Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

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Bibi Shadick appointment came Fisherman Envil Pollard’s under “Any Other Business” death should not go in vain DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the news item, “Shadick unsuited to ProChancellor post – Ifill,” SN, Jan 26, 2015. Dr. Ifill is quoted as telling your newspaper in relation to the position of ProChancellor filled by PPP parliamentarian, BIbi Shadick, that Shadick’s credentials were read out and though the qualifications sounded impressive they were certainly not fitting for an academic institution. As someone who spent his entire life studying, analyzing and writing about Guyana, I don’t know of Shadick’s credentials and qualifications. The two terms do not mean the same. Credentials include work experience; they are not the same with qualifications. A simple example should suffice. A parliamentarian can achieve the credentials of sitting in twelve parliamentary committees and national commissions on judicial matters. No matter how extensive is the experience of that person; he/she cannot be a judge if he/she is not a lawyer. I suspect that is what Dr. Ifill was referring to when the word ‘credentials’ was used followed immediately by the word ‘qualifications.’ Dr. Ifill went on to say that Shadick’s qualifications were not fitting for the post of Pro-Chancellor. In my study of Guyanese politics I know Ms. Shadick to be a lawyer. And I say in all academic honesty, Ms. Shadick has not excelled in the practice and writing of law. I know of no legal area of novelty or brilliance of national importance where Ms. Shadick has stood out. I do not know of Ms. Shadick ever been referred to as a lawyer of national prominence. I know of no popular court trial at either the magisterial or High court level that Ms. Shadick has been involved in. My knowledge of Shadick is in the area of politics and in the Council of the University. While I was in the Council, Ms. Shadick applied for the position of Deputy Registrar. Her application never made the second round. Even her PPP colleagues on the Council did not support her bid. Her tenure as Minister of Social Services was shortlived over remarks made that are best not repeated here. Looking at both credentials and qualifications, I am unaware that there are things in there that would qualify Ms. Shadick to hold the position of ProChancellor of the University

of Guyana. I am subject to correction, but I do not believe that Shadick has had any involvement in the world of academia, has ever pursued academic research which has been published, has had the experience of attachment to an academic institution in a research or teaching capacity or did classroom teaching, academic research or publication in her own area of study – law. On what basis then was Shadick chosen to hold an academic position at the University of Guyana? For those who see the politics and polices of Bharrat Jagdeo as having devastated Guyana, the analysis must include a similar role for Donald Ramotar. I don’t believe Shadick’s appointment would not have been mentioned to Ramotar before the actual event occurred. Let me confess, as someone who functioned for four years with Shadick in the council of the University, I could never have imagined, ever have imagined, that Bibi Shadick would be made the

Pro-chancellor of UG. Whenever you think this country has hit the lowest point in disgraceful conduct, you wake up to find that we will keep sinking into infinity. What was particularly distasteful and unpalatable about this appointment is that it came up under the last item on the agenda, “Any Other Business.” Any person with jus a short stint at an organization would tell you that “Any Other Business” is the last item on the agenda and relates to matters that are of less importance or notification of issues that are important and should be placed on the agenda at the next meeting. To elect the ProChancellor of UG under “Any Other Business” is one the worst insults the PPP (Continued on page 6)

DEAR EDITOR, Never a day goes by that the news in Guyana does not rock one’s level of mental consciousness. While the Government is seemingly misbehaving on one hand, the natives on the other appear to be following suit and perpetrating their own senseless acts. Are the inmates running the asylum, or have the students become the masters? The latest fatal shooting of fisherman Envil Pollard by a security guard employed by Pritipaul Singh Investments, somehow takes the cake and bears out the afore-mentioned point. It has

been reported that previously individuals in that area had been shot at before by the guards, luckily with pellets, but sadly Mr. Pollard fell prey to their change of ammunition. The question of ownership readily springs to mind. To whom has direct or indirect ownership been given to this vast expanse of water that flows to the north for 346 kilometers until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean? To date there is no direct or stated owner, then why was the fisherman shot when he was as privileged as the next person to navigate the waters in search of marine life.

Furthermore, the fisherman has a valid fishing licence, as was displayed by his wife, but no mention was made as to the presence of stipulated fishing areas. In addition, it was stated that the guard collected royalty from the fisherman. I do hope that the collected royalties went to the rightful authority, as the guard was merely an employee of the establishment. Royalties are usage based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset. Dead men tell no tales it has been oftimes said, but (Continued on page 6)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Kaieteur M@ilbox

It would be patriotic to...

Resolution passed by Council-Linden Municipality

From page 4 putting the money in the Consolidated Fund. The loan of GGMC resources is to take place perhaps 16 weeks before a general election. It would be illegal in any law abiding state. It is normal PPP behavior in Guyana. The EU therefore has good cause. The bilaterals would do the same if they were not so pre-occupied with keeping the door to investment open to their nationals. The claim that all Parties, perhaps meaning a wide range of citizens, benefit from such PPP behavior is palpably untrue. Funds from the budget to which EU and Norwegian support go for example have been used, for example, to purchase and provide PPP campaign T-shirts and vehicles for hinterland students who also receive a stipend for wearing the shirts and undertaking political work such as demonstrating outside the National Assembly against measures or positions taken by the majority in the House. It cannot be of benefit to all Parties. On the contrary, it undermines the democratic process and turns the exercise of financial oversight and Parliamentary accountability into a farce. By the same token, NCN receives illegally transferred tax revenues to pay journalists specifically to abuse Opposition parliamentarians, shamelessly peddle PPP positions and to promote PPP and partisan propaganda. This phenomenon is odious and it cannot be unpatriotic for the other political Parties to oppose it. Indeed, given the circumstances it would be patriotic to ask the EU to withhold funds from Guyana so that the PPP cannot so blatantly un-

dermine political stability and parliamentary democracy which it falsely claims to have restored in Guyana. Funds are used for investment in businesses such as the so-called Marriot Hotel, which the Assembly had specifically said in 2012 should not receive taxpayers’ funds. The Assembly opposed the use of funds from the Treasury to finance work on the so called Speciality Hospital because it found that procedures breached procurement rules and sweetheart deals with favoured associates and relatives were causing unnecessarily construction costs. The details are common knowledge. Even the Vice President of Fedders Lloyd, an Indian engineering firm, accused the Government of awarding a disputed contract for the hospital to Surendra Engineering because of special ties with Ministers. It had been awarded the Enmore packaging plant, the procurement of hydraulic pumps and other contracts. The Emore packaging plant like the Skeldon factory is running at a fraction of installed capacity, a fact which will probably render both unviable even in the long term. To add insult to injury, although the complaint by the Indian firm, about the Government’s flouting of its own rules was dismissed by Dr. Luncheon, the Government has had the gall to announce recently its shock and horror that the firm Surendra had perpetrated a fraud on Guyanese and its directors had absconded to India without meeting their contractual obligations to either the PPP regime or to B.K Tiwari, a private contractor.

Fisherman Envil... From page 5 why was the deceased held to ransom regarding use of the wharf belonging to Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc, a sea food exporter and harvester. Why did he return to the killing grounds even after he was warned that he would be murdered, a threat that should not have been taken lightly and should have been brought immediately to the attention of the police ranks? Seemingly, the cuirass became a much sought after commodity, and was also probably in abundance at that specific site as opposed to other areas of the river. Was it worth the risk taken? It is imperative that this matter be thoroughly and

painstakingly investigated with guidelines and legal parameters established, to prevent a recurrence. The company should be called upon to revise their firearm policies, and decide on a place of collection for paid royalties, as well as appointing bona fide collectors. Now there are eight children and a mother left to carry on life in the absence of a father, all because he wandered at sea and found himself where he should not be. His death should not go in vain but when the facts are all known, they may serve as a deterrent and a learning tool that one cannot always fish anywhere they wish. Yvonne Sam

This is the kind of behavior for which Dr Singh would like to have Guyanese support. He obviously has a difficulty with the entries in the English dictionary. The authoritative Stanford …..concludes that, patriotism can be defined as love of one’s country, identification with it, and special concern for its well-being and that of compatriots. None of the policies and behavior described above suggest concern for or identification with the well-being of the poor or the general populace. In fact the consequent waste of resources has resulted in the poor having to forego schoolbooks and medical services so that the PPP regime can work up projects to hand over money to its cronies. Entities such as Guysuco making unnecessary losses, wasted money spent on the Marriot and fibre-optic cables for the benefit of a few persons place an added burden on taxpayers, many of whom are already poor. Those taxpayers pay VAT which is raised on food consumed by the poor, including processed foods and meals served by restaurants. In the meantime the current and former President and his associates pay no taxes. The accusation of cronyism and the cries from India of fraud in procurement are not enhancing the image of Guyana in the eyes of the world. They are an embarrassment. Those who lie at the root of such blemishes on the name of Guyana and or categorization as the second most corrupt country in the Americas, cannot be described as patriots by any stretch of the imagination. Patriotism has only recently attracted the attention of those who study philosophy professionally. Previously, in the political science and current affairs arenas, the aphorism of Samuel Johnson, the famous English writer, wit and lexicographer held sway, namely, “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” Carl Greenidge

DEAR EDITOR, The Hon. Minister as has become normal now, bypasses the constitutional bodies for reasons only he can explain. The Clean up my country programme was announced since budget presentation last year of which $1b was announced with half of it earmarked for Georgetown. In a letter to the Minister yesterday, I reminded him that in July 2014, he pointed to the programme as helping to ease the budgetary constraints the council faced in 2014, in light of cabinet’s non approval of the two measures it recommended to deal with the budget shortfall of $33m. The issues surrounding the shortfall have played out on numerous occasions in the past and so I will not rehash. Those same constraints face the council in 2015 and will be exacerbated in a few months. Needless to say, the Clean up my country programme rolled out in other towns and regions in 2014 and has now come to Linden. One meeting was called with the administration of the council and the town clerk sought to involve councillors and two turned up at the RDC office. No meeting was held with the council to propose what we know better than the officers from Georgetown. You cannot come to Linden and decide upfront that you will hire 20 persons at $4,000 for one day to clean the entire community. That was the initial proposal from the MLGRD’s team. Linden is 55 sq. miles with about 35% under habitation and over 240 kms of roads and footpaths. Like most parts of Guyana residents are simply dirty and uncaring to the environment, so they dump indiscriminately. Council with its meagre resources does a fair job in trying to keep the town centre and main thoroughfares clean. The D&I project which was enacted by the Jagdeo regime and paid $25,000 per month maintained roadsides and drains and the only local

Bibi Shadick...

From page 5 Government has heaped on this nation. Had I remained as a staff member of UG and was still sitting in the Council, representing the trade union, I could never have brought myself to remain in the meeting while Shadick presided. In life, you draw the

line at sometime where something becomes totally unacceptable to you. For me, the Bibi Shadick ProChancellor appoint at UG is the last straw. The Guyanese people need to vote this party out of office and prosecute it after afterwards in a court of law. Frederick Kissoon

government organ in Guyana purchased a truck exclusively for this exercise. Even though we were not involved in the process we knew its importance to the cleanliness of the town and our decision to purchase the truck. The Hon.Minister’s comments are therefore seen as being facetious and illtempered. Note the D&I programme was halted around mid year 2014. The council indeed needs the additional help and when I asked the Minister in July 2014 about sustaining the process he had no answer. The MLGRD team also said in the meeting last week that they will obtain a mini excavator and gift same to the RDC. That means the main body responsible for carrying out such works in the town has to request use from the RDC. In my press conference recently I pointed out the difficulties we have encountered with getting most things done with the RDC and the lack of collaboration in many instances. It is now clear to me that the MLGRD is following a blueprint to create divisions so that agendas are easily carried out. I dare any REO to stand up to these egregious and discriminatory positions of the MLGRD. It is simply self destructive and I understand their positions. I often tell officers to be careful because say what we like, we cannot give them their job back if they fire them capriciously. The MLGRD team listened to my two councillors and agreed to report back to the council. The next thing councillors knew was that the programme was rolled out and they were not told of the findings after discussion with the principals. I need not remind that the same script played out with the Cevon’s Waste contract in Linden. I asked eighteen questions at the meeting with the Hon, Minister. He could not respond and promised findings on the questions. Next we heard was that I should turn up at a meeting at the RDC for signing of the contract. Well by now you know me... On the rolling out of the programme I got sucked in because of my desire to get the most out of the project. I have a fair sense of a lot of what happens around the town as I should. A few councillors at the statutory meeting on Wed 29, pilloried me for knowing what happened and not calling a

caucus. In fact had it not been for one councillor who asked if I was aware I would have listened and moved on. I took time to explain that the administration sought my advice on the matter and I offered same. In fact my training told me some basic things were not done and a proper survey was not carried out. On Friday I went to the office for a correspondence and asked for a copy of the programme. When I saw it, my fears were confirmed. I changed all prior plans and went out into the Central Amelia’s Ward area on Saturday to do a survey and found over 23 hot spots which I related to the Town Clerk and told her that the rest of the areas should be done that way. I know that was not done and the programme will not achieve 60% of its objective, not because they cannot do it but because the preliminary works were absent. The council would have avoided that. In fact the Millie’s turn work took over 3 hours more than I had anticipated which shows clearly that the Minister’s insinuations were out of place and contentious. The Hon.Minister mentioned and invoked greed, wickedness, evil and all sorts of invectives in his letter. No councillor wanted any contract and spoke of same. The feedback of opportunists is one of epic proportion and Minister needs to check on his sources to see who is fooling him.What the councillors wanted and I supported was for workers in each locale like the D&I, to be employed in the exercise instead of a mere twenty in the whole of Linden with 18 wards. Definitely each ward would have been different with the survey done. South Mackenzie for example would have been an easy community to deal with because of the general condition of those areas. From the foregoing you the readers can determine where these acts of ungodliness are coming from. The Minister must understand that acts which clearly marginalise the ideas and inputs of a militant community such as Linden are contraindicative of local democracy, which he espouses at each of his contrived and garlanded stages will be highlighted. Albeit, we need the general cleaning the council wants respect and its inputs taken on board and not to be rubberstamped in an activity filled with charade. Orrin Gordon

Sunday February 01, 2015

Kaieteur News

Jamaica issues Measles …In wake of outbreaks health alert in US, Mexico JAMAICAN HEALTH authorities yesterday issued an urgent appeal to parents to immediately have their children immunised for measles and other vaccinepreventable diseases. The warning by the health ministry comes in the wake of the current measles outbreak across the United States and in Mexico. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US reports that in the first 28 days of this year, 84 persons across 14 states contracted measles. Most of these cases, the CDC said, are part of a “large ongoing outbreak linked to an amusement park in the state of California”. Last year, the CDC said there were 644 reported cases across 27 states. Yesterday, acting chief medical officer at the health ministry Dr Marion BullockDuCasse gave the assurance that Jamaica is “closely monitoring” developments in

the US and Mexico. “Despite this, we have seen how diseases can cross borders, and so we have to ensure that we keep a close watch on the situation in the US and any other country where measles cases occur,” Bullock-DuCasse said in a statement. “All Jamaicans are, therefore, urged to ensure that they and their children are protected,” she continued. COMMON SYMPTOMS According to the health ministry, the first and most common symptoms of measles include fever, conjunctivitis or sore eyes, and a runny nose. Other symptoms, it says, include small white spots, which usually develop inside the mouth a day or so later, a harsh dry cough, reduced appetite, tiredness, aches and pains. The health ministry says after several days, a rash breaks out on the face and

upper neck, which spreads downwards, reaching the hands and feet. “Measles is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. It is spread through direct contact and through the air ... . Complications include pneumonia and can lead to death,” the ministry warned. Despite the concerns, Bullock-DuCasse noted that Jamaica has been free of endemic or local transmission of measles since 1991 and said this is because of the country’s expanded immunisation programme. Meanwhile, the Caribbean Public Health Agency, which issued a measles alert on January 28 this year, has recommended enhanced vigilance across the region, citing the strong travel ties with the US and given that the region is in the midst of the tourism high season.

Venezuela drops tourism advert with detained US reporter A US reporter detained while covering the 2013 elections in Venezuela has become the unlikely star of a Venezuelan tourism advert. The image on TeleSur’s twitter feed showed a man being hugged with the line: “We love Venezuela for receiving foreigners like one of our own.” That man however was journalist Jim Wyss being welcomed home to the US shortly after his arrest. TeleSur declined to comment. The advert has been withdrawn. Mr Wyss was not aware his image had been used until a friend in Venezuela told him

about it. “I don’t know if it was an accident or if someone in Telesur has a very good sense of humour,” he told the BBC. “They pulled it from

Twitter and their website, so I guess it was an accident.” He was detained for two days during the 2013 elections for not having a journalist’s visa.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

Sunday February 01, 2015

Dem boys seh...

YOU GOT TO THINK QUICK Politicians does put dem foot in dem mouth plenty time but is only some of dem got sense and can think fast. Tek de case when Burnham was talking at a political meeting. Somebody heckle how he banning everything. Burnham like to think that he quick pun he foot suh quick as a whistle, he tell de person in de crowd that he ain’t buy rope. He didn’t bargain fuh de man smartness. De man tell he that rope is a thing that mek Judas ain’t deh in de world today. Burnham smart as ever reply, “Indeed Judas went out and hanged himself.” The man tell Burnham, “Go thou and do likewise.” De meeting bruck up. Sometimes some of dem politicians don’t have to think. Ashni go in Nigel’s supermarket de other day fuh buy bread. He tell de salesgirl that he only want half a loaf. De girl tell he that dem don’t sell half loaf bread but Ashni insist that he must get wha he paying for. De girl tell he that she can’t sell he half of a loaf suh he demand fuh see Nigel. De girl lef and go to Nigel. “Bass, some jackass come in de supermarket and demanding that I sell he half loaf of bread.” Same time she tun round and see Ashni standing behind she and quick as a whistle she continue, “And this gentleman want to buy de other half.” Ashni get through. But Anil prove to be de smart one. He guh pun de campaign trail and he walk wid Ashni and Odinga. De meeting was at Blairmont. He talk till he get hoarse then he announce that Blairmont is de best place on earth, that he gun always come back. A man in de crowd ask he what about Bath Settlement. Right away he seh, “That place got sheer whores and cricketers.” Ashni whisper that he wife come from Bath Settlement. Anil get a shock but as dem boys seh, he is not a lawyer fuh nutten. He watch Ashni full in he face and ask he wha cricket team he wife use to play in. Talk half and think quick or end up in trouble.

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood.

