Kaieteur News

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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

Sanctioning a lawyer for misconduct At the outset it must be noted that this column does not intend to pronounce on Mr. Justice Rabi Sukul AJ’s innocence or guilt. That is best left to the legal luminaries which Guyana seems to have in abundance. What the reported matter provides is an opportunity to examine what anecdotal evidence suggests is a common practice among local lawyers. It should also be noted that these comments do not refer to all attorneys and other legal practitioners as a whole, but there will be some among them who are perfectly described in these lines. Many are the claims that some attorneys-at-law take clients hard earned money just to appear in court to make a plea for leniency. Some wags have been heard to say that they prefer to throw themselves at the mercy of the court before paying a lawyer to beg for them especially when the prosecution’s evidence case is stacked against the defendant. There are tales of lawyers who set themselves up as omnipotent listening with half an ear to the client’s story, focusing instead on how much they can extract from the poor unfortunate in their presence. If it weren’t for the circumstances it would be funny to see clients fetching their counsel’s robe and/or briefcase to and from court. What is all the more depressing is that some of these persons who might have barely scraped through law school are unprepared because they are too lazy to do any legwork to ascertain basic facts which could either support or contradict their client’s version of events, or engage in research for precedents to their own professional advantage. Moreover, one possible reason these anomalies which are frowned upon in other jurisdictions seem to be the norm in this country. Hardly ever if at all do we hear of lawyers being sanctioned for unethical conduct. Sanctions are available in some places. These include private and public reprimands, suspension, and disbarment. Apart from the private reprimand the other sanctions bring to the public’s attention the conduct for which the lawyer is being disciplined. Therefore the legal authorities have an obligation to put in place a continuing legal education program on ethics in the legal profession. Attendance at these interventions should be mandatory for offending lawyers and should be a prerequisite before reinstatement after a suspension. Lawyers not turning up in court (and there are a lot of those around) under the excuse that they had a prior scheduled matter in another court can be a traumatic experience for the uninitiated. There has to be a reason for having a calendar and diary apart from for show. Another reprehensible practice that some who operate under the rubric of law practice is to entertain a potential client and listening to their story knowing full well that they have already accepted a retainer to represent the other party’s interest in the same matter. This surely resides within the realm of a conflict of interest. If there is a code of ethics for attorneys here it is not widely known or adhered to across the board. When the question of lawyers’ ethics is raised there really is no distinction between criminal attorneys and those who specialize in civil litigation. It is perhaps just as troubling for all parties in a civil suit as it is for the virtual complainant and the defendant in a criminal matter. It might be argued that the issue of deprivation of liberty hardly ever arises in a civil case the way it does in the criminal. There are instances where lawyers paint a false but hopeful picture for their clients based upon no other consideration than the prospect of a hefty fee. These are the charlatans who should be visited with the full brunt of available sanctions for their unethical conduct. Clients deserve no less than a frank and honest representation by their lawyer who is expected to use his/her knowledge of the law to determine his client’s chances in a court of law. Those persons who may find themselves on the other side of the law are best advised to bear in mind that their interests may not always be similar as those of their retained sworn officer of the court.

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Letters... Where your views make the news

Celebrating the Uncooperative REPUBLIC OF GUYANA DEAR EDITOR, In a few days we will be celebrating the 44th anniversary of our Republican status, that is, of our complete independence as a nation and a people. This makes it an opportune time for us to take stock of how each of us has been contributing to the advancement of this nationhood, and adjust our thinking and actions towards a better approach to achieving this objective. We are all now aware, and somewhat despondent, of the political culture that has developed over the past years. The Opposition has been consistent in opposing any measures being proposed by the Government, even when these are clearly seen to contribute to the benefit of the country as a whole. At the same time, the Government has been seen to show scant regard for many of the proposals of the Opposition, and refused to consider these when deciding on any issue. This line has been closely followed by our people in supporting or opposing some project, with no other apparent consideration than whether they are among the supporters or opposers of the present administration. We are also all aware that in a subtle manner each of these groups corresponds largely to the two main races to which we belong. It is a sad state of affairs, and one that will by all appearances continue ad infinitum. Our people are not

projecting this cooperative spirit into their thought processes, and are controlled by the prejudices which they continue to allow to influence their reasoning about any situation. This means that our struggling country is perpetually locked into a mode in which about 50% of the population will forever be working towards the programmes of the Government, effectively making use of only one-half of our human resource capabilities, while the other half will be engaged in doing its utmost in negating what is being attempted, further hampering national progress. Are we forever doomed to this crabbarrel mentality? Can we not see that the developed countries have reached their superior positions by acting like civilised human beings and applying restraint to their actions when the opposite would lessen the common effort in such a manner that the country and people would become poorer? If we have a change of government at any one time, can we expect any other type of behaviour from either side of the political spectrum? I am convinced that, despite the charges of corruption at various levels, and some errors being made by the present administration, the Government has been making sincere efforts within its competence to initiate projects which would benefit all sectors of the nation. However, no government can claim to be perfect, and no one has a right to

expect it to be. Moreover, we are not a metropolitan country where the infrastructure and administrative machinery are of an advanced standard. We are not in a highly-developed society where the majority of citizens are literate and experienced. We are not in a country where the political system is stable and fully evolved. What any government does is within its competence, and all of us as citizens have the obligation to cooperate in the nationally-established programmes, more so in times of national disasters or when some new measure is being adopted. Opposition elements must clearly understand that their role in the whole situation is generally to keep the Government on the right track and within the bounds of accountability, and definitely not to impede the efforts of the Administration, as we will all be poorer for it. On the other hand, the Administration must realise that they have to always take into account the inputs of the Opposition in their deliberations. Our claim to Independence and Republican status must be accompanied by maturity, responsibility and the cooperative spirit to place the interest of the nation above all else. Only when we are all prepared to act accordingly will we be able to assert the right to celebrate together this coming occasion as one which we all deserve. Roy Paul

We call for a reversal of this inhumane sentence DEAR EDITOR, We hold the position that all violence against children – including the violence of parents and other unwaged caregivers - is wrong and should be outlawed. Hence, when we saw the Sunday Kaieteur News headline: “Babysitter gets 60 months for assaulting one year old”, our first response was that the babysitter was totally wrong to hit the child, and that even if it were her child she should not have hit her. In other words, first we saw the assault of the child. Then we were struck by the speed with which the matter was concluded by the police and the court. Within a matter of days, a 19-year-old was sentenced to jail for an action that the lawmakers of the country do not find it fit to outlaw and that the police are usually very reluctant to investigate. And this in a country where, as we know from the experience of the organisations we’ve worked with, cases often take years to get to court, never mind through it. Thirdly, we were struck by the penalty – five years. This in a country where drug

lords who are destroying young lives are not even arrested and vehicular manslaughter trials drag out for years with the guilty out on bail, free to continue endangering lives. Even in a court system where sentences given by the courts sometimes appear irrational, this one must be the most irrational of all. But is it irrational? One must assume that the speed of the response and the

harshness of the penalty are related to the status of the offended parents, and the fact that the offender is assumed to be voiceless. She is not voiceless. Magistrate Lovell must reconsider her solidarity with her fellow members of the bar, and remember that justice must be blind to status and connections. We call on the Chancellor and other judicial authorities to reverse this inhumane, unreasonable,

unbalanced and clearly biased sentence. There will be more to say later. Andaiye and Karen de Souza, Red Thread Simona Broomes and Urica Primus, Guyana Women Miners Organisation Danuta Radzik and Josephine Whitehead, Help & Shelter Jean La Rose, Amerindian People’s Association

Time to speak out against this disrespect on a matter of principle DEAR EDITOR, I appreciate the philosophical attempt at a response by National Chairman Mr. Christopher Jones MP, to my letter in the daily newspaper, but I am a pragmatist living in a real world. The fact is that the intellectual authors for the decision to remove Ms. Vanessa Kissoon MP, in such a callous and disrespectful manner, causing her some degree of public humiliation, chose the route of a public brawl. If the mechanisms, boasted of by Mr. Jones, were fully exhausted then there will not have been some much anxiety among the party’s support base on this and other issues. I have never been and have no intention of joining a secret society or to exercise passive membership and/or affiliation to any

organisation. The time for that old axiom of “washing dirty laundry in public” is to be abandoned. The People’s National Congress Reform is a mass-based public institution and the alternative government of Guyana, thus must appreciate public scrutiny for it achievements and misgivings. The GYSM is the leadership incubator of the People’s National Congress Reform, therefore its leaders and members must be treated equally and with respect and at the same time they must stand up for what they believe in. This is not the time for postulations and empty rhetoric, but a time, as National Chairman, to recognize the blunder and disrespect by the leaders and speak out against it on a matter of principle. Bevon Currie

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Kaieteur News

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

Let us all look forward to the opportunity to change our lives DEAR EDITOR, Looking ahead, it seems unlikely that the PPP government, given that it did not actively engage the Opposition in the planning process of the 2014 budget, will present anything close to respectability for passage in Parliament. In the event that there will be a need to go to the polls for a referendum, with the formation of a new government, a number of important issues need to be clarified. As Guyanese, we must understand that voting is a very serious matter which, as has been shown over the last twenty years, has lasting effects on our lives and those of our children. When we vote, we choose which government we think can deliver the best for us in all spheres of our lives. The government we vote for should at least provide us with the following: The opportunity for better, higher paying jobs; increasing number of good jobs so that our children can find work when they graduate from school; a government whose officers and ministers are not looking to get rich with bribes and kickbacks off of every

project designed to increase our welfare; a government which manages our taxpayer dollars properly, getting rid of contractors who make a mess of projects which result in the waste of hundreds of millions of our hard earned money. These, at least, are what the government we vote for should be capable of providing. I have written in the past (both KNews & SNews Jan 10 & 22, SNews Jan 31/14) highlighting the deprivation the present government has inflicted on many Guyanese families. I also pointed out that they made many poor people poorer by handing out house lots to these poor people, who had to borrow in many instances to pay for the lot, sending them great distances from their places of work, so that they were now worse off as a result of higher transportation expenses for both themselves and their children. Many Guyanese, children included, have endured the basic deprivation of not having enough to eat. They have been forced to endure this because the government they voted into power for the last two decades did little to provide

more and higher paying jobs. We were therefore unable to earn more during those years lost. Many children have also been robbed of a proper education, vital to getting higher earning jobs in the future. These children, now adults in many instances, to the extent that they were unable to improve or further their education, now find themselves battling for a daily living to provide for themselves and their children. Many Guyanese have also walked tremendous distances daily in order to make do with the little we earned. We each have our story to tell. I encourage us this year, if the opportunity does present itself, to tell our story at the polls by voting against the entrenched corruption of this government and the struggles they have forced us to endure, while they continue sucking this country with their underhanded dealings, expanding their properties and buying cars to their fancy, preaching that Guyanese should be satisfied with the pittance that they struggle with on a monthly basis. I wish to make it clear that

