Monday February 17, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 5
Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters...Where your views make the news
Will Statesmanship emerge in Guyana? DEAR EDITOR, Everywhere politics is a battle for power. In advanced countries, the contest is mainly between differing ideologies, world-views and policy prescriptions. Here in Guyana, for over 50 years, the fight has been trite and elementary, based on race. Manifestos, which never determine outcomes, are produced to camouflage the people. They are like lipstick on a pig. But everyone knows the beast we are dealing with. And because it is so visceral, the fight never ends, as in some countries where there is a civilized pause in the fighting after elections. Here in Guyana, long after polling is over, the grossness and gamesmanship continue, the main motivation being political ascendancy rather than the national welfare. So, instead of cooperation on national security or on the economy, the two major parties continue to criticize and blame each other for the crime wave, unending corrupt practices and the illegal trafficking of narcotics, among others. The most outstanding example in our history of collaboration between Government and Opposition was the claim of Guyana’s territory (Ankoko) by Venezuela more than three decades ago. Other than that,
there is damning evidence of the utter primitiveness of the race-bait politics being practiced in Guyana for over a half century by both the PPP and the PNC. And strangely, this selfdestructiveness is supported by the vast majority of the electorate who do not seem to appreciate that, whoever wins; it is in their own interest for collaboration to take place across party lines. So for donkey years, critical issues including crime, corruption and the illegal drug trade needing political cooperation remain unsolved. So deep is the desire for tribal pre-eminence between the two parties, there is no demand for statesmanship by the electorate from the political leaders, no requirement for astute political management, and definitely no effort to solve crime and corruption thus leaving the nation without the social evolution that should have taken place over the last 50 years. Therefore, even when we tried to emerge from the tribal trap in 2011, we were derailed by the absence of statesman-like leadership and profound commitment to the development that comes from national cohesiveness. What we have is a minority regime that bullies the opposition, a minority regime that is inflexible, a minority regime that has refused to yield an
inch, and does not have any respect for the majority opposition. We will be observing with great interest what takes place in the upcoming local government elections across the country where three or more political parties will vie for seats on the councils. We are anxiously waiting to see whether any political refinement will surface to place the well-being of the people above personal and party triumph. Clearly, power sharing is the requirement here, but we believe that egos and power drunkenness will not make it happen. Will APNU and the PPP cabal transcend their problems with the AFC and successfully negotiate an arrangement in the best interest of the people? Or better still, even though remote, the most exciting possibility of all: will the PPP and the PNC leave behind half a century of unrelenting political war and race-bait politics and establish peace even though temporarily in the interest of the people. That would be a watershed and it will show that the leaders would have led. Think of the message it would send to the people. Think of its potential for reshaping the politics in Guyana. The major races could begin to see each party differently, creating the possibility, however small, for
On what basis did the Judicial Service Commission appoint Ravi Sukul? DEAR EDITOR, I read with interest the resignation of Ravi Sukul as appellate Court Judge over the weekend following a request by acting Chancellor Carl Singh for him to do so following reports that he was disrobed for nine months from practice in England following a unanimous recommendation by a five member Committee headed by Michael Baker QC. Sukhul has the right to appeal the decision. I had questioned his appointment because from reports he had absolutely no judicial experience — never served as a magistrate or a judge — nor was he an outstanding Barrister. I wonder on what basis did the Judicial Service Commission appoint him bypassing relatively competent persons who were on the ground. Those who advocated his appointment should hang their heads in shame - that is, if these people could be embarrassed for wrong doings. I googled Sukhul and the only favourable information
about him is that he and one Savita Sukul, a Solicitor, represented an international cricketer Mohamed Asif, in a deportation case after the cricketer was jailed for match fixing. Legal circles in London said that the Guyanese is not known as an outstanding Barrister and his appointment was very surprising. The question now is did members of the Judicial Service Commission investigate Sukul’s
background - did they do due diligence? According to press reports form Guyana, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, called for his resignation after he read of his disbarment from the English bar. I would like to hear comments from the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission as well as the President of the Guyana Bar Association. Oscar Ramjeet
How do the selectors...
From page 4 tournament. He even turned out a man of the match performance which propelled his team to the semi-final by ensuring that there were no heroics from the Windward Islands, which could have eventually caused the Jamaica game to be more than just academic interest. However, as mind boggling as it is, the selectors have defied analysis and inexplicably selected Cummins ahead of Beaton. Although Cummins is undeniably rapid as well, he did not play the Nagico tournament and on that pretext should not have found favors with the selectors this time around. And so the rhetorical question is, what is the purpose of the regional tournament is if it would not be used as a yardstick to select your best team. Raul Khan
genuine multiracialism in both, a development that is long overdue but has evaded this great society and country. The challenge here is to discard the racial attitudes of the past. The two main parties must seize the opportunity of cooperation and leave behind their antiquated mantra of “apan jhaat” politics. Notwithstanding the importance of their survival, both parties must allow the capacity for coalition into their DNA. The leaders of both parties must exorcise their age-old animus against one another and swallow their present personal bitterness if their goal is to be elected and serve the people and avoid relegation to the “plantation.” But not only must the politicians evolve. The people must themselves rise above narrow partisanship and demand enlightened political management and leadership from both parties. They must see that future politics has arrived and exhort their leaders to rise to the challenge. One suspects, however, that so wide is the political divide between the PPP and the PNC, so
entrenched the rivalry, that a majority of the membership of both parties cannot even begin to countenance collaboration between our two oldest mass political organizations. It is most unfortunate because, after the fight for power during elections is over, collaboration between two major parties, as is now taking place in prosperous, stable Germany could be the answer for unleashing the potential for greatness in Guyana, a potential that has been tragically left languishing for half a century of Independence. Both the people and the politicians stand accused of selfinflicted stasis. Thankfully, not all our people remain mired in the past. An independent, influential, non-aligned minority, comprised mostly of youths has emerged and is growing in numbers. It is one of the best developments since Guyana attain its Independence on May 26, 1966. This constituency must keep the vigil. They are the evolutionary force in our society. They must keep the politics under scrutiny and severely chastise politicians
and followers when they fall short. This group must make it clear that if the leaders of the two major parties cannot bring the racial situation to a satisfactory conclusion, none deserves the job of President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. For they have proven themselves to be products of the stale culture that has inflicted enormous failures on leadership and economic and financial hardships on the poor and the working class in the country. No leader has been able to weld our diverse country into a cohesive whole. For all their achievements, we say with much respect that Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham have left the nation more divided than they found it. In 2011, the PNC brought forces together to form coalitions in opposition but is disastrous in holding the minority government accountable. The spotlight is now on Donald Ramotar and David Granger. Will statesmanship emerge in Guyana? If not, it is time for the masses to switch their support to the AFC. Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 17, 2014
Calypsonians boycott NCN NCN continues to shun AFC This year’s Calypso Competition has come and gone, and there has been absolutely no air play on national radio of most of the songs that made it to the final last Friday night. As is customary, the songs will be placed into “The Cabinet of relics”, maybe only to be brought out and used on “certain occasions.” But while the calypsonians labeled the non-playing of their songs on the so called ban imposed on some of last year’s calypsos, this year’s scenario may not have been entirely the fault of the National Communications Network (NCN). Several of the contestants have expressed that they refused to submit their tunes to be played on the government’s radio out of fear of severe censorship.
on the purchase of airtime
Aaron Blackman as saying that he is of the belief that such music should not be “played through the government’s radio station.” Benn added that he felt uncomfortable with the content of the music as it contained certain baseless remarks. He however denied
We speak about what we read in the news and we give our take on it. When you do that, you hear the music is not suitable for air play. Well, we have decided that we will not be submitting our tracks. It is disheartening that we can’t get the music to be played on the radio but that is the reality we live with. And we are not going to fool ourselves that the government has had a change of heart about anti-government music.” They insisted, “We would not waste our hard earned money to record a song only to fool ourselves that it would be played on the radio.” Last year’s songs from the Adult Calypso Competition which were deemed “antigovernment” were banned from the radio, following concerns raised by Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn. After hearing the lyrics of a particular song, Benn said he found it to be “abusive, and libelous or rather slanderous.” According to previous reports, He was also quoted
ordering the banning of calypsos. In light of last year’s situation, several Calypsonians, who participated on the 2014 Calypso Competition with songs that are critical of the government, contended that they would not be wasting their money to record the songs and take it to the National Communications Network for air play. Seven of this year’s 10 finalists had voiced their frustrations about the state media. One Calypsonian said, “Kaiso music is all about social commentary. We speak
Robeson Benn, Public Works Minister about what we read in the news and we give our take on it. When you do that, you hear the music is not suitable for air play. Well, we have decided that we will not be submitting our tracks. It is disheartening that we can’t get the music to be played on the radio but that is the reality we live with. And we are not going to fool ourselves that the government has had a change of heart about antigovernment music.” Another Calypsonian urged, “We need an autonomous body that can fight for our cause. It is that kind of censorship that says a lot about the mindset of this government.” The Calypsonians then charged that the purpose of Calypso is to speak on the truth of the matter through a song and that the government’s decision to ban the music from air play shows that they only have a false sense of respect and appreciation for the genre. When this publication contacted the President of the Calypso Association, Aaron Blackman in relation to the issue, he said that he does not know the status of the ban on the antigovernment music but said, “NCN has indicated that they will play some of the music but I’m not sure which ones they will play.” Moreover, calls made to those in charge at the NCN proved futile.