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Guyana among Caribbean nations to hold elections this year NY New Amsterdam News:At least five general elections are scheduled to be held in the 15-nation Caribbean trade bloc this year, including three in the politically volatile Southern Caribbean region, and if opinion polls are anything to go by, at least three elections could result in new governments. First off, the starting block could be Guyana, the mainland South American country that is home to the region’s administrative secretariat and one of the original founders of the community. Its general and regional elections are scheduled for Monday, May 11, and a concerted effort is being made to oust the Indo-led People’s Progressive Party, which has run the country since October 1992, amid credible domestic and international charges of widespread corruption, official blessings for the narco trade and the use of private hit squads to take out suspected criminals, among other malfeasant acts. A Partnership for National Unity, which the People’s Progressive Party defeated by a mere 26,000 votes in the last election, feels that it will form a new government by May 12, when the bulk of the results should be known. A Partnership for National Unity is led by retired army commander Brigadier General David Granger. Voters in neighboring Suriname,

which is the other geographically continental nation in the regional bloc, will choose a new government May 25, five years to the date when former military strongman and two-time coup leader Desi Bouterse was elected president with a decent parliamentary majority. His National Democratic Party is the main political force in the multi-party Mega Combination, which will compete with the New Front Coalition Group that has run the country several times since independence from the Netherlands in late 1975. Just north of Guyana and Suriname is oil- and gas-rich Trinidad and Tobago. The mandate of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and her Indo-led People’s Partnership administration expires May 25 as well, but she has yet to set a date for fresh elections. Like her counterparts in Guyana, the main charges against the People’s Partnership are linked to runaway corruption, the enrichment of friends and family of the ruling elite, the growing power of narco traffickers, government’s inability to stem a murder rate of one every 36 hours and an economy that is sinking under very soft oil prices. The Afro-dominated People’s National Movement of opposition leader, Keith Rowley, is likely to wrest control from

Persad-Bissessar if political loyalties hold steady in the coming months. Farther north of Trinidad and Tobago lies St. Vincent and the smaller Grenadines island group. Its polls must be held by December 2015. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves is rushing to complete construction of a new airport with a runaway that can accommodate international jet aircraft. Like neighboring Dominica, their main airports can only cater to commuter aircraft and mid-sized private jets, robbing the islands of the chance of expanding their lifeline tourists sectors. St. Vincent is located in the so-called Windward Islands group, but St. Kitts and Nevis in the Leeward Islands farther north should have been the first of the five countries to hold elections this year. Sometime in January 2015 should have been the date for fresh elections, but the political system is bogged down by constitutional challenges and delays in hearing an opposition no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Denzil Douglas, the region’s longest serving head of government. He has been at the helm for more than 20 years. St. Kitts could be one of the three, along with Guyana and Trinidad that could have new governments.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

GuySuCo rejects 3-year European - selling more cane contract, loses $14B lands to raise cash Union officials have accused the Board of Directors and management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) of causing the industry to lose over $14B because of its rejection to enter a three-year contract with its European customer, Tate and Lyle. At the end of 2012, GuySuCo, as the prices for sugar went over US$700 per tonne, was offered a contract. However, according to union officials, the Corporation rejected the offer with the hope that the price would even increase more. Unfortunately, the prices started sliding. In 2013, GuySuCo reportedly was offered another contract, this time for US$500 per tonne. This again was rejected. “Because of that rejection in 2012 and that one in 2013, we estimate that almost $14B was lost to GuySuCo. The Board of Directors and management inexplicably took a decision not to go with the contract,” a senior union official said yesterday. The year 2014 ended with

sugar being bought for US$350 per tonne. It is unlikely anytime soon that prices will go up as there is a glut on the market with producers raising production levels. Earlier this week, in one of its strongest condemnation yet of the state of affairs at GuySuCo, the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), said that it can no longer tolerate the situation which has seen one bad decision after another by the Board and management. The union said that GuySuCo’s management has made a “fundamentally flawed”, “unprofessional economic” decision to reject the three year contract from Tate and Lyle, in late 2012. GuySuCo settled for a mere one year agreement “resulting in significant financial loss to the sugar corporation for 2013 to 2015 inclusive.” NAACIE, which represents office staffers of the 16,000-plus workers’ industry, said it is of the view that the industry is besieged

GuySuCo’s CEO, Dr. Raj Singh

GuySuCo’s Chairman, Shaik Baksh

NAACIE’s General Secretary, Kenneth Joseph

GAWU’s President, Komal Chand

and under siege by the “atrocious decisions” by both the Board of Directors and its management. That $14B, according to the union official, would have gone a long way in helping GuySuCo with its financial problems. The union echoed calls by the largest negotiating body, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, for an independent Commission of Inquiry to be conducted.

The union, which represents mainly office workers at the corporation, said 2014 was the year with the second lowest production in the last 24 years. NAACIE identified GuySuCo’s decision to preharvest “pre-ripened cane” as one of the major causes of poor quality production. This is now threatening to compromise quality and production potential of the first crop of this year. NAACIE was also highly critical over the manner in which GuySuCo goes about planting canes. “There is woefully inadequate expert management monitoring of the husbandry in the fields. The results are poor plant nurturing, poor roads, poor punts maintenance all resulting in poor quality product.” NAACIE accused the Board of Directors, led by former Education Minister, Shaik Baksh, of making continuous blunders with inquiry into their decisions. “The Guysuco Board, never by itself, seems to enquire into its own

stewardship. This is apparent from the repetitive policy and management blunders yearly. The sectors, employees, suppliers and our general population then feel the economic squeeze. How long must we merely mouth that sugar is too big to fail?” The $14B loss would lend fuel to an angry Opposition which has been criticizing the way Government has handled the industry. The National Assembly has been called upon to approve cash bailouts. Last year, the amount was $6B. GuySuCo has also been forced to sell lands and properties to raise cash. It sold several plots of lands on East Bank Demerara for housing schemes stretching from Eccles to Grove. The Corporation is also, reportedly, currently in the process of selling a large portion of land to Government for housing to among other things, help pay off its almost $1B in debt to the National Insurance Scheme. The industry, as at June last year, owed more than $58B

in debts to suppliers, and to local and international banks. Suppliers have been demanding cash up front. Government was forced to step in and to make payments on its US$100M-plus loan that it owes on the US$200M Skeldon modernization project which included a new factory that faced problems from day one. Last year, the efficiency issues of the factory came to fore after it was revealed that it took 28 tonnes of cane to produce one tonne of sugar, more than double the industry’s average. The industry is also losing big time, producing for more than US$0.30 but selling around US$0.18 per pound. There have been calls for Government to reverse the fortunes but few answers. GuySuCo has remained a touchy subject for the three main political parties for one simple reason…many of the supporters or their families are working in the industry. GuySuCo and the Government have both remained largely silent on the state of affairs.

Sunday February 01, 2015

Territory dispute… Venezuela (El Universal) - In view of a petition made by the Guyana Government to settle the Venezuelan claim over the Essequibo by any other means different from the good offices offered by the United Nations SecretaryGeneral, Venezuelan experts agree on advising the Venezuelan Government to insist on the current mechanism. In the opinion of retired Colonel Pompeyo Torrealba, the head of the Essequibo Advisory Unit of the Venezuelan Foreign Office, “Venezuela should continue the procedure of the Good Officer because it enables us to hold a direct negotiation, without middlemen. We already know about the results where we have negotiated with intermediaries: we have lost valuable territory.”

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Objections in Venezuela over Guyana’s request to waive Good Office mechanism November 2014 marked the 25th anniversary of a meeting between then Presidents Carlos Andrés Pérez, of Venezuela, and Desmond Hoyte, of Guyana. Both of them accepted the designation of Alister Mc Intyre as representative of the UN Secretary-General to act as Good Officer. In this way, the good offices started with a view to resolving the Venezuela-Guyana border dispute. “More than 20 years have elapsed since the good offices. If in two decades you cannot see the expected progress and some matters have complicated it, there is the need to review other choices,” Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett said last September. Earlier, in September 2014, she had tackled the matter with UN Secretary-General

Ban Ki-Moon. The Venezuelan Foreign Office regarded the diplomat’s remarks as an “unfriendly” move and criticized the lack of consultation. Emilio Figueredo, former Venezuela’s ambassador for the implementation of the Geneva Convention from 1984 through 1996, backs the opinion of the lack of diligence. “Not much attention has been paid to the good offices, neither here nor there. It is an assisted negotiation. However, in default of the willing to negotiate by either side, it has been a deadlock. When I took care of that, we would discuss formulas, ideas,” he commented. The consulted experts agreed on saying that Venezuela’s approval will be always necessary for the case to be compromised and settled

Guyanese Foreign Minister, Carolyn RodriguesBirkett has requested the UN Secretary-General to waive the formula of the Good Officer in relation to the dispute with Venezuela (Evan Schneider / UN)

at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction. Therefore, the petition of the Guyanese Foreign Minister is irrelevant. In this regard, Daniels suggested a wide debate so that experts can express their opinion. Torrealba, for his part, has proposed an Essequibo recovery project in addition to the negotiation per se, which includes “getting closer, getting to know better, captivating and going into our Essequibo,” so as to stimulate the national conscience of Essequibo residents. Venezuela has an age-old claim to a large swath of Essequibo. However, in recent years, the two countries have been exploring closer economic ties, under its oilfor-rice deal and as members of UNASUR.

Who will be the next GECOM Commissioner?…

Boodoo would be unethical; Shaddick would trigger widespread astonishment - Granger There is much speculation surrounding the next person likely to fill the position of Commissioner of the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM) given the recent resignation of Dr. Keshav ‘Bud’ Mangal. One official said to be up for the position is former Chief Election Officer, Gocool Boodoo. Asked to give his take on this matter on Friday at his press conference, Opposition Leader, David Granger opined that it would be a great disappointment if such were

to be realized. He said that for the time being, he is not aware if there is any law preventing the appointment or if one would be broken by him being allowed to fill the post. He added that he would have to seek advice on the matter. “Normally there is a time gap after which persons are allowed to, particularly those holding high governmental offices, and engaged in the type of partisan work that Mr. Boodoo is likely to engage in and it’s a matter of conflict of interest and we will have to

examine the law to see if or when or in the event that such an appointment is made if it would be in breach of the law,” he told media operatives. Granger said that Boodoo’s appointment would be unethical, after he left the Commission having supervised the 2001, 2006 and 2011 elections. He believes it would pose serious problems. The Leader of the A Partnership for National Unity was also informed by one reporter that she is in receipt of information that another person expected to be up for

the post is Bibi Shaddick. Shaddick was also recently appointed as the new Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana. “Well that is serious,” he retorted. Granger said that he does not believe that there is any legal restraint or impediment with regard to the appointment but hers would trigger widespread astonishment. Boodoo’s contract had ended in 2013, with GECOM deciding not to renew it. There had been clashes (continued on page 12)

Bibi Shaddick, PPP Parliamentarian

Former Chief Election Officer, Gocool Boodoo.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

Housing Ministry silent on reason for GGMC $3B loan The recently signed $3B Loan Agreement between the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) seems to be a mere smokescreen. Reliable sources have confirmed to Kaieteur News that this money is part of a deal at this point, to help fund government’s election campaign which is expected to step up pace in the coming weeks. Negotiations are even expected to benefit some GGMC Board members and employees. One official said that this is the first time the Commission has entered into a loan agreement with any state agency and it is

…speculation rife that it’s for election campaign “abnormal” for such to occur. This publication was also informed that this move, especially leading up to the May 11 election has sparked some amount of controversy among staffers at the Commission. GGMC employees for several weeks had been picketing the Commission demanding the approval for the negotiated increases in salaries and wages. Only last week, an agreement was met and strikes were called off. Workers who spoke with Kaieteur News yesterday morning said that they find it absolutely “absurd, disrespectful, in fact a slap in

Boodoo would be unethical... From page 11 between Boodoo and Opposition-aligned Commissioners on a number of issues, including the manner in which votes were tallied and presented in the 2011 General and Regional Elections in which the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic lost the majority. On Monday, Dr. Mangal handed in his resignation to GECOM, reportedly citing illhealth. Mangal is said to be in his eighties and was the longest serving Commissioner. He was one of three PPP/C Commissioners on GECOM.

In addition to the Chairman, the law also provides for the appointment of six members of the Commission with three appointed by the President. The remaining members are appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition after consultations. GECOM sets policy for voter registration, maintains the voters’ list and administers all national, regional and local government elections within the legislative framework. These appointments however, are based on the prerogative of the President.

the face, that they can all of a sudden agree to approve monies for some Housing project when only the other day, it took them so long just to increase our wages and salaries.” “We are the ones who have been here with them for several years but they hesitate and want to hold a set of discussions. We know very well that money is not just for any housing project. We aren’t stupid,” one senior staffer articulated. Meanwhile, the source said that such a substantial amount of money should not have been given to the agency. But it is the GGMC Board of Directors that is responsible for making decisions regarding policies and how monies are approved, dispersed and expended. The source said, too, that Board member Patrick Harding was not in agreement with the Loan and that it was the Chairman, Clinton Williams who pushed for it to be approved. Calls to Williams yesterday did not prove to be too helpful as he informed this newspaper that he is not in a position to answer any question regarding the loan. Other officials at GGMC also told Kaieteur News that they expressed to the Chairman that they were disappointed in the decision made by the Board. They felt that by such an action, Williams invariably placed his credibility on the line.

Another reliable source who was also part of the Loan Agreement deal said that while some members of the Opposition questioned whether the arrangement was illegal or not, it would not have been allowed to go through if its legal department thought otherwise. “It does not contradict our laws,” the official added. The Official said too, “Cabinet has taken monies from the Commission’s coffers before. This is not the first time. There have been many other occasions but you have to consider the makeup of the Board. There are some private persons and then there are those who represent government agencies such as Forestry and Natural Resources but even if one person objects, it is dependent whether most of them agree. And of course, who objects when the government passes on an instruction for x amount of monies to be given to wherever?” The official was then

asked about claims that Harding had objected to the deal but the source declined to comment on that matter. The source nonetheless emphasized that the Board was “excited” to jump on the Loan Agreement because the interest rate of five percent “is a sweet deal. Even the Banks don’t offer that.” Based on investigations, Kaieteur News discovered that GGMC is also trying to negotiate some lands for employees of the entity. On Thursday, the Commission via a joint statement with the Housing Authority indicated that a Loan Agreement on the $3B was signed. GGMC said that the submission of an investment proposal by the CH&PA this month stated that the monies will be loaned for a period of one year and will be used for the development of the housing sector. The Board of Directors of the Commission, it said, met and deliberated on the proposal submitted. It was noted that the interest rate being offered by CH&PA was five percent which was 3.2 percent more than what was currently being earned via the

commercial banks and other investment options open to the Commission. The parties involved articulated that the loan is for a period of one year with interest calculated using the reducing balance. In the event CH&PA fails to repay the entire amount by the deadline, the Commission has the right to increase the interest rate by seven percent. GGMC said that at the level of the Board of Directors, it was agreed that the investment proposal was financially prudent and sound. And as such it was agreed to grant the loan subject to the terms and conditions enshrined in the Loan Agreement and any additional guarantees required by the Commission. It claimed, also, that the CHPA project is pivotal to the realization of the G overnment of Guyana strategic target of allocating 30,000 lots under the Adequate and Affordable Housing Programme in order to maintain momentum in the provision of service land in several areas on the East and West Demerara.

Boat accident leaves captain dead, several injured …search launched for missing man, boy, 7 A boat accident in the Tumatumari area, Region Eight, has left one dead and several injured. Up to press time, a seven-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man were still listed as missing. Reports indicate that about 23:30 hours on Friday night a boat with seven passengers encountered mechanical problems while navigating the area in the vicinity of the hydro plant on the Potaro River. The vessel reportedly drifted backwards and headed over the Tumatumari waterfall which is averaged to be about 35 – 40 feet in height. Reports state that the body of 23-year-old Captain, Dennis Williams has been recovered, while two remain missing. Those missing have been identified as seven-year-old Jaeden Pereira of Micobie, Region Eight and 20-yearold Levi Isaacs of Monkey Mountain.

The injured are Sylvia Pio, her brother Crawford Pio and Clemson Andrew all of Micobie and Carl Joseph of Lethem. Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Potaro/Siparuni (Region Eight), Ronald Harsawack said that a search and rescue operation has been launched in the area. He explained that the search team, comprising of three boats from neighbouring villages and one provided by the administration, are currently combing the river from the area just below the waterfall to the mouth of the Potaro River. He said that the Regional Administration has offered resources to the village for the search and rescue efforts. According to him, the four persons rescued have suffered cuts, abrasions and other injuries. They were treated at the Micobie Health Center.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

GGMC has a history of loans to Govt. agencies, Ministries The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has defended its recent $3B loan to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) in the face of criticisms from members of the political opposition and charges that such a move was against the laws of the Commission. O p p o s i t i o n L e a d e r, David Granger, had said on Friday, that he felt this approval was not only out of order but outside of the law. He said that his understanding is that the rules governing the expenditure of GGMC’s funds are clearly defined and that they are only supposed to be used for activities which can advance the work of the Commission. Granger had said, too, that it is outrageous that state funds which do not go into the Consolidated Funds could be used improperly for such a speculative matter in the housing sector. He said that it is of course part of the lawlessness that usually takes place under the current administration. But GGMC insists that

the Loan Agreement with CHPA is undoubtedly legal. It said that Sections 10 to 19 of the GGMC Act provide the legal framework for the Commission to undertake the granting of loans. It highlighted that Section 10 states, “Subject to such conditions as it may deem fit to impose in particular cases the Commission may, out of its funds and resources, make loans in accordance with the provisions of this Act in that behalf, in the performance of its functions”. The Commission stressed that as it relates to the Commission’s functions alluded to in the latter part of Section 10; Section 4 of the Act clarifies these functions. It pointed out that specifically, Section 4 (1) (f) of the Act provides the Commission with the latitude to undertake activities that would further the business of the Commission and the promotion of its functions by stating “to carry on all activities, the carrying on of which appears to the Commission to be requisite, advantageous or convenient

Chairman of GGMC’s Board, Clinton Williams for, or in connection with, the exercise of its functions”. It emphasized too, that the decision to provide a loan to the Housing Authority was done purely as an investment opportunity given that the rate offered was five percent; 3.2% greater than the rate currently enjoyed at the commercial banks. In addition, it said that it was seen as another opportunity to contribute to the growth

and development of the nation. More significantly, the Commission said that the granting of this loan should not be seen as an isolated case where monies are being expended or utilized to support other agencies and the development of the country. It sought to make known that the Commission has a history of providing financial assistance to other entities. It cited numerous cases where it gave monies to agencies over the 2012 to 2015 period. The Commission gave $932,291for rehabilitation works to the Bartica Pavilion, to the procurement of the Continuous Operating Reference Station (CORS) at a cost of $80,039,806 for the implementation of eight stations over a period of six months which will facilitate real time GPS surveys for all agencies and Ministries; it transferred $70M in 2013 to the Office of the Prime Minister to improve electricity supply at Mahdia, Port Kaituma, Mathews Ridge and Moruca. In this regard, $25 M was allocated to Mahdia Power & Light Inc., $25M to Port Kaituma Power & Light Inc and $20M to Mathews Ridge Power & Light Inc.

