Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

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

The Opposition Leader Kaieteur News is my teacher and his ‘no plan’ answer DEAR EDITOR, A Partnership for National Unity APNU held a press conference on January 30, 2015 to berate the government for purportedly neglecting the youth of this country. Mr. David Granger: pointed out that “This election will be determined largely by the way young people vote. Youths, those between 15 and 24 years, and dependent children constitute 69 percent of the national population. About seven out of every ten citizens are classified as young. He goes on to blame the Government for not educating the youth despite statistics that show we have achieved the millennium development goals for primary and secondary education and clear evidence that our youths from all over the

country are topping their Caribbean counterparts in passes at the annual exams. What is more alarming is that he accuses the government of not having a national youth plan even though one has been in place for years and then turns around an expounds on the rate of suicide among youths claiming that our country is suffering from a suicide epidemic. What takes the cake, however. is his response to the question posed by “Fareeza Haniff for INews: Good morning Mr. Ganger. What is the APNU’s plan to deal with the suicide epidemic if you go into office? Mr. Granger: Well we don’t have a plan of action to deal with suicide epidemic” How can we expect our

people to elect a leader without a plan after he spent the last hour of a national press conference berating the Government for not having a plan when in fact there is a well-documented National Youth Policy approved by the National Assembly of which he is a part. We have to hold our leaders to a higher standard of accountability than this if we want to move our country forward. When it is time for you to vote on Election Day will you vote for the candidate without a plan for youths who comprise 69 percent of the population? In view of his open admission that he has no plan for our youths it will be Mr. Grainger who will reap a bitter harvest at the next elections. Desmond Morian

Student Reaction to Industrial Dispute at UG DEAR EDITOR, As a student, I feel as though the current industrial dispute at the University of Guyana between Staff and Administration is adversely affecting my rights. My right to education and my right to benefit from the services I have paid for. Both Staff and Administration are directly benefiting from my tuition fee. I believe that they are therefore under a moral and legal obligation to ensure that I benefit from the services I have paid for. As a law student, I am familiar with the cries of other law students. Some fellow law students share my view, that delay of the resumption of all classes will negatively affect their immediate ability to complete the programme on time, their careers and future plans. Every year in the law programme may be seriously affected. First year exams are set by UWI Cave Hill Campus. The UG administration has no say in the date of those exams. Hypothetically, if the dispute takes a month to be resolved, that would mean that the first years will have to learn three

months material in two months because the date of exams cannot be postponed by the UG Administration. Third year exam dates are set by UG Administration. H y p o t h e t i c a l l y, i f t h e dispute takes a month to be resolved, the Administration could postpone the exams a month so the students have the full amount of time to prepare. The issue is that those who wish to apply for entry to any regional law school, need final semester grades to do so. They are therefore in danger of missing the deadline for submission of final semester grades. Consequently, they would have to wait until the application period reopens next year. Further, the 25 limited spaces that are offered will, in 2016, then be competed for by two

batches of law students instead of one batch. Other final year students across campus may be similarly affected as it relates to applications for further education. If the semester is pushed back and the grades are released proportionately later; they are in danger of missing the application deadlines. Also affected are students who would have entered into commitments during the June-August period when they would have expected to be away from UG. I have illustrated the personal perspective of a student from the faculty of law. I hope that other students similarly exercise their right to express their perspectives on how the current industrial dispute is affecting students’ right to education and their right to benefit from services that they are paying for. Nicholas Carryl

DEAR EDITOR, I’m living abroad since 2002 but I always visit my home (beautiful Guyana) every year. While I’m here, I frequent all the newspapers especially (Kaieteur News) to acknowledge what’s happening in Guyana on a daily basis. Sometimes I’m at work and we (me being the only Guyanese) in the office are not allowed to be on the internet, but I can’t wait until I get home to read the news. Boss man passes around, I just minimize the page and you know the rest. My point is: To me, KAIETEUR NEWS is our teacher, head master, adviser, and best

informer. There are so many issues that we the small people don’t know about what’s happening. e.g. corruption of all aspects, in all category in our country that’s lingering under the carpet and only certain people sweeps the carpet and only on the top, put KAIETEUR NEWS has a vacuum that gets from wall to wall, top to bottom, ceiling to floor, inside and out , even over and under. And a part of that media is “DEM BOYS SEH”. Keep up the good work KAIETEUR NEWS and talk half and watch who gun talk the other half. Collie Allen (Shrimpy)

GPL is unscrupulous, why should I be forced to print my bills? DEAR EDITOR, Please permit me to highlight a situation which has, over time, become a burden to the taxpayers and in essence a way to rob citizens even further through perceived due process. The Guyana Power Light (GPL) has become a parasite instead of a proper service provider. Wi t h m i l l i o n s b e i n g pumped into the agency there is no light at the end of the tunnel as consumers have to accept constant and abrupt darkness with mere petty excuses that has become the norm. But it appears that unless the head is removed, and department heads are made more accountable, we will not see any significant improvement to this utility monopoly. Upon visiting the GPL Main Street branch, recently, to inquire about a pensioner being overbilled when no visit was made in almost a year to the premises, the excuse given was that the pensioner was being under billed, so I asked whose fault was that

since GPL has to be reading a meter before billing persons which is in essence robbing them since I am sure many persons are also overbilled. I was told that a complaint would be made to the meter reading department, and that was it! Now as a service provider with a poor track record there is need for a competing organization that may invest in a wind farm or some other form of green energy so that consumers may have an option. A good example was when GT&T had the power to take advantage of citizens through the service they offered, suddenly when Digicel swept the market GT&T was force out of their dictatorial tendencies and prices were regulated to benefit consumers. One relative of mine was shocked when also visiting the main street branch to inquire why he wasn’t receiving bills at the end of the month and

he was told because he had accessed the (http:// www.gplinc.net/billing/) to inquire the amount he had to pay, the power company automatically scratched him off the billing list since he could now have his bills read online and print a copy. According to the GPL this cannot be undone. Now tell me something GPL this was never advertised in the media that this was the route that would be taken, and don’t tell me that my relative signed up for the billing service because he didn’t! He just checked the system and never registered an account! These unscrupulous acts to further burden consumers with a responsibility that GPL is mandated with is nothing but disgraceful. Why should a taxpayer be forced to carry out the responsibility a service provider? Why should someone have to use their personal printer to benefit GPL when they are sucking the nation dry? Michael Parris

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Kaieteur News

Suspected botched abortion…

Post mortem further delayed The post mortem examination which was expected to have been done on the remains of 23-year-old Athina Kennedy, the woman who died five months after a suspected abortion, has again been stalled. It is unclear why the post mortem (PM) was delayed, but this newspaper was informed that a pathologist from Georgetown was expected to travel to Bartica to conduct the examination. The PM was supposed to be done on the woman’s remains since last week. “Every time we go, they keep telling us that we have to come back tomorrow and when we go back, is the same thing they keep telling us. I really don’t know when they are going to do the PM,” the dead woman’s partner, Nathaniel Leandrew said. He opined that the constant delays in the PM could be “a spiteful move” by medical personnel at the Bartica Hospital, since according to Leandrew, the doctor accused of performing the botched abortion on his partner, had threatened him. “He (the doctor) tell me that if I go to the newspaper, no one from the Bartica hospital will look at me and my family,” the man claimed. According to Leandrew, when he tried to find out from workers at the hospital, what

Dead: Athina Kennedy is causing the constant delays, no one from the health institution was willing to assist him. Athina Kennedy, of 44 Second Avenue, Bartica, died at the Bartica Hospital around 02:00 hrs two Wednesdays ago, despite undergoing surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to repair an alleged perforated uterus. The injuries were reportedly sustained during an abortion which was reportedly done last September at a cost of $8000, allegedly at the clinic of the doctor in question. The young mother was three months pregnant when she had the pregnancy terminated. Kaieteur News was told that one week after the

woman had the abortion done, her health started to deteriorate. Her partner explained that the woman was slightly paralyzed. “She couldn’t walk or move around too much, so I took her to the Bartica Hospital and the doctor said that it was Chikungunya and he gave her an injection.” Leandrew said that the third time he took his partner to the hospital, she was admitted and subsequently transferred to the GPHC where she was hospitalized for seven weeks. “They (doctors at GPHC) said that her uterus was damaged because of an abortion and they had to fix it. At first, she went in the ward and then they transferred her to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). She was unresponsive and was on a machine,” Leandrew said. He added, “I went to the doctor who did the abortion on her and tell him that he has to assist us financially, or I will report him to the newspaper. He gave me $20,000 and said that’s all he can give. He said even if I go to the papers, nothing will happen to him, and that me and my family will feel shame.” On November 1, last, Athina Kennedy was discharged from the GPHC after her condition improved, but was eventually rushed to the Bartica Hospital after her condition deteriorated again. She later succumbed. The doctor in question categorcially denied doing an abortion on the woman.

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Strike at LBI estate ...as 19 workers dismissed in fertilizer scheme

GuySuCo says that it was hit by strike action after dismissing 19 workers for being involved in a fertilizer scheme. The state-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has fired 19 workers who are believed to have been involved in fertilizer scheme at La Bonne Intention (LBI) estate. That decision has now led to a strike involving 380 on that East Coast Demerara estate. According to GuySuCo in a statement yesterday, 15 cane harvesters were dismissed over the weekend and Monday for the inadequate application of fertilizer. The fertilizer was intended for 10-week-old cane plants at Felicity Fields 49, 49A, 52 and 53, a section of the LBI cultivation, with GuySuCo saying that the incidents occurred on 24th and 25th July 2014. Prior to the dismissal of these 15 workers, three junior staffers and one senior were dismissed between the 19th and 26th September for allowing the workers to have fertilizer inadequately applied to the cane plants.