The Alliance for Change (AFC) is convinced that the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic is not practicing what they are preaching, even as it welcomes recent statements by the PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee. Rohee, who is also the Minister of Home Affairs, had recently stated that “all media houses have a duty to be responsible in providing balance coverage of political views.” AFC Executive Member, Cathy Hughes emphasized that the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) and the Guyana Chronicle should listen to the words of the Minister, as she reminded that her party is continuously shunned by the television station on their request to purchase airtime. Hughes said that since 2012, repeated tries to the NCN have proved futile as the party is blatantly denied the right to air their program on state television. According to Hughes who has a well known ba c k g r o u n d in the t e l e v i s i o n b r o adcasting industry, the party had even met in November 2012 with members of the station’s Rates Committee, and at their (NCN) request, provided a copy of one of the party’s programs for perusal. However, she said that the party was subsequently informed via telephone, that, “there was absolutely no airtime available, at anytime, during any day.” Hughes added that prior to that, in March of 2012, the party wrote to NCN’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) drawing attention to the need
for equitable coverage for parliamentary parties, and quoted recommendations by the Commonwealth Observer Group of 2001 which stated that, “state owned media should be free to become more independent and truly serve the interest of the entire population of Guyana and not that of just the government of the day.” She added that the letter also demanded the right of reply to statements broadcasted on NCN. “Needless to say, we have not seen any shift in NCN’s position, neither were we offered the standard in journalistic best practice, the right of reply.” Hughes said that in May 2013, the party again wrote to NCN about their obligation to the people and highlighted the need for the public to be presented with facts and opinions from all sides. She said, in that correspondence, reference was made to statements by the Attorney General at a World Press Freedom Day event, where the AG expressed that, “the Opposition ought not to suffer as a consequence of the denial of press freedom.” But according to Hughes, “Today, almost a year on, the AFC is still being denied the right to reply to the numerous statements made against the party, representative and leaders.” Another letter was sent in June 2013, Hughes said, but this time to the President and Information Minister about the Opposition’s lack of access on NCN. A number of points of concerns were expressed including “NCN’s news coverage is appallingly
AFC executive member Cathy Hughes biased in favour of the government, and its radio and television stations consistently refuse to convey to the public the views of the Opposition parties along with their supporting rationale; the elected representatives who appear and share views on NCN’s various programs are almost exclusively from the minority government political party, and the station routinely broadcast lengthy presentations of progovernment positions made without any opportunity for contrasting views to be expressed.” The statement made by Minister Rohee about “biasness”, against another print media organization, has certainly raised eyebrows especially since questions are being asked about what the government is doing to ensure that state media gives balanced coverage to all political parties. Additionally, what is being done about the monopoly which the government has on NCN? Hughes said that the party intends to write the station again for the purchase of airtime.
Kitty Post Office for reconstruction
Reconstruction of the Kitty Post Office is scheduled to begin within the first quarter of this year. Post Master General, Henry Dundas explained that a step by step procedure has been implemented by the administration for the commencement of work on the Post Office. Dundas revealed that the rebuilding of the Kitty Post Office is high on the 2014 agenda of GPOC. “The building that houses the operations of the Kitty Post Office located at Alexander and Pike Streets has been in a state of disrepair for a while now. We have advertised for persons interested in the sale and removal of the current building but the plan is moving gradually along. We
- Work scheduled to commence in first quarter of 2014 want to start work in the first quarter.” Dundas said that “people have since expressed their interest in purchasing and demolishing the building, to make way for us to erect a spanking new concrete structure.” While reconstruction of the building is pending, residents of Kitty and its environs had expressed concerns over losing the mailing service. However, Dundas said that although the service will be temporarily displaced, alternative accommodation will be in place. “We have enough space
at our main office to assist in accommodating the mailing service … the Campbellville Post Office and the East La Penitence Post Office are listed as convenient spots for a l t e r n a t i v e accommodations.” Dundas revealed that plans for the renovation of the Post Office headquarters are on schedule. “We also want to improve the general operating standards of the post office, therefore we will paint and renovate our main office to enhance the physical environment for persons who wish to conduct their postal transactions here.”
Monday February 17, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 7
Iran, world powers aim for final nuclear deal
Picture taken on February 2, 2014 in Munich shows Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (right) and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano (AFP Photo/Christof Stache) Vienna (AFP) - Iran and world powers embark tomorrow on the Herculean task of transforming their interim nuclear deal into a long-term accord satisfying all sides and silencing talk of war for good. After a decade of failure and rising tensions, US President Barack Obama has put the chances of an agreement at “50-50”, while Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has predicted “difficult” discussions. Getting a deal could also help bear fruit in other areas, not least in the three-year-old Syrian civil war where Tehran
has staunchly backed President Bashar al-Assad. The latest peace talks ended in acrimony in Geneva on Saturday. The scheduled three-day meeting in Vienna between Iran and the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany — the so-called P5+1 — is the first in what is expected to be a series of tricky encounters in the coming months. It comes after foreign ministers struck a breakthrough deal in Geneva on November 24 that saw Iran agree to curb — for six months — some of its nuclear activities in exchange for
minor relief from painful sanctions. That agreement, which came into force on January 20, extends the theoretical “break-out time” needed by Iran — which denies seeking the bomb — to produce enough highly-enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon. In return Iran is due to get over the six months some $67 billion in sanctions relief, including $4.2 billion in assets frozen in overseas bank accounts. It was also promised no new sanctions. But Iran’s freeze is only temporary — although it can be extended — and the bulk of sanctions remain,
Obama signs increase in U.S. debt ceiling
(Reuters) - President Barack Obama signed legislation Saturday that raises the U.S. debt limit through March 2015, taking the politically volatile issue off the table with congressional elections coming up this November. Without an increase in the statutory debt limit, the U.S. government would have soon defaulted on some of its obligations and would have had to shut down some programs, an historic event that would have caused severe market turmoil. On a long holiday weekend in a desert resort area in southern California, Obama put his signature on the legislation without fanfare, while behind closed doors at the Sunnylands retreat. It was a quiet end to the latest chapter in what has been one of the more challenging aspects of his presidency, as he and his fellow Democrats have repeatedly sparred with Republicans over increasing the country’s borrowing authority. Extending the debt ceiling to March 2015 means the issue may not get caught up in election-year politics. Congress had given final approval to the increase after
President Barack Obama final action in the Senate on Wednesday, but only over the objections of Texas Republican Ted Cruz, a favorite of the conservative Tea Party movement. It appeared at first there would not be enough Republicans to join the Democratic majority and advance the bill. But a decision by Senate Republican leader Mitch
McConnell and No. 2 Senate Republican John Cornyn, who are both up for reelection this year, to vote to advance the measure ensured that it would survive. The House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a majority, passed the measure in a close vote on Tuesday after Republicans dropped the confrontational tactics they had used in similar votes over the past three years. The advance of the measure has brought relief to financial markets. Investors were becoming increasingly jittery ahead of February 27, the date by which the U.S. Treasury had been warning its borrowing authority would be exhausted, putting federal payments at risk.
continuing to deprive Iran of billions of dollars in oil revenues every week. Under the “comprehensive” deal now being sought, which the parties aim to conclude and commence implementing by November, the powers will want Iran to scale back its activities permanently. These might include closing the Fordo facility, slashing the number of centrifuges enriching uranium, cutting its stockpile of fissile material and altering a new reactor being built at Arak, diplomats say. This, plus tighter UN inspections, would not remove entirely Iran’s capability to get the bomb but it would make it substantially more difficult — “impossible”, according to Obama. In exchange, Iran would see all UN Security Council, US and EU sanctions lifted, but it remains to be seen whether it will accept the conditions.
Tehran has laid out a series of “red lines” including refusing to close down any nuclear facilities or to stop medium-level enrichment. Iranian negotiator Hamid Baeedinejad told IRNA yesterday that Arak, which Western countries fear could provide Iran with weaponsgrade plutonium, would be “one of the most important and difficult subjects” in Vienna. He also said Tehran “will definitely not accept to be deprived from having the right to replace the existing centrifuges with the new and advanced ones”. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a relative moderate whose election last year has helped thaw relations with the West, retains the backing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — for now. “I am not fully sure whether Khamenei himself is fully committed to this process yet,” Siavush Randjbar-Daemi, Iran and Middle East lecturer at
Manchester University, told AFP. Negotiators also have to take into account hardliners in the United States and in Israel, the Middle East’s sole if undeclared nuclear power, and also Sunni Arab monarchies in the Gulf. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was sharply critical of last November’s accord, and Obama has had to fight hard to prevent Congress passing new sanctions on Iran. “I think both sides would be willing to make compromises,” Richard Dalton, the former British ambassador to Tehran now at think-tank Chatham House, told AFP. “The trouble is that both sides have hard men outside the negotiating room who have to be satisfied.” The Mehr news agency said that Zarif would meet on Monday evening with EU foreign policy chief and P5+1 chief negotiator Catherine Ashton for a working dinner.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 17, 2014
Monday February 17, 2014
Kaieteur News
First Rupununi Music, Arts Festival... From page 16 guests and performers, reminded them that they could always extend their stay in what he described as the cleanest most beautiful area in Guyana. The Minister also commended the organisers for initiating the programme and using local talent and skills to ensure its success. The event was also described by Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn RodriguesBirkett as a unique way to showcase the interior of Guyana to many who believe that Guyana basically starts and ends on the coastal region. It will also benefit surrounding indigenous communities, she noted, and they will learn from it.