Guyanese do not envy or covet the copious living standards of their government officials. All we want is the opportunity to be able to get a job which provides an income that allows us to live at least comfortably taking care of our children. Something, after twenty years, this government has been unable to provide. Our politics has historically been tainted with charges of racial and political violence by the contending parties. It is important for our political parties to steer clear of these strategies going forward. Our parties need to be emboldened by the plan they have for Guyana, how it works, and where we fit in. APNU has presented itself as a viable option as a government for our future. Guyana should by now understand that the ills that besieged this nation under the PNC were an unfortunate result of trying to govern the country under socialist principles. The PNCR, as we now know it, has discarded socialism and has embraced capitalist ideology, where the private sector, not

government, is the mainstay of economic activity. In government, APNU, of which the PNCR is a member, will work with the private sector to increase investment and create more and better paying jobs for us all. APNU will also put an end to corruption and bribery of government officers currently a heavy cost to businesses and private persons. It is known that our country can hardly move forward without cheap electricity. This will be a priority for APNU immediately upon being elected to government, and will be key to attracting large investments in manufacturing, which will create jobs. APNU will also meet with stakeholders throughout the country in an effort to ensure that all regions, villages and towns are put on track to economic viability, where every capable man and woman will have an opportunity to earn enough to live comfortably. APNU’s government will continuously interface with the private sector and all stakeholders to ensure that their concerns are being

addressed in a smooth, efficient manner. APNU is a party for all Guyanese, embracing all Guyanese, irrespective of race, color or religion, because as Guyanese, we all deserve a fair share in our country’s wealth and opportunities. On a final note, I wish to caution us on the wiles, scaremongering and terror tactics of the current government, inciting fear among its constituents for African Guyanese. We all know that without politics, all our races will live in peace and harmony, enjoying each other’s cultural differences, from our food, to our cultural and religious holidays. I shouldn’t have to remind us of the curry, blackeye and split peas cook-up, puri and roti, soup, pepperpot and Chinese food we all share with each other. We therefore need not be scared or terrorized by the political machinery of the PPP. Indian Guyanese have nothing to be scared of African Guyanese, and vice versa. Let us all look forward to the opportunity to change our lives and those of our children this year at the polls. Craig Sylvester

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Kaieteur News

Rohee mulls legal action against APNU’s Joseph Harmon Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said, yesterday, that he is contemplating taking legal action against A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) executive member Joseph Harmon for identifying him as being a subject of criminal investigation hence the reason why he is not aware of Guyana’s links to drug trafficking. Harmon was at the time referring to a previous announcement by Rohee over the issue of Guyana being identified within an international coke smuggling mafia ring in which he said that Rohee must have known the details of investigation “unless his along with his colleagues are subject of the investigation.” Rohee had said that he was awaiting a report on the matter and is hopeful that it will provide the administration with information that will help to dismantle connections between foreign drug lords and Guyana. According to Rohee, at a press briefing yesterday at Freedom House, “I intend to take it up with my lawyers where he [Harmon] said publicly and it was on TV, Prime News, where he said that I must have known about the investigation because it was going on for two years. “I must have known about it and maybe the reason why I have not been told about these investigations by the DEA or whoever is investigating it is because I myself am being investigated.

That’s what he said, so I’m going to take that up. I’m going to take it up because Harmon is not going to make statements like that and get away with it. I’m afraid that I can’t accept that.” Rohee added that with respect to the drug fight, they are doing what they can. He said that he found “disgusting”, the approach the Opposition is suddenly taking with this matter. “It appears as though they are the only ones who are serious because I saw Mr. Granger saying that the government is not serious about fighting drug trafficking. “It appears to me that from a statement like that, APNU appears to be the only serious ones in Guyana about fighting drug trafficking.” According to Rohee the members of the task force would find that “extremely revolting” because he feels that APNU is not the only body of persons in Guyana who are serious about fighting crime and drug trafficking, he said that there are a lot of persons who are making contributions. “I don’t expect any magic even if APNU were to assume the reins of power in this country, they will face the same challenges this administration faces in respect to priorities, is it better hospital is it better schools… “I’m not saying that procurement of helicopters, boats and planes are not a priority of the state but it all boils down to a question of affordability at this point in

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee Attorney at Law Joseph Harmon time. Can the country afford all these things which these people are calling for to happen at one fell swoop,” said Rohee. Meanwhile APNU’s Harmon in response to the threat of legal sanction by Rohee said that he has no fear of a lawsuit from the Home Affairs Minister since he has been a practising attorney for 19 years and is familiar with the Court. According to Harmon while Rohee is contemplating taking legal action against him individually for making a statement, he (Rohee) “will have to prepare himself to answer to the more than 800,000 people of this country on whose behalf he acts as the Home Affairs Minister to explain why after an international investigation has gone on for two years involving Guyana that up to now he is still asking for information from the law enforcement agencies.” Harmon cited the statement where Rohee said in his Feburary 5 press conference that the Opposition was protecting drug lords because the

Opposition party is withholding support for the Anti Money Laundering Bill to protect drug lords and money launderers. Harmon said that when Rohee was asked to provide proof of his allegations “all he would say is the evidence was the Opposition’s resistance to further the Money Laundering Bill and then he went on to say further that the Opposition parties in the National Assembly are protecting the vested interest of a few whose operations, perhaps survival, will be affected if the bill is passed. These are persons engaged in illicit activities and trafficking in drugs and who need to launder there proceeds of their ill gotten gain - that is what he said about us.” According to Harmon, this is a much clearer imprint “so he can proceed with the law suit but it must be rest assured that his tenure as the Minister of Home Affairs and his failure to act on all of these security matters including drug related matters should not be the subject of his reprimand by the citizens of this country, so what I have to say to Mr. Rohee, lets go to Court.”

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Court grants leave for Granger to appeal dismissal from Budget cut case A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has informed that leave was yesterday granted for an appeal of Chief Justice Ian Chang’s decision to remove Opposition Leader, Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger, as a party in the recently concluded Budget cut case. A statement from the Party said that Attorney Basil Williams, who is representing Granger, appeared before Justice James Bovell-Drakes and Justice Rishi Persaud and was granted leave for an appeal to the Appellate Court following a short hearing. This application to the Court of Appeal for leave came after the Full Court ruled that it had no jurisdiction to hear Granger’s dismissal matter. Granger was excluded from the Budget cut case which was brought on by the Government side of the House of Assembly because according to the Chief Justice, he has parliamentary immunity.

Finance Minister Ashni Singh was also dismissed from the case on the same grounds. Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman remained a defendant in the matter, since it was claimed that he opened the door for the combined Opposition to cut the Government’s 2012 Budget. The Budget cut case concluded earlier this year in favour of the Government. The Chief Justice identified several areas of the Constitution which he interpreted as meaning that the Opposition could not cut the Budget, but could approve or disapprove parts. The Opposition has stated however that it plans to appeal the ruling since they claim that the House of Parliament which is governed by its own rules allows them to do so. The Opposition has stated also that they are prepared to take the matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice if deemed necessary.

PNCR mourns the passing of Laurence Clarke The People’s National Congress Reform yesterday said that it was deeply saddened at the death of Mr. Laurence Clarke –age 63 years old. Clarke died of pancreatic cancer at a hospital in Maputo, Mozambique. Laurence had a long and distinguished banking career both locally and internationally. He was the youngest Deputy Manager of the Guyana National Cooperative Bank and a Regional Director of the World Bank. More recently, he was about to be appointed to the Board of Directors of the bank. “To his sorrowing relatives and close friends the PNCR offers sincere and heartfelt condolences.” The party announced that it will pay tribute to Clarke in

Laurence Clarke the coming days. Clarke a native of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, was a former student of Queen’s College. He was responsible for compiling the history of the school. He visited his native Guyana each year, right up to last year before his ailment was diagniosed.

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Kaieteur News

Letters... Where your views make the news

A serious and important election DEAR EDITOR, The Guyana Teachers Union (G.T.U)’s biennial elections are only weeks away and it is important to note that since its existence, it has certainly contributed significantly to the landscape of unionism in Guyana. The union has made varying levels of contributions since its embryonic stage for its membership. These contributions were significantly influenced by the different characters in leadership from then to present day. With the notice in the Sunday Kaieteur News of 9th February 2014, once again the challenge to make those contributions is only weeks away. All teachers across this nation who are members of the union are presented with the opportunity to change what they believe was not forthcoming from the present G.T.U central executive members who are contesting this upcoming election. This election, I believe, should be given the highest degree of seriousness and importance it deserves. We as teachers, all of us, have to be prudent and conscious of how and who we vote for, to represent our interests. We owe it to ourselves to meticulously evaluate the performances of those present actors of the G.T.U hierarchy who are once again electoral candidates and ask the questions, are we teachers satisfied with the work those officials have done on our behalf? Are you pleased with the level of representation given, deals made and agreements inked on our behalf? It is no secret that the G.T.U membership has countless head teachers who were (retired) and are eligible for duty free concessions and are still waiting eternally for those to be given. Is this the representation we want from our elected officials? Are you teachers comfortable with your present salary increase

agreement? An agreement that cannot satisfy or compensate the constant rise in cost of living. We have graduate, trained teachers who take home less than $500 US dollars a month for their hard work. What a shame! Many teachers will agree that the representation that the membership needs is non-existent. Many will agree that the level of communication and work that is, and was expected and required of the union by its leadership is lacking. Those officers at the G.T.U are now being awakened, coming out from their slumber, visiting schools that they never visited before now, making empty promises and giving speeches of sweet nothings, all in the hope to garner support and votes from our teachers. But we are not fools, we will not be hoodwinked and bamboozled by those actors. We are very much aware, that those officers have failed to be effective in executing their

mandates effectively, but are still desirous of retaining their post, but we will not let that happen. Teachers, giving support to those individuals would be a mockery to this institution and an insult to our intelligence. The Guyana Teachers Union elections will soon be the reality for its members, most of whom I can confidently say are fed up with how the business of the union is being run and long for a change. A change where their monthly dues that they pay so diligently for years will finally garner the type of representation that they long for, with new approaches to leadership. Leadership that will rebuild the lost confidence, and provide the assurance and optimism that the union, that they are a part of, is working for the best interest of all its members. Chairman Upper Demerara Branch (GTU) Jermaine Figueira

What value does industry place on these graduates? DEAR EDITOR, The headline said “Parents question relevance of Kuru Kuru Training College.” The litany that followed was appalling. After reading the article, I would even say the parents should have been questioning the Kuru Kuru College’s validity as a TVET training institution. Even if the missing didactic personnel are replaced, I am of the opinion that there are other issues with the programme. Here it is an institution has admitted students and the Minister states at a press briefing what

the training would entail. It seems that things are patched together along the way, there is no clear curriculum. The revelations in that Kaieteur News article published on Sunday 16th February, 2014 beg the question. When are we going to establish a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) to replace this hotchpotch assemblage which passes for workforce training today? I wonder what value industry places on graduates from this institution? Elton McRae

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Tuesday February 18, 2014

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Kaieteur News

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SLEEPING IS A THING OF BEAUTY Word is out that if you fall asleep on the job, Kaieteur News will publish your photograph on the front page. Ever since the distant past when this newspaper published on its front page a photograph of senior operative of the Ministry of Labour sleeping at a conference while the Minister was delivering the feature address, there has been less dozing off in our National Assembly. Quite a few Members of Parliament are known for nodding off during sessions. During a recent sitting, a senior Government official who sits in the National Assembly was about to take a snooze when he noticed the Kaieteur News reporter sitting in the press gallery. That member quickly rubbed his eyes, got up, and went to the coffee room to recharge his batteries. Another member from the opposition bench was about to fall asleep when he, too, noticed our cameraman at the ready. He flashed a smile, rubbed his eyes and tried not to fall asleep. I often wonder what would be the reaction if, one day, there was snoring in the Assembly. Now, that would make for some headlines. Would it not?