Last year, GGMC also funded the restructuring of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at a cost of USD$240,000. It had also transferred $2B to the National Protected Areas Trust Fund that year. It said, too, that financial support to the tune of USD$450,000 was also given to Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development while it also transferred $1B to the National Treasury. Apart from the $3B loan it recently granted, it had provided to the Ministry of Public Works the sum of $756,745,475 for the undertaking of Road Works in 2012; $3,136,680 for remedial road works to ensure that it is safer for travel by way of reducing its slope; payment of $288,309,350 to the Ministry for more rehabilitation of roads in 2012 and the transfer of $61,418,000 to the Ministry o f P u b l i c Wo r k s f o r emergency works under its Hinterland Programme. Still in the category of its contributions to the Public Wo r k s M i n i s t r y, t h e Commission also transferred $21,065,925 for rehabilitation works conducted to airstrips at Ekereku Bottom (Region 7), Lethem (Region 9) and Imbaimadai (Region 7), $25,763,826 for the rehabilitation and widening of the road from Mathew’s Ridge to Baramita, Northwest District, and $31,374,288 for the rehabilitation of the Arakaka to the M4 (Manikura Junction) to the M2 (18 Miles) Road. It cited that it also paid the said Ministry $35,576,056 for contractual road works in Tamakay; $89,691,706 for the rehabilitation of the road from Brain Sucre Junction to Tumatumari and Micobie Village, Region Eight; and $37,595,974 for the Hinterland Road Programme

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

to facilitate the rehabilitation of the Ituni-Kwakwani Road. Other contributions were “Rehabilitation of the road from Tamakay to Ottomung Head and Tamakay Junction to Puruni Roadway at a cost of $169,056,450, rehabilitation of the road from Brian Sucre Junction to Blackwater at a cost of $329,099,606; the payment of the sum of $168,478,322 to the Ministry of Public Works to cover variation/additional works for the Karasabai-Monkey M o u n t a i n R o a d Rehabilitation; the payment of the sum of $18,661,000 to the Ministry of Public Works to facilitate the rehabilitation of the log bridge 18 miles before Kurupukari and Funding of emergency rehabilitation works from Itaballi Landing to 12 miles before Itaballi at a cost of $79,450,000.” Funding to the said Ministry was also provided for emergency rehabilitation works from 12 miles before Itaballi to Puruni Landing at a cost of $60,243,410; rehabilitation of Mahdia Internal Roads and emergency works at a cost of $35,888,775 in 2013; emergency rehabilitation works for the road from To r a p a r o J u n c t i o n t o Pappyshou Landing which was to the tune of $54,026,940. Others were for rehabilitation of the Aremu Road - Phase 1 costing $129,475,767 in 2013 and continued in 2014, construction of a Bridge at Tiger Creek costing $8,541,800 in 2013, rehabilitation of the road from Matthew’s Ridge to Baramita costing $60,000,000, rehabilitation of the road from Arakaka to the M4 (Manikura Junction) to the M2 (18 Miles) Road costing $73,000,000 and the rehabilitation of the Puruni Road costing $47,100,000. The Mines Commission said, too, that $17,500,000 was provided for the rehabilitation of the Oku Bridge and$65,000,000 for the rehabilitation of the Tamakay Road.

Sunday February 01, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Vomiting and Diarrhea: Dr Zulfikar Bux shares ‘The do’s and don’ts’ We have all had the displeasure of having an episode of vomiting or diarrhea, or both. It’s not the best feeling in the world and can make our lives very uncomfortable. Medication, illicit drugs, pregnancy and other medical conditions are less common causes of vomiting and diarrhea, but our main focus today is on gastroenteritis caused by viruses and bacteria. Gastroenteritis is defined as inflammation of the stomach and intestines, typically resulting from bacterial toxins or viral infection and causing vomiting and diarrhea. It can be mild or more severe which can lead to dehydration and even death. It accounts for 1.4 million deaths worldwide yearly and therefore should be taken seriously. Children are more prone to the debilitating effects of gastroenteritis and most of their complications arise from dehydration. Dehydration occurs when there is too little fluid in your body causing inefficient blood circulation. When one vomits or has

diarrhea, they are constantly losing fluids which if not replaced, will lead to dehydration. By knowing what to do and what not to do, you may be able to ride out an episode of vomiting and diarrhea. REHYDRATEYOURSELF This is the most essential component of improving your outcome from an episode of gastroenteritis. Do not use water alone. Your body also needs essential electrolytes (potassium, sodium etc.) that you would have lost during the vomiting or diarrhea. Coconut water, Pedialyte, Gatorade, Oral Rehydration Salts etc. are alternatives for rehydration that have electrolytes. Once you have vomited, rest your stomach for an hour before you try rehydrating. Once you start drinking, start with sips and gradually increase your amounts over time. Do not drink too much fluid at once as it may make you nauseated and cause you to vomit. AVOID SWEET AND SOUR Sour foods tend to make your stomach more acidic and can irritate it and precipitate

There is no end to the drive by young men to deprive honest people of their hard earned earnings. And to support them are the guns that they have managed to acquire. This development has not gone unnoticed by the law enforcers who are now developing a profile and an action that the society would find obnoxious. The police would mutter that

drastic measures are needed in drastic situations. ** Another fire is going to strike in the west. Fires at this time are going to be a normal occurrence, simply because people are becoming careless in their homes. This fire would leave nothing in its wake but a group of shocked and distraught people. ** News would break that a politician is engaged in child abuse leading to sexual assault. It is not surprising what money can do. Money is going to attract a young girl and money will silence the police when the dastardly act is exposed.

vomiting. Sweet foods tend to precipitate diarrhea since most of the causative virus and bacteria tend to thrive better in a sweet environment. Aerated drinks are both sweet and acidic, it is best to avoid them during this time. DO NOT USE ANTIBIOTICS Viruses are by far the most common cause of gastroenteritis. Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses and may even precipitate some gastroenteritis. The decision to use antibiotics during gastroenteritis should be made by a doctor who will determine if a bacterium is the cause and only then would antibiotics be warranted. AVOID OVER-THE-

COUNTER ANTIDIARRHEAL These may make you feel nice for a while but may complicate your gastroenteritis and make it worse. They tend to stop the diarrhea, but prevent your body from expelling the “bug” that is causing the diarrhea in the first place. This “bug” then has a chance of remaining in your intestines and multiplying and thereby re-presenting in a more severe and possibly deadlier form. WHEN TO SEE Y OUR DOCTOR Most cases of gastroenteritis go away on their own. Visit a doctor if the vomiting and diarrhea continues for more than a

day, or if you notice any signs of dehydration like: · Not urinating or yellow and little urine · Dry mouth · Crying without tears (children) · Fever over 102 F · Lack of energy · Irritable(children) · Soft spot on the top of baby’s head is sunken. · Blood in stool, or dark tarry stool Having a bout of gastroenteritis is definitely not one of the most fun times in one’s life. Knowing what to do and what not to do may be the difference between you overcoming the bout before it overcomes you. (Dr Zulfikar Bux is an

Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Vanderbilt University and Medical Center and holds the position of Head of the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department.)

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

Who killed teacher Melissa?

By Michael Jordan At around 11:30 hrs on Saturday, April 7, 2007, Tristan Grant, a student, went to the home of a school teacher at Lot 134 Hippani Oval in Retrieve, Linden, to show her a school assignment. The teacher was Tristan’s aunt; pretty, 25-year-old Melissa Anthony, who taught at Christianburg Primary. The lad called for his aunt, and after getting no response, he entered the open front door and got the shock of his young life. A woman’s partlyconcealed body lay on the floor near his aunt’s study, with the legs protruding from the doorway. Trying to remain calm, the lad walked over to the study and received another shock. Lying on the floor, in a pool of blood, and clad only in a blue sweater, was his aunt, Melissa Anthony. Someone had slashed her throat and also clubbed her to the back of the head. Despite her injuries, the teacher was still alive, though barely so.

Young Tristan bolted from his aunt’s home and headed for the Mackenzie Police Station. But by the time the police arrived, Mrs. Anthony had succumbed. Scouring the crime scene, detectives found that while the front door was ajar, there was no sign of forced entry. Some persons surmised that she had left the door open because she was expecting her nephew. Detectives found some of the slain woman’s clothing in her bedroom. They also observed a trail of blood leading from the victim’s bedroom to the study. The bed-sheet was also bloodstained while the room was in disarray, indicating that a struggle had occurred there. News of the quiet young teacher’s death shocked the neighbourhood. Melissa Anthony had no known enemies. Both she and her husband, Shane—also a teacher—were staunch Jehovah’s Witnesses. They had been married for about four years. But about an hour after Melissa’s death,

detectives turned up at Redwood Crescent, Linden, where Shane Anthony was holding classes, and invited him in for questioning. Mr. Anthony told them that he had left home at around 10:30 hrs to teach lessons. He said that Melissa was alive when he left home. Despite his protestations of innocence, Mr. Anthony was kept in custody. Meanwhile, detectives from the city joined in the investigation. A close male friend of Melissa’s told Kaieteur News that he had called her at around 11:00 hrs on the day she was slain. The friend sensed that something was amiss because of the way that Melissa had responded. This led her to believe that the killer was present when she made the call. As the investigation continued, police were informed that two cousins had heard sounds of fighting coming from the couple’s home on the day of the murder. Melissa’s husband received further bad news when detectives informed him that

the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had advised that he be charged with murder. But then, like a crime novel, the case of the murdered teacher began to take a series of interesting turns… WOMENATTACKED The first thing that happened was when police questioned the cousins who had allegedly heard sounds of fighting while passing the couple’s house. One of the cousins denied that he was in the location when the murder occurred. Detectives promptly took both cousins into custody. They also released Melissa Anthony’s husband a few days before he was to be charged. Eventually, the two cousins were also released after detectives failed to connect them to the crime. The second thing that happened was that a string of bizarre attacks on women began to occur in the bauxite community. A few weeks after Melissa Anthony’s murder, 29-yearold Annetta Persaud awoke in her Block 22, Wismar home, to find a man standing over her. She said that despite the darkness, she recognised him as a Wismar resident who was known for similar attacks on females. When Persaud tried to push him away, the intruder stabbed her in the right thigh. He then pressed the knife to Persaud’s throat while warning her to be quiet. Fortunately, a neighbour heard the woman’s screams and called out to her. This distracted the intruder who fled through the back door. She would later discover

that the man had fled with her bicycle and a bag containing $15,000. A few days later, Monique Dow, also of Wismar, was also attacked, stabbed and robbed by a man who had sneaked into her home. Some days later, 25-yearold Linden resident Nadira Sahadeo, called ‘Cindy’ was in her kitchen when a man entered and attacked her. The intruder took Sahadeo to her bedroom where he tried to strip off her clothing. She managed to slash the man to the face with his own knife, but the man also stabbed her three times before fleeing with a gold chain and ring. Police later retrieved the suspect’s knife from Sahadeo’s yard. Persons who saw the fleeing man said he was tall, slim, and of African ancestry. Annetta Persaud gave a similar description of her assailant and said that he wore dark clothing. At first, suspicion fell on a young man with previous arrests for attacks on women from the area. He was questioned by detectives, but eventually released when it was established that he was ailing and apparently physically incapable of carrying out the attacks. In addition, the man was still in custody when one of the attacks occurred. Eventually, some detectives began to look at the spate of assaults and began to see a pattern in them and the murder of teacher Melissa Anthony. For one thing, if

Melissa’s husband is to be believed, his wife and all the other victims were attacked when their spouses were away. This coincidence suggested that someone was checking on their movements. Then in late October 2008, police arrested and charged a 17-year-old man from Wismar in connection with the two knife attacks on Annette Persaud and Monique Daw. He was subsequently remanded. According to some police sources, the suspect was also questioned about the murder of Melissa Anthony. He reportedly denied killing her. Meanwhile, some of Melissa Anthony’s close relatives are convinced that she was slain by someone she knew well, rather than the alleged Linden serial attacker. They say that some Lindeners know more than they are saying, but are reluctant to confide in the police. The relatives are urging them to do so. If you have any information about this unusual case or any other, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown office, or by telephone. We can be reached on telephone numbers 2258452, 22-58458, 22-58465, or 22-58491. You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s mjdragon@hotmail.com.

Sunday February 01, 2015

Kaieteur News

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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==

Do Caricom leaders prove that the white race is superior? Have you read a biography of the man who in a survey, the British people voted, even above William Shakespeare, as the most admired citizen in the history of the UK? When you read about Winston Churchill’s life, then you will see Churchill was a frenetic adherent to the theory of superior and inferior races. Churchill believed and spoke it that the Caucasian race was genetically superior, way above others. What did Churchill see to make him come to that conclusion? Why are there ongoing genetic studies that still propound that theory? Is there genetic evidence to support such a claim (see my columns; March 10, 2013 “Are white people superior to non-white: Is it in the genes?” January 19, 2009 “Genes, crime, journalism and broken codes” - May 25, 2014 - “A new book argues for genetic superiority among some races.”) The President of Guyana prorogued the elected Parliament. A British Minster

condemned it as an assault on democracy. Three white Ambassadors publicly denounced what President Ramotar did. And the EU put sanctions on Guyana. Then it was Caricom’s turn to respond. The Caricom Council of Ministers didn’t condemn this repellant denial of democracy. The Caricom Council didn’t remain neutral. The Caricom Council in fact accepted this assault on the right to elect a Parliament by the Guyanese nation. The Caricom Council said that the President was acting within the Constitution when he did so. To date, not one Third World country has criticized the PPP Government for its suspension of Parliament. These tiny politicians from little micro-states that the globe pays scant attention to, could only come up with the most idiotic explanation – the Guyana Constitution allows for the prorogation. One wonders how these tiny politicians will respond when you tell them that the constitution of Iran, Saudi

Arabia and Pakistan assigns the death penalty for apostasy. The constitution of several Arab countries awards death for adultery. Do the Caricom leaders accept this ancient barbarity even when it has constitutional sanction? How does the analyst explain this crass dismissal of democratic violation by the Guyana Government of the Caricom Council of Ministers? Why has the non-white leadership of the world behaved so insensitively to the denials of justice and freedom since the end of the Second World War, after the colonies became independent states? Is one explanation the genetic differences in the evolution of tribes? Do certain races more embody an altruistic, compassionate instinct than others? Let’s quote from Nicholas Wade’s book, “A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and Human History.” “Institutions are not just a set of arbitrary rules. Rather they grow out of instinctual

social behaviours such as the propensity to trust others, to follow rules, and punish those who don’t, to engage in reciprocity and trade or to take up arms against neighbouring groups. Because these behaviours vary slightly from one society to the next as the result of evolutionary pressures, so too may the institutions that depend on them. Evolutionary biology might have something to say about why some people live in modern states and others in tribal societies and why some nations are wealthy while others remain mired in poverty” (end of quote) Evolutionary biology might have something to say about why some people put more value on freedom and justice and others see cruelty and savagery as normal behaviour. Surely, Arab countries fall into this

category. When women are being stoned to death in Arab countries for adultery, large crowds gather and are encouraged to take stones and hit the brains out of the poor women. This happens in the real, modern world we live in. Policemen in the Third World are far more impertinent and uncouth than in any European country. No nonwhite country I know has better police attitude than Canada. Non-white countries treat women as objects and not humans. Non-white countries are happy to use extreme violence against homosexuals. Non-white countries seem to have little interest in lawful functions of fundamental institutions of state. The laws of non-white countries are harsher to marijuana users than any white nation.

Frederick Kissoon Is the Caucasian race, due to evolutionary biology, a more civilized species that has more instinctual make-up in the compartments of reason, logical thinking, compassion etc., than other race groups? Nicholas Wade’s book is not just your run-of-the mill stuff on evolution. The book makes some seriously persuasive arguments. When you look at the colonially trapped minds that sit in the leadership of the Caricom states, the temptation is there to accept that nonwhite people are an inferior tribe.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

Why young people will vote for APNU Young people, throughout Guyana, are gradually coming to understand how the People’s Progressive Party Civic – PPPC – has been fooling them for over two decades. They have realised how the PPPC cynically dawdled as the world celebrated the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding – IYY – during August 2010August 2011.

They have seen how the PPPC has ignored their legitimate aspirations for a coherent national youth policy that would give them hope for the future. They have heard how disrespectfully the President spoke to a young mathematics teacher at Aishalton Village, Rupununi, on 3rd December 2014. They have felt the impact of unemployment and a high cost of living.

Young people (15-24 years) and dependent children (0-14 years) constitute 69 per cent (264,096 persons) of the national population. About seven out of every ten citizens are classified as ‘young.’ The outcome of the forthcoming general and regional elections, inevitably, will be determined largely by the way that young people vote. Young people are the nation’s future but they face

monumental challenges. The large number of school dropouts, the unavailability of new job opportunities, the huge prison population (of which young people are said to comprise 75 per cent), the spate of suicides among adolescents and the rising number of teenage pregnancies are all signs of a desperate social predicament. The PPPC has failed young people and is robbing them of their future. Public schools are producing an increasing number of illiterate and innumerate young people. Failure rates at the annual National Grade Six Assessment examinations are astronomically high. The Ministry of Education reports that about 6,000 children drop out of our primary and secondary schools annually. The chronic crises and the current controversy at the University of Guyana are examples of the administration’s lack of concern for students and their education.

Unemployment is the central issue affecting young school-leavers. The PPPC administration’s disregard for measures to deal with the massive jobs crisis is already having dangerous consequences. Children who do not complete their elementary education satisfactorily will find it difficult to get jobs as adults. The majority of young university graduates, unable to find employment, remain under- or un-employed, or join the throng of thousands who emigrate every year. Young people suffer most, owing to the fact that school-leavers are inexperienced and have a long wait before they find their first job. Happy people do not kill themselves. Official data indicate that suicide became a serious public health issue in Guyana only within the last decade. Suicide is ranked seventh of the ten major causes of death. The suicide rate is approximately 20-25 per 100,000 persons in the population and it has been

consistent for years. Data indicate that suicide became the leading cause of death among young people 15-24 of age and the third leading cause of death among persons 25-44 of age. The PPPC has sowed the seeds of disdain for young people’s concerns and will reap a bitter harvest at the next elections. Young people know that the PPPC brazenly, annually and cynically has been announcing that a new National Youth Policy would be promulgated, but consistently it has failed to do so. The result has been that most young people continue to face a disheartening, jobless future. Young people will not vote for the PPP because that party in government has failed them. They will vote for APNU – the inclusive partnership, because that partnership will improve the standard of education, ensure their personal safety and introduce a genuine national youth policy that will guarantee “a good life for all”.