Co-ordinator Colin Edwards said that the event was not easy to organise, and whilst he acknowledged that some mistakes may have been made inadvertently, next year’s festival would build on and improve what was described by many who attended as a wonderful event. Edwards thanked all the entities that made it possible such as Government, the Ministries of Tourism and Amerindian Affairs, Embassies, local banks and a myriad of private sponsors. Annai’s Toshao, Mark George, also welcomed the hundreds of visitors and urged them to enjoy what he termed as, “the most beautiful part of Guyana”. He asked them to encourage others to
come and experience what the community has to offer. The performers included Marc Mathews (spoken word) and Keith Waithe (jazz & world flautist) Chuckie’ (Marlon Adams) and the Buxton Children’s group, Fusion African drumming, Raghu’s Indian Tassa drummers, Ras Camo, Indus Voices & Dance Worqs, Trevor Rogers, Desmond Atherly, Desmond Atiwell and the Surama Cultural Group. International performers were Zambian Namvula, Filligar (USA), Iryna Muha (UK/Ukraine), Ramon Goose (UK), Pavel Vánì (Czech Republic), Aref Durvesh (UK),and Drew Gonsalves (Canada via Trinidad). (GINA)
Monday February 17, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Details are swimming before your eyes today, and you may have a hard time focusing on spreadsheets or anything else that's densely packed with information. Try to think big, if possible.be quite amusing to you! ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): It's time to stop putting off that conversation you've been dreading. If you feel like sharing your thoughts about someone with someone, then do it honestly. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Whether or not your realize it, your actions affect the world around you. The patterns of your behavior cause ripples around you, and influence how other people behave -- especially today, when you are with people who can be very, very easily influenced. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Your analytical mind is buzzing with excitement today, so make sure that you're dealing with the big problems that have been troubling you lately. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): A wild impulse strikes you early today -- but you most likely reject it out of hand. Try not to be too dismissive if others are involved, but make sure that you're keeping a steady hand on your rudder. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): It's a great day to make life easier for yourself and others. Tidy up the house or office and make sure that everything is where it belongs. Set the stage for great things to come!
********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): You need to make use of your listening skills today -things are sure to get weird if you don't. The good news is that your people aren't being mysterious, so you don't have to read between the lines. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): You've got some solid information that could be of practical use -- to you and to someone close. It's a good time for sharing, though you should try to go through private channels to do so. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): It's the little details that matter most for the time being -- so get out your reading glasses and really pore over the fine print. You may find something oddly delightful buried in the legalese. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): You stumble on the truth early today -- and it boosts your position considerably! Make sure that you're not just poking along on your own, as this information must be shared soon. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): Social interactions are somewhat more difficult today -- so make sure that you're paying attention when dealing with others. You may just pick up on subtle signals, or they could make a huge gaffe. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): You are being too hard on yourself -- once again. It's time for you to let yourself off the hook, relax and try to look to the future. Your ability to cope should be greatly improved as a result.
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Stop playing “blackmail” politics - President Ramotar “I’m outraged that I have to engage in this type of politics” Head of State President Donald Ramotar on Saturday stressed that there is need to create a new political culture where everyone would be seeing things on its merit and not be pushed by “blackmail politics”. The President was at the time speaking at the opening of the Hope Bridge located at Hope/Dochfour East Coast Demerara. He blamed the opposition for the present state of affairs and asserted that they should not be “degenerating” into blackmailing type of politics. He said that Guyana should never get into a stage where “you have to say you give me this and I will give you that,” Ramotar said. According to the President this feature ultimately leads to lobbying which he said is currently taking place in the United States. He noted that this new trend can also lead to “rich
people” with money being able to buy parliamentarians and get things done for the rich. “That’s what I may have to be forced to do something like that and it morally it outrages me to have to engage in that blackmailing/ bargaining type of politics.” Ramotar believes that politics should have morality. “I don’t believe it’s immoral, I believe it’s a moral profession, just like any other,” Ramotar told the gathering. The President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment in making Amaila Falls a reality. According to the President, Guyana could have tapped into a very lucrative market of agroprocessing if there was cheap energy. Ramotar explained that Amaila Project is important for Guyanese and would have been a major part of the
President Donald Ramotar general infrastructure development for the country. “Hopefully, very soon we would be in a position to make directions on where we will go…but go we will to make Amaila a reality,” Ramotar declared. The hydroelectric facility was being constructed at a whopping US860 million. The project is intended to supply the nation with 165MW of electricity. The lack of parliamentary consensus was proffered the reason for the pulling out of Sithe Global, the company contracted to execute the project. The project had been subjected to intense scrutiny, particularly over its price tag which had increased from US$450M when it was first announced up to a whopping US$915M. It involves the construction of a hydropower plant in the area of westcentral Guyana, where the Amaila and Kuribrong Rivers meet.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 17, 2014
Message to local artists…
ADVANCE YOUR ACADEMIC CAREER (From page 19)
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CAMP STREET, Prime Business Space Call: 6394499 GT TOOLS RENTAL: TEL: 675-0767; 627-5098 2 Business Stall @ Port Kaituma Market – Tel:6187983; 684-6428 Newly Constructed apartment - WCD - Call: 6986496 1 Newly renovated house @ Eccles Front. 3 Bedrooms upstairs - $90,000 & 2 bedrooms downstairs $80,000, separate entrance & parking – Tel:268-2121 5 Acre Land with house to lease $95,000 for month – Call:261-2988 Property for rent located at 32 Old Road Vreed- En- Hoop WCD. For further information contact:6610162 Business Space to rent: 26"x38" On Durban Street Lodge – Call:648-7868 Rooms to rent: Responsible single working female, water and light included. Contact: 618-3815 Spacious 1 large bedroom apartment located @ Great Diamond security camera, burglar bars security lights & washing machine – Tel:6608174;697-9479 1 Top flat 3 bedrooms apartment located at Peter’s Hall – Price $50,000 per month – contact:629-7552/646-6831 Bulldozer, bobcat and excavator for hire best rates. Please contact:261-6664; 2616607 or 629-5414
1 Welder to work in interior Tel: 664-5199
VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant Call: 670-8893/684-2838 Vacancy for security. Apply in person @ Alabama Trading Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek. Pump Attendant @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) Tel: 265-7305 Security Guard: Requirements: Police Clearance must have NIS, & ID Cards, 2 recommendations, Age: 3545. Call: 642-8140; 642-8650 Cashiers @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) – Tel: 265-7305 Hire Car drivers from ECD @ A-1 Taxi – Tel:220-1000 Two Joiners to work in Workshop - Tel:610-7005; 219-1342 1 Housekeeper must know to cook @ 223 Camp Street. (3 Storey building next to Shell Gas Station) - Call: 644-7724
TO LET 1 Complete Lumber Factory to rent/ lease with all sawmilling equipment situated @ Eccles, Industrial Site. Call Richard: 609-7675. One bottom flat apartment @ Enmore -$35,000 monthly – Call:677-1495 Section K –US$1200, Campbellville-US$1200, Lamaha Gardens – US$1,000, Bel- Air US$1800 Diana 2272256; 626-9382
Sawmill workers – Tel:6539752. Labourers for wood concession accommodation provided - $5,000 per day Call: 618-0487 Experienced cook for snackette. Must have food handler ’s certificate – Contact: 660-6446; 644-6030 (Winston) One Waitress within West Coast Demerara to Parika – Call:660-1248 1 Cook for the interior Tel:681-3801 Two security guards. Call 225-8645 One cook to work in interior – Contact:681-6044
CAR RENTAL Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www. dolly sautorental.com Premio, Vitz call:347-9339790, 639-4452. Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131 Untouchable, low rates, low deposits - Call:226-9668; 677-4613. Aidan’s Car Rental & Pickup Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807
LEARN TO DRIVE Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal street. Fee $16,000Call:227-3869 Ultravoilet Driving School – Contact:231-2372;6022583;658-4015 Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 689-5997, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
For our advertising rates call: 225-8491
An American Indie-rock band called-Filligar, which is currently in Guyana, is encouraging local musicians to pursue their academic careers so that they can “always have something to fall back on.” The members of the band Johnny, Teddy, and Pete Mathias along with Casey Gibson, joined in making this declaration after they were introduced to members of the media fraternity on Thursday last by the United States of America Ambassador to Guyana, D. Brent Hardt. They were deemed as Cultural Ambassadors at the press briefing held at the Embassy of the United States of America on Duke and Young Streets, Kingston. The rock band would have recently concluded its stint in the Rupunini Area at A Music and Arts festival. The Ambassador described their presence here as part of a series designed to facilitate cultural exchanges between the United States and Guyana for the past three years. The rock band consists of three talented brothers and a best friend. Together their musical skills have earned them the title of being one of the best young groups in America. The lead vocalist and guitarist of the band is Johnny, while Gibson is a classically trained pianist and Teddy is the bassist. Pete, of course is the drummer. Each member of the rock band has a strong academic background which they are still looking to strengthen. Johnny Mathias is a graduate of Dartmouth College, where he majored in History while Gibson is a classically-trained pianist, and has a major in Economics and minor in Music History, Theory, and Ethnomusicology at Hamilton College. He also studied jazz piano. Teddy Mathias graduated from Dartmouth College and his brother Pete Mathias is a graduate of the said college as well as the University of
Oxford, where he studied History. The band’s latest Album, “Hexagon”, aptly captures their talents in tracks such as Money on the Dark Horse and Knock yourself out. ‘Hexagon’, was also named ‘Best New Music’ by American Songwriter Magazine. In addition to their participation in the Rupununi Arts and Music Festival, the members of the Band will also be involved in a range of musical and educational exchanges as well as activities with students in Georgetown during this week. These include workshops with the National School of Music and a public concert, which will be held at the National Cultural Centre tomorrow. The band members insisted that while they are here to share their own evolution of music, they maintained that they are still students of music and are here to learn. It was also revealed that the group is most anxious to meet with local steel pan players for a musical interaction. In addition, one member of the group added that the interactions are so important to them that even if they would have to “hang up the towel and call it a day,” they would be satisfied with the journey which music has taken them on. “While it would be great to win a Grammy, we are fulfilled by music and not necessarily the accolades that come with music.” The group, which is no stranger to huge crowds, revealed that they have learnt a great lesson from performing and wished to share that with local musicians and performers in two phrases; “Take no audience for granted and discover your uniqueness.” “No matter how small the audience is, even if you have to perform for one person, give it your best and always be prepared because every little opportunity may lead to something big.”