Not only would the snoring be embarrassing, it would also prevent some of the other Parliamentarians from falling asleep. I once read about a Marine who pulled into a little town where every room was taken. “You’ve got to have a room somewhere,” he pleaded. “Or just a bed, I don’t care where.” “Well, I do have a double room with one occupant – an Air Force guy,” admitted the manager, “and he might be glad to split the cost. But to tell you the truth, he snores so loudly that people in adjoining rooms have complained in the past. I’m not sure it’d be worth it to you.” “No problem,” the tired Marine assured him. “I’ll take it.” The next morning the Marine came down to breakfast bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. “How’d you sleep?” asked the manager. “Never better!” he replied The manager was impressed. “No problem with the other guy snoring, then?” “Nope, I shut him up in no time,” said the Marine. “How’d you manage that?” asked the manager. “He was already in bed, snoring away, when I came in the room,” the Marine explained. “I went over, gave him a kiss on the cheek, said, ‘Goodnight, beautiful,’ and he

Dem boys seh ...

Guyana mek de CCJ people do things in de dark Dem judges who manning de Caribbean Court of Justice now find out that Guyana love to mek people feel like company. Everybody know that this is a country that does keep plenty things in de dark. Of course this don’t mean that everything is secret although nuff thing don’t come to light until somebody talk or drop a hint. De signing of all dem contract was done in de dark. When dem plan de Marriott dem do it in de dark. When dem plan de airport expansion project dem do that in de dark too. To show de visiting CCJ judges how we do things in Guyana Donald hold a reception at de Georgetown Club Monday night. Was a nice party and the highlight was de blackout that GPL put on. Dem boys seh that is a good thing that de people wasn’t eating because nuff of dem would eat cockle and other strange things that like fly about in de night. De blackout also mek dem boys realize that all Donald security men got torchlight. When GPL tek back dem light dem boys pull out dem torchlight like if was de opening of de Winter games in Sochi and like if dem was performing something special. De visitors clap and laugh at de same time. But if people only know. Donald grind he teeth. Brazzy, de fat crook, got question to answer. Is like de same answer that de Ministry of Health people got to give. Dem boys pay millions of dollars fuh deliver de drugs. Two years pass and de drugs ain’t arrive. When it come it spoil suh dem decide to hide it by de Agricola Health Centre. Is a pity dem do it in broad daylight and people see. Berry Berry now seh that he nah using back dem people who drive de Canter truck. Is nah only Berry Berry and Brazzy got question to answer. Dem tourism people got questions too. Dem order a kantractah name Cares but he nah kay fuh build a fence at Sophia. Dem pay he $10 million in advance and he run way. When dem check de wuk, no fence, Cares seh he too busy. Dem boys want to know if he wasn’t too busy to tek de money. Talk half and watch to see when dem gun give back de money.

sat up all night watching me.” One day, there was a conversation between a patient and a doctor. Patient: Doctor, as soon as I fall asleep I start snoring. Doctor: Is your snoring loud? Patient: Yes, very. Doctor: And does it bother your wife? Patient: I’m not married. Doctor: Then what’s the problem? Patient: I have lost five jobs because of it. One guy I knew had problems sleeping. He went to see his doctor, who prescribed some extra strong sleeping pills. Sunday night the guy took the pills, slept well, and was awake before he heard the alarm. He took his time getting to the office, strolled in and said to the boss: “I didn’t have a bit of trouble getting up this morning.”

New GPC drugs … Amidst ongoing questions over Government’s procurement of drugs for its hospitals, a Parliament oversight committee yesterday mandated the Ministry of Health to prepare a report on millions of dollars of items that were not delivered in 2011 and what is being done to correct the situation. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was examining the Auditor General’s 2011 report. The Ministry of Health was called on to answer a number of issues that has been raised. One of these includes outstanding deliveries of $88.1M worth of drugs that was not delivered that year by New GPC, but was paid for. New GPC is a company that has been under scrutiny by the Opposition for its close ties to the administration. For over a decade now, the company, controlled by Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, a close associate of

“That’s fine,” roared the boss, “but where were you Monday and Tuesday? Then there was the case of the clever businessman desperately trying to take a nap on a plane, except that sitting next to him was a mathematician who wanted to talk. The mathematician leaned over to the businessman and asked if he would like to play a fun game. The businessman politely declined and rolled over to the window to catch a few winks. The mathematician persisted, and explained that the game was real easy and lots of fun. He explained, “I ask you a question, and if you don’t know the answer you pay me $5. Then you ask me a question, and if I don’t know the answer I’ll pay you $5.” Again, the businessman politely declined and tried to

get to sleep. The mathematician, now somewhat agitated, said, “Okay, if you don’t know the answer you pay me $5, and if I don’t know the answer I’ll pay you $50!” This caught the businessman’s attention, and he saw no end to this torment unless he played, so he agreed to the game. The mathematician asked the first question. “What’s the distance from the earth to the moon?” The businessman didn’t say a word, but reached into his wallet, pulled out a five-dollar bill and handed it to the mathematician. Now, it was the businessman’s turn. He asked the mathematician: “What goes up a hill with three legs and comes down on four?” The mathematician looked up at him with a puzzled look. He took out his laptop computer and searched all of his references. He tapped into

the air phone with his modem and searched the Internet. Frustrated, he sent e-mail to his co-workers, all to no avail. After about an hour, he awoke the businessman and handed him $50. The businessman politely took the $50 and turned away to try to get back to sleep. The mathematician then hit the businessman, saying: “What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down on four?” The businessman calmly pulls out his wallet, handed the mathematician five dollars, and went back to sleep.

PAC grills Health Ministry over undelivered supply despite payment

Health Ministry’s Permanent Secretary (left) and his team during the Parliamentary meeting yesterday. former President Bharrat Jagdeo, has been benefitting from almost a monopoly, worth billions of dollars annually, on supply of

pharmaceuticals. However, the process of procurement, the storage of the drugs, and the price have all come under question.

Because of the billions of dollars involved, PAC has been keeping a close eye to the issue. Permanent (continued on page 24)

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 18, 2014

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

I live two minutes walk from the Convention Centre and the Aquatic Centre on the Railway Embankment at Turkeyen. You can say both places are my neighbours. In 2012, along with Mark Benschop, David Patterson, Gerhard Ramsaroop, Michael Carrington, all of the AFC, and Malcolm Harripaul, at the time with APNU, we staged a picket exercise in front of the Aquatic Centre.

Our demand was that this large swimming pool should be opened to the public because it just lies there unused. This atrocity was furthered exposed by the fact that there are two other Government owned pools – Colgrain and Castellani - that are not for public use. The Colgrain is for swimming clubs. The Aquatic Centre is for swimmers who are

training as competitors. Castellani is exclusively used by the elites in Government. This is one of the worst vulgarities in the postcolonial world and the population accepts it. The state owns three swimming pools and none are opened to the public. Now a fourth facility is being built. It is referred as the warm up pool. This abomination has two sickening dimensions.

First, at least one should be a public recreation as in the days of the PNC Government with the Luckhoo structure at the Kingston seawall. At least open one to the public. Secondly, the asininity of governmental and PPP elitism are nakedly exposed when you examine the population, economy and nature of this country. This is a nation that has never excelled regionally and internationally in swimming competition. Cricket, football, followed by basketball, track and field, cycling, hockey, rugby and horse-racing and motorracing attract far more attention and participation than swimming. You take a poll and ask Guyanese to name their favourite sports. Swimming may be second to last or last on the list. Look at the thousands that attend motor racing and horse racing events. How then can the state construct an Olympic size pool and reserve it for swimmers who are in training? How many are they and how many days they train at the pool? How many swimming clubs Guyana has to offer the Colgrain exclusively to these organizations?

There are not even six swimming clubs in Guyana. After we staged the protest outside the gates of the Centre, the Minister of Sports, Dr Frank Anthony, publicly responded that the reason for the exclusion of the public is because the Aquatic Centre does not have a lifeguard. However, one will be employed. This was two years ago. Can someone find a lifeguard for Minister Anthony? I know one who is presently working with a guard service. He will not be employed because Freddie Kissoon recommended him. The Aquatic Centre is a ghost town. I pass that place three, four times a day and it is always completely deserted. Last year for November and December not a soul swam there. One evening, after midnight, I was passing there and I saw hundreds of people swimming. But when I looked closer it was like a scene out of the famous movies “Ghost Ship” and “The Shining.” All the revelers were jumbies. The Aquatic Centre is a ghost. Finally, the Convention Centre has become a noise nuisance to persons who live nearby. There have been

Frederick Kissoon three wedding there Government boy, Shyam Nokta; cricketer Ramesh Sarwan; and the son of a fish exporter who is close to the PPP cabal. There have been countless festivities there including Diwali and Phagwah celebration and several birthday bacchanals (plus a funeral). The noise is unbearable My understanding is that two more weddings will be held there this year, plus the big birthday bash of one of the untouchables plus this year’s Pagwah and Diwali festivities. The music reverberates on the walls of your house. To think that poor folks are being placed before the courts for noise nuisance and State institutions are the biggest culprits. A small entrepreneur selling fish and plantain chips on Dury Lane in Campbellville was twice slapped with noise nuisance charges. This probably led to the closure of this wonderful hang-out. The Chinese Government funded the Convention Centre. When the request was made, were the Chinese informed that the holding of extravagant parties would be one of the functions of the Centre? In which part of the world, a convention centre is used for bacchanalian escapades? It is just amazing the things the Philistine rulers do to this country and we meekly accept the daily immoralities that are heaped upon us. How about a party for the Champion or De Donald on the lawns of the High Court? It is large enough.

