receiving threats.

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A CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS WILL BE CREATED IF THE COURT’S DECISION IS NOT RESPECTED I do not understand how the Constitution can trigger a constitutional crisis. A constitutional crisis exists where the highest law of the land does not provide a remedy for a particular situation that requires a constitutional remedy. It is unheard of for the Constitution itself to trigger its own crisis. Guyana has had constitutional crises before. In 1990, general elections were constitutionally due. However, these elections could not have been held because the Voters’ List needed to be sanitized. A decision was taken to have a new list prepared. This entailed a delay in the holding of elections. However, since according to the Constitution elections had to be held within a specified time, a constitutional crisis loomed because there were no provisions in the Constitution to deal with this situation. The problem was solved

by resort to a legal principle of constitutional law known as the doctrine of necessity. Under this doctrine, acts which would otherwise be considered unlawful are given lawful protection. It is this doctrine that was used to extend the life of the National Assembly until it was eventually prorogued for the historic 1992 elections. The High Court of Guyana recently ruled that it is unlawful for the National Assembly to reduce the Estimates of the Minister of Finance. In attempting to justify their refusal by some parties to accept and respect this decision, claims have been made that if this decision by the High Court is adhered to, it will lead to a constitutional crisis. The argument is that if the opposition parties refuse to approve the Budget, as is their right to do, it will trigger a constitutional crisis because fresh elections will have to be held.

It is hard to fathom the logic of this argument. The Constitution allows for the opposition to approve or disapprove the Budget. If they refuse it may lead to new elections. So where is the Constitutional crisis? Since when is the holding of elections a constitutional crisis? If the same opposition parties decide that they no longer have confidence in the administration, they can exercise the option of moving a motion of no-confidence in the Cabinet. While the Constitution does not dictate that the government should resign, by virtue of a constitutional convention the government is expected to resign. But this option of moving a motion of no-confidence is not seen as triggering a constitutional crisis. So how can the disapproval of the Budget, which forces the government to go back to the polls, be deemed a constitutional

Dem boys seh

DISHANEST KINGS REIGN IN GUYANA A King is considered a ruler and is respected by all throughout de land like de King of England or de King of Spain. People know dem to be decent and hanest. Other parts of de world got kings too but all of dem is not de same. Guyana got couple and dem just plain indecent and dishanest. One of dem been de wukking good in Brazil. She was a big thing until Uncle Donald find out that she actions mek she wuss than a li’l thing. Is not dem boys seh suh, is Uncle Donald seh that she involve in wrongdoing and he fire she. Another one name Fred King. He wukking wid culture. De Parliament tell he that he got to put back $35 million wha he and he Minister hide. That money was given to dem to start up some church channel. Is either dem ain’t got church or dem ain’t got channel. King ain’t set up none of de two. Dem got a King wukking wid de Ministry of Health but she does only deal wid de dead and de paper fuh bun dem. In order fuh get you dead fuh bury, you got to give she a raise, and no ordinary raise. Dem boys ain’t call that dishonest, dem call it facilitatious. That mean that she helping out and at de

same time helping she self. You better give she, because it ain’t mek sense burying de money or bunning it. We got a King at de Waterfalls paper wukking side by side wid dem boys. He ain’t dishonest but he stupidy. He just like de mudda who give up she daughta wha kill de lady in Agricola. De police tun up early o’clock at she door and ask she bout de whereabouts of she daughter de night before. De daughta, when she get arrest, tell de police that she been home de whole night. But like any hanest mother de woman tell de police that she daughter been out ‘bout 10

o’clock de night and she nah know wha time she come home. If she daughta did give she a wink or a heads up of wha she do, de mudda woulda swear that she daughta never lef de home in a whole month. Is de same thing when thief man get shot. Dey mudda does always seh how dem just been out fuh buy bread or tennis roll. Not dem boys seh suh. Is dem own family members does tell de media that fuh paint a good picture of dem children and fuh draw sympathy. Talk half and pray fuh all of dem.

crisis? The opposition parties feel that they should have the right to amend the Estimates of Expenditure and because the Court has ruled that they do not, they are suggesting that if they only have the power to approve or disapprove the Estimates, then exercising the latter will lead to a constitutional crisis. This argument has no merit, because the power to approve or disapprove is incontestably granted by the Constitution itself. And the Constitution cannot create a crisis for itself. Right now there is an ongoing constitutional crisis. It concerns the appointments of the Chief Justice and the Chancellor. The Constitution provides that there must be agreement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition on the appointment of persons to these two offices. The Constitution is however silent on what happens if there is no agreement. As such, there is an impasse. But this impasse has not ended the rule of law in Guyana. So even when there are situations for which

the Constitution provides no remedies it does not trigger a situation that affects the operations of the rule of law. The opposition however wishes to assert that its inability to amend the Budget will lead to fresh elections. Last year, the President of United States locked horns with the US Congress over certain financial proposals. This did not create a Constitutional crisis. It threatened a fiscal cliff and there was a shutdown of federal institutions and services for a few weeks. In the end, laws were passed to regularize the situation. The same thing will happen if the opposition parties refuse to approve the Budget, and if the time passes in which the Budget is supposed to be approved. It will create a fiscal cliff in Guyana and a temporary shutdown of certain government services. This is no constitutional crisis. It is a crisis of legislative failure to agree, something that the Obama Administration has experienced. The real constitutional crisis will be created by the

failure of the Speaker to comply with the decision of the Court. The two greatest threats to constitutional rule are legislative and executive annulment of a judicial decision. The three arms of the State are supposed to exist in comity. The Constitution itself is predicated on the separation of power and the Constitution grants certain powers of superintendence to the Courts. If the decisions of the Courts are disrespected or disregarded by the e x e c u t i v e arm of the government, this represents an act of executive annulment and if the legislature does this, it is an act of legislative annulment. This renders the judiciary otiose and the relationship between the three arms of government incommodious. This is the real constitutional crisis, one that will be triggered if the legislature refuses to adhere to the decision of the Court.

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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Comical country: Kamboat, Lenno Craig, Digicel, and… This country is a circus. It is unbelievable. Here are some stories about weird Guyana. Leonard Craig who signs his letters to the press as Lenno Craig has just returned from Germany where he is doing his doctorate. We went to lunch last week, then he joined my wife in the car because he was going to a house in Turkeyen, one block from where I live. My wife asked if he was glad to be home. He said that he was delighted, but when he sees the nonsense that goes on in Guyana, he yearns again for Germany. What nonsense is Lenno talking about? Lenno had some terrible misfortunes in Guyana. I happened to be right there when some of them occurred. Here is Craig’s latest dilemma, days after returning home. He lost his SIM card,

so he went to Digicel’s head office for the same number. He produced his ID. Both GT&T and Digicel are inflexible about the submission of a national ID or passport when purchasing either a complete phone or a SIM card. Under the law, the names are stored so the security authorities can know who made a call if a criminal offence was committed. That is commonsensical, so no one can argue with that. Craig said he was informed that Digicel does not deal with national ID in situations of loss of phone or SIM, but wants to have a list of numbers he called six months ago. Craig said a number of other demands were made of him. His request to see a supervisor was refused. Read the account of his Digicel ordeal in last Saturday’s letter pages of KN.

In 2012, a policeman in the High Court corridor came up to Craig and told him to put his shirt into his trousers waist. Craig and I objected because he was wearing a shirt-jac, only that it differed from the traditional shirt-jacs, in that it was of floral design. Since that incident, Craig and I from 2012 right through to November 2013, tried as many as twenty times to see the Registrar to ascertain what are his dress code requirements, since he delegated the High Court police to determine what is suitable to wear. He was never there. This man serves a country with a population of less than nine hundred thousand, yet you simply cannot find this state employee in his office. I have given up trying to see him. I have seen people reduced to tears because a

police orderly determined they cannot go into court with the type of colour pattern their clothes have. Which philosopher made the Registrar and the police orderly group at the High Court authorities on aesthetics? Dennis Atwell of the AFC was turned away in my presence because the orderly told him the colour of his jersey was too loud. I stood in complete numbness, because he was wearing a perfectly acceptable yellow top. Mrs. Gem MadhooNascimento wrote in a letter in both KN and SN that people are turned away from the National Cultural Centre because they wear denim trousers. In public institutions, women are precluded from entering if they have on sleeveless tops. This country is nothing but a circus with clowns in administrative positions that are downright stupid. I discovered a weird little thing the past two months on Sheriff Street. There is a small Chinese restaurant there named Kamboat. I found it strange that four times I called

to order lunch for my kid, no one answered. On the fourth occasion, I decided I would check it out myself. Every day, Kamboat ceases operations for twenty minutes for the changeover of staff. Guess how many staff there are – eight. One Guyanese manager, two Chinese cooks, three employees in the takeaway section and two employees in the dining lounge. Yet they have to close for twenty minutes for changeover, during which no one is allowed to answer the phones. This does not happen at any other restaurant in the world? Finally, I got a call from the Secretary of the CEO of one of Guyana’s most prominent insurance companies. “Mr. Kissoon, my boss would like you to drop off to me a copy of your research on racism.” I don’t know the gentleman; never met him. I later found out the reason he refused to speak to me directly. He doesn’t like dark-skinned nonentities. RETRACTION Acting Chief Justice (CJ), Ian Chang, has sought a

Frederick Kissoon retraction of a statement of mine that can be interpreted to mean that President Jagdeo secured the CJ’s duty free car after his request to GRA was turned down. My statement was contained in my column that appeared in yesterday’s edition of the Kaieteur News. I do agree that the wording can be interpreted to mean that President Jagdeo intervened with the GRA to allow the CJ to have his duty fee concession. Since I have no such proof, I hereby retract the statement. I would however insist that I raised the issue in the High Court corridor with the CJ in front of Mr. Christopher Ram. I agree I have no proof that the CJ received his concession through the instrumentality of President Jagdeo. The GRA’s position was that the request should have come from the functional superior of the CJ. Nothing personal was intended in my column. Frederick Kissoon

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Countrywide service upgrades for GWI The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is preparing to carry out countrywide service upgrades as several bids in this regard were opened yesterday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Ministry of Finance, Main Street. Bids were submitted for the supply and installation of 150mm PVC Distribution Mains, Agriculture Road to Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, Region Four.

Still within the sector, bids were opened for the installation of transmission mains, Eccles to Third Access Road, Providence, East Bank Demerara, Region Four.

For Region Six, bids were submitted for the installation of a distribution network at Angoy’s Avenue.

Finally, bids were opened for the extension of Transmission Mains at Hague Back, West Coast Demerara, and Interlink Works at Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara, and Tuschen New Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, Region Three.

Further bids were opened for the supply and installation of 200mm Transmission Mains, Friendship to Brickery, East Bank Demerara, Region Four.

Bids were also tendered for the supply and construction of a potable water well at the Sophia Water Treatment Plant, Region Four.

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Gold prices, sugar slump will lower Guyana’s growth this year - IDB A slump in gold prices and poor performance from the sugar sector will see Guyana facing major downside risks to its growth momentum, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has said. In its Caribbean Region Quarterly Bulletin issued last month, the bilateral lending agency said that this will lead to a lower growth forecast for 2014 at 4.3 percent. This will be below the 4.8 percent growth recorded last year. Energy cost also remains a big worry for Guyana. “Further downside risks may stem from lagging investments in productive infrastructure, especially roads, ports and electricity; as the economy’s competitiveness and capacity to diversify are stymied by high energy costs, limited electrical generation capacity and poor quality of electricity service.” During the year, lower

gold prices and weak output from sugar prompted authorities to lower the growth forecast from 5.3 percent to 4.8 percent. “However, the economy remained well positioned for sustained economic expansion as growth continued to be broad-based and buoyed by the vibrant construction, agriculture, mining, and manufacturing sectors.” IDB noted that the struggling sugar industry still weighs heavily on Guyana’s overall economic performance. “During the first half of 2013, non sugar economic growth plateaued at 6.0 percent, while the sugar sector diminished by 32.5 percent.” Third-quarter performance indicated a further decline in output of 19.6 percent as a result of unfavourable wet weather

conditions that hindered the harvest. “However, the authorities expect that increased output from the Skeldon Sugar Factory after its successful rehabilitation and good weather conditions in the fourth quarter can lead to the revised second crop target of 155,000 metric tons.” RICE BLESSINGS In contrast, rice output surged. Total rice production surpassed its end-of-year target of 500,000 metric tonnes in October 2013, and fourth quarter production estimates are on course to reach 522,000 tonnes (24.6 percent of 2012 production). “The authorities attributed the massive outturn in the rice industry to a combination of increased acreage and higher yields per acre through the greater use of improved varieties. These elements together continue to

Rice helped buoy the economy last year but it may not be enough to sustain it at the same level this year, IDB says. lower the cost of production as scale economies are realized.” Surplus returns and continued investment to increase production capacity have enabled gold miners to realize profits despite lower prices because of their relatively low operational costs in comparison with the cost of a greenfield investment. “However, prices could continue dropping as the peak season for consumption demand for gold ends and as global financial markets strengthen.” IDB warned that this

poses a significant risk to the continued expansion of the sector. Another area of some concern for IDB is the domestic credit which has rapidly expanded more than 20 percent per year since 2010, primarily because of a housing boom and heavy investment in the rice and gold sectors. “Despite being well capitalized and profitable, with liquidity ratios above 30 percent, commercial banks are very exposed to commodity price volatility. Gold and rice production booms have fuelled real estate acquisition,

a construction boom, and have thus increase demand for asset-backed loans.” The bank said there is a risk that a significant drop in commodity prices will cause serious stress in bank portfolios and increase nonperforming loans. MORE REMITTANCES With regard to remittances, after a brief period of decline, flows to Guyana began to show signs of a solid recovery. “Recently, they reached growth rates close to those recorded before the start of the global economic crisis. In 2012, total inbound remittances amounted to US$469 million, a 47 percent increase since 2009.” Authorities anticipate further growth of inbound remittance flows to reach US$498 million in 2013 as major source economies improve their growth performances. Remittance flows also represent an important source of income for thousands of families in Guyana who receive transfers to cover basic needs and invest in education, health, housing, and small businesses. However, the true value of remittance inflows and its development impact is difficult to determine, given that many Guyanese migrants remit by “hand carry,” which is not covered by the formal reporting system. Guyana also outpaces most of its Caribbean country counterparts in the share of remittances to GDP. Inbound remittances to Guyana account for roughly 13.6 percent of GDP, a close second to only Jamaica at 14.5 percent. The United States is the prime destination for Guyanese migrants and, as such, currently represents the largest source of remittance flows to Guyana at 63 percent.

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Vendor jailed for beating reputed wife for sex A 55-year-old vendor who “thrashed” his wife because she refused to have sex with him was yesterday sentenced to one year behind bars by Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmonds after he confessed to the crime. Gavin Marshall on Tuesday last appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to be arraigned on an assault charge. His matter was first called before the Chief Magistrate who subsequently transferred it to the court of Magistrate ChandanEdmonds who conducted his trial. The charge with regards to his reputed wife alleged that on January 27, at their King Edward Street, Albouystown residence, Marshall assault her thereby causing her to sustain injuries. During the course of him being held in custody, another charged was slapped against him, which alleged that Marshall on January 29 at the East Ruimveldt Police Station, behaved in a disorderly manner. When the accused first appeared before the Magistrate he had denied the claims but at yesterday’s hearing he changed his plea to guilty. The Prosecution’s case was presented by Lance Corporal Jomo Nichols who stated that on January 27, Marshall

approached the woman for sex and she refused. He then asked her the reason for her refusal. She reportedly told him that she was tired and he got angry and slapped her several times to her face. The matter was later reported and Marshall was taken to the East La Penitence Police station where he was charged. The prosecutor continued explaining that while in the cell on January 29, he behaved in a disorderly manner and was spoken to by police ranks on several occasions, but he refused to stop. He was at that time banging his head on the door of the lock-ups and shouting, which caused persons to gather. Ye s t e r d a y, when Marshall was asked by the Magistrate why he was behaving in such a manner, he told her that he was frustrated because he had given his brother $40,000 to bail him, but he went away and never returned. He offered his apologies for his behaviour but was sentenced to one month imprisonment on account of that charge. However, on account of the assault charges Magistrate ChandanEdmonds sentenced him to one year’s imprisonment and informed him that the sentences will run concurrently.