Sunday February 01, 2015

Kaieteur News

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MY COLUMN

The government never gave mega increases to workers Technology is really going places and it is taking me with it. A few years ago if I wanted to research a topic I had to rush to some library where there were tomes of Encyclopedia Britannica. Of course it meant some travelling and a lot of notetaking. The laptop was not as ubiquitous as it is today; the tools were mainly a tape recorder into which one would whisper in the library, or a notepad and a pen. But then the computer industry burgeoned and then came Google with information on just about everything under the sun. I now refer to Google whenever something would elude my memory or if I wanted to check something. So it was when I wanted to examine the claims by the government that it had increased wages and salaries by humongous amounts. Indeed, this is a communication ploy to make people feel that they are better off than they ever were. Of course, for years I have

been hearing that the government improved wages and salaries by hundreds of per cent. Old age pensioners were akin to millionaires with the money they got and the boast went on. Those figures were imposing, so I turned to Google. I found that when the Guyana Government built the Soesdyke-Linden Highway it did so at a cost of US$17 million. It built the Demerara Harbour Bridge at a similarly low cost. Today we hear that simple road repairs cost millions of dollars, much more than US$17 million. The government is spending some US$230 million to improve the West Demerara road which is about half the length of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. Similar checks revealed that the Pegasus Hotel was constructed for a fraction of the cost the country is spending to build the Marriott. The point here is that inflation has made its impact. Money no longer has the same value it has today. I

recently edited a feature on one of Guyana’s entrepreneurs and was shocked to see what $5,000 in 1976 would mean in today’s currency. Gunmen robbed the entrepreneur and he had to borrow and beg to replace what was taken. In his book $5,000 in local currency would be worth close to $15 million today. Could this man boast that his money has increased hundredfold? When I started working I earned a princely $96.50 less taxes back in 1966. I was able to help pay my mother’s rent and give her money to help with food while I supported myself at Bartica. The minimum wage today is nearly $40,000 per month, a far cry from what I received as a teacher back then. I surely cannot boast that the government has done fantastically for anybody by moving a salary of $96.50 per month to the $50,000 that is paid to an untrained teacher. There is a joke I still tell people. Back in 1979 I paid $24,000 for my house. Today I

cannot even find a shack that I could buy for that sum. In fact, when I replaced the eastern wall a few years later I spent more than $80,000. My bridge cost me more than the house did and painting it costs hundreds of times more. Is it that I indulged in luxury when I did those things? But then again, electioneering is something that one can never really understand. I recall Godfrey Wray buying a house in Bel Air Park for $200,000 back in the 1980s. For me it was a dream house. A few years later he sold it for $2 million. He can’t even buy a dilapidated house in the most depressed part of the city for that. He might get a government house lot. So I sit back and hear about the fantastic improvements the government talks of when it comes to wages and salaries. The very government sells a plot of land for house lot at a whopping $1.5 million. It is therefore

mindboggling that a government can ignore the effect of inflation unless it wants the simple-minded Guyanese to believe that they are so much better off, even as some live in squalor. Which of us can give a child a dollar to go to school these days? I was tempted to say 25 cents, but then I remembered that this latter sum is a matter of my imagination. In fact, it is so unimaginable that when I asked some reporters, all of them under 25 years old, to tell me how many cents are there in a dollar, not one could tell me. They had no concept of a cent. Beggars frown on $20 bills and with good reason. I surely do not make life better for a beggar who u s e d t o j u m p t o high heavens when he got a dollar back when, if I now give him $20. I am likely to have that piece of paper thrown back at me. Of course, there are things that depreciate; things like computers and external hard

Adam Harris drives which have storage capacities that were unimaginable a few years ago—in the days when a 10 megabyte storage was a big thing for an e-mail account. Who can recall getting a message that you did not have enough capacity to receive an e-mail? Not so these days. And so it was that people are clamouring for more money. In 1999 a tribunal awarded public servants a 50 per cent hike in their salaries. Two years later they were right back where they started. Don’t tell me about the whopping increases paid. My taxes also went up astronomically to help pay those increases of which the government boasts.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

Stemming the tide in Indigenous education By Nigel Hughes I have been privileged enough, since my entry into politics, to have visited several indigenous communities in Regions 1, 2, and 9. There has been a disturbing recurring trend in the quality of education provided to our indigenous brothers and sisters by the State which not only embarrasses us as a nation, but perhaps has exposed our subliminal acceptance of the fact that it is alright to afford our indigenous compatriots a different and lesser quality of education than the rest of the Republic. The statistics of the results of the CSEC examinations for Region 9 for 2014 are quite chilling. The average pass rate was 28% for students who actually attended secondary school. No one in the Region

apparently achieved a Grade 1 in Mathematics. Yes, not a single student in the entire region. If the above figures are stunning, consider that less than fifty per cent of the children who take the National Grade Six Assessment in the Region actually qualify for secondary schools. A fortnight ago I visited Akawini, an indigenous community on the Pomeroon River, not more than fifty miles from Charity. It is actually located in Region Two. There is no secondary school in Akawini. The students who sit the National Grade Six Assessment can in theory qualify for any of the top schools in the country or in Region Two. Among the top schools in Region Two are Anna Regina Multilateral and the famous Abram Zuil Secondary. Both of these schools are located

in the same region and are no more than seventy-five miles away. Not a single student from Akawini Primary has qualified for either of the top schools in Region Two for in excess of fifteen years. Less than 30% of the students from Akawini Primary annually matriculate for Charity Secondary and the rest who sit Grade 6 exams and pass, attend Wakapow Secondary. Of those from Akawini who attend Wakapow and Charity Secondary Schools, more than fifty per cent drop out before they reach the age of fourteen, for various reasons including poverty, expensive transportation, or lack of adequate accommodation in the area. The dormitories which are provided have a House mistress who is tasked with managing over four hundred students. As one resident put

it “dem girls is come back home with a bump�. In a word, most of early young teenagers in Akawini are at home and out of school in their community by 13, and remain there until they are old enough, i.e. 15 years old, when they take up low-level employment in the gold and forestry sectors. Akawini has two relatively modern concrete structures where the current primary schools are located; it also boasts two additional modern concrete buildings which are vacant and unused. One of the buildings is a brand new school never occupied and the other, a relatively contemporary home for the non-existent teachers for the vacant school building. Not unsurprisingly, they are both surrounded by overgrown bushes and weeds. Even the wood ants have found preferred accommodation in the building. There is only one trained teacher in Akawini. There is no internet in the entire community. How is it possible that in the same region which produces outstanding students who sit 18 subjects at CSEC and secure 18 grade ones, that not a single child from Akawini can actually make it through the front door of the same school? The same story is repeated in the deep south of Region 9. It must now be clear that the issue of educating all of our peoples lies not in providing new structures and using the benchmark of the twentyeight years of a previous regime. The issue must be,

how can we as a country, remotely accept what in effect amounts to a system of educational apartheid. The prospects of the average child growing up in an indigenous community securing a moderate level secondary education must be less than 20%. How do we change this? For starters, leaving the development of education to the experts rather than subject to political competition. At the risk of being repetitive, education is too critical a component of equitable and sustained development to leave the policies and programmes subject to competing political interests. The provision of an adequate supply of trained teachers to the indigenous community should be seen as a priority, given the nationally embarrassing figures above. I am keenly aware that this is easier than it sounds, as several of the qualified teachers are reluctant to venture into remote communities to teach. The incentive regime for trained teachers who are prepared to take these assignments must be improved. The provision of internet and computer labs to schools is required so as to ensure that every family holds the promise of greater educational benefits for the students. There is an urgent need for the provision of transportation, in addition to adequate and appropriate housing facilities for children who must leave their

Nigel Hughes

communities for better educational opportunities. Perhaps the time has come when our experts should explore the possibility of teaching primary level students in indigenous communities in their own language where possible. Our national benchmarks for education must be prospective and not the contrary, as seems to be the case whenever one dares to challenge the present order of things. The apparent current emphasis on structures should perhaps be deprioritized in favour of the imparting of critical thinking methods and skills. The disservice to the indigenous community in education must be elevated to a national crisis level. We are way too far behind in the region to further sacrifice our most precious commodity, the minds of young people, at the altar of politics or optics.

Sunday February 01, 2015

SUNDAY SPECIAL GUYSUCO FAILS TO PAY $1.5B IN CONTRIBUTIONS TO NIS The financial troubles of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) continue to worsen and there seems to be no end in sight. There is confirmation that the stateowned company has been deducting monies from workers but now accumulatively owes over $1.5B to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). Union officials and GuySuCo officials confirmed that the issue has been engaging the attention of both the corporation and NIS for several months, after Government agreed that time would be given to pay the money. However, with over 16,000 workers, the issue has become a major thorn. There is growing worry about benefits which could be endangered because of the non-remittance of the NIS payments which by law are mandatory for employers. Leader of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, confirmed that his party has been receiving complaints from its members who are employed by GuySuCo. JUSTICE RAMLAL CHALLENGES GOVT. OVER DENIAL OF TAXFREE SALARY

Kaieteur News

and Chief Justice (Ag), Ian Chang. He says that he and other judges were denied but the Chancellor and the Chief Justice benefitted, after a special law change was made to accommodate them. He now wants compensation and a declaration by the court that he has been denied equality before the law and the equal protection and benefit of the law by the denial of the exemption from income. The case was filed last week against the Attorney General, who is the legal advisor for Government. Among other things, the Judge is asking the court to declare that Section 13 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 81:01 is discriminatory against him as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature and is unconstitutional, illegal, void and of no effect. According to court documents, he wants a declaration that the continued deduction of income tax from his judicial income is in effect an unlawful alteration of the terms and conditions of him being a Judge. Justice Ramlal is also requesting that a declaration be made that he is entitled upon retirement to a monthly pension and retirement benefits of not less than seven-eighths of his salary at the time of his retirement. MONDAYEDITION

- says Chancellor, Chief Justice unfairly benefitting A sitting judge has filed a court action that is likely to spark high interest. Justice William Ramlal, who was appointed to the Supreme Court of Guyana in July 2000, wants the court to rule that he is entitled to an income tax-free salary, as is currently being enjoyed by Chancellor (Ag), Carl Singh

BANDIT KILLED IN FOILED GAS STATION ROBBERY - another wounded in attack at Popeye’s A young bandit was shot dead at around 21.00 hrs Sunday after robbing a female pump attendant at a La Bonne Intention service station in the presence of several shocked

customers. The suspect, identified as Marvin King, was slain by the owner of Choke Service Station—who owns a licenced firearm—as he and an accomplice were fleeing on a motorcycle with money that they had grabbed from the hapless female staffer. King was found dead on the LBI Railway Embankment, while his accomplice escaped, leaving the motorcycle behind. Police impounded the motorcycle at the Beterverwagting Police Station, as well as a car that the fleeing men had reportedly tried to stop in their escape bid. The ranks also retrieved some bloodstained clothing from the scene. Meanwhile, another bandit, identified as Nicholas James, 23, was shot in the buttocks during a robbery attempt at the Popeye’s fast food establishment on Vlissengen Road. James was wounded by a policeman who was at the scene.

country. The lawyer reminded that his party has spoken at length about the massive scale of financial corruption that has taken place under the current administration and emphasized that once a new party takes over, “house cleaning or a national cleanse” is in order. Ramjattan said that while the country is in a state where it is “severely damaged by the PPP/C’s corrupt practices”, the first step of an AFC-led government would be to ensure order and provide a fresh start for the electorate. Ramjattan charged that those “who sit at the helm of financial lawlessness” will be dealt with accordingly. “We will send them to jail. And you can expect that of an AFC-led government,” he added.

PPPDEFAULTERS WILL BE JAILED UNDERAFC LED GOVERNMENT – RAMJATTAN

The Caribbean Secondary Education Certification (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) examinations set for May 11, 2015 have been rescheduled. Moreover, the examinations scheduled for May 11 and May 12, 2015 will now be written by local candidates on June 15 and June 16, 2015 respectively. This means that local candidates will be sitting a number of examinations weeks after their Caribbean counterparts. The announcement was made by Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, during a press conference at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston,

The Leaders of the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) are highly optimistic that they can emerge victorious at the May 11 General and Regional Elections. But how much “housecleaning” would the PPP/C’s successor have to do before the nation can truly feel the effects of a new party’s policies and programmes for progress? AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, in a recent interview, said that he is most confident that an AFC-led government will be taking over Guyana but he is of course worried about the state of the

TUESDAYEDITION CXC EXAMS SHIFTED TO FACILITATE MAY 11 POLLS

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Ronald Balgobin Georgetown, on Monday. The move was employed to counter concerns regarding the fact that the CXC examinations as well as General and Regional Elections were scheduled for the same date. MANACCUSED OF IMPERSONATING TRAFFIC POLICE, ARRESTING DRIVERS A man who impersonated the police and made a number of arrests and fleeced a number of persons in Berbice, gave his name as ‘Detective Sergeant Singh’. He is now facing jail time. Ronald Balgobin, called “Sergeant Singh”, 20, of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara and of Lot 35 Reliance, East Canje, Berbice, on Monday, appeared before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Whim Magistrate’s court on two charges. Balgobin was charged with impersonating a cop and collecting money under false pretence. He was not required to plead to the charges. He was subsequently granted bail in the sum of $40,000 on each offence. The man told investigators that he once worked at the Demerara Bank as a security agent. The man who recently arrived in Berbice, claimed to be ‘Sergeant Singh’ and told unsuspecting persons that he was recently transferred from Demerara. He was arrested by alert police officers in Berbice after fleecing a number of persons.

government on the Chinese interest in the fishing sector, the Administration is in receipt of a mega US$70M (approx. G$1.4B) proposal by a Chinese company wishing to cash in on the country’s local fishing grounds. On September 24 last year, when Kaieteur News had asked Agriculture Minister Leslie Ramsammy about the Chinese fishing interests, he told the publication that the foreign nationals were in the country assessing the industry, but they had not made any proposal. He said that they were hoping to do so before leaving Guyana. However, a proposal from Chinese company Fuzhou Hongdong Pelagic Fishery Co. Ltd. to the Agriculture Ministry dated September 18, last, shows that the foreigners want 30 fishing licences to conduct “fishing, cold storage, processing and trade activities.” If approved, the Chinese company will conduct its activities under the Hongfeng (Guyana) Fishery Development Co. Ltd., which will control some 30 fishing vessels and one or two auxiliary vessels. Fishing methods would include drift net, trawl and set net fishing. They plan to construct cold storages, processing plants, ice plants, fuel tanks, fishing port and office building, accommodation and other supporting facilities. MARRIOTT DELIBERATELY STEALING EMPLOYEES FROM LOCAL HOTELS – BADAL

WEDNESDAYEDITION CHINESE PROPOSE US$70M JOINT FISHERY PROJECT …but local operators’ concerns still not addressed Amid existing concerns of “depleted” fish resources and no definite word from the

Robert Badal, owner of Pegasus Hotel and a leading investor in the industry, is calling on Marriott Hotel to stop poaching employees from local entities. He is also asking President Donald Ramotar to disclose to the nation details of the 500 Continued on page 37

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

Sunday February 01, 2015

From page 27 new jobs he promised that Marriott Hotel would be creating, in an attempt to justify the US$57M being spent. Badal disclosed that all of the executive management personnel recruited by Marriott are foreigners. “In recruiting lower level staff, Marriott is poaching staff from reputable local businesses in Georgetown including the Pegasus Hotel. One city hotel has even banned Marriott Hotel’s officials from entering its compound because of unethical practices in pouching its employees.” The businessman disclosed that Marriott is tempting its employees with much larger salaries which are being covered not by Marriott but the Guyanese taxpayers. “In addition to generous fiscal concessions of a tenyear holiday of no corporate tax, no withholding tax, no property tax, no tax on consumables and capital renewal, the Government is now paying for salaries of well-paid expats and other staff. This puts all hotels in Georgetown at a highly uncompetitive position,” Badal said. The businessman pointed out that local hotels have invested their own money with bank financing and have over the years contributed significantly to tax revenue of the local economy, earning foreign exchange and creating employment. THURSDAY EDITION FUEL REDUCTION… GPL SET TO LOWER RATES As oil prices continue to fall on the world market, Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is set to reduce electricity rates, Government announced Wednesday. Speaking at his weekly

Kaieteur News

post-Cabinet press briefing, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, disclosed that the power company seems “favorably disposed” to recent calls by President Donald Ramotar to reduce rates. There have been increased calls for Guyana to benefit following the world market price drop which fell from US$80 per barrel in recent months to below US$50. Government recently announced that the stateowned distribution company, Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) has dropped its prices after taxes were reduced by 30 percent by the administration. GUYSUCO BOARD DRIVES COMPANY FURTHER INTO THE GROUND - NAACIE JOINS CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT INQUIRY The calls are mounting for an independent inquiry into the operations of the beleaguered Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). On Wednesday, the corporation’s second union, the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), said that it can no longer tolerate the situation which has seen one bad decision after another by the board and management. “It is against that litany of poor Board level and management decisions and all their consequential woes for the sector that NAACIE throws its unstinted and categorical support for the call for an urgent Commission of Inquiry into Guyana’s besieged sugar industry, as mounted by the major union in the sector, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU).” The union, which represents mainly office

workers at the corporation, said 2014 was the year with the second lowest production in the last 24 years. “Senseless pre-harvesting of pre-ripened cane causing poor quality production, also compromised quality and production potential of the 2015 first crop.” The union also criticised management saying that it made a “fundamentally flawed”, “unprofessional economic” decision to reject a three-year contract from its European customer, Tate and Lyle, in late 2012. GuySuCo settled for a mere one-year agreement “resulting in significant financial loss to the sugar corporation for 2013 to 2015 inclusive.” FRIDAYEDITION CASH JET PILOT DEPOSITED OVER US$6M IN BANK ACCOUNTS - Authorities seize US$440,000; target two planes, Lexus, three properties A Guyana-born pilot arrested in November with over US$600,000 in cash hidden in his jet is facing major troubles with his properties and bank accounts. Not only is Khamraj Lall charged in Puerto Rico, a US territory, with smuggling bulk cash, but the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has gone after 14 bank accounts, his Lexus car, and two planes, including a jet that he uses in a private service that he operates in Guyana. Two weeks after he was arrested in Puerto Rico, US tax authorities on December 8 filed a civil case in New Jersey. They were able to seize over US$442,743.59. This is in addition to the US$600,000 that was found on the jet in Puerto Rico, and which is subject to seizure too. Investigators, apparently working on information,

started tracking Lall’s deposits to accounts held at Wells Fargo, Citibank and JP Morgan and found startling evidence that between April 2011 and September 2014, the pilot and family members deposited an astounding US$6,324,411.41 (G$1.3B). There were over a thousand transactions. Authorities later seized cash from 14 of these accounts. The IRS believes that a scheme was devised where Lall and others deliberately deposited less than US$10,000 each time in attempts not to trigger suspicion by banks which are mandated to report transactions above that amount. Lall’s wife, Nadinee and mother Joyce, were named in the transactions. PILOT DELIVERS 14-YROLD’S BABY IN MID-AIR A pilot had to employ all his first-aid knowledge to assist a teenager in delivering her baby in mid-air while flying from Aishalton to Lethem, Region Nine. This occurred on Saturday last on an aircraft belonging to the Rural Air Medical Services (RAMS). The teenager, who is reportedly 14 years old, and her baby boy, were transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) last Tuesday, after the infant developed breathing complications. The young mother is said to be “perfectly fine” while her baby is reportedly in stable condition, receiving the necessary care at the medical institution. Kaieteur News was told that the first-time mother was placed on board the aircraft at Aishalton in an advanced stage of labour, with her sister accompanying her. This was after medical personnel in her home village referred her to the better-