GuySuCo noted that the 15 workers were adequately trained in the application of fertilizer, as it is routine for them to be assigned during the out-of-crop periods. The corporation said that during routine inspection, it was discovered that many cane plants were not fertilized. As a matter of fact, a thorough examination found that there was massive skipping in the application of the fertilizer. “Subsequently, the Corporation’s agriculture audit team was deployed to make an assessment of the extent of fertilizer not being applied to the cane plants. It was revealed that there was massive skipping, and further the supervisory staff made full payment to the 15 workers for the poor quality of work done.” Auditors found that only half of the fertilizers that were allocated were applied to 20 hectares of cane fields. There was no explanation what happened to the rest. GuySuCo said it has been spending approximately $2B annually to import fertilizer and found it “totally unacceptable that fertilizer that is intended to nurture the cane plants could not be applied to them in the stipulated amount. This

development could be the contributing factor for the East Demerara Estate experiencing low cane yields and stunted cane growth.” GuySuCo warned that it will continue to exercise “a zero tolerance” for this type of work behaviour, “and in this sense wishes to advise those workers who are on strike to have an immediate end to their protest action and allow either the process of the grievance and/or disciplinary procedures to have their course.” The corporation said that the strike will come at a time when the East Demerara estate is expected to commence its first crop for this year by mid next week. An industrial action will serve to jeopardize the startup of this crop. GuySuCo has been struggling with its production for over a decade, with the industry recording some of its worst performances for the last 23 years in 2013 and 2014. Rising costs, inefficiency and troubles with its flagship US$200M Skeldon estate modernization project have also been worrying stakeholders, with billions of taxpayers’ dollars being used to bailout the industry, with little results.

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Walter Rodney COI… Despite holding many public meetings to “strategize” and calls from supporters to take action against the pressures of the then governing People’s National Congress (PNC), General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee believes that the combined opposition in those days did not have the capacity to overthrow the government. The General Secretary shared this view under intense cross-examination as the Commission of Inquiry (COI) set up to get to the bottom of political figure Dr. Walter Rodney’s death, continued yesterday. Dr. Rodney, a scholar, social activist and co-founder of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) was killed in an explosion on Friday, June 13, 1980. Rohee had previously testified that the political figure had been the victim of state-sponsored terrorism and that the period 1978 – 1980 was one which saw members of both the PPP and WPA being kept under close surveillance by the members of the Special Branch of the Guyana Police Force. When he returned for cross-examination yesterday, Basil Williams, the attorney representing the PNC suggested that Rohee, who had been employed as a journalist in Czechoslovakia at that time, had no direct knowledge as to how Rodney met his demise. Rohee told the Commission that though he returned to Guyana in 1983, he had learnt of Rodney’s death via a telephone call. Williams suggested to Rohee that he was in no position to say that Rodney’s death had been an act of the State, especially due to the fact that he was thousands of miles

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Opposition lacked capacity to overthrow Gov’t – Rohee away at that time. But Rohee stood his ground, stating that there are thousands maybe millions, like him, who learnt of Rodney’s death and “pointed their fingers to the Government.” Williams argued that Rohee had no substantial evidence to support his claims. Focusing on surveillance at the time, the lawyer suggested to Rohee that the political opposition forces during the period of 1978-1980 were justifiably under surveillance. Williams asked Rohee if the standing orders of the Special Branch are the same now as they were during the period under review, but Rohee claimed that he was not aware of such. The witness went on to say “When the PPP came into power, Dr. Cheddi Jagan (then leader of the PPP) sought to assign a different role to the Special Branch; more to do with crime intelligence.” According to Rohee, that is where the energies of the Special Branch are now directed and he could not

PPP’s General Secretary, Clement Rohee on the witness stand yesterday speak whether the acts of the unit were unlawful during Burnham’s regime. Quoting from the standing orders governing the intelligence unit previously submitted to the Commission, Williams asked whether it was the same as it is now, but Rohee claimed that he is not familiar with what it was then, since he was appointed in 2006. The lawyer focused on Rohee’s previous testimony where he stated that there

were meetings between the WPA and PPP. Williams grilled Rohee on whether

there were talks to overthrow or remove the Government. But the party’s General

Secretary pointed out that the two leaders would meet from time to time to “strategize on the approach they would take to advance the struggle.” Williams moved to suggest that, as such, the political operatives were justifiably under surveillance under the remit of Special Branch at the time. Rohee said that he could not accept that, since he was merely au fait with the standing orders of the police and not special branch “Do you agree that if a person publicly declares that they would overthrow the government of the day that (Continued on page 9)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 11, 2015

UGWU President not impressed with Vice Chancellor’s leadership Some staffers display fierce messages as they picket outside UG’s Turkeyen Campus.

“If you find yourself between a rock and a hard place, it is uncomfortable either way you look at it,” said President of the University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU), Bruce Haynes. Haynes, who was at the time entertaining an interview with this publication, emphasised this point as he made reference to Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Jacob Opadeyi. In fact the UGWU President wasn’t at all timid in amplifying his disappointment with the level

of leadership that has been exhibited by Professor Opadeyi since the recent commencement of industrial action at the University. “The Vice Chancellor believes that if he is getting no traction from the Government’s side then he is going to try to see if he gets traction from the staff’s side,” Haynes speculated, as he shared his firm belief that several disparaging remarks that were made by the Vice Chancellor and published via the press are merely his attempt at threatening staffers

into submission. The Vice Chancellor just last week issued a statement to the university Unions – the UGWU and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association – pointing out that he has not only withdrawn a 25 per cent multiyear proposed pay hike (payable altogether over a three-year period), but he will not continue further negotiations until the workers return to work. A demand was made by the workers, through their Unions for a 60 per cent across the board increase, which has since been reduced to 25 per cent (per year) for a three-year period (2015, 2016 and 2017). Based on disclosures made by the Vice Chancellor since assuming his position

early 2013, the workers were convinced that he was prepared to make the University financially stable, even if it meant soliciting much needed funding directly from Government. But the Unions are convinced that from all indications, the Vice Chancellor has reneged on his ambitious stance and seems to favour a more “dictatorial” approach. “What the Vice Chancellor has been saying is intended to demoralize and threaten. Some people can buckle, others will resist; and we are resisting,” Haynes asserted as he bore a placard stating “this nonsense must stop” while joining forces with several other workers as they picketed near the front entrance of the University’s Turkeyen Campus. The University workers commenced strike action two weeks ago, but devised a plan to intensify such action on Monday, which will continue until today, in hope of prompting a resolution. Continuing his deliberation on the prevailing situation, Haynes insisted that “it is wrong to vilify people. We have not vilified anybody out there; we have had a cordial relationship with the Vice Chancellor. We were meeting with the Vice Chancellor, we were being very patient, we were being very tolerant,” added the evidently perturbed UGWU President. He stressed too that while

UGWU President, Bruce Haynes there were many promises made by the Vice Chancellor, which he did not honour since assuming office, “we never held that against him, but there is a point that you reach that you will say ‘can we continue like this forever and ever’.” According to Haynes, the move to intensify industrial action is merely one aimed at seeking closure over a matter that has been ongoing for far too long. “We want closure,” he insisted, as he focused attention on the initially requested 60 per cent increase that was proposed by the Unions to the University’s Negotiating Team. He explained that while 60 per cent might seem huge, it certainly will not be, when one considers the pay package of a maid/cleaner employed at the University

who takes home just over $20,000 per month. The majority of persons in this category, he noted, are required to work five hours per working day and still will not be remotely propelled to even the minimum wage level if 60 per cent is added to their pay package. “Some people out there are saying that we are greedy, but I don’t know about that. People talk, but they don’t do the Maths, because they don’t care; because most of them who will get a five per cent increase (to salaries that already surpass the minimum wage) they can live with that,” Haynes theorised. According to him, it is imperative that people seek to understand the dynamics of survival in Guyana, even as he pointed out that some things necessary for survival are in fact, “generally out of our reach.” He alluded to the procurement of a house lot which could amount to in excess of $100,000 as he questioned “where is the average citizen going to earn $100,000 to pay that.” And then there is still the question of building and maintaining one’s self and family that must still be factored into the equation, the UGWU President observed. “How are we going to deal with those things that are outside of our reach? We need to have an increase in what we take home!” he stated emphatically.

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Dem boys seh...

De waterfalls boss man want ketch Babbie and he best friend When a man pocket full money does fall out, because de pocket ain’t got no more space. It so happen that this time some people got more money than dem can count. Couple morning ago, people use to collect every cent dem can put dem hand on. People scramble till some of dem break dem fingernails. Now that Donald announce elections, he tell dem that dem got to stop tekking and thiefing. He tell dem that de government got to present an image that mek dem look like decent people. And he lead by example; he drop de price fuh gas suh people start fuh fill up dem car more cheap. Then he decide fuh give de people cheap current because he people mek too much from light bill. Even de people who thiefing current got to get some incentive. Dem boys seh that GPL promise to give dem people who thiefing current a longer piece of wire. Dem boys notice that from de time Donald announce that he gun cut light bill, some blow blow come out and sing from de rooftops that de mighty Donald bring blessings. Clinty de Willie is a Christmas blow blow who holler that de cut is de best thing since Noah mek de ark. Ramesh Coo Coo is a Phagwah blow blow and Bibi Shades is a Eid blow blow. De two of dem claim that dem can now get money to spend pun sweetie and chewing gun that can blow real big. Well since dem like blow things dem boys got nuff things fuh dem blow and keep dem mouth busy. Dem boys got thing fuh keep Babbie and he best friend busy too. De two of dem know that de Waterfalls boss man frighten to go to jail suh he cut a deal wid Cee fuh Satar. Wha dem don’t know is that de Waterfalls boss man frighten things other than jail. He frighten wha he would do to de two of dem if he ketch dem in a dark corner. Dem boys seh that people can let dem imagination run wild because whatever dem can think, that is wha de Waterfalls boss man gun do to de two of dem. Talk half and think more cheapness.