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Credit Bureau makes strides By Kiana Wilburg The Credit Bureau launched last September is making headway in certain areas, but still remains unable to achieve its groundbreaking impact, as some consumers have not quite understood what the entity really does. A credit bureau is an organization that collects credit information from lenders and other sources on a consumer, analyses and uses it to create comprehensive credit reports and other value added services. The information is then supplied to banks and other institutions for specified reasons, but with the written permission from the consumer. Though hindered by misconceptions of the bureau being a lending institution, Manager of Sales and Business Development, David Falconer, has informed that the company will remain resolute in its aim to educate consumers. Since receiving its licence to operate in August 2013, the Credit Bureau continues to make significant strides with the signing of all commercial banks and the majority of utility companies as credit information providers. But as more organizations recognize the value and relevance of the powerful tools that the credit bureau has available, it is believed that their efforts at communicating the benefits of the credit bureau would become easier. Falconer explained that while the bureau continues to add more relevant credit data

- but hindered by misconceptions

Judy Semple-Joseph

David Falconer

to its database, which he believes would be appreciated by subscribers, there are still a few challenges. The most significant being the level of public knowledge, and perception of what the credit bureau is set up to do. The Manager said that the concept of information sharing, whether for positive benefits or not, is so new to the society that many people have yet to wrap their minds around it. “Then there is the large percentage of persons who still seem to think that we are here to lend them money, or to extend credit in some way. We recognize this, as also we recognize that in time all Guyanese will get to a point of clarity on all the issues. Therefore we have committed substantial resources to facilitating outreaches to

stakeholders in all sectors, in an effort to further their understanding of this allimportant subject that is a milestone in our history and development as a nation.” Furthermore, Judy Semple-Joseph, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Credit Info said that the company has been growing. She noted that just recently the bureau trained all of the frontline staff in the financial and banking sectors so that public and stakeholder inquiries can be addressed with maximum efficiency. The CEO expressed that more training seminars will be conducted in the coming months so as to fully equip users and stakeholders with the necessary knowledge to use the many credit reporting modules and tools that the credit bureau offers.

Invite others towards good with wisdom. Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.

Committed to continuously refining its programme, the Credit bureau recently incorporated into its system –The International Business Report, called “SeeRisk.” This report, Falconer explained, targets the business community in particular, but is also useful to anyone who conducts business transactions with foreign companies and persons outside of Guyana. “Essentially it provides details such as contact information, company registration, Company offices and directors, three years of financial statements, records of bankruptcies, winding up orders, bad debts, and much more. The intention is to equip the user with information that would drive a decision for credit or some business transaction. We recognize that the internet can represent many companies as good, solid entities when in fact they may not be or may not even exist. Now it is possible to look, before you leap - in a manner of speaking.” He added too that a credit reporting service is available to individuals who have resided, or do reside outside of Guyana. In addition to this, many other new and innovative reporting modules of a similar kind will be introduced into the market in short order. Falconer said that the bureau will continue to remain steadfast in its efforts to bring Guyana up to par with the developed world in the one area where it matters the most—the financial sector. This, he says will also aid in the development of Guyana’s economy.

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

Lindeners charged for carjacking, gun and ammo possession Four Lindeners yesterday made their way into the courtroom of the Chief Magistrate to face several charges including an armed carjacking, robbery involving cash, jewellery, and electronic gadgets, as well as gun and ammunition possession. Three of the four men are who police suspect to be behind a carjacking and an armed $4M robbery committed in South Amelia’s Ward five days ago, and they faced six counts of robbery under arms. Lesley Griffith, 19, Ruel Williams, 33, Wellon Brummel, 27, all of Mackenzie, Linden, were jointly charged for robbery when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry, and were later remanded to prison until February 11. Police Prosecutor Inspector Michael Grant explained that the six charges stemmed from a break-in they allegedly committed on an Amelia’s Ward family on January 31. The prosecution’s case is that the men entered the house, held Davenand Ramdehol at gun point and demanded possessions before escaping with his car. The first charge read to the trio detailed that armed with a gun, they robbed Martin Ramdehol of $4000 while the second charge stated that they robbed Nafeeza Ramdehol of a $27,000 gold ring, a $40,000 gold chain and a $40,000 BlackBerry cellular phone. It is alleged, too, that they robbed Loolanie Ramroop of two gold finger rings worth $50,000; and Lalta Ramdehol of one $60,000 gold chain, one $28,000 gold ring, one i-Phone worth $125,000 and $15,000 cash, as well as taking from Brian Ramdehol $280,000 cash, one Samsung Galaxy worth $160,000 and one $40,000 gold chain. The prosecution claimed that they robbed Davenand

The four accused at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Ramdehol of a $70,000 finger ring, one $120,000 gold ring and $215,000 cash before they made off with his $3M Siena motor car (PRR 4501). The six charges which amounted to a total of $4,274,000 were deemed indictable, so none of the accused was allowed to plead. Griffith however was jointly charged with 31-yearold Clifton Oram, also of Linden, for the possession of a shot gun and matching rounds. The charges which were read to the two detailed that on February 2, at Determa Street, Mackenzie, Linden, they had 12 gauge cartridges and a shot gun while neither of them was a licenced firearm holder. Griffith and Oram, however, were allowed to plead and subsequently denied the claims. Inspector Grant told the court that all of the robbery victims reside at 775 South Amelia’s Ward, Linden. He recounted that about 13:30 hours on January 31, Davenand Ramdehol was at home when Griffith and Brummel who were armed with a gun barged in, held him at gun point, and robbed him and his family of cash,

jewellery and gadgets before escaping with his car. The Prosecution explained that the matter was subsequently reported and acting on a ‘tip’ police ranks recovered the car which was later found abandoned. Grant said further probes by investigators led to the arrest of Griffith and Williams who provided them with information which directed them to Brummel who had one of the i-Phones on his person. He too was apprehended. The Inspector continued stating that further investigations were conducted and on February 2, Griffith led the police to Oram’s house, and he (Oram) showed the ranks the shot gun which was concealed in the bonnet of his car. They were all later charged. The Prosecution related that Griffith was wanted on the East Coast for a series of robberies and Brummel committed the offence while on bail at the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court for similar matters. He asked that the court saw that as circumstances for them to be refused bail. Grant said too that the serious nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence and the fact that a gun was used

to commit the crime were grounds by which they should be held. Grant in his objections also asked the court to note that a gun was recovered in this matter. He opined that if granted bail, there is a likelihood that they would return to court to face charges of a similar nature. Representing Griffith, Williams and Brummel was Defence Attorney Gordon Gilhuys who submitted bail applications on their behalf. Gilhuys who requested that his client be seen at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and not by the Police Doctor, told the court that his client (Griffith) had received a sound beating at the hands of police ranks. He said that the man sustained injuries on his hands, chest, forehead, scrotum, abdomen, and knees, which were visible. In response to the lawyer’s claims, the Chief Magistrate ordered the Prosecution to launch an investigation into the alleged beating. Gilhuys told the court that his 19-year-old client, a father of one who resides at 311 Deturma Street, Mackenzie, had been charged when he Continued on page 30

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Business owners on bail for unlawful wounding Bail was yesterday set to the tune of $100,000 for two city businessmen who were brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to be charged for allegedly wounding a middle-aged man. Middle Street Car Wash owner Vickram Sanchand, 29, and Desmond Singh, the part owner of Fix-Up Music were not required to plead to the indictable unlawful wounding charge which was read to them by Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry. The charge which they jointly faced alleged that on February 1, at Third Street, La Penitence, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded Maurice Teixeira. The Prosecution’s case was presented by Inspector Michael Grant who said that on that day, Singh, an Orange Walk Bourda resident, accused Teixeira of slapping him and the two business owners joined and thrashed the man, thereby inflicting injuries about his body. Grant offered objections to bail citing the injuries that

the victim sustained and added that the two men are known to the victim and as such they would likely tamper with him. He also indicated to the court that a medical is available for its perusal. However, representing Sanchand was Attorney at Law Oswell Legall who made an application for reasonable bail stating that his client has no priors. He added that Teixeira slapped his client, who according to him, is not seriously injured since he was standing in the court and not hospitalised. Meanwhile, Singh addressed the court stating that he previously faced a noise nuisance charge to which he had pleaded guilty. The objections of the Prosecution were overruled and the men were granted bail. They are expected to appear in court on February 26 for a report where the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) is expected to be applied, thereby allowing them to plead to the charge.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Father of discharged Bartica double-murder accused beaten by cop In apparent anger over the discharging of a high profile murder matter by a Bartica Magistrate, a police rank inflicted a beating on a 64-year-old man whose son happens to be one of the freed accused. Michael Newton, whose son Rawle Newton called ‘Satan’s Ambassador ’ vanished after his matter was discharged last Thursday, sustained a broken tooth and other minor injuries at the hands of a police detective who demanded to know the whereabouts of the former murder accused. The young Newton had bolted from the courtroom after the decision to discharge the matter was handed down by the magistrate and managed to avoid being rearrested.

The other accused, Keron Herbert, is presently back in custody having been rearrested almost immediately after walking out of the court. Michael Newton, who resides at Sophia, had travelled to Bartica last Thursday, to observe proceedings in the matter in which his son and Herbert were before the court for the 2010 murders of gold miners Jainarine Raghubar and Ramdeo Deonarine. “I would sometimes go to Bartica to listen to the case and I was there last Thursday and I was sitting in the court before the matter was called,” Newton, a mechanic told this newspaper yesterday. He said that he left the courtroom for awhile and when he returned his son’s matter had been discharged

and the young man was nowhere around. Newton said that he subsequently left Bartica and travelled some three miles to Byderabo, where another of his sons resides. According to him, while he was talking to his daughter-in-law around midday, a taxi with three police ranks pulled up outside the premises. He said that two of the ranks were in uniform, while one was in plainclothes. It was the plainclothes rank, he said, who came out of the car and using a series of expletives, ordered him into the vehicle. Although the order surprised the elderly man, he complied nevertheless. “I go in, because they had guns, and I know that I did not commit any crime,” he recalled. He said that on the way back to the Bartica Police Station, the rank in plainclothes, whom he later learnt was a Detective, began physically assaulting him. “He start slapping me in my face, and on my chest, saying, ‘whey de f*****g man deh? We gon shoot he

s***t today!’ He end up breaking out my teeth,” Michael Newton related to this newspaper. He immediately knew that the police were looking for his son, but he maintained that he did not and still does know his whereabouts. At the Bartica Police Station, he was placed to sit on “the bench” by one of the ranks who threatened to put him in the lock-ups. A few minutes later he was taken before a senior officer who he described as very polite. “The officer asked me if I know whey ‘Ambassador’ deh and I said ‘no sir’ and then they took me back to the bench,” Newton said. Five minutes later he was set free, but without any apology for the beating he sustained earlier. He expressed fear for his life as well as for that of his son, even as he laments the trauma that his elderly wife is also going through. “The Minister of Home Affairs and the Commissioner telling the public to assist the police, but you can’t assist them when the police behaving in this manner,”

Newton said. He is at a loss as to why such treatment was meted out to him, especially since he claimed to have a very good relationship with the police at the Bartica Station. “I would take food for my son whenever he is there to attend court, and the police always treat me politely. I have no problem with them,” he said. “If the police are angry that the magistrate discharged the matter they just can’t go around the place taking it out on people,” Newton added. He has since lodged an official complaint and has given a detailed statement along with a medical report. A senior police official confirmed that Newton did make a formal complaint. “He went to Home Affairs, they sent him to OPR, and they sent him to the F Division Headquarters where he gave a statement. But at no time did he say he was assaulted. He said he was being harassed,” the police official told this newspaper. The investigation into the matter is continuing. Meanwhile, Keron

Michael Newton Herbert was released from custody last Friday, after his attorney filed writ of habeas corpus. The police say they are awaiting the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether to reinstitute the murder charges. Last Thursday Magistrate Delon Bess ruled that the prosecution had failed to present the court with sufficient evidence for a case of murder to be established against both Herbert and Rawle Newton.

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

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Intense focus on legal framework to address noise nuisance By Dwijendra Rooplall The Social Sector Committee of the National Assembly, which comprises nine persons divided among the political parties, has met and will be holding ongoing discussions with different policy stakeholders to address the prevention and legal framework of noise nuisance. The meeting that was held in the National Assembly was slated to have submissions from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the city engineer of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), the Chief Fire Officer of the Guyana Fire Service and the Chief Works Officer of the Ministry of Public Works and Communication, however, only Fire Chief Marlon Gentle and City Engineer Colvern Venture, representing their respective associates, were present at the forum to discuss the prevention of noise nuisance in society and the interpretation of the Music and Dancing Licensing Act Chapter 23:03. With only the presence of the two officials, the discussions and questions posed by the members of the Social Sector Committee were for the most part left unanswered or shifted to the entities that were not present at the forum, such as the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA). However the Committee recognized that this was the beginning of the dialogue and expressed optimism that once the policy entities that were mentioned are involved, then meaningful results could be ascertained with respect to the prevention of noise nuisance. The Chairperson of the meeting, People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/ C) Member of Parliament Indra Chandarpal said that as a result of various complaints received from the public, they have put on the agenda for discussion the whole question of noise nuisance. She said that there was a related discourse before but further communication is imperative with the necessary stakeholders. “We want to revisit the old laws that we have to make some proposals and make some changes. We feel that it is necessary at this point in our country’s history because we are mindful of the fact that all the regions in Guyana have this problem, and more and more people are crying out because they are unable to have peace and quiet in their home, and we

APNU MP Volda Lawrence

PPP MP and Chairperson Indra Chandarpal

see this as a violation of their own rights to live in their home in peace and comfort and free from noise nuisance. And we also believe that the whole question of noise nuisance today is a health hazard and therefore we want to begin the discourse and thought the best place to start is within our Social Sector Committee that is made up of all the parties in Parliament,” said Chandarpal. The Chairperson expressed everything that is done in the committee is based on discourse and consensus. No votes are required. Fire Chief Marlon Gentle speaking on his responsibility in terms of the Music and Dancing Act explained that the Chief Fire Officer issues a certificate for a building and that certificate will highlight how fire-safe that particular building is determined to be. “As the Act will say, the Chief Fire Officer will issue a certificate as to the general fire safety conditions of the premises whether he is satisfied that all fire precautions have been met and secondly that there is enough means of escape for persons to safely use this premises and exit in the case of an emergency, and that is legally where the role of the fire service comes into play.” However, upon hearing this, the chairperson expressed that the procedure that the Fire Chief expounded upon is not happening in reality. She said that she knows situations where parties and very loud playing of music happens anywhere. She said that while it is desirable to follow the rules in this case it’s not being observed. The M&CC City Engineer mentioned section 14 of the Music and Dancing Licensing Act and articulated

the procedure in which the engineers would inspect certain premises to see whether or not they are fit for entertainment. He said that the building inspectors would inspect regularly in the case of a Bar-b-Que and Lime and do a yearly inspection for established buildings and check the “structural soundness” of the said building. Checks are also done to see whether internal arrangements are in place, such as toilets, to see if the building can be used for the intended activity. He said that persons will have to apply to the city engineer to show a plan for the M&CC to determine whether a party could be entertained. The Fire Chief expressed that beyond the parties, the industrial and manufacturing activity has a part to play in noise nuisance. “Zoning laws should be there to protect the process,” Venture said. Gentle said that there is a need to revisit all of the laws and look at more scientific method of dealing with noise. He endorsed that focus needs to be placed on zoning and legislation. Speaking on the decibels (a reference to the level of loudness emanating from varying equipment) the chairperson spoke of the “famous case of Station Street Kitty” where persons complain of the noise levels coming from the many established bars located within that Street. Chandarpal wanted to know if decibel ratings could be used to limit noise pollution as opposed to using the courts for redress. Gentle, in responding, expressed that there should be a decibel level in each area as per zoning, “I think there is some scientific way done by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and