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 11

AG distances Executive from judge’s nomination …as JSC comes under fire for its selection Disbarment in England as a barrister does not affect the legality of any decisions of judgments made by Court of Appeal Judge, Rabi Sukul who has since been asked to resign by Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh. This is according to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, in an invited comment yesterday. Sukul was earlier this month disbarred from practising as a lawyer in England, after he was found guilty of intentionally misleading his client by drafting false grounds of appeal. He was suspended from practice for nine months, a move which caused the Chancellor to demand his immediate resignation. Asked about the due diligence that would have been done on Sukul prior to his appointment, Nandlall said that this was not done by the Executive Branch of Government. He explained that it is the constitutional role of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to make a recommendation to the President and as such it was that body which would have had to undertake the due diligence. In seeking to explain the scope of the executive in the appointment of Judges, Nandlall told this publication that had the President refused to appoint whoever is

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall

Disbarred Court of Appeal Judge, Rabi Sukul

recommended by the JSC and ask for a review, should that body re-recommend the same person then the President is mandated to make the appointment. He said that the JSC is constitutionally independent from the Executive in the way it discharges its function and responsibility. That body is made up of the Chancellor of the Judiciary, the Chief Justice and the Head of the Public Service Union among others A t t o r n e y - a t - L a w, Christopher Ram, following the revelations on Justice Sukul, had blistering words for the JSC over Sukul’s selection and subsequent appointment. He called for a Presidential Inquiry. According to Ram, there are several serious questions

to be asked and answered about Justice Sukul’s Court of Appeal appointment. Ram, in his analysis of the saga, corroborated what was said by Nandlall, that the Constitution provides for the President to appoint judges, other than the Chancellor and the Chief Justice, on the advice of the JSC. It provides for the JSC to comprise no less than five and not more than six persons made up of three ex officio members – the Chancellor as Chairman, the Chief Justice and the Chairman of the Public Service Commission – and not less than two or more than three persons appointed by the President. Of the appointed members, one must either hold or had held the position of a judge and is appointed after

Over $30M spent for taxis by Ministry in three years - PAC mulls actions against contractor too “busy” to complete job

Officials of the Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Commerce during their appearance of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee yesterday. The use of taxis and an incomplete $10M contract at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia, were the focus yesterday when the

examination of the 2011 Auditor General’s report continued before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

In the first instance, taxi services - Indian Chief, R&T Taxi Service and Green Ice were paid $11.1M in 2011 by (continued on page 12)

Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh

Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman

consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, while the other one or two must be nonpractising attorneys-at-law chosen by the National Assembly after consultation with legal professional bodies. Ram noted that the first question is that the National Assembly, the Speaker of which has always been an attorney-at-law, seems never to have been aware of its duty to consult and make recommendations to the President. This, he said, reflects poorly not only on Raphael Trotman, the Speaker of the National Assembly but also on Chancellor Carl Singh, as the JSC chairman. He said that that related to the issue of the failure of the National Assembly is that there was no appointment arising from consultation

with the Leader of the Opposition with the consequence that the JSC does not appear to have a single appointed member. “That means that the JSC as currently constituted comprises only the ex officio legal officers and Mr. Carvil Duncan, a PPP appointee to chair that other dysfunctional body called the Public Service Commission.” Ram, writing in his chrisram.net outlet, has since questioned whether the JSC could and should have acted without its appointed members including making such an important decision as appointing a fourth judge of the Court of Appeal. He suggested that even “if we assume it could, the question arises as to the criteria, rather than just the qualifications, for appointment of such a

Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram judge… Another is the actual process for advertising, receiving, collating applications, shortlisting and arranging for proper interviews and independent background checks, particularly of applications from abroad and of any recommendations or testimonials submitted, etc.” He questioned also the interview itself and pointed to the importance of sanitizing the process to avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest. “Suppose for example that one of the applicants is a friend of one of the two judicial persons carrying out the interviews. In that case, the person would clearly have to recuse himself from the process leaving only Mr. Duncan and the other judicial person, a highly undesirable state of affairs since the decision will effectively be made by one person.”

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 18, 2014

PPP will not hold Local Govt. Hire car drivers can't arbitrarily elections in August - Rohee Diamond transportation woes…

increase fares - Minister

Diamond Car Park

Local operators of public land transportation do not have the authority to arbitrarily increase fares, as was recently done by hire car drivers operating at Diamond car park, East Bank Demerara. This is according to Irfaan Ali, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce during a brief interview with this publication on this burning issue affecting commuters within recent weeks. The Minister was stern that commuters should not pay the demanded increase. And, they should report the car's license plate numbers to the nearest police station for action, he added. Commuters using the Diamond/Grove “inside” hire cars located near Demerara Distillers Limited's 'high bridge' are complaining about the $140 they are now forced to pay for a “drop to spot” and $100 on the public road. Previously, the fare was $100

and $60 respectively According to a female commuter, she joined a hire car two Mondays ago and was informed by the driver that the new fare was $140. Upon inquiring about the increases, the driver said the taxi association authorized the increases and whosoever refuses to pay the fares should not travel with the hire cars, the woman said. The woman related that this is not the only transportation problem commuters destined for Diamond, are encountering. She said that passengers are forced to pay $160 from Georgetown to “inside” Diamond whether or not they disembark along the stretch. According to the woman, if it becomes mandatory for passengers to pay the $140 for a “drop to spot” and $160 from Georgetown to Diamond, it would no longer be affordable for commuters to travel.

“Just look at it…It takes $460 for a person to travel to and from Diamond daily…that is $9,200 monthly. Come on, think of a family of four …that would be $36,800. That is a huge chunk of a minimum wage family's income,” she stressed. The woman emphasized that it is not the desire of passengers to travel with minibuses from Georgetown to “inside” Diamond. However, with the majority of the minibuses traveling that “route” rather Georgetown to Grove, passengers have to use the Georgetown to Diamond minibuses or stand for hours at the 42 Bus Park.” She stressed that the authorities need to come up with a solution to this problem. The woman said if the deplorable state of the roads is the justification for the fare increases then the authorities should upgrade them.

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Clement Rohee has said that his party will not support the opposition request to hold Local Government Elections by August 1, 2014. According to Rohee their reasons for not agreeing to the opposition requests of holding Local Government elections among other things, is because the power to decide the readiness for such elections resides with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and not with the opposition. He added that GECOM is not ready to hold elections at the prescribed date set out by the opposition and that the power to set the date for the Local Government Elections resides with the respective Minister. “This is not about readiness of the opposition only. The timing of the holding of local government elections is a function inter alia of the readiness of GECOM to execute the duties and the responsibilities relative to fair and efficient preparation and conduct of these elections, the readiness of other political parties, groups and individuals, people’s awareness, education and readiness to be part of this process,” said Rohee. The PPP General Secretary outlined that as the

opposition engages GECOM with respect to its state of readiness to conduct local government elections by August 1, 2014; so too, it has been engaging the GECOM commissioners members. For that reason the PPP can posit “that we cannot support the opposition demands that this election be held by August 1, 2014.” “We get the distinct impression from our commissioners that they are not ready for local government elections. That’s why we found it strange because APNU also have representatives on the GECOM. I don’t see why our representatives would see something different from the other representatives from the other political party because they sit there and they discuss all the time, so there ought to be a harmony of views on a matter like that.” According to Rohee, there are a number of issues associated with holding an election now. He said that this Local Government election will be of a new kind so it’s a very complex election “but it doesn’t mean to say that we should make it more complex than it’s actually going to be because the rules are clearly laid down.” He said that the question of voter education has to be clearly spelt out and fully

understood by the electorate as well. If the people who are going to vote in these elections don’t fully understand what is the process going in, “they would likely end up in a lot of confusion. Then we begin pointing fingers to blame other people involved for different things and that’s not what we need in a new election.” Rohee cited the pronouncements made by the opposition over not offering support for the local government elections until the President assents to all four local government bills, “a position APNU maintains to today.” The PPP General Secretary said that the opposition’s “sudden sense of urgency” presumes among other things that the PPP and or the government is in total control of all mechanisms and all the players responsible for ensuring local government elections by any date set by the opposition. “In so doing, the opposition is seeking also to usurp the executive authority reposed in the minister of local government as clearly set out in section 35 A of the Local Authorities Elections Act, which provides that the Minister must determine and announce by way of order a date for the holding of these elections.”

Over $30M spent for taxis ... From page 11 the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry to take staffers on its businesses. In 2009, the figure was in excess of $13M with this dropping to $10M the following year. Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee to explain were Permanent Secretary, Willet Hamilton, and his team. PAC is National Assembly’s body that has oversight on the Auditor General’s annual report and would examine flagged issues on these for improvements to the public accounts system. With issues of procurement and spending a huge one for the public which has become increasingly watchful of the treasury’s spending, PAC’s role has been a critical one. Back in 2011, the Ministry had only two vehicles and was forced to resort to hiring taxis. The issue has been coming up in recent years in the Auditor General’s report. The ministry managed to bring its taxi budget down to $7.9M in 2012 and just over $3.2M last year, after it acquired a number of vehicles. The Ministry’s officials

said that hiring of taxi services was done in a transparent manner via a public tendering process. Member of Parliament, Manzoor Nadir, who sits on the Government side of the Committee, noted that the issue may be one of policy since by owning vehicles; there are factors of fuel, crashes, wages and a host of other things that needs to be taken into account. Nadir recommended that an analysis of the operational cost of the current vehicles may shed some light on whether it would be cheaper to use taxis. However, MP Keith Scott of the Opposition’s A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) was not convinced that paying almost $30M in the past three years was the way to go. He too wanted an analysis of the costs of the Ministry’s vehicles. In response to questions of APNU’s MP, Jaipaul Sharma, the Permanent Secretary disclosed that taxis are paid monthly, based on the charges they submit for payment. Members of PAC recommended that the Ministry consider renting

vehicles or alternative arrangements. Meanwhile, concerns were expressed over a contract granted to Kares Engineering in 2011 for the construction of the western perimeter fence and palling of drains at the National Exhibition Centre to the tune of $10M. However, auditors found that despite almost all the monies being paid, the contractor had not completed the work. The Ministry is now looking at Kares completing the job before this year is out. The Permanent Secretary said that he has been monitoring the project and that full payment has been made to the consultant, Noel James, who had been overseeing the project for the Ministry. Kares was said to be too busy in the last two years to complete the work. The PAC also wants the Ministry to hand over copies of letters that was issued to the contractor warning them of the need to complete the works and if necessary, for the actions to be contemplated for possible contract breach.

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Kaieteur News

One year later…

Parents still seek answers to school death Joshua Hubbard was an eight-year-old vibrant child whose life ended on February 15, last, hours after he was reportedly pushed off the school’s step by one of his schoolmates. Hubbard, who attended St. Margaret’s Primary School, died from internal bleeding in the brain around 01:00am on that fateful day. This was hours after he told his mother, Roxanne Hubbard, that a school mate pushed him down the school’s step. Reports are that little Hubbard, who on several occasions had complained to his class teacher about a “bully” who was after him, purchased a rose with his pocket money, to give his mother for her Valentine’s Day, when he was confronted by the bully at school. When the child refused to give his rose to the other student, an argument escalated and the eight-yearold child was pushed off the school’s step. Joshua, who was not visibly injured, then went home, wished his mother a happy Valentine’s Day and reported what transpired at school to her. Hours after Joshua went to bed, he was heard crying out for pain and was rushed to a private hospital where he eventually succumbed. Joshua, his family recalled at their Kitty home yesterday, was a fun loving, generous child whose strange laughter could light up a room. The child’s mother told Kaieteur News that he did not deserve to die the way he did. The mother recalled that when he rushed upstairs the day he went home after school (February 14, last) and handed her the rose. “I didn’t take it serious because he did not complain for any pain. When he came

Dead: Joshua Hubbard home he was playing in the yard and then he bathe and brush his teeth and went to bed but he was tossing, tossing so I prayed for him and he come back normal and then a little after he started to cry out for pain, that was the first time I heard my son cried out like that, so right away we

rushed him to the hospital but he died shortly after,” the mother recalled. The woman further added that ever since her son passed away, she did not get any justice from the school as well as the Ministry of Health. “I had a very short meeting with the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and she promised to call me back but up to now no one has called me,” Joshua’s father, Orin Hubbard stressed. He added that he and his wife visited the school numerous times and provided the headmistress with the name of the child who reportedly pushed their son to his death but nothing was done. “We just want to know what happened exactly. We identified the child who did it but it seems as if the teachers are covering up everything,” the parents opined. Kaieteur News tried to contact the school yesterday for a comment but was told that the head teacher was not available.

