Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
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For erroneous identity theft story...
Airy Hall accident involving speeding army officer…
Guyana Times slapped with multi-million$$$ lawsuit in NY
Teen was struck on parapet, hurled into trench
The Guyana Times newspaper is in double legal jeopardy for its January 31, 2013 publication of a false and slanderous article alleging that Rickford Burke, Radio Talk Show Host and President of the New York based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID), was arrested in New York and charged with identity theft on January 15, 2013. The article carried the headline “Rickford Burke charged for identity theft.” The writer even made up facts of a purported crime and alleged Burke faced up to seven years in prison if convicted. However, readers were stunned when it was announced that the allegations were a complete fantasy. Burke was in fact the victim of identity fraud. Court records show that on January 15, he received a traffic violations summons from New York Police. CGID Communications Director Jevon Suralie in a statement disclosed that the summons was due violations accumulated by other persons who have been driving under Burke’s name unbeknownst to him. He said Burke has battled identity theft since 1999 when his wallet and identification documents were stolen. Burke’s Attorney in Guyana Nigel Hughes slapped the newspaper with a $20 million libel lawsuit. Burke has now slapped another multi-million (US) dollar lawsuit on the paper’s New York edition, Guyana Times International, through Brooklyn Attorney Donnell Suares. The Times is owned by Dr. Bobby Ramroop, a close friend of Guyana’s former President Bharrat Jagdeo. Ramroop acquired several
Rickford Burke State-owned companies during Jagdeo’s presidency. He also owns a radio and television station. Both ran the false story and have also been sued. Burke is a harsh critic of Jagdeo and the PPP government. The State-owned Guyana Chronicle and NCN Television, Multi Technology Vision Inc., Little Rock Television, Guyana Times and Presidential staffer Kwame McCoy were each sued in Guyana for $20 million for broadcasting or publishing the story. The Chronicle and NCN Television have retracted the story and apologized. Burke has said that the apologies were “wanting, disingenuous and lacked prominence to the offensive publication.” His Attorney, Nigel Hughes, has written the companies rejecting their retractions and has asked for “substantial damages.” His Attorneys in New York have also sued owner of the PPP website Newguymedia.com, Clinton Dubissette of Brooklyn. US Federal authorities last week forced web hosting company “Blue Host Inc., to shut down the PPP’s website for
violating federal law and terms of use policies. Consequently all references to Burke were removed from the site. Attorney Suares, in a letter to editors of the Guyana Times International, noted that the publication has acted with exceptional maliciousness and a premeditation and intent at character assassination. He said that although the Times received documentary evidence that Burke’s encounter with New York City Police on January 15, was in connection with an alleged traffic infraction, they refused to recant the libelous article. He observed that the Times’ reckless action was intended to cause grave injury to Burke’s reputation. The newspaper was given fortyeight hours to publish a front page retraction. Suralie said the false story was sent to Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar by a PPP supporter in New York who was recently arrested by the FBI for fraud. He added that Burke had condemned the individual for making derogatory and racist comments about AfroGuyanese. He said the Institute plans to write the Judge and prosecutors in the case. Suralie said a State media official informed CGID that they were forced by Ramotar’s Information Liaison Kwame McCoy to carry the story. “We have been apprised by State Departments and Caricom leaders that Guyana’s Office of the President is misusing resources of the State to target and smear Burke because of his political and human rights activism against the ethnocratic PPP government,” Suralie concluded.
GPL worker with electrical burns…
Power Company launches probe The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Company has launched a probe to find out how a 19-year-old electrician ended up with lifethreatening electrical burns at Bath Settlement, Berbice last Thursday. Seon Scott of Limlair Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Scott is in the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nursing burns to this body. He has also suffered internal injuries. Doctors at the health institute have rated his
condition as “critical.” He is said to be paralyzed from his left hand to his hip. According to information received, the 19-year-old GPL worker was at the top of a utility pole at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice when he reportedly tumbled from the pole with “scorches” on his body. He was unconscious and was rushed to the Fort Wellington Hospital by his colleagues before being transferred to the GPHC. Kaieteur News was unable to contact the injured man’s colleagues.
The injured Seon Scott
The closely knit community of Airy Hall, Mahaicony on the East Coast of Demerara remains in mourning over the death of 13-year old Troy Fraser, who was killed on the spot Saturday night by a speeding car driven by a drunk Guyana Defence Force Officer. A day after the accident which occurred on the Airy Hall Public Road, villagers sat in small groups discussing the manner in which the teenager’s life was snuffed out and lamenting the wanton disregard for the law on the part of someone who they said should have known better. Fraser was picked up from the parapet in front of his home by the car driven by a Second Lieutenant and deposited in a nearby ditch several yards away. Reports reaching this newspaper stated that the army officer and three of his friends were engaged in a drag race when he lost control of his Toyota Carina and slammed into Fraser. When this newspaper visited his community yesterday, the teen’s mother, Yvette Fraser, could not contain her grief for her youngest child. She cried as she recalled how news of his death was relayed to her.
The woman said that she was at work as a security guard at the Mahaicony Village Office when a friend told her that her son was the victim of a tragic road accident. She said that she hurried to the Mahaicony Hospital where she saw her son’s lifeless body lying on a stretcher. “I just look at he and I walk away, nobody didn’t tell me nothing,” she recalled. What is more gut wrenching is the fact that the driver of the car is known to the dead teen’s parents and the rest of the Mahaicony community. Troy Fraser’s father, Earland Abrams, lives across the road from his reputed wife and the lad spends most of his nights there since his mother is often away at work. Abrams said that he was out tending to his cows leaving his son with some neighbours nearby. He said that someone came and told him that his son was struck down and he immediately left what he was doing to investigate. When he got to the scene, his son had already been taken to the hospital and he subsequently learnt that he had died. “They say he went and buy some cake or something
and whilst coming back, de car dem been racing and de one hit he and pitch he in de trench,” Abrams said. “I know de driver as a small boy. It shock me…I tell he ‘man, if you want fuh drive so, go pon de circuit and drive so’,” Abrams told this newspaper. The death of his son will certainly take its toll on him in a significant way, since the teen would usually assist with the cows as Abrams is presently suffering from a fractured hip. Abrams described the bend in the road where the accident occurred as a dangerous turn, since he has seen many similar tragedies there over the years. “Which day I see a car catch afire pun dis road….I den sit down pun dis step and me see a car hit de post and den fire. And the day before yesterday (Friday) a car coming from Berbice and a minibus hit up not far from hey,” Abrams stated. He is calling for speed humps to be placed on either side of the turn at Airy Hall, Mahaicony to reduce the risk of more accidents. Meanwhile, the GDF officer was admitted to the Georgetown Hospital where he remained up to press time last night.
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Kaieteur News
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
Editorial
More Sugar Questions When the EU unilaterally abrogated the Sugar Protocol between it and the ACP countries including Guyana back in 2005, it cut the price of our sugar by 36% over four years. One of the drivers for its volte-face was a WTO dispute finding which found that the EU sugar regime was in breach of its WTO obligations. But while the reform involved the reduction in the European sugar price, sugar producers were partially compensated for the cut in support prices. As we were reminded three days ago, the EU also established “accompanying measures for Sugar Protocol countries affected by the reform of the EU sugar regime”. They assisted several ACP Countries, including Guyana, through a multi-annual strategy for the period of 2006-2013, to enhance the competitiveness of the sugar and cane sector, promote the economic diversification of sugar-dependent areas, and/or address broader impacts generated by the adaption process. The amount of money set aside for the assistance was • 1 244 million for the period of 2006-2013. We received $24.7B since 2006 with a further $5.6B last December, with one year more to go on the support program. A further amount, up to •23.4M, is scheduled to be disbursed in 2013 on signing of the Financing Agreement for the 2012 /2013 programme. At the time of the price cut, we, like all patriotic Guyanese railed at the ‘perfidy’ of the EU but we must accept that they did not actually throw us to the dogs. The $31.3 billion that we received up to now was not chicken feed and we have to ask exactly what was done with all that money. The strategy adopted by the government and the industry was to expand production in the Berbice region (the Skeldon Modernisation Plan) and to ‘diversify within the industry.’ We will not comment further on the first part of that strategy save to say that even though we might concede that the series of unfortunate events that crippled the operation of the factory might have been unforeseen, the dashed expectation that cane farmers would contribute onethird of the new production (600,000 tonnes of cane annually at least) certainly was not. What we would like to discuss is the ‘diversification’ strategy and the use of the EU money to execute same. The government had devised a “Guyana National Action Plan (GNAP)”, which focuses on adaptation of the sugar industry by measures which include the upgrading of sugar factories, adding value through s u g a r p a c k a g i n g a n d c o - g e n e r a t i o n o f p o w e r, increasing sugar production and mechanising field operations, thereby enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of the sector. Up to now all we have been told is the diversification was to add value to the sugar we were producing by packaging it in sachets and bags so that our famous ‘Demerara Brown Sugar” could be sold at higher prices at the retail level. The Enmore Packaging plant was built at a cost of $2.5 billion so that there was some $22.2 billion left over to spend. No so incidentally, the Enmore plant has never operated at its 40,000 tonnes annual capacity and last year it was revealed that bulk sugar was being exported to fill contracts with the plant lying idle most of the time. Only 10,000 tonnes were packages in 2012. But just as germanely, there has been no cogeneration of power to be supplied to the national grid: the Skeldon co-gen was built out of the famous US$200 m i l l i o n l o a n s . We h a v e b e e n h e a r i n g a b o u t ‘mechanisation of field operations’ but that has certainly not led to ‘enhanced competitiveness and productivity of the sector.’ If anything, field productivity has declined from the days of the colonial Bookers when over thirtythree tonnes of cane per acre was produced to the present (at best) twenty tonnes. We will not mention the drop of productivity in the factories that used to produce one ton of sugar from ten tonnes of cane to the present eleven-plus tonnes. Where has all the money gone?
Monday February 18, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news
The Mc Lean and Rai issues are relevant to all Guyanese DEAR EDITOR, This is the nature of the beast that Guyanese have to contend with in the modern era that is 2013. The article “After several demands...Former Army Chief Norman Mc Lean sues for G$7.9 million gratuity” by veteran Journalist George Barclay, smacks you in the face and in your conscience. I personally hold no briefs for retired Major General Mc Lean, for he presided over every arm of the repressive apparatus of the state that incarcerated me personally, on every pretext, so many times during those years, that I have lost count. However, on migration, I took with me a copy of a photograph of the Albion Police Station, which primarily, over those years, served and was tantamount to being my second home among others, including No 51, Fort Wellington, Vigilance and Brickdam Police Stations. During one such incarceration, Police Corporal Cort on striping me of my leather belt and shoes at the Albion lockups, was about to call me “Comrade Peters” but he halted and in his next breath blurted out “No, you not a Comrade, you are a Jaganite.” However, the retired Major General served his masters with distinction, including in his civic life, with his service to sports
etc. At the end of his service, he expected to receive, without hindrance, his gratuity entitlements for the period January 1991-January 1993. Beginning with the Forbes Burnham Administration all through to the Bharat Jagdeo Administration, they have all denied the goodly gentlemen his well deserved entitlement. Astonishingly, this was not the first instance of the stubborn refusal of the Guyana Administration to honour its patriotic duty to pay a sacred commitment to a Public Servant at the highest level. There is the well established example of the famous Balram Singh Rai, former Minister of Education and later Home Affairs Minister under Governments headed by Cheddi Jagan in 1957-1962. Mr Rai v i r t u a l l y, singlehandedly and courageously saved the then Capital City of Georgetown from the fires, arson and destruction raging around Georgetown, now famously referred to as “Black Friday”. For a full and exhaustive account of this episode in Guyanese history and B.S. Rai, please read Batoram Ramharack’s seminal work, “Against The Grain...Balram Singh Rai and the Politics of Guyana”. In discussing this letter with a Guyanese Social Scientist here in New York, he questioned my interest about
writing of Mc Lean or Rai and suggested that I concentrate on more topical and current issues such as Plastic City and the plight of women, of NICIL, the Marriot Hotel, the Specialty Hospital, the Airport Project, the Berbice River Bridge and its draconian tolls structure against Berbecians, the Amaila Falls Project and all the myriad other burning issues confronting the oppressed Guyanese nation. I retorted with the argument that the Mc Lean and Rai issues are relevant to all Guyanese because an injustice against any Guyanese is and injustice against me personally, as that is the principle by which I have lived my life and set my life’s examples.