AFC MP Valerie Lowe the Bureau of Standards in terms of what should be the noise pollution levels in the different areas, whether it be residential, industrial… There is enough information to guide us on what it should be in a very scientific way.” Chandarpal, in acknowledging that not all the stakeholders were present at the forum, said that “we recognize that this is the beginning of the conversation and I think eventually we will have the EPA. The police have spoken to us already, so we expected other bodies would have been present here. So as the conversation continues, we will be having more and more clarity on the way forward, and know that ultimately we will get there.” A Partnership of National

Unity parliamentarian Volda Lawrence grilled the Fire Chief and the M&CC engineers over the fees charged by these entities which are enshrined in the law for licence and certification, even though throughout the conversation both parties for the most part passed the buck with respect to responsibility of noise pollution, while outlining the limitations of their remit. Lawrence wanted to know whether the M&CC engineer has to act on the zoning structure that has been earmarked by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), as well as what is the limit for applications from persons to hold events that would be characterized by a certain level of noise. Lawrence said that the related M&CC department has been issuing permits to all these places at the same time. “Sometimes there are three functions going on and everybody in the area will cry out, I think you need to look at that, sometimes there are two things happening in West La Penitence and then something happening over in East Ruimveldt, and so you are getting that collage of noise coming at you and that’s an issue, so something is happening in your department which you are

indicating to us you are not aware of, and I am telling you as a resident of that area that that is just one example of what is happening, not only in my area, but is happening in other areas, and people are concerned about it because it’s disturbing them.” She said the M&CC should look at the criteria since its office has the purview for the granting of certificates for mainstream dance and music activity. She said that licences should be given on a first come first serve basis and they cannot have two and three activities within such a small area. Alliance For Change Member of Parliament of Valerie Lowe suggested that when the other entities are present to make submissions those who were at the meeting should be there throughout. “We heard it’s not me, its them, and so if we could get them all together under the same roof then I think we would be able to get some level answers on some of the issues we are trying to overcome.” The Chairperson in closing the meeting reiterated that “this is just the beginning of the dialogue and we are hoping that by the time we are through with all of this we can come up with legislation to make some changes.”

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Kaieteur News

Corentyne River Bridge…

Suriname, China to arrange financing …Guyana to build approach road The New River Bridge across the Corentyne River to be funded by the Chinese will be done through an arrangement between Suriname and China, not Guyana. This is according to Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who yesterday said that the financial affairs of the project are being negotiated between the two countries and as such, she would not be able to say if it would be a loan or a grant. She did point out that the money would be coming from the US$3 billion in loans to 10 Caribbean nations, including Guyana, that was announced by Chinese President, Xi Jinping. Regarding local input into the project, she said that Guyana will only be required to build an approach road to the bridge. The Minister was unable to say exactly where

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett this would be located as more than one location is being looked at. She said that in finalizing a location, a number of factors will have to be addressed, such as the flow of water.

The announcement of the likelihood of a bridge across the Corentyne River, to be funded by China came on Monday last when Minister Rodrigues-Birkett held an engagement with the media. She said that the design for the bridge is currently being done, and is expected to be completed soon. She said Suriname had initially requested that Guyana approach China to fund the bridge. The idea for the bridge was developed by former President Bharrat Jagdeo and Surinamese President Desi Bouterse, when the latter visited Guyana in September 2010. Minister RodriguesBirkett said she could not estimate the cost of the bridge. There is currently a ferry service operating for travel between the two countries, but many use the back track route via speedboat.

Wednesday February 05, 2014

GRA’s random selection system introduced for imports The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday commenced its Random Selection of Imports for Examination System. According to the tax collection agency, with the objective of preserving the integrity of the GRA and its officers, members of the public were involved in the selection of consignments of commercial imports for one hundred percent (100%) manual examination using a lottery draw system. Five consignments were selected from a ticket cage containing the names of consignees from Monday’s lodged declarations at the

Customs and Trade Administration. “Going forward, selections will be done twice per week, with five consignments being selected at each draw. In the interest of safeguarding the integrity of the system and stymieing persons who may seek to hinder the process, the dates and times of the draws will be announced via the GRA’s social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter, on the morning of each draw.” GRA explained that the primary objective of the random selection system is in keeping with its commitment to achieving greater

transparency and efficiency in the selection process of consignments to be examined. “Importers whose names were drawn will be informed and examinations will be done at a mutually agreed time. Participants in the draw are invited to witnessing the examinations at the relevant wharves at their own expense should they so desire.” There have been accusations and reports that the system of examination of containers needed improvement with corruption and collusion involving businesses, leading to millions of taxes being lost as a result.

A GRA staffer assists a customer to make a random pick.

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 27

WOMEN MINERS’ BODY OFFERS TO EDUCATE OPERATORS ON TAXES The women miners, GRA said in a release, were candid about the numerous challenges facing small-scale miners and inquired about duty free entitlements for certain capital equipment and whether tax defaulters can be granted amnesty if there is a

Representatives of the Guyana Women Miners Organization (GWMO) meeting with GRA yesterday to discuss taxes and other issues.

Members of the Guyana Women Miners Organization (GWMO) were enlightened on their obligations as taxpayers, and the tax regulations governing the gold mining industry when they met officials of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for talks yesterday. Manager of the Tax

Advisory Services Division, Naresha Bobb-Semple, and Tax Specialist, Tyrone Anthony, who hosted the day’s discussion, explained in detail the policies regarding income and property tax, entitlements, aspects of the mining law, the newlyintroduced Mortgage Interest Relief (MIR), the legal

obligation of every eligible individual having a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and other relevant issues. According to GRA, the engagement held at its headquarters on Camp Street, ended with President of the GWMO, Simona Broomes, signaling willingness on behalf of her organization to

take taxation awareness sessions to miners in the interior locations if the need arises. “We would love to have more sessions with you (GRA)… We can go out there to the miners and speak in their language, in the camps or wherever they are, both employees and employers about taxes,” Broomes said.

probable reason. Yesterday’s meeting followed requests by the GWMO for an audience with the GRA, as they sought clarity and explanation on a number of issues relating to taxation regarding employers and employees.

Page 28

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 05, 2014

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2005 Yamaha R6 motorcycle Tel: 609-2815

Rooms. Price Negotiable Tel: 699-2727

Honda CG & 125 Fan for sale - $260,000 negotiable – Tel:684-5402

One bedroom apartment self contained, Fully grilled @ Land OF Canaan E.B.D – Call Navo: 2665563; 615-9441 American Slate pool table – Tel:616-8328 GT TOOLS RENTAL: TEL:675-0767; 627-2535

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 4 Cylinder Perkins Engine bedded for Brazilian pump – Tel: 646-4501 Pure bred Rottweiler & German Sheperd- Tel:6108627/686-3072/618-2903

Fully Furnished 2 bedrooms apartment with hot & cold shower,etc. Only short term overseas guest. Contact:2232812; 661-1717

FOR SALE/ FOR RENT Newly Built at Leonara 2 Storey 3 bedrooms, 2 toilet & Shower, double garage for sale or rent - Tel: 269-1277; 685-4016

MASSAGE American Style massage services- Call:678-7499 The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call:657-5979

Clearance Sale, Slightly Damage Zinc Sheets, steel rods ½”&]!. Reasonable Price - Call: 657-4072 1 AB Dick 360 printing machine, 1 Hydraulic Cutting machine, excellent condition. 76 Brickdam, Phone:227-3356 (next to N.I.S), Ahmadiyya Anjuman 1 Stall @ Stabroek Market Tel: 658-0115; 718-757-8031 2 – M132 Laverda Combine, 3- Pressure Pump 4x3 for gold field – call:627-0447 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

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 Regent Street - $46M, Herstelling - $10M, Happy Acres - $45M, Camp Street $36M – Contact Diana:2272256; 626-9382 Satya Cinema Good Faith Mahaicony – Call:641-8472 Rice Factory @ Wakenaam & Poultry Farm @ Yarrowkabra – Tel:686-4994; 225-3070 Situated in Leonora opposite the market – Tel:674-0645

VEHICLE FOR SALE

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Mitsubishi Lancer, excellent condition, HID lights, 17" mags, music - $1,250,000. Negotiable – Tel:275-0297; Cell:676-3000; 653-6490

One Toyota Noah New model, mag rims crystal lights, flare, PSS Series $2.3M – Call:611-6632; 6643488

1 Madza Truck, short base with hydraulic lift GPP Series Call: 638-8036; 223-2814 One 800 Ford Tractor and one 450 Ford Towing Truck Contact Floyd:694-5599 or Gurro: 689-1864 One Toyota Prado and Tundra for sale: - Priced to sell – Tel:600-5759 or 225-0683-5 1 Toyota R4 2004 model – $2.6M cash – Tel:686-5083

AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super customs. Cash / termsCall:680-3154

1 AT192 Carina (Cherry Red) Tel: 683-1534; 609-4983 One 2005 Toyota Avensis. Owner leaving country! $3.4M – Tel:628-6160 Toyota Raum PMM Series $1.4M negotiable , Excellent Condition – Call:671-6051 2008 Fielder: Bodykit, spoiler, rims. Unregistered $2.95MCall:617-2891 2007 Axio $2.85M, Spacio $2.250M, fully loaded unregistered- Call:617-2891 2 Ton open back canter with power gate, unregisteredCall:617-2891

1 Honda 250 customs motorcycle. Good condition. $380,000- Call:627-0688 1- 40 foot Cabin Cruiser BoatCall:665-2314

2 Business Property on Whim Public Road Berbice Tel: 619-7134; 225-6481

TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 347933-9790, 639-4452. Fully furnished Vacation home with all amenities- Call during working hours- 2271218 Bel- Air -$100,000, Lamaha Gardens - $US1000, Atlantic Gardens – US900 – Contact Diana:227-2256; 626-9382

2008 Honda CRV imported from England 17" Rim, fog lamps Surround Sound System, unregistered $6.8M neg. – Tel:642-7295; 2202345

VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant Call: 670-8893/684-2838

LEARN TO DRIVE Learn To Drive on your time, experienced teacher - $10,000 For two weeks, 3 times a week - Tel: 687-7017 Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal street. Fee $16,000Call:227-3869 Ultravoilet Driving School – Contact:231-2372;6022583;658-4015 Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 689-5997, 644-5166,622-2872,6150964

CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www. dolly sautorental.com Premio, Vitz call:347-9339790, 639-4452. Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131 Untouchable, low rates, low deposits - Call:226-9668; 677-4613. A i d a n ’s C a r R e n t a l & Pickup Call: 645-7981/ 6987807

SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773 Earn a Certificate in Cosmetology, wig designs or nails alone, beginning February 3rd Limited Spaces Tel: 666-5241/ 619-7603 Beautopia Cosmetology Training: Day & Evening classes, nails, hair,facial / make-up – Tel: 604-3002; 629-3497

Network Technician, must be able to work out of town email applications to jobs@awngy.com Receptionist. Apply to Hick’s Ville Hotel, Contact:227-7714 or info@hicksvillehotel guyana.com Machine Operator to work at Garment Factory - Tel: 222-2541 Secretary! Send written application to Shakoor Seafood, 80 industrial Site, Eccles EBD Join Avon and be your own boss! – Call Oma: 690-0209

First Class Auto: Premio, Spacio, Passo, IST, 212, Raum Cold & New Modles Tel: 609-8188; 602-6307 1-55 Leyland Daf Excellent working condition. Price $2.8M Negotiable – Tel:6568346 1 Toyota NZE corolla, AT192, AT212, AT170, IST, Funcargo, Rav-4, Hilux pickup 4x4 – Tel:644-5096; 697-1453 One Honda CRV fully equipped with running bars & other accessories, PNN Series. Excellent Condition! Price Negotiable - Tel: 660-6763 One Super Custom Bus, unregistered 1 Toyota L Touring wagon, EP71 Starlet, Spacio - Tel:6445096; 697-1453 Unregistered Toyota Sienta (2004) 1500cc & 7 seater - Tel: 617-5536 Isuzu Journey Bus, 47 seater BSS115 series – Price: $5.2M negotiable – Contact Brother Keith – Tel:614-5036 W.M Auto Sales : 2006 Tacoma - $3.8M, Honda ATV, Ford Raptor, Ford 250 super duty – Tel:6761826;679-6103 Unregistered Toyota Fielder, TV, Rims, alarm, reverse camera, low mileage - $2.250 negotiable – Tel:6542036; 663-2700 One RX-8 Mazda fully air conditioned, stick gear, wheel lights, fog lamps, power windows - Tel:653-2477 2002 Premio PNN Series reverse camera 17inch rims $2.1M negotiable - Tel:6877017 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 One Hilux Surf, ac, mags, new tyres, fully loaded, music, 4X4, one Tacoma pick up- Tel:678-2298 (Continued on page 29)

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 29

Letters... Where your views make the news

Misfits continue the irreparable erosion of cricket in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, It is with profound dismay that I read in the Kaieteur News of February, 02, 2014 a letter from one Intikhab Sankar which amounted to no more that an outrageous attempt to discredit our former Test cricketer and national captain, Roger Harper, who was part of the illustrious West Indies team that dominated world cricket for fifteen (15) years. To set the record straight, I am fully aware that Intikhab Sankar is an associate of Anand Sanasie. The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) is the best run, most efficient and productive Association in Guyana. The GCA continues to be well sponsored, stages many cricket development programmes and competitions and its cricketers form the majority of those selected to the various national teams. Roger Harper, as the President of the GCA, has been doing an excellent job and has brought to bear his vast cricketing and organizational skills in the interest of promoting and developing cricket in Georgetown. I am not sure if Intikhab Sankar is from a cricketing background or is prepared to assist in the development of cricket. If so, I wish to direct

him to cricket on the West Demerara, the area from where his close friend Anand Sanasie hails. Sanasie was up to recently, President of the West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA). He is presently a Vice-President of that Association. Intikab Sankar’s time and effort would therefore be better spent in establishing why cricket in his area, West Demerara, is in such a shambolic state. No cricket is being played there and the entire West Demerara has not produced a single player for the senior national team for over fifteen (15) years. A few years ago, Anand Sanasie unceremoniously removed Mr. Harnarine Tiwari from the Presidency of the WDCA by holding elections after the Annual General Meeting (AGM) was adjourned and the majority of the official delegates had left. During this time, the presidency of the WDCA changed from Sanasie to Shradananda then back to Sanasie and then to Lalta Digamber, a close friend of Sanasie. The present situation in West Demerara is that nine of the fourteen clubs that form the WDCA have been sidelined by Sanasie, Digamber and their cohorts

and only their five ‘friendly’ clubs participated in the past two elections. This resulted in the nine clubs forming their own Association to provide for the cricket-starved youngsters on the West Demerara. This move was met with threats to our players by members of the WDCA and has severely impeded the progress of cricket on West Demerara. The situation is alarming and no one seems to want to confront Anand Sanasie who is also on the Demerara Cricket Board, the Guyana Cricket Board and the West Indies Cricket Board where he uses his influence to stifle our efforts. We therefore welcome the initiative and are happy to learn that the Cricket Administrative Bill 2012, which was tabled in Parliament, will restore order and establish legality to our shattered cricket structure. We sincerely hope that all parties in Parliament will overcome their differences and pass the Bill without further delay as the misfits in control of our cricket continue the irreparable erosion of our great national game. The nine clubs mentioned above are firmly in support of the Bill. Bhawan Mc Coon President, Uitvlugt Cricket Club