Monday February 17, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 19
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
PROPERTY FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
LARGE QUANTITIES O F H IGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICKSILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
3 (8) weeks old: White Brown & Cream Fluffy Puppies – Contact:699-6006
One Land (100ftX50ft) and small house @ Tuschen E.B.E $5,000,000 - Tel: 6846245; 611-3802
1- Toyota Hilux Surf, 3Y engine, AC, CD player, etc, Price:$2M negotiable – Call: 671-1748; 656-9449
One 2 Storey property for sale at Covent Garden Island Call: 265-3586
Mitsubishi Galant $900,000Call:645-3605
Earth delivery on spot also rental of Bobcat & excavator - Tel: 626-7127 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Live/pluck chicken call: 6504421, 220-9203 1- 500 Ton Cargo ship - Tel: 676-6933 Large Plucked Chickens $280lb retail, Pork $380lb retail @ George & Hadfield Streets. Sears Riding mower $280,000, Honda Generator - $430,000 New, Brand new 18" Chain Saw 38,500 - Call: 261-2988 Dell computers complete with 20" LCD $65,000, 6 months warranty @ Futuretech- Call:231-2206 1 Honda Twister – Contact # 671-3533 Pure bred Rottweiler & German Sheperd- Tel:6108627/686-3072/618-2903
270 Amps Portable Honda Welders and 1-2002 Tundra Tel: 611-5114 All Types of Power tools, Hand Tools, Silicones, from spray, bicycle & spares, nails, etc -Tel:614-8564; 6800862 4 Cylinder Perkins Engine bedded for Brazilian pump – Tel: 646-4501 Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call:672-2566 Diesel Perkins generator 12,500 watts - $495,000, wheel alignment machine hunter P611 - $2800US – Tel:6018276; 619-6863 Original Games - Call:6722566 1 smoothie machine, 2 ice machine- Contact:231-0655, 683-8734 Rotweiler pups Tel: 6196086/ 699-7077 Mercury - $900,000 negotiable , $16,000 per lb loose, also gold detectors $180,000 brand new – Tel:601-9712
Toyota Premio- Dark interior with TV, mags, spacio – Tel:697-0294
One three storey business property @ Middle street, Georgetown, 2 business Property on Whim Public Road Berbice – Tel:619-7134; 225-6481
Tractor Massey Ferguson ( Canada) MF135 – 1.3M, MF165 -$1.9M, MF265 $2.2M, MF285 -$2.5M, Ranger Pickup - $1.7M – Tel:682-5230; 628-9596
1 Toyota R4 2004 model – $2.6M cash – Tel:686-5083
Painted 2 storey concrete building 53x26, transported property at 69 Jackson street, Daniels Town, Essequibo CoastCall:644-8610 Lot 9 Jones Port Mourant, Berbice, 12 rooms , house with 16 acres land, price negotiable call:337-1500
Cheap deals on Japanese vehicles Contact MRR Auto Imports on Tel:691-7475 or 626-9590
One Toyota Tacoma 2006, 12ft Aluminum Boat, Tacoma : rims & tyres – Call:6858282; 220-1981; 222-5671
Near Regent Street - $46M, Republic Gardens - $35M, Happy Acres -$45M, Mc Doom - $19M – Diana 2272256; 626-9382
Farm at Yarrowkabra - 20.1 Acres - Call:265-3586
1 20 KVA enclosed generators - call: 675-7838
Pure Rottweiler pups - Tel: 650-8496
PVC Ceiling Panels, PVC Mouldings, Medallions. Royal Quality! – Tel:6148564; 629-0372 Toyota Verossa (White) Excellent Condition - $2.7M Negotiable – Contact: 6668492. One Toyota Starlet (Turbo) EP-71 recently registered and upgraded - Tel: Ms Singh 266-5013; 681-8333
Food Warmer - Tel:696-9999
1 Transported large lot @ Tuschen EBE - $2.5M – Tel: 617-4439
One electrical pressure washer, hardly ever used - Tel - Ms Singh: 266-5013; 6818333
Gold and Diamond mining lands already Prospected – Tel: 646-4501
Playstation one - $8,000, PS2 $20,000, PS3 $45,000 Nintendo 64 - $10,000, Slushie Machine – Tel: 2642732; 670-2732
2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968
Pools. Table. Cloth. Balls. Pocket. Cuestick. Coinshute. Rubber. Chalk. – Tel:669-9927 Blowout sales on steel rods on 5/8”, ½” and smooth steel -Tel:657-4072 Flat House 80x30 3 bedroom 4 bathroom 80 percent finish, @ Republic Gardens $35,000.000 negotiable – 6398182 Used laptops -$30,000 to $60,000, Used TVs - $15,000 to $20,000 – Tel:227-0095
Pekingese, Tibetan Terrier, Rabbit ( Peter Plat) @ VreedEn- Hoop Pet Shop – Tel:6816284; 643-5451 1-40ft drift sheen boat, 1round head 40 Yamaha , 3,000 ice box – Contact:275-0955; 663-1879 or 663-8755
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
LAND FOR SALE
EDUCATIONAL Princeton College Forms 1-5 CXC adults classes, Phonics, Sat, Lessons & Mathematics for slow learners - Tel: 2237906; 690-5008
20 Acres poultry Farm @ Yarrowkabra, 120-Acres @ ,Mahaicony, 82 Acres @ Hogg Island, 11 lots @ Wakwnaam – Tel:686-4994; 225-3070 Diamond residential – 3rd Avenue, size: 120’X60’ for quick sale – $10M negotiable – Tel:652-5601 FOR HIRE Dump Trucks for hire to transport sand, aggregate, etc and bobcat for rental Tel: 694-1657; 261-6664
2 Ton open back canter with power gate, unregisteredCall:617-2891
Unregistered Toyota Sienta (2004) 1500cc & 7 seater - Tel: 617-5536
RX-8 – Tel:602-6024
2007 Axio $2.85M, Spacio $2.250M, fully loaded unregistered- Call:617-2891
1 Black Titan 4 wheel drive, fully loaded - $3M negotiable- Tel: 699-2322 or 678-2814
One Ford Crane Truck & 10 Ton Crane (new) - $8M – Call:622-6746
Toyota Allion, Premio, Spacio, Alex, Runx, Contact Classic Auto Sales - Tel: 6237684; 665-3131 One Honda XR 125 Scrambler motorcycle $320,000 negotiable - Tel: 6997697
Aracari Hotel. West Bank Demerara Rates from US$30 Tel: 264-2946-8 Fully Furnished 2 bedrooms apartment in South - 6895877 (Overseas or Visitors)
Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered: Premio, Runx, IST, Spacio, Fielder - Call: 652-38201; 665-4529
Passo, Fielder, Raum, Premio - Call: 661-9651; 6818474
New ATVs: Introductory price $1,875,000 (Duty Paid)Call:691-0234
Furnished Apartments for Overseas Visitors – Contact: 668-5198
Suzuki 750 GSX-R, registered, price:$1,100,000 negotiable – Tel:672-0697; 684-5918; 685-5323
1 AE100 Corolla $550,000 & 1 AE100 Corolla Wagon $950,000 – Tel:611-6634; 6643488
Swimming classes @ Dolphin Club, Thursday & Saturday TM 5:30-6:30/ TM 6:30-7:30 (all ages)Call:669-3757/ 641-2571/ 690-1559
Fully furnished Vacation home with all amenities- Call during working hours - 2271218
One Honda CRV fully equipped with running bars & other accessories, PNN Series. Excellent Condition! Price Negotiable - Tel: 6606763
Rav4 PLL Series LHD standard, sun roof, one owner, asking $1.75 Million Tel: 226-0011 or 663-2079
One Fuso Mitsubishi Crane Truck & 3 Ton Crane GPP Series - $5.5M - Call: 622-6746
TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 347933-9790, 639-4452.
VEHICLE FOR SALE New 2014 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabsCall:691-0234
2008 Fielder: Bodykit, spoiler, rims. Unregistered $2.95MCall:617-2891
IAE @ Camp Street – Register Now for January / June 2015 Classes: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science . – Tel: 683-5742; 223-0604
House lots for sale on the West Bank of Demerara Harbour Bridge in Harbourville SchoonordContact:650-0402 ½ Acres residential land at Yarrowkabra 5 minutes of the Linden Highway –Tel: 6111018. Price negotiable
One Toyota Prado and Tundra for sale: - Priced to sell – Tel:600-5759 or 225-0683-5
One 2005 Toyota Avensis. Owner leaving country! $3.4M – Tel:628-6160
Learn to decorate with Balloons. Classes on March 1st – Call: 225-3133; 613-7513 for more information.