Grieving parents Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard

Spring crop is being reaped on Essequibo Harvesting of the Spring Crop will commence by the end of the new week. Councillor Naith Ram said that at least three small portions of rice at Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast, have already been harvested by some farmers. Ram said that some 80,000 bags of paddy still remain in the system but at least one miller has been making tedious efforts to have the rice shipped to markets in Dominica and Venezuela before the end of February. According to reports,

the miller has indicated that 600 tons of paddy is air marked to be shipped to Dominica, while another 1000 bags is destined for Venezuela, once he is given the green light through a contractual agreement between Guyana Rice Development Board and the Government. Ram has further indicated that so far, farmers on the Essequibo Coast were not briefed as to what price would be paid to them for their paddy for this crop. He has however, asserted that while during this crop

farmers didn't complain of any major concerns, one problem continues to plague farmers and that is the large amount of acreages that has been infested. He said that farmers are forced to pick the bad rice grains manually, which in some cases would reduce the crop. Farmers are calling for the water scheduled system to be put in place with monitors manning the irrigation canals with boats. Some 37,200 acreages of rice was cultivated for the spring crop.

Page 21

Duo on trial for murder of Mahaica farmer The trial in which Shawn Thom and Orin David called ‘Plait Hair’ or ‘Malik’ are facing Justice Franklyn Holder and a mixed 12member jury on murder charges, commenced yesterday at the Georgetown Supreme Court. The duo was indicted for the murder of Mahaica farmer, Lakhram Bishundial, which allegedly took place on August 20, 2010 at De Hoop Mahaica, East Coast Demerara. Two witnesses took the stand yesterday to give evidence in the case. The first, Doodnauth Bishundial, identified himself as the father of the deceased. He told the court that he identified the body of his eldest son at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary. After a post mortem examination was conducted on his son’s remains, Bishundial said that he was cremated at the Good Hope Crematorium. The next witness, Seeta Bishundial recounted the events leading up to her cousin’s death. “I went to Georgetown with my cousin Totaram to purchase items for his wedding …On our way back home I saw Lakhram (the deceased) driving a truck; he was coming towards us in the opposite direction. My cousin, Totaram pulled his pickup, to the side of the road. Lakhram pulled over his truck on the opposite side of the road, Totaram exited the vehicle and went over to the other side, they started to talk for a few minutes,” the witness stated. The witness claims that she saw a medium built Negro man approach her cousins from the side of the truck, and pointed what appeared to be a gun at them. “I looked away; I could not believe what I saw. The Negro man had braided hair which reached his shoulder… I heard a loud noise and I looked and saw Lakhram fall unto his left side. The man then walked across the road and yanked opened the door of the driver’s seat and demanded cash from a bag on the floor of the vehicle yelling “hand me the bag, hand me the bag.” A few minutes later the witness said Totaram came back to the vehicle and two men from the truck lifted Lakhram and placed him in back seat of the pick up; “I saw what appeared to be blood on his right side,” she detailed. At one point during her testimony the witness became emotional and had to

The deceased Lakhram Bishundial be granted a few minutes by the Judge to regain her composure. Attorneys at -laws, George Thomas, Trenton Lake and Sedella Ferrell are appearing on behalf of the two accused. In her opening address to the court, State Prosecutor Judith Gildharie Mursalin told the court that the 35 year- old rice farmer was shot during a robbery. According to the Prosecutor, Bishundial of De Hoop Mahaica, was murdered while his relatives were preparing for his brother Totaram Bishundial’s wedding, which was slated for Sunday August, 22 2010. “On Friday August 20, 2010, Totaram Bishundial left his home for Georgetown with his cousin, Seeta to do some shopping for the wedding… He went to Demerara Bank and withdrew $500,000.” On his way back he stopped at Victoria Gas Station, he spoke with his brother Lakhram called Mohan on the telephone ….as he reached Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, he saw

his brother approaching in the opposite direction. Lakhram was driving a lorry and they stopped to chat for a few minutes…. A man approached Totaram from the side of the lorry with a gun and asked for the bag of money, threatening to shot him. That man shot Lakhram.” Prosecutor Mursalin told the court that the injured man was taken to t h e St . J o s e p h ’s M e r c y Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Following a post mortem examination which was conducted by state Pathologist, Dr. Nehaul Singh, it was found that the man died as a result of a perforated liver and spleen, owing to the injuries he received. The two accused were later arrested and charged with murder. The Prosecutor spoke to the panel concerning their role in the trial. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution brought these two accused here before you charged with murder ….if after hearing all the evidence in this case you are left in doubt, or you are unsure of their guilt, then it is your duty to find them not guilty. However, if you feel sure that these two men murdered Lakhram Bishsundial, then you must find them guilty.” She told the panel that several witnesses will be called as the matter continues. “Your task is to focus on the witnesses as they testify … look at their demeanor … it is an important guide in enabling you to decide whether a witness is speaking the truth or not.”

Repeat offender remanded for stealing pig A labourer who resides at Lot 73 Princes Street, Lodge was yesterday brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with stealing his neighbour’s pig. Calvin Francis appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and pleaded guilty. The prosecution’s claim is that on February 10, at Princes Street, he stole Jean Bacchus’s pig which cost $65,000. Francis explained to the court that about 15:00 hours that day he was heading home when “the pig got knocked down and I pick it up and carry it to the market to sell it. I didn’t steal it.” Based on his explanation, the court entered a not guilty

plea. But Inspector Michael Grant, the prosecutor, told the court that about 13:30 hours that day, Bacchus had the pig in her pen but around 16:20 hours, she noticed the pig missing. According to Grant, someone informed her that the accused was seen with the pig in the yard and she reported the matter to the police. Francis was subsequently arrested and charged. The court heard that the accused was previously convicted on a simple larceny charge and served 18 months in prison for stealing a car light. The Chief Magistrate refused bail and ordered that he return to court on March 3

Page 22

Kaieteur News

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Princeton College Forms 1-5 CXC adults classes, Phonics, Sat, Lessons & Mathematics for slow learners - Tel: 2237906; 690-5008 Learn to decorate with Balloons. Classes on March 1st – Call: 225-3133; 613-7513 for more information. IAE @ Camp Street Register Now for January / June 2015 Classes: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science . – Tel: 683-5742; 223-0604 Swimming classes @ Dolphin Club, Thursday & Saturday TM 5:30-6:30/ TM 6:30-7:30 (all ages)Call:669-3757/ 641-2571/ 690-1559 ADOPTION Kittens for Call:628-1486

Adoption

Gold and Diamond mining lands already Prospected – Tel: 646-4501 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968 House lots for sale on the West Bank of Demerara Harbour Bridge in Harbourville SchoonordContact:650-0402 ½ Acres residential land at Yarrowkabra 5 minutes of the Linden Highway –Tel: 6111018. Price negotiable 20 Acres poultry Farm @ Yarrowkabra, 120-Acres @ ,Mahaicony, 82 Acres @ Hogg Island, 11 lots @ Wakwnaam – Tel:686-4994; 225-3070 Diamond residential – 3rd Avenue, size: 120’X60’ for quick sale – $10M negotiable Tel: 652-5601 20 Mining Blocks in North West between Sebai and Yarakita – Tel: 686-4936 or 687-7834 Blankenburg Public Road WCD 38X150, 39X150 -$16M Each. Call:658-0132

VEHICLE FOR SALE 1- Toyota Hilux Surf, 3Y engine, AC, CD player, etc, Price:$2M negotiable – Call: 671-1748; 656-9449 Mitsubishi Galant $900,000Call:645-3605 1 Toyota AT212, AT192, AT170, EP71 Starlet, LTouring Wagon, Hilux Pickup 4x4, 1 Nissan Caravan E24 - Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453 One Toyota Prado and Tundra for sale: - Priced to sell – Tel:600-5759 or 225-0683-5

Fully furnished Vacation home with all amenitiesCall during working hours - 227-1218 Furnished Apartments for Overseas Visitors – Contact: 668-5198 Aracari Hotel. West Bank Demerara Rates from US$30 Tel: 264-2946-8 Fully Furnished 2 bedrooms apartment in South - 6895877 (Overseas or Visitors)

Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www. dolly sautorental.com Premio, Vitz call:347-9339790, 639-4452. Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131 Aidan’s Car Rental & Pickup Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 FOR SALE / RENT American Pool Table - Tel: 277-0578; 635-9714

1 Complete Lumber Factory to rent/ lease with all sawmilling equipment situated @ Eccles, Industrial Site. Call Richard: 609-7675.

Rav4 PLL Series LHD standard, sun roof, one owner, asking $1.75 Million Tel: 226-0011 or 663-2079

One 2005 Toyota Avensis. Owner leaving country! $3.4M – Tel:628-6160

Passo, Fielder, Raum, Premio - Call: 661-9651; 6818474

2008 Fielder: Bodykit, spoiler, rims. Unregistered $2.95MCall:617-2891

Unregistered Toyota Sienta (2004) 1500cc & 7 seater - Tel: 617-5536

1 AE100 Corolla $550,000 & 1 AE100 Corolla Wagon $950,000 – Tel:611-6634; 6643488

2007 Axio $2.85M, Spacio $2.250M, fully loaded unregistered- Call:617-2891

One bottom flat apartment @ Enmore -$35,000 monthly – Call:677-1495

1 Black Titan 4 wheel drive, fully loaded - $3M negotiable- Tel: 699-2322 or 678-2814 One Fuso Mitsubishi Crane Truck & 3 Ton Crane GPP Series - $5.5M - Call: 622-6746 One Ford Crane Truck & 10 Ton Crane (new) - $8M – Call:622-6746 New ATVs: Introductory price $1,875,000 (Duty Paid)Call:691-0234 1 Leyland DAF 4x4 Bush Truck. 1 Toyota Hilux 4x4 bush ready – Contact Kim: 658-5193

Toyota Premio- Dark interior with TV, mags, spacio. Tel: 697-0294 VEHICLE FOR SALE O n e To y o t a P r e m i o unregistered - Contact: 225-5082 4x4 Nissan Titan, fully powered, immaculate condition -$3.5M, no reasonable offer refused - Tel: 622-7740

Suzuki 750 GSX-R, registered, price:$1,100,000 negotiable – Tel:672-0697; 684-5918; 685-5323

One Toyota Tacoma 2006, 12ft Aluminum Boat, Tacoma : rims & tyres – Call:6858282; 220-1981; 222-5671