Empower voters and party... From page 5 for forming a minority government with outside support from the Congress. The AAP members overwhelmingly endorsed forming a government and the leader listened to his members and formed a minority government. On the issue of a primary, in Delhi, a spokesperson for Gandhi said the Congress leader would like to experiment with the idea of “choosing Congress candidates for Lok Sabha polls in over 15 seats (elections likely in May) with direct feedback on the lines of US primaries notwithstanding some initial hiccups”. He said the new process “is in line with Gandhi’s focus on opening the system by ending the high command culture and empowering the grass root workers”. We need such political empowering in Guyana where voters are treated like electoral slaves of the parties with hardly anything in return (good governance and a fair share of resources) for their labour. Politicians seek self enrichment at the expense of the voters ignoring them. In neighbouring Trinidad, Basdeo Panday floated a similar concept during the 1990s but it did not take off. He shelved it when he became Prime Minister. He re-advocated it after 2001 when he lost office. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar also supported Primaries to select candidates for UNC in local and general elections. But the concept was not implemented though she promises to put it into effect soon. There is talk of making it a part of the constitution in proposed constitutional reform. It is noted that the UNC does have membership vote for the leadership

(executives) of the party. The PNM will hold election under one man one vote in May for its executives. Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Rowley has put forward his name to contest for leadership; there are no announced challengers although it is felt deputy Chair and former Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Penelope Beckles will vie for the position. A poll I conducted put Rowley in the lead among PNMite supporters (not prospective voting members – voting membership is not finalized as yet). It is my belief that people at the grass roots level, the party’s members, should be the ones to choose candidates – in a primary perhaps. A handful of leaders residing in Georgetown should not choose who should be the peoples’ candidates at say No. 63 Village or in Wismar or Charity. Let the people at the village level choose their nominee for representative. There should be a proper laid out structure for selecting nominees — Tammany Hall type politics in Guyana should come to an end. The process is very undemocratic. It should be transparent and not akin to backroom deals as happen in all three parties. Primaries help to empower party workers in candidates’ selection and motivate people to work harder for their party and towards better governance. Such a system will help to reform the government putting decent people in charge and cleanse the political system of the corrupt. Why can’t the parties experiment with primaries to empower voters as in Trinidad, US, some European countries and now in India? Vishnu Bisram

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 C l e r k , Tw o S e c u r i t y Guards & Labourers, One Receptionist. Text or call 627-0799 / 225-8645 / 6227933 Cashiers & Porters for Yog Yog’s Frozen Yogurt 79 Albert & Laluni Streets in Queenstown “Nimbus Building” Call:231-7002

(From page 28)

SERVICES Online shopping just got easier. Now Open! Cybertron ,Vreed-En-Hoop – Call 2643057/ Email for quotes @ micro.gteck@yahoo.com

Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call:225-9032,647-2943

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 Manager / Supervisor at Xenon Hotel Charity / Ebo. Accommodation provided, attractive salary is offered – Contact: 771-4989; 7714180; 670-6559 Experienced taxi drivers – Tel:667-9013 1 Secretary to work in office Call: 617-8369; 6653550 One Garden / Handyman, age 40 & above. Preferably from Georgetown & East Coast Demerara - Tel:6994152 Land to Buy in Parafaite Harmonie, Herstelling & Tuschen - Tel: 675-7292 Able Bodies Labourers – Call:617-8369; 665-3550 Responsible Hire Car Drivers Tel: 231-7200 Labourers - Call:225-6070; 225-4492 One female dispatcher at Classic Ride Taxi Service, 18 Hendbury Ave. Nandy Park, E.B.D- Tel:233-5227

LAND FOR SALE 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at Parika- Call: 226-7968 Lot 12 Mon-Repos E.C.D, Market Street – Tel:2207330 Section ‘A’ Block Y Golden Grove – E.B.D – Call:6939736/ 697-5742 Private Development 50X100 @ Greenwich Park, EBE Tel: 690-5061 House lot for sale @ Parafaite Harmonie - Tel:6777682 50 Acres Estate land at Grant Lester, Lower Pomeroom. Tel:671-8100 Parafiate Harmonie - $2M (100FTX50FT), Tuschen $2M - Tel: 675-7292 Gold and Diamond mining lands already Prospected – Tel:646-4501 100ftx50ft high income $2.2M @ Parfaite Harmonie- Call:6757292/218-5591 Land at Parika 40ft by 102ft plus $4M. water, power & road- Call:697-9137 Long Creek $1M, Queenstown 60x244 – $100M, 40x80 -$25M – Tel:231-2199; 618-7483

Experienced Hire Car drivers & minibus drivers – Call:6450025

Swimming classes @ Colgrain Pool, Thursday & Saturday 5:30-6:30/ 6:30-7:30 (all ages)- Call:669-3757/ 6412571/ 690-1559 Study in Canada: Any Career. Email:micro.gteck@yahoo.com

Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000CALL:694-9843/227-2766 Make your music available in 95+ online stores, Email: infopack@sslbs.com to download details. For all your prefab building works & welding fabricating etc. 5 Brickery EBD -Tel: 658-2567; 660-3466 Brains Construction & Rental Services: Excavator, Bobcat, Truck, Tools - Tel: 6015024/ 227-4536 (Bobcat & Excavator Operator needed) Services and repairs to gas stoves, washing machines Call: 688-0183 House plan drafting from$10,000 surveying and estimates services available Tel: 667-2189 Cook to come to your home. Exotic dishes will be prepared for you. Call for more information – 687-7017 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,662-6045, 223-8115 We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699 WE FILL PASSPORT & VISA FORMS: U.S.A, U.K & CANADA. ALSO ONLINE CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS TEL:2259030 Transportation services available in and out of Georgetown – Tel:646-4501

EDUCATIONAL Princeton College Forms 15 CXC and adults classes, afternoon lessons. Phonics & Mathematics for slow learners - Tel: 223-7906; 6905008

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

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

Masons seeking job work – Tel:678-9043 Technicians available for appliance repairs – washers, dryers, microwaves, stoves, deep fryers, etc – Tel:6190793; 218-0050 Secure your homes or business with High Tech Security Cameras. Mircographics: Vreed-En Hoop - Tel:264-3057

Page 30

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 05, 2014

PPP “aware” of opposition’s clandestine connections - Rohee General Secretary for the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has announced that he and his party are “aware” of the Opposition’s connection “to drug lords and violent criminal gangs.” He was at the time speaking of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s lacklustre approach towards the Anti Money Laundering and Countering of the Financing of Terrorism (AMLCFT) legislation that is currently within the Parliamentary Select Committee. He said that their conduct in relation to delaying the legislation is “evidence that they are involved with criminals and drug lords since they don’t want to expedite the process

for the passage of the bills”. Guyana was blacklisted by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) last year for not passing the necessary legislation required by that entity for fighting money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. Guyana was given up to March 2014 before the next plenary meeting of CFATF to get its act together or else face a greater tier of blacklisting that would increase sanctions internationally. In the wake of this, Rohee made his assertion on the opposition being in bed with criminal elements and drug lords to justify why they have not been forthcoming with the support to get this legislation fast-tracked. However, the General

Secretary in making those comments in essence contradicted himself, since in a previous press conference he said that security agencies have no hard evidence on which to arrest and convict suspected drug lords. “Most of these things are anecdotal. People walk around and say that is a drug lord, that is a drug baron, but I don’t think law enforcement could work on the basis of that kind of situation lest they make themselves a fool in front of the courts, unless they have strong concrete incontrovertible evidence against an individual, they have to also make sure they are not breaching the constitutional rights of a person when they are moving against such a person based on anecdotal evidence,”

Lindeners charged for carjacking... From page 15 was 14 and had not been charged again. The lawyer claimed that Griffith was never on the scene and that the police did not conduct an Identification Parade. He said Griffith is not a flight risk, has no pending matters in court and that no caution statement was retrieved, so he should be granted reasonable bail. On account of Williams, the Defence Attorney said that he is a married man who resides with his three minor children at Lot 657 Industrial

Area, Mackenzie. According to Gilhuys, he is a taxi driver who was picked up by the police and is before the court now. He said that Williams has had no priors and asked for reasonable bail in the circumstances. The lawyer continued in his clients’ defence stating that there is no evidence to show that neither the gun nor ammunition was found in Griffith or Oram’s possession and opined that those circumstances were “special enough” for them to be granted bail.

However, Brummel who was unrepresented by legal counsel, addressed the court to state that he is a porter who resides at Lot 27 New Kara Kara, Mackenzie. The Magistrate said to him with a questioning tone “The Prosecution said you have similar matters at the Christianburg Magistrates’ Court” to which the lawyer responded stating that those charges are for simple larceny and not robbery. The Prosecution however interjected, stating that according to the police he was named on more than one robbery charge. Brummel who was decked in a checkered shirt, stated that “The Police arrest me since Saturday night and beat me. All me seeds and suh swelling. All me face swelling. They seh they gonna carry me to the hospital, but they still ain’t carry me up to now.” After the Prosecution relayed the facts for the firearm and ammunition, the lawyer asked the Chief Magistrate whether the court records what the police does and thereafter requested that she noted that the police took the men to the place where the firearm was found in the car’s bonnet. In addition, Gilhuys told the court that Oram, a mechanic who resides at Lot 280 Deturma Street, Mackenzie, is a father of one, and has had no previous brushes with the law. In response, the Chief Magistrate stated that based on the serious nature and gravity of the crime, bail will not be issued to any of the accused. She ordered that the allegedly injured parties be taken for medical attention. Their cases were transferred and will be called before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court on February 11 for report.

Rohee had stated. “Until such time that there incontrovertible evidence that is produced before my own eyes, I am not one that is prone to walk around the country pointing fingers in that direction,” the General Secretary had said on that occasion However, at yesterday’s press conference the Home Affairs Minister said the opposition parties in the National Assembly are “protecting the vested interest of a few, whose operations and survival will be affected if the Bill is passed. These persons obviously are those engaged in illicit activities including trading in drugs, arms, ammunition and who need to launder the proceeds of their ill-gotten gains. In short the majority in the National Assembly has been penetrated, infiltrated and represent the interest of criminal cartels at the expense of their own supporters, their own constituents, their own people and their own country. We have no doubt that they

General Secretary of the PPP/C, Clement Rohee are doing so for a reward.” He further stated that “We have referred at length in the past to their connection with crime, criminals and criminality; again we see uncontroversial evidence of this connection. We are aware of their connections to drug lords and violent criminal gangs. We know that a former PNC [People’s National Congress] leader and

Member of Parliament is currently serving a prison sentence in the United States for conspiring to blow up the JFK International Airport. We are aware that his operations at Linden have been taken over by another member.” When pressed to provide the evidence of the opposition’s association with drug lords, Rohee said the “proof is in the Pudding” which he said is the how the opposition is deliberating within the Select Committee and their non-passage of the bill in the National Assembly. “The fact that they are blocking the bill from passage it has to be in favour of somebody; that is my position and the party’s position.” When asked why as Home Affairs Minister he is not going after the drug lords, criminals and money launders that he is aware of, he said that when the AMLCFT Bill is passed “then we will do that”, but when pressed further, the General Secretary said “let’s move on.”

GCCI chides APNU over PSC... (From page 21) parliamentary committees is an important part of government transparency and is hopeful that APNU would rethink its position and re-engage in the deliberations and allow for a vote on public access by the Committee members. According GCCI “the Bill is too important to our nation’s economy and development to have partisan and petty political tactics and grandstanding affect its consideration, augmentation and eventual passage.” PROTEST Meanwhile APNU yesterday sought to explain its position by saying the walkout was in protest over the attitude and behaviour of the Chairperson of the Committee, Gail Teixeira. The coalition yesterday noted that the meeting - which started on friendly enough terms even to the extent of glossing over passage of the minutes which had led to some tense moments during the last meeting - came to a sudden and abrupt halt over a ruling by the Chair regarding her powers in relation to voting on a motion proposed by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh. “This was the first substantive item on the agenda; a request from the Private Sector Commission to participate as observers at the session.” It said that at the previous meeting, APNU had reported that it had no objection to the participation of stakeholders in the Select Committee’s deliberations on an ad hoc basis

and as the need arose. At Tuesday’s meeting when the matters were discussed, APNU’s Spokesman on Finance and Planning, Carl Greenidge, reminded the meeting of the earlier decision and proposed, in response to the PSC request, that the same formula be employed. “In other words, that the Committee should respond indicating that, in keeping with the Standing Order governing Select Committees and the press, the Committee was not prepared to have observers but was agreeable to inviting stakeholders at an appropriate point as the need arose…It would not therefore be in a position to invite the PSC as an observer throughout all the sittings.” The motion was passed. According to APNU, Dr Singh, who had been trying to persuade the meeting to support full attendance on grounds of their impor-

tance, proposed that an additional motion be adopted authorizing the PSC to be invited as observers to all future meetings of the Select Committee. Dr Singh’s motion was regarded by the majority of members at the meeting as contradictory to the motion which had been already approved. APNU said that they therefore considered it improper and decided that it should not be put to a vote. Teixeira however contended that she was not bound to be guided by the meeting and put the matter to the vote. “Her Government colleagues invited the Opposition to oppose the motion, if they dared…When a majority of members called for the matter to be resolved by way of a vote Teixeira refused.” The Opposition members therefore refused to participate in the vote and walked out of the meeting.

Food and Drug Department... (From page 22) discrepancies when compared to the legitimate product. In its attempt to alert the public about the bogus product, the Food and Drug Department pointed out that although the label read “Golden Cream’ it didn’t have the word margarine or a visible note stating “free of transfat” while the colour of the label is a deeper blue and lighter yellow than the legitimate product label. Cole said that although the investigation has not yet pinpointed the perpetrators, efforts will be sustained to monitor the local market. In stating his displeasure about the disturbing find last month, Quality Assurance Manager at Sterling Products, Robert Ross, in a comment to this publication, pondered over the fact that “there is a product that is a counterfeit out there and there is no accountability for it; it is under a brand it shouldn’t be under.”

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 31

Klitschko warns Ukrainian Afghanistan’s Karzai in tempers are heating up secret talks with Taliban KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian opposition leaders warned yesterday that tempers are heating up and the president must take action to resolve the country’s protracted political crisis. Vitali Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxing champion who is one of the top figures in Ukraine’s mass protests, met yesterday with President Viktor Yanukovych as parliament held a session but took no action. Over two months of intense protests have put Yanukovych under substantial pressure. But he has made no moves to work with the opposition since last week, when he pushed parliament to pass a measure providing amnesty to many arrested protesters if demonstrators vacate buildings they occupy.

Protesters rejected that condition and continue to seek Yanukovych’s resignation and an early

election “The temperature of society is growing and I told the president we have to immediately take a decision,” Klitschko said after the meeting. Another top protest figure, Oleh Tyahnybok, echoed his warning. “I say it now: if they ignore the street, it means the street will react to this,” Tyahnybok said. Protests that began in late November have drawn substantial crowds to downtown Kiev, sometimes numbering above 100,000 people, and an extensive protest tent camp has been set up on the capital’s main square. The protests turned violent in mid-January when demonstrators clashed with police for four days, raining stones and firebombs on riot police and setting their vehicles afire.