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Man gets two months in jail for fraud Deochan Raghubar was yesterday sentenced to two months in jail and fined $25,000 by City Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond, after he pleaded guilty to the offence of fraudulent misrepresentation. The court heard that on January 17, last, Raghubar was handed $11,500 to purchase alcohol for businessman, Rawle Barclay,

but Barclay never got the money. Police Prosecutor, Corporal James Garnett told the court that on the day in question, on South Street Georgetown, Barclay gave Raghubar the money to go to Narine’s Liquor Store on Robb Street. Raghubar was to purchase 24 quarter bottles of high wine, and 24 quarter bottles of vodka for Barclay’s

Opposition lacked... (From page 7) that person was qualified to come under surveillance?” Williams asked Rohee, who replied “That was a matter of Special Branch, not me as Minister of Home Affairs.” “I can’t speak for any other Minister of Home Affairs that preceded me,” Rohee said. The Minister told the Commission “I don’t think we had the capacity to overthrow the Government.” Rohee told the Commission that during the period, there were shots being fired in public meetings, but admitted that he had not mentioned that in his statement. “There were so many things happening during that period,” Rohee said, adding that he knew of cases where the police shot tear gas and bullets into crowds. He said the police of the day had shot into crowds, killing people. Williams attempted to create a nexus between the

recent Linden shooting and incidents that occurred involving the police during the period under consideration. The PNC attorney was cautioned by Commission Chairman Sir Richard Cheltenham, who objected to Williams’ line of questioning, noting that it was outside the terms of reference of the Commission of Inquiry. Assistant lead counsel to the commission, Latchmie Rahamat said that the commission will be conducting “in camera” sessions with some witnesses, commencing today, which excludes the public and media. This is the eighth session of public hearings of the commission and it is expected to conclude next Friday.

business. Raghubar never returned, and Barclay reported the incident to the City Constabulary Headquarters. He then saw Raghubar on Friday, last, and held onto him, and asked for his money. Raghubar confessed that he had used the money for his own purposes, and Barclay handed him over to the police. Raghubar pleaded guilty to the charge and explained that he was greatly disappointed in himself. Recounting the incident, he said that he never made it to the liquor store, because on his way, he dropped $2000, and told the magistrate, “if you do the calculations you will see the change was $9,500”. This was the beginning of a series of unfortunate events. Raghubar said that in order to recover $2000, he went to the “gamble table”, where his day went “from bad to worse’.

He claimed that while at the table, people were trying to rob him and a fight broke out, which resulted in Raghubar losing sight in one of his eyes. He said he decided to take the remainder of the money to eat, purchase “black weed” and alcohol for himself. “I greatly regret what I have done, ‘cause I can’t see in one of my eye… I cry out to Jesus Christ, I can’t see out my eye,” Raghubar told the court yesterday. Raghubar admitted that he was charged before, more than twice for littering, and had done community service. Corporal Garnett said that although Raghubar was honest enough to admit his previous encounters with the law, he had taken a step-up from littering this time. While handing down his sentence, the magistrate offered Raghubar a brochure on addition and rehabilitation, to help with his problems.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 11, 2015

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

Is Annette Singh the only sane magistrate? By now, any consistent reader of this column would know how I feel about the magistracy. Most of them I believe are irrational with their sentencing policies and bail assignments, and have harmed the future of countless youths that have appeared in front of them. But most of all, I believe that a dead society has allowed these jejune magistrates to perpetuate judicial lawlessness, because society has failed to denounce their judicial rampage. A recent ruling of Magistrate Ann McLennan was horrid. This magistrate ordered that twelve Nepalese men must remain in the police lock-up until the state deports them back to Nepal. They had been languishing in the lockup for two months until freed

last week by the High Court. (The magistrate did say police custody). The court ruled she had no such authority to keep them in the police lock-up. If the state couldn’t find time and money to effect their deportation, the Nepalese could have found themselves prisoners for life. But why didn’t she request the state to keep them at a hotel? Why the police lock-up? I hope Magistrate Annette Singh doesn’t disappoint whatever decent and hopeful people that are left in this wasteland of a country named Guyana. (I plan to write a novel titled “Wasteland of Ironies,” which will be like “The Sly Company of People Who Care” based on my frequent encounters as a

media practitioner with all types of Guyanese people). This magistrate sensibly and decently put a teenager on $5000 bail for uttering a fake Guyanese note. This girl needs to hang a photo of Ms. Singh in her house. If it were most other magistrates, that bail would have been $100,000. Unable to raise it, she would have been in the remand and would have become a broken girl with a destroyed future. Whenever I write about magistrates, I think of the incident with Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond. It was alleged that Ms. Chandan and husband assaulted their babysitter after the couple accused the caregiver of hitting the infant. Wherever the truth lies, the fact is that the couple was

incensed at what they believed to be cruel mistreatment of the baby. Surely mothers must be equally pained as Ms. Chandan was when they sit in court and see their children marched off to the Camp Street remand after failing to raise the assigned $200,000 bail for larceny of a bicycle worth $10,000. Surely mothers must be traumatized when their sons’ lives are destroyed by these magistrates for the mere possession of a marijuana cigarette. Magistrate Judy Latchman, on January 26, 2015, sentenced Ocia Leung to three years’ imprisonment for possession of cocaine, which according to the Stabroek News report was worth $10,000. Ms. Leung has four very young children, including a twoweek-old baby. This is such an uncivilized nation that apart from a letter by Red Thread not one politician, civil society leader, feminist organization, youth organization uttered even one word of condemnation against this

bestial sentence. I have written several times that I believe Magistrate Judy Latchman’s decisions need to be investigated. I have her before the Judicial Service Commission and I haven’t heard a word from that body as yet. Why has no one questioned the judicial conduct of this magistrate and others like Sueanna Lovell in the Berbice Court (see my column of Feb 19, 2014, “A Guyana Tragedy: Magistrates Nurse and Lovell.”)? What could have gone through the mind of Ms. Lovell when she sentenced a young Amerindian caregiver to five years in jail for physically hurting the baby in her care? That is extremely harsh. Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs jailed a teenager for leaving Guyana illegally for Suriname. She went with a speedboat, which Guyanese have been doing since the beginning of the 20th century. After I wrote about Lovell, I was shown her public Facebook page. The page is replete with Christian

Frederick Kissoon prayers and Christian quotations. Something is wrong with God. I don’t mean to hurt the feelings of religious people, but I often wondered how God operates. If Lovell is a child of God, then surely Lovell must know that her sentencing policy is cruel and God would punish her. Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate, Clive Nurse, has his own church on Norton Street, in the district into which I was born – Wortmanville. I plan to attend one of his sermons very soon. I hope the sanest of the lot in the magistracy, Annette Singh, does not follow in the terrible footsteps of her contemporaries. God is watching her.

Wednesday February 11, 2015

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Billion-dollar bids tendered GPSU not granted Local for UG civil works Observer Status - GECOM

Under the Ministry of Education billion-dollar bids were tendered for the procurement of contractors for civil works at the University of Guyana (UG). The bid was divided into two lots. Lot (1) Faculties of Agriculture and Forestry and Technology; Lot (2) Faculty of Natural Science and School of Earth and Environment Sciences. The bids were opened yesterday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Main and Urquhart Streets.

Still, within the same sector, bids were submitted for the procurement of laboratory equipment for the University of Guyana.

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has issued a statement indicating that it has not granted Local Observer Status to the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) for the upcoming Regional and General Elections slated for May 11. In a public notice, the elections agency has clarified that this process is yet to take place. According to the agency, GECOM “has so far made no such accreditation of the GPSU as an Observer of any kind for the upcoming May 11 elections.” GECOM said it is in receipt of a letter of application for Domestic Observer Status from the GPSU, to which a response - by way of a letter - meticulously outlined a menu of terms and conditions that the GPSU must satisfy before consideration could be given by GECOM for accreditation. The agency related that upon the agreement by the GPSU on the terms and conditions outlined by GECOM, the Commission would then write to the GPSU, inviting them to meet with GECOM officials, relative to a further finalization of accreditation arrangements. GECOM noted, however, that it welcomes the interest shown by the GPSU in ensuring that the Election Management Body produces elections that are transparent, free, fair and

credible. GPSU had stated that as a stakeholder in the Guyanese society, the Union and the workers represented have an abiding interest in free and fair elections of the national government and parliament. The Union said it applied for Domestic Observer Status for the upcoming National and Regional Elections slated to be held on May 11, 2015. According to the union, GECOM‘s Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, “responded that accreditation has been granted for the Union to be observing as a Local Observer Group in accordance with the Elections Act.” The Union had stated also that it began preparations in this regard and informed its membership to submit required information so that the process could commence in a timely manner. In their letter to GECOM, GPSU had stated that it is the recognized Trade Union representing Public Servants in Guyana. The union stated that Public Servants carry out the mandate of the Government and ensure that the machinery of the Government runs smoothly. “Hence if Public Servants are of the view that the Regional and General Elections are conducted in a fair and free manner, they will be better positioned to serve.” With this view in mind, the Union applied for accreditation.

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Kaieteur News

New British High Commissioner expected soon The replacement for former British High Commissioner to Guyana, Andrew Ayre, is expected to arrive in Guyana during the last week of this month. This was confirmed yesterday by an official attached to the British High Commission. Ayre is being replaced by James Gregory Quinn. The new Head of Mission also goes officially referred to as Greg Quinn. Quinn’s last position held was Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Kazakhstan. His career has included work at the United Nations, Former Soviet Union, and the Middle East, in addition to a two-year secondment to the United States Department of State where he worked on Iraq. The British High Commission is currently being run by Deputy High Commissioner and Charge d’Affaires, Jim Cuzens, who has been in Guyana for just over a year and a half.

Incoming British High Commissioner to Guyana, James Gregory Quinn Ayre has been transferred to another Diplomatic Service appointment. He did not leave Guyana on good terms with the government. This is because he spoke openly about what he saw as President Donald Ramotar’s unjustified prorogation of parliament and noted that this would jeopardize British funding to Guyana. Following his comments to the effect that the UK is not in

support of the lengthy prorogation of Parliament, Ayre said that he was prepared to be attacked by the government. The envoy was reported in sections of the media as saying that the Guyana government goes after people who don’t agree with all its decisions and polices. The government did not give Ayre anything less than he expected. Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) and Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon had told the media that the government was “eagerly awaiting” Ayre’s departure from Guyana. Dr. Luncheon labeled Ayre as “dishonourable” and said that the Cabinet has decided that the diplomat needs to be accorded the status of a “pariah.” Ayre, just before he left Guyana, was quoted in sections of the media saying that the government of Guyana did not do enough to address the high levels of corruption existing in the country. The envoy left Guyana on January, 30.