It is more particularly relevant to us in the light of the unrestricted, unlimited, monthly, multi-million dollar, golden hand-shake pensions passed by our Parliament for the Patrice Lamumba schooled, unqualified, not properly trained, self styled “Champion of the Earth” Bharat Jagdeo, more aptly described by AFC MP Edgar Ramayya as the “Champion of Dirt”. It is the ‘Pantheon of Despots’ who will wantonly acquire multiple honoree doctoral degrees to fool themselves of their omnipresence and onmipotence! And so unfolds the sad and regrettably history and narrative of my beloved country, Guyana! Lionel Peters
President Ramotar needs to explain this! DEAR EDITOR, The nation is still awaiting a truthful explanation from President Donald Ramotar, Winston Brassington and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, concerning the real deal behind the US$60M ‘Marriott Hotel’ contract which was awarded to a Chinese construction firm. The President is obligated to answer to the Guyanese people; after all, it’s hard earned taxpayers’ money being used to fund this controversial project which was negotiated and agreed to by Bharat Jagdeo and his friends. Mr. Ramotar needs to explain why no Guyanese workers are allowed to work on this multi-million dollar project, and secondly, are the Chinese workers being exploited by the construction firm? These Chinese are working in a foreign country, and as such are subjected to the labour laws of Guyana. Having said that, I’m wondering whether those workers are being EXPLOITED? Mark A. Benschop
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news
When will the carnage on our roads end? DEAR EDITOR, Kaieteur News Editorial of February 5, “The major threats to life in Guyana” sadly highlights how valueless a human life has now become. Every week it seems that someone is killed in the process of a robbery or drug hit; during a domestic violence or vehicular accident. And although drugrelated assassinations and those criminals killed by law enforcement officers will get no sympathy from me, my heart bleeds for women killed in domestic violence, and those innocent lives loss forever from reckless and dangerous driving? How many families must adjust to life without a parent or a child, whose life was taken by the irresponsible actions of a drunken driver? When will the carnage on our roads end? Enough is enough! With new and wider roads now under construction, vehicular accidents are expected to increase unless the law deals severely and decisively with drivers found guilty of tailgating, speeding, overcrowding of public transportation, and Driving Under the Influence -DUI. According to the Editorial, “In Guyana,
accident victims rarely go to the courts in pursuit of civil claims despite the criminal proceedings. And this may be the cause that people take driving on the streets for granted. In any case, the courts are not known to hand down rigid penalties. The result is that drunk drivers get away with little more than a slap on their wrists, regardless of how much pain they leave in their wake.” On my last visit to Guyana a few months ago, I attended a function where I witnessed a senior member of the Judiciary and members of Parliament consuming large amounts of alcohol. After which they got into the driver seats of their vehicles and presumably drove home. These are highly paid prominent professionals who can easily afford to employ a driver, or pay a taxi to take them safely home after a party. Instead, they risk their own safety, their careers, and the lives of others to the false sense of judgement one gets when intoxicated. If lawmakers and law enforcers indulge in this dangerous practice, they may be very concerned that setting and enforcing rigid standards to
discourage DUI, will someday become their own Achilles’ heel when they’re caught driving drunk. Hence, “drunk drivers get away with little more than a slap on their wrists”, because some in the legal profession are guilty of indulging in this same criminal act. During 2012, one hundred and ten deaths were caused by road accidents. So far this year, twelve persons were killed from ten road accidents. During last year, 42,474 breathalyzer tests were conducted nationwide and a large number of drivers were placed before the courts for DUI convictions. But obviously, the penalties handed down were not severe enough to deter others. On February 3, a seventeen-year-old drunk driver snuffed out the lives of two innocent commuters in a mini bus, while driving his father’s Tundra without permission. Then on February 16, Thirteen-year-old Troy Fraser was killed by a “drunk dragracing Army Officer” in Mahaicony. If I had my way, the Army Officer would not be the only one prosecuted for this child’s death. The
three others that were racing with him indirectly caused this accident, and should be charged as accomplices. For now, public outrage calls for stiffer penalties to deal with drunk driving. And Traffic Chief Hugh Denhert is reported to have said that drivers continue to disregard the traffic laws, causing problems for others and very often, serious accidents. He gave the assurance that the Traffic Department will be focusing heavily on enforcing the laws, particularly when it comes to driving under the influence (DUI) and the use of cell phones while driving. While this is encouraging, for those laws to be effective, the penalty must be severe enough to deter drunk driving. They must also be rigidly enforced. Neither, in my opinion, is being done. In an effort to stop this carnage, I call upon the Attorney General and members of Parliament on both sides, to revisit the traffic laws, and to consider the following suggestions: 1. Increase the legal age for the consumption of alcohol to age 21. 2. Make ID checks mandatory to determine the
age of a youthful-looking consumer, before alcoholic beverage is sold. 3. Make it a violation, and hold owners of night clubs, bars, and restaurants liable if alcohol is sold to, or consumed by anyone under the age of 21. 4. Make it a violation, and hold owners of night clubs, bars, and restaurants liable if alcohol is sold on their premises to a patron who, by his/her demeanor, is suspected of already being intoxicated. Penalties could range from a fine of $10,000 to a fine and suspension of the business license for repeated violations. 5. Anyone found guilty of DUI on a first offence, should serve a mandatory prison sentence of 7 to 14 days; complete a State-sponsored program for alcohol abuse; and have his/her driving privileges suspended for three months. 6. Anyone found guilty of DUI on a second offence, should be subject to a mandatory prison sentence of 30 to 90 days with counseling, and have his/her driving privileges suspended for six months. 7. Anyone found guilty of DUI on a third offence, will
have his/her vehicle confiscated, be subject to a mandatory prison sentence of 30 to 90 days with counseling, and have his/her driving privileges taken away permanently. 8. Anyone convicted of DUI while driving a commercial vehicle (bus, taxi and truck) and transporting another human being at the time the offence is committed, will have their sentence doubled. I believe if these suggestions are applied to existing laws, one will surely think a thousand times before they sit behind the wheel of a vehicle after inebriating. Traffic police must be proactive and stake out nightclubs, rum-shops and beer gardens to catch drunk drivers in the act. Leaders in our communities have a responsibility of setting the right example for others to follow, and the manufacturers of alcoholic beverages have a responsibility to warn consumers of alcohol abuse on all liquor advertising. The above will not prevent anyone from getting drunk if that is their intention. But it will certainly deter them from driving in that condition. Harry Gill
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 18, 2013
Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news
Government has betrayed its own rhetoric about democracy in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, Something is very wrong with the attitude of the Government to the laws of Guyana and to the constitutional rights of Guyanese. I refer to statements made by Dr. Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, who indicated that the Government did not go through the appropriate regulatory bodies- NFMU and GNBS- to grant licence to China Central Television because it is the government. It was a sad and worrying admission and all Guyanese need to speak out against that kind of executive lawlessness by a government that got less than 50% of the votes in the last elections in 2011. Shading that dubious deal under a Government-toGovernment arrangement does not help the situation. In fact, it makes it worse because the government ought to know better. It should set the highest standard when it comes to issues of compliance with the laws and sovereignty. First, by that act (by-
passing the competent authorities), government has set itself above the law. More than that, the government has been less than transparent in handling this issue. Even Dr. Luncheon’s memory appeared to be fuzzy about important details about the arrangement, at his last press conference. Yet, transparency is a fundamental aspect of democratic accountability and government must not set itself above the law. Clearly, this attitude of the Guyana government to break its own laws is affecting public trust and confidence in the systems, institutions and agencies set up to secure the rights of Guyanese and to ensure that they benefit from the resources of their great country. If the government can show such scant regard for the NFMU and the GNBS and grant China a 24-hour channel on Guyana’s limited electro- magnetic spectrum then they can by-pass other institutions to satisfy the needs of their friends. In that sense, government has
betrayed its own rhetoric about democracy in Guyana. The other point has to do with our international relations. Three fundamental questions: What qualified China for priority or preferential treatment above our CARICOM neighbours or others in Latin America, to be granted a frequency to broadcast in Guyana? Who stands to benefit more from that arrangement with the CCTV, in Guyana? What is the nature and scope of reciprocity available and accessible to Guyana? Perhaps, it would be a good thing for us to examine the processes involved in applying for and receiving permission from the Chinese Government to broadcast information in that country. What is clear is that the Government of China would never break its own laws to satisfy the needs of any other country. What is also clear is that China has a long history of controlling its electromagnetic spectrum, and the information that is broadcast to its citizens. By
doing that, it is preserving its cultural, political and moral philosophies and advancing its social and economic interests locally and globally. Many international bodies including ‘Reporters Without Borders’ ranks China’s press situation as very serious, the worst ranking on their five- point scale. Also, it has been reported in the international media that, during the Olympics in Beijing, all Chinese TV stations were instructed to delay live broadcasts by 10 seconds; a policy that was aimed at giving censors time to react in case of
negative political activities against the leadership of that country. Again, in January 2009, during a television report of the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama, the state-run China Central Television suddenly cut away from its coverage of Obama’s address when he spoke of how “earlier generations faced down fascism and communism”. F i n a l l y, t h e e n t i r e situation has to do with m e d i a governance; the framework of policy, legislation, regulation and other forms of governmental oversight.
It involves civil society and the general population, particularly in the areas of transparency, accountability and responsiveness. The regulatory bodies- NFMU and GNBS- should function independently and report directly to the legislature. Unless and until that happens, government will continue to arbitrarily grant, suspend, and deny license to individuals. However, if a proper media governance regime were in place, the executive lawlessness we witnessed by the government would be removed. Aubrey James
The differences are cultural rather than racial DEAR EDITOR, Examining the question of what makes human beings tick - motivation – is always an interesting exercise and I found this so when reading a recent letter about racism in your column. Not having read the two letters referred to in that letter, I cannot express a view about them. However, my husband and I are always discussing the difference between the Afro and Indian communities in the UK, as we see them. The Guyana scene seems much the same. We see the differences as cultural rather than racial. It is a tradition handed down. ‘Afros’ seem to prefer safe white collar career jobs, with assured pensions at the end of their working lives, while Indians are business-
orientated and prefer to ‘work for themselves’. I agree that “the black minibus driver is just as hardworking as the Indian”, but who owns the minibus? In the UK, Indians are helped to attain their goals with the encouragement and assistance of the extended family. And they have a clever way of getting there. Many of the younger generation start out by working in British-owned supermarkets, learning from the bottom up, and then move on - either setting up their own businesses or initially joining the family in theirs. Many family-owned Asian groceries are run on a 24-hour basis, family members working in shifts. I once saw a programme where the head of one such outfit
explained that the family helpers are not paid a wage or salary, they just help themselves from the till whenever they need to pay for something! They trust one another absolutely, because the family as a whole stand to benefit. My husband has many friends from India and Pakistan and they all tell him that they could never spend their entire lives working for someone else. His Afro friends, at the same time, now ‘rest’ quietly at home, enjoying occupational pensions. A matter of inclination and personal choice. I think we are all aware of “the beauty, energy, intelligence, sportsmanship, etc. of fellow Guyanese”; no praying is required. Geralda Dennison
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news
Is this how the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal plans to develop Guyana? DEAR EDITOR, The Preamble to the Guyana Constitution states: “WE THE PEOPLE OF THE CO-OPERATIVE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA, the proud heirs of the indomitable spirit and unconquerable will of our forefathers who by their sacrifices, their blood and their labour made rich and fertile and bequeathed to us as our inalienable patrimony for all time this green land of Guyana…” We were shocked to learn that although the construction of the Marriott Hotel is being paid for by the taxpayers, yet the contractor, Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) cannot hire our labour to do our work. How on earth can Guyana develop when most of the construction jobs to build the Marriot Hotel, the Airport Project and the Amaila Falls are being shipped off to Chinese families? Let the truth be told, this is not anti-Chinese bashing at all, but the exportation of taxpayers’ wealth out of the country and at the same time violating the fundamental right of Guyanese workers by the PPP. Is this how the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal plans to develop Guyana? The Chinese came to town and all of a sudden Guyanese workers are not skilled or qualified enough to work at the Marriott Hotel. This is the garbage that Winston Brassington has told Guyanese. But to add insult to injury, the expected last line of defence for the workers in the PPP, the Minister Gopaul was most disrespectful to the workers with his comments on the Marriott Labour Relations Crisis. He said that “while Guyanese workers may not be seen regularly on the site, they were involved at every stage of the project and have been providing a significant portion of the resources needed for the construction of the hotel.” What kind of “kock and bull” story is this? This Gopaul propaganda flies in
the face of honesty. Gopaul and the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal should act maturely and tell the nation that they have made a huge mistake and correct the wrong and let us move on. All this infantile and weak propaganda will only rile up the people to despise the PPP even more. As a former Union Leader, Gopaul has all but abandoned the rights of the Guyanese workers with his silly comment. He has now set precedence on the management of labour relations in Guyana by selling his soul to his pettybourgeois paymasters. Thank you Minister of Labour Gopaul for enthusiastically stacking the chips against the poor and the working class, something that is clearly outside of your mandate as a minister. Your actions today reconciles with your action in the 90s, when you burned Cheddi Jagan’s effigy. You are a true ambassador of this new Jagdeo/Ramotar PPP; burners of all the principles of Cheddi Jagan. Might we humbly remind the Minister, who should know better, that in the Commonwealth, the role of the Minister of Labour is clearly defined as one who “improves the working conditions and the quality of life of workers” through …… among other things “….promoting skill development and employment opportunities.” How can Minister Gopaul, with a clear conscious, allow a contract to be negotiated with the Chinese contractor that imports labour in Guyana where the unemployment rate is estimated at 18% of the labour force? This immoral practice cannot stand in light of the fact that youth employment (aged 18-35 years) is estimated at some 40% of the labour force. The destiny of the poor and the working class has now been pawned permanently by the Jagdeo/ Ramotar cabal. This is the only explanation we have for
this degenerated antiworking class attitude by the PPP, which has made it abundantly clear that they do not care about the poor and the working class. The Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal has completely ignored the principles of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and they have totally violated the principles of the founder leader of the PPP, Dr Jagan with respect to workers. We would like to encourage the leaders of the TUC to lodge a formal complaint to the ILO against this corrupt and uncaring Jagdeo/Ramotar regime if
they are ever to fulfill the mandate set for them by Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow. These actions by the Minister of Labour and his compatriots in the den of economic gangsters have set a precedence that must never be allowed to succeed. Even the PPP boogieman– Burnham, always remind the people that he had protested against ALCAN in the preindependence years when they attempted similar antiworking class strategies. How more disgraceful can these gangsters become, when even a man who rigged the people’s right to elect
their Government, is seen as morally superior to them? The saddest thing in all of this is that the entire PPP regime, by giving the Chinese companies the authority to hire Chinese workers, have failed to make Guyana a better place for its workers. From our observation, the Political Opposition ought to interrogate Mr. Brassington, as promised by the leader of the AFC, Mr. Ramjattan. We are convinced that if the Opposition does this in a judicious manner, some will be charged for financial criminality, corruption and fraud.
In closing we encourage the TUC leadership to seize this golden opportunity to become relevant once again to their true mandate of advocating for workers’ rights. This is not an opportunity to pass the buck to the Political Opposition; this is a workers issue to which the full support from the politicians is necessary. Over to you Mr. Norris Witter and Mr. Lincoln Lewis; this is your battlefield; stand your ground and fight like true leaders of the workers! The time is now. Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 18, 2013
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Cyclist killed on East Bank Contempt order dismissed against Amerindian leader Demerara public road The country’s deadliest roadway has claimed another life. Mahadaiw Hemraj 52, of Lot One Cinema Street Diamond, was killed on the spot at around 18:30 hrs yesterday after being struck by a minibus on the East Bank Demerara public road. The accident occurred in the vicinity of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). This newspaper understands that Hemraj was first struck by a route 42 minibus and then run over by a car after falling on the roadway. The elderly man was taken to Diamond Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The bus d r i v e r, identified as Marlon Seepersaud, claimed that Hemraj was drunk. Seepersaud told Kaieteur News that he noticed a man on bicycle “wobbling in
front ah me. He was in the middle of the road first then he reach right in front of de bus, so I swerved from he then he reach back in front the bus and it hit he.” Seepersaud said that he knew Hemraj. A grieving Savatri Persaud, sister of the deceased, told Kaieteur News that she was at home when the driver’s brother contacted her and “tell me that me brother get knocked down, is only when I reach the hospital I hear the full story.” She said that medical professionals told her that her bother suffered broken ribs, head injuries and multiple cuts and bruises. “When I reach to the hospital I hear he done head, then I hear wa really happen but nobody can locate this man wa dem claim run over me brother body… I wasn’t there to know what really
DEAD: Mahadaiw Hemraj happen but I know he was dragged cause a de condition of he skin.” Persaud said that Hemraj earned a living as a watchman at a tyre shop. He was last seen by his relatives around 8:00hrs yesterday. He reportedly left to buy cooking ingredients and never returned.