England and Wales urge Scotland - Don’t leave us (Reuters) - Despite sporting and historic rivalry, England and Wales had one message for Scotland yesterday: don’t leave us. As debate over Scotland’s independence referendum heats up, an opinion poll showed a rising number of English and Welsh want Scotland to stay in the 307-year group forged by the Treaty of the Union that created the United Kingdom of Great Britain. A YouGov poll found 54 percent want voters north of the border to reject independence at a referendum on September 18. This is a turnaround from three years ago when a poll for the tabloid Sun newspaper found slightly more English and Welsh wanted Scots to go their own way than stay in the UK. The survey comes as polls north of the border show a slight shift in opinion with rising support for separatists who have lagged prounionists with about one third support since the independence vote became a reality 18 months ago. “Suddenly Scottish independence has become a real consideration and people are taking this more seriously and no longer just giving a flippant answer,” political analyst Anthony Wells from YouGov told Reuters. The latest YouGov poll of 5,161 English and Welsh adults conducted last month found only 24 percent now

wanted Scotland to break away from the UK while 22 percent did not know. The poll found opposition to Scottish independence was strongest

in the north of England where 55 percent of respondents favoured sticking with Scotland and was weakest in London where 50 percent opposed a breakaway.

KABUL (Reuters) Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been holding secret talks with Taliban officials in the hope of persuading them to make peace with his government, his spokesman told Reuters yesterday, confirming a New York Times report. “I can confirm that ... Taliban are willing more than ever to join the peace process,” Aimal Faizi said. “Contacts have been made and we are also in touch with them.” A member of Afghanistan’s High Peace Council also confirmed that talks had taken place, but was measured in his assessment of their success. “Talks took place in Dubai three weeks ago between government officials and Taliban who flew from Doha, but we are still waiting to see the result,” he told Reuters. Western and Afghan officials speaking to the Times also said the talks had borne little fruit so far,

Hamid Karzai although they may help explain Karzai’s mounting public hostility to Washington. The relationship has come under increasing pressure since November, when he announced his intention to avoid signing a

bilateral security deal with the United States until after a presidential election on April 5. His decision to drop a deal that had taken about a year to hammer out shocked Western diplomats. The uncertainty about Afghanistan’s fate after U.S. troops pull out has also weighed on the economy. Faizi did not directly link Karzai’s surprise move to the start of talks with the Taliban, but said relations had improved since then. Relations with the United States have been on a downward spiral, however, and Karzai’s refusal to sign is sapping already scant support for the war in Washington, which has halved aid for civilian assistance in the fiscal year 2014. President Barack Obama, frustrated by Karzai’s refusal to sign the accord, was due to meet top commanders at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the future of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.

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Sri Lanka leader hits out at likely UN resolution COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s president said yesterday that it would be a “grave crime” if anyone brings war crime allegations against his government over its conduct in the final months of a quartercentury civil war, saying it would be a victory for forces opposed to peace on the island nation. Mahinda Rajapaksa did not mention any country in a n I n d e p e n d e n c e Day speech, but the United States has said that it is frustrated at Sri Lanka’s lack of progress

in post-war reconciliation and accountability and says it will bring a third resolution to the United Nations human rights body calling on Sri Lanka to do more. Details of the resolution have not been revealed. “I see the allegations of war crimes attempted to be brought against Sri Lanka in Geneva as a victory for those who are opposed to peace, “said Rajapaksa, adding it was a “grave crime” to make such accusations based on information provided by

“separatists and losers.” Rajapaksa said the proposed resolution was against peace, justice and fairness. Sri Lank a h a s f a c e d questions over the tactics it used to defeat Tamil rebels in 2009 to end a 25year civil war. Government troops have been accused of targeting civilians and hospitals, blocking food and medicine for civilians, and deliberately under countering the number of civilians trapped in the war zone.

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

New master plan for natural gas in Trinidad PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago Energy conference began Monday with the government indicating that it would roll out a new master plan for the natural gas sector by 2015. Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine told delegates that the government had already received “expressions of interest” from companies for the new natural gas master plan for the period 2014-24. “This master plan will compliment the national energy policy a drafty version of which will be put out for public comment shortly. The new national gas master plan will be in our hands before the minister of finance reads the 2015 national budget,” he told the conference that was picketed by members of the powerful Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU). The union has been

Kevin Ramnarine calling for the resignations of Ramnarine and the board of directors at the state-owned oil company, PETROTRIN, over the oil spill that has severely affected the lives and environment of the southern

town of La Brea and surrounding areas. Ramnarine has said that TT$20 million (One TT dollar = US$0.16 cents) have been spent so far on cleaning up the spill and environment groups, including Friends and Fishermen of the Sea, have accused the authorities of hiding the true extent of the spill. Ramnarine told the conference that within the next two years, the National Gas Company (NGC) would lose two of its largest supply contracts in British Gas (BG) and BP as well as the exploration of the Train I contract for 2018. He said discussions on all three matters would begin later this year and that local companies in the energy sector must be afforded an opportunity to benefit from the resurgence in activity in the upstream sector.

T&T union warns of further job losses PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – CMC – The Banking, Insurance and General Workers’ Union (BIGWU) says more workers will be put on the breadline after RBC Royal Bank confirmed that it had sent home 20 employees from its business banking unit. BIGWU president Vincent Cabrera told reporters that the bank intends to close down nine of its branches. “The union doesn’t have the exact figure but over the last two years over 200 workers have been sent home and it is our information that as soon as the sale of the bank is concluded with whomever it is eventually sold to at least nine branches of the Royal Bank will be closed. “They are seeking to reduce staff by as much as possible to make the ship lean and mean. I would like to say the module of banking at the Royal Bank within recent times…is not fitting with local demands and whereas the other banks have been making quite a lot of profits, Royal Bank because of ist economic machinations have found itself in some trouble”. RBC Royal Bank (Caribbean) is part of the Royal Bank of Canada, the largest financial institution in that North American country. In 2008, Royal Bank Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT) was acquired by RBC for nearly TT$14 billion (One TT dollar = US$0.16 cents) Last month, RBC also announced that it had

Vincent Cabrera entered into a definitive agreement to sell RBC Royal Bank (Jamaica) Limited and RBTT Securities Jamaica Limited to Sagicor Group Jamaica Limited. It said the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and is expected to be finalized in the coming months. “Consistent with our strategy of being a competitive leader in the markets where we operate, we determined after a careful and thorough review that the best decision for the long-term future success of RBC Jamaica was to sell it to Sagicor,” said Suresh Sookoo, RBC chief executive officer for the Caribbean. Carbrera said that the union had been informed that talks between RBC and

another company for the sale of the bank’s operations here had failed, but the financial institution was pressing ahead with plans to sell off its businesses here. “Quite recently Sagicor had purchased the operations of Royal bank in one of our Caribbean territories and now we are hearing talks of the HSBC in talks Royal Bank to purchase its operations. But apparently on last Thursday, our information told us the talks broke down because Royal Bank only wanted to seel what is called the operational side of the business.” Cabrera has promised that the union would “fight” the measure through legal means: because what they are doing they are reducing the workforce and any union involved in a situation like that has to in fact stand up and deal with the situation on a very frontal manner. “RBC has been conducting an imperialistic type of industrial relations (since their return in 2008). We intend to fight them on their continued retrenchment,” he said. Finance Minister Larry Howai said he was concerned about customer confidence in RBC Royal Bank after the bank’s implementation of restructuring strategies, including several layoffs. “It is something the company will have to manage, but I am confident the management will be able to deal with it,” he told reporters.

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Alleged army cyberspying on Colombia negotiators BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — President Juan Manuel Santos denied yesterday that his administration was in any way involved in the reported spying by members of an elite army cyber-unit on the digital communications of government peace negotiators and at least two top leftist politicians. “This is totally unacceptable,” Santos told reporters in brief remarks at police headquarters. He said he had ordered a full investigation. Colombians had awoken to a report in the country’s leading news magazine that

the cyberspies, along with young civilian hackers they recruited, had collected for more than a year emails and text messages from his negotiators at Havana peace talks. “They were apparently gathering intelligence specifically from the negotiators,” the president said, adding that the operation appeared aimed at seeking to derail peace talks launched in November 2012 to end a half-century conflict with The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Santos said a probe would

determine “if there are rogue elements in the military.” He said, without specifying when, that he had been informed that the eavesdropping’s apparent center of operations in the capital was searched 10 days before. The magazine, Semana, is edited by a nephew of the president. Semana’s report said the spy ring operated for 15 months ending in October from a clandestine storefront that sold cheap lunches and also billed itself as offering website design and cybersecurity classes. The eavesdroppers did

not intercept voice communications but were ordered to break into email accounts and intercept messages from the popular WhatsApp service as well as obtain the Blackberry PINs of targets, the magazine said Their targets included chief government negotiator Humberto de la Calle and peace commissioner Sergio Jaramillo as well as politicians not directly involved in the negotiations including leftist congressman Ivan Cepeda and former Sen. Piedad Cordoba, a key go-between with the FARC, Semana reported. The eavesdroppers

also were engaged in spying on urban rebels, the magazine said. Semana said government negotiators would likely not have discussed sensitive issues in their digital communications, mindful that intelligence agencies including the Cubans were likely monitoring them. Cordoba and Cepeda, reached by The Associated Press, called the spying an attempt to sabotage the peace talks. FARC negotiators in Havana had no immediate comment. “Either the government was doing a kind of counterintelligence of its own people or this was an operation by a dissident sector in the military acting against the peace process,” Cepeda said. He suggested that former President Alvaro Uribe, a fierce foe of peace talks, might be behind the operation. Uribe denied as much in a statement emailed to reporters. Cepeda also called on Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon to take responsibility and resign. Semana offered copious details on how the eavesdroppers, under the code name “Andromeda,” operated. It said they recruited young hackers at the city’s annual “Campus Party” hacking fest. Semana said an army captain, whom it did not name for security reasons, ran the operation. It identified him as a member of the army’s Technical Intelligence Battalion No. 1, known as BITEC-1. The magazine said the battalion is a backbone of

DINTE, the military’s intelligence arm. The operation was halted when the eavesdroppers feared they had been found out, said the magazine, adding that it had investigated the operation for 15 months and consulted with multiple high-level sources including U.S. intelligence officials, who have long assisted the Bogota government in its war against the FARC. Semana has broken major news on domestic spying before. In 2009, it uncovered a scandal that eventually led to the dismantling of the DAS domestic intelligence agency. The investigation determined that DAS agents were illegally intercepting the telephone communications of leading politicians, journalists and Supreme Court justices. The scandal led to the imprisonment of several top DAS officials and badly tainted the Uribe administration.

Sao Paulo (AFP) - Several Brazilian states, including three set to host June World Cup action, suffered power outages yesterday, fueling fears over the country’s ability to keep the lights on. High demand combined with worries over supplies at a time of low rainfall led national grid operator ONS to warn of “disruption” in the integrated system as it noted outages in the north, southeast and south of the sprawling South American country. Media reports suggested some three million people had seen supplies cut in 11 states, including Rio de Janeiro, and Parana in the south. All three will welcome World Cup action in June. The ONS said the cut lasted some 40 minutes before a gradual return to normal

power levels. The outage came a day after the grid registered record demand for energy, including a rush for air conditioning amid soaring temperatures in a sticky Southern Hemisphere summer. The high demand came with water levels in reservoirs running low owing to low rainfall this year to date — though authorities deny that is a factor.The low water levels “have nothing to do with the demands of the system,” mines and energy ministry executive secretary Marcio Zimmermann said. Brazil has previously suffered a spate of similar problems. Last August, eight northeastern states were left without power following a fire at an electrical station.

Juan Manuel Santos

Power outages hit three million in Brazil

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Mountain village gets thumbs up from athletes From page 36 waited to race fast cars around the mean streets of another virtual world or challenge kickboxing villains on screen. In one of the most secure locations on earth, a highsecurity village inside a ‘ring of steel’ surrounding Sochi where tens of thousands of Russian soldiers are on high alert for possible terror attacks, the sight of athletes chilling out with video violence provided an ironic twist. It was not the only surprise, with reporters given free access for a few hours on

Tuesday (yesterday0 to roam the facilities that will house nearly 3,000 of the world’s elite athletes when all have arrived. The Polyclinic, which has already had to deal with at least one snowboarder’s broken collarbone, has a rock climbing wall extending up the front of it. Heavy trucks filled with rubble occasionally thunder through, and there is dust in the crisp mountain air as preparations are completed. And yet even if the finishing touches are absent in parts, it was hard to find anyone with a complaint to air. TIGHT SECURITY

“Security is really heavy, not used to that,” said British halfpipe snowboarder Dom Harington, who was otherwise loving the village experience. “Everything’s really fine. The shower makes some water on the floor but they are going to fix this so it will be all good,” said Canadian snowboarder Max Parrot. “You’ve got to show your pass, like, every 100 meters but I think that’s a good thing that they do this.” Hans Pum, sport director of the Austrian ski federation, smiled in the afternoon sunshine as he stood next to a giant set of

Wednesday February 05, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): You have a kind of creativity that knows no bounds today, Aries, and a kind of originality that knows no limits. How are you going to go about expressing this rich creativity that abounds inside of you? ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): This is an ideal day to take a look at your financial situation, so get out your bank statements or dividend reports. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You may have been worrying about something you did recently that you aren't very proud of. Today you'll discover that all that worrying was for nothing. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Not all friendships are the same, Cancer. You may have learned that the hard way, but that's OK. Today you could feel like putting your friendships in some kind of order and getting a bit of perspective on things. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Not only do you want to live life to the fullest every second, you also feel the need to leave your special mark on the world you live in. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): Your mind is in a period of great activity, and your curiosity about the world around you is practically insatiable. You're interested in anything and everything. You want to be able to understand everything from the simplest to the most complicated.

LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): It's very difficult for you to reconcile your desire for creativity and originality in your life to the constraints that society puts on you to be an efficient, productive person, Libra. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): You seem to have a lot of resentment toward someone who may have hurt you. Don't keep these feelings inside or they'll eat away at you, Scorpio. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Today, Sagittarius, you may feel like hiding yourself away in your ivory tower and watching the performance that is going on before your eyes. And why not, if this allows you to get the perspective you need on things? .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19):Have you been wanting to talk to your partner about something important, Capricorn? Well, it's up to you to make the first move. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18):You enjoy your freedom, Aquarius. You're a very independent person and you hate it when anything gets in your way. That's all right, but you may want to take a look at your financial situation even if that's not really your thing. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Today is a good day to take chances, Pisces. You may be quite successful if you're ready to defend the things you really care about. Pretend that you're the director of a film and that you've just met a potential producer for your movie

Olympic rings. “For the athletes it’s OK. It’s perfect,” he told Reuters. “This is different. They built it new and in a very short time. I was here last summer and I didn’t think then that it would be open (in time) for the athletes. “They have done a lot of work. I think they will be building the whole time the athletes are here.” Athletes questioned on their way to lunch in the cavernous restaurant serving food to cater for all tastes even if the pasta might not always be al dente enough for Italian teeth - had no gripes. Irish snowboarder Seamus O’Connor, walking down the road with a laptop under his arm and past blocks

decorated with national flags of teams staying in them, said everything was looking good so far. “It’s really nice here. The food’s really good. I’m accustomed to the Russian food since my mum’s Russian. So I like that,” explained the teenager, who lives in the United States.”They definitely had to do a lot of work since the last time I was here last year but it seems like they got it all finished.” British slopestyle boarder Billy Morgan gave the catering a rave review. “There’s lots of it, so I’m happy,” he grinned. “The fish is good. I try and eat as much fish as I can. It’s always really expensive but as it’s free, I’m just eating loads of it.” Security checks and

transport are regular sources of aggravation at any Olympics but, with the slopes a short walk away, that hassle had been reduced. Morgan’s only disappointment, if there was one, was to find no trace so far of the kind of ‘double toilet’ that went viral on the internet after a photograph was taken by a reporter at one of the venues. “That’s awesome. I’m going to go and find it,” he grinned.