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Nothing will prevent us from ensuring law and order during elections – Army Colonel By Kiana Wilburg While the political parties and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) continue apace with preparations for the May 11 Regional and General Elections, so is the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Yesterday in an interview with Kaieteur News, Chairman of the Joint Services Training Committee, Colonel Enoch Gaskin, said that when it comes to election preparedness, everything so far is on track. He said that elections are treated as a routine operation and there are phases of that preparation process. Colonel Gaskin said that the first thing they do is to hold a study day for officers and sergeants. This, he explained, is to remind them about the laws and rules governing their conduct in internal security operations, in support of the Guyana Police Force, in the preservation of law and order. The Committee Chairman said that the Police Force is always the lead in such cases and the army would provide the necessary support. Gaskin asserted that after the study, officers go through a command exercise which involves sitting at a round table and coaching members on various scenarios, and what is the best possible

Colonel Enoch Gaskin reaction to certain instances during the election period. He said that the Committee tries to concentrate on training at two levels where junior commanders are trained to make decisions and finally the troops are taken through various drills. The Colonel said that the officers go through their individual training as it relates to improving competence and also on what is expected of them in all conceivable ranges of security operations. He said, too, that the same thing is done at the Joint Services level where its members, together with the Guyana Police Force, Prison Services and the Guyana Fire Service, go through the same procedures so that they

can be prepared for any scenario and respond cohesively. Once elections are called, Gaskin said that the ranks remain in barracks, but if it becomes necessary for them to go out, they would be ready and prepared to do so. He said that the first two stages of the election preparedness exercises are completed and they are well advanced in terms of the individual preparation of the troops. Gaskin sought to emphasize that training in the Joint Services is done every year and not only at elections time. He reminded that last December - and leading into 2015 - joint patrols with the Guyana Defence Force and the Police Force were conducted, as it is all part and parcel of its modus operandi. Some of the situations the GDF officials are coached on he said, would be on the normal crowd control tactics, dealing with road blocks, traffic control operations, and of course, more “specialized operations.” “Remember, we have a constitutional mandate to defend the territorial integrity of this country and to assist in the preservation of law and order, even during election, and nothing will prevent us from executing that mandate,” Colonel Gaskin concluded.

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Accused had promised to tell investigators who killed Neesa Gopaul – police witness A police witness testifying in the Neesa Gopaul murder trial told the court yesterday that one of the accused, Jarvis Small, had promised to tell investigators who murdered the teenager. Small and Bibi Shareema Gopaul are on trial at the High Court before Justice Navindra Singh and a mixed 12 -member jury. Small is being represented by a team of lawyers including Glenn Hanoman, Bernard De Santos SC, Lyndon Amsterdam and Zanna Frank, while Gopaul is being represented by Attorney-atLaw, George Thomas. The matter is being prosecuted by State Attorneys Diana Kaulesar, Stacy Gooding and Mercedes Thompson. Yesterday, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Marlon Chapman told the court that he was part of a team of investigators involved in the case. Chapman told the court that he was stationed at Criminal Investigation Department, (CID) at the Brickdam Police Station in October, 2010 when he received certain information relative to an alleged murder.

MURDERED: Neesa Gopaul Chapman said that based on the information received, he visited the home of Bibi Gopaul. He said that he went to Gopaul’s premises accompanied by a party of policemen. When he arrived at the house, the policeman said that he met with Gopaul’s father, Mohamed Kayoum, who identified himself as the Imam of the neighbourhood Masjid. He said that Gopaul was also present at the time. The witness said that Gopaul’s father gave the ranks access to the premises and he

thereafter instructed them to enter the yard and house. Chapman noted that the ranks spent “a while”, on the premises after which they returned to the Station and told him something. As a result of what they told him, the policeman said that he returned to the Brickdam Police Station. The Assistant Commissioner recounted that on October 6, 2010, he was present at Ruimveldt Police Station when Corporal Jessimy held a confrontation between Small and another man he identified as Bharrat Samaroo. According to the witness, Samaroo told Small that he (Small) had instructed him to paint two dumbbells for him, but the accused denied this, saying that he told the man no such thing. Small had said that “he aint know nothing about that or words to that effect.” Chapman noted too that the dumbbells were painted in black, red and white. He was thereafter shown the dumbbells in court, which he identified as the ones he had previously seen at the station. In his evidence, the

Bibi Shareema Gopaul

Jarvis Barry Small

policeman disclosed that sometime during the investigations, Small had told the police investigators that he would tell them who killed Neesa Gopaul, but he would only do so in the presence of his attorney, Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos. The officer noted however, that on October 17, 2010, he was present at the

Ruimveldt Police Station when De Santos visited the station. He said that the lawyer refused to have any conversation with Small and the police. A little while after that, the witness said that a confrontation was held between Small and Bibi Gopaul in the presence of police ranks. Chapman said

that he was present when Gopaul told Small that she had given him the keys to her gate and house, but he told her that he could not remember any such thing. The witness said that on October 20, 2010, former Police Commander, George Vyphuis telephoned him and told him something. As a result of what Vyphuis said, the witness said that Simone De Nobrega, a female prisoner, who was in custody at the East La Penitence Police Station, visited his office. The policeman said that he thereafter instructed ranks to interview the woman and obtain a statement from her. He said that De Nobrega was subsequently placed in custody at the Beterverwagting Police Station for security reasons. Chapman related that on November 13, 2010, he was accompanied to New Amsterdam, Berbice, by Continued on page 23

Page 22

Kaieteur News

VACANCY Work from home: Earn $5,000 to $20,000 daily, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday - Call: 233-6517/ 638-0595 or www.jobfairworldwide.com Exist for one experienced driver apply @ Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products Ltd, 38 Ketley & Sussex Street Charlestown – Tel:225-7864; 227-8607 Vacancy for drivers/ salesman for office clerk/ porter @ Vegetarian Gardens Contact: 227-7714

WANTED Young attractive & experienced counter girl for restaurant - Call: 223-7385 or email: cuetip_22@yahoo.com

One Skillful joiner to work in workshop – Contact: 2191342 or 610-7005

1 Live in maid to work in Georgetown - Tel:691-6260

Factory staff, GTI / GITC Male/ Female graduates preferred. Canter drivers, marketing assistant, Drivers Licence required. Tel. 676 -6700 Exist for one live in fitter machinist with experienced in resurfacing head, reboring engine block & welding - Call: 603-4637 Plant shop sales clerk: literate, hardworking, team player 18-28yrs, work and sales experienced, Georgetown - Call: 648-1821 Landscape Maintenance Vacancy, hardworking, pleasant, team player 17-28yrs - Call: 648-1821/621-2453 One watchman to work @ Coverden, E.B.D, apply to Alabama Trading with recent testimonial & picture. Experienced counter Staff, Kitchen assistants, pastry makers & cooks, apply with written application @ Bettencourt’s Dinner: 22ZZ Durban Street. 1- Live in maid; must be from country area & know to cook Indian dishes – Tel: 662-1124; 611-0200 Office clerk; CXC English/ Mathematics, Live in/live out babysitter/domestic, labour- Tel: 219-5354 International Cruiseline AB Sailors, waitresses, waiters, cooks, receptionists, storekeepers, cleaners, electricians, carpenters, welders, cosmetologists, etc – Tel: 231-6296, 650-9880 EDUCATIONAL CXC Day & Evening classes/lessons Forms 1-5, Phonics Classes – Tel:2233086; 619-7911; 690-5008 CAKES & PASTRIES Valentine Cakes for sale 223-9497

SALON Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Certificate in: Cosmetology, nails, wig designs, early child care/ care for elderly classes commence February – Call: 666-5241/ 619-7603

1 Cook to work in the interior Tel: 691-6260 Salesgirls and boys to work in shop on E.C.D, Text info to: 617-7823 Taxi drivers – Tel:667-9013; 225-5075 Experienced dispatcher @ West Side Taxi - Call: 6000688; 600-0699 Auto Electrician to work in Georgetown – Tel: 218-5105 Live in care taker for premises at Vreed-En-Hoop, West Coast Demerara - Contact: 254-1801 Live in waitress must have secondary education; salary - $60,000 monthly - Tel:6103974 1 Handy boy to work in the interior - Tel: 691-6260 Urgently needed land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Herstelling & Tuschen – Tel:675-7292; 652-2018 Gardener/Handyman; suitable accommodation for live in couple, peaceful environment, apply Sally, 51 Main Street Georgetown. Clerical Staff for copy centre, no experienced necessary, must be computer literate, Jarrods 51 Main Street. Hairdresser & nail technician to work in Alberttown – Call: 684-9409 Presser / Clipper, straight stitch/ over edge machine operators, cleaner – Call: 222-2541 (8:00am-4:00pm) (Mon-Fri) TOURS Suriname Tour return 20-23 February, Shopping, Siteseeing, dolphins, book early Tel: 644-0185; 639-2663; 655-5171 FOR SALE One complete Cabin cruise boat – Tel: 684-3786

FOR SALE

FOR RENT

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LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Lincoln 500 AMP diesel welders with Perkins 4 cylinder engine - Tel#650-0402

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Five bedrooms house, 107 Lamaha Gardens & Large Parking; AC Rooms Hot & Cold, Purified Water System Call: 661-8908, 335-3590

1 Pitbull minibus, stick gear, BPP series, mag rims- $2.2M neg. Call: 673-7652

Mill Cut Lumber Kabukalli, Silverballi, Etc – Call: 6539752; 688-6579

Bus Driver for route 40, must be over 40yrs old- Call: 6932237 Experienced sale girls Call: 264-3355,668-3985, 683-7936 Live in home aid/domestic, needed in Republic Park $13,000 weekly, must be over 45yrs old – Call: 675-0767; 667-2535