Greenheart Piles – Tel:6393450
One Singer Multi - purpose sewing machine hardly ever used - Tel – Ms Singh 2665013; 681-8333 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 Extra Cab 2002, Nissan Frontier 4X4 Extra Cab 2002, DJ System – Tel:695-9807
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Toyota AT212, AT192, AT170, EP71 Starlet, LTouring Wagon, Hilux Pickup 4x4, 1 Nissan Caravan E24 - Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453
At Eccles, East Bank Demerara Price -$38M . Please Contact -780-381-6147 or email:irgopaul@gmail.com
Fishing Boat: Length - 30ft, Width - 6½ft, Depth - 3½ft. Engine 15HP Tohatsu - Tel: 697-0648; 667-9662
Blowout sale for slightly damaged zinc sheets - Tel: 657-4072
Toyota Raum, price: $950,000 Tel: 613-0419; 600-0688
Mitsubishi Lancer PHH Series fully loaded. Driven by Lady. Owner leaving country. Price negotiable. Telephone:611-5426 or 2206368 Car for sale PKK Services 100 Corolla - $850,000 Contact: 623-0016 1 Leyland DAF 4x4 Bush Truck. 1 Toyota Hilux 4x4 bush ready – Contact Kim: 658-5193 Madza RX7 - Silver Sunroof, 18" staggered racing rims 3" competition, HID lights, leather interior. Financing Available - Call: 602-3774
2008 Honda CRV imported from England 17" Rim, fog lamps Surround Sound System, unregistered $6.8M neg. Tel: 642-7295; 220-2345 3 Ton Toyota Toyoace, excellent Condition with power gate GPP Series - $2.7M negotiable-Tel:685-0889 Toyota Passo, PNN Series – Tel: 642-6664 AT212 - $1.2M, Spacio $1.9M, Voxy GSS - $2.1M, Sienta Seven Seats - $1.6M, Madza Tribute PSS – Call:661—9651; 681-8474 1 Mitsubishi Galant Car; 1 Toyota Corolla AE100 Car, 1 Honda CBR motorcycle – Call: 227-7544; 612-2542; 614-6011 One Toyota Cresta Mark two, automatic, fully powered - Price $775,000 negotiable. Tel: 623-7684; 665-3131 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 (Continued on page 18)
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 17, 2014
PNM: Disrespectful Venezuelan manhunt underway for opposition leader Attorney General must go (Reuters) - A Venezuelan opposition leader wanted by police in connection with deadly street protests told supporters via Twitter to keep demonstrating, but peacefully, and armed police visited his father’s home, apparently seeking to arrest him. Authorities accuse Leopoldo Lopez of murder and terrorism in connection with violence around four days of sporadic antigovernment protests that have left three people dead and both sides blaming each other for the bloodshed. The demonstrators have vowed to stay in the streets until President Nicolas Maduro resigns, although there is no sign of that happening. The president has said he will not let the demonstrators cause chaos by blocking roads. Troops have fired teargas and water cannons to clear about 1,000 protesters who lit trash bonfires and threw stones in an affluent part of eastern Caracas. About twice that many opposition supporters gathered peacefully in the same area yesterday, many wearing baseball caps in the red, blue and yellow of the Venezuelan flag, singing, blowing whistles, singing, and listening to speeches.
Leopoldo Lopez “To the country and the students, who I’ve always admired and supported, the battle is in the streets, but without violence,” Lopez said on Twitter late on Saturday. Meanwhile, police were visiting his home and the home of his father, looking for the opposition leader. Their behaviour was “very civilized,” the elder Lopez told a local newspaper, and when they found he wasn’t there, they left. “Maduro, you’re a coward,” the younger Lopez said later on Twitter. “You won’t make either me or my family bow to you. To my family: strength. I love you.” Lopez had hoped to run against Hugo Chavez in the 2012 presidential election but bowed out of the opposition’s primary to
support state governor Henrique Capriles’ unsuccessful bid. The photogenic 42-year-old, who speaks fluent English, once studied in the United States on a swimming scholarship. Colleagues from his Popular Will party had said since Wednesday that Lopez was at home with advisers in Chacao, the wealthy district of eastern Caracas where he was once mayor. But there had been no proof of that, and on Sunday a spokeswoman declined to say where he was, only that he was still in Venezuela and would not leave. On Saturday night, protesters clashed with police and national guard troops around Plaza Altamira, a square in Chacao that has long been a centre of opposition activism. Hooded protesters have also gathered outside the headquarters of state TV channel VTV for the past few nights, lighting fires in the streets and hurling stones and even Molotov cocktails toward the building. The unrest underlined the problem for peaceful student demonstrators seeking to distance themselves from a masked, violent rump who have been torching tires and vandalizing property. Student leaders say they are “infiltrators.”
Trinidad Express -The People’s National Movement (PNM) Saturday called for the firing of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan over what it called disrespectful and vulgar remarks he made in Parliament toward St Joseph MP Terrence Deyalsingh on Friday night. Chairman of the PNM Franklin Khan said Ramlogan’s response to Deyalsingh’s contribution was discussed at length at yesterday’s general council meeting. During debate on the Dangerous Dog (Amendment) Bill on Friday night at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain, Ramlogan directed comments at Deyalsingh about being agitated that he was unable to provide services to an exgirlfriend on Valentine’s night. Despite being called by Deputy Speaker Nela Khan to apologise for the remarks, Ramlogan was adamant he would not succumb to “screaming shouts” of apology and sought to
justify his comments by saying Deyalsingh’s “friend”, Kritel-Marie Ramnath, an animal behaviourist had sought a consultancy contract from his ministry. The Opposition members walked out of Parliament over Ramlogan’s comments resulting in the Bill being passed by a majority. Fanklin Khan, at a media briefing at Balisier House, Port of Spain, said the general council of the PNM condemned the “distasteful, disrespectful, vulgar and uncouth” attack by Ramlogan on Deyalsingh and called for his removal. Khan noted that it was not the first time that the PNM had called for the removal of the Attorney General when he had crossed the line without success. He observed that the PNM had called for his removal over Section 34. He noted that if nothing was done to censure the AG’s behaviour, the public would decide in May 2015. Questioned on the party’s readiness for internal elections, Khan noted that a preliminary list was expected
Anand Ramlogan to be prepared by April 15 and then the electoral process would be handed over to the PNM’s elections supervisory committee. He said the party was vigilant in its recruitment process as it was wary of new members joining the PNM to influence the outcome of the internal elections. He noted that the PNM’s screening committee was done on a constituency basis before another screening was done by the party’s executives at Balisier House.
Woman dead, man in custody
Canada issues health travel notice to the Caribbean OTTAWA, Canada CMC – The Public Health Agency of Canada has issued a public health notice to nationals travelling to the Caribbean in the wake of the outbreak of the chikungunya virus. “The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that travelers protect themselves from mosquito bites when travelling to the Caribbean,” warned the agency in a statement here. It said there have been “confirmed cases” of chikungunya on the Caribbean islands of St. Martin/St Maarten,
Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barthélemy and the British Virgin Islands. The Canadian health agency said these cases marked the first time that locally acquired transmission of chikungunya has been detected in the region of the Americas. It also said “French Guiana has reported cases of chikungunya related to travel within the Caribbean.” “Consult a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic at least six weeks before you travel,” the Public Health Agency of Canada urged. “Protect yourself from mosquito bites, particularly
during peak mosquito biting times around sunrise and sunset. The Washington-based Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) said Chikungunya is a viral disease that is spread by mosquitoes and causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. In December last year, PAHO and its umbrella organization, the World Health (WHO) said they received confirmation of the first cases of autochthonous transmission of chikungunya in the Americas.
The body of Cheryl Bourne-Reifer, inset, being taken from the house under the watch of the police. (Nigel Browne) Barbados Nation - A man was in custody Saturday night after the body of a woman was found in her former home at Fort George
Heights, St Michael. Cheryl Bourne-Reifer, 46, worked in the Gatsby Boutique located in several plush hotels but looked after a small clientele on weekends at a beauty salon attached to the house. She recently moved out of the house and was residing in Christ Church. Her brother Roger Bourne described his sister as a good individual, caring and considerate. “But she was also a very
private person,” he said. They last spoke a few days ago when they met at their mother’s home and Cheryl was in good spirits, he said. Police responded to the report of an unnatural death in the neighbourhood around 5 p.m. but had been called to the area earlier in the day. Police did not disclose how the woman died. The matter appears to be a case of domestic violence.
Monday February 17, 2014
Kaieteur News
Ramesh: Thousands of killers walking free Trinidad Express -Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj said Saturday that based on the murder detection rate from 2001 to 2013, the killers of 3,813 people are walking free in the country. Maharaj said the crime situation in the country is totally out of hand and cited statistics to show 4,766 people were murdered in the country over the past 12 years with 953 being solved. He said both the United States and UK governments are warning citizens about visiting this country, because “we are no longer the land of steelpan, calypso and limbo, but the land of crime, murder and violence”. Speaking at a press conference at City Hall, Port of Spain, Saturday morning, Maharaj said the population should have a “wake-up call” with respect to crime, adding that no amount of public relations by the Government will give people a sense of comfort from the fear of crime. Citing an “absence of leadership”, Maharaj said Government has a responsibility to do what has to be done to deal with crime, adding that it made no sense to blame the police since they were not elected by the
population to solve crime. Maharaj intends to launch a nongovernmental , a n d non-party political o r ganisation called “Democracy Watch” in April to be the vehicle to conduct a public education programme to keep the nation abreast of a number of issues, including corruption, crime, and the emailgate scandal. Saturday, he touched on all three but has promised to deal with them in more detail at two other press conferences after the Carnival season. Maharaj reminded the nation of manifesto promises by the People’s Partnership government when it came to office in 2010, to rid the country of crime and the criminal element, but said they have failed even after allocating some $22 billion to the Ministry of National Security and changing four ministers in that portfolio. “The People’s Partnership has made numerous missteps, mistakes and errors with regard to national security since assuming office,” he said. These included the “appointment of Reshmi Ramnarine for a top national security post, a misguided State of Emergency that did
Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj nothing to quell or reverse the crime crisis, the appointment of four ministers of national security, the Section 34 issue, (and) the restart of the Flying Squad”. He accused the Prime Minister and her Attorney General of making “blunder after blunder” with the country feeling no safer today than it did before the Partnership came into office. “The murders have become more gruesome, no one is safe except the Prime Minister with her heavy security detail.” Maharaj said people are now living in a land where murder, mayhem and lawlessness are the norm.