Stop using Games for cheap political gain: IOC Chief Reuters - The Sochi Winter Olympics are a purely sporting event which should not be used by uninvited guests to score political points, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said yesterday. In a clear reference to world leaders who publicly refused to attend the first Winter Games in Russia, Bach said in an address in the host Russian city that some of them had not even been invited. “In the extreme we had to see a few politicians whose contribution to the fight for a good cause consisted of publicly declining invitations they had not even received,” Bach told an audience which included Russian President Vladimir Putin. French President Francois Hollande, British Prime Minister David Cameron and German President Joachim Gauck, among others, announced they would not attend the February 7-23 Games without providing a reason. The United States, which is sending lower-ranking officials that in recent Olympics, has in its delegation to Sochi three openly gay members including former tennis champion Billie Jean King. Russia has faced criticism over its human rights record and a recent anti-gay propaganda law which opponents say curtails the rights of homosexuals in the country. U.S. President Barack Obama will not attend the Sochi Games. President George W. Bush visited Beijing during the 2008 Olympics, first lady Michelle Obama headed the U.S. delegation to the 2012 London Games, while Vice President Joe Biden performed that role at the 2010 Vancouver winter Olympics.

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The $200m mega-fight between Beckham set to confirm Miami MLS franchise on Wednesday for cut-price £15m Mayweather and Pacquiao could finally be on in Vegas

Beckham at the Super Bowl with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton (right) on Sunday night David Beckham will be announced as the new owner of an MLS franchise in Miami today. The ex-England captain has called a press conference in the city where he will make official one of football’s worst kept secrets over the past few months. Beckham is expected to raid the Barclays Premier League for players as the MLS use his pulling power to try and enhance their league.

The 38-year-old’s move into football ownership is expected to cost him £15million - around 25 per cent of the price other new clubs have to pay. On Monday it was announced that Beckham would be making a ‘significant announcement’ alongside MLS commissioner Don Garber in Miami today. The Miami franchise is not expected to take part in the MLS until 2017 with major

issues such as the stadium yet to be ironed out. The Daily Mirror report that Beckham’s preferred choice is a 25,000-seater stadium on the Miami waterfront. Beckham will spend much of this week trying to gather support for the project, including at a concert hall reception last night. He is also expected to attend a youth football event today following the announcement. (MailOnline)

Mountain village gets thumbs up from athletes

At long last, it may actually happen. Boxing’s first $200million spectacular. The mega-fight we’ve all been waiting for. The most reliable hint thus far that Floyd Mayeather and Manny Pacquiao will finally get it on began rustling around the American rumour mill as the PacMan flew into Los Angeles from Manila in the early hours of Monday morning, London time. Book the date, at least provisionally: September 13 this year. The place: The MGM Grand Garden, Las Vegas. We’ve heard it all before but this time the word comes from close to Mayweather’s Money Team. The same YouTube source which revealed that Mayweather would fight Robert Guerrero and Canelo Alvarez months before the official announcements of those bouts last year is claiming now that the biggest one of all is a done deal. Mayweather keeps his cards closer to his chest than a world poker champion. He continues to play games by asking his Twitter followers to vote on who should be his next opponent. However, his date with Britain’s Amir Khan is expected to be confirmed any day. It has been in the works since October, as revealed by Sportsmail. Not that it would be reasonable to expect him to disclose his plans for September before that fight, which is earmarked for the same Vegas venue on May 3. Pacquiao also has a hurdle of his own to overcome at the MGM, on April 5, if the Mayweather bonanza is to have any chance of becoming reality. He is back in mastertrainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in LA preparing to avenge the miscarriage of judging which gifted Tim Bradley a split decision victory over him 20 months ago. If Khan or Bradley spring

Floyd Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao

a major upset, it would derail the Money train which is seemingly en route now to the biggest pay-night in ring history. But with the casino odds heavily against either of them losing this spring, Mayweather and Pacquiao appear to be manoeuvring towards an autumn showdown which has been the best part of a decade in the making. Pacquiao began clearing the decks by agreeing to Mayweather’s demands for Olympic bloodstandard drugs testing as well as the lion’s share of the purse. When his offer to accept just 40 per cent of the loot was followed by Mayweather’s insistence that he cut his promoter, Bob Arum, out of the deal, Pacquiao upped the moral ante. In keeping with a proposition put in this column a few weeks in the wake of the typhoon disaster in the Philippines, his home land in which he is eyeing a run for the presidency, Pacquiao challenged Mayweather to fight him entirely for charity. The silence which has greeted that proposal thus far suggests that Mayweather may indeed be considering a negotiation which could include a slice of the huge proceeds going to good causes in America as well as the Philippines. Another

temptation for Mayweather to risk his cherished unbeaten record in a bid to seal his legacy of greatness – as well as bank an absolute fortune has come with a perception in the US that Pacquiao is in decline. The controversial defeat by Bradley was followed by a shocking, onepunch KO by Pacquiao’s arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez, whom Mayweather had beaten with ease. Although Pacquiao came back to out-class a tough young Brandon Rios, he failed to finish the job with the knock-out which used to be his trademark. Even if Pacquiao looks back to his best in the Bradley re-match, the dye may already be cast by then for September. Albeit in private. As recently as two years ago MayweatherPacquiao would have been universally recognised as a duel between the two greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the world. That may well be the case by the time they do meet. Mayweather still reigns supreme and in my view Pacquiao is back up there, just one place below him. But even if Pacquiao is less than awesome against Bradley, a clash with Mayweather would still be huge box office. Better late than never. (MailOnline)

Robert Williams Memorial Dominoes Austrian alpine skiers Georg Streitberger, Klaus Kroell, Max Franz, Joachim Puchner and Romed Baumann (L-R) pose for a photograph in the Olympic rings at the Olympic athlete’s mountain village in Rosa Khutor near Sochi Reuters - Russian Alpine skier Elena Yakovishina was busy killing zombies in the Olympic athletes’ Mountain Village yesterday. Her accuracy was excellent - a fact highlighted by the impressive score lit up in front of her as

red-eyed ghouls stumbled relentlessly out of ‘The House of the Dead’ and into her sights. “I think we’ve been here about an hour already,” laughed her American physio, Park City-based Katie Guyer,

as the athlete took aim and fired another hail of electronic bullets at the screen in the games room. Elsewhere, Austrians were riding Superbike simulators while American athletes (Continued on page 35)

Wins for TNT and Thunder TNT and Thunder registered victories when the annual Robert Williams Memorial Dominoes competition continued Monday night last at Dynasty Sport bar, South Ruimveldt. TNT chalked up 72 games to overcome Rage with 67 and Delta Force 48. Dane Bynoe scored 17, Sean Morgan 15 and Trevor Smith 14 for the

winners while Lyal Gittens made 17 for Rage. Thunder marked 64 games to defeat Lions who finished on 57 and C 7 with 44. Faye Joseph top scored with 14 while Anil Samaroo supported with 13 for Thunder. Lions leading players were Mark Rodrigues and Errol Seymour with 13 and 12 games respectively.

Faye Joseph

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Sangakkara 160* leads Sri Lanka CSA to list revamp objections to ICC A seamless 178-run union between Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene formed the centrepiece of S r i L a n k a ’s f a m i l i a r dominance on the first day in Chittagong. Having been joined with Sri Lanka in minor strife on 49 for 2, Sri Lanka’s senior pair bent a torpid Chittagong surface and a spin-heavy Bangladesh attack to their will, through a combination of cricketing nous and batting instinct. Sangakkara finished the day unbowed at 160, after two late wickets weakened Sri Lanka’s chokehold. Jayawardene had fallen for 72 early in the third session to Mahmudullah, who was one of four frontline spinners Bangladesh played - having anticipated the nature of the pitch. AlAmin Hossain was the only seam bowler. Having drawn level with Sangakkara’s 33 tons in Mirpur, Jayawardene had hoped his team-mate would eclipse him once more in Chittagong, but for most of their time together, it appeared as if both were destined for triple figures. Sangakkara’s hundred drew him equal with Brian Lara and Sunil Gavaskar at fifth on the century-maker’s list. His runs had come in spurts, like the undulations of a melody. Jayawardene slower and steadier - held rhythm, finding a greater percentage of his score in the outfield. Sangakkara’s most profitable stroke was his pull. Rarely did he fail to slink back and wallop any spinner that pitched it short - which Mahmudullah and Sohag Gazi did frequently. All three of his sixes came over deep midwicket - the sec o n d o f which propelled him beyond fifty for the seventh time in as many innings against Bangladesh. Though Jayawardene had taken time to adjust to the pitch’s pace, jamming down late on three Al-Amin deliveries in the morning, Sangakkara had unpicked it almost immediately. Often he flitted quickly into position when he saw a poor ball, but delayed his stroke whenever it slowed markedly off the track. It was the sort of surface on which batsmen may never feel set, but the almost complete absence of false strokes in Sangakkara’s 245ball stay was tribute to his enduring concentration. The stone most often thrown at Jayawardene is that

Kumaar Sangakkara hits Test century No. 34 © AFP he makes his runs on generous decks, but in difficult conditions favouring spin, his batting so often seems effortless. The spinners fed him enough loose balls after his mild travails against the seamer, and he soon slipped into the kind of slow-pitch reverie that is a familiar sight in Galle or at the SSC. Sangakkara played calculating cricket, darting down the track to hit bowlers off their length, but Jayawardene’s method was mass-hypnosis. When Mahmudullah spun one more than expected to strike him in front of middle and leg, he had been in his breezy monotone for hours. There was turn from the track as well, but it was of the slow variety batsmen find easier to contend with, and Bangladesh did not deliver enough good balls in a stretch to mount significant pressure. That had been part of their undoing in Mirpur as well. Gazi began the day bravely, putting his balls in the air and hoping for something unusual for the surface . He generated decent turn in his opening spell, but though he dismissed Kaushal Silva, his overs became flatter and faster as the day wore on. Shakib Al Hasan was the most expensive frontline bowler, conceding 70 from his 15 overs - largely because he could not settle on a consistent length. Mahmudullah suffered from the same malaise, to a lesser extent, but his line was better in comparison. Abdur Razzak bowled only one four-over spell, in the morning, before he left the field with a strain in his left hamstring in the 37th over. Bangladesh might have had hopes of dismissing Sri

Lanka for under 300, when they sent back both openers in the first session. Silva was undone by the low bounce, as his sweep shot passed over the ball, which struck him in front of the stumps. Dimuth K a r u n a r a t n e had been positive at the other end, finding runs into his favoured leg side and dealing with the vagaries of the surface with security and confidence. But his inability to convert starts at this level persisted. On 31, he hit a short wide one from Al-Amin directly to the man at point, and sunk to his haunches in disappointment before exiting. He now has five scores between 20 and 40 in his last eight Test innings. Dinesh Chandimal also scripted a disappointment, running down the pitch at Shakib with only six full overs left in the day, to offer a leading edge to backward point. He had fallen in similar fashion against Saeed Ajmal two weeks ago, and in this innings, Chandimal had already survived another familiar close call. In the over before he got out, Chandimal had spotted a short ball from Al-Amin and pulled it on impulse, but though the fine leg fielder could have stayed within bounds after snaffling the top edge, momentum took him over the line. Angelo Mathews also fell attempting a slog which left Shakib with the best figures of the day, though others had bowled better than him. Sri Lanka 314 for 5 (Sangakkara 160*, M Jayawardene 72) v Bangladesh. (ESPNcricinfo)

Even while it stays engaged in negotiations with the BCCI, Cricket South Africa has laid out some fundamental objections to the ICC makeover proposal which includes the permanent membership for representatives from India, England and Australia in the proposed Executive Committee. It is learnt that CSA is preparing a detailed submission to be made to the ICC president Alan Isaac, going into details of their objections to the draft proposal for the revamp of the ICC, drafted by the BCCI, Cricket Australia and the ECB. The precise details of the submission could not be obtained but ESPNcricinfo understands that the chief observations made to the ICC could include, apart from constitutional procedure and ethical codes, specifics around clauses pertaining to governance and revenues. These may involve raising objections to the proposals suggesting that the allpowerful Executive Committee have permanent seats for the Big Three (BCCI, CA and ECB) in particular. Or asking for clarity and accounting on the revenue distribution with respect to

Chris Nenzani says CSA will not consider deals that will compromise its key principles © Getty Images the division of the ICC revenues on a scale of graded percentages. Regardless of the ICC’s release after the last Board meeting about “unanimous support around key principles” in its draft proposal, CSA, the Pakistan Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket are the three boards that make up the main opposition to the changes. On Monday, the PCB’s governing board recorded its

opposition of the proposals, while SLC issued a statement after an emergency meeting of its executive committee. The committee will meet, SLC said, with its “stake holders” on February 5, adding that, “with a view to safe guard the current rights and privileges of Sri Lanka Cricket as a Full Member of the ICC.” CSA denied a report in ESPNcricinfo that talks were on between CSA and the BCCI with a view to reaching an agreement to push the draft proposals through and resolve the dispute between the two boards over CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat. CSA’s statement said they would “not consider deals that compromise our key principles”. CSA president Chris Nenzani said, “While we are engaged in discussions with the ICC and other Members, including the BCCI, to find an acceptable way forward, we have not and will not consider deals that compromise our key principles and integrity.” The three boards who make up the main opposition to the Big Three draft proposals are said to be in contact with each other over their approach to the ICC Board meeting to take place on February 8.

ICC revamp: ECB boss Giles Clarke says everyone will benefit The chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board says an overhaul of the International Cricket Council will give countries greater financial security. ICC members will decide on Saturday whether to give more power to the ‘Big Three’ of England, India and Australia. “If anyone thinks that international cricket was working, well they are mistaken,” said ECB boss Giles Clarke. “If the status quo was so successful, why were so many countries in a perilous financial state?” England, India and Australia are behind a draft submission debated at the ICC’s board meeting last week, which included a number of controversial recommendations. Among them are widereaching executive powers for each of the ‘Big Three’, a new model of revenue distribution that would see the richest nations receive a greater share of ICC funds, and an end to the centralised Future Tours Programme. No vote was taken at the meeting in Dubai, although a

series of “unanimously supported principles” were released. However, Pakistan and South Africa have already registered their opposition in advance of Saturday’s meeting in Singapore to discuss - and possibly vote on - the proposals. Clarke is adamant changes are necessary and says all countries will profit financially if England, India and Australia are given more power to negotiate broadcasting and marketing deals on behalf of the ICC. “All countries earn more through this proposal,” said Clarke. “No member would earn less and, if our predictions are correct, most

Giles Clarke will earn an awful lot more. How can that be bad for cricket?” He added: “We hope that the new proposals provide the ICC with a new energy and direction and also countries with greater financial security.” (BBCSport)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Pietersen’s England career over Honduras confirms pre-World Cup schedule

The Honduras National Team Tegucigalpa - Honduras’ pre-World Cup itinerary became more clear Sunday, when Alfredo Hawit – General Secretary of the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras – confirmed on the Vistazo Deportivo radio show that the national team has scheduled four friendly internationals. Hawit said that Tunisia will travel to Honduras for a March 5 encounter with the Catrachos at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula. The second match will be on May 31 against Colombia in either New York or

Chicago. Then, head coach Luis Fernando Suarez’s squad will meet Ivory Coast at a location to be determined, before concluding the slate three days later against England at SunLife Stadum in Miami Gardens, Florida. Prior to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, Honduras prepared for the competition with games against the United States, Turkey, Venezuela, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Romania. For Brazil 2014, the CONCACAF power was drawn into Group E, where it will face France (June 15), Ecuador (June 20) and Switzerland (June 25).