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Cat 320 CL 2005 only 3800HRs sold as is, cash offer only, must go - Contact Azim: 660-3235 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves. Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Repairs to refrigerators, gas stoves, washing machines, AC Units- Call Lindon on 641-1086; 694-2202 Repairs to plasma, LED, LCD television etc – Call: Abdul Electronics: 225-0391 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING AND ESTIMATES FOR ONLY $15,000- CALL:6949843/227-2766 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maria Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 662-6045 Eagle’s fridge re-gas - $8,000 & washing machine repairs. Phone: 697-2969, 646-0966 For all construction, carpentry, masonry, pluming, swimming pools, painting etc. Free estimates and plan Contact # 669-7376 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIRCONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS- CALL:6294946 OR 225-4822

Restaurant Equipment: DVD Movies & 7 Disc Burner, fixtures & fittings- Contact Farouk for more details: 6835234 Yamaha outboard engines, various sizes, tundra wheels, boat trailer – Tel: 220-1981, 698-7047 Brand New, Power fist, 6,500 watts gasoline generator (on wheels) 110/240 volts AC/DC - Contact: 617-2205; 681-1032 Bedford M 4X4, Tohatshu 18HP, long foot, outboard engine, 1 Perkins engine 4 Cylinder – Call: 693-2237 New Arrivals: New Shipment of Magnet wires (copper) & installation fish paper for sale – Contact: 603-5649 New shipment of pit bull parts: Wind Screen, bumpers, fog lights, back/ front bearings - Tel: 628-0909 One Bedford 7 Ton HAIB Lorry Long Bed, & One DAEWOO Excavator (Bobcat) - Contact: 603-4637 One Toyota Vigo, manual transmission, ideal for the interior – Call: 600-5759 1 Shop at Marriam Mall for sale – Call: 642-6381; 2236862 One male & female European champion adult Rottweiler for sale - Call: 665-9140 or 639-1431 Lights: Premio, Allion, Fielder & Carina and One Toyota IST never registered - $1.9M - Tel: 628-0909

Khemraj & Son Landscaping & Plant nursery: landscaping, cutting big trees & removing, grafted oranges & limes plants for sale – Call: 627-5969 FOR SALE Stalls at Robb Street & Bourda –Contact: 695-1359 between 9am -11am DRESSMAKING

1 Refrigeration unit, 1 slush machine, 1 Madza Engine, complete gearbox, computer complete – Contact Hanif: 641-2597 XBOX 360, PS2 & PS3 ORIGINAL GAME DICS, WIDE VARIETY, BEST LOWEST PRICES AVAILABLE - CALL MAX: 609-8132/672-8569 Labrottie Puppies for Sale, fully vaccinated & Dewormed; 7 weeks old – Call: 654-7683

Jean is offering courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration. Lot 153 Barr St Kitty – Call: 670-2653, 618-1706

5 Gal Water Bottle (New)$1400 – Call:684-8231 One new aluminum 12ft Boat- Call: 603-9599

GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, , JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE - CALL: 675-0767, 639-8101 Office Space for meetings, workshops, seminars, classes, conferences & offices, Strategic Location, 135 Sheriff Street, C/Ville – Tel:227-1028; 697-5158 Commercial space on the East Bank, Public Road – Call: 233-6987/233-5517 1 Executive apartment in an exclusive residential area with all modern amenities including parking. Call for appointment: - 653-2920 Bottom flat; prime business location, Hadfield Street, Store/boutique/etc – Contact Simone – 626-5317; 227-0501 Fully furnished & unfurnished apartment with TV, AirCondition, hot & cold, cable in South. Call: 689-5877 Business Space 52FtX25Ft with Air Condition, fully grilled @ East Street, North Cummingsburg – Tel: 2266592/643-8833 Business place for rent in Cornelia Ida, Public Road, West Coast Demerara – Call:602-5332 Diamond New Scheme, Grove 2nd Bridge, 3 bedrooms upstairs – Tel: 223-6765

TO LET Fully Furnished vacation home with all amenities- Call during working hours – Call: 227-1218 One and two bedroom furnished apartments in Nandy Park, Parking facilities available - Call: 233-5560 for further details House for rent @ Grove Housing Scheme with 3 bedrooms -$70,000 - Tel: 642-4429; 639-8056 Spacious 2 bedroom apartment @ Diamond, Section A fully grilled, separate gate, drive way & parking - $55,000 negotiableCall: 616-1598

Nissan Titan 4X4; fully loaded; good condition; price negotiable - Call: 6201026 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 Toyota Prado, Price$5M Neg. Call: 643-2403 One 1992 Toyota Camry, gold colour, in good condition-Contact: 658-1328 One Toyota Premio Reg#PPP & 212 Carina Reg#PSS, owner leaving country. Tel:618-2576 or 678-0109 Unregistered vehicle: Toyota Sienta- $1,895,000, Honda Civic-$1,895,000, 318i BMW $3,000,000- Contact : 650-0402 Mazda Axela, PTT Series, TV, CD, Viper 2 way paging alarm – Tel:669-7298 One Toyota Corolla Fielder, one year old, remote start alarm - $1.6M negotiable – Tel: 664-3488 1 Nissan B13 Manual, 1 Honda Rebel 250cc motorcycle, 620 Leyland Daf Dump truck – Tel: 6390866 1 Black Titan, fully loaded, 4 wheel drive - $2.7M, Must go urgently – Tel:678-2814; 699-2322 1 Unregistered Tundra, 1206 Tundra – Tel: 650-5229/ 652-5762 One Ford Explorer Sports Truck, 4 Door, fully grilled, DVD head rest amplified music system – Call: 6048597; 627-7718 Toyota Hilux 4X4, 2 doors, manual, long base, solid DEF, excellent condition – Tel: 6033384 1 Blue Corolla, selling cheap - $450,000, 16" rim, spare wheel & jack, PCC series in excellent condition – Tel: 672-0470 One 580C Hymac @ Mahaicony Creek – Call: 611-8283; 638-6125 TO LET New business place @ Durban Street between Creen & Bishop for shop nail artistry office - $40,000 – Call: 226-0673; 685-4694 Fully furnished air conditioned apartments weekly - $20,000, monthly $65,000/ $100,000 – Call: 668-0306 (Continued on page 23)

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Serious crimes down 12 percent - Police The Guyana Police Force will certainly be hoping that the current downward trend of criminal activity continues, especially as they focus their energies on maintaining law and order in the run-up to General Elections in three months’ time. Figures released by the

Criminal Investigation Department have revealed that serious crimes, which comprise murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping went down by 12

Accused had promised... From page 21 Superintendent of Police Steven Greaves who is attached to Police Forensic Laboratory at Eve Leary. The officer told the court that together they visited Bibi Gopaul, who was in custody at the female prison facility. The purpose of the visit, the witness said, was to obtain DNA samples from Gopaul, which would be used in identifying Neesa Gopaul. He noted that Gopaul consented and the forensic expert used a swab to take samples from the inside of her mouth. Corporal Floyd Hossanah also continued his portion of evidence yesterday. Hossanah was also under cross examination by defence attorneys. Hossanah told the court that he had submitted one statement in relation to the matter. He said that he headed the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) in the case. However under cross examination by defence attorney Glenn Hanoman, the witness responded many times by stating he “could not recall” or “could not say.” He accepted as a CSI expert that his job was to analyze and collect anything of evidential value found at the scene where the remains were discovered, but noted he had not checked any of the buildings at the scene for anything of evidential value nor did he instruct any other officer to do so. Hossanah noted too that he did not find any clothing, blood or hair or any such particles on the site and also accepted that the surfaces of objects collected and the objects on site at the resort were not tested for fingerprints. He also agreed that after leaving the scene there were a number of questions left unanswered as to the identity of the deceased; how she met her demise and where the incident took place. The witness told the court that he had planned to return to the scene. At this point, Hanoman asked him whether he had done anything to secure the area. “Yes sir,” the witness

replied, noting that was one of the first things that he instructed the ranks to do was to cordon off the area. Hossanah was then asked to point out any evidence of the tapes used to cordon off the area in the photographs taken at the scene, but he couldn’t. The attorney then suggested to Hossanah that he had lied to the court, but he denied this. Hanoman subsequently asked the witness whether he or any other police officer had asked any persons from around the vicinity if they had seen or heard anything. He answered in the negative and noted that he did not because it was getting late and the place was getting dark. “So you are saying that police can’t ask people questions in the dark, you only ask people questions in the daytime?” Hanoman asked. Hossanah subsequently accepted that since he never went back to the crime scene his investigations were incomplete. Corporal Ryan Leacock, another witness, testified that he had arrested Small at a house at Leonora, West Coast Demerara. Leacock said that he had cautioned and arrested Small based on information relating to an alleged murder committed on 16-year-old Queen’s College student Neesa Gopaul Days after she was reported missing the teen’s body was found at a location along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway tucked inside a suitcase that was partially submerged in a creek. A rope was wrapped around the body and on its other end dumbbells were attached, apparently in an effort to keep the body under water. A family on an outing made the discovery when they became aware of an offensive smell. Inside the suitcase, a passport bearing the name Neesa Lalita Gopaul, along with a bank card, was found. Following investigations, the teen’s mother Bibi and her then lover, Small, were arrested and charged for the murder.

Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it.

percent as at the end of January this year when compared with the same period in 2014. With regards to murders, the force recorded 12 up to January 31 this year compared with 17 for the same period last year; a decrease of 29 percent. Among the murders was the execution of Patricia Sanasie, who was gunned down in front of her Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara home on January 11. It is one of four murders that occurred on the East Coast of Demerara during the period in question. These include the murders of Timehri minibus driver

Yamsham Ram called ‘Yankee’, Mahaica Creek Accountant, Suresh Nandkishore and Albion senior citizen Ramdai Mohabir. The police Interior Division also recorded four murders during January. So far this month there have been four more murders. There was also a big drop in robbery under arms which showed a 28 percent decrease up to January 31st. Less robberies were committed with the use of firearms. There has also been substantial decreases in the occurrences of burglary and break and enter and larceny with 15% and 18%, respectively.