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equipped hospital at Lethem. During the flight to Lethem, the teen’s sister reportedly noticed the baby’s head protruding and cried out for help. With no other choice, the pilot was forced to turn his seat back a little and assist in delivering the baby in mid-air while attending to the plane’s controls at the same time. SATURDAY EDITION GGMC’S $3B LOAN TO HOUSINGAUTHORITY IS ILLEGAL - OPPOSITION LEADER The recent approval of $3B by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&AP) is already sparking a bit of controversy as political parties step up the pace for their election campaigns. Opposition Leader, David Granger, was very frank on the matter, Friday, at his press conference. The politician said that he felt this approval was not only out of order but outside of the law. He told members of the media that his understanding is that the rules governing the expenditure of GGMC’s funds are clearly defined. They are only supposed to be used for activities which can advance the work of the Commission. Granger said too that it is outrageous that state funds which do not go into the Consolidated Fund could be used improperly for such a speculative matter in the housing sector. He said that it is of course part of the lawlessness that usually takes place under the current administration. COUPLE NABBED WITH COCAINEAT CJIA VIP LOUNGE …police hunt former Assistant to Minister

Opposition Leader, David Granger

A couple was caught allegedly attempting to smuggle over 20 kilograms of cocaine through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) early Friday morning. Currently in police custody are Mahendra Ramsuchit and Guyana-born Canadian citizen, Robhina Basdeoram who is seven months pregnant. The police were reportedly on the hunt for a third person, Kenneth Jones According to reports, Kenneth Jones, former personal assistant to Junior Agriculture Minister Ali Baksh, presented a forged document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Airport Duty Office indicating that he was carrying out protocol duties for Ramsuchit and Basdeoram, who claimed to be relatives of a government official. On Friday evening Minister Baksh admitted to knowing Jones. He said that he knew the man as Kenrick. Jones worked for him, but left a few months ago. He claimed that he was authorized to use the VIP lounge. Reports are that Ramsuchit and Basdeoram were scheduled to depart from CJIA for Toronto, Canada via Fly Jamaica flight OJ 157. The discovery was made at the scanning point. It was there that a rank from the Police Narcotics Branch spotted the “bricks” that were concealed in the bag. Reports are that the cocaine was found in all four pieces of luggage being carried by the Guyanese national and Canadian citizen. Enveloped parcels were found stitched neatly into two laptop bags. Police officials, in collaboration with CJIA, have detained the alleged smugglers to assist with investigations.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

Sunday February 01, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Sunday February 01, 2015

Three months later…

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Mother of 14-year-old accident victim accuses police of pushing her around

The mother of a 14-year old boy who was killed last October in a road accident at Enmore, East coast Demerara, has lost all confidence in the police to guarantee her justice. Ancilla Peters’s son, Dexter, was struck down on October 17, last, by a vehicle while riding his bicycle on the Enmore Public Road. He was heading home from an errand. To date the driver of the vehicle has not been charged and Peters is not too trusting of the police to do what is right for justice to prevail. Her belief is based upon the conflicting reports she has received from the rank investigating the matter and from his superior. The police have given her the usual explanation, “The file on the matter is with the Director of Public

Prosecution.” An officer in the East Coast Demerara traffic department had told this newspaper that the delay was caused by the absence of the post mortem report. “The doctor was on leave and we had to wait until he came back from leave to get the PM. Then we could send the file to the DPP for advice,” the officer had explained. But a check with the DPP exposed the police untruth. And while Peters is mourning the loss of her second son and is increasingly becoming frustrated, the driver of the vehicle that killed the Buxton Community High School student remains free on station bail. Speaking with this newspaper yesterday, Peters said that she has been

seeking justice ever since she buried her son almost a week after he was killed. She said that while she was not at the scene of the accident, she is fully aware that justice has to take its course but the delay is worrying. To make matters worse, the police have not been too forthcoming. “When I was questioning them at first, they said to me that they will have to investigate and then send the file to the DPP; that was after the funeral and about eight days after the accident,” Peters told this newspaper. She explained that at the time the police were awaiting a statement from one of her relatives. This was subsequently provided. But weeks later, after hearing nothing from the police despite several telephone calls, Peters was

Govt’s denial of Telecoms pensioners’... (From page 16) then Government to privatise the GTC. At the time the workers were each issued with a letter stating “...you will be continued in employment with GT&T and your service will be treated as continuous and unbroken and the other conditions of service will not be less favourable than what you presently enjoy.” And based on that agreement, it was understood that the former employees, upon retirement from GT&T, should have received their pension and gratuity from the present Government through the Ministry of Finance, in keeping with the Pension and Corporation Acts.

But instead of receiving what was promised, the former workers continued to receive their gratuity as at December 1990 without interest and the Government minimum pension of $18,000 per month across the board. At a forum to raise concern about the state of affairs a few years ago, it was noted that an affected former technician for instance should have been receiving a monthly pension of at least $50,000, while a former Manager should have been the recipient of way over $100,000 per month. The union representing the workers has written several letters to the relevant

authorities to rectify the situation but to no avail. There have also been several protest actions to retaliate the non-payment of the owed monies. Yesterday’s forum which saw the attendance of a number of affected retirees was held under the theme “Striving for the Improvement of Pensioners’ Welfare and Wellbeing.” The forum was chaired by Vice President of the GTC/GT&T Pensioners Association, Reginald Sampson. There were remarks by its President Mr Donald Nurse as well as representatives of the G u y a n a Tr a d e U n i o n Congress, Lincoln Lewis and Norris Witter.

referred to the traffic officer who is stationed at the ‘C ‘Division (East Coast Demerara) Headquarters at Cove and John. That was in December last year and she was told that the file was sent to the DPP. Peters did not buy the explanation. “I keep questioning them. I asked, ‘how could this case be at the DPP when you don’t have the post mortem?’” Peters related. She left the police and went straight to the office of the DPP for an explanation. “When I get there, there was no case for my son.” Peters told this newspaper that earlier this year, an official at the DPP office contacted the Divisional Detective Officer (DDO), Superintendent Das, at Cove and John who reportedly confirmed that the file had never left the division. Peters said that the DDO invited her to revisit the Divisional Headquarters where he summoned the investigating ranks as well as the traffic officer, Inspector Mingo, to a meeting in her presence. According to the woman, to her surprise the police kept denying everything that they had reportedly told her about the file being with the DPP. “I said to Mr. Das that his officer is not telling the truth, that he keep on telling me one thing over and over …if I didn’t take this step, I would have never knew that

this file wasn’t at the DPP and it still at Cove and John,” Peters said. The DDO then undertook to ensure that the matter is dealt with in a timely manner but to date Peters has not heard from the police. “I haven’t called them back since then because they said they will call me…but I got no call from them,” she added. On October 17 last year, Dexter Peters was sent to a nearby shop to buy sugar and although he was reluctant, he followed instructions. According to his grandmother, the 14 year old was struck down around 14:30 hours that day while on his way back home. The driver of the vehicle which hit him rushed him to the GPHC, where he was admitted to the Accident and Emergency Unit and placed on life support. He succumbed while receiving treatment. His mother believes that the law is not being fair to her. “I feel that the system in Guyana is very messed up. They have no sort of laws that people should follow because if this had happened in another country it would have been dealt with severely and immediately,” Peters said. She said that she would not be surprised if the police call her and tell her that the man who killed her son will not be charged.

Dexter Peters Peters did not hold back what she thought about the police because as far as she is aware it does not take three months for a person to be c h a rg e d a f t e r a f a t a l accident, especially if the driver is in the jurisdiction and all statements have been obtained. “I feel that the policemen are not taking people’s lives seriously. People can do things to you today and tomorrow you see that same individual is out on the road.” Peters pointed to the high number of persons who lost their lives as a result of road accidents, noting that it might be a direct result of the lack of enforcement of the traffic laws by the police. “That is why people can be doing these things so often because there is no drastic measure to stop the carnage,” Peters told Kaieteur News. “If I had the power to take the law into my hands for my justice, I don’t know what I would have done because it doesn’t make sense depending on the laws o f t h i s c o u n t r y, ” t h e obviously devastated mother declared.

Sunday February 01, 2015

Kaieteur News

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GUYANA POLICE FORCE, YOU TORTURE YOU GET PROMOTED By Ralph Seeram I was going to write on a different subject today. I did not have in mind to write anything of a political nature. In fact, I don’t like to write on the politics in Guyana; it is depressing sometimes. So I was all set to write on a different subject when I read of the promotion of those two policemen who were involved in the torture of a teenager nearly five years ago. You may recall that the young man’s genital area was doused with methylated spirits and lit. The photograph speaks for itself. I was not only shocked that those two policemen were still in the force, but being promoted to boot. Believe me I got so angry reading this, and even worse when I read of all the nonsense emanating from the mouth of government officials justifying why these men are in the Police Force and being promoted. What does it take to get dismissed from the Guyana Police Force, if a policeman who is there to PROTECT and SERVE the public, there to see the law is upheld, goes and douses someone’s genitals with alcohol then proceed to light it? Is that not enough reason to dismiss those rogue cops instantly? Only the victim and God know the excruciating pain the

victim experienced. The screams he uttered were probably heard for miles around that police station. Yet today, nearly five years after, we are learning that those rogue cops, those inhuman beings, are still at their jobs in the Police Force. More so they are being rewarded with promotions. In any civilized society, those two from the Leonora Police Station would have been fired instantly and serving long prison time. But, we are talking about Guyana, a much uncivilized society in so many ways. Sorry to say that, but it’s the truth. So one of these inhuman beings (you will see me using the term to describe them often because that is what they are) got promoted from Constable to Corporal while the other inhuman being got promoted from Sergeant to Inspector, because they were “good boys” (my term) since they committed that dastardly crime. Read the nonsense coming from the head of the Police Service Commission, Omesh Satyanand, to defend and justify the promotions. I quote the report, “His only blunder was the act of torture in 2009 and there had been not another prior or previous to that”. Here he was speaking about the Sergeant.

“From our records, he has been an outstanding policeman for over two decades and the commission took that into consideration and the police administration reinstated him. Since that last incident, we have not heard of him committing any other offence contrary to the Laws of Guyana and that is what I would want the public to know.” Well Mr. Satyanand, many a person committed murder, rape, robbery etc, but were “good boys” before they committed their crime, so they should get a “free pass” from justice? These are the types of idiots the PPP has making decisions. I heard Cabinet Secretary, Roger Luncheon, giving his excuse. He explained that the Cabinet Ministers with the explanation given to them by the Police Service Commission (PSC) did not object. And I can fairly assume that it was the same with the President, since he presides over his Cabinet. Luncheon said that the report came from the PSC, and then the PSC Chairman Satyanand said that the recommendations came from the Police Commissioner Ag. Seelall Persaud. So now the blame is at Persaud’s desk. Hold the thought, because up came Attorney General Anil Nandlall, a man who likes to “cherry pick the constitution” and is now hiding behind the Constitution, to put the Government and Cabinet in the clear. “The Executive plays no part in the recruitment, promotion, appointment or discipline of members of the Guyana Police Force, other than the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner. Indeed, these

are matters from which the Executive is specifically insulated by provisions of the Constitution and the Police Act.” So he is essentially saying that the Cabinet is not to be blamed. Therefore,we are back to Commissioner of Police Ag. Seelall Persaud; he had to approve the promotions since the men were punished. Do you know what the punishment was? They received half pay while they were off the job during investigations. They were still being paid and that was their punishment. Only in Guyana. I am not making this up. Now I have a question for Mr. Nandlall, the man who knows all about the

Constitution. Since you had to pay out millions of taxpayers’ dollars to compensate the victim of the torture, is that a ground for dismissal? And further, did you make any effort to recoup the money from these two inhuman policemen? If that then 15-year-old boy, yes he was only 15 years old, was the son of President Donald Ramotar, or the son of any Cabinet Member, son of Dr. Roger Luncheon, son of PSC Chairman Omesh Persaud, son of Commissioner of Police Ag. Seelall Persaud or the son of any of the PPP big wigs, do you think these two inhuman beings for policemen would have still been in the force, much less

to receive promotion? I must say shame on all the above mentioned people, especially Seelall Persaud. The tortured teenager came from a poor family from the countryside, got no connections, so no one cared except, I must say, AFC Leader Ramjattan. If you wondered why he accepted his little compensation and did not turn up in court, just look at the forces he was up against. But that’s justice under the PPP. You commit an offence you get promoted. This is not the first case. Ralph Seeram can be reached at email: ralph365@hotmail.com or Facebook’

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Kaieteur News

SALON Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal and Sacha cosmetics. Call: 647-1773/660-5257

VACANCY

CAR RENTAL

Admin Assistant, within the vicinity of E.B.D & W.B.D. Must be well spoken & have 5 CXC subjects including: Maths & English. Email: snow198390@hotmail.com

PROGRESSIVE AUTO RENTAL: CARS & SUV FOR RENTAL-$4,000&UPPERDAYCALL: 643-5122, 219-3900, EMAIL: PRO_AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM

Certificate in: Cosmetology, nails, wig designs, early child care/ care for elderly classes commence February Call: 666-5241/ 619-7603 Bleach-Blue for body, face & hair, available in 1 lb bags for $4,000, discount for larger volumes - Phone 264-3310; 600-3927

International Cruiseline Purser officers, waitresses, waiters, cooks, receptionists, storekeepers, cleaners, electricians, carpenters, printers, cosmetologists etc Tel: 231-6296, 650-9880 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl, office assistant & handyman- Call: 695-9880; 669-4755 Accounts Clerk: Qualifications, 5 CXC subjects, DacEasy & QuickBooks @ August Beverages Ent, 27 Norton & Creen Sts. N/Burg St. Vincent Company seeking certified experienced electrician, IT Based security system an asset: send CV to IJSques@hotmail.com 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 Experienced hairdresser & sales clerk @ West Shore Plaza, 15 Public Road, Ruimzeight W.C.D - Call: 2691524 or 656-3561 Watchman wanted! $15,000 per week, Call: 640-6000 between 9:30am to 4:00pm Live-in housekeeper 35-45 yrs to care for infant Tel: 6978797 One Skillful joiner to work in workshop – Contact: 2191342 or 610-7005 Administrative Assistant 5 Subjects CXC, hotel knowledge/experienced will be an asset – Tel: 218-0221 Factory staff, GTI / GITC Male/ Female graduates preferred. Canter drivers, marketing assistant, Drivers Licence required. Tel. 266 5569 Salesclerk from ages 25-45 with experienced, appear with application @ Christine’s Variety Store @ Lombard St – Contact: 6268003/ 227-8529 One TM 6X6 Driver with mechanical experienced, one burner/cutter – Call: 6165510; 683-3480 FOR SALE/FOR RENT American Pool Table – Tel: 277-0578

Sunday February 01, 2015

FOR SALE 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 Mill Cut Lumber Kabukalli, Silverballi, Etc – Call: 6539752; 688-6579 Ice-cream machine, USA made, Taylor brand, floor model, similar to Igloo. All stainless steel Call: 624-3589, 601-5500 Cat 320 CL 2005 only 3800HRs sold as is, cash offer only, must go – Contact Azim: 660-3235

SERVICES

LAND FOR SALE

Fluffy, loving puppies – Tel:645-0240 or 629-3814

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.

House Lots in 1 of Guyana’s top luxury gated communities @ Eccles, 60X100 - $7.5M. (Special prices) - Call: 2272913; 683-3033

6500 Watts Construction Grade on wheel Honda Generator - $390,000 – Tel: 261-2988

Eccles: Commercial lots for sale at Eccles – Tel:227-2913. Cell: 683-3033

18 New Home lite Chain Saw, leather sofa, others too many to list – Tel: 261-2988

1. Parika, Peter Street; 2. Blankenburg, behind gas station lot size: 75’X76' (3 parcels)= Contact 650-0402

1-250 KVA Generator $3.6M, 1-110 KVA Generator - $1.8M, 1-9 KVA Generator $700,000 – Call: 223-8161

Located in Republic Gardens, Peters Hall, E.B.D. Interest person – Contact: 231-5359 or 672-7189 Parfaiete Harmonie - $1.5M & $4M (high income 110ftX50ft), Eccles - $3.5M, Providence -$4M, Tuschen $2.2M - Call: 675-7292; 652-2018

Complete Snapper Boats for sale – Excellent Condition – Contact: 6486815; 670-4459

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 television etc – Call: Abdul Electronics: 225-0391 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655, 683-8734 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, 223-4207

Guyana first 5 Star gated community, now opens, reserve your lot(s) & house . Call:609-0783 or seroj_26 @yahoo.com 2369.664 Sq/ft of land @ Victoria village, E.C.D- Call: 255-3437; 698-3678 Canaan semi-gated 42x80 $3.6M, 54x90 $4.3M, Charity Housing Scheme $2.8M, Kuru Kuru residential 100x200 $2.6M Call: 6234790,222-5116

Game Shop Equipment for sale - Call: 610-0808 Woodmizer industrial Resaw 75 KW generator and edger, perfect condition – Call: 6832575 Beautiful Tibetan Terrier pups for sale – Call: 696-7467 Used 10 sheet gas oven for bakery - Tel:611-4536; 677-5172 Original pools table cloth, balls, pocket cuestick, rubber, coinshute, chalk spring, chalk holder, coins– Call: 669-9927 Yamaha outboard engines, various sizes, tundra wheels, boat trailer – Tel: 220-1981, 698-7047 XBOX 360 with 3 games & controller, Nintendo 3DS with Pokémon Y & Black – Call: 683-8386

For all construction, carpentry, masonry, pluming, swimming pools, painting etc. Free estimates and plan Contact # 669-7376 ACCOMMODATION

One complete purified drinking water shop, 3 white tanks, ultraviolet, 1 amp, 1 pressure pump, wooden building 10X10 -Tel: 622-5986 Games for PS2, PS3, XBOX360, WII, consoles also available – Call: 6722566, 265-3232

DRESSMAKING

Inner Retreat Hotel Restaurant & Bar, Retreat Road Parika. Indoor / Outdoor bar in Picturesque setting – Phone: 260-4504; 685-6934

Jean offers courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral, cake decoration @ Barr Street Kitty - Call: 6702653; 618-1706

Aracari Hotel 24 HRs: AC, Cable, Wi-Fi, Restaurant & Bar, Pool & Gym, Salon & Spa & more. Rates from $45 Call: 264-2946-8

Tacoma Tundra Parts, BMW, Audi lights & visors, mud flap, Toyota Cami Engine Tel: 680-6374

Two barber/salon chairs – Call: 264-3070, 680-2191

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1-AT192 Carina (never work hire), automatic, fully powered, A/C, mags, price $925,000 Contact Rocky 2251400,621-5902 1 Isuzu canter open back (diesel engine), manual, short base, price $1.3M Contact Rocky 225-1400,621-5902 1 Toyota tundra extra cab (4x4), manual, fully powered, A/C, V6 (unregistered) price $3.2M Contact Rocky 6215902,225-1400 1-AT212 Carina (new model), automatic, fully powered, A/ C, mags, CD, alarm, Price $1.4M Contact Rocky 2251400,621-5902 1 Toyota 4 runner (right handV6) 4x4, automatic, fully powered, A/C, mags (5 doors) price $2.3M Contact Rocky 225-1400,621-5902 1 Toyota IST (immaculate condition), automatic, fully powered, A/C, mags, Price $1.5M Contact Rocky 2251400,621-5902 1 Toyota Tacoma (2006 model), just registered, automatic, fully loaded, V6, fully works up $5.2M Contact Rocky 225-1400,621-5902 1 Toyota Tacoma (2003 model) unregistered, manual, fully powered, 4x4, 3RZ engine, low milage $3.5M Contact Rocky 225-1400,6219502 1 Honda Fit motor car (4 door1330 cc), automatic, fully powered, A/C, mags, price $1.7M Contact Rocky 6215902,225-1400 1 Honda C.R.V (immaculate condition), automatic, fully powered, A/C, mags, crash bar, Price $2.3M Contact Rocky 225-1400,621-5902

VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Voxy to register in ‘B’ fully loaded never registered - $2.1M - Call: 6172891 1 Toyota Corolla PFF 9681, E-EE90 automatic $300,000, 1 town ace small bus PFF 6536, stick gear $460,000 Call: 6467339 1 Pitbull minibus, stick gear, BPP series, mag rims- $2.2M neg. Call: 673-7652 Toyota Hiace super custom mini bus in private, automatic, sunroof, custom seats, etc – excellent condition - $1.3M - Tel: 6122258 Nissan Titan 4X4; fully loaded; good condition; price $2.5M neg. – Call: 6201026 Blow Out Sale!!! Unregistered, fully loaded Toyota IST - $2,150,000, New Model Raum - $2,250,000 & Mazda Axela - $2,300,000Call: 643-6565, 226-9931 1 Toyota Landcruiser Prado PMM Series Call: 219-5354 Monday- Friday 8:154:15Pm & Saturday 8:151:15PM 1 Massey Ferguson, 135 in excellent condition – Tel:616-9505; 228-5220 Toyota IST PMM 755, 65 CF GSS 6715, 75 DAF GNN 5366, price negotiable – Contact Johnson: 613-5212 or 664-1030 1-10 Ton Ford Cargo, dump truck GEE 9144, 1 Spare Cab & Gear box, working condition - Price $1.4M - Tel: 663-0567; 684-8654 1 Honda 600 CCRR, Toyota AT 212, AT 192, Allion, Raum, EP71 Starlet, Alteeza, 1 Nissan Titan – Tel: 6445096; 697-1453

Lady driven, fully loaded Honda CRV, asking $1.1M negotiable Call: 624-3589, 601-5500

We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154

Toyota Ipsum 7 seats automatic, sun roofs, spoiler, roof rack, A/C, excellent condition - $1.375M – Call:612-2258

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 2 RZ, excellent condition, 15’chrome rims, alarm, remote start, CD deck, No accidents, price negotiable Call: 692-3880

CAKES & PASTRIES Enroll Now: cake decoration, cakes & pastry, floral arrangement, classes start February 9th – Contact Sharon:223-3303,672-8768; 612-4193

New arrivals – unregistered Bluebird Sylphy, 2007 Fielder, Premio (mags,tv), lowest prices around, showroom specs Call: 6926159,626-7478 AT 170 Toyota Carina – EFI, AC, Alarm, Mags - $650,000 Neg. – Call: 673-7652 (Continued on page 55)

Sunday February 01, 2015

AFC threatens review, sanctions... (From page 3) and was looking to raise US$27M more from a syndicated loan arranged by Republic Bank Trinidad. Another US$8M would have been coming from two Hong Kong businessmen. However, a court case filed by Member of Parliament, Desmond Trotman, blocking the transfer of the land, has held up those monies. The US$8M would have controversially allowed the two Hong Kong businessmen to gain a 67 percent control of the hotel. But that investment is held up by the court case. Government has remained silent where it found the monies to carry on construction as the hotel is set to open in a few months. The Opposition has been asking, but Head of AHI Winston Brassington, and Government, have refused to answer. The extravagant incentives and other benefits to Marriott have left other hotel operators extremely worried as the new 197-room hotel in Kingston, when it comes on stream this year, is more than likely to close them down. Last month, Brassington admitted that financing for the project was in jeopardy because of the court case filed by Opposition Member of Parliament, Desmond Trotman. Government said that the new hotel will be giving Guyana branding and attract high-end clientele.

Kaieteur News

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 5 Acre fruit bearing farm with small cottage sale of least option on Demerara River Tel: 261-2988 Properties for rent for business purposes only @ 23 Saffon Street Charlestown & 164 Alexander Street Kitty - Call Devon: 663-1876 & 678-5721 Five bedrooms house, 107 Lamaha Gardens & Large Parking; AC Rooms Hot & Cold, Purified Water System Call: 661-8908, 335-3590 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, , JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE - CALL: 675-0767, 639-8101 3 Bedrooms house at 19 Goedverwagting. E.C.D opposite Pradoville, 2 months deposit upfront. Call: 2229098 or 614-9516 for details Prime Banquet Hall & Catering Service for weddings/parties/ graduation etc @ Cotton Club, 44 Public Road Kitty – Tel: 231-1908/12; 693-3946 1 Huge building in Lethem Commercial Zone, ideal for stores - Call: 664-5401; 615-5343

WANTED One mechanic to work in the interior, must have experienced with Perkins & Cummins Engine – Call: 6916260 Counter Staff; apply @ Shanta’s, 225 Camp & New Market Streets. Experienced dispatcher and taxi drivers at Princess Hotel @ Providence – Tel: 2657076; 616-5419 Presser / Clipper, straight stitch/over edge machine operators, cleaner – Call: 2222541 (8:00am-4:00pm) (Mon-Fri). Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Farm workers – Call: 265-3586

TO LET House for rent @ Grove Housing Scheme with 3 bedrooms -$70,000 – Tel:6424429; 639-8056 Furnished 1 & 2 bedrooms apartments: AC, grilled, parking (walking distance to Caricom & UG) – Call: 6233404 or 222-6708 Furnished executive one or two bedroom suites in Diamond. Ideal for foreigners. Call 609 2466.

Prime business place to rent on Sheriff Street, only for offices – Contact: 627-6740 One business place to rent opposite Stewartville Primary and Secondary School, W.C.D - Tel: 613-5261

Three bedrooms concrete top flat in Cane View Ave, South Ruimveldt Gardens $90,000 - Call: 218-1949 Two bedroom house - Contact Joy: 218-1285; 627-8562

CAR RENTAL

2 Bedrooms upper flat $45,000 per month at Grove New Scheme, E.B.D - Call: 642-1956

Aidan’s Car & Pickup rental, cheap rate, low security – Tel: 698-7807; 690-6494

One bottom flat 2 bedroom apartment at Eccles – Call: 626-6480

DOLLY’S CAR RENTAL CALL: 225-7126/ 2263693 DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM/ WWW.DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL.COM

Spacious 2 bedrooms apartment for rental in Eccles AA, Call: 233-2136 or 6612508/223-5148

Well secured business place/ office place in Hadfield St. Wortmanville, Georgetown Call: 227-2973

MASSAGE Relax your mind and body with a soothing massage Tel: 674-8147 For a relaxing massage therapy experiences – Call Kneading Solace on 6284422, hot stone and sauna packages available.

(From page 54)

2 wash bay attendants Tel:660-4405 (serious enquiries only) Live in domestic must know to cook - $60,000, boarding & lodging free, age 30-50yrs Call: 610-5043 PROPERTY FOR SALE

One DJ/Selection to work at Club in Essequibo, salary range - $48,000 per month Contact: 226-9768 Experienced sale girls Call: 264-3355,668-3985, 683-7936

Paradise, E.C.D: Concrete modern 2 storeys, 4 bedrooms- 2 masters. Concrete fenced large lotCall: 255-3437; 698-3678

One female to work in sackette & bar, must know to cook, age 20-35yrs - Call: 6477432, 223-5798

Two storey; 2-3 bedrooms apartment at Tuschen H/ Scheme East Bank Essequibo – Contact: 650-2982

Live in driver/mechanic 3545 years for live in domestic Tel: 227-1813 (8-5pm) Persons to ironing & cleaner for office in Eccles – Call: 614-4358

Wash bay attendants, drivers license will be an asset - Tel: 629-5913 One domestic cleaner E.C.D Tel: 644-9802; 603-5416 1 Live in maid to work in Georgetown - Tel:691-6260 1 Cook to work in the interior Tel: 691-6260 One (1) porter, kindly apply with application to K&B Mining & Hardware Supplies, Lot 152 Church St, Alberttown - Tel: 225-0349; 222-2475 Experienced land dredge workers Tel # 675-9157 We buy all low income land; pay all legal fees – Tel:6757292; 652-2018 Urgently! One security (preferably male) to live and work at Sawmill in Parika – Contact Suresh: 600-1212 Experienced dispatcher @ West Side Taxi – Call: 6000688; 600-0699 Switch to Gulf Motor Oil, Dealer & Distributors wanted nationwide – Call: 260-2037 or email sales@two2brotherscorp.com Sales clerk to work @ Nanda’s Boutique 223 Camp St. Next to Shell Gas Station, apply with application Live in caretaker for sawmill at Linden Highway – Tel: 2612553

CATERING Catering for conference, retreats, weddings, re-union, family fun day and special events. Phone: 264-2946-8

Urgently needed; attractive waitresses - Tel: 686-3116 Porters wanted to work at grocery stalls @ Stabroek Market – Tel:226-9800

PROPERTY FOR SALE Land with small concrete house; for sale in Grove over 8,000 Sq. Ft. Call: 612-4030; 216-2759 Transported Property @ Grove/Diamond, 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained, concrete fence, grilled store room & Shed, (45X26) – Call: 660-1353, 216-4338 Corner Property, Grove Public Road - $29M Neg. Call: 613-5645

FOR SALE

Houses & house lots for sale in 1 of Guyana’s top luxury gated communities, located @ Eccles E.B.D Tel: 227-2913; 683-3033

One 48 Yamaha foreign used outboard engine from USA Contact: 267-2504 Doberman pinscher puppies Call: 687-7177 or 624-7683 2 Imported male German shepherd, 4 months old and 1 white female husky - Call: 664-5401

House & land at Bath, Berbice for sale or switch to Diamond, Canal or Parfaite Harmony Call: 646-3504 2 Storied concrete house with 3 bedrooms at 8th Street Foulis Housing Scheme - Call: 256-3360; 685-8485

New/used salon equipment and security cameras and monitors, lorex brand - Call: 664-5401

Two flat concrete and wooden building on land 76’X65’, East Street, Georgetown – Call: 225-6330

Used furniture, two sewing machines, massage table, cake pans & utensils, craft materials & books, etc – Call: 664-3454

Property @ Water Pum Street Leonora (24X58) - Tel: 642-5799

1 Insemination Brahman zebu bull cow – Call: 231-1256 Dell/HP computers with 19’’ LCDs $55,000, Laptops $49,000, free educational software & games, Future Tech 231-2206

PEN PAL Companion for retired gentleman 38yrs+. Reply with photo to bobbyother@yahoo.com Indian Male; age 27 is seeking females between age 20-30; only serious females – Call: 691-5905

One two storey, 3 bedroom wooden concrete house, fully grilled, ideal for business, spacious land at Enterprise – Call: 667-9781 Two storey building located at Lot 35 Ketley and Howes Street, Charlestown, prime location for business - Tel: 623-9679 Two storey wooden & concrete, three bedrooms, self contained with A/C @ Parika - Tel: 660-3118 ( Land 70’x50' & House 57’x30'), Modern Amenities & Features @Residential Granville Park , Beterverwagting , E.C.D G$27M negotiable. Contact: 592-220-3411, 592-639-2062 Large house lot @ Zeeburg; fenced; bearing fruit trees; front & rear access – Call: 277-0024; 684-6106 Spacious 4 bedrooms two storied house, two large lots @ Zeeburg area, all amenities, move-in condition - Call: 277-0024; 684-6106

To live in with a single female 35-55yrs @ Lillandale Betterhope – Call: 687-6636; Beeson Window & Doors #622-4197

2 Bedrooms apartment to rent upper flat Call: 602-7135/6617253 EDUCATIONAL Learn a skill & supplement your income; course offered: Sewing, Floral, Curtain Design, Fabric paint & tie dye. Call: 661-7502

WANTED

Accounts Clerk, must be capable of preparing payroll and monthly vat - Call: 614-4358

One bedroom apartment fully grilled, self contained @ Land of Canaan E.B.D – Call Navo: 644-6479; Bob: 6420867

3 Bedrooms apartment for rent at Mon-Repos E.C.D $55,000 Contact: 692-9295 or 660-5233

Page 55

LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

Haslington, E.C.D: Building ‘A’, concrete/ timber modern 2 storeys, 7 bedrooms, grilled & fenced. Building ‘B’, 3 apartments, fencedCall:255-3437; 698-3678

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 01, 2015

Colombian ex-spy chief Maria Hurtado detained in Panama The former head of Colombia’s secret police, Maria del Pilar Hurtado, has been detained in Panama after turning herself over to the authorities. She has been flown to Bogota and is due to appear in court. Ms Hurtado is facing charges of illegally spying on political opponents of the former Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe. She fled Colombia in 2010 after the allegations were made public and was granted asylum in neighbouring Panama. The decision caused outrage in Colombia, especially because of close links between Mr Uribe and the Panamanian president at the time, Ricardo Martinelli. HIGH SECURITY UNIT Last year the Panamanian Supreme Court revoked Ms Hurtado’s asylum.

Ms Hurtado had been granted political asylum in Panama in Nov. 2010 Her whereabouts were unknown for months until Interpol on Friday issued an international arrest order. Hours later she gave herself up to the Colombian authorities in Panama and was

put on a plane to Bogota. Ms Hurtado was head of the now-defunct Department of Administrative Security (DAS) between 2007 and 2008. The DAS answered directly to the president but Mr Uribe denied any involvement in the scandal. He said at the time Ms Hurtado fled to Panama that he never issued any orders that violated Colombian law or the Constitution. Those allegedly targeted include politicians, journalists, judges and even the head of the Colombian Supreme Court at the time, Jaime Arrubla. Mr Uribe, who was in office between 2002 and 2010, is now a senator in the opposition to President Juan Manuel Santos. Ms Hurtado’s lawyer says she has requested to be transferred to a high security unit, probably fearing for her life.

Antigua eyes genetically modified mosquitoes to combat dengue and chikv Health officials here are not ruling out the use of genetically modified mosquitoes to help combat the spread of chickungunya and dengue. The US-based Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering releasing batches of genetically modified mosquitoes to combat the spread of Dengue fever, and health officials in Brazil have already released millions of the insects into their environment. On Thursday, Chief Medical Officer Rhonda Sealy-Thomas told OBSERVER AM that the Ministry of Health was playing close attention to these developments. “One of the things that is crucial to controlling diseases like Dengue and Chikungunya is mosquito population

control, because these viruses are transmitted by the Aedes Egypti and other mosquitoes; so yes, anything would control the mosquito population we would consider.” The plan works by releasing only male mosquitoes into the wild. They then mate with the female and pass on a defective gene to her offspring, making

them non-viable and the insects die before reaching adulthood.” Sealy-Thomas added that the Ministry of Health is looking forward to hearing the FDA’s findings on the genetically modified mosquitoes. It also plans to partner with entomologists at health agencies like PAHO and CARPH.

investigation into the killings continues. The couple had been held along with four ranch workers on their farm outside Yby Yau, around 395km (245 miles) from Paraguay’s capital, Asuncion. The workers had escaped but both Germans were killed. A government investigator said police had found the bodies after a shoot-out with fighters they allege belonged to the

guerrilla group. The investigators said the guerrillas had been demanding money and food from local ranchers to be given to the poor as compensation for alleged deforestation.

German cattle ranchers killed by guerrillas in Paraguay A German couple who had been farming in Paraguay for 30 years have been found shot dead at their ranch in the north of the country. Roberto Natto and Erika Reiser, both in their 60s, had been kidnapped and shot several miles from their ranch. Government officials say they were killed by a left-wing guerrilla group, the Paraguayan People’s Army. Their bodies are due to be repatriated to Germany as an

ELUSIVE The Paraguayan People’s Army (EPP) is estimated to number between 50 and 150 people. It has been blamed for a series of killings in the last few years.

Sunday February 01, 2015

Kaieteur News

Top of Form ISIS releases purported execution video of Japanese journalist

People walk past television screens displaying a news program, about an Islamic State video showing Japanese captive Kenji Goto BEIRUT/TOKYO (Reuters) - Islamic State militants released a video on Saturday which purported to show the beheading of Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, who the al Qaeda offshoot had been holding hostage. Japan condemned the Islamist group and said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet would meet in response to the video, which showed a hooded man standing over Goto with a knife held to his throat, followed by footage of a body with a head placed on it. The release of the video came exactly a week after footage purportedly showing the beheaded body of another Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa. “I cannot help feeling strong indignation that an inhuman and despicable act of terrorism like this has been committed again,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, adding the video appeared to show Goto. “We resolutely condemn this.” A White House

spokeswoman said the United States was working to confirm the authenticity of the latest video and “strongly condemns” the militant group’s actions. Addressing Abe, the militant in the video said: “Because of your reckless decision to take part in an unwinnable war, this knife will not only slaughter Kenji, but will also carry on and cause carnage wherever your people are found. So let the nightmare for Japan begin.” The militant had the same British accent as the man featured in previous Islamic State videos showing beheadings. Goto wore an orange jumpsuit like Islamic State captives in past footage. The landscape in the video showed a hill and land covered in scrub, and appeared different to the desert setting of previous videos. There was no mention in the one-minute video of another Islamic State captive, Jordanian pilot Muath alKasaesbeh who was seized

after his jet crashed in northeast Syria in December during a bombing mission against Islamic State. An audio message purportedly from Goto earlier this week said Kasaesbeh would be killed if Jordan did not free Iraqi Sajida alRishawi, in jail for her role in a 2005 suicide bomb attack that killed 60 people in the Jordanian capital Amman. Abe’s government had put high priority on seeking the release of Goto, a veteran war correspondent captured by the militants in late October when he went to Syria seeking Yukawa’s release. The Islamic State threats to kill their Japanese hostages came after Abe announced $200 million in non-military aid for countries contending with Islamic State. His government has rejected any suggestion it acted rashly and stressed the assistance was humanitarian. (Reporting by Sylvia Westall; Additional reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by Alison Williams)

AirAsia captain left seat before jet lost control: sources SINGAPORE/JAKARTA/ PARIS (Reuters) - The captain of the AirAsia jet that crashed into the sea in December was out of his seat conducting an unusual procedure when his co-pilot apparently lost control, and by the time he returned it was too late to save the plane, two people familiar with the investigation said. Details emerging of the final moments of Flight QZ8501 are likely to focus attention partly on maintenance, procedures and training, though Indonesian officials have not ruled out

any cause and stress it is too early to draw firm conclusions. The Airbus A320 jet plunged into the Java Sea while en route from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore on Dec. 28, killing all 162 people on board. People familiar with the matter said earlier this week that investigators were examining maintenance records of one of the automated systems, the Flight Augmentation Computer (FAC), and the way the pilots reacted to any outage. One person familiar with

the matter said the captain had flown on the same plane with the intermittently faulty device days earlier. There was no independent confirmation of this. After trying to reset this device, pilots pulled a circuitbreaker to cut its power, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. People familiar with the matter said it was the Indonesian captain Iriyanto who took this step, rather than his less experienced French co-pilot Remy Plesel, who was flying the plane.