Cheap deals on Japanese vehicles Contact MRR Auto Imports on Tel:691-7475 or 626-9590

Section K –US$1200, Campbellville-US$1200, Lamaha Gardens – US$1,000, Bel- Air US$1800 Diana 2272256; 626-9382

One Honda CRV fully equipped with running bars & other accessories, PNN Series. Excellent Condition! Price Negotiable - Tel: 6606763

1 Toyota R4 2004 model – $2.6M cash – Tel:686-5083

RX-8 – Tel:602-6024

CAR RENTAL

VEHICLE FOR SALE New 2014 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabsCall:691-0234

Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered: Premio, Runx, IST, Spacio, Fielder - Call: 652-38201; 665-4529

2 Ton open back canter with power gate, unregisteredCall:617-2891

TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 347933-9790, 639-4452. EDUCATIONAL

Tuesday February 18, 2014

1 Toyota ACE small bus, excellent condition – Call: 642-4779; 616-5622, also 1 fully equipped music system sold separately. 1 Toyota Hilux LN170 in excellent condition – Tel:641-2763

2008 Honda CRV imported from England 17" Rim, fog lamps Surround Sound System, unregistered $6.8M neg. Tel: 642-7295; 220-2345 3 Ton Toyota Toyoace, excellent Condition with power gate GPP Series - $2.7M negotiable-Tel:685-0889 Toyota Raum, price: $950,000 Tel: 613-0419; 600-0688 AT212 - $1.2M, Spacio $1.9M, Voxy GSS - $2.1M, Sienta Seven Seats - $1.6M, Madza Tribute PSS – Call:661—9651; 681-8474 1 Mitsubishi Galant Car; 1 Toyota Corolla AE100 Car, 1 Honda CBR motorcycle – Call: 227-7544; 612-2542; 614-6011 Madza RX7 - Silver Sunroof, 18" staggered racing rims 3" competition, HID lights, leather interior. Financing Available - Call: 602-3774 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 (Continued on page 23)

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Kaieteur News

U.N. documents North Korean torture chambers, prison camps ... and luxury goods (Reuters) - United Nations human rights investigators yesterday issued a damning report cataloguing massive human rights violations in North Korea that they said amount to crimes of humanity which should be brought to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The 372-page report is the result of a year-long investigation marked by unprecedented public testimony by defectors at hearings held in South Korea, Japan, Britain and the United States. Kim Jong-un may be personally responsible for crimes against humanity, top U.N. investigator Michael Kirby said in a January 20 letter to the North Korean leader that accompanies the report. Here are some excerpts from the report, to be debated by the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 17: SCOPE OF CRIMES “Systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations have been and are being committed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, its institutions and officials. In many instances, the violations of human rights found by the commission constitute crimes against humanity. “The gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a State that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world,” the report said. “A number of longstanding and ongoing patterns of systematic and widespread violations which were documented by the commission, meet the high threshold required for proof of crimes against humanity in international law. The perpetrators enjoy immunity. “The key to the political system is the vast political and security apparatus that strategically uses surveillance, coercion, fear and punishment to preclude the expression of any dissent.” CHINA’S ROLE “Persons who are forcibly repatriated from China are commonly subjected to torture, arbitrary detention, summary execution, forced abortion and other forms of sexual violence. China should “respect the principle of non-refoulement and accordingly abstain from forcibly repatriating any persons to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”. “China should raise with the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and other high-level

authorities the issues of abductions, the infanticide of children entitled to Chinese nationality, forced abortions imposed on repatriated women and other human rights violations that target persons repatriated from China. The report includes a December 16 letter from chairman Kirby to China’s ambassador in Geneva, Wu Haitao, urging him to “caution relevant officials that such conduct on their part could amount to the aiding and abetting (of) crimes against humanity”. Wu’s reply, dated December 30, said North Koreans enter China illegally for economic reasons and some are engaged in “criminal acts such as theft, robbery, illegal harvesting”. Some North Koreans repeatedly enter China illegally, demonstrating that the allegation that repatriated citizens face torture is “not true”, Wu’s letter said. The Commission of Inquiry cited estimates that there are 10,000 to 25,000 children born of Chinese fathers and North Korean mothers. “The status of most of these children appears to be effectively stateless, as the Chinese families have been discouraged from registering such children because of the illegal status of their mothers,” it said. North Korean agents “appear to be operating on Chinese territory and attempting to gather information about DPRK citizens and persons supporting them. On some occasions, they appear even to have abducted DPRK citizens and at least one national of the ROK (Republic of Korea)”. TORTURE CHAMBERS AND PRISON CAMPS “Suspects of major political wrongs may find themselves in a detention interrogation centre anywhere from a few days to six months or more,” it said. “Torture is an established feature of the interrogation process”, it said, citing testimony about a “torture chamber” at a detention facility of the State Security Department equipped with a water tank, shackles used to hang suspects upside down, and long needles driven underneath a suspect’s fingernails. “Many suspects die at interrogation detention centers as a result of torture, deliberate starvation or illnesses developed or aggravated by the terrible living conditions.” “If they are not executed

immediately, persons held accountable for major political wrongs are forcibly disappeared to political prison camps that officially do not exist. Most victims are incarcerated for life, without chance of leaving the camps alive.””The limited information that seeps out from the secret camps also creates a specter of fear among the general population in the DPRK, creating a powerful deterrent against any future challenges to the political system.” “Four large prison camps are known to exist in the DPRK today,” it said, adding that there may be additional ones and that there were 12 camps or more in the past. “Over time, the system has been consolidated. Some camps were closed down and the remaining inmates transferred to other sites, which were expanded. Sources including human rights groups concur there has been a drop in the political prison camp population over the last few years, but this (Continued on page 26)

Page 23

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 CAMP STREET, Prime Business Space Call: 6394499 GT TOOLS RENTAL: TEL: 675-0767; 627-5098 2 Business Stall @ Port Kaituma Market – Tel:6187983; 684-6428 Newly Constructed apartment - WCD - Call: 6986496 1 Newly renovated house @ Eccles Front. 3 Bedrooms upstairs - $90,000 & 2 bedrooms downstairs $80,000, separate entrance & parking – Tel:268-2121 5 Acre Land with house to lease $95,000 for month – Call:261-2988 Property for rent located at 32 Old Road Vreed- En- Hoop WCD. For further information contact:6610162 Business Space to rent: 26"x38" On Durban Street Lodge – Call:648-7868 Rooms to rent: Responsible single working female, water and light included. Contact: 618-3815

VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant Call: 670-8893/684-2838 Experienced Pharmacy Assistant. Must have at least 3yrs experienced working in Pharmacy – Call:661-3124 Pump Attendant @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) Tel: 265-7305

Spacious 1 large bedroom apartment located @ Great Diamond security camera, burglar bars security lights & washing machine – Tel:660-8174;697-9479 One bedroom apartment to rent located at First Field Cummings Lodge, Student Only – Tel:222-3435 Bulldozer, bobcat and excavator for hire best rates. Please contact:261-6664; 261-6607 or 629-5414

Security Guard: Requirements: Police Clearance must have NIS, & ID Cards, 2 recommendations, Age: 3545. Call: 642-8140; 642-8650 Cashiers @ Shell Service Station Providence EBD. Must be able to work shift (5am-3pm & 3pm-12pm) - Tel: 265-7305

LEARN TO DRIVE Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal street. Fee $16,000Call:227-3869

Hire Car drivers from ECD @ A-1 Taxi – Tel:220-1000

Ultravoilet Driving School – Contact:231-2372;6022583;658-4015

Two Joiners to work in Workshop - Tel:610-7005; 219-1342 1 Housekeeper must know to cook @ 223 Camp Street. (3 Storey building next to Shell Gas Station) - Call: 644-7724 Farm workers; preferably from EBD area – Tel:6611585; 617-2032

(From page 22)

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032,647-2943 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) Foreign Investment Company seeking interested investors with timber concession for business. Available equipment. For information call:682-2391 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar COOL TECH: Repairs Services & Installation of all types of home appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units – Tel: 2332008; 675-4959 House plan drafting from$10,000 surveying and estimates services available Tel: 667-2189 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,662-6045, 223-8115 Transportation services available in and out of Georgetown – Tel:646-4501 Masons seeking job work – Tel:678-9043 Technicians available for appliance repairs – washers, dryers, microwaves, stoves, deep fryers, etc – Tel:6190793; 218-0050 Electrical Repairs & Servicing Done to generators, water pump, washer, dryers, fans, blenders, stabilizers & Transformers (Johnny 619-3194) WE FILL PASSPORT & VISA FORMS: U.S.A, U.K & CANADA. ALSO ONLINE CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS TEL: 225-9030

WANTED Sales helpers for supermarket, responsibilities included weighing etc. Apply in person at Nirva Supermarket Tel: 227-5771 Live in domestic must know to cook Indian Dishes. Starting Salary -$50,000, boarding & lodging free. Tel: 610-5043 1 Land to buy in Linden Preferably Amelia’s Ward– Tel:686-2201 1 Maid to cook & clean, call between 7:30am to 4pm – Tel:225-6272 & 227-5273 Live in waitress must be honest & courteous. Salary $50,000. Boarding & lodging free – Tel:610-5043 Supervisors to work at 704 Bar – Contact:223-5273/4 Attractive live in waitress Tel: 228-5129; 604-8277 General Live in maid, with experienced age 30-50 – Contact: 609-1535; 227-8529 Urgently needed live-in waitress to work in bar, reasonable salary offer – Tel:259-0574 Live in male & female domestic – Tel: 613-6613 One Dragline operator – 613-6613 Live in , live out babysitter – Tel:225-6070 Cashiers , Handyman at Impact Frenzy - Tel:223-4778 1 Welder to work in interior Tel: 664-5199 Sawmill workers – Tel:6539752. Experienced cook for snackette. Must have food handler ’s certificate – Contact: 660-6446; 644-6030 (Winston) One Waitress within West Coast Demerara to Parika – Call:660-1248 1 Cook for the interior Tel:681-3801 Two security guards. Call 225-8645

SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773

Esther a maid seeking to work from 9:00 in morning to 2:00 Tel: 226-0700; 688-6032 FOR SALE / RENT

MASSAGE

FOR HIRE

For Sale/ Rent: One Taxi Service with complete base station radio, frequency, lighted sign board etc. Call: 619-2800.