‘Chicken thief’ says he was sleeping when shot

(From page 22)

PROPERTY FOR SALE New Road, Vreed-En-Hoop, Land 7080 SqFt, Building 762SqFt. $40M negotiable, owner migrating - Tel:226-9788 Houses & house lots for sale in 1 of Guyana’s top luxury gated communities, located @ Eccles E.B.D - Tel: 2272913; 683-3033 Property with concrete bungalow, modern amenities and features in gated community at Hutsonville E.B.D -G$16M negotiable – Call: 697-4131 2 STORIED HOUSE ON MASSIVE LAND 40FTX300FT, NEAR CANJE BRIDGE BERBICE, IMMEDIATE POSSESSION ONLY - $11.5M- CALLMAX: 609-8132; 672-8569 Lot 6 Adventure, Essequibo, land 352ftX70ft with wooden building $14M negotiableContact Anwar Essequibo 771-4395, 694-4457, Georgetown Trudy: 225-4712

Mark Evans at the hospital yesterday. An alleged “chicken thief,” who was hit with 15 pellets last Friday by a farmer at Kuru Kururu on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, says he was sleeping when he was wounded. The injured man has been identified as 52-year-old Mark Evans, a father of five of Kuru Kururu. Evans, who is under police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Male Surgical Ward, is nursing

pellet wounds to his abdomen. According to information received, Evans was shot last Friday night by a farmer after he was caught on the man’s premises. The farmer was held for questioning but was subsequently released. At the GPHC yesterday, Evans could not say what happened. He would only say that he was sleeping when he was shot. Investigations are ongoing.

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LAND FOR SALE House Lots in 1 of Guyana’s top luxury gated communities @ Eccles, 60X100 - $7.5M. (Special prices) - Call: 2272913; 683-3033 Eccles: Commercial lots for sale at Eccles – Tel:227-2913. Cell: 683-3033 1. Parika, Peter Street; 2. Blankenburg, behind gas station lot size: 75’X76' (3 parcels)-Contact 650-0402 Located in Republic Gardens, Peters Hall, E.B.D. Interest person – Contact: 231-5359 or 672-7189 Grove E.B.D Caneville 4th Field, 1St Street, Concrete $3M 20X40 land 40X100, Parfaite W.B.D Land 45X80 $1.1M-Call:231-2199;618-7483 36 Acres Land off linden highway, water - 2 sources, time to acres 15 Min from highway, partially cleared – price negotiable – Call: 6276363 Measuring 90’X165’ facing Atlantic Ocean, approximately half mile from Sheriff Street on High Way – Contact Shiv: 600-6681 Parfaite Harmonie - $1.5M, Eccles - $4.5M & $5M, Herstelling - $4.5M, Tuschen - $2M – Call:6757292; 652-2018 MASSAGE Money Back guarantee; cleaner, clearer younger looking skin in two weeks, also flatter stomach – Call: 684-9409; 699-4211

PEN PAL Indian Male from England is seeking female age 27yrs & older, with good personalityCall: 686-5994 (No Texting)

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Guyana prepared to deal with prolonged symptoms of Chikungunya virus Concerns about the potential lasting effects of the Chikungunya Virus have not escaped the keen attention of the Ministry of Health. The virus, which first invaded these parts early last year, is believed to have infected hundreds of people, and is said to have prolonged effects that could last even for years.

But according to Director of Vector Control Services, Dr. Reyaud Rahman, the Ministry has been paying attention to the virus, although its impact here has greatly diminished. He pointed out that while it is possible that some persons will have protracted effects of the virus, dealing with this development will be

dependent on person’s adherence to medication prescribed to them. Added to this, he noted that it is recommended that persons ensure that resting and hydration become important features of their lives. During an interview with this publication last year, Director of the Caribbean

Integrity and exemplary character give... (From page 19) point that the ensigns need to overcome personal weaknesses as he added, “Many overcome enemies beyond the borders, but are never able to conquer their own weakness. The Bible says that a man who does not control his spirit is like a city without borders. It’s accessible by almost anything”. He emphasized that the recruits need to have vision and understand that their priority must be what is good for their nation. He said that if there is no sense of destiny or future then “your people have no hope.” Hestick also called on the ensigns to be extraordinary in their abilities and always try to better their best. He told them that every task they execute,

it must be done in such a way that their performance inspires others to uphold the high standards of the Force. He asserted that when a society wants to elevate, it looks for models to be used as a standard or guide. On this premise, the reverend called on the ensigns to be positive role models for the Guyanese society and to become masters at their job. GDF Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Mark Phillips, who spoke with Kaieteur News at the conclusion of the ceremony, said that President Donald Ramotar is expected to be at the Commissioning Parade today where the ensigns will receive their promotion and get the opportunity to fraternize with their friends, families and other army officials.

Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr. James Hospedales, said that a fair percentage of persons who have been inflicted with the virus are likely to be still affected with its symptoms some three years later. While the symptoms of the mosquito-borne virus include rash, high fever, nausea and/or vomiting, headache, muscles and joint pains, Dr. Hospedales disclosed that among the most pronounced symptoms that are likely to remain overtime is that of the joint pains. And according to Dr. Rahman, those persons with an advanced state of joint pains may require the attention of a Rheumatologist in order to be prescribed specialized medication. A Rheumatologist specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and medical management of patients with arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. Dr. Rahman has however, cautioned that “you should not take these (specialised medication) on your own. You should see a proper physician who specializes in this area and has the experience to manage such complications…you

Dr. Reyaud Rahman, Director of Vector Control Services shouldn’t simply go to the pharmacy and buy over the counter drugs.” But according to him, “we haven’t had too many persons crying out, and still saying that we are affected by this virus.” Nevertheless, he asserted that it is not likely that Guyana will see the last of the virus anytime soon. “We know that we will have some cases where people are going to be affected and we are prepared to deal with that.”

One of the primary modes of ensuring that persons are reminded of the ways and means of safeguarding themselves is through sensitization sessions which have been conducted on a countrywide scale. And the sensitization session, Dr. Rahman noted, is not limited to members of the public since persons within the health sector are seen as crucial targets as well. “Be it doctors, medics, community health workers, whoever, we target them. We remind them about what needs to be done to reduce the prevalence of this virus,” Dr. Rahman outlined. “Targeting health workers is imperative so as to ensure that they maintain that awareness of what is needed to be done to manage patients suffering from the virus with a view of getting them back on their feet as soon as possible.” And according to the Vector Control Director, “we are confident that our health care personnel, in terms of management, understand it (the virus) and understand it well, and can do whatever is necessary whenever it is necessary.”

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Wednesday February 11, 2015

New violence in Ukraine diminishes hopes before four-way summit (Reuters) - Rockets killed more than 10 civilians and soldiers deep in Ukrainian government-held territory on Tuesday and rebels pushed on with an assault on an armyheld rail junction, setbacks that showed Kiev’s position worsening on the eve of peace talks. Advances by proRussian rebels diminished hopes of a deal when Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany hold a summit in Belarus on Wednesday under a new Franco-German initiative to halt fighting in a war that has killed more than 5,000 people. Representatives of the “Contact Group” meeting in Belarus on the Ukraine crisis denied a report by Russia’s TASS news agency that a ceasefire deal had been reached in talks in Minsk. Rebel representative Denis Pushilin told Russian channel Rossiya24 it was too early to

talk of any agreements and said the sides were taking a break. European officials say it is difficult to imagine the rebels agreeing to halt and go back to earlier positions after weeks during which they have been advancing relentlessly. A Russian source quoted by the state RIA news agency said there were no plans to sign a document to resolve the conflict at the peace talks, and the main subject would be creation of a demilitarised zone. The war and years of endemic corruption have nearly bankrupted Ukraine, where the currency collapsed last week. Ukraine is negotiating a rescue package with the International Monetary Fund and sources said that could be expanded dramatically to provide as much as $40 billion in aid. The White House said

People look at the remains of a rocket shell on a street in the town of Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine U.S. President Barack Obama urged Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Tuesday to agree to a peace deal. “If Russia

continues its aggressive actions in Ukraine, including by sending troops, weapons, and financing to support the separatists, the costs for Russia will rise,” the White House statement added. The Kremlin, in its statement about the call, said Putin and Obama highlighted the need for the need for a political solution to the “internal” conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin also said the two leaders also noted the necessity to safeguard the rights of inhabitants of all Ukrainian regions, including Russian-speakers in the east. TRIUMPHANT REBELS Rockets crashed into Kramatorsk, some 50 km (30 miles) north of the front, hitting the main headquarters of the Ukrainian military campaign in the east, as well as nearby residential areas. Local officials said at least seven civilians were killed, while 26 civilians and 10 soldiers were wounded. A parliamentary deputy said four soldiers were also killed. A Reuters photographer saw the body of a woman who had been killed, laid out in light snow where she fell. The tail of a rocket stuck out of a small crater in the ground. The rebels denied firing on the town, but their apparent ability to strike so far into Ukrainian-held territory will complicate the peace talks that aim to reestablish a

ceasefire that the separatists repudiated with a new offensive last month. At the front in Vuhlehirsk, a small town captured by rebels last week, volleys of artillery crashed in both directions. The rebels are pushing to encircle government forces holding out in nearby Debaltseve, a rail hub that is the main rebel target. Rebels sounded triumphant and said they had no intention of halting with government troops on the back foot. “The Debaltseve bubble has been shut firmly. We will not let them out. There is no way they can get out,” said a commander

of a reconnaissance unit who identified himself by the nom de guerre of Malysh - “Little One”. Asked about a ceasefire, Malysh, who said he was a Russian fighter and not a Ukrainian, replied: “We are absolutely against it. They will have time to regroup. We have them now.” The Kremlin, which the West accuses of sending arms, weapons and soldiers across the frontier to help fight for territory it calls “New Russia”, announced monthlong war games on Tuesday involving about 2,000 troops on its side of the border. Russia denies involvement in the fighting in Ukraine.