Cuba weapons shipment to North Korea violated arms embargo – UN UNITED NATIONS CMC – A team of United Nations sanctions investigators have found that a shipment of Cuban weapons to North Korea last summer violated a UN arms embargo on the Asian nation. The investigators also said there was a “comprehensive planned strategy to conceal”, Japan’s Kyodo News International news agency reports. The report to the UN Security Council states that the Cuban shipment constituted “sanctions violations,” the news agency said. Panamanian authorities discovered the weapons, including anti-aircraft missile radar systems and engines for MiG warplanes, hidden under 10,000 tons of Cuban sugar when they seized the Chong Chon Gang freighter on its way to North Korea, according to the Miami Herald. It said North Korea, officially named the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), “used a
string of companies for the shipment,” adding that the freighter turned off its locator beacon while it sailed in the Caribbean Sea. “The employment of so many role-players in support of the trip suggests a network of entities centrally managed working together to deflect scrutiny in order to evade sanctions by minimizing the DPRK’s visibility in transactions,” the UN
investigators wrote. Meantime, the Panamanian government said that the Chong Chon Gang sailed back to Cuba on Saturday, with most of its crew, after paying twothirds of a US$1 million fine. Cuba had said that it was dispatching obsolete Soviet-era weapons to be repaired in North Korea then returned to the island.
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St. Lucians to pay less for electricity CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC – St Lucians will be paying less for electricity, as a result of a 2.6 cent reduction in the tariff for 2013. The country’s sole provider, the St Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) announced that the basic tariff for electricity has been reduced, starting with bills for February and continuing the remainder of the year. LUCELEC Manager Trevor Louisy explained that the basic tariff is what LUCELEC customers pay per unit of electricity without the fuel surcharge. It is reviewed in January of every year in accordance with the Electricity Supply Act and
reflects the average price of fuel for the preceding 12 months. Louisy said the reduction in the basic tariff is a result of the average price of fuel for 2013 being lower than the previous average price LUCELEC paid in 2012. “These reductions are largely due to a fuel price hedging programme which LUCELEC has had in place for the past five years. “It is designed to reduce large fluctuations in the fuel surcharge,” he said. LUCELEC’s Corporate Communications Manager Roger Joseph says what the customer pays from month to month is the total of the basic tariff plus the fuel surcharge (which is calculated each
Trevor Louisy month). LUCELEC customers will see details of the basic tariff and fuel surcharge on their monthly electricity bills.
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Kaieteur News
We don’t want to “flood” Israel with Palestinian refugees: Abbas RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Addressing a sticking point in U.S.brokered peace talks, President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday dismissed charges by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he wanted to “flood” Israel with Palestinian refugees. Abbas spoke to about 300 Israeli students in the West Bank city of Ramallah two weeks before Netanyahu meets President Barack Obama in Washington as an April deadline looms in negotiations for a two-state solution. He said the Palestinians wanted to keep alive the refugee issue in the talks resumed after a three-year freeze in July under U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s tutelage, to ensure a resolution of the rights of Palestinians who fled or were driven away during 1948 hostilities when Israel was founded. “But we do not seek either to flood Israel with millions (of refugees) or to change its social composition,” Abbas
Mahmoud Abbas said. His comments were seen as his clearest suggestion yet he might accept Israel’s demands that refugees be permitted to “return” only to a future Palestinian state. Netanyahu had accused Abbas in January of being unwilling accept that Israel should not be “deluged” by refugees as part of a deal under negotiation to achieve Palestinian statehood in land occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East
war. Reiterating his insistence that Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state - a demand Abbas has rejected - Netanyahu had said: “Otherwise what we are being asked to do is allow the establishment of a Palestinian state ...which will try to flood us with refugees”, undermining Israel’s own existence. Despite the signs of possible progress on the refugee issue, though, the sides still seemed far apart on other disputes such as the Palestinian demand for a capital in East Jerusalem, which Israel has made a part of its capital and annexed in a move never recognized internationally. With both Netanyahu and Abbas facing pressure from respective political allies against m a k i n g c o n c essions on core issues, Kerry has said he hopes to publish a framework or possible blueprint for an eventual peace agreement.
Monday February 17, 2014
UN seeks foreign probe of Sri Lanka war crimes Colombo (AFP) - The United Nations’ human rights chief has recommended an international investigation into war crimes committed in Sri Lanka during the final stages of its Tamil separatist conflict, a report said yesterday. The local Sunday Times newspaper in Sri Lanka said Navi Pillay has asked the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to set up an independent probe, saying that Colombo “consistently failed to establish the truth” and ensure accountability for the atrocities, despite repeated calls. “Establish an international inquiry mechanism to further investigate the alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and monitor any domestic accountability process,” the Sunday Times quoted Pillay as saying. The newspaper quoted from Pillay’s report to next month’s UNHRC sessions in Geneva, an advance copy of which had been given to Colombo for its observations.
It accused Sri Lanka of failing to probe rights abuses and continuing to violate democratic freedoms. There was no immediate comment from the Sri Lankan foreign ministry, but Colombo has repeatedly said that its troops did not commit any war crimes. However, it has asked for more time to ensure ethnic reconciliation between majority Sinhalese and minority ethnic Tamils. Pillay’s recommendations noted fresh emerging evidence of what took place during the final stages of the ethnic war that ended in May 2009 with the crushing of the top leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a no-holdsbarred offensive. The UN has previously alleged that up to 40,000 Tamil civilians may have been killed during the final months of fighting and blamed many of the atrocities on government forces, a charge Colombo vehemently denies. “...National mechanisms
have consistently failed to establish the truth and achieve justice (in Sri Lanka),” Pillay noted. “The High Commissioner (Pillay) believes this can no longer be explained as a function of time or technical capacity, but that it is fundamentally a question of political will.” The United States, which leads international calls for war crimes investigations in Sri Lanka, has said it will move its third censure resolution against Colombo in as many years when the UNHRC holds its next session from early March. A report released by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in Australia earlier this month claimed that Sri Lankan soldiers committed the “vast majority” of crimes in a final government offensive against the Tamil Tigers who fought for outright independence. The UN has estimated that at least 100,000 people were killed in Sri Lanka’s Tamil separatist war between 1972 and 2009.
Monday February 17, 2014
Kaieteur News
Syria says US created “negative climate” in Geneva BEIRUT (AP) — Syria’s foreign minister yesterday accused the United States of trying to create a “negative climate” for dialogue at the second round of peace talks in Geneva. The comments by Walid al-Moallem come a day after the meetings between Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government and the opposition seeking his ouster ended without finding a way of breaking the impasse in the nearly three-year-old conflict. Al-Moallem spoke to the state news service about the talks as the Syrian delegation was returning from Switzerland to Damascus yesterday. He said the U.S. tried to “create a very negative climate for dialogue in Geneva.” Syria’s conflict started as largely peaceful protests against Assad in March 2011 but later degenerated into a civil war in which more than 140,000 people have been killed, according to activists. The U.N.’s human rights office said in January it has stopped updating the death toll from the war, confirming that it can no longer verify the sources of information that led to its last count of at least 100,000 in late July. Millions have been driven out of their homes, seeking shelter in neighboring countries and in safer parts of their homeland. Washington, its European and Persian Gulf allies are backing the opposition in Syria’s conflict. Russia and Iran are supporting Assad’s government. U.N.-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi apologized to the Syrian people for failing to reach progress. “I am very, very sorry, and I apologize to the Syrian people that their hopes which were very, very high that something will happen here,” Brahimi said yesterday. More than 5,792 people have reportedly have been killed in Syria since the Geneva talks began on Jan. 22, activists said. Brahimi explained to reporters in Geneva that the second round of talks ended Saturday with the Syrian government refusing to discuss how to create a transitional government body, as the opposition and its Western backers insist. Ending violence and combating terrorism had been the main thrust of the
Bashar Jaafari government’s stance in Geneva, and both were put up for discussions. “Unfortunately the government has refused, which raises the suspicion of the opposition that in fact the government doesn’t want to discuss the TGB (transitional governing body) at all,” Brahimi said. The mediator would consult with U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about a way forward. The talks’ modest achievement has been a U.N.-brokered truce in the central city of Homs that has allowed aid workers to deliver some food and medicine for hundreds trapped in the rebel-held areas. More than 1,000 people were also evacuated from the city, which has been under government blockade for more than a year. Yesterday, an official with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent said its workers have entered the western Damascus suburb of Moadamiyeh to deliver food for the first time in 15 months of government blockade. Khaled Erksoussi, the head of operations with the Red Crescent told The Associated Press that the agency was allowed to take 500 food parcels into the suburb. A truce has been in place in the area for two months, Erksoussi said, but Moadamiyah remains surrounded by army checkpoints and troops. Erksoussi appealed for more aid to be allowed for at least 10,000 residents of the suburb that was attacked by chemical weapons in August.