Leroux strike gives U.S. women win over Canada Frisco, Texas – The United States extended its unbeaten streak at home to 78 games, posting a 1-0 victory over Canada on Friday in a women’s friendly before a crowd of 20,862 at Toyota Stadium. Sydney Leroux, who was born in Canada and has been capped 44 times by the U.S., netted the game-winner in the 79th minute with her 25th career goal. In the 2014 opener for each, the Americans allowed only one shot on goal, while the Canadians accumulated three yellow cards during a 10-minute stretch in the first half. Leroux proved to be a threat throughout the encounter. Her 13th minute shot from the left side of the box off a sparkling feed from Megan Rapinoe was suffocated by goalkeeper Erin McLeod, who charged out fearlessly. In the 22nd minute, Ali Krieger delivered a rightsided cross that the Seattle Reign forward bounced directly at McLeod. Canada’s best chance came five minutes before the interval. A neat passing sequence between Christine Sinclair and Josee Belanger

Sydney Leroux

England will enter a new era without one of their greatest-ever batsmen after the ECB decided not to consider Kevin Pietersen for selection for the forthcoming tour of the Caribbean and subsequent World Twenty20. A career that spanned 104 Tests and more than 150 limited-overs appearances over nine years, during which time Pietersen became England’s leading run-scorer in international cricket yet became one of the most divisive players in England’s history, now appears to be over, little more than a year after his successful “reintegration” to the team on the tour of India. The ECB said in a statement that the decision had been unanimous among the England management, adding that “now was the time to start the rebuilding process ” after the disappointment of being whitewashed in Australia. Paul Downton, the new managing director of England cricket, led discussions with Alastair Cook, the Test and oneday captain, Ashley Giles, the limited-overs coach who has just returned from Australia, and James Whitaker, the national selector. Downton, in his first week in the job, also met with Pietersen, who had previously indicated his desire to play on, tweeting that he was “determined to help regain the Ashes in 2015” in the wake of England’s 5-0 defeat. With the announcement o f E n g l a n d ’s Wo r l d Twenty20 squad expected on Thursday, the ECB took the unprecedented step of holding “policy meetings” solely to discuss the eligibility of one player: Pietersen. He spent the day of his sacking giving a class on how to play spin bowling to his Surrey team-mates at The Oval.

Kevin Pietersen “Clearly this was a tough decision because Kevin has been such an outstanding player for England as the fact that he is the country’s leading run scorer in international cricket demonstrates,” Downton said. “However everyone was aware that there was a need to begin the long term planning after the Australia tour. Therefore we have decided the time is right to look to the future and start to rebuild not only the team but also team ethic and philosophy. “England cricket owes a debt of gratitude to Kevin who has proved to be one of the most talented and exciting players to ever represent the country and his 13797 runs are a testimony to his immense skill. This decision brings some clarity now for the future of the England teams and we all wish Kevin the very best in the rest of his career.” Pietersen and his representatives seemed to have accepted the inevitable. Adam Wheatley, director of Missions Sports Management, Pietersen’s agent, tweeted: “Had a couple of meetings today (Tuesday). What’s everyone else been

Powerlifting Federation AGM set for February 16 resulted in Diana Matheson pulling a shot wide of the left post from nine-yards out. Wi t h 1 2 m i n u t e s remaining in normal time, Leroux struck for the evening’s only goal. After a give-and-go with secondhalf substitute Christen Press, defender Becky Sauerbrunn crossed from the right of the six-yard box for an unmarked Leroux to lunge at with her left foot and direct into the

open net. Nine minutes later, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo protected the victory, diving right to save a curling leftfooted effort from 13-yardsout by Jonelle Filigno. Next up for the Americans is a twogame series with Russia that starts on February 8 at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, and moves on to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome four days later.

The Annual General Meeting of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF has been set for Sunday February 16, 2014 from 11:00hrs at the Tropical View Hotel, Campbell Avenue, Campbellville. All athletes, coaches and referees are reminded that attendance is essential for the registration and participation in local and international events for 2014.

The agenda is as follows: 1. Roll Call of Clubs and Delegates, Athletes, Coaches and Referees 2. Minutes of the 2013 AGM 3. President’s Report 4. General Secretary’s Report 5. Treasurer’s Report 6. Auditor’s Report 7. Elections 8. Installation of 2014 Executive 9. President’s address

up to?” In a statement released by the ECB, P i e t e r s e n : “Playing cricket for my country has been an honour. Every time I pulled on the England shirt was a moment of huge pride for me and that is something that will live with me forever. “Although I am obviously very sad the incredible journey has come to an end, I’m also hugely proud of what we, as a team, have achieved over the past nine years. I feel extremely fortunate to have played at a time of great success for England cricket alongside some of the best cricketers the country has ever produced. “I want to thank everyone for their fantastic support and I wish the team the very best of success going forward. I believe I have a great deal still to give as a cricketer. I will continue to play but deeply regret that it won’t be for England.” The news of England forcibly retiring one of their most experienced players comes less than a week after Andy Flower stepped down as team director and follows the retirement of Graeme Swann during the disastrous Ashes tour. Few would seriously contend that there are valid cricketing reasons to omit Pietersen for the World Twenty20 and, whatever rumours and counterrumours swirl around England’s most controversial son, no specific examples of misbehaviour in Australia have been made public. England have not revealed any disciplinary issues on the tour of Australia, which could have led to an official fine or reprimand. Neither have they confirmed reports in the Sydney Mor ning Herald that Pietersen and Cook were involved in a ‘’heated’’ discussion at the SCG members’ bar on the eve of the fifth Test. People will wonder how Flower and his extensive management team, amounting to more than 20 backroom staff, could still fail to manage E n g l a n d ’s most m a v e r ick player - and whether the collapse “team ethic and philosophy” was solely down to Pietersen. Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, was one of the first ex-stars to ask for clarification. “I think the ECB have to explain to everyone exactly what KP has done so we can all have clarity and reasoning,” he tweeted.

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Kaieteur News

Rotary Club of New Amsterdam T20 cricket fiesta, car and bike show for February 16 Four of the top cricket teams from Berbice are expected to engage each other in a grand one-day T20 cricket competition organised by the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam, slated for Sunday February 16 at the Cumberland playfield. An exciting day of cricket action is anticipated as top teams Albion Community Centre, Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets, Young Warriors Cricket Club of East Canje and the De Edward Cricket Club of West Berbice collide in the one day extravaganza beginning at 09:00hrs. During the evening there will be a Car and Bike Show where auto owners can compete for best sounds, cleanest vehicles, best graphics and antique rides. All vehicle and cricket lovers are urged to take note of the event which promises to be exciting and fun filled. Vehicle owners are also

encouraged to register early for the Car and Bike show which is open to all categories. The event is being hosted to help raise funds for the club’s programme of activities for 2014. Rotary has always been in the forefront of community activities and has done a number of projects over the years. Among a few are the Water Well at Gangaram, the New Amsterdam Intensive Care Unit, Manchester Nursery School and Esplanade Park among others. The club has also organised numerous health clinics and outreaches, educational and feeding programmes. There will be popular sounds, food bars, games, giveaways and may more attractions for patrons. Persons interested in becoming sponsors or having an interest in the event can contact the Secretary or President on 333 3115 or 333 2751.

Player’s Cup/GT Beer Golf Championship fixed for Sunday at LGC Banks DIH Limited and Citizens Bank Guyana Inc. are partnering to host the first major golf tournament for 2014 called the Player’s Cup/GT Beer Championship on Sunday at the Lusignan Golf course. Approximately ten teams are expected to battle for supremacy in the one-day tournament organized by the Lusignan Golf Club. Each team will comprise of four players and the winning team will be determined by the lowest total net score. Apart from the team prize, the individual player with the best net score will win the prestigious Player ’s Cup sponsored by Citizens Bank. The present holder of the Player ’s Cup is Patrick Prashad who won title in 2012. There will also be a Best Gross prize. Previous winners of the Players Cup are Mohanlall “Santo” Dinnanauth who won in 2010 and Andre Cummings in 2011. The players will compete in three flights – 0-9 handicap, 10-18 and 19-28. Being the first major tournament for 2014, players are anxiously looking forward to the return to competitive golf following the recent inclement weather. Several companies are expected to

sponsor teams in the competition which will tee off at 09:00 hours. Banks DIH Limited/Citizens Bank named a strong four-member team led by Chairman Mr. Clifford Reis and will include Gavin Todd and Mark Lashley and current ladies champion Ms. Christine Sukhram. The manager is Alton Small. President of the Lusignan Golf Club Jerome Khan will lead the Jaguars which will include Imran Khan, Jack Harry and Matti Wesselin, while former Vice President Kishan Bacchus will spearhead a team of Fazil Haniff, Kalyan Tiwari and Munaff Arjune. Former President Brian Hackett, William Walker, Ian Gouveia and Patrick Prashad will compete as a team. Other players expected to be on show will include Joaan Deo, Troy Cadogan, Colin Ming, Dr. Philbert London, Maurice Solomon, Robert Hanoman, Roy Cummings, Fizul Deo, Chatterpaul Deo, Shanella Webster, Carlos Adams, Muntaz Hanniff, Avinda Kishore, Avinash Persaud and Brian Glasford. There will be attractive prizes for the top three teams in the tournament. Players can contact Club Captain Chatterpaul Deo or the Lusignan Golf Club for further details on the tournament.

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Will the warm-up pool meet March completion date?

The Warm Up Pool in the initial stages. By Rawle Welch With a projected closing cost set in the region of $675M, the question being asked is when local swimmers will finally get to use the facilities at the National Aquatic Centre, situated at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara. The location which is home to an Olympic-size Swimming Pool has been plagued by numerous issues including massive cost overruns, design and engineering difficulties and shifting deadlines since work commenced in February, 2008, a project that was touted as the brainchild of former President Bharrat Jagdeo. From the onset, preparatory work had to be suspended almost immediately due to design issues that developed which prompted a review of the blueprint and even though work had restarted it was stopped once again in November and that stoppage lasted until May, 2009, but even after work resumed more problems surfaced. The constant problems caused the Ministry of Sport to consult with Fédération

Internationale de Natation (FINA) in August, 2009 and it was then that Germany-based Myrtha Pools was asked to submit a design of a prefabricated Pool which was met with approval from the Ministry and the company subsequently retained to undertake its installation. However, the 50M Pool was eventually completed and commisioned by the former President in November, 2011, with the aim specifically to assist our national swimmers’ preparations for regional and international engagements. Since that time, they’ve not been able to benefit adequately from the existence of the facility which has been off limits to them for various reasons, while the staging of competitions has been far and few and the access to the Pool to recreational swimmers has mostly been nonexistent. Rightfully, seeing the need to have a warmup pool, the Government decided it had to invest in its construction and after inviting bids chose D&S Construction Company as the entity responsible for

preparing the site to house the ancillary expansion. They had given a deadline of March to complete the assignment with an engineer’s estimated cost being touted in the vicinity of $38.7M. Kaieteur Sport visited the location yesterday and while not being allowed to enter the compound it was clear that unless work is significantly progressed, the March deadline will not be met thereby causing another delay in the use of the Pool. A close assessment of the work done so far revealed unless efforts are intensified meeting the announced time limit will prove difficult. With the 2016 Rio Olympics just over two years way, any hope of our swimmers maximising the opportunity to hone their skills in a facility that has the standard requirement as the Games will be dashed. Too many of our sports facilities are not being fully utilised and it is placing our athletes at a great disadvantage so unless a structured programme is formulated that will allow the constant use of them then the

whole purpose of their construction will be in vain. The synthetic track at Leonora is another example of being behind schedule and the repeated patchy excuses of its delay in completion will not suffice. These delays, while it should not be used as the principal defense for the unacceptable behaviour our youths have been displaying recently, a case could be made to show that in the absence of programmes and opportunities to use the facilites it leaves enough room for them to get involved in undesirable activities that are felt by the whole society. Many studies have attested to the negative consequences that could be derived from youths not being con s t r u c t i v e l y engaged so it is incumbent on the relevant bodies to have the facilities completed on time and make them available to all. It will serve as an incentive to untangle them from the quagmire that they face regularly in the absence of opportunities during their leisure time. It is all part of nation building.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 05, 2014

NAGICO Regional Super50 cricket

Guyana Malta Supreme hold nerve to beat W/Wards by 22 runs

In 2007 in Grenada Royston Crandon made 101 on debut but Liam Sebastien with an unbeaten 72 led the Windward Islands to their highest total against Guyana as the Islanders reached 2564 to win that contest off the very last ball. But last night at the Queens Park Oval, the Windwards were toppled for 213 off 46.4 overs under lights, responding to the 2357 off 50 overs made by the Guyanese in their NAGICO Super50 game. Guyana Malta Supreme joined Jamaica in the semifinals and the two teams now face off in their final preliminary round in a virtual zone final on Saturday to decide the winner of Zone ‘A’. Led by contrasting halfcenturies from Ramnaresh Sarwan (62), Assad Fudadin (51) and Skipper Christopher Barnwell (51) Guyana received four points from the match to move to nine points, the same as Jamaica. Mervin Matthew bagged 4-41 and Delorn Johnson 239 in a losing cause for the

defending Champions who lost by 22 runs despite 35 from Johnson Charles and 33 from Keddy Lesporis. Veerasammy Permaul had 3-24, man-of-thematch Ronsford Beaton 3-47 and Devendra Bishoo 2-42. Played in mostly cloudy conditions on a track with a good covering of grass that offered prodigious bounce and pace for the fast bowlers, the Guyanese, without the injured Shiv Chanderpaul suffering from an abscess on his inner thigh, won the toss and opted to bat first. Trevon Griffith nibbled at one that left him from Delorn Johnson and was caught behind for a duck and the Guyanese were in early trouble at 1-3. Fudadin, who replaced Chanderpaul in the side, was struck on his glove, fending a nasty short ball from leftarm pacer Johnson and again in the rib cage area by leftarm fast bowler Kenroy Peters. First match top scorer Sarwan was dropped by wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher off Johnson before he had opened his personal account; the new ball pair constantly pushing the batmen on the back foot. After 10 overs Guyana were struggling on 17-1. The sun returned in all its glory and a handful of spectators watched Fudadin struck Guyana’s first boundary in the 15th over while in the next over Sarwan’s under-edge reached the boundary. This was

Port of Spain, Trinidad Former West Indies captain Floyd Lamonte Reifer is set to bow out of regional cricket after this year’s season. Management of the Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) team which Reifer has represented for the past seven years yesterday issued a statement saying that the 2014 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional cricket season will see the brilliant player coach of C C C , a n d l e g e n d a r y Barbados and West Indies cricketer at that level for the last time. Although Reifer, a lefthanded middle order batsman who took up the role of player coach for the CCC in 2007 on his retirement from the Barbados national team, will be playing his last season for the CCC, he will continue as its coach, working alongside the West

Indies icon and former fast bowler Curtly Ambrose. Reifer has had a distinguished career at the national and regional levels, and was called to duty by the WICB to lead the senior regional team in 2009 at the international level during a crisis moment in West Indies cricket. Known for his unruffled demeanour, and intense competitive spirit, he has led the CCC to two finals in five years (the 2011 four-day tournament and 2013 Super 50 competition) and has served to establish the CCC as a formidable force in regional competitions. Reifer made a huge impact with the bat in the 2009 WICB four-day competition when he scored an impressive 1002 runs (average 47.71) with three (3) centuries and five (5) half centuries. During that year CCC defeated all of the

Join Jamaica in semis By Sean Devers in Trinidad: In Association with Digicel, Carib Beer, Giftland Office Max, Payless Variety Store & Leisure Inn & Car Rentals

followed by an upper-cut from Fudadin for another boundary. The first fifty was posted in 20.3 overs and Sarwan celebrated the land mark with an enterprising pull for six off Mervin Matthew but the Islanders, who defeated Guyana in their last two encounters at this level, maintained their stranglehold. The 28-year-old Fudadin who has a fifty from his three Tests, and the experienced Sarwan embarked on ‘operation rebuild’ but when they had taken the score to 92 in the 31st over, Fudadin was put down at long-off by Matthew off Sebastien on 35. Sarwan got to his second consecutive half-century in the tournament and 13th for Guyana from 82 balls aided by three fours and a six while Fudadin used his feet and struck Sebastien back over his head for four to try and free the shackles. Sarwan changed gear with consecutive boundaries off left-arm spinner Garey Mathurin but soon hit a high full toss from the same bowler and was caught after facing 92 balls aided by five fours and a six. His partnership with Fudadin was worth 121 valuable runs. At Sarwan’s demise on 124-2, Barnwell joined Fudadin who soon departed when he swept Matthew to short square leg with the score on 130 but his 51 took 120 balls and included five fours. For the second game in a