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

American hostage Mueller’s family, U.S. government say she is dead

Kayla Mueller (Reuters) - U.S. aid worker Kayla Mueller, held hostage by Islamic State militants for 18 months, is dead, her family said on Tuesday, but the circumstances were unclear and President Barack Obama vowed to hunt down the culprits. Mueller’s family received an email and photograph over the weekend from her captors that enabled American intelligence to determine that she had been killed, U.S. officials said. Islamic State said on Friday that Mueller, 26, was killed when Jordanian fighter jets bombed a building where she was being held outside Raqqa, a stronghold in Syria of the Islamist militant group. Jordan and U.S. officials have expressed doubt about Islamic State’s account of her death.

Mueller, from Prescott, Arizona, was thought to ha v e b e e n t h e l a s t American held hostage by Islamic State, an al Qaeda offshoot that controls parts of Syria and Iraq. But on Tuesday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said, “We are aware of other American hostages being held in the region.” He did not identify them or provide details. Among hostages thought to be held by Islamic State is British photojournalist John Cantlie, captured in northern Syria in November 2012. American journalist Austin Tice disappeared in Damascus in August 2012, and last week his family renewed its campaign to draw attention to his case. It is unclear who is holding Tice or if he is still alive. Mueller’s family said in a statement they were “heartbroken” to learn of her death, and released a letter she wrote in 2014 while in

captivity. She was captured in August 2013 while leaving a hospital in Aleppo in northern Syrian. Mueller had previously worked in Turkey providing humanitarian assistance to refugees from Syria’s civil war. In recent months, Islamic State has beheaded three Americans, two Britons, and two Japanese hostages, most of whom were aid workers or journalists. U.S. SEEKS JUSTICE “No matter how long it takes, the United States will find and bring to justice the terrorists who are responsible for Kayla’s captivity and death,” Obama said in a statement issued by the White House. “ISIL is a hateful and abhorrent terrorist group whose actions stand in stark contrast to the spirit of people like Kayla,” Obama said, using an acronym for the group. The White House said Obama called Mueller’s parents to offer condolences.

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Wednesday February 11, 2015

Manning withdraws Sando East candidacy…

END OF AN ERA -Young lawyer gets PNM nod Trinidad Guardian Former People’s National Movement (PNM) leader and Prime Minister Patrick Manning is out. Young attorney Randall Mitchell is in. Manning’s historymaking tenure as the longest serving Member of Parliament came to a premature end Monday night when Mitchell, a 36-year old attorney, was named as his successor and the candidate for the 2015 general election following the screening of candidates at the PNM’s San Fernando East constituency. But there was no rejoicing in the PNM camp, which remains divided between loyalty for the party and their former MP and political leader, who failed to show up for the screening in spite of requests for nomination extensions so he could throw his hat into the ring. Long, unsmiling faces greeted the much anticipated news which came from Anthony Clarke, the constituency’s PRO, who was joined by general secretary Ashton Ford for the announcement after almost one-and-a-half hours of deliberation. Ford first announced that the committee had taken a decision after deliberations and interviewing the four candidates. “Mr Manning did not show up for screening,” he said. Clarke then announced Mitchell as the prospective candidate for San Fernando East. Asked about Manning’s decision to withdraw, Ford said they were told by the chairman of the San Fernando East constituency that he had a meeting with Manning earlier

Randall Mitchell

Patrick Manning

in the day and he decided to withdraw his candidacy. Ford said no reason was given. He said Rowley announced during the process that the party would pay due regard and honour to Manning at an appropriate time. He said its focus at this time was on the hectic battle ahead and the selection of candidates for the 41 constituencies. Twenty-six candidates have been selected thus far, he said. Screening will continue after Carnival he also noted. Among the dissatisfied executive was Eber Steele, one of three nominees who were rejected at the last San Fernando East screening exercise. Steele joined the circle as prayers were said for Mitchell but earlier was very critical of the screening process, saying he was still waiting for an official response from the party’s executive that he was no longer eligible to be screened for another time. Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, who headed the screening committee, did not make an appearance before the media, which outnumbered the number of

people who showed up to support the five candidates who were due to be screened: San Fernando Councillor Rondell Donowa, former Deputy Mayor of San Fernando Malaika Blair and former San Fernando West MP and present Deputy Mayor Junia Regrello. Regrello, who also unsuccessfully screened for San Fernando West, was in and out before the screening committee in less than five minutes. He did not wait around for the results. Manning was the fifth candidate, but when former councillor Sharon Looney called his name to appear before the committee five times around 7 pm, he was a no show. PNM stalwarts, who did not want to be named, said at an executive meeting earlier in the day at the San Fernando East Constituency office, members were informed that Manning had decided to withdraw from the race. Some said Manning, who suffered two strokes since his defeat in the May 2010 polls, indicated it would be humiliating for him to walk up the stairs to get to the screening room.

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

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FIFA Task Force for Women’s Football proposes a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup The establishment of a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup and the implementation of the ten key development principles for women’s football were among the key points on the agenda for the FIFA Task Force for Women’s Football, which met at the Home of FIFA in Zurich yesterday. Moya Dodd,

chairwoman and co-opted member of the FIFA Executive Committee, convened the session in order to continue the discussions initiated one year ago during the group’s inauguralmeeting. The creation of the Task Force was announced by FIFA President Blatter in October 2013 with the aim of identifying and establishing priorities for the development of women’s football. During yesterday’s meeting, the Task Force discussed possible concepts outlining details for the creation of a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, including an inaugural edition set for 2017. As part of the proposal, the Task Force noted the importance of creating such

a competition to create an annual showcase of elite women’s football and to provide an incentive not only to clubs, but also to confederations and member associations, to strengthen club football and club structures in their respective regions. It will now be up to the FIFA Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ to examine the proposal at their meeting tomorrow (11 February) and submit it in an appropriate form to the FIFA Executive Committee, which is responsible for taking final decisions on the introduction of new competitions. The next Executive Committee meeting will be from 19-20 March. Members also received an update on the implementation of the ten key development principles for women’s football, which the Task Force initially presented to the FIFA Executive Committee and then to the 64th FIFA Congress in São Paulo, where they were approved. “The approval of the ten key principles by the FIFA Congress last June marked a

Moya Dodd major milestone for the development of women’s football,” said Moya Dodd. “These principles have laid a foundation from which to build on, sending a clear message to confederations and member associations on what FIFA expects of them to continue growing the women’s game. FIFA is also taking concrete action, for instance the doubling of women’s development funding for the 2015-2018 cycle, and now further progress is being made towards the creation of a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup. All of our efforts need to go in one direction in order to see

Wednesday February 11, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) It scares you when life seems like it's slipping through your fingers and you can't slow it down.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You need to be more spontaneous, Libra, and stop trying to organize other people's lives.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) When you were younger, your humanity and generosity seemed limitless. You felt very involved in the world and what was going wrong with it. Today you may remember these great dreams.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You're a hard worker, Scorpio, and you expect the same from the people around you. Today you may want to take a look at your personal and work relationships.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You've always been sensitive to the pain of an unhappy childhood, Gemini. You may think that it's time for you to do something about it. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You may feel like you need to work for a cause or political party, Cancer. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Unfortunately, Leo, this may be a period of conflict and tension in your family life, especially where siblings are concerned. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You now seem to be able to do everything you want to do. Things are going well as you reap the rewards of important past decisions you made.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Watch for any errors in orientation or strategic mistakes, Sagittarius. You may be having some communication problems with almost everyone today. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) At the moment, there's a great deal of electricity in the air, especially in your life at home. Ignore those people who try to provoke you. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) If people say that you're stubborn when you're just determined, let them talk, and do what you need to do. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It's time to face up to certain things about yourself that you may have denied for some time, Pisces.

more women on the football pitch but also involved off the pitch as well.” Futsal, the professionalisation of the women’s game, club licensing, medical issues and strategies to increase female coaches were among other topics discussed during the day. Participants of the meeting today included: Chairwoman Moya Dodd, FIFA Executive Committee coopted member. Members Junko Imai, AFC Women’s Committee member, deputy chairwoman of the JFA Women’s Committee; Fran Hilton-Smith, Technical Director, South African Football Association ; Nicola Demaine, Women’s Football Development Officer, Oceania Football Confederation; Vera Pauw, FIFA instructor for women’s football. FIFA administration Niclas Ericson, Director of TV, Marco Villiger, Director of Legal Affairs, Thierry Weil, Director of Marketing, Tatjana Haenni, Deputy Director of Competitions for Women’s Football. (FIFA)

GFSCA Mash Softball on Sat. Feb. 21st at DCC As Guyana celebrates 45 years as a Cooperative Republic, the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association will start its year’s activities with a Mashramani One Day Softball tournament. The day/night tournament will be held on Saturday February 21st at the DCC ground on Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown. Matches start at 2:00pm and will conclude at 11:30pm. Fourteen teams will be accepted. Eight teams will play in the Open category (males of any age) and six teams will play in the Masters category (40 years and over). The Male Open will be a 5 overs affair while the Masters will be 10 overs. Matches will be played on two pitches simultaneously. Entrance fee for the Open category is $15,000 and the Masters is $20,000. Winner of each category will receive $50,000 and the Runner-ups will receive $15,000 each. The yellow Floodlight ball will be used. Teams can purchase it at Mike’s Pharmacy on Sheriff Street. Teams who are interested can call GFSCA organiser Wayne Jones at 650 1790 or 685 6908 to book their spot early. This one day, day/ night softball 14- team tournament will be held every last Saturday of every month at the DCC ground.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 11, 2015

RHTY&SC Silver Jubilee 1990 – 2015

GBTI Inter Secondary cricket starts today The GBTI sponsored Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Silver Jubilee Anniversary Inter Secondary Tapeball cricket tournament is set to bowl off today with three matches. Male and female teams will contest this competition which will see the club identifying 30 promising players for its Cricket Development Programme which would be conducted by Coach Delbert Hicks. The seven competing schools are Central Corentyne, Winifred Gaskin, Manchester High, Corentyne Comprehensivey, Port Mourant, J.C. Chandisingh and Lower Corentyne. Female 10-overs matches’ start at 09:30hrs, the male segment begins at 11:30hrs.