Dem boys seh
Brazzy give SCG he behind and heavens know what else Is true wha some people seh; once somebody write down something pun paper it isn’t a secret any more. But Brazzy and de Nadir gyal didn’t think so. Dem sign and sign and people now believe that Jagdeo give Brazzy de Marriott hotel at least till it done build. Dem boys did know that when dem didn’t get de Pegasus Jagdeo and he kavakamites get suh vex that dem vow fuh put Badal out of business. Dem didn’t kay that poor people want things other than a hotel. Dem tek good money fuh build de hotel. Now dem boys find out that Brazzy stoop so low that he kiss de Chinee contractor tail just fuh get de man fuh build de hotel. People believe that he sell
he mother, he sister and dem boys mother just fuh get de deal. Chris Ram believe that he sell he soul this Lenten season. Imagine that he agree to give de contractor, Shanghai Construction Group de right not to pay any taxes. Guyanese business people got to pay taxes through dem nose. Even poor public servants got to pay. SCG ain’t got to get licence but let a poor man ride a motorbike without one, is more jail than he age. Then Brazzy agree that SCG can bring in all de people it want fuh wuk in Guyana. Dem boys seh that he can do that because he tail full wid de people money. He ain’t got to wuk. Then de same Chinee
contractor tell Brazzy that it don’t want to be involve in any claims and dispute. If he build de hotel and it fall down de next day it ain’t responsible. And that hee haw Brazzy agree. When dem boys ask he why, he seh how Jagdeo tell he fuh give de people all dem want. De man sell out everything. If de contractor did tell he fuh tek off he pants and bend down he woulda do that too. He woulda give away he hee haw fuh free. Dem boys want de Nadir gyal husband fuh check and see if she ain’t sign he over to dem Chinee who building SCG. Talk half and check to see wha more Brazzy give way to dem Chinee contractor.
The High Court has dismissed contempt charges against Tashao Mario Hastings from Kako Village, which were filed by woman miner Belina Charles last year. The woman moved to the court last year and got an interim injunction against Kako. In her affidavit of claim she had stated that she was not being allowed to pass through the village to set up deep water dredge. The woman claimed that Hastings was a hamper in her conducting business. Several weeks after the injunction was filed, Charles again went to the court and secured an order of contempt against the Tashao. That contempt order was granted on October 25, 2012. Hastings in reply to the contempt proceedings argued through his lawyer Nigel
Hughes, that it was filed bad in law. Justice Nareshwar Harnanan upheld the decision and dismissed the matter. Charles had appeared at Kako and had a meeting with the Tashao, informing him that she was granted a prospecting license which was located beyond the lands of the village. Charles’s intention was to pass through the village using the Kako River. However the Tashao later held a meeting with his villagers who objected to the woman passing through to carry out her operations for reasons that they hunt, fish, farm and have a homestead in the area among other things. Villagers were also concerned about the possible contamination of the Kako River upstream which has managed to remain “clear”.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 18, 2013
Historical review of Linden…
The “mining town” celebrates one hundred years By Enid Joaquin Noitgdacht, Spieghtland, Wismar, Determa, Mora, Greenheart, Potaro, Crabwood, Purpleheart, Pine, Wallaba,Yuraballi, Cedar and Silverballi are exotic sounding names of communities and streets in Linden, which is a town of equally exotic and colorful history. The aforementioned names reflect of course, the Dutch and German influence, and our beautiful and enduring woods, that contributed significantly to the early economic ventures of the community, through the logging industry. This year, the community that we love to call the “mining town” celebrates its hundredth year of existencenot as a town, but for want of better terminology, a mining community. Linden as we know it today, is a far cry from its humble beginnings, with its genesis at Christianburg. The establishment of this community dates back to the days of Dutch occupancy. But the Dutch did not initially settle at
Christiansburg, but lower down the river, about one mile away, at a settlement they named Arague. Christian Finnette, who was at the time the Governor, however lived with his wife at Christianburg, which was then known as Stabroek. It was Finnette who later changed the name of the community from Stabroek to Christianburg, a combination of his and his wife’s name (Burg). The main occupations of these early settlers were sugar cane farming and rubber ‘bleeding’. Later in the year 1803, a Scottish Engineer by the name of John Patterson, came to Guyana at the invitation of the English, to establish living quarters for Government officials. Patterson would engage slaves, Dutch settlers and Amerindians to work at his logging operations, which he established to provide the lumber for the buildings. This potpourri of laborers, with romantic sounding names like Couchman, De Clou, D’Anjou, Allicock and Adams, became the backbone of permanent settlers, in the
community. As could be expected, harvesting and transporting logs in those early days involved the most primitive methods. The logs were tied together to form rafts and then tied to a punt, in which Patterson and his wife then lived. In this fashion, the logs were transported to Georgetown, using slaves with paddles and oars to man the rafts. These river trips sometimes lasted more than a week, and quite a few of the slaves succumbed to a watery grave. Patterson would later establish a sawmill at Christianburg. The sawmill was powered by a water wheel which was established in the year 1855, and harnessed power from the Katapulli creek. Apart from powering the sawmill, the waterwheel also provided electricity for the nearby cabins of the workers, who lived in close proximity, for security purposes. Patterson in the meantime had built a huge house (mansion) nearby, close to the
The old Christianburg Courthouse, which was destroyed by fire river. That house, which became an important landmark, would later serve as the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court. However, unfortunately, this noteworthy part of our history was destroyed by fire over a year ago. But the waterwheel still stands to this day, and remains a prominent landmark. But Christianburg
before all of that, was originally a sugar plantation, and was reportedly one of the largest in the region. WISMAR The area we now know as Wismar was formerly known as Shingles landing, because of the shingles that were manufactured there. There are reports that this area had also earlier been a sugar plantation.
Wismar later became the headquarters for Sprostons Limited, which operated the steamer service from Georgetown, and was also involved in logging. Thus it was that the community naturally became the official gateway to the interior, as prospectors from Georgetown and the coastland would journey to (Continued on page 16)
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 18, 2013
More budget cuts this year - Ramjattan By Leon Suseran The 2013 National Budget is due to be presented soon in the National Assembly by Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh. But the Alliance for Change (AFC), already displeased about consultations and input into the budget planning, is already hinting that there could be a repeat of last year’s budget cuts to this year’s budget. Party Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, speaking with Kaieteur News in Berbice, stated that if the opposition parties are not pleased with expenditures, more cuts are possible. It is almost sure that one of the entities lined up for cuts is the National Communications Network Inc (NCN). Speaking about how involved the opposition parties including the AFC have been in the 2013 Budget preparations, Ramjattan stated that President Donald Ramotar had indicated that he would “like to see our proposals and we have given him a bundle of items including the procurement commission, including the Berbice River Bridge tolls being reduced; including Public servants’ salary
increases; rice—better cultivation and drainage and irrigation systems and in relation to those very poor salaries and wages”. The leader noted that an invitation was extended to go to the Office of the President (OP) “to state what we would like to see in the 2013 Budget”, after which it was indicated through Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh and a couple of other Ministers that it might be “very difficult
Communications Network Inc) NCN is not balanced in its communication culture and if that they [government]are not going to do anything to better that, we [are] going to ensure that taxpayers’ monies are wisely spent by cutting from NCN what NCN is getting”. Additionally, he stated that there are contract employees that need to be cut…”because there are some people at the Office of the
“We are going to do it just like we did the last occasion in a measured and very constructive manner” - Ramjattan but that they (government) will try their best to accommodate the ideas that we (the AFC) have”. MORE CUTS POSSIBLE He said that the AFC and opposition intend to propose certain cuts at the time when the budget is presented to the National Assembly. “We are going to do it just like we did the last occasion in a measured and very constructive manner. We know that (National
President (OP) who get huge salaries and are not even working! People from Freedom House getting salaries and those are the things we cut, but we get the impression now that the Minister of Finance has still been paying all these people and they have been doing it out of the Contingency Fund, so we will be asking the relevant questions and we intend to get answers”. If indeed the Minister of Finance did delve back into
the Contingency Fund to pay those workers, Ramjattan referred to that as a “criminal act…and breach of the Financial and Management Accountability Act”. Ramjattan said that the AFC feels that there must be a reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) and Corporate Taxes, “and we had shared all of that with them and they indicated that there is a Tax Review Committee and that the committee will see an end to that or at least, some reforms, but today we have learnt that this is not the case”. It does not seem, therefore, that the AFC proposals sent in a couple of months ago to Dr .Singh “are going to be implemented”. He said that it was only Friday the AFC learnt that the Berbice River Bridge toll will not be reduced. PROCUREMENT COMMISSION “We understand that the Procurement Commission is going to take some more time because the PPP wants it to be delayed further, so they (cabinet) can be the master of contract- giving and contract- awarding…the longer the procurement Commission takes to be
effected, and to be established and accounted, we are going to have the government of the day, dominating who will get the contracts, and as we know, the people getting the contracts are only the favourites and friends of this government”. Additionally, the infrastructural work in Berbice—”contractors overpaying to some we have found in the Auditor General’s Report”. NO- CONFIDENCE MOTION ON ROHEE Speaking about the NoConfidence Motion on embattled Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Clement Rohee, Ramjattan stated that the crime rates have gone up, “and we seem not to have a strategy and a plan forthcoming from that Minister in relation to all these matters”. Ramjattan also mentioned the Linden shooting deaths which he noted occurred under Rohee’s stewardship. “And we do not have any confidence in him, and we are asking—based on conventions known in more popular parliaments— whereby the stewardship of a Minister is so poor, that that Minister shall resign, and
AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan especially in the context when a National Assembly also has no confidence in him”. The AFC Leader said that the party wants to let Berbicians know more clearly why they are taking this stand against Rohee. The party, he said, will continue to walk out of parliament whenever the Home Affairs Minister speaks. “At this stage, whenever he gets up to speak in parliament, we are definitely going to get up and walk out. We know we are putting a lot of pressure on the Assembly (Continued on page 26)
Monday February 18, 2013
The English idiom “horses for courses” is no mere chestnut although it might well be a chestnut mare. In fact, it might even be a horse of a different colour. “Horses for courses” as it has traditionally been used, means that different horses behave differently on different types of surfaces or racetracks. Like people, some horses excel only when the going is good. Others love mud. I remember one day at the racetrack when a heavy shower fell and a horse that was at odds of almost 100-1 suddenly became the 3-2 favourite. The aficionado next to me, a man who got up at four in the morning with his binoculars and galloped to the racetrack to watch the horses train, told me that the horse was a “mudder” and I should put some money on her. I did. She lost. But she was a mudder right through to the end or this is what in my anger I called her, adding a few choice words after the mudder. But now “horses for courses” has a completely different meaning for people in Europe, especially the fastidious English who have a beef with hamburgers that contain more horsemeat than beef. While hamburgers really don’t contain any ham and are supposedly made exclusively from beef overwhelmed with additives, and in the case of McDonald’s, adjectives, the addition of horsemeat as a filler does not fill the English with anything but horror, disgust and the urge to run to work early in the morning. In fact, even those who prefer their hamburgers rare find the most miniscule addition of horsemeat not rare enough. They prefer the golden arches of McDonald’s to the fallen arches of horses who in their prime made mincemeat of the opposition in high stakes races but have now ended up as mincemeat instead of prime steaks. I suppose there are grounds there for legal action if not heartburn.
Kaieteur News
Richard III whose body was recently discovered in a car-park in Leicester may have said “My kingdom for a horse” but clearly meant to ride it rather than eat it. But eating it is what the English have unwittingly been doing for some time now. Hamburger makers have been beefing up their products with horse and, some say, donkey. In a story headlined “Horsemeat In Food Stirs A Furor In The British Isles”, the New York Times (February 8, 2013) revealed, “Few things divide British eating habits from those of Continental Europe as clearly as a distaste for consuming horse meat, so news that many Britons have unknowingly done so has prompted alarm among shoppers and plunged the country’s food industry into crisis. A trickle of discoveries of horse meat in hamburgers, starting in Ireland last month, has turned into a steady stream of revelations, including, on Friday, that lasagna labeled beef from one international distributor of frozen food, Findus, contained in some cases 100 percent horse meat.” The New York Times added, “The labeling of horse meat as beef has breached one of the great culinary taboos of Britain and Ireland, two countries that pride themselves on their love of certain animals, particularly horses. The fact that the source of the meat appears to have been mainland Europe, where the consumption of horse meat is far more common, has raised suspicions of fraud because beef is more expensive than meat from horses.” The English language is replete with examples of the extent to which horses are part of the language and ultimately culture of Britain. This is why the situation is seen as more than mere horseplay or horsing around. It is viewed so seriously that France and Britain have vowed to punish those found responsible for selling horsemeat purporting to be
beef. Nobody in Britain says anymore, “I am so hungry I can eat a horse.” A Reuters report quotes Britain’s Farm Minister, Owen Paterson as saying, “This is a conspiracy against the public. I’ve got an increasing feeling that it is actually a case of an international criminal conspiracy.” Prime Minister David Cameron has called it “very shocking”. Some of the horsemeat has been traced to Romania. Reuters reported, “With DNA tests needed to tell the two kinds of flesh apart, retailers and makers of processed meals complain of being duped by suppliers;
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one French firm has pointed a finger at Romania.” Ireland, long known as a horse-loving country, more for racing and riding than for eating, is also aghast. The New York Times disclosed, “Earlier, Irish food inspectors revealed that some horse meat had been found in burgers stocked by a number of British supermarket chains, including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl. The meat was supplied by two plants in Ireland. After an estimated 10 million hamburgers were removed from supermarket shelves in Ireland and Britain, Poland was identified as the source
of that horse meat.” While supermarkets are busy pulling hamburgers from their freezers, the situation is not yet stable. Some of the suppliers who have been very slow to respond are now playing ketchup and that does not cut the mustard with the horseloving British. There is first of all the fear that the burgers could have been made from diseased animals or horses doped out with phenylbutazone, which is used as a painkiller but was withdrawn from human use
when it was found that in some people it could trigger a potentially fatal condition called aplastic anaemia. Then there is the lack of sleep caused by worry about having eaten potentially dangerous horsemeat. Some people find it impossible to hit the hay. *Tony Deyal was last seen saying that the British were making too much of a meal of this horsemeat business but agreed that donkey meat may make you ass-matic or even make you suffer from ass-fixation.