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Sunday February 01, 2015

William Prowell is Girl, 15, accuses prominent Junior Calypso King official’s son of rape To much fanfare, the Junior Calypso Competition found its new 2015 monarch in 19 year-old William Prowell at the National Cultural Centre, Friday evening. Prowell, who hails from Linden, Region Ten, beat out the eight other competitors with his song “Pick it up”. The song was praised for its honest and real portrayal of how littering is treated in sections of Guyanese society. Prowell not only sang about the garbage nuisance, but he also used props and actors to convey his message of environmental responsibility. Such attention to detail throughout his performance resulted in high spirits from the crowd. Prowell definitely took full advantage of the stage, successfully garnering several fans due to his energetic and humorous depiction of the garbage situation in Guyana. The performance incorporated caricatures of Georgetown public officials like Town Clerk Carol Sooba and Mayor Hamilton Green, along with entertaining portrayals of how citizens approach litter. By the end of Prowell’s performance, patrons were praising his piece for its engaging aspects and catchy rhythm. With such a clear

Winner of the Junior Calypso competition, William Prowell endorsement from the crowd, it was easy to see why Prowell emerged the winner from the judges which included Tyrone Arjune, Lorraine Barker-King, Rawle Franklin and Geofrey Phillips, also known as the Mighty Rebel. Coming in second was 18year-old Tishauna Cort, whose “big voice” proved a formidable challenge for other competitors to over power. Cort performed her thoughtful piece, “Answer Me”. She tackled issues like constitutional reform, human rights and even rape; slowly enticing the audience to sing along with her. Her piece was performed in her costume styled with the colours of the Guyana flag. This was Cort’s second consecutive time competing in the competition. Placing third was Nyozi Alsopp with her song

“Daddy”, which captured the attention of many persons. Winner of the Best Newcomer Award was 16 year-old Maurissa Grant for her piece “Suffocation”. All the top winners received cash prizes ranging from $50,000 to $200,000. The other competitors included former GT&T Jingle and Song competitor, Michael Small. Alicia Benjamain, Samantha Paul and Ryan Jagnarine were the other competitors. Permanent Secretary within the Culture Ministry, Alfred King, and Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green were in the audience . The National Cultural Centre was even gifted with a special impromptu appearance from last year’s Junior Calypso Queen, Shontelle Gittens, who performed her hit song “The Chinese Taking Over”.

A 15-year-old schoolgirl has told police that the son of a prominent official sexually assaulted her after luring her into his car under the pretext of taking her home. The incident allegedly occurred last Tuesday at a desolate spot on the East Coast of Demerara. Kaieteur News understands that the teen has submitted a statement as well as a medical document to police. She reportedly also took photographs which show bite marks that were allegedly inflicted during the assault. This newspaper understands that the 24year-old suspect has denied that he raped the teen and that the sex was consensual. Kaieteur News was also told that the man and his father visited the Cove and John Police Station. According to police sources, the teen’s alleged assailant was briefly detained, but it is unclear whether he will be charged. T h e t e e n s aid that a mutual acquaintance introduced her to her alleged assailant in October, 2014. The acquaintance also reportedly gave the man her cell phone number. According to the teen, she had told the man that she was participating in a pageant and was seeking sponsors. “He said no problem…he would get me whatever I needed,” she said. She said that last Tuesday, the man contacted her while

she was in school, and promised to pick her up that afternoon to discuss his sponsorship for the pageant. They reportedly met after school at a Vlissengen Road establishment at around 17.00 hrs, and the man took her to Thomas Street in his tinted Mercedes “to pay his workers.” She claimed that when he returned, they headed to her East Coast Demerara home, and the young man began to indicate that he wanted them to have a relationship. “I said no, I have exams, I have to settle down’, and he said ‘I could give you whatever you want, even a car for US$6,000,’ and he said that his dad has two houses in Canada, and I keep saying no,” the teen said. She said that while directing him to her home, the man suddenly drove to a desolate road on the East Coast of Demerara where he parked. “I look at him and ask what he doing here and he start to pull at my clothes and bite me, and he said that is what he does to women who don’t want to give him sex. I started to scream and he covered my mouth.” She said that the man then pulled down her underwear and sexually a s s a u l t e d h e r. H e t h e n dropped her off a short distance from her home, while promising that he would get her everything she wanted for the pageant. According to the girl, on arriving home, she contacted the male relative who had introduced her to the individual who had assaulted her. According to the teen, she also confided in her mother.

Kaieteur News was told that the alleged victim and her mother visited the Beterverwagting Police Station the following day. She said that while at the station, the alleged assailant contacted her by phone. “He said that somebody send him a (phone) message saying that I rape a schoolgirl, and if you do that to me you will damage my character. “I ask him why he do it and he say he didn’t rape, he only bit me. He say that his father is a (political) candidate and that he (the father) would disown me.” She also claimed that a rank at the station recorded the conversation on a cell phone. Kaieteur News understands that the police visited the man’s home but saw no sign of his vehicle, which indicated that he was not there. The teen and her mother reportedly visited the Cove and John Police Station the following day, and were subsequently sent to the Brickdam Police Station. There, a police medical doctor examined her and she was also given a medical document to take to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. The teen alleged that another young woman subsequently contacted her by phone and claimed that she narrowly escaped a similar fate after the man lured her into his car under the pretext of wanting to chat with her. There are reports that the man was recently also accused of physically assaulting a former girlfriend and posting nude photos of the woman on the internet.

Sunday February 01, 2015

Kaieteur News

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One year later… One freed of Mahaica Trevor Rose’s killer(s) farmer’s murder

still to be arrested

Freed of murder Shawn Thom

Murdered: Lakhram Bishundial

Murder accused: Orin David called ‘Plait Hair’ or ‘Malik.’

Shawn Thom, one the men accused of killing Mahaica farmer Lakhram Bishundial, was freed on Friday after Justice James Bovell-Drakes upheld a no case submission by his lawyer Trenton Lake. Thom was jointly charged for the murder with Orin David called ‘Plait Hair’ or ‘Malik.’ The incident allegedly took place on August 20, 2010 at De Hoop Mahaica, East Coast Demerara. Bishundial, called Mohan was shot at Hope Turn, East Coast Demerara, as he was on his way to a nearby Ashram to make preparations for his younger brother’s wedding. According to reports, the 35-year-old rice farmer was shot during a robbery. His brother, Totaram Bishundial, left his home for Georgetown with his cousin to do some shopping for the wedding. He went to the bank and withdrew $500,000. On his journey home, Totaram, who was driving a pick-up truck stopped at Hope Turn, East Coast Demerara when he saw his brother approaching from the opposite direction. Lakhram was driving a lorry and they stopped to chat for a few minutes. As the

brothers were engaged in a conversation, a lone gunman approached Totaram from the side of the lorry and demanded the bag of money, threatening to shoot him. Lakhram reportedly spoke up and was shot instead. Thom and David were facing a retrial before Justice Bovell-Drakes and a mixed 12member jury in the High Court in Georgetown after their last trial which was conducted before Justice Franklyn Holder ended in a hung jury. On Friday, Thom was set free but his co-accused was however called upon to lead his defence. In his defence, David told the court that he was in Region Ten at the time of the alleged incident. He claimed that he had never been to the East Coast of Demerara; the first time he was there was when the police took him. David also told the court that he went to a Mavado show later that evening. Earlier in the trial, witnesses Chaman Singh and Davenand Persaud were called upon to give evidence in the trial by State Prosecutors, Natasha Backer and Narissa Leander.

In his testimony, the witness, Davenand Persaud, told the court that he had lived next door to the Bishundials of De Hoop, Mahaica; he was in the truck driven by Lakhram Bishundial on the day that he was shot. Persaud said that he, Lakhram and a group of men were heading to the Ashram to collect chairs. The witness recalled that Lakhram stopped at “Hope turn,” to talk to his brother. The witness recalled that the shooting occurred while the two brothers were engaged in a conversation. Persaud said that he was seated next to Lakhram but admitted he did not see who had the gun. He was at the time, responding to questions posed by Attorneys representing the two accused. The witness said that he helped to transport the injured man to the hospital. Further Persaud stated that on the way to the hospital, Totaram stopped at the Victoria Gas Station. Persaud said that while at the gas station, Totaram attempted to pin a man to a nearby fence with his vehicle, but that man escaped.

One year has passed and investigators have failed to locate the suspect(s) who allegedly walked up to popular Mashramani Costume Designer and Events Coordinator, Trevor Rose, and executed him. Rose was gunned down on January 26, last, while sitting in the back seat of a Toyota 212. With no concrete evidence, the main suspect(s) continue(s) to roam free. Investigators have reportedly worked on a number of leads but none of them has been able to definitively point to who was responsible for Rose’s death. Days after the executionstyle killing of the 33-year-old designer, police had arrested two persons. However, investigators were forced to release the men after 72 hours because the two survivors in the shooting were unable to identify either of them as the shooter. Late last year, ‘A’ Division Commander, Clifton Hicken, had said that his team of high ranking officers was working assiduously to locate the perpetrator and place him behind bars as soon as possible, so that there is some sort of closure for Rose’s family. Hicken had said that at that point the police were still

Trevor Rose developing the investigation based on the information they were receiving. “No case is at a standstill…we are developing the investigation like any other high profile matter. It is dependent on the information and the evidence that we gather and then we develop the investigation,” Hicken said. Rose, a father of eight, was fatally shot while travelling in a taxi with Latoya Towler, the mother of one of his children,

at the Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD). During the execution-style killing of Rose, Towler was shot to the buttocks and the taxi driver, Troy Nieunkerk, was shot in the left shoulder. Rose was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) while Nieunkerk and Towler were hospitalized at the same medical institution for a few days. Nieunkerk, who lives in Diamond, EBD reportedly, told investigators that he was heading home and offered Rose and Towler a drop to Eccles. While at Eccles, a tinted car, which was following the trio from Agricola, pulled up alongside Nieunkerk’s vehicle and asked why he was driving so recklessly. Kaieteur News was further told that the driver of the tinted car parked his vehicle in front of Nieunkerk’s car, exited and opened fire, killing Rose on the spot. From all indications, Rose was definitely the target although his relatives claimed that he had no known problem with anyone.

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Sunday February 01, 2015

Lil Bravo focused on World Cup campaign Windies coach Williams Trinidad Express - Port of Spain, Trinidad - Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies batsman Darren Bravo he is ready and raring to go for the ICC World Cup despite not hitting all his goals in the Nagico Super50 which ended in Trinidad on Sunday last. The stylish left-hander, who was part of the West Indies team that abandoned their One Day International tour of India last year, opted out of the West Indies tour of South Africa for “personal reasons” and although he preferred to keep those reasons private, he insisted “I am very good.” “All is well, and Bravo is ready to go,” the middle order batsman told the Express following T&T’s massive 135run win over Guyana Jaguars in the Super50 final last Sunday night. “I have to thank the almighty god for blessing us with this victory,” he said following the win. “I have to say well played to Jason Mohammed. It was a fantastic innings and well bowled to the mystery spinner Sunil

Narine. I think both of them won the game for us but overall it was a brilliant team effort and I am happy that we could give the country something to be proud about.” Mohammed slammed 117 not out while Narine grabbed six wickets for nine runs to clinch the title. Narine was also named in the West Indies World Cup squad but opted out to continue remedial work on his bowling action. He has been replaced by Jamaican left-arm spinner Nikita Miller. Bravo, who turns 26 on Friday, did not star in the final but played some crucial knocks in T&T’s unbeaten run. After making zero in the first game at Shaw Park when T&T were looking for quick runs, the left hander slammed 55 against Jamaica and then a patient 36 off 83 balls to ensure T&T did not collapse against the Leeward Islands. He was also impressive in the field which is an area of his game he has been working extra hard on. “Obviously I did not

Stuart Williams

achieve all my goals I had set for myself in this tournament but I was happy to get back out in the middle and get some cricket under my belt,” said Bravo. “I am excited to represent West Indies in another World Cup and I am going there obviously to continue to make a name for myself and do well for the West Indies.” “I have been putting in the work and it has been paying off. I have also had a lot of support coming from my family and friends and I am

Sunday Februaru 01, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) All the success and good fortune you've enjoyed over the past several months may have freed you from the grind enough to concentrate on spiritual or artistic interests. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) The company of good friends, perhaps at a group activity or festival of some kind, contributes to a powerful feeling of good health, good fortune, and happiness, Taurus. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Continued success and good fortune regarding finances could have you flying high right now, Gemini.

takes charge of Zouks

Darren Bravo

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Recent successes haven't made you feel you can rest on your laurels, Libra. Rather, you're more likely to work harder. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) This is likely a day when you want to reflect on your successes. As your professional success continues to skyrocket, your sense of self-confidence follows suit. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Surprising developments in your life might bring a lot of visitors and much happiness to your home. You could host a party or other sort of gathering.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) Now that you've earned your place in the world after all your hard work, Cancer, you might take some time to pursue your own interests.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Some wonderful new developments could take place in your community, Capricorn.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Money that has come your way unexpectedly might have you thinking in terms of expanding your personal interests and holdings, Leo.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) A high level of selfconfidence and optimism should stay with you throughout the day, Aquarius.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may feel so confident that you could be thinking in terms of starting a new enterprise, Virgo.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Happiness is the mood of the day, Pisces, as you enjoy the fruits of all your hard work over the past few years.

excited about the future,” he added. He also emphasised the importance of his family in getting him back onto the field of play. “At the end of the day family comes first and they were very supportive and they understood the position I was in and I want to thank them for that,” he said. “I am really happy to be playing cricket once more and I am sure the future will be bright for me and I will continue to strive to make my family and my fans proud.” “Things have been going good so far. I don’t have any complaints. It is just a matter of going out there and scoring runs,” he added.

Serena continues mastery... (From page 59) “come on!” after taking the set.Sharapova rallied, clinching a break point at 3-3 in the second, but an unreturnable serve down the middle slammed the door on the chance before Williams rocketed her 13th ace and third of the game to hold firm. The Russian nervelessly slapped away a match point when serving to stay in the match at 5-4 and repeated the trick at 6-4 in the tiebreak, but as ever, Williams’s serve had the final say, the booming ace announcing the champion like the first volley of a 21-gun salute. The Italian pairing of Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini closed proceedings at Melbourne Park, beating French duo Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut 64 6-4 to win the men’s doubles title. Top seed Novak Djokovic will bid for an eighth grand slam title on Sunday when he faces sixth seed Andy Murray in the men’s singles final.

CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) — Current West Indies coach Stuart Williams will be in charge of St Lucia Zouks for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The 45-year-old, currently on tour with the Caribbean side in Australia, will replace Englishman Matthew Maynard, who has taken up a post as director of cricket at English county Somerset. Williams served as Maynard’s assistant last year. The Antiguan is a former West Indies batsman who played 31 Tests and 57 OneDay Internationals during his career. He was dominant at

first-class level, amassing nearly 10,000 runs at an average of 40. He quit international cricket in 2005. Williams joins another former West Indies batsman, Carl Hooper, who has already been appointed Guyana Amazon Warriors head coach. Meanwhile, South African Mickey Arthur will head 2013 champions Jamaica Tallawahs, Australian Simon Helmot will again be in charge of the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, while Indian Robin Singh has returned to lead reigning champions Barbados Tridents.

Sunday February 01, 2015

Kaieteur News

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MINISTRY OF SPORT says THE A TTORNEY GENERAL IS LLYING YING Minister acted within the law ATTORNEY Letter to the Sports Editor

Dear Editor, I hesitantly decided to pen this letter so please let me make it clear that I am speaking on my personal behalf and not for the WICB. They are quite capable to deal with Mr. Nandalall and his usually irresponsible utterances. On Thursday 29th Jan 2015 an article was carried in the Guyana Chronicle Captioned “The will of parliament cannot be frustrated and defeated by the whims and fancies of the WICB - AG”. The Article also quotes the AG as saying “It is important to note that the WICB was consulted while the bill was in the National Assembly, at the Select Committee, and they agreed in writing that they will play a role in the appointment of the Ombudsman. In those circumstances they were included in the bill, in the manner outlined in section 17”. This is a total fabrication as the WICB never agreed to play any part or role in the appointment of the Ombudsman. In fact, on the two occasions that the WICB communicated with the Minister of Sports and the Clerk of the National Assembly, they completely and categorically refused to accept the bill in its current form. See attached: (documents received, not published) (a) letter to Mr. Frank Anthony from Mr. Julian Hunte dated 4th December 2012, and (b) Letter to Mr. Sherlock Isaacs, Clerk of the National Assembly, from Mr. Dave Cameron dated 24th October 2013. These were the only correspondences sent by the WICB to the authorities in Guyana referring to the Cricket Administration Bill before its passage in the National Assembly. I challenge the Attorney General to produce the correspondence he is referring to and to make same public.

It is clear the Attorney General and his Sports Minister have belatedly realised that another of their plethora of mistakes in the drafting of the CAB has been exposed, and intends to lie to the public. The Minutes of the 10th Meeting of the Select Committee of the Parliament dated 11th March 2013 on Page 5 states the following: “Members suggested that before the Regulations were drafted to include the WICB to act as the facilitator to initiate the first elections of the Guyana Cricket Board, the committee should first inform the Board (WICB) to ensure that they are in agreement to participate in the process. The Chairman (Dr. Frank Anthony) then suggested that within the next Two weeks the committee would communicate with the WICB on its decision of making the WICB the facilitator in the holding of the first election of the GCB. Thereafter the committee requested that the Chief Parliamentary Counsel re-draft Clause 6 to include that the WICB and/or such other authority in the absence of the WICB act as the facilitator in conducting the first election process of the GCB”. There is no record existing to show that the Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, wrote the WICB to convey the decision of the Parliamentary Select Committee, instead the Minister inserted himself in the process and added WICB as a party to be “consulted”, without their consent. Members of the Select Committee should revisit these minutes and ask questions. We have had two attempts at resolution at this matter, the Caricom brokered agreement in 2012 and the WICB/GCB/ GOG Memorandum of Agreement in 2014, both of which have been thrown aside by these two ministers and we do not expect any resolution

once they are involved in the process. In fact, the Attorney General was the Counsel for some of the principals in the disputes and cannot be considered neutral in any of these discussions and has now resorted to prosecuting this matter through his office. Further in no sane, democratic society would such an individual, in the current circumstances, be allowed to practise law much less hold the highest legal office in the land. It is not unusual for the Attorney General to argue his court matters in the Guyana Chronicle so I am not surprised that he has started to fabricate and imagine that such a letter exists. As usual you never hear when this individual loses his cases. Anyone reading the Government CAB would realise the GCB has to pay the Ombudsman among other expenditure stipulated in the bill. The sole source of income for the GCB is WICB Development fund and revenue from WICB Matches fixed for Guyana yet the GCB is required by this flawed Act to account for these funds to the Guyana Parliament instead of the WICB. It would be interesting to see if WICB continues the funding if it is not used for specific purposes. Since the Attorney General and his government did not allocate any state funding to the GCB even though they have to send their accounts to parliament, it is even more interesting to see what would be the situation when WICB stops the funding. The WICB “whims and fancies” may then be considered. I do expect a few more threats after penning this letter. Yours Sincerely, Anand Sanasie Hon. Secretary Guyana Cricket Board

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in a release, has stated that the Minister, Dr Frank Anthony acted within the law in appointing an Ombudsman. The Minister had come in for criticism in the media from the Guyana Cricket Board. The ministry in the statement cited the relevant articles in the law governing the appointment of Dr Winston McGowan to the post, citing the minister operated under the confines of the Cricket Administration Bill. Here is the full text of that release: ‘The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport note the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) recent press release, and would like to state, that the steps taken by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony were within the confines of the Cricket Administration Act 2014. Firstly, after following due process in the National Assembly, the Cricket Administration Bill was assented to on August 14, 2014 when the Head of State, President Donald Ramotar affixed his signature to the document. That step made the Cricket Administration Bill an Act. That Act – ACT NO. 14 of 2014 GUYANA CRICKET ADMINISTARTION ACT 2014 – stipulates the two core responsibilities of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony. These are as follows: Pursuant to section 17 of the said Act, the Minister after meaningful consultation with the West Indies Cricket Board shall (a) be responsible for the appointment of a Cricket Ombudsman, who shall be responsible for the verification of the Register of Clubs and for performing the functions of Returning Officer for the first election of the membership of the Guyana Cricket Board.