Following are the fixtures: 1. Winifred Gaskin v Manchester High @ Ulverston Ground 2. Corentyne Comprehensive v Port Mourant Secondary @ Port Mourant 3. Lower Corentyne v J.C. Chandisingh @ Area ‘H’ Ground Central Corentyne drew the bye. The semifinals are slated for Monday February 16 while the finals are scheduled for Friday February 20, all at the Area ‘H’ ground. GBTI’s Port Mourant Manager Mr. Ghoeblall Mahadeo and RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster would declare the tournament open today at the Area ‘H’ Ground at 09:00hrs.

Wavell Hinds re-elected as President Kingston, Jamaica - The West Indies Players’ Association, at its Annual General Meeting, held February 9, 2015 at the Hotel Four Season, Kingston, Jamaica, elected the board of directors for the term 20152017. The incumbent Wavell Hinds was re-elected unopposed as President, the new Vice President is Nixon Mclean, whose position was previously Honourary Treasurer. Wayne Lewis retained his position as Honourary Secretary; the

Wavell Hinds new Honourary Treasurer is former West Indies Captain and Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs and the newly elected Assistant Honourary Secretary is Windward Islands Volcanoes Captain Liam Sebastien.

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Kaieteur News

Scotland beat Ireland in Sydney warm-up India flatten Afghanistan

Scotland thrashed Ireland by 179 runs in their penultimate World Cup warmup match in Sydney. Matt Machan top scored with 103, adding 96 with captain Preston Mommsen (56) and 98 with Richie Berrington (52), as Scotland made 296-6 in their 50 overs. Ireland made a steady start before seamer Alasdair Evans (4-17) took four wickets in his first three overs. Spinner Majid Haq wrapped up the innings with 3-9 as Ireland collapsed to 117 all out in 27 overs. While Scotland know they will face sterner tests than their fellow International Cricket Council (ICC) associate member when the World Cup begins this weekend, they will take heart from an assured batting display after Mommsen won the toss at Blacktown International Sportspark in the Sydney suburbs. Former skipper Kyle Coetzer fell to Max Sorensen (3-55) without scoring but his opening partner Calum MacLeod made a steady 41 before Machan, Mommsen and Berrington helped the Scots post a formidable total. In reply, Ireland captain William Porterfield (23) and Paul Stirling (37) added 57 for the first wicket before Evans ripped through the top order. Five wickets fell for 20 runs in less than five overs, and Gary Wilson (15) was the only other Ireland batsman to make double figures as they collapsed to Haq and Josh Davey (2-36). Ireland, who lost to Sydney club side Randwick Petersham last Friday, play their final warm-up game against Bangladesh at the same venue on Thursday, the same day that Scotland head across the city to face West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Both Ireland and Scotland then head to New Zealand for their opening group games,

Matt Machan

with Ireland meeting the Windies in Nelson on 16 February, and Scotland up against co-hosts New Zealand in Dunedin a day later. In yesterdays other warmup game in Adelaide, India opener Rohit Sharma smashed 150 from 122 balls, including seven sixes, as they made 364-5 against Afghanistan. A shock looked possible when India were 16-

2 early on, but Sharma added 158 with Suresh Raina (75) and 95 with Ajinkya Rahane (88 not out). Usman Ghani (44) and excaptain Nawroz Mangal (60) led Afghanistan’s reply but the loss of four wickets for 16 runs in mid-innings ensured India maintained their supremacy, although the Afghans managed to bat their full 50 overs and finished on 211-8, losing by 153 runs.

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BCB begins preparation for Inter County Under-17 competition In an effort to get their team ready, the junior selection panel of the Berbice Cricket Board led by Leslie Solomon, has arranged several sessions across Berbice and has advised that cricket teams send players who they think are good enough to make the Berbice Under-17 team that will participate in the upcoming Inter County tournament. Sessions will be held as follows:

For players from the Lower Corentyne area: Albion Sports Complex on Wednesday 11th of February, 2015 (today). For players from West Berbice area at the Bush Lot Ground on Thursday 12th of February, 2015. For players from the Upper Corentyne area at the Skeldon Community Center Ground on Saturday 14th of February 2015. For players from the East Bank/New Amsterdam/Canje/

No 19 area at the Cumberland Ground on Monday 16th of February 2015. For players from the Central Corentyne area at the Bush Lot Farm Ground on Wednesday 18th of February 2015. All sessions will commence at 3:00pm except for the session at Skeldon Community Center which commences at 10am. Players have to be born on or after September 1, 1998.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 11, 2015

Referees host first Cars, bikes leave for Fitness Run for 2015 CMRC in Jamaica The powerful Mitsubishi Evolution seen in the container shortly before closure for shipping to Jamaica.

Female referees during the Fitness Run on Sunday last. Football Referees in Guyana participated in their first Fitness Run for this year on Sunday last, conducted by the Guyana Football

Federation (GFF) Referees Committee. The run took place at Camp Ayanganna where 32 of the officials from across the

country were in attendance, a 90 % s u c c e s s w a s recorded. Three more Fitness Runs will be held this year.

DCB Inter Association U-15 tourney

Bookie, Nedd guides Georgetown to victory, East Bank thump West Dem. By Zaheer Mohamed Led by sterling performances from Alphius Bookie and Ashmead Nedd, Georgetown defeated East Coast by 103 runs while East Bank overcame West Demerara by one wicket when the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) Inter Association Under-15 50-over tournament continued yesterday. Bookie stroked 10 fours in a top score of 75 off 93 balls while Nedd lashed 4 fours and 2 sixes in scoring 51 from 61 balls as Georgetown posted a challenging 210 before they were bowled out in 48.5 overs, batting first at Everest Cricket Club. The host were reduced to 15-2 before Bookie added 41 with Adrian Hinds who was bowled behind his back attempting a sweep shot for

17. The right handed Bookie then featured in a fourth wicket stand of 99 with Nedd to frustrate the visitors in blazing sunshine. The pair rotated the strike almost at will and was quick to take advantage of the wayward deliveries. However pacer Tyrese Assanah provided his team with the breakthrough when he uprooted the stumps of Nedd just after the batsman reached his fifty. Bookie continued to play his shots before he became Assanah’s third victim. Yodester Persaud was the only other batsman that showed fight with 16; extras contributed 22. Assanah swung the ball considerably and was the pick of the bowlers with 3-29; Pradesh Balkishun claimed 2-30 and

Arvin Gangadin 2-32. Anil Singh and Robin Williams started off positively for East Coast with a first wicket partnership of 35 before Williams (13) nicked pacer Qumar Torrington through to wicket-keeper Yodester Persaud. Left arm spinner Nedd then snapped up three quick wickets to put East Coast on the back foot. They never recovered and were sent packing for 107 in 40.3 overs which included 34 extras. Singh made 19 while Gangadin (14) and Denesh Ali (13) were the only other batsmen that reached double figures. Nedd snared 3-15 and Sachin Singh 2-6. At Demerara Cricket Club ground, West Demerara took first strike and managed 128 all out in 39.4 overs. Sayendra Pooran scored 20 while extras assisted with 62; Jamal Michael grabbed 4-15 and Tuen Hicks 3-27. East Bank encountered some nervous moments before reaching their target in 34 overs, ending on 129-9 aided by 49 extras. Michael made 19 and Hicks 17. Jitendra Ghisiwan bagged 4-33 and Satesh Basdeo 2-24. The competition continues today.

Defending regional champions Guyana named a strong ten-man contingent to represent this country at the opening leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) scheduled to be staged from February 28March 1 in Jamaica. The Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club released the names of (Cars), Kevin and Kristian Jeffrey, Chet Singh, Danny Persaud, Afraz Allie and Rameeze Mohamed, while Stephen Vieira, Elliott Vieira, Kevin Persaud and Paul Yearwood as the representatives in the Superbike category. Meanwhile, Kaieteur Sport had the opportunity on

Monday to witness the machines being placed in containers for shipping to the event. Kevin Jeffrey was at the facility where the machines were being placed in the containers and Kaieteur Sport caught up with him for a brief comment about his preparations and his son Kristian, who is the current Caribbean champion. According to Jeffrey, both cars are in fine mettle, informing that the team of mechanics worked tirelessly over a sustained period to ensure that they are well prepared to represent Guyana with distinction in the season opener. “The guys are extremely

tired, they worked throughout the night to ensure that they cars leave here with most of the work complete,” Jeffrey said. Also making a comment was recently elected VicePresident Shairaz Mohamed Roshandin, who told this newspaper that even though a few well known drivers such as Andrew King will be absent he still believes that Guyana could still give a good account in Jamaica. Also missing will be the two new kids on the block in the Superbike category in Nikhil Seereeram and Matthew Vieira, who thrilled the fans during the final leg of the CMRC last November.

Annual GUMDAC Open Badminton tourney

Ramdhani’s and Ali shine on opening night Play in the annual GUMDAC Open Doubles Badminton tournament served off on Monday evening last at the Queens College Badminton Courts with some exciting matches in the Mix and Open Doubles categories. In the Mixed Doubles which was in the Round Robin format, Guyana’s top male and female players, the brother and sister combination of Narayan and Priyanna Ramdhani was unstoppable, brushing aside the challenge of Jonathan

Mangra and Abosaide Cadogan, 21-10, 21-12. The Randhani’s also turned back the challenge of Nicholas Ali and Siya Persaud, 21-10, 21-13. The pair of Ali and Persaud took the runner-up spot in this category with victory over Mangra and Cadogan, 20-22, 21-18, 14-21. In Men’s Doubles first round play, Haymant Ramdhani and William Holder took care of business against Akili Haynes and Christian Beharry, 21-5, 21-3. In the quarter finals, Guyana’s

top doubles pair, Narayan Ramdhani and Nicholas Ali was way too good for Tyreese Jeffrey and Lakshman Das to handle, the former wrapped up a comfortable win at 21-6, 21-7. And Guyana’s ex-national players Gokarn Ramdhani and George Melville rolled back the years by defeating Tyreese Richards and Ransell Ramsaroop, 21-6, 21-7. Competition is slated to continue today at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 18:00hrs.