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 18, 2013
UN envoy backs Syrian opposition’s call for talks AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — A Syrian opposition leader’s call for dialogue is a test for the intentions of President Bashar Assad, the international envoy to Syria yesterday, as fighting raged between rebels and government forces in at least three Syrian provinces. Lakhdar Brahimi, the joint U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria, said the proposal by Mouaz al-Khatib, the president of the opposition coalition, “has opened the door and challenges the Syrian government to fulfill its often-repeated assertion that it is ready for dialogue and a peaceful settlement.” “This initiative is on the table and will be on the table,” Brahimi told reporters in Cairo following talks with Arab league chief Nabil Elaraby. “We believe that if a dialogue begins in one of the U.N. headquarters, at least initially, between the opposition and an acceptable delegation from the Syrian government, it will be a start for getting out of the dark tunnel in which Syria is placed,” Brahimi added. In a statement Friday, the
opposition’s main umbrella group, the Syrian National Coalition, said it would not allow President Bashar Assad or members of his security services to participate in talks to end the crisis. It did not rule out, however, dialogue with some members of his ruling Baath party, saying it welcomed talks with “honorable people” from all parts of society who “have not been embroiled in the crimes against the Syrian people.” Still, neither side has proposed a concrete plan for the talks. Meanwhile, Syrian Parliament Speaker Jihad Laham told fellow lawmakers in a session Sunday that dialogue is the path that must be pursued under a political agenda Assad proposed in January to end the nation’s 23-month-old conflict. “All Syrians must work within the framework of this program to resolve the crisis in the country,” Laham said, pleading to “all Syrians, from all sects and orientations, to confront the terrorism facing us.” Addressing the same session, Syrian Prime
Minister Wael al-Halqi said the difficult conditions caused by the war and international sanctions placed on Syria “are beyond the capacity and ability of any country to bear.” He said the economic blockade imposed by the European Union, the United States and some Arab states has had a “negative impact” on the health sector, although he did not elaborate. Rebel attacks, he added, have damaged 2,500 high schools and caused serious power outages, reducing electricity distribution by up to 60 percent nationwide. He also blamed a shrinking oil supply — which he said now meets around 40 percent of the country’s needs — on rebel attacks on oil refineries. Also yesterday, antiregime activists reported sectarian clashes in a rural area between the Syrian town of Qusair and the Lebanese border. Clashes have grown common in the area between its Shiite and Sunni Muslim villages, whose residents generally back different sides
Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby, right, meets with U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi at the Arab League headquarters, in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) in Syria’s civil war. Most of the rebels fighting to topple Assad are from Syria’s Sunni majority, while many of the country’s Shiites stand by the regime. The area’s residents also have clan and family ties to communities across the porous border with Lebanon. Activist Hadi Abdullah said via Skype that Shiite gunmen tried to enter three Sunni villages early Saturday, leading to clashes with rebels. Twelve Shiites and five rebels were killed, and 7 Sunni civilians were killed in shelling, he added. He and other activists said the Shiite gunmen were from Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group, but provided no proof. A Hezbollah spokesman declined to comment. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes killed 10 rebels and three Shiite gunmen, noting that many Lebanese live in the Shiite
villages. Most of the area’s Shiites support Hezbollah. Earlier yesterday, Syrian Electricity Minister Imad Khamis told the state news agency, SANA, that electricity has been restored in most parts of the Syrian capital and that power would gradually return to the south. He blamed the blackout on an unspecified fault in highvoltage lines. The power outage plunged Damascus into darkness late Saturday and affected much of southern Syria, mainly the provinces of Daraa and Sweida along the Jordanian border. A similar blackout struck the same areas on Jan. 20. The government blamed that outage on a rebel attack, and power was restored to most areas the following day. Also Sunday, an explosion in traffic circle northwest of downtown Damascus killed one person and wounded another, a security official said,
speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. It was unclear what caused the blast in Abbasid Square, which sits on the western side of the neighborhood of Jobar, where rebels from the suburbs have been trying to push in the capital and clashing with government troops for more than a week. The U.N. says nearly 70,000 people have been killed in Syria’s conflict since the revolt began in March 2011. In a related development, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay pressed for international action to help stem the bloodshed, but acknowledged that achieving that won’t be easy. She alleged that Assad’s regime had committed crimes against humanity and should be referred to the International Criminal Court.
Canada’s Carney wants to help Britain, Europe reform TORONTO (Reuters) Canada’s outgoing central bank governor, Mark Carney, said he looks forward to bringing an outsider’s perspective to the Bank of England, while also helping to spur reform across Europe. Carney, who will become governor of the Bank of England in July, said he was ready to face a more prying media culture, although he would “prefer” the way Canadian journalists respected personal privacy. “The value of me going there to the institution is to bring a different perspective,” Carney told CTV News in an
interview. Carney said he wanted to help “reform” England’s central bank and to think more broadly about Europe “to really get those economies going and fix those financial systems.” The 47-year-old Carney will be the first foreigner to run Britain’s central bank in its 318-year history as the country struggles with a weak economy. Carney took over the Bank of Canada in 2008 and has earned praise for protecting Canada from the worst of the global recession that crippled economies
worldwide. His appointment has already stoked the attention of Britain’s tabloids but Carney said he was ready for a more intrusive media. “I think we have a very mature media culture here that focuses on the right things, focuses on the issues,” he said. “And I obviously prefer that, but I recognise that it’s a different environment.” Carney ultimately expects to return to Canada after his stint in England. “This is where my friends are, this is obviously where my family is, and it’s just a natural,” he said.
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Cardinal says Latin American or African pope possible VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Cardinal Kurt Koch, a close aide of Pope Benedict who will cast his vote for the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church, says there is no reason why the new pontiff cannot be African or Latin American. Koch, head of the Vatican department that deals with Christian unity and relations with Jews, also said he had had no doubt that Pope Benedict would resign rather than rule for life, and said that future popes would be free to do the same. “The challenges of the Church in the world are very different on different continents: in Africa, in Asia, in Latin America. The question is ‘where will the challenges be greater, on which continent, should it be
a pope for, above all, Latin America, for Africa ...,” Koch told Reuters in an interview. “I can imagine taking a step towards a black pope, an African pope or a Latin American pope. I can imagine this.” Koch, 62, a soft-spoken Swiss, will be one of the 117 cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to enter a secretive conclave to elect the next pope that is expected to start in mid-March. There has been much speculation in the Church on whether the man to succeed Benedict should be a nonEuropean, which would be a first in more than a millennium. While the Church in Europe is polarized and has dwindling congregations, the Church in Africa is growing
and in Latin America it remains large and vibrant despite inroads by Protestant evangelical groups. There are several leading candidates from outside the Old Continent. Latin Americans include Brazilian Odilo Scherer, archbishop of the huge diocese of Sao Paulo and Argentine Leonardo Sandri, who works in the Vatican and whose parents are of Italian origin. Peter Turkson from Ghana, head of the Vatican’s justice and peace department, is often tipped as Africa’s front runner. There is a thriving Church in the Philippines, the largest Catholic country in Asia, birthplace of one cardinal who is often mentioned as a candidate, Luis Antonio
Pakistan faces growing anger over sectarian bombings QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani Shi’ites called on the military yesterday to take control of the city of Quetta after a bombing by Sunni militants killed 85 people, and threatened to stage a long march to the capital if their demands were not met. Pakistani leaders have done little to contain hardline Sunni Muslim groups which have stepped up a campaign of bombings and assassinations of minority Shi’ites in a bid to destabilize the nuclear-armed country and install a Sunni theocracy. The unpopular government, which is gearing up for elections expected within months, faces growing anger for failing to deliver stability. On Saturday, Lashkar-eJhangvi (LeJ), seen as the most ruthless Sunni sectarian group, claimed responsibility for the Quetta attack, which deepened suspicions among Shi’ites that Pakistan’s intelligence agencies were turning a blind eye to the bloodshed or even supporting extremists. The families of the some of the victims have said they will not bury their dead until the army steps in to protect Shi’ites, said Hasnain Zaidi, a spokesman for an alliance of Shi’ite groups called Majlis Wahdat al Muslimeen. Muslim tradition requires that bodies are buried as soon as possible and leaving them above ground is a potent expression of grief and pain. “The situation is very tense,” Zaidi told Reuters. “Thirty five bodies were burned beyond recognition.
Shi’ite families will hold a long march to Islamabad if the army does not step in.” The death toll from the bombing rose overnight, with most of the casualties in the main bazaar of the southwestern city, the capital of Baluchistan and near the border with Afghanistan. The attack targeted ethnic Hazara Shi’ites. “The terrorist attack on the Hazara Shi’ite community in Quetta is a failure of the intelligence and security forces,” Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, governor of Baluchistan province, said while touring a hospital. Leaders of the Hazara community called on the government to take decisive action, and Pakistanis warned that sectarian violence was spiraling out of control ahead of elections expected in May. “The government is responsible for terrorist attacks and killings in the Hazara community because its security forces have not conducted operations against extremist groups,” said Aziz Hazara, vice president of the Hazara Democratic Party. “We are giving the government 48 hours to arrest the culprits involved in the killing of our people and after that we will launch strong protests.” Yesterday, people searched for survivors under blocks of cement torn off buildings by the blast. A large blood stain could be seen on a wall near the site. Many shops and bazaars were closed. Relatives of the wounded responded to an appeal for blood made by
hospitals. “The government knows exactly who is doing what and who is behind all this,” said Mohammad Imran, a local trader. “If the government wants (to prevent it), no one can take even a kitchen knife into any market.” In the capital Islamabad, about 400 people, including some Sunnis, staged a protest demanding the government stamp out extremism. Protests were also held in other cities, including the commercial capital Karachi. “There is a law of the jungle, but in this country I think there is not even a law of the jungle,” said Syed Abbas Naqvi, a Shi’ite. “A person who is extremely helpless, vulnerable and powerless is always made the target of barbarity whereas all brutal people like the terrorists, Taliban and others who carry out these merciless acts...roam free all over the country.” Public anger has been growing over a host of other issues as well in the run-up to elections, from widespread poverty to power cuts to corruption. Critics say Pakistan’s intelligence agencies previously supported groups like LeJ to fight against Indian forces in Kashmir and failed subsequently to control them. Now Shi’ites in Quetta and other cities say they are under siege by the al Qaedalinked LeJ, which has also attacked Shi’ites in other parts of the country in recent months.
Tagle. Asked to provide a job description for the next pope, Koch paused for few seconds and said: “I think each pope has to have four qualities: First of all, deep faith, then, sound doctrine, charisma and a capacity to govern.” The next pope, whatever his age, could rule for life if he wanted to, like most of his predecessors, or resign for health reasons, Koch said. Still, he acknowledged that the cardinals were navigating in uncharted waters. The last pope to leave office willingly was Celestine V, a saintly hermit whose served only a few months before abdicating in 1294 and was imprisoned by his successor in a castle south of Rome. Another pope, Gregory XII, reluctantly abdicated in 1415 to end a dispute to a rival claimant to the papacy. “It is clear that this is a situation that is totally new. The cardinals must choose the new pope with the presence of the living pope. We still don’t know what effect it will have. It makes a
Cardinal Kurt Koch great difference if the pope is dead or alive,” Koch said. Benedict has said he would be “hidden to the world” after his resignation on February 28 and the Vatican has said he will not try to influence the choice of his successor. He will move to the papal summer residence south of Rome and then in April, after the conclave, into a convent inside the Vatican. Koch cautioned against making predictions on who the next pope could be. “The election is very secret, even in the conclave,
no one knows who the other person is voting for as we put our ballots in the chalice,” he said. Koch, who was in the room when Benedict announced his resignation to a small group of cardinals in Latin on Monday, said he was surprised only by the timing. “I always said if any pope would resign it would be Benedict ... this move was very characteristic of his personality. He never wanted to put himself at the centre of things,” Koch said. “We now see that behind the ministry (of any pope) there is a human person ... these are decisions of individual conscience. John Paul decided not to come down from the cross, as he put it, and retained the ministry to his death,” Koch said. “John Paul reflected long and hard on that and came to his decision. Benedict is another person and he came to another decision and I think we have to accept this decision of conscience and not think about all the consequences that it could bring about.”
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 18, 2013
Bangladesh amends war crimes law, mulls banning Islamists DHAKA (Reuters) Bangladesh’s parliament, meeting demands of protesters thronging the capital, amended a law yesterday allowing the state to appeal any verdict in war crimes trials it deems inadequate and out of step with public opinion. Tens of thousands of demonstrators jamming central Shahbag Square for the 13th day burst into cheers amid driving rain as the assembly approved the changes. The protesters have been demanding the death penalty for war crimes after a tribunal this month sentenced a prominent Islamist to life in prison in connection with Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. The life sentence pronounced on Abdul Quader Mollah, assistant Secretary General of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, for murder, rape and torture had stunned many Bangladeshis. The amendment will “empower the tribunals to try and punish any organizations, including Jamaat-e-Islami, for committing crimes during
country’s liberation war in 1971", Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said after the change was approved. Lawyers said the amendment sets a timetable for the government to appeal against Mollah’s sentence and secure a retrial. The previous law did not allow state prosecutors to call for a retrial except in the case of acquittals. Adoption was quick — less than a week after the amendment was approved by the cabinet in the overwhelmingly Muslim country of 150 million. Opposition benches were empty as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (the BNP) of former premier Begum Khaleda Zia and its allies have been boycotting sessions almost since her arch rival, Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League, took office in 2009. On Sunday, BNP leaders and activists held a rally outside the party’s central office in the capital, calling for the next parliamentary election in January 2014 to be held under a non-party caretaker administration. “The government is
A boy waves a Bangladesh national flag as he chants a slogan before a mass funeral as the body of Rajib Haider, an architect and blogger who was a key figure in organising demonstrations. REUTERS/Andrew Biraj trying to use the protests over the war crime trials to divert attention from critical national issues such as our demand for election under a caretaker authority to ensure a clean and unbiased vote,” BNP’s acting SecretaryGeneral, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, told the rally. Other BNP leaders urged
the demonstrators at Shahbag to speak out against “corruption, politicization of the administration ahead of the polls and tampering the judiciary to persecute rivals.” Hasina and Khaleda have rotated as prime minister of the south Asian country since 1991 and their unending enmity has earned them a reputation as the “Battling Begums.” The two are likely to face off again in the next polls,
party officials said. The BNP also accuses the prime minister of using the war crimes tribunal as a weapon against her opponents. Hasina denies the accusation. In its first verdict last month, the tribunal sentenced a former Jamaat leader, Abul Kamal Azad, also an Islamic preacher, to death in absentia for killing, murder and torture. Eight other Jamaat leaders, including its current
JERUSALEM (AP) — Former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman went on trial yesterday on fraud and breach of trust charges, pleading innocent in a case that could have deep implications for the makeup of Israel’s next government. Lieberman, the leader of the ultranationalist Yisrael Beitenu Party and a key ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is accused of trying to advance the career of a former diplomat who relayed information to him about a separate criminal investigation into Lieberman’s business dealings. The outcome of the trial will determine whether the hardline Lieberman will be able to return to the Israeli Cabinet or whether his fastrising political career will come to a premature end. Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu ran on a joint list with Netanyahu’s Likud Party in a parliamentary election last month. Their combined bloc emerged as the largest faction in the legislature and is expected to be the dominant member of the next ruling coalition. Netanyahu is still negotiating with potential coalition partners. Lieberman has made clear that he wants to return to the
Foreign Ministry, but he is barred from serving in the Cabinet while he is on trial. He has said that if he’s convicted, he will resign from parliament. Depending on the severity of the conviction, Lieberman could be barred from seeking office again for years to come. In the meantime, he is allowed to serve in parliament. The situation has put Netanyahu in a delicate position. With the trial expected to last well into the spring, it is not clear whether Netanyahu is willing or able to hold open the important foreign minister’s job for his political ally. If he offers the post to another party, however, his alliance with Lieberman could become strained. Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu faction have accumulated tremendous political power, and he is a key player in the governing coalition Netanyahu is now trying to form. Many speculate he is preparing for a run as prime minister in future elections. Netanyahu has been serving as acting foreign minister while he puts together a new coalition. He has until mid-March to form
and former chiefs, are being tried by the war crimes court that Hasina set up in 2010 to investigate abuses during the 1971 conflict. Three million people were killed and thousands of women were raped. The government is facing growing pressure from the protesters to ban Jamaat-eIslami, the country’s largest Islamist party, and groups linked to it. Law minister Shafique Ahmed told reporters the government was considering such a ban. Jamaat activists have called a country-wide strike for today, but demonstrators and many shopkeepers have pledged to resist any attempt to enforce such a stoppage. The authorities deployed paramilitary soldiers in the capital yesterday evening trying to prevent violence during and ahead of the strike. Bangladesh became part of Pakistan at the end of British rule in 1947 but broke away in 1971 after a war between Bangladeshi nationalists, backed by India, and Pakistani forces. Some factions in what was then East Pakistan opposed the break with Pakistan. Jamaat denies accusations that it opposed independence and helped the Pakistani army.