The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse availableCall:657-5979

Dump Trucks for hire to transport sand, aggregate, etc and bobcat for rental Tel: 694-1657; 261-6664

One cook to work in interior – Contact:681-6044

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Hope Canal project - long term solution to flooding The East Demerara Water Conservancy's (EDWC) Hope Canal project located at Hope, East Coast Demerara, is the largest ever funded with Guyanese resources. It offers a real solution to the risk of the failure of the EDWC; a situation that has the potential to occur. This huge four-component project is close to fruition. On February 15, component two, a $350M bridge was commissioned. Repeated spates of flooding were occurring in the East Coast Demerara villages in the vicinity of the EDWC, during periods of heavy rainfall. The impact was felt on livestock, farms and residents. This was especially so in 2005 and more so in 2008, after many communities in Regions Four and Five were affected by floods. Government through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA,) as a result, began to explore the measure of a Northern Relief Channel to improve EDWC's safety standards to withstand the intensity of hydrological disasters. The NDIA was tasked with putting together a plan to undertake the necessary hydrological and hydraulic studies and an Environmental Management Plan, with the consultancy contract being awarded to CEMCO/SRKN Engineering, in association with Mott Mc Donald to the value of $64M with a time span of 14 months. Proposed for construction was a structure with a channel, working in conjunction with the three other components; the high level sluice outfall structure, the conservancy head regulator and public bridge. The channel, it was proposed, will join the conser-

A section of the Hope Canal

vancy at a point on its northeastern embankment and then cut across 10.3km of the coast. The excess water from the conservancy will be drained into the canal via a three-door sluice at that end, running along the excavated channel and spilling into the Atlantic Ocean via the eight-door high-discharge sluice structure. Work on the four components, valued $3.6B began in 2011 and was expected to be completed in about two years. The project however, suffered some delays due to issues pertaining to weather and the availability of building materials. A major milestone was achieved in the operationalisation of the project with the commissioning of the Bridge which was

successfully executed by DIPCON Engineering. Speaking at the commissioning, President Ramotar reiterated the economical and humanitarian importance of the Hope Canal Project, underscoring again the issues with flooding faced by the residents in the area. “This is only part of total infrastructure projects that we are planning in our country...for us really to have rapid economic growth and for us to improve the quality of our lives, we have to invest in infrastructure to facilitate and encourage economic development and so this is part of that whole project,” the President said. “I myself have gone in those areas in times when there were floods... I remember going at one time and speaking to people right up to

PAC grills Health Ministry over ... From page 9 Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Leslie Cadogan, disclosed that strong management has been put in place to ensure that contracts are properly managed. One of these includes ensuring that the bank guarantees are in place for contractors. The 2011 report had flagged bank guarantees by New GPC as being expired when the state auditors were making their checks. The guarantees are crucial in case the supplier, breach the contract and claims have to be made. Cadogan said there are better systems to manage the deliveries of millions of dollars to the hospitals and health centres, but admitted there is lots of room for improvement. Regarding the outstanding $88.1M in

pharmaceuticals which were not delivered, PAC was told a number of startling details. The Ministry had taken a decision, without receiving authorization from the tender board authorities, to have New GPC “swap” almost $20M of drugs for others. Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, said that this complicated the matter. There were several searching questions by Member of Parliament for A Partnership For National Unity, Jaipaul Sharma, on the systems used for delivery and storage. The Health Ministry said that New GPC had objected to the amount not delivered, providing documents that it did. There is a team doing reconciliation. While New GPC produced delivery notes, some of the Ministry’s store records were

not found. However, New GPC has since delivered over $76M, leaving over $11M outstanding, PAC was told. There were questions yesterday on what systems were being used to store the drugs. According to Cadogan, a significant number of problems were reduced with the storage of drugs after the commissioning of a bond in Diamond, East Bank Demerara. With some drugs having a short shelf life, the Ministry has been challenged to manage its inventory with auditors finding over $208M in expired items at the time of its examinations. The Permanent Secretary disclosed that both manual and electronics systems are being used to manage the inventory of pharmaceuticals.

their step from a boat... It was those conditions that formulated the ideas that we had to do something, because we had to make the choice of releasing water into the MMA, knowing full well that it will destroy people's farms, but the alternative to that was having the pressure on the

walls break and flood the whole coastal area..” he said. The Ministry of Agriculture and the contractors have agreed to have the outstanding work on the project be divided into several tranches, some of which are to be completed very soon. On completion the Hope

Canal project will be a major engineering construction achievement, built by Guyanese engineers and workers. It will as well be recorded as one of the most significant inputs made towards addressing climate change challenges in Guyana. (GINA)

Bandits remanded after high speed chase in Berbice Following the high speed chase in which two bandits were nabbed by police after a failed robbery, the men were charged and remanded to jail, yesterday. They had attacked businessman Katch's residence at Bath, West Coast Berbice. The two are Paul Kumar, 44, of Angoy's Avenue, New Amsterdam, and of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara; and Richard Semple, 39, a taxi driver of Kilcoy Village Corentyne, Berbice. They were not required to plead to the indictable charges. They appeared before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver at the Blairmount Magistrate's Court on two counts of discharging a loaded firearm with intent to rob and another of assault with intent to rob.

They are accused of attempting to rob the businessman and his son on February 13, 2014 at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice. The businessman who has a number of businesses on West Coast Berbice had closed up his business and was about to enter his home sometime between 19:30 hrs and 20:00 hrs when he was accosted by the bandits. He put up a fight causing the bandit to discharge a round. In the meantime ranks from the Fort Wellington Police Station responded promptly. The three bandits who were armed with a shotgun and pistols were force to flee in their getaway vehicle. The cops gave chase in their vehicle forcing the ban-

dits to head over the Berbice River Bridge. The chasing cops radioed for backup and the East Berbice police set up a roadblock on the eastern side of the bridge. The fleeing bandits after crossing the river realised that they were cornered. They abandoned their vehicle and headed into the bushy and swampy area at Palmyra. The driver of the white Toyota Premio motor car PSS 1495 was apprehended while Kumar was nabbed around 04:30 hrs on Friday morning after he made his way out of the swampy area. They have since named another suspect who is the mastermind. The men will have to return to court on March 21.

Drag racer killed in gruesome CBR ... From page 19 broke off a lighting fixture on the pole which was left hanging from its suspension. This publication was told that the motorcycle after hitting the utility pole was hurled several feet landing in a resident's yard some three houses away from the point of impact. Indial was picked up and rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where he

was pronounced dead on arrival. The body is awaiting a post mortem examination. His other two colleagues are in custody as investigations continue. According to reports the men were part of a larger group that had earlier attended the Rotary Club 20/20 cricket match and Car and Bike Show at the Cumberland playfield.

They had reportedly been imbibing and at the time of the accident were heading home. The police in a subsequent statement said that they are investigating the fatal accident that occurred about 02:00 hrs yesterday morning on the Main Road at Clifton Settlement, Corentyne, which resulted in the death of motorcyclist Vincent Indial, of Cromarty, Corentyne.

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Kaieteur News

Venezuela expels three U.S. diplomats, protests rumble

Opposition supporters take part in a protest against President Nicolas Maduro’s government in Caracas yesterday. (Credit: Reuters/Jorge Silva) (Reuters) - Venezuela gave three U.S. diplomats 48 hours to leave the country yesterday, accusing them of conspiring against the government to incite protests that were the OPEC nation’s most serious violence since President Nicolas Maduro’s April election. Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said the three consular staff used visa visits to universities as cover for promoting student-lead protests. The demonstrations, which have energized the opposition but show few signs they can oust Maduro, continued yesterday with rowdy protests around Caracas and various provincial cities. On Wednesday, the protests turned deadly and three people were fatally shot. “They have been visiting universities with the pretext of granting visas,” said Jaua, who often faced off against police during his own days as a student demonstrator. “But that is a cover for making contacts with (student) leaders to offer them training and financing to create youth groups that generate violence,” he told reporters. The U.S. State Department called the allegations “baseless and false,” adding that Washington supported free expression and peaceful assembly in Venezuela and around the world. Venezuela has routinely expelled U.S. diplomats in recent years as the relationship between the two countries frayed during the 14-year rule of late socialist leader Hugo Chavez. Critics dismiss such moves as theatrics used in times of national commotion

to distract from more serious issues. PROTESTS RUMBLE ON Student demonstrators have vowed to stay in the street until Maduro resigns, though the 51-year-old former bus driver has vowed not to cede even a “millimeter” of power. The Caracas protests have been limited to mostly upscale areas, and there has been little evidence that Venezuelans will join them en masse. Even so, thousands were out across the nation of 29 million people again yesterday. Police fired teargas at student protesters near the office of the Popular Will party, whose leader, Leopoldo Lopez, has been a main instigator of demonstrations. Party workers said armed men presumed to be military intelligence officers burst into their premises seeking national coordinator Carlos Vecchio. Vecchio’s current whereabouts were not clear. Videos sent to media by

Popular Will, which could not be independently identified, showed men entering the premises waving guns and trying to kick down a door. The government has issued an arrest warrant for Lopez, a 42-year-old, U.S.educated hardline opposition leader, on charges including murder and terrorism. His whereabouts were unknown, though in an online video he promised to hand himself in today and called on supporters to march with him to the Interior and Justice Ministry. “Let’s all go dressed in white to one place. Then, I will walk alone. I will not put any Venezuelan’s life at risk,” he tweeted yesterday. In other demonstrations yesterday, students blocked several avenues in affluent neighborhoods of Caracas. Elsewhere, protesting students in the Andean city of San Cristobal burned tires, while residents reported trouble in Merida and on the island of Margarita.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 18, 2014

U.N. documents North Co-pilot hijacks Ethiopian plane to Geneva, exits cockpit by rope Korean torture chambers, prison camps ... and luxury goods

(Reuters) - A co-pilot who hijacked an Ethiopian Airlines flight to seek asylum in Switzerland yesterday surrendered to police at Geneva airport after jumping out of a cockpit window and scrambling down an emergency rope. The airliner’s second-incommand, named by Ethiopia as Hailemedhin Abera Tegegn, 31, took control of the plane when the pilot left the cockpit to use the toilet. He then sent a coded signal announcing he had hijacked his own aircraft. With the airliner on the tarmac, an unarmed Hailemedhin made his exit via a cockpit window, without harming passengers or crew, police spokesman Pierre Grangean told a news conference. “Just after landing, the copilot came out of the cockpit and ran to the police and said, ‘I’m the hijacker.’ He said he is not safe in his own country and wants asylum,” Grangean said. The airliner could later be seen with a knotted yellow rope dangling from an open cockpit window. The opposition and rights campaigners in Ethiopia accuse the government of stifling dissent and torturing political detainees. But it is rare for state officials and employees - Ethiopian Airlines is run by the state to seek asylum. The last senior official to do so fled to

the United States in 2009. Ethiopia said Hailemedhin had worked for Ethiopian Airlines for the past five years and had no criminal record. “So far it was known that he was medically sane, until otherwise he is proven through the investigation which is going on right now,” Redwan Hussein, spokesman for the Ethiopian government, told a news conference. Redwan said Ethiopia may ask for his extradition. Ethiopian Airlines pilots had visas to travel freely to Europe, he said, adding that it made no sense to hijack one’s own plane given “that the anti-hijacking law in any country is severe” and can lead to up to 20 years in prison. Redwan said among the 193 passengers on board the Boeing aircraft were 139 Italians, 11 American and four French nationals. CODE “HIJACK” Flight ET702 departed the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Sunday evening and was bound for Rome. The plane was hijacked at about 0330 GMT while over northern Italy, Grangean said. It landed at Geneva at 6:02 a.m. (0502 GMT). He said the co-pilot, an Ethiopian born in 1983, locked the flight deck door when the pilot went to the toilet. He then asked to refuel at Geneva, landed the plane, climbed down on an emergency exit rope from a cockpit window, and gave himself up.