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Lawyers for Egypt’s deposed President Mursi stage walk-out CAIRO (Reuters) Lawyers for deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi withdrew in protest after he appeared in court yesterday on charges of conspiring with foreign groups to commit terrorist acts in Egypt. Mursi’s legal team protested they could not hear their client speak from inside a soundproof glass cage. The judge controls the microphone that allows defendants to be heard. The judge ordered a lawyer’s syndicate to assign 10 lawyers to defend Mursi at the trial’s next hearing on February 23. “My professional conscience will not permit me to continue...in these void proceedings,” lawyer Mohamed Salim al-Awa told Reuters. In what they call “the biggest case of conspiracy in the history of Egypt”, prosecutors say Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood hatched a “terrorist plan” in 2005 involving the Palestinian Hamas group as well as Shi’ite Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah. Hamas has dismissed the charges as “fabrications and lies”. The Brotherhood also rejects the allegations, saying it is a peaceful organization with no links to any violent groups. The Brotherhood accuses the army of staging a coup and reviving a dictatorship, an allegation the military denies. Islamic militant groups have stepped up bombing and shooting attacks on security forces since Mursi’s
A supporter of Egypt’s army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi rallies outside a police academy, where the trial of ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood, yesterday. (REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh) fall, killing hundreds. In the latest attack in Sinai, an explosion on a tourist bus killed two Koreans and the Egyptian driver yesterday, security sources said. The Brotherhood propelled Mursi to election victory in 2012 but was driven underground after the army ousted the Islamist leader in July after mass protests against his rule. The state, which has declared the Brotherhood a terrorist group, has killed about 1,000 of its members on the streets and jailed thousands, including its top leaders. Egypt’s Western allies have exerted little pressure on Cairo to end what critics say are widespread human rights
violations. Mursi is on trial in three cases and charged in two others. In the latest case, the prosecutor also charged Brotherhood leaders Mohamed Badie, Khairat ElShater, Mahmoud Ezzat and others with crimes including committing acts of terrorism in Egypt and divulging military secrets to a foreign state. A total of 36 people are on trial. “What are you so afraid of? Are you afraid because you have no public support?” Mursi asked the panel of judges. The prosecution has said the Brotherhood’s plan was to send “elements” to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip
for military training by Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Upon their return to Egypt, they would join forces with militant groups in the Sinai Peninsula, the Egyptian territory that borders Israel to the east, it has alleged. After the 2011 uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak, the Brotherhood exploited the chaos to carry out attacks on security forces in North Sinai and elsewhere, it said. The prosecutor said the plotters aimed to establish an “Islamic emirate” in North Sinai if Mursi had not been declared president after the 2012 presidential election.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 17, 2014
‘Difficult’ for an independent Scotland to join EU: Barroso London (AFP) - European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso warned yesterday that it would be “difficult, if not impossible” for an independent Scotland to join the European Union. Barroso’s blunt statement ramps up the pressure ahead of Scotland’s key referendum on independence from the United Kingdom, after Britain’s warning that it will not be allowed to keep the pound sterling if it votes to break away. The pro-independence governing Scottish National Party (SNP) criticised B a r r o s o ’s comments amid growing anger over Britain’s stance on the currency. “I believe it’s going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible” for Scotland to win approval from all other member states in order to join the European Union, Barroso told BBC television. Scots are due to vote on independence on September 18 in a historic referendum that could result in scrapping its 300year link with the UK. The SNP is campaigning for a “yes” vote to independence, while the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats are in the “no” camp and want Scotland’s 5.3 million people to stay. “I don’t want to
Jose Manuel Barroso interfere on your referendum here, your democratic discussion here, but of course it will be extremely difficult to get the approval of all the other member states to have a new member coming from one member state,” Barroso said. “We have seen Spain has been opposing even the recognition of Kosovo, for instance. So it is to some extent a similar case because it’s a new country and so I believe it’s going to be extremely difficult, if not impossible, a new member state coming out of one of our countries getting the agreement of the others.” But he added: “It’s for the Scottish people... to decide about the future of
Scotland.” The comments drew a sharp rebuke from Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. “This is a preposterous assertion — as the ridiculous comparison with Kosovo illustrates,” said Sturgeon, who oversees the Scottish government’s referendum strategy. “Scotland is already in the EU and has been for 40 years. “As Mr Barroso rightly says, the question of Scotland’s independent membership of the EU is a matter for the democratic wishes of the people of Scotland and the views of other member states — not the European Commission,” she said. “The fact of the matter is that no member state has said that it would veto S c o t l a n d ’s c o n t i n u i n g membership.” Under EU regulations, if part of the territory of a member country ceases to be part of that state and gains independence, then the newly-formed state would need to reapply for membership. The Scottish government has previously said it will seek to negotiate EU membership in the 18 months after the referendum, should Scots vote in favour of leaving the UK. British Foreign Secretary William Hague, who is from Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative party, has declared that independence would leave Scots stuck outside the EU and losing influence on the world stage. Britain’s ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition government has already warned that an independent Scotland would have to leave the pound. Finance minister George Osborne argued Thursday that there was “no legal reason” why the rest of the United Kingdom would have to share the currency. S c o t l a n d ’s First Minister Alex Salmond, who heads the SNP, wants to retain the pound rather than adopt the euro. Salmond wrote on Sunday to Cameron alleging “bullying” behaviour by ministers over the debate. All three of Britain’s three main political parties will not let an independent Scotland retain the pound. The referendum will ask voters: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
Monday February 17, 2014
Kaieteur News
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President summons centre-left’s Renzi as Italy seeks new govt. (Reuters) - Italian President Giorgio Napolitano summoned Matteo Renzi to a meeting today at which he is expected to ask the centre-left leader to form a government that must overhaul one of the most troubled economies in the euro zone. Napolitano is likely to ask the slick-talking mayor of Florence to form the country’s 65th government since World War Two in the meeting, which a statement from the president’s office said was scheduled for 10.30 a.m. (0930 GMT) in Rome. Enrico Letta resigned as prime minister on Friday after his Democratic Party (PD) forced him to make way for Renzi, 39, who is promising radical reforms to the euro zone’s third-biggest economy and a government that can survive until 2018. Renzi would become the youngest prime minister in Italian history. But to take power he will need the support of a centreright rival, and if he gets it, he will become the third premier in a row picked by the president and not by popular vote. This process is not widely welcomed in a country where a long-entrenched political elite, resistant to reform, has grown unpopular due to systemic corruption and mismanagement. “Renzi committed an original sin, which is that he will become prime minister without an election,” said Giovanni Orsina, deputy head of Rome’s Luiss School of Government. “Now in order to make that original sin forgotten, he needs to govern very effectively.” After getting a mandate from the president, Renzi will have to strike a deal with the small New Centre Right (NCD) party, whose support the PD needs to command a parliamentary majority. The party, which split from ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi last year, said it wants to see a written programme that puts a clear centre-right stamp on tax, jobs and family policies before backing Renzi. On the economic front the two sides are likely to find common ground. Renzi has already said he backs lower taxes affecting employment, but they differ on social issues such as immigration and laws allowing gay and lesbian civil partnerships. “We are decisive. If we say no to the government, it will not be born,” NCD leader Angelino Alfano said at a party rally on Sunday. Renzi may meet Alfano in Rome on Sunday evening to hammer
out an agreement, some Italian media reported. Backroom horse-trading for key posts in Renzi’s cabinet by the NCD and other small allies is in full swing, Italian media said yesterday, and once completed, Renzi must swear in his team and seek confidence votes in both houses of parliament. Then the government will take the helm of an economy that grew by a meagre 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, the first sign of improving business activity seen since the country entered its worst post-war recession in mid-2011. In an interview with SkyTG24 television on Sunday, caretaker Economy Minister Fabrizio Saccomanni reflected on the difficulties a new government will face. Up until two weeks ago, Renzi had refused the idea of taking power without first winning an election. But his mood shifted when Italy’s main business lobby and its biggest labour union publicly abandoned Letta and called for more speed on reforms. “In Italy there is growing impatience because everyone wants to see a rapid turnaround in growth and in job creation, especially for the young,” Saccomanni said. “These are necessities that I fully agree with and that I fought for, but one must understand that Italy’s economy is like a giant oil tanker that cannot turn on a dime.” Gross domestic product has shrunk by about 7 percent in the last five years and industrial output has fallen by 25 percent. Hundreds of thousands of companies have gone out of business and joblessness has risen to levels not seen since the 1970s. Further complicating any government’s attempt to stimulate growth is the enormous public debt - at 2 trillion euros ($2.7 trillion) it is more than 130 percent of total annual economic output. Renzi has pledged a “Jobs Act” with tax cuts for employers and a new contract scheme to promote hiring. He has said that European Union deficit rules should not trump the need to revive growth, but the previous two unelected prime ministers had little luck in making the major reforms they had promised. When Mario Monti replaced Berlusconi during the 2011 euro zone debt crisis, he calmed markets with significant cuts to spending, above all on pensions. But such austerity worsened the recession, and
he failed to ease rigid rules on hiring and firing. Letta took over a right-left government after last year’s deadlocked election and satisfied EU officials by keeping a tight rein on spending, but made no major economic reforms. In what may turn out to be an omen, the PD was disputing a tight race for the regional governorship of the island of Sardinia on Sunday, with Berlusconi’s Forza Italia incumbent, Ugo Cappellacci, running head-tohead against the PD challenger Francesco Pigliaru, according to polls.