ISRAEL: Ex-foreign minister on trial for fraud
Avigdor Lieberman the government. Lieberman showed little emotion as he arrived at the Jerusalem courthouse yesterday. His lawyers said they would seek a quick resolution to the case. The trial is scheduled to last until May at the least. The Soviet-born Lieberman is one of the most contentious and polarizing figures in Israeli politics. Yisrael Beitenu is especially popular among immigrants from the former Soviet Union. With a tough-talking message that has questioned the loyalty of Israel’s Arab minority, criticized the Palestinians and confronted Israel’s foreign critics, he has at times alienated Israel’s allies while becoming an influential voice in Israeli politics.
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
Close finish predicted in Barbados general election BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The two main political parties here are in a statistical dead heat ahead of Thursday’s general election with Barbadians giving the nod to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart over his main challenger, Owen Arthur, according to the latest opinion poll published yesterday. The poll by the Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES), published in the Sunday Sun newspaper however indicates that Arthur’s Barbados Labour Party (BLP) still hold a “slight edge” for control of the 30 seats in the parliament. It said that the BLP had a 37 per cent favourable rating as against 34 per cent for the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) with 29 per cent of the voters either not giving an indication of how they will vote on Thursday or did not know which party would most likely win nationally. The poll has a margin of error of minus or plus five per cent, indicated however that “the actual outcome of this election is therefore dependent on the behaviour of this “uncertain vote” adding that two possible scenarios emerge, which could be revealed in the new poll which is currently under way”. The poll found that Stuart, who headed the government after the death of then prime minister David Thompson in 2011, had a three per cent lead over Arthur, who is seeking to regain control of the
DLP leader and Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, left, and BLP leader Owen Arthur government he lost in 2008. According to the pollsters, Stuart is liked by 39 per cent of the electorate as compared with 36 per cent for Arthur. The polls showed that the DLP had been able to narrow a six per cent lead the BLP enjoyed last September to a mere 3.4 per cent, meaning that Thursday’s general elction “is expected to go down to the wire”. But CARDES is still predicting victory for the BLP and suggesting that despite the late surge by the ruling party, the marginal lead currently enjoyed by the BLP should be sufficient for it to produce the weakest of governments if the trend holds. The poll conducted last weekend in all 30 constituencies, found that on the issue of whether this was the time for a change of government, 38.9 per cent said yes while 40.5 per cent said no with uncommitted, comprising of those who have not yet made up their minds or would not say which
part6y they would be voting for, accounting for 20.6 per cent. CADRES pollster Peter Wuickham said the survey showed the electorate was sending a strong signal that leadership was an issue and that while people still had reservations about the ruling party, they were becoming more comfortable with the DLP’s leadership. “Overall uncommitted voters, standing at 33 per cent, will play a big role in Thursday’s vote with the size on this occasion being the lowest historically in any CADRES poll.” But Wickham said that based on the swing analysis, the DLP could get a larger share of the uncommitted voters but still lose narrowly. The Sunday Sun newspaper quoted Wickham as saying however if the uncommitted voters behave characteristically “this time and the BLP got a larger share, it would not only win the election, but with a comfortable majority.”
Caribbean fisherfolk to benefit from EU grant Trinidad Guardian Caribbean fisherfolk are expected to benefit from a •1,032,099 grant (TT$10,000) from the European Union, via its Europe Aid programme. The monies were donated to The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (Canari) to improve the contribution of the small scale fisheries sector to food security and build the capacity of regional and national fisherfolk organisations. Among the countries expected to benefit from the four-year project are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti and Jamaica. Montserrat, Saint Lucia,
St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the Turks and Caicos Islands are also expected to benefit. These countries are expected to strengthen the capacity for regional and national fisherfolk organisation networks by having them participate in fisheries governance and management. A release said, “Building the capacity of the fisheries sector is critical to address the region’s growing concern with food and nutrition security. Since 2005, it has recorded food import bills of more than •3.5 billion ($3,500 million) and rising food prices have compounded this
challenge.” The project is being implemented by Canari, in partnership with the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (Cermes) of the UWI and Panos Caribbean in association with the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Associations (CNFO) and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CFRM).
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
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Venezuela open to improved ties with Washington - Chavez CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s foreign minister, Elias Jaua, said yesterday that President Hugo Chavez has asked his diplomats to seek improved relations with the United States. Chavez has had a rocky relationship with Washington for years, though the US remains the top buyer of oil from Venezuela. “We want to have a good relationship with the United States, but we are not desperate,” said Jaua, speaking in an interview broadcast on the local Televen TV channel The US Embassy in Caracas has been without an ambassador since July 2010 when Chavez rejected the US nominee for ambassador, accusing him of making disrespectful remarks about Venezuela’s government. That led Washington to revoke the visa of the Venezuelan ambassador.
Hugo Chavez Jaua said Chavez wants Venezuela’s ambassador to the Organization of American States, Roy Chaderton, to talk with officials in Washington about the possibility of restoring ambassadors to embassies in both countries. “It’s an effort that President Chavez has asked us to continue making,” Jaua said. But Jaua noted that Venezuela is not in a hurry to
have an American envoy in Caracas, saying: “We have learned to live without a US ambassador.” Since taking office in 1999, Chavez has regularly accused US officials of conspiring against his government and criticized Washington’s foreign policy. Chavez, a self-proclaimed revolutionary, has also forged strong ties with US adversaries including Syrian President Bashar Assad and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. US officials have for years questioned Chavez’s democratic ideals and criticized Venezuela’s efforts against drug trafficking as inadequate. Chavez counters that democratic freedoms have increased under his 13-year rule and has accused US officials of manipulating the drug issue for political purposes to discredit his government.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 18, 2013
Jamaica looks to hydroelectricity as search intensifies for cheaper light bills Jamaica Gleaner - The Government seems set to spend just over US$1 million to conduct yet another study on the possibility of using the country’s rivers to generate more electricity despite the many studies already done. The National Contracts Commission last December approved a US$1.21 million (J$104m) consultancy contract to an Italian firm to provide hydropower prefeasibility and feasibility studies at five sites across the island. The five sites are the Rio Cobre in St Catherine, the Martha Brae River in Trelawny, Morgan’s River in St Thomas, the Spanish River in Portland and the Negro River also in St Thomas. The contract is yet to be finalised, but sources say the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) should announce the signing shortly. Hydroelectricity generation has long been suggested for Jamaica, which is dubbed the ‘land of wood
and water’. But several tests have confirmed that the country lacks the potential for largescale hydroelectricity generation. In 2008, the PCJ reported that some 23.8-megawatts (MW) of power was then installed across the island with the potential for about another 100 MW. At that time, the PCJ said Jamaica’s hydroelectric potential could be further exploited through the construction of a number of small-scale plants. But the PCJ warned that hydropower schemes have high capital costs, and are sensitive to the high interestrate regimes which could prohibit private investment in hydropower ventures. Almost three years ago, the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) put its first hydroplant back into service, spending US$1 million to add 0.77 megawatt of capacity to the grid. Sitting idle since 2001, the facility, located at the National
Water Commission’s (NWC) treatment plant at Long Lane in St Andrew, is being operated under joint agreement between JPS and NWC. The plant is powered by the waters of the Hermitage Dam, as well as the Wag Water and Boar rivers; diverted through turbines before being returned to the NWC treatment area. The JPS now reports that it operates eight hydroplants with work under way on a ninth plant. Late last year, the company announced that preparatory work had started on the construction of the second Maggotty Hydroelectric Power Plant in St Elizabeth. That plant is expected to add just over six megawatts to the national grid upon completion in November. A statement from the company said it had committed US$33 million to the building of the new plant - the largest single investment in the hydropower sector. Maggoty was also the
Young Men use sticks to remove debris from the rising Rio Cobre near Flat Bridge. site of the first hydroelectricity plan in Jamaica. This was set up in 1966. Last week, the JPS said the entire wooden structure
which carried water to the original Maggotty Hydro Power Plant has been removed and new pipe support structures and glass
reinforced polyester pipelines are being prepared. According to the company, it is on target to meet the November deadline.
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
Jamaica included in World Bank study of universal health coverage WASHINGTON - CMC – As a growing number of countries tackle the fiscal challenge of providing universal health coverage (UHC), the World Bank has listed Jamaica among 22 case studies of countries that have “significantly expanded access to health care in the last decade. The Washington-based financial institution said the goal is aimed at helping countries make more informed health policy and program choices. Researchers looked systematically at countries’ experiences with a set of parameters related to achieving UHC, including designing and managing benefits packages, expanding coverage to the poorest and excluded populations, providing quality care, and health financing, the World Bank said. Besides Jamaica, the other countries included in the study are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Georgia, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey and Vietnam. The bank also released an analysis of the impact of UHC efforts in the developing world. The studies show that although approaches to UHC vary, four-fifths or more of the
countries share common implementation instruments. These include: an explicitly defined benefits package, expansion of coverage financed by general taxation, enrollment requirements, and reform of public provision of health services – all backed by strong political support, the World Bank said. It said also notable was that less than half of the countries studied had systems in place to monitor improvements in health. The World Bank described Jamaica’s primary health care system as “a model for the Caribbean region in the 1990s. “Because of it, Jamaicans enjoy relatively better health status than people in other countries of similar income level in the Caribbean region,” it said. However, the World Bank said Jamaica’s health system is being “severely challenged by persistent and re-emerging infectious diseases and by the rapid increase in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries.” At the same time, the bank said Jamaica has suffered from low economic growth, and carries a high debt burden, “which leaves limited fiscal space for improving health care.” According to the World Bank, the Government of Jamaica has been “trying to sustain the gain in health
outcomes and improve access to health care for its population in an environment of constrained resources during the last decade.” With the establishment of the Jamaica National Health Fund (NHF) in 2003 and the abolition of user fees at public facilities in 2008, the bank said that the Government of Jamaica “has taken steps toward achieving universal coverage.” This study reviews the achievements and challenges in expanding universal access in Jamaica and assesses the impact of the NHF’s drugsubsidy programs and the abolition of user fees on universal access. It also discusses policy options for achieving universal coverage. The World Bank said lessons across the studies point to the need to ensure that the implementation of UHC is “equitable, efficient, and sustainable—which requires the use of many instruments that strengthen the accountability of all parties in the health sector.” Based on findings from the studies, the World Bank said it is testing a new universal coverage assessment tool (UNICAT) that will help countries assess their strengths and weaknesses in implementing UHC. The tool will be “rolled out” later this year.
IDB supports energy efficiency programme for Caribbean hotels WASHINGTON - CMC – The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association and the Ministry of Tourism have launched a major energy efficiency programme for hotels with support from the Inter-American Bank (IDB) and international partners. The Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy ActionAdvanced Programme (CHENACT-AP) is also scheduled to be launched in Jamaica in February. The objective of the programme is to improve the competitiveness of small- and medium-sized hotels through improved use of energy, with the emphasis on renewable energy and micro-generation. Additionally, there will be “positive impacts to the environment in terms of reductions in greenhouse gases and ozone layer
depletion,” the IDB said. The first phase of the programme will involve energy audits of participating hotels and recommendations on how to improve energy savings. The energy audits will then be transformed into financial proposals that could be presented to international or local financial institutions to obtain funding for implementation. The programme will fund energy audits amounting to US$1 million for participating hotels in the Bahamas, the IDB said. “Energy-related costs represent 15 to 20 per cent of a hotel’s operating budget; therefore, the programme is timely and welcomed”, said
Glenn Sampert of the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA). “There is every reason to believe that this is not going to change by itself,” he added. “It will take more aggressive and determined efficiency and conservation measures by hotels, policies which encourage the use of energy-saving equipment, and bold new approaches to energy generation.” The IDB said the project will aim to bundle the carbon emission reductions (CERs) from the Bahamas, Barbados, and Jamaica, as a result of the energy efficiency measures and renewable energy applications.
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Chavez foe to face corruption charges in Venezuela CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Prosecutors plan to bring corruption charges against a prominent opponent of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, claiming he misspent public funds by using them to launch an organization that has become one of the country’s most popular political parties. Opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez allegedly accepted donations from Venezuela’s state-run oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, in 1998, prosecutors said in a statement Saturday. Lopez was summoned to appear before prosecutors next month. The donations were purportedly authorized by the
politician’s mother, Antonietta Mendoza de Lopez, when she was working for the state-run company known as PDVSA, its Spanish acronym. Lopez allegedly guided the donations to a close associate to form First Justice, an organization that later become one of the South American country’s most popular political parties. Lopez, a former Caracas district mayor, has denied any wrongdoing. In a message posted on the Twitter social networking site, Lopez said the accusations are politically motivated. “Instead of persecuting criminals, they persecute dissidence!” he wrote. Fellow opposition leaders, including Caracas Mayor
Leopoldo Lopez Antonio Ledezma, defended Lopez. “Our solidarity with Leopoldo Lopez,” Ledezma said in a tweet. “He will not be alone!”