In keeping with the requirements of the ACT the Minister wrote Mr. Dave Cameron, President of the West Indies Cricket Board, on October 9, 2014; Enclosed in that correspondence was a copy of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014. The Minister further pointed out Section 17 of the Act pertaining to the appointment of the Cricket Ombudsman. The Minister had also requested the submission of five possible candidates to take up the post of Ombudsman. The WICB was given fourteen days to provide the names and contact information for those candidates. However, after time elapsed and no submissions were made, by the WICB, Minister Anthony proceeded to appoint Mr. Winston McGowan. That appointment was officially announced on December 31, 2014 – almost three months after Minister Anthony had written to Mr. Cameron.

Secondly, Minister Anthony was tasked with selecting a date for elections by the GCB following consultation with the WICB. Again, the Minister wrote the WICB on January 19th, 2015 indicating that Section 7 of the Guyana Cricket Act 2014. Act, #14 of 2014 provides for the following: (a.) The first election, be held in accordance with section 17 on the date appointed in writing by the minister acting in consultation with the West Indies Cricket Board. In that correspondence, Minister Anthony proposed March 15th, 2015 as the date for the GCB elections. It is expected that by that time the County Boards would have completed their respective elections thereby enabling them to participate in the Guyana Cricket Board Elections. These are the facts of what has transpired so far. We urge all parties concerned to comply with the law, so that cricket administration in Guyana can be properly restored.’

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Sunday February 01, 2015

“Disappointments, surprises and successes!” Says Colin E. H. Croft No-one expected West Indies to beat South Africa, even if some of us hoped for better overall WI displays, but that shellacking has been hard to comprehend, even given all that had occurred before and during that last SA tour. But, as suggested to me fifty years ago by my old queen, all bad things must also come to an end. So it has been with WI’s difficult 2014/15 tour to SA! Not many believed that all was well within the team, especially with WI squad for ICC CWC 2015 having to be selected and published while also being walloped in SA, but generally, only few players enhanced claims to continuance on our teams. Losing this recent ODI series 4-1 and Test series 2-0 reminded some of WI’s 1998/ 99 tour to SA, which started with senior players actually heading in the opposite direction, away from SA, going from Hong Kong’s Sixes to be holed up in London to, lengthily, negotiate fees and contracts. While practicing with WI in Johannesburg before Test No. 1, the first major game of 1998/99’s tour, I casually asked one senior player on WI’s first full official team to SA, after its emergence from

Apartheid, as to how he thought WI would fare for the tour. I expected that WI could either win or lose the Test series 3-2 or 2-1, but would win the ODI series 4-3 or 5-2, as Courtney Walsh and (Sir) Curtly Ambrose were still bowling up storms of wickets! “Crofty,” the classic batsman said clearly, openly, nonchalantly, “we will not win a single game!” He was only slightly wrong. That 1998/99 tour was terrible, WI at similar crossroads to 2015, losing the ODI series 6-1 and the Test series 5-0! That player knew that, mentally, the team had been severely shot even before starting that tour, so he did not expect many positives. How WI recovers in 2015 could be intriguing too. Luckily for present WI players and selectors, before they could even contemplate as to how to tackle England and Australia in Test series later this year, there is ICC’s biggest tournament, CWC 2015, to focus on, giving all concerned some much needed breathing space after touring SA. But WI already has a somewhat confusing development for ICC CWC 2015. Sunil Narine has deselected himself, thus robbing

Veersammy Permaul

Sunil Narine

WI of its most potent bowling asset. How the team copes without Narine is anyone’s guess, since, strangely, he has been replaced with Nakita Miller, yet another left-arm orthodox spinner, similar to already selected Suleiman Benn. Somehow, WI’s selectors seemed to have contradicted themselves twice with Miller’s selection! Inopportunely, WICBNagico Super-50 2015 tournament could not have been completed before WI selected

its ICC CWC 2015 squad, but if selected players were to be replaced, for whatever reasons, then the Super-50 tournament ought to have been used to air-mark such replacements. Narine was easily the best bowler for Super 50; twelve wickets; closely followed by Veerasammy Permaul; eleven; Devendra Bishoo and Dwayne Bravo; nine wickets each. Miller had six. If indeed another orthodox leg-spinner was to replace Narine, then that should have

been Permaul. Interestingly, two WI selectors, Courtney Browne and Walsh, were at games at Queen’s Park Oval. Did they see the same games that we saw, noting that Permaul, in this his prime time, has “a golden arm”? Whatever the guy bowls nowadays simply gets wickets! In the franchised four-day competition which started late-2014, continuing later this week, Permaul already has thirty-two wickets for Guyana from only four games. He is bowling brilliantly and his confidence is at its peak, so this is when he should be selected for higher WI honors, not when he starts to fade away. I would actually have gone for Bishoo. Selecting two front-line orthodox leftarm spinners in an ODI squad makes no sense. Bishoo’s right-arm leg-breaks would have presented vast variations, not to mention his intelligent late-order batting too. Dismissing everything else that had occurred recently, I may even have gone for Dwayne Bravo way before Miller, if Bravo was fit enough to last CWC 2015’s journey! Incidentally, both Permaul, 25, and Bishoo, 29, are much younger than Miller, who is 32.

Colin E. H. Croft Noting WI’s Chief Selector Clive Lloyd’s public comment; “We really and truly want to pick people on what they have done for our cricket and not for anyone else, with a focus on the future”, after omissions of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from WI’s World Cup squad, one has to ask: What else does Veerasammy Permaul have to do to be re-selected for WI teams? That Permaul, Bishoo and Guyana’s Jaguars were badly outfoxed by Trinidad & Tobago’s Red Force, especially Narine’s six wickets for nine runs in the final, was almost embarrassing. At least, the two best teams met in that final, a good overview of 2015’s competition. Enjoy! E - m a i l : c.e.h.croft@gmail.com

Dwayne Bravo quits Tests PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad CMC – All-rounder Dwayne Bravo has announced his retirement from Test cricket, after four years in the wilderness and just weeks after being sacked from the one-day squad. The 31-year-old has played 40 Tests but had not suited up for West Indies since December 2010, when West Indies toured Sri Lanka. He was recently axed as one-day captain and dropped from the team for the tour of South Africa and the World

Cup in Australia and New Zealand next month. In a statement late Friday, Bravo said he had already informed the West Indies Cricket Board of his decision to retire from Tests but said he had made clear his desire to continue playing One-Day Internationals and Twenty20s. “Over the years, with the greatest enthusiasm, I have done my best with the deep awareness that I am ultimately representing the people of the

game,” Bravo said. “I recognise that this is a difficult time for all of us. Our people of the region have seen and enjoyed great cricketing days but we will not return to glory until we agree to go forward with our love for the game and the respect of the administrators, players and the public.” Bravo made his international debut back in 2004 in an ODI against England and developed into the region’s leading allrounder at one stage.

Dwayne Bravo

Sunday February 01, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Dover - ‘’Barbados were tougher opponents than T&T!’’ By Santokie Nagulendran Head Coach of the Guyana National Team, aka Golden Jaguars, when they reached a record-high 86th in the FIFA World Rankings, and Head Coach of Alpha United, the first Guyanese club to reach the CONCACAF Champions’ League group stages, Wayne Dover is undoubtedly Guyana’s most talented tactician. In the midst of a hectic schedule with the National Team, Dover, recently announced as Assistant Coach for the Golden Jaguars friendly against Barbados taking place this evening, took some time out to answer questions on the state of the National Team: Santokie Nagulendran (SN): Firstly Mr Dover, who approached you to take the role as Assistant Coach and was it an easy decision to make? Wayne Dover (WD): Head

Coach Jamaal Shabazz, and I decided from the first word to take the position because that’s my brother. SN: This past week has seen intense training sessions for the newly assembled National Team, who has impressed you so far? WD: A couple of young players were good throughout the sessions taking place over the past week: the likes of Daniel Wilson, Sheldon Holder, Emery Welshman and Calvin Shepard (all of whom made the final 18-man squad for the game tonight). SN: What are your thoughts on tonight’s opponents Barbados? WD: I don’t know at this moment how they play as a team, but what I can tell you is that playing Barbados at home, (where Guyana won 2-0), was our toughest game in the 2011 group stage of the World Cup Campaign, so

Assistant Coach Wayne Dover has cited Gregory Richardson as the most talented player of his generation. we’re not expecting anything different this time. SN: Even tougher than playing Trinidad and Tobago that year? WD: Yes. Many didn’t see

that game vs Barbados so they will disagree, but I was there through the entire round of qualifiers hence the reason I can say that, based on my analysis of all the games played. SN: Many fans have been asking why Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson is not in the squad for the Barbados game, as he is a highly regarded goal-scorer, do you have any remarks to make on that topic? WD: In my honest and humble opinion Gregory Richardson is the best player of his generation: myself and the Head Coach share that same opinion, so we know all about him and as such there’s no reason to give any exposure to him in this Barbados game. We have decided to give the exposure to a few younger players this time, but definitely Gregory is part of the programme once he and many others demons t r a t e good attitude and

behaviour. SN: Are the coaching staff looking to also add any more overseas-based players to the squad for the June World Cup qualifying game against St Vincent and the Grenadines? WD: Most definitely, once there’s a need to do that and depending on if we are retained for the job after the Barbados game. SN: When you were Head Coach of the National Team a few years ago, you had a 59% win ratio, the highest of any manager in Guyana’s recent history; do you feel you should have been given the Head Coach Role? WD: I’m a coach who wants to give to my country, in whatever capacity I’m called on to fill I’ll respond positively. The Normalisation Committee was asked by FIFA to help fix football in Guyana and I’m grateful the NC gave me the opportunity to play my part. Right now Jamaal is the

Santokie Nagulendran Head Coach and I support him in that position 100%, when the time does come for me to return to the helm once again I would like for the same support from whoever would be my assistant then. SN: Thanks to Mr Dover for his open and honest answers and I would like to wish Guyana all the best as they take on Barbados tonight.

Serena continues mastery of Sharapova for magical 19th MELBOURNE (Reuters) A sickly Serena Williams gave Maria Sharapova another serving of grand slam heartbreak on Saturday to win the Australian Open and bolster her claims to be the all-time greatest player with her 19th major title. Though wheezing, coughing and forced off court to be sick during a rain-break, Williams’s serve stayed in the rudest of health and her athleticism astonished in a nerve-shredding 6-3 7-6(5) victory under the lights of Rod Laver Arena. In sealing her sixth title at Melbourne Park, Williams surpassed Martina Navratilova, the woman who handed her the trophy, and Chris Evert in grand slam title wins, while drawing level with fellow American Helen Wills Moody, third in the all-time list. At 33, the oldest Australian Open winner in the professional era and still the boss, Williams left few in

doubt that the pursuit of Steffi Graf’s 22 titles and Margaret Court’s 24 would continue. “I would love to get to 22,” the top seed told reporters, her voice still raspy from a week-long cold. “Nineteen was very difficult to get to. Took me 33 years to get here. So I would love to get there. But I have to get to 20 first, and then I have to get to 21. “There’s so many wonderful young players coming up, so it will be a very big task. “(Nineteen) was my goal. So I didn’t think it would happen this fast, to be honest, but it feels really good.” In her 19th match against Sharapova, and after defeating 19-year-old American Madison Keys in the semi-finals, it was Williams’ 18th ace that sealed the match on the third match point. She bounded around the court like a woman possessed, squealing in delight as Sharapova sat quietly in her

chair, nursing the pain of a 16th straight defeat by Williams and a third loss in grand slam finals to the American champion. Steamrolled in the opening set, the five-times grand slam champion was magnificent in the second as she dragged herself off the canvas and staved off defeat twice on match points with crunching winners that teased the lines. A 2008 winner at Melbourne Park, but runnerup to Williams in the 2007 tournament and again at Roland Garros in 2013, Sharapova’s last win over the American came in 2004, when she was a 17-year-old sensation still finding her feet. SERENAWALL Now 27, Sharapova said she felt she was getting closer to crashing through the Serena wall. Though sharing raw power and mental toughness in common, Sharapova and

Williams have never been close and there was little warmth on a chilly night as the pair posed on court for the pregame pictures. On her first shot, Williams made her intentions clear, with a thumping backhand return too hot to handle. A break point followed and Sharapova, already under pressure, double-faulted to concede serve. Rain fell midway through the set, forcing a break and the American bashed a ball away in disgust before marching to the exit and pacing a tunnel under Rod Laver Arena. She returned, coughing into a towel but doubled back immediately, ducking off court again to vomit. She came back to smash an ace and blast a forehand winner to close out the game and though dropping serve once, she broke back and roared a blood-curdling (Continued on page 56)

Serena Williams REUTERS/Fiona Hamilton/Tennis Australia/Handout via Reuters

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Kaieteur News

Brady’s legacy secure regardless of Super Bowl outcome PHOENIX (Reuters) - Tom Brady will be remembered as one of the National Football League’s greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game regardless of whether he captures a fourth Super Bowl title with the New England Patriots today. A win over the Seattle Seahawks would put Brady alongside Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw and boyhood idol Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks with four Super Bowl rings. A loss would be his third consecutive defeat in the NFL’s championship game. But no matter the outcome, the 37-year-old Brady has already accomplished more than enough in 15 NFL seasons to ensure he is a surefire first-ballot Hall of Fame player when he becomes eligible for induction. “Even if he doesn’t win (on Sunday), he’s already one of the best players at that position,” Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino told Reuters. Few could have predicted the success Brady would go

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (Peter CaseyUSA TODAY Sports)

on to achieve when the Patriots selected him in the sixth round, 199th overall, of the 2000 NFL Draft. The quarterbacks picked ahead of him became the subject of a documentary called “The Brady 6.” “Tom didn’t come into the league as the first pick in the draft or the highest quarterback that was rated out of col-

lege, but he worked extremely hard and he’s very smart,” said Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. “He has been able to improve on his strengths, he has a great understanding of the game of football and he can accurately throw the ball. Those are his strengths.” Brady is fifth all-time in career passing touchdowns with 392 and fifth all-time with 53,258 passing yards. The players he trails in each category — Marino, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees — cannot boast anywhere near the postseason success Brady has enjoyed. Brady has thrown an NFLbest 49 postseason touchdowns and 7,017 passing yards, both records he took ownership of during the Patriots’ current playoff drive. Today, Brady and Belichick will make their sixth Super Bowl appearance, the most by any head coach-quarterback tandem in NFL history. “He’s such a great leader and has demonstrated that so clearly,” said Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. “As a sixth-rounder, he has shown that it isn’t where you start, it’s how you finish and he’s finishing in famous fashion.”

Sunday February 01, 2015

Winners Connection receives $1M UDFA Banks GT Beer Supa 16 Cup prize For the second year in a row Winners Connection Football Club emerged champions in the Banks GT Beer Supa 16 end of year tournament and they were urged not to be complacent and believe that they are “They are King of the Roost” by Banks Executive of Banks DIH Brian Choo Hen at a simple presentation ceremony in the Boardroom of Linden Enterprise Network (Leap Building). According to Choo Hen, Banks DIH has remained steadfast in supporting the development of sports in Guyana in all regions. “This tournament is just a demonstration of the Company’s dedication towards the sport. We would like to encourage other companies and other organisations to come on board and support sports in Linden so that it can develop and move the community forward.” In his brief remarks the Banks Executive threw out a challenge to the football community in that they work to-

wards developing the clubs. He asked that they ensure they have a vibrant club it needs ‘to be up and about’. “Being a good member or player of the club calls for dedication as well and in addition to that you also need to come together as a club and work towards maintaining the levels and standards of the club in a sense that you need to look at ways and means you can promote the club and the members so that club members can be spotted by scouts locally, regionally and be selected to play for international clubs.” Mr. Choo Hen also noted that they need to organize as a club and get financial strength to take the club forward and make the community of Linden proud. He urged the clubs not to wait for year end to start training and the UDFA Executive to work towards another tournament before the end of year maybe in August/September to keep the sport alive. Secretary of the UDFA Jermaine Figueira welcomed the challenge and assured

the Banks Executive that a budget has already been prepared for a tournament and would be presented next week. Trophies and cash were also presented to second place winners Hi Stars Football Club, third place Top XX Football club and fourth place Eagles United Football Club. Most Valuable Player went to Rawle Gittens of Winners Connection, Highest Goal Scorers Rawle Gittens of Winners Connections and Tony Adams of Hi Stars FC, Best Goalkeeper went to Joel Samuels of Hi Stars FC and he was presented with a trophy and a set of goalkeeper gears donated by Richard Reynolds Player/Coach in Antigua Premier League and Fort Road FC and former Top XX and National Goalkeeper. Best Defence went to Julian Davidson of Hi Stars FC, Best Coach Orin Trotman and Best Asst Coach Carlyle Hunte both of Winners Connection FC and the most Discipline team went to Block 22 Goal Getters FC. (Jacquey Bourne)

Windies arrive for World Cup campaign SYDNEY, Australia (CMC) — A weary but upbeat West Indies side arrived here Friday to begin preparation for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. They arrived to a warm reception from fans and wellwishers, following a 12-hour flight from South Africa, and are expected to get right down to preparation ahead of the February 14 start of the tournament. The team will spend eight days in the glitzy eastcoast city prior to the start of the World Cup, and will focus on specific skills of death

bowling, power play bowling and batting, and fielding. They will utilise local club facilities. Off the field, West Indies are expected to meet with a few members of the West Indian community in the Sydney area. The Caribbean side enter the World Cup on the heels of a solid 4-1 drubbing in the five-match One-Day series against South Africa, which finished earlier this week. In Wednesday’s final game, they went down by 131 runs, a result that summed up

the tone of the entire series. They face old rivals England in their first warm-up game at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 9, before taking on Scotland at the same venue two days later. West Indies will then fly to New Zealand for their first game of the World Cup, taking on Ireland at Saxton Oval in Nelson. They have been installed in Group B of the competition alongside the likes of Pakistan, Zimbabwe, South Africa, India and United Arab Emirates.