It is the first electoral test the PD has encountered since Renzi won a party primary in December, and he would no doubt like it to go better than the soccer match on Saturday between his favourite Florence side Fiorentina and Inter Milan. Renzi attended the game, shaking hands and mixing with fans at the Florence stadium after working on his government team all day in the mayor’s office. Inter, which had not won an away game since November, defeated Fiorentina 2-1. ($1 = 0.7307 euros)
Matteo Renzi
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Kaieteur News
GSCL Inc Republic Cup
Arjune stars as Regal thump Floodlight to take Masters title By Zaheer Mohamed Skipper Mahendra Arjune stroked a fine unbeaten half century as Regal defeated Floodlight XI to win the masters final of the inaugural Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) Republic Cup twenty 20 overs competition yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club. Arjune slammed six fours and three sixes in a top score of 78, guiding Regal who batted first to 163-5 in 20 overs in front of a fair size crowd. Troy Kippins then grabbed 4-16 to help restrict Floodlight to 141-7 in 20 overs, in reply. Regal found themselves
in a spot of bother at 34-4, but Arjune and Eric Thomas resurrected the innings with a fifth wicket stand of 78 with sensible batting before Thomas was dismissed for 33. Mahase Chunilall joined his skipper and added an unbroken 85 for the sixth wicket to see their team to a respectable total. Diaram Persaud took 2-8. Floodlight in reply lost a few early wickets, but Wayne Jones and Randy Khellawan steadied the chase somewhat with a fifth wicket stand of 58. Jones was then bowled by former West Indies test off-spinner and current
chairman of selectors Clyde Butts for 40 (4x4). Khellawan soon followed for an even half century with six fours and one six. Patrick Khan (13) and Ramesh Narine (12) were their next best scorers. David Harper and Sahadeo Hardeo were the other wicket takers for the winners. Regal received a trophy and $500,000, while each player was given a medal. Floodlight collected a trophy and $200,000. Arjune received the man of the match award. The open final was contested last night between Wolf’s Warriors and Trophy Stall.
NSC/GTTA Mashramani competition
Johnson, Ninvalle, Edghill triumph Elishaba Johnson, Khalil Ninvalle and Chelsea Edghill turned in commendable performances to take the boys U-15 and U-13 and girls U-18 titles respectively when the National Sports Commission (NSC)/ Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Mashramani competition continued yesterday at the National Gymnasium. Johnson beat Kyle Edghill 4-0, Ninvalle overcame Terrence Raush 3-0 and Chelsea Edghill beat Seavea Clarkston 3-0 in their respective finals.
Johnson got the better of Khalil Ninvalle 13-11,119,11-6 in their semi-final game and Kyle Edghill defeated Miguel Wong 113,11-4,11-2 in the next semi-final match up earlier. Ninvalle overcame Tariq Saunders 11-7, 11-11,13-11 and 11-18 en route to the final, while Raush beat Jeremy Singh 5-11,11-11,118,11-5 in their semi-final encounter. Johnson presented himself with another birthday gift when he overcame Stephon Corlette 4-3 in the boys U-18
singles final. He then teamed up with Corlette to win the junior doubles. Clarkston grabbed the top podium spot in the U-11 and U-13 Girls singles by beating Abigail Martin 3-0 in both finals. The U-18 mixed doubles went to Chelsea Edghill and Kyle Edghill; they trounced Shamar Britton and Navea Clarkston 3-0. Edghill and Christie Lopes beat Joel Cod and Pricilla Greaves 3-0 in the junior girls’ doubles. Greaves overcame Seavea Clarkston 3-0 in the girls U-15 final.
E-Networks Inc. partners with... From page 29 small pockets of players to develop and popularize the sport. “We now have about 800 players involved in the programme and I can tell you that baseball is here to stay,” he stated. He spoke of the League’s attempt to offer some amount of ease to those who would have missed the opportunity to play sports in their earlier years, adding that getting involved in baseball might help to bridge that gap. Singh reminded that nation building is not only done in the classrooms and boardrooms, but on the field as well. He said the collaboration is well suited to both organizations, E-Networks Inc as medium to promote what is being done by the GBL. Prinstein, who has scouted in places such as Australia, Hungary, Holland
among others said he was not fazed by coming to a country without any baseball history since he knew that cricket was a major part of its legacy and from earlier experiences, the latter tend to facilitate the growth of the other, since it mirrors each other in many technical aspects. He said there are also advantages of gaining scholarships for talented players, especially those who combine their on-field skill with academic excellence. Ambassador Hardt said it was a pleasure to be present at the occasion, adding that it was good to see the evolution of the sport in just two years. He noted that it was indeed a pleasure to see the Organisers bring the American experience to Guyana, informing that while the two have slightly different mechanics, they are quite similar. He, too, highlighted the
fact that there are scholarship opportunities for those who combine academic excellence with on-field brilliance. Dr. Anthony in his presentation admitted very little knowledge of the sport, but for a little research he had done shortly before his arrival. He, however, stated that it was quite fascinating to see the heightened interest in the sport which has only been introduced to Guyana for just around two years. Dr. Anthony said he was sure that Guyana could unearth the talent to go to the USA and excel at the highest level. He praised the Organisers for granting the youths the opportunity to play the sport, adding that by televising it, the interest could then increase. Also present yesterday were aspiring members of the GBL along with Coach Rabindranauth Seeram.
Monday February 17, 2014
SANTOKIE - IPL pick a dream come true Jamaica Star - Kingston, Jamaica - Fast bowler Krishmar Santokie has described his recent pick in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction as a dream come true. Overlooked by teams during last year’s staging of the event, Santokie was selected by defending champions Mumbai Indians on the second auction day of two, on Thursday, for US$50,000. He is set to join West Indies teammate, the big-hitting Kieron Pollard on the Mumbai roster. Pollard was retained by the champions after their win over Dwayne Bravo’s Chennai Super Kings during last season’s final. “It’s like a dream come true,” Santokie said. “Since the T20 format came in it has always been my desire to play in the World Twenty20, the IPL, the Australian Big Bash League, and so on. “So to see the IPL, which we also know is the biggest stage for the format outside of the international arena, I am extremely happy.” Widely regarded as one of the best Twenty20 bowlers in the region, given his ability to swing the ball and vary his pace at high speeds, Santokie entered the auction on the back of an outstanding season last year in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League. He guided Guyana Amazon Warriors to the final against Jamaica Tallawahs, before going on to cop the Most Valuable Player award after finishing with a tournament-high 16 wickets from nine games. The 29-year-old is the only first-timer on a list of eight West Indians that were drafted
Krishmar Santokie during the action. The others are fellow seam bowlers Ravi Rampaul ($150,000 - Royal Challengers Bangalore), Jason Holder (Sun Risers Hyderbad - US$125,000) and Kevon Cooper (Rajasthan Royals - US$50,000), all-rounders Darren Sammy (US$583,000 - Sun Risers Hyderbad) and André Russell (US$100,000 Kolkata Knight Riders), leg-spinner Samuel Badree (Chennai Super Kings - US$50,000), and batsmen, Dwayne Smith (Chennai Super Kings - US$750,000).
SMITH, EMRIT TOP PERFORMERS... From page 28 T&T quickie Ravi Rampaul had nine each. Sunil Narine, the world rated 25-year-old T&T offspinner and 24-year-old Guyanese left-arm Test spinner Veerasammy Permaul, took eight wickets each and were also among the top five bowlers. West Indies wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, who scored a futile 68 in the final, had the most dismissals (6) in the tournament and Lambert who scored 122 runs and bagged 5 wickets was adjudged the best All-Rounder. Guyana’s Ronsford Beaton was the quickest bowler on show but his pace was only sustained in his opening spell and strength training is an area he needs to work on. But he is only 21 and if properly handled, has a bright future. Chris Barnwell, who could be considered unlucky to be dropped from the West Indies t20 side and Leon Johnson, also had good performances for Guyana. Bajan off-spinner Ashley Nurse had six wickets and the only five-wicket haul but all of his wickets came in one match on a spin friendly surface, while Carlos Braithwaite, Jason Holder, Fidel Edwards, Rampaul, Mervin Matthew, Delorn
Johnson, Paul Wintz, Beaton, Emrit and Andre Russell all had good spells during the tournament. But Jerome Taylor, who has not played for the West Indies in four years, made an auspicious return to the Jamaican team with six wickets at an average of 11.83 and an economy rate of 3.06. The 29-year-old Taylor was arguably the best fast bowler on display. Most games were played during the week and all the games in Trinidad were Day/ Night affairs starting at 14:00hrs. However, this is the height of the Carnival season here and fans only turned up in their numbers for some of the home team’s big games and a few of the Guyana matches, since there is a large Guyanese population in Trinidad. However, tickets for the final were sold out and the atmosphere at the ‘Oval’ was absolutely fantastic, as the Trinis, arguably the most patriotic people in the Caribbean when it comes to National events, created a Sea of Red in the stands in support of their team. There was live radio coverage by the Caribbean Super Station, while ESPN carried the games (except the two in Tobago) live around the world giving the players
International exposure. Tickets were cheap and while the advertising campaign was good it competed with all the different Carnival fetes on the Island. Many also feel the tournament is too short and that each team should have the opportunity of playing each other once in the preliminary with the top two teams playing in a final, which will give especially the ‘new players’ more exposure. Imran ‘McSood’ Amjad, the St Marten based NAGIO CEO told Kaieteur News that more matches would be a good idea but the problem could be drafting out what he described as an ideal format. “Apart from the extra funding needed for a longer tournament, our biggest worry is how to come up with an ideal format that is not too long and drawn out to become boring, while still giving the players more matches,” Amjad explained. Champions: Barbados Runner-up: T&T Man of the Match: Dwayne Smith Most runs: Dwayne Smith Most wickets: Rayad Emrit Best All Rounder: Tamar Lambert Best fielder: Evin Lewis Best Keeper: Denesh Ramdin