130 Bajan doctors may face axe over accreditation Barbados Nation - At least 130 doctors may not be allowed to practise medicine here if they don’t get their accreditation in order within the next six weeks. Being accredited by the Barbados Medical Council is the first step to being registered to practise in accordance with Section 18 of the Medical Profession Act 2011-1. To get accreditation, the doctors need to provide
evidence that they have complied with the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) assessment scheme under the act. This scheme assigns credits for various activities which would have contributed to furthering doctors’ education such as presentations to peer conferences. This is the first year for this regulation. Of the 583 doctors on the
medical register last year, 520 have made applications. Seventy-seven have been accredited for the years 20132015; 152 for 2013-2014; and 221 for only this year. The council, however, reported that 70 doctors require additional credits for re-registration and have until March 31 to complete the requirements to be registered, while 60 have not applied at all.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 18, 2013
Monday February 18, 2013
DTV CHANNEL 8 08:55hrs. Sign On 09:00hrs. This Morning 10:00hrs. Live! With Kelly and Michael 11:00hrs. Roseanne 12:00hrs. The View 13:00hrs. World News 13:30hrs. The Young and the Restless 14:30hrs. The Bold and the Beautiful 15:00hrs. DTV’s Festival of Biblical Movies for the Lenten Season: “Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob & Joseph” 17:30hrs. Family Feud 18:00hrs. GYSM – One Pulse (LIVE) 19:00hrs. Greetings and
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Announcements 20:00hrs. Channel 8 News 20:30hrs. IBDA Movie: It Could Happen to You 23:00hrs. Hawaii Five-0 (New Episode) MTV CHANNEL 14/ CABLE 65 05:30h Dharan Kai Awaz- The Voice of Dharma 06:00h Islamic Perspective 06:30h The Diary 07:00h DAY BREAK (live) 08:00h Dabi’s Musical Hour 08:30h Avon Video & DVD music hour 09:00h Current affairs 09:15h Top Notch Music Break 09:30h Caribbean Temptation
music break 10:00h Amanda’s music break 10:30h Clairan’s Ent. Music Break 11:00h Salvation Message with Pastor Kelvin 11:15h National Geographic 12:00h The View 13:00h Village Talk: Berbice 13:30h The Young and The Restless 14:30h Days of our lives 15:00h General Hospital 16:00h The Bold and the Beautiful 16:30h Cartoons 17:00h Birthdays & other Greetings 17:15h Death Announcements/ In Memoriam
Monday February 18, 2013 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Be prepared for a few scheduling hiccups, today. Suddenly, an unforeseen event could limit your free time and make you feel a little bit like you're under the gun. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Someone is suddenly seeing you in a brand new light today, and it will trigger some deeper conversations. No longer will the two of you waste time in small talk -you're both ready to get to the heart of the matter and get things resolved. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): Today, you will get a lot more out of listening and learning than you ever could from getting a laugh, enjoying a flirtatious conversation, or relaxing with a friend. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Your external world and your internal world are at odds, right now -- you have great ideas, but you are not interested in shouting them out to the world. Something is keeping you introverted right now, and you need to just sit with it until it's over and you are ready to break out of your shell, again. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): If you're feeling bored with the same faces in your group of friends, then maybe it's time for you to look to the past for your social future! Dig out your phone book and refresh your memory about friends who you've let slip away, either through change of life or change of job. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): When you enter into a new group situation today, try not to be as socially cautious as you often are. There's
no need to be intimidated! ********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): If you are not in the mood to be social right now, then the worst thing you could do would be to force yourself to go out. You cannot convince yourself to have a good time if you're just not feeling it! ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 N o v. 2 1 ) : To d a y, o t h e r people's money will cause you to think more about your own money. Either you don't have as much as someone and want more, or you have so much more than someone that you are feeling guilty. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Today, absolutely anything is possible. This day is a blank slate, and it's up to you to draw the picture you want to see. The outcome of anything you're involved in is totally up to you. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): You have been attracting flighty people lately - and while it's been fun, it has also been fairly frustrating. So today it will do you well to take a break from people who always seem to cancel on you at the last minute. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): Today your sense of humor is in full force, and likely to be the most effective tool toward lighting up a tiny spark of romance in someone's eye. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): A few last minute changes will be required of you here and there today, especially if you are going to be traveling or about to embark on a trip.
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Kaieteur News
More budget cuts this... (From page 12) itself, but I think it is necessary because a NoConfidence motion is a command of the National Assembly and a Minister is accountable to the National Assembly. That is the checkand -balance in the doctrine of separation of powers. The Legislative Branch is what can hold to account the Executive Branch and ministers definitely have to answer questions…have to gain the confidence of the National Assembly. This Minister has not, and a lot of things have happened under his stewardship. It is not as if we are saying it is necessary fault—it is a political question if his stewardship has so many unsound decisions and repercussions, notwithstanding it might not be direct bearing on what he did or said, we feel he is ultimately responsible and if he is not doing a good job to the satisfaction of the majority of the Assembly members, we feel that the
Convention of Individual Ministerial Responsibility ought to apply and that is, that if the Assembly has no confidence in you, you ought to resign”. LOCAL GOV’T ELECTIONS Ramjattan said that the AFC “wants to fast- track the other pieces of legislations that have been left for approval in the National Assembly. He believes this can be down within a threemonth period. “If we manage to do that, [and] the President assents to it, we can have an election before the end of November”. During a sitting of the National Assembly two Thursdays ago, government successfully moved a Bill to postpone local government elections, pending completion of a review by a Parliamentary team. Shortly before the vote, the combined opposition insisted that the postponement should instead be a deadline for holding elections by
November the latest. According to Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud, the postponement is critical, as four Bills that will see mandatory reforms are before a special select committee of the National Assembly. He said that the 1997 General Elections saw the establishment of a task force which was given the mandate to prepare legislative reforms. Opposition members who were part of that task force were blamed for the delays. Ramjattan stated that the AFC has begun to do preparatory work for Local Government elections in terms of campaigning and meeting with its constituents as it was doing last weekend in Berbice. “We want to tell out activists on the ground to start becoming prepared for the elections”. He does not rule out Local Government elections this year, “as a matter of fact, there is every indication that it may very well be held this year”.
Monday February 18, 2013
Brazilian cops join hunt for female suspect in Bartica murder By Michael Jordan Police in Brazil are trying to locate a native of the Portuguese-speaking territory who is believed to have fled back to her homeland following the brutal murder of businesswoman Elisangela Silva Figueara in her Bartica residence last week. An official from the Brazilian Embassy here told Kaieteur News that the police are trying to ascertain whether the woman has returned to her homeland. “Our police are trying to locate her address. We are trying to confirm if she returned to Brazil,” the official said. The senior official also suggested out of fear of being arrested, the woman might have re-entered Brazil by land rather than by plane. Asked about reports that the suspect may also be wanted for a serious crime in her homeland, the official said that there were no previous reports about the individual. The woman being sought is a former employee of Figueara’s and investigators have received reports that the two women had a dispute over a sum of money that the suspect had allegedly converted to her own use. They were reportedly heard arguing on the day that Figueara was last seen alive, A post mortem performed on Wednesday revealed that the 35-year-old businesswoman was beaten and strangled. Sources who knew both
Elisangela Da Silva Figueara
Have you seen her? Police think that this woman can assist in their investigation
individuals said that the suspect had fled to Guyana a few years ago after committing a serious crime in Brazil. It is alleged that she returned to Brazil after wounding another woman at an interior location. After spending a few months in Brazil, the suspect returned to Guyana and began to work with Figueara at Bartica. Figueara reportedly left the woman to run her communications business for about a month, and when the businesswoman returned, she is said to have discovered that between $600,000 and $1M was missing. The two were reportedly heard arguing two Thursdays ago, which was also the last time that Figueara was seen alive. Kaieteur News was told that the suspect was seen at a Bartica shop the following day but has not been seen since.
Figueara’s body was discovered last Sunday night in a bedroom at her Lot 97 Second Avenue, Bartica residence. Her bed was bloodsoaked and her tongue was protruding. There was also a gash on her head. Neighbours last saw Figueara alive two Thursdays ago when she was sweeping her yard. That night, she was overheard arguing with another female and neighbours reportedly later observed that all the windows and doors of residence were shut. Three days later two Brazilian men who visited the residence regularly, forced open a bedroom window and discovered Figueara’s decomposing corpse. The victim had operated a communications centre, a guest house and a money transfer service to Brazil.
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 18, 2013
Health Ministry ‘on alert’ for horse meat packaged as beef The Ministry of Health is ‘on alert’ for signs that horse meat packaged as beef has been shipped to Guyana, but Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran says that there is no indication so far that any supplies of the tainted meat are here. Dr. Ramsaran was at the time responding to queries about the growing scandal in which horse meat falsely labeled as beef and other products has been found in several European countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden and Norway. The Health Minister disclosed that Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud has been tasked with doing an analysis of the extent of importation of foreign meat supplies and should have a report of his findings by today. This probe will be conducted with other agencies, including veterinary personnel. “We are on alert...we will check to see if we getting any meat from any of the contaminated sources,” Dr. Ramsaran told Kaieteur News, while explaining that only small supplies of meat are imported here. “I don’t know if we have large imports of meat from this source…we have not come
across any incidents. We will be checking records with the Chief Medical Officer and the Veterinary people,” he added. The Health Minister noted that the scandal has now spread to other European countries such as Holland and Poland. International media reports stated that the scandal was unearthed last month in Ireland and the UK when health officials conducting routine checks found horse DNA in frozen beef burgers. According to some reports, British officials also found that a small amount of the horse meat contained a banned drug w hich could be fatal if ingested in high doses. Reuters reported that six horses slaughtered in the U.K. that tested positive for the potentially harmful drug Phenylbutazone were exported to France and may have entered the human food chain. Phenylbutazone, commonly known as bute, is an anti-inflammatory painkiller for sporting horses but is banned for animals intended for human consumption. According to Reuters, Britain’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it was
percent horse was being supplied to supermarkets by Silvercrest Foods in Ireland and Dalepak Hambleton in Yorkshire, subsidiaries of the ABP Food Group. The probe led to ten million suspect burgers being removed from shelves, including by retailers Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, Iceland and Dunnes Stores.
A third company, Liffey meats, based in Co Cavan, Ireland, was also found to be supplying products to supermarkets with traces of horse DNA. Concern is said to have grown when the British unit of frozen foods group Findus began recalling its beef lasagne on advice from its
French supplier, Comigel, after tests showed concentrations of horsemeat ranging from 60 to 100 percent. The probe has said to have led to three arrests last Thursday in U.K. and the European Union has endorsed a major DNA testing programme to ascertain how much of the horse meat is being sold as beef and other products.
Bandits gave a US-based Guyanese a brutal welcome to her homeland, assaulting and robbing her of over $4M in cash and jewellery and stabbing her fiancée at around 02: 30 hrs yesterday. Jermaine D’andrade, 33, was stabbed twice just below the chest by one of three bandits who invaded his Lot 8, Perry Street, Tucville home shortly after he had picked up his fiancée from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. D’andrade has been admitted to hospital but sources said that his wounds are not life threatening. According to the father of two, he and a friend had just picked up his fianceé at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and as
he drove into his yard and was about to disembark the car, two men confronted them, one with a gun and the other with a knife. “As we were coming out the car, I see these two men (both appeared to be in their twenties) coming towards us. They were already in the yard. I didn’t want to take the chance to run because they had a gun,” the 33-year-old man said from his hospital bed. He explained that both men, including one with a kerchief tied across his mouth, began threatening them, while a third bandit came from behind them. “One of them was pointing the gun to my head and was saying ‘I will give
you five minute to answer and tell me where the house key is and the jewellery,’ while the other two were searching the luggage,” D’andrade recalled. While one of the bandits was stripping the 33-year-old man of his valuables, another one assaulted his fiancée. The overseas based Guyanese who was returning home to invest in a wash-bay lost $GY4M, including foreign currency, jewelry, her passport and a laptop while the self employed man lost his phone, wallet and wristwatch. The couple’s friend who was present throughout the ordeal escaped unharmed. The police have held him for questioning into the robbery.
- no sign tainted Europe supplies on local shelves gathering information on the six carcasses sent to France and was working with French authorities to trace them. The report added that the FSA said it checked 206 horse carcasses between Jan. 30 and Feb. 7. Of these, eight tested positive for the drug. It said the six sent to France were slaughtered by a firm in Taunton, Western England. The remaining two did not leave the slaughterhouse in Nantwich, North West England, and have now been disposed of. The FSA introduced 100 percent testing of horse carcasses on Jan. 30 in response to the growing horse scandal. The media reports said that the issue first came to light on J a n . 1 5 w h e n routine tests by Irish authorities discovered horsemeat in beef burgers made by firms in Ireland and Britain and sold in supermarket chains including Tesco, Britain’s biggest retailer. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland revealed that beef burgers with traces of equine DNA, including one product classed as 29
Bandits rob US-based Guyanese, stab fiancé
Delta pull-out evidence that Marriott is not needed - AFC’s Cathy Hughes
While American charter, Delta Airlines, has decided to pull its services out of Guyana because of insufficient passengers, the government is throwing up a US multiple million dollar Marriott Hotel which just doesn’t make sense, said Alliance for Change (AFC) executive member Cathy Hughes. While protesting outside the hotel’s construction site earlier this week, the AFC member told the media that there is no need for the Marriott Hotel and Delta’s pull out from Guyana is evidence of this. On Friday last, Delta confirmed its pull out from Guyana and a spokesperson said that it was unable to continue its services because of a significant decline in passengers and that it was losing money. Hughes said that this shows the prospects for the Marriott if the airline is unable to full its seats. “Delta has told us clearly that they do not have enough (passengers) to continue a profitable run and to include Guyana in their market. So it goes to show, that we have
some fundamental problems and we have done nothing about it. Clearly not enough people are coming to Guyana, so why would you need a Marriott?” Hughes questioned. Hughes charged that the Government should thus listen to tax payers whose money is being invested into the project. She said the Government has gone to great lengths to imply that hundreds of thousands of people come to the country, instead of listening to the people who have elected them to be their representatives. Sarah Lora, Delta’s General Manager, Corporate Communications, Latin American and Caribbean, stated in the airline’s official statement that “Delta Airlines will close its station in Georgetown, Guyana, discontinuing flights between the John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.” The close, the statement said would be effective May 6, 2013, due to poor performance of the route. It was also indicated that
AFC executive member Cathy Hughes although Delta would prefer to continue serving the market, flights between Georgetown and New York’s JFK International Airport have experienced a notable “decline in passenger loads and revenues for the past 18 months, leading to unsustainable losses.” The government however said it was disappointed since not only was the airline doing well, indications were that it was commanding near full passenger loads, this year racking up its highest percentage…89 per cent, according to a government spokesperson.