Barnwell cuts during his innings

row Barnwell was asked to rescue his team from a pedestrian start. However, yesterday’s pitch was a lot more difficult to bat on than the one against Ireland. Barnwell and Johnson, who again played a superb cameo at the ‘death’, put

Reifer to retire from regional cricket traditional regional teams – except Jamaica – and secured its reputation as a force to be reckoned with. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, conceptualizer of the CCC project, and founder and first chair of the WICB Sagicor Cricket High Performance Centre at the Cave Hill campus of the UWI where he is principal, stated that “Floyd was asked to build out the CCC within the model established by Sir Frank Worrell; having a senior motivational player on the field, teaching tactics and strategies as the game evolves.” He added: “This development and learning approach was fully realised by Reifer, and has so far produced many quality players for national teams as well as the West Indies.” Sir Hilary commended the inspirational player for “an

Floyd Reifer excellent performance”, and noted that “as the CCC looks for his successor, it will continue to be served as coach by Reifer”. (Barbados Advocate)

together 84 runs in nine overs, stepping on the accelerator with an array of exhilarating strokes on the lightning fast Oval sward. Johnson was dismissed by Charles with 3.3 overs to go for a quick fire 31-ball 41 with three fours and two sixes at 214-4 and Narsingh Deonarine (2) fell cheaply when he slapped Johnson straight to cover four runs later. But Barnwell, who reached his 50 off 41 balls with four fours and two sixes, was bowled off the last ball for an explosive 51 as he and Anthony Bramble (2) fell to Matthew in three balls. Devon Smith is the only player from the Windwards with a century at this level against Guyana but last night he only managed five a s t h e g enuinely quick Beaton sent the Grenadian’s middle stump cart-wheeling in spectacular fashion with a perfect yorker with the score on 35-1. Charles (35) missed a wild swipe at Barnwell and had his stumps scattered to leave his team on 55-2. Tyrone Theophile back cut Veerasammy Permaul and drove Barnwell gloriously for boundaries and along with Fletcher carried the Windwards to 95 before Fletcher (17) seemed unlucky

to be given LBW to Bishoo. Theophile hit five fours in 31 but was also LBW to Bishoo at 96-4. St Lucian Lesporis who scored the first ton in this y e a r ’s competition and Vincentian Romel Currency kept the hunt alive with positive batting by taking the score to 157 with their 61-run before Currency (19) dragged one back onto his stumps. Man-of-the-match Beaton greeted Sebastien with a wicked bouncer w h i l e Wi n t z t r a p p e d Lesporis (33) LBW in the next over. But the Windwards were not giving up without a fight and Matthew rocked back and smashed Permaul for consecutive boundaries. Matthew (24) was removed by the impressive Beaton but with Sebastien still there, memories of the 2007 defeat in Grenada must have begun to haunt the Guyanese. A wild return from Sarwan went for four overthrows and with 30 to get from 36 balls the pressure was mounting on both sides. Mathurin (2) fell to Permaul who dismantled Johnson’s stumps. The action shifts to Tobago when host Trinidad & Tobago face Leeward Islands today in a day game.

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 05, 2014

New Era ENT to host Mackeson/Cell Smart Futsal Tourney in Linden

Page 41

National Park Athletics Track should be completed by March – Fernandes

12 teams, $200,000 first prize up for grabs The track taking shape at the National Park Aubrey Major Jr.

New Era Entertainment has teamed up with the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) to h o s t i t s C e l l Smart/Mackeson Futsal tournament in Linden, starting March 8, with all games slated for the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court. The twelve-team tournament will be played on a knock-out format and will fetch a first prize of $200,000, while second through fourth places are set to pocket $100,000, $75,000 and $25,000 respectively. “We’re hoping to make this tournament one of the best ever to be held in Linden and I’m guaranteeing some very attractive individual prizes,” s a i d N e w E r a Entertainment’s Co-Director Aubrey Major Jr. According to Major, while they are yet to register or make known the 12 participating teams, he’s aware that Linden is filled with players who normally form their squad to fit the shorter format of the game, noting, “…we know there are teams like Russians, Hard Knocks, Retrieve Unknowns, Canvas City AllStars, Sharp Shooters and Team-25 who have so far signaled their intention of playing and are getting themselves together to register. We’re hearing about a few new teams as well, so what we’ll be doing, is working with the UDFA in making sure that everything is done in order so we wouldn’t have any

problems.” He added that, “Deadline for registration is February 12 and forms can be uplifted and handed in at Muslim’s Top-Up Shop. We’re urging everyone, especially those who would’ve collected the forms to please make sure that they register before the deadline because we wouldn’t be collecting any more teams after the date has passed. Some teams have already brought in their forms and we’ll make an official announcement when everything is final.” Apart from the opening date, matches will be played on March 9, 13, 15, 17, 19 and the final on March 22.

Commissioner of the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), Damian Fernandes, told Kaieteur Sport yesterday that the works currently ongoing on the Athletics Track at the National Park should be completed by March month end, weather permitting. Fernandes stated that works on the track are in its second phase, that is grubbing and filling of the land and it is expected to be finished within another month. He further explained that they had stock piled 7,000 cubic meters of sand and earth to facilitate raising the level of the land. He said that the third phase

will comprise of resurfacing and compacting of the track. The Commissioner informed that extreme flooding will be difficult to prevent especially when it rains heavily, but the time it takes to drain the field will be reduced considerably. “Our greatest challenge is the flooding which is caused by the lowness of the land. The water flows into the Georgetown drainage system which makes it more difficult but we are working to improve this”, he added. Fernandes indicated that he hopes the track will be of great benefit to the athletes. “Previous conditions were

not optimal for them so we are raising both the centre of the field and the track so that it can be accessible to the public as well”, he said. He stated that they will also look at the other sporting facilities in the park but have to take it step by step adding that they would appreciate the support of the public in donating materials, preferably earth and sand. “It is very difficult for us to do it alone so we want to partner with the respective associations that use the fields to upgrade the facilities”, said Fernandes. He explained that the athletics track will

compliment the one at Leonora. “A lot of Georgetown based clubs and schools depend on it which gives the athletes an option to train in the city”, he stated. “The track is the lowest area of the park and we also took into consideration the future of the sport and those are the main reasons we decided to commence work there instead of the other areas”, he informed.The project falls under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Three Parks Initiative which also includes improvement of the Botanical Gardens and Zoological Park.d as park -

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Sachin Tendulkar receives BCB extends 75th anniversary top India honour Bharat Ratna invitation to former test/national players and administrators

India’s President Pranab Mukherjee presents the award to Sachin Tendulkar India’s President Pranab Mukherjee has presented the country’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar quit international cricket in November following India’s win over the West Indies in a Test in Mumbai.Tendulkar is the first sportsman to win the award and - at 40 - the youngest. Previous recipients include India’s first PM Jawaharlal Nehru, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and former PMs Rajiv and Indira Gandhi. The award is made on a

recommendation by the prime minister to the president. President Mukherjee presented the honour to Tendulkar and leading scientist Prof CNR Rao at a ceremony at Delhi’s presidential palace - or Rashtrapati Bhavan – on Tuesday (yesterday) morning.“I will continue to bat for India even though cricket has stopped,” Tendulkar was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India after receiving the award. Tendulkar had dedicated the honour to his mother Rajni when he was

nominated for it hours after he announced his retirement last year. Tendulkar bowed out of international cricket after his 200th Test match 24 years and one day after his first.He played in 664 international matches, scoring 34,357 runs and making 100 centuries. He scored almost 2,500 more Test runs than the secondplaced batsman, Ricky Ponting. Tendulkar was nominated to the upper house of parliament in 2012. (BBC)

Sanjay’s joins list of sponsors for Brumell Ten 10 Cricket S a n j a y ’s J e w e l l e r y joined the list of sponsors f o r S u n d a y ’s S e c o n d Annual Leroy Brumell T10 Softball Cricket competition that will be held at Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary. Police Sports Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Colin Boyce received the donation and indicated that Sanjay’s has been a sponsor of the competition since it started last year. Apart from the cricket, Boyce said that the event will also feature a football match involving the Guyana Police Force team, dominoes and other sport events in a Family Fun Day setting aimed at improving the relationship between the Police and the Public.

CEO of Sanjay’s Jewellery, Sanjay Persaud (left) hands over the sponsorship cheque to Colin Boyce.

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday September 20 this year would be hosting a special 75th anniversary dinner and ceremony in honour of all its Test and former National Senior Players. The Board’s Special Events Committee (SEC) and Golden Jubilee Committee (GJC) Chairman Hilbert Foster stated that the anniversary dinner would be the highlight of a month of special celebrations during September. The BCB for 2014 will be organising a series of activities to coincide the historic milestone, some of which have already been completed. Among them are the Tribute to Retired players, Berbice Educational Award Scheme, Establishment of six Mini Libraries and donations to several clubs. The SEC is officially extending an invitation to all living Test players of the Ancient County to be a part

of the 75th anniversary celebrations and would like to urge them to plan visits to Berbice during the period of September 5 – 23, 2014. The list of past players includes Rohan Kanhai, Joe Solomon, Basil Butcher, Leonard Baichan, Sew Shivnarine, Alvin Kallicharran, Clayton Lambert and Mahendra Nagamootoo. They would be joined by the Berbice based and current players, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine, Brandon Bess, Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo. Past players who have passed on are Roy Fredricks, Ivan Madray and John Trim. Also invited are overseas based former Guyana senior players: Romain and Tyrone Etwaroo, Milton Pydana, Fazil Sattaur, Sudesh and Sunil Dhaniram, Leslaine Lambert, Ray Joseph, Kamal Singh, Armanauth Ramcharitar, Derek

Kallicharran, Kevin Darlington, Arjune Wandu, Suresh Ganouri, Hemnarine C h a t t e r g o o n , Vi s h a l Nagamootoo, Randolph Ramnarace Jnr, Damodar Dasrat and Jerry Angus. BCB former executives: Ancel Hazel, Lennox Phillips, Jafarally Asrafalli, Roy Baijnauth, Manohar Pooran, Hemraj Seunarine, Romain Etwaroo, Oscar Ramjeet, Prem Manbodh, Edward Bhagwadin, Vickram Ramnauth, Joseph Sookwah, Mohamed Yusuf and Ramesh Sookhdeo. The aforementioned persons are asked to contact the BCB 75th Anniversary Committee Chairman Hilbert foster on telephone #s 337 4443, 337 4562 (during working hours) or e m a i l foster_hilbert@yahoo.com for further information. First Vice President Anil Beharry can also be contacted on 623 6 8 7 5 o r e m a i l abeharry1970@yahoo.com.

Jamaica’s Windies reps leave for NZ tour Kingston, Jamaica Jamaica’s six representatives on the West Indies senior women’s team left the Island on Monday to join up with the rest of the squad in Barbados. Stafanie Taylor, Shanel Daley, Chenelle Henry, Natasha Morgan, Carla Cohen, and newcomer Vanessa Watts were fêted at a breakfast reception by the Jamaica Cricket Association hierarchy headed by CEO Courtney Francis and secretary Fritz Harris. Also in attendance were chairman of the JCA selection panel Wavell Hinds and long standing fitness instructor David Bernard Sr who will be accompanying the girls on the tour. According to the JCA CEO Francis, the girls will be undergoing a fitness test in Barbados before travelling to New Zealand for their eightmatch tour. “The girls will play three ODI’s and five T20s in New Zealand after which they will then travel to Bangladesh for the ICC Wo m e n ’s Wo r l d T 2 0 Championship. We are elated to have six representatives on

Shanel Daley

Stafanie Taylor

the West Indies Women’s team, and this just goes to show that we are doing something right here with regards to our women’s cricket,” Francis said. Veteran Taylor, who has five centuries and 16 half centuries to her name, is looking for another productive series having dominated the Kiwis when they toured the Caribbean recently. “I had a good series against the New Zealanders when they came to the West Indies, and I am looking to improve on my batting. My

aim is to convert more of my half centuries into centuries, and if I do that I would feel I had a successful tour,” she said. Newcomer and allrounder Vanessa Watts, who is getting her first senior callup is looking to first get into the team before setting her sights on any goal. “I must say I was surprised when I got the call, but I have been working on my game and I know once I get the opportunity I will be ready.” The first ODI against New Zealand bowls off in Lincoln on February 22. (Jamaica

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 05, 2014

Page 43

Anticipated punches in bunches as international amateur boxing returns to the CASH

Coaches Roldon (c), Blake (extreme L) and Terrence Poole (extreme R back) pause for a photo op just after completing a hectic training session Monday afternoon last

After a period of more than a decade, international amateur boxing returns to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) February 1416 next and boxing buffs yearning for the return of the slugfests of the late seventies/early eighties are assured of similar action that pits the skill of local pugilists against their counterparts from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and St Lucia. The St Lucian team consists of the best in the I s l a n d i n Light/Welterweight Lyndell ‘The Russian’ Marcellin, Welterweight Ron Bastien and Middleweight Arthur Langillier. Their local equals are Bert Braithwaite, Eon Bancroft and Ron Smith (Welterweights), Trevon King and Dennis Thomas (Middleweight) and from all appearance the local squad is intent on reclaiming lost glory. St Lucia’s Head Coach is Conrad Fredericks while second Vice President and PRO of the St Lucia Amateur Boxing Association (SLABA), Brian Mc D o n a l d , i s t h e Te a m Manager; President of the SLABA, David ‘Shakes’ Christopher will head that delegation.

The other boxers selected to represent Guyana are Michael April, Stephon Nedd and Junior Henry (52kgs), Delon Charles (56kgs), Imran Khan and Clairmonte Gibson (60kgs) while the two females are Dwon Thompson and Theresa London, both tipping the scales at 75kgs. Trinidad’s representatives are female, Chimbre Taylor (75kgs), Akmal Strode (52kgs),

Christian McDonald (56kgs), Michael Alexander (60kgs), Jean Paul Cooper (64kgs), Akiel Outram (69kgs) and Aaron Prince (75kgs). The Jamaicans are Patrick Sahadeo (60kgs), Anthony Clarke (64kgs), Kestna Davis (69kgs) and Michael Gardner (75kgs). The local team is engaged in roadwork exercises at the National Park at 05:00hrs and then

returns for gym sessions at the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym (ALBG) at 16:00hrs daily. The squad is going through its drills under the keen scrutiny of Terrence Poole, Sebert Blake, Wensel Thomas and Cuban Coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldon, back in Guyana after returning to his homeland for the Christmas holidays. Last Monday afternoon these Coaches combined their

efforts and pushed the local boxers to the limit and they (coaches) are confident that their charges will shine in the imminent championships. The boxers are scheduled to be encamped this morning and last Monday afternoon engaged in several rounds of shadow boxing and bag work. They were also pushed to the limit during three hours of arduous roadwork on the inner circuit of the National

Park, yesterday morning as the coaches seek to attain optimum fitness levels. The forum will also allow the Presidents of the various associations to convene in a meeting scheduled for the 15th where they will discuss strategies t o w a r d t h e s p o r t ’s development in the region while comparing notes on organizational techniques among other issues.

t r o Sp P.39

Guyana Malta Supreme hold nerve to beat W/Wards by 22 runs

Beaton celebrates another wicket with teammates

Join Jamaica in semis

Assad Fudadin Ramnaresh Sarwan

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