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Monday February 18, 2013
Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Futsal Competition
Thousands witness Plaisance crowned East Coast champs By Rawle Welch It has already been deemed a phenomenal creation in Guyana that has been hugely embraced by many other regional countries and expected to be similarly accepted internationally, but the Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ Futsal Extravaganza continues to astound Organisers, players and fans alike. Saturday’s final of the East Coast segment of the planned nationwide competition which was played at the Haslington Market Tarmac provided ample evidence of the alarming popularity that this unparalleled event has attracted with thousands of spectators taking advantage of every available vantage point to witness the conclusion of the exciting Futsal format. At the end of competition which finished after midnight, Plaisance’s leading marksman Warren Gilkes’ screaming thunderbolt, which was delivered from just over the half line, broke the deadlock between them and Church Yard United of Victoria in what was
BV ‘A’ secure third place definitely the most exciting game of the night. In the playoff for third place, the consistent BV ‘A’ overcame a game, but clearly exhausted Melanie by a 1-0 margin with Reon Hopkinson’s 9th minute effort, being the only goal of the game. Earlier, in the first semifinal matchup, Plaisance beat BV ‘ A’ 2-1 with Kester Green and Gilkes netting in the 9th and 11th minutes respectively, while Delroy Deen’s 6th minute strike had given BV ‘A’ the lead briefly. In the second semi-final clash, Church Yard United of Victoria edged Melanie 1-0 courtesy of a solitary strike off the boot of Horace Graham which came in the 31st minute of a game that required extra time. Shortly after witnessing a gripping third place encounter, supporters of the two finalists braced themselves for what was understandably anticipated to be an enthralling contest and they were not disappointed as the two
combatants engaged each other in a predicted slugfest. Plaisance preferred to keep possession and looked quite efficient knocking the ball around, while Church Yard United pressed for the early ascendancy, but admirable defending proved to be the winner in the opening period. In the second half, Plaisance scored two minutes after the resumption when Gilkes fortuitously off a goalmouth scrimmage much to the delight of his supporters and dismay to the opposition’s camp. However, instead of being buoyed by their good fortune, Plaisance uncharacteristically went on the defensive and in trying to protect their slim lead conceded a goal when Kearon Simon pierced the defence with a fierce shot from close range and it was pandemonium after then as the battle for the title was well and truly on from that stage. Simon’s effort came in the 22nd minute of regulation time. The frenetic pace
A member of the Plaisance team on the attack in their clash against Victoria’s Church Yard United in the final of the East Coast segment of the Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ which ended on Saturday, at the Haslington Market Tarmac. continued, before Gilkes, collecting the ball off a sideline pass swiveled and in one motion fired a left-foot missile past a horde of defenders into the back of the opposition goal four minutes from full time. Victoria Church Yard attacked with menace and had some close shaves at scoring, but Plaisance held on
tenaciously until the final whistle sounded in relief to them, but agony to their opponents. For the win, the inaugural champs took home $400,000, runners-up Victoria Church Yard $200,000, 3rd placed BV ‘A’ $100,000 and Melanie $50,000. All the teams also received trophies. Both Plaisance and
Victoria Church Yard move on to represent the East Coast in the national finals set for sometime shortly. Meanwhile, the final had in attendance Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, Banks DIH representative Clive Pellew and Co-Directors of the Petra Organisation Marlan Cole and Troy Mendonca.
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
Victoria Azarenka beats Serena Williams to win Qatar Open BBC Sport - Victoria Azarenka gained some measure of revenge for losing her number one ranking to Serena Williams by beating the American to win the Qatar Open. The 23-year-old Belarusian won 7-6 (8-6) 2-6 6-3 to retain her title in Doha. Williams, 31, had already done enough this week to confirm she will replace Azarenka as world number one on Monday. But Azarenka ended a run of nine consecutive defeats against Williams as she beat her for only the second time in 12 attempts. “I just wanted to fight and give myself every opportunity to get back,” said Azarenka. I told myself, ‘You have to keep it together, you have to do something otherwise Serena’s on a roll and she’s going to bring her A game.’ “I had to really step up my game and I’m glad that I could turn it around, stay tough and focused.” Williams was unsettled early on, dropping serve with a double fault in game three and complaining to umpire Eva Asderaki that Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka (right) and Serena Williams after collecting their rewards. was delaying her serve by saying she was not ready to receive. Azarenka faltered only once in an impressive serving display in the opening set, but that allowed Williams to force the tie-break and earn the first set point. With the set slipping away, Azarenka boldly took the initiative and moved into the forecourt, drawing an error from Williams who was forced into attempting a forehand pass.
Two points later the 15time Grand Slam champion hooked a backhand into the tramlines, and Azarenka had the lead she deserved. Williams broke early in the second but then looked to be struggling with her back after a heavy fall when chasing down a drop shot, but despite some apparent discomfort she managed to hold in a lengthy game at 3-2 and went on to break serve once again as she saw out the set.
Letter to the Sports Editor
GCB happy Government on board with CPLT20 DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is pleased that the Government of Guyana, is on board with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 which gets underway in five months’ time. In an article in the February 15 edition of Stabroek News, the minister of Culture, Youth and Sports said that he is extremely excited about the tournament and is eager to show the organisers that Guyana is interested. According to him, it is an ideal opportunity to develop numerous relationships that will benefit Guyana and its players. With the problems facing cricket in Guyana lately, the GCB is delighted about Minister Anthony’s approach and is looking forward to work diligently with the Sports and Tourism Ministries to bring international cricket back to Guyana. While the Guyana Cricket Board did not participate in negotiating the Staging agreement which the WICB Signed with Verus international, the licensee for
the Caribbean Premier League, the GCB is in the process of discussions on the RFP and MOU to be signed between the GCB and Verus International. The Government is required to sign on to the Tourist Board Proposal and make the Providence Stadium available for the duration of the tournament. Many Caribbean islands that built Stadia for the world cup have been submitting proposals to host matches in the CPL tournament. The GOG has already committed to the CPL which has the potential of boasting tourism during the six week window every year. This is a tremendous opportunity for Guyana to build a tourism package around this event. Guyanese cricketers also stand to benefit financially from territorial contracts and development programmes. It is envisaged that all arrangements will be in place shortly for Guyana to be a host nation in the CPL. The GCB is thrilled that Guyana is named as one of the six franchises in the CPLT20, and is hopeful that
some of the country’s young and talented players will be named and will have a chance to showcase their skills and talent. Despite being one of the underdogs in the recently concluded Caribbean T20, Guyana made it to the final; so the country deserves the accolade. The tournament will bring back highly competitive cricket to the country which was starved of international games for a long time. Such will revive the passion for the sport among the fans and enhance its standards in Guyana. The GCB is hoping that with the minister’s optimistic approach, the fans’ excitement, and Guyana’s ability to be a worthy host, games scheduled for Guyana in the Pakistan tour to the West Indies in June can now be a reality as Jamaica has already been named an alternate venue. The Guyana Cricket Board looks forward to the same approach in negotiations to host Pakistan and return Guyana to playing at home in regional tournaments. Guyana Cricket Board
If the closing stages of the second saw Williams looking somewhere near her best, it was Azarenka who hit the heights early in the decider as she rediscovered her first serve and backed it up with some clinical hitting. The Belarusian had led by a break and failed to convert in the third set of the US Open final against Williams last September, but this time she finished the job impressively. After seeing one match point slip by on the Williams serve, Azarenka closed out the win with a confident hold to extend her unbeaten run in 2013. “I can’t say that I’m depressed like I am whenever I lose,” said Williams. “I’m definitely not happy, but I’m number one. It was such a long journey, and after winning Wimbledon and the US Open and the (seasonending) Championships, I thought, ‘I just don’t think I can win anymore. I don’t know what it takes to be number one.’ “So it was awesome to come here and achieve that goal.”
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West Indies Women to play 3 ODIs and 5 T20s in Sri Lanka St John’s Antigua –West Indies Women will tour Sri Lanka immediately following the ICC Women’s World Cup, which ended today in Mumbai, India. The series will be played from Friday, February 22 to Friday, March 8 and will include three One-Day Internationals and five Twenty20 Internationals. The ODIs will be played at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on February 22, 24 and 26. The T20s will be played at the historic R Premadasa Stadium on March 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8. West Indies have been improving gradually and finished second in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. They lost the final against Australia at the Cricket Club of India’s Brabourne Stadium, earlier today. Last year they reached the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World T20 tournament. West Indies and Sri Lanka played in the same group at the just concluded World Cup. Sri Lanka reached the Super Six stage while West Indies reached the Final for
the first time. The Windies will leave India on Monday. The opening match will be on Friday. FULL SQUAD: Merissa Aguilleira (C/WK), Stafanie Taylor (VC), Shemaine Campbelle, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Kycia Knight (WK), Kyshona Knight, Natasha McLean, Anisa Mohammed, Subrina Munroe , Juliana Nero, June Ogle, Shaquana Quintyne, Shakera Selman and Tremayne Smartt. TOUR SCHEDULE ODI Series Friday, February 22: 1st ODI at Dambulla – 9:30 am Sunday, February 24: 2nd ODI at Dambulla – 9:30 am Tuesday, February 26: 3rd ODI at Dambulla – 9:30 am T20 International Series Friday, March 1:1st T20 at R Premadasa – 10 am Sunday, March 3: 2nd T20 at R Premadasa – 10 am Tuesday, March 5: 3rd T20 at R Premadasa – 10 am Thursday, March 7: 4th T20 at R Premadasa – 10 am Friday, March 8: 5th T20 at R Premadasa – 10 am
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Monday February 18, 2013
McCullum, Guptill guide NZ to win over England HAMILTON (Reuters) Brendon McCullum produced a match winning innings while a limping Martin Gup t i l l r e t u r n e d after retiring hurt to guide New Zealand to a threewicket victory over England in their first oneday international at Seddon Park on Sunday. McCullum finished on 69 while Guptill, who retired hurt on three after he strained his left hamstring only to return when New Zealand were 218 for seven, was 27 not out as the hosts scored 259-7 in 48.5 overs, having bowled England out for 258. The 31-year-old McCullum had needed to
provide the game-winning innings after he ran out Kane Williamson earlier when New Zealand appeared well placed for victory at 142-3 in the 34th over. The dismissal came with Williamson on 74 and McCullum starting to look settled as the batting power play approached. Williamson, who had been the most assured of New Zealand’s batsmen, guiding the ball around the ground with ease, was run out when McCullum called for a single, changed his mind and left his partner short of his ground at the non-striker’s end. “I thought he was playing outstanding,” McCullum said with a smile, while also stating
he had apologised to the 22year-old Williamson. “His intent right from ball one was superb and he was controlling the game nicely. It’s a shame I cut him off but hopefully he can back that up.” Williamson’s departure produced a tighter-thanexpected finish as New Zealand wickets fell regularly before McCullum seized the initiative and Guptill returned to flail away then hit the winning runs and give the hosts a 1-0 series lead. “They were 180 for two at one point and for us to show those fighting characteristics ...and restrict them to under 260 was fantastic. “I’m
B’dos set Guyana imposing 378 to win BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados set Guyana an imposing 378 to win on the third day of the second round match of the Regional Four-Day Championship at Kensington Oval yesterday. Resuming from their overnight 0-0, Barbados eventually declared at 235 for 7 wickets to set the Guyanese a big chase. Rashidi Boucher made a top score of 81, Roston Chase supported with 49, Kraigg Brathwaite 27, Jason Carter 25 and Shane Dowrich 24. Bowling for Guyana Steven
Jacobs took 2-49 to head the bowling. In reply, Guyana reached 94 for 1 with Tagenarine Chanderpaul back in the pavilion for 9. At the wicket are Rajendra Chandrika on 40 and Leon Johnson on 39 and this pair would look to continue with the bat today with the team needing 283 more runs with nine second innings wickets standing for what would be a noteworthy win. Scores: BARBADOS 367 and 235-7 decl’d; GUYANA 225 and 94-1.
delighted for the team to bounce back again after the T20 series (loss against England) and continue the momentum we built up in South Africa in this form of the game.” GOOD PLATFORM England were dismissed for 258 in the final over of their innings after Ian Bell (64), Jonathan Trott (68) and Joe Root (56), provided a platform from which England could attack in the final overs but the visitors failed to capitalise on the small ground hosting the opener of the three-match series. Trott’s dismissal at 184-3 in the 39th over actually sparked a dramatic loss of momentum as the visitors went on to lose their final six wickets for 38 runs in six overs. “We were looking toward 280 to 290 (but)... you still have to go in and hit the ball well and we didn’t manage to do that,” England captain Alastair Cook said. “Credit to the way New Zealand bowled in that period. I think we lost eight wickets in the last 15 or 16 overs and you can’t really do that if you’re going to build a big score. “I thought the way we bowled and defended it we did quite well. We got ourselves into a really good position but didn’t capitalise
Brendon McCullum led New Zealand to a three-wicket win over England with an unbeaten 69 (Getty Images)
and... the way (McCullum) played that last five or six overs he took the game away from us.” Mitchell McClenaghan finished with figures of four for 56 from 9.4 overs but he picked up a side strain that his captain said would rule him out of the rest of the series and New Zealand’s domestic season.
McCullum said Guptill would be assessed on Monday but New Zealand Cricket confirmed that he would definitely miss the second match of the series. Scores: New Zealand 259 for 7 (Williamson 74, B McCullum 69*) beat England 258 (Trott 68, Bell 64, Root 56, McClenaghan 4-56) by three wickets.
Georgetown Softball League
Herstelling, Farm XI, Superior Woods record wins Herstelling, Farm XI and Superior Woods recorded victories when action in the Georgetown Softball League competition continued on Sunday at DCC. Playing in the open category, Herstelling defeated Challengers by 16 runs. Shameer Fazal scored 30 not out and Shafeek Ishmeal made 27 as Herstelling made 122-5 in their allocation of 12, batting first. Mithun Narine and Alvin Mann took 2 wickets each for Challengers who responded with 106-7 in 12 overs. Ravi Singh top scored with 29 and M. Singh supported with 22; R. Ramnauth picked up 2-18. Farm XI overcame Trade
Rajkumar Ori Man by 69 runs. Farm XI took first strike and rattled up 1744 in 12 overs. Patrick Khan led
When we pause and experience silence, we discover answers that activity does not have time to reveal. During your day, take three-minute “vacations”. Relax and re-energise. Take time out to feel the peace of silence.
with 61 while Rawl Reid chipped in with 33 and Amir Azeez 32. Trade Man managed 105-8 in 12 overs in reply. Reid captured 2-18. Herstelling registered their second victory of the day when they got the better of Princess XI by 31 runs. Herstelling batted first and posted 175-5 in 12 overs. Budhan Baksh stroked 112 and Omesh Narine made 32 as Imtiaz Mohamed snared 3-15, Ralph Yusuf 2-27 and Mithun Narine 2-31. Princess in reply made 144-9 in 12 overs. Parnell London slammed 63 and N. Beharry 23. Nai Paul grabbed 4-32. Superior Woods trashed Accomplishment XI by 55 runs. Rajkumar Ori led with 63 and got support from Ravi Singh 31 and Cris Deonarine 23 as Superior Woods scored 149-4 in 12 overs after taking first turn at the crease. Accomplishment XI in reply mustered 94-7 in 12 overs. Navin Bissoon claimed 2-12 for the winners.
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
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CLINICAL SOUTH AFRICA SEAL SERIES WIN
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) South Africa showed why they are the number one test team in the world with a clinical performance on day four of the second test against Pakistan to clinch the series with a four-wicket victory on Sunday. Excellent bowling in the morning session was backed up with steady batting under the hot sun as they chased down a victory target of 182. South Africa now lead the three-match series 2-0 with one match remaining in Centurion starting on Feb. 22. Hashim Amla anchored their chase with an enterprising 58 from 96 balls that drained the belief from the Pakistan bowlers. The tourists picked up some late wickets to allow spinner Saeed Ajmal to record match figures of 10 for 147, but by then the game was lost. Starting their innings 30
minutes after lunch having bowled Pakistan out for 169 in their second innings, the home side lost the early wicket of Alviro Petersen lbw to Umar Gul for one. Graeme Smith (29) then became Ajmal’s first victim of the innings when he was also trapped in front going on the sweep, the second time in the test he has been out in that fashion. Jacques Kallis hit a brisk 21 before being dismissed lbw by Ajmal. Amla was magnificent as he steered the ball all round the ground, but was bowled as he had an uncharacteristic wild swing at an Ajmal delivery, bringing an end to his fine knock. AB de Villiers (36) also played a reckless flashing cut that was caught by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed off Tanvir Ahmed to give the bowler his only wicket of the test.
Faf du Plessis (15) was lbw to Ajmal with two runs needed, but Dean Elgar (11 not out) smashed the winning runs. Perhaps fittingly, he was at the crease at the time with man of the match Robin Peterson (1 not out), who had changed the course of the match with his 84 on Saturday and fine bowling on the fourth morning. FIRST BREAKTHROUGH The victory was set up by South Africa taking seven Pakistan wickets for the addition of 69 runs. The tourists resumed on 100 for three, but it was not long before the hosts had their first breakthrough. Misbah-ul-Haq attempted a poorly executed sweep off Peterson and sent a top-edge flying to Graeme Smith at leg slip, the batsman departing for a patient 44. Asad Shafiq (19) was next to go, unlucky to see the ball bounce onto the stumps after it looped up following his back-foot defensive shot off Vernon Philander. Then came a collapse that rocked Pakistan as they lost three wickets in as many balls. Sarfraz Ahmed (five) left a Peterson delivery that turned out of the leg-side rough and cannoned into his stumps. It was the last ball of the spinner’s over, with Philander taking up the attack from the other end and getting wickets with his first two balls. Ali had reached his 14th test half-century when he edged to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers for 65, and Gul lasted one delivery as he was brilliantly caught by a diving Petersen at third slip. Ajmal (four) was bowled around his legs by Peterson
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent – Windward Islands crushed hapless Trinidad and Tobago by ten wickets with more than a day-and-a-half to spare on Sunday, to reel off their second straight win in the Regional Four-Day Championship. Set only six runs for victory after bundling out the Trinidadians for a hugely disappointing 86 in their second innings, the Windwards needed just two overs to complete the victory before lunch at Arnos Vale Stadium. They were carried by off-spinner Dalton Polius who picked up three for ten and left-arm seamers Delorn Johnson (3-21) Kenroy Peters (2-22) who provided strong support. The win was their second
after they pummelled Combined Campuses and Colleges by seven wickets in their opening round contest at Beausejour Cricket Ground last Tuesday. Starting the day on 52 for three still requiring a further 29 runs to make the Windwards bat again, T&T lost their captain Denesh Ramdin in the day’s opening over without any addition to the score when he edged a cut behind off Johnson. Amit Jaggernauth, starting the day on four, battled hard for his 11 as he added 21 for the seventh wicket with Yannic Cariah who got 15 off 46 balls in nearly an hour at the crease. The stand was ended when Polius snatched the first of his three wickets with
Jaggernauth well taken at slip by Devon Smith. Cariah followed soon afterward with just two runs added at 75 for eight when he smartly stumped by Lyndon James pushing forward at Polius and Rayad Emrit (2) lasted six balls before he was lbw on the back foot to offspinner Liam Sebastien. The end came swiftly as Polius sent back Shannon Gabriel, leg before wicket without scoring. The two teams renew their rivalry in the Super50 one-day tournament here next Thursday before the Windwards hosts Guyana in the four-day competition starting next Sunday. T&T travel to St Kitts for their clash with Leeward Islands at Warner Park.
Hashim Amla plays an attacking stroke. (AFP)
Windwards defeat T&T in under 3 days
Vernon Philander was among the wickets again. (Associated Press) and Mohammad Irfan (two) was the last wicket down as he fended a Dale Steyn bouncer to Petersen in the slips.
Philander ended with match figures of nine for 99. Scores: South Africa 326 (Peterson 84, de Villiers 61, Ajmal 6-96) and 182 for 6
Saeed Ajmal kept Pakistan in the hunt with crucial top-order wickets. (AFP) (Amla 58, Ajmal 4-51) beat Pakistan 338 (Shafiq 111, Younis 111, Philander 5-59) and 169 (Ali 65, Philander 4-40) by four wickets.
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Monday February 18, 2013
UTech confers athletics icon with honorary degree
Dr Merlene Ottey (right) after receiving the honour from UTech’s President Professor Errol Morrison. Jamaica Observer - It’s now official, Dr Merlene Joyce Ottey. Jamaica’s legendary track and field icon was conferred with the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Technology, Sports, Honoris Causa by the University of Technology (UTech) at the Ben Francis
Invitational Meet Saturday. Ottey, 52, had to compete with the rain during the opening ceremony at the Vere Technical High School compound in Clarendon. But, as usual, she won, and after a 45-minute delay and a shift in location from the infield to the auditorium, Ottey was
officially conferred with the doctorate. She is the second person to be conferred with that doctorate by UTech, following Dennis Johnson in 2010. UTech’s President Professor Errol Morrison reiterated that his university is pleased and honoured to be affiliated with Ottey in this manner. “We must expressed our distinct pleasure in sharing this award on this day in honouring Jamaica’s most decorated athlete, our Merlene Ottey,” said Morrison. The ceremony, the first of its kind done off the university’s campus, started with a musical prelude that was followed by the President’s Procession led by the mace bearer, then Morrison and his team, including Ottey, all decked in blue academic robes. The University Registrar, Dr Elaine Wallace, announced the conferment of the honorary degree before the Public Orator Pamella Kaye read the citation for the honorary graduand and presented her to the president for the conferment
of the degree. The lady herself then signed the Register of the Honorary Graduates and gave her an address. She then spoke of her early days, running to and from school, jumping on trucks and buses, and although she thought her wonderful legs would take into modelling, she turned away from an interview in California and never stopped running, even to this point. “I went back in my car, turned it around, and I am still on the track,” said Ottey, who now represents Slovenia. “I just want to say thank
you to the people that I have inspired, because I have inspired a lot in the sport, and also business persons. It is a pleasure for me to do so,” she added. “Tonight, because of my achievements performing for Jamaica, I am here standing in this robe accepting my degree. Thank you very much,” she added. Ottey, after the ceremony whi l e speaking to journalists, said she felt fantastic being honoured b y h e r c o u n t r y. “ I t ’s fantastic, because I have been living in Slovenia for many years, but I am a
Jamaican, and for them to be doing all of this, so far, a wonderful reception, I realised how much love these people have for me and I am very grateful,” said Dr Ottey. Meanwhile, the Ben Francis Meet had to be called off because of the heavy rains that made the running surface too dangerous for the athletes, weeks before the big ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships set for March 12-16. But before the halt, a few athletes got their chance to shine under the watchful eyes of Dr Ottey.
Chris Nurse remembers fellow national footballer Colin Edwards National football team captain Chris Nurse remembered his teammate Colin Edwards after his recent passing over the weekend as a result of injuries sustained in a road accident. In a release Nurse recalled his involvement with Edwards as they represented Guyana with distinction. “Having known Colin Edwards as a fellow member of the Guyana National Team, I have to say that my memory of Colin is that he was very genuine and honest person who wore his heart on his sleeve. He went about his training in the correct manor and demonstrated the correct mentality and disciplines, operated with no regrets and always gave it his all and did his best. Colin was a big character amongst the players and will be missed tremendously by all of us.” “As Guyana National Team Captain and on behalf of all the players near and afar,
Chris Nurse We send our condolences to your family Colin and promise to continue to give our all in every game and drive on to be successful in your memory. Every time we put on our boots and step out to play football, Colin will be in our minds and never have we had more motivation as players to go onto the pitch and to train everyday as if it is our last
day, because the reality is that it could be.” “It’s important that we get together now as a team, a nation, players, fans and executives and come together as a football family and stand by each other and become a stronger unit and go on to make Colin Edwards proud of us as individuals, as a team and as a footballing nation. Colin was and still remains an important link within Guyana National Team and the Golden Jaguars. We have not lost him, he has spread himself around each one of us to makes us a stronger unit together.” “Colin Edwards will continue to live on in the hearts of each and every one of us. RIP Colin Edwards your spirit will live on our hearts forever. The next national team game will be a victory in your memory.” “God Bless. Golden Jaguars Forever,” Nurse concluded.
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
WOMEN’S CRICKET WORLD CUP: BBC Sport - Ellyse Perry ripped through the West Indies top order to help Australia to a 114-run win in the Women’s World Cup final in Mumbai. With the Windies chasing 261, pace bowler Perry took a wicket in each of her first three overs to reduce the Caribbean side to 41-3. Merissa Aguilleira and Deandra Dottin briefly threatened some fireworks, but after both fell to Lisa Sthalekar, West Indies limped to 145 all out. Rachael Haynes (52) and Jess Cameron (75) had earlier made half-centuries for the Aussies, with some late-order hitting from Perry and Jodie Fields taking them to 259-7. By contributing with the bat and then starring with the ball, Perry made a dramatic return to the Southern Stars’ line-up after three games out with an ankle injury. The last of those was an eight-run defeat by West Indies, their first win over Australia and the result that sealed their place in a maiden final. Because of that victory, Windies skipper Aguilleira said her side had a “psychological advantage” over the team that had lifted
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Australia beat West Indies in final
the trophy on five previous occasions. But Australia were too clinical for a West Indies side that were sloppy in the field, wayward with the ball and unable to keep up with the run chase. In reclaiming the trophy they last won in 2005, Australia add to the World Twenty20 they won in October and the Ashes they will try to defend in England in August. It is the first time they have held all three of women’s cricket’s major titles simultaneously. Only once in the match were they under pressure, as four wickets fell for 28 runs around the batting powerplay. Before that, Haynes, who added 52 for the first wicket with Meg Lanning, shared a second-wicket stand of 64 with Cameron. With fielding mistakes and ill-disciplined bowling hampering the Windies, powerful righthander Cameron played some particularly eye-catching strokes, going past 50 with two sixes in one Tremayne Smartt over. By this point, Haynes had been well held by Kyshona Knight, running back at midwicket to give impressive leg-
spinner Shaquana Quintyne her first wicket, and Alex Blackwell had fallen cheaply to Smartt. Cameron dominated a fourth-wicket partnership of 55 with Sthalekar but, when Cameron slapped a Shanel Daley full toss to deep midwicket, Australia lost their way. With the bowlers finally able to gain some control, Sthalekar, Sarah Coyte and Erin Osborne all found ways to hole out to West Indies fielders. However, from 209-7 Fields and Perry combined to add 50 exactly, Perry hitting a maximum over long on and skipper Fields improvising with sweeps and pulls. The Windies batters were always likely to have to deal with movement in the Mumbai night, but openers Natasha Mclean and Kycia Knight looked comfortable until the introduction of Perry. With no small sense of theatre, the right-armer twice aborted attempts to bowl her first delivery before trapping Knight lbw with a delivery that would have missed the left-hander’s off stump. Limping between overs,
Australians with their World Cup trophy. (AFP) Perry then had the dangerous Stefanie Taylor caught and bowled, pinned McLean plumb in front and finished with figures of 3-19. After Knight retired because of a quad injury, Aguilleira and Dottin counterattacked, the former sweeping Osborne into the stands and the latter twice
taking Coyte over the leg side. But both were bowled as Sthalekar found turn with her off-breaks, the wicket of Dottin effectively ending the contest. Sthalekar wrapped the match up when she took a spectacular one-handed catch at short mid-wicket to dismiss S m a r t t o f f t h e
bowling of Julie Hunter. Megan Schutt finished with figures of 2-38 as she passed England’s Anya Shrubsole as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 15. Scores: Australia 259 for 7 (Cameron 75, Haynes 52, Quintyne 3-27) beat West Indies 145 (Perry 3-19, Sthalekar 2-20) by 114 runs.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 18, 2013
RBC/George Cumberbatch 7th Memorial Cycle Meet
Greaves unstoppable in 30-lap feature; notches 4th win of the season
Race winners and top finishers take time out for a photo with sponsors George Humphrey (left) and Clifford Johnson (3rd left) yesterday at the Seawall Bandstand. Roraima Bikers Club Alonzo Greaves once again proved that he is the man to beat when it comes to sprints as he comfortably pulled away from his challengers to win the feature 30-lap contest at the 7th annual George Cumberbatch Memorial Cycle Meet held at the Sea Wall Bandstand Circuit, yesterday. Greaves, who sat comfortably throughout the race and kept himself within
striking distance, showed superior fitness to win the main event having also notched up two second places earlier. He powered to the line in an exciting climax to the event ahead of Marlon ‘Fishy’ Williams and they were followed by Geron Williams, reigning Road Race champion Orville Hinds, Marlon King and Rastaff O’Selmo in that order. Raul Leal and Marlon
Williams each won three of the 10 prime prizes on offer. Geron Williams, Greaves, Orville Hinds and Delroy Hinds won one each. The event which was sponsored by George Humphrey of Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products and former National rider Clifford ‘Toto’ Johnson in memory of their colleague and friend, former national cyclist the late George Cumberbatch,
was deemed a resounding success by Brian Allen, President of the organizing club, Roraima Biker Club (RBC). In a new race that was introduced – Win and Out – Warren Mc Kay took the top spot ahead of Alonzo Greaves and Orville Hinds. Rawle Leal won the Juvenile/Junior/Category 4 race which went for 5-laps. Akeem Williams was 2nd and
Hamza Eastman 3rd. Ruling the roost in the Category 1 – 3 contest was Geron Williams who got the better of Alonzo Greaves and Paul DeNobrega. Junior Niles, who has virtually put a stamp on the Veterans Under-50 class, was again in winner ’s row, Kennard Lovell and Ian Jackson taking 2nd and 3rd place. Virgil Jones was the top ride in the Veterans Over-50
showdown; he crossed the line before Lancelot Rose and Dwayne Ramsey. Over sixty riders competed at yesterday’s event, which saw the top three in each of the races apart from the main attraction where the top six, were all presented with attractive cash prizes. Assisting with the presentation were Clifford Johnson, Tracey Humphrey and Royston Wright.
Monday February 18, 2013
Kaieteur News
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