Robert Deillon, CEO of Geneva airport, said air traffic controllers learnt the plane had been hijacked when the co-pilot keyed a distress code into the aircraft’s transponder, “There is ... a code for hijack. So this co-pilot put in the code for ‘I just hijacked the aircraft’,” he said. As the plane was over Italy at the time, two Italian Eurofighters were scrambled to accompany it, he said. The brief drama in Geneva yesterday morning caused the cancellation of some short-haul flights and some incoming flights were diverted to other airports. Hundreds of passengers booked on disrupted flights sought to change their tickets. In an apparent recording of a radio communication between the Ethiopian plane and air traffic control posted on social media site Twitter, a demand for asylum was made. “We need asylum or assurance we will not be transferred to the Ethiopian government,” the voice in the recording, apparently the copilot, said. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the recording. Ethiopian nationals and the country’s flag carrier have been involved in several hijackings in the past. At least 50 people were killed when a hijacked Ethiopian Airlines passenger jet crashed in the Indian Ocean in 1996.

Police officers help passengers disembark from the hijacked Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 702 at Cointrin Airport in Geneva yesterday. (Credit: Reuters/Denis Balibouse)

A United Nations Human Rights staff stands in front of a drawing illustrating North Korean labour camp no 18, a gift made in December 2012 by survivor Kim Hye Sook, in Geneva February 17, 2014. (Credit: Reuters/Denis Balibouse) From page 23 may be partly due to an “extremely high rate of deaths in custody,” due to starvation and neglect, arduous force labor, disease and executions, the U.N. report said. The Korea Institute for National Unification estimates 80,000 to 120,000 people are detained in political prison camps today, based on recent satellite imagery and first-hand testimony, the report said. The activist group Committee on Human Rights in North Korea put the figure at 80,000 to 130,000. DEPRIVATION OF FOOD AND STARVATION A 1995 food crisis sparked by floods and the collapse of support and hard currency from the Soviet Union led to famine. “The State has used food as a means of control over the population .... The State has also used deliberate starvation as a means of control and punishment in detention facilities. This has resulted in the deaths of many political and ordinary prisoners. “Military spending predominantly on hardware and the development of weapons systems and the nuclear program - has always been prioritized, even during periods of mass starvation.” “The commission finds that decisions, actions and omissions by the State and its leadership caused the death

of at least hundreds of thousands of people and inflicted permanent physical and psychological injuries on those who survived. “Hunger and malnutrition continue to be widespread. Deaths from starvation continue to be reported. “The commission is concerned that structural issues, including laws and policies that violate the right to adequate food and freedom from hunger, remain in place, which could lead to the recurrence of mass starvation. “In his 2014 New Year’s message, Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un called for ‘decisive improvement in guidance and management of economic projects’. However, measures for agricultural reform and opening the economy were not mentioned in the speech.” LUXURY GOODS AND “PARALLEL FUNDS” North Korea “continues allocating a significant amount of the state’s resources for the purchase and importation of luxury goods”, the report said. Such imports are in violation of Security Council sanctions and have included high-quality cognac and whiskey and equipment for a 1,000 person cinema, it said. There have been attempts to import Mercedes-Benz vehicles, high-end musical recording equipment and

dozens of pianos, it said. “Luxury good expenditure by the DPRK rose to $645.8 million in 2012. Reportedly, this was a sharp increase from the average of $300 million a year under Kim Jong-il,” it said, citing a British newspaper report in October 2013. North Korean authorities also engage in legal and illegal activities to earn foreign currency, channeling it into “parallel funds” outside of the regular state budget, it said. “They are kept a the personal disposal of the Supreme Leader and used to cover personal expenses of the Supreme Leader, his family and other elites surrounding him, as well as other politically sensitive expenditures,” it said. Revenue from criminal activity including drugs has been estimated at up to $500 million a year in 2008, amounting to a third of North Korea’s annual exports at the time, it said. A former North Korean official, not identified in the report, provided information on the “illegal activities of DPRK embassies around the world. They were engaged in activities such as the illegal sale of alcohol in Islamic countries or the internationally prohibited trafficking of ivory from African countries to China,” the report said.

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Fidel Castro’s book ‘History Will Too many murders left unsolved - Homicide head calls for training Acquit Me’ launched in France

Fidel Castro

PARIS, France (ACN) — Intellectuals, politicians and diplomats attended in Paris, France, the launch of the book History Will Acquit Me, Fidel Castro’s defence statement at his trial in 1953 after the attacks on the Moncada Garrison. The book, which was translated into French by Jacques-Francois Bonaldi, includes a series of annexed documents that had not been published in France before. The text is crucial to understand the political thinking of Fidel Castro, said representatives with the Tiempo de Cerezas publishing house. The secretary of the France-Cuba Friendship Association, Dominique Leduc, recalled that, during the 1953 trial, Fidel Castro exposed the serious oppression and poverty and many other problems that affected the Cuban people at the time and he turned from defendant to prosecutor of the dictatorship that then ruled the nation. During the presentation, held at the Alejo Carpentier Centre at the Cuban embassy in Paris, ambassador Hector Igarza said that the book is a document with invaluable historic value.

Senior cop urges colleagues to change the way they operate (Jamaica Observer) Superintendent Fitz Bailey on Sunday urged fellow law enforcers to ensure they maintain good relations with residents in their respective divisions as the police will not succeed in the fight against crime without citizens’ support. Bailey, who is the commander for the St Andrew Central Division, said it is time for the police force to be seen as “friends of the community” right across Jamaica. The senior crime fighter, who is also Bishop of the Bible Truth Church of God in Border, St Andrew, was giving a spirited sermon, clad in his police uniform, during the Area Four Division Church Service at the New Testament Church of God at Escarpment Road, August Town in Kingston. “For too long we have been seen as an invading force; we have been seen as a repressive and oppressive force, and it’s time for us to change the way we do things, as the people are our most outstanding resources and we cannot do policing without the various communities,” he said. The superintendent said the police have tried several measures but the time has come for the law enforcers to not only unite with the citizens, but also for each citizen to become cognisant of the fact that they too have a role to play in the fight against crime and violence. “We are in a crisis and the responsibility is placed on the

Superintendent Fitz Bailey

Source: Bullet Points (Trinidad Guardian) One every 16 hours. That is the rate at which intentional homicides were being committed, up to press time Sunday night. In the unlikely event that the current murder rate continues unabated, 2014 will see 547.5 murders, the highest since 2008, when the count totalled 547. Nor does the 2014 toll of 72 compare favourably with last year’s figure for the same period, 55. Along with the high toll, there is the issue of detection. Of the 46 murders recorded in January 2014, only five have been solved, according to statistics posted on the Police Service website. Head of the Homicide Bureau ACP Wayne Dick in a telephone interview with the T&T Guardian Sunday said while other arms of the police service are responsible for

preventing murders, his 60 officers are tasked with solving them. Special training is needed to help his officers boost the detection rate, DIck said. “I have done much training since coming to the Homicide Bureau in April last year and I am pursuing further training that would be beneficial to my officers,” Dick said. The specialist training will have a positive effect on his officers and boost their morale, Dick said. Simply sending his men to North America for training so that they can copy and paste what they learnt is not sufficient, he said. His officers would have to find ways to customise foreign techniques to the Trinidad and Tobago context. He said he would recommend six officers be trained at a time, so that they

could then train their counterparts. He commended his officers highly for demonstrating diligence in spite of not having the desired training. According to data on the country’s 2008-2013 murder rate, collected by open journalism source Bullet Points, the month of February could see a decrease in the amount of blood spilled. Over that six-year period, the lead-up to Carnival saw a decrease in murders in all but two years. In 2009, 49 murders were recorded in the first month with seven more occurring in February. In 2013, January saw 38 people murdered, 47 the following month. However, the correlation between the T&T Carnival season and the nationwide decrease in murders may not be a causal one.

High-Level talks ongoing to remedy court cases backlog

police. The police must provide the remedy for all social ills. It cannot work, every individual has a role. No longer can the police be the doctor, the priest, teachers, counsellors, pastors, every man has a responsibility,” Bailey stressed. “We have seen hundreds of people being killed every year, some by police and some by criminals, and we believe that there must be a change in which all of us see ourselves as partners and as stakeholders in the struggle to save Jamaica,” he added. “What we are up against is a situation where if we do nothing Jamaica is going to fail.” Bailey in his spirited sermon also called for peace which he said his one key element in the fight against crime. However, he said, there will be no peace unless there is equality and justice for all Jamaicans.

The superintendent said there is too much segregation in the country and many people do not feel as if they are part of the society. “We construct our communities in such a way that we put those down there, those who are from the plantation, we put them in a little corner and we keep them suppressed and we say nothing good can come out of there,” he said. “We must not judge people by where they are from or their position in life. We must judge them by the content of their character.” Meanwhile, Bailey said the Peace for Champs initiative has already demonstrated the power of unity, as there were no reported acts of violence during the last school boys and girls championships. Country, he maintained, must now follow the example set by the youth.

(Jamaica Gleaner) National Security Minister Peter Bunting says several initiatives are underway aimed at dealing with the backlog of court cases in the justice system. He says he has been in several high-level meetings with the Chief Justice Zaila McCalla and the Justice Minister Mark Golding within the past week to discuss the matter. Bunting also points out that the stated number of cases being held up in the court is often exaggerated. He says unpaid traffic ticket cases as well as cases

with multiple charges contribute to the backlog. The National Security Minister says there are about 40,000 cases that have been stalled in the system and not 400,000. However, he says efforts are being made to clear the backlog. Bunting says among the initiatives being considered is the removal of not so serious offences that are in the system for more than two years from court records. But he said no statute of limitation would apply to serious cases such as shooting, murder and rape.

National Security Minister Peter Bunting

Antigua-Barbuda reports record hotel bookings ST JOHN’S, Antigua — On Saturday, the Antigua Hotels and Tourism Association announced that January hotel bookings reached a five year high. January bookings were up 5.4% over last year. Minister John Maginley responded to the news, noting that they were on the verge of ushering in a “tourism turnaround.” “I am incredibly encouraged by the fact that hotel bookings in January 2014 reached a five-year high. The last time we were at these

levels of arrivals was before the global economic crisis,” noted the tourism minister. “It is no wonder that the Beaches resort seeks to build hundreds of rooms and employ thousands directly and indirectly. Beaches can see that Antigua and Barbuda is in the midst of a tourism turnaround. And, while there is still more work to be done, it is clear that this substantial increase in tourism is a good thing for our country. And, it’s a good thing for our economy,” the minister concluded.

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Guyana’s ex-test players Winners and still champion!!! making waves in T&T... From page 33 tournament. Led by 80 from former West Indies ‘A’ team player Richard Kelly, Comets made 212-6 before Ramdass, who has three tons in 21 FirstClass matches for Guyana, struck 13 fours and two sixes and got good support from fellow Guyanese Rajiv Ivan, who made 58 not out with five fours and two sixes. On Sunday Clarke Road defeated Moosai Sports by 49 runs with T&T player Yannick Ottley making 86 not out. Guyanese Ranga Latchana

scored 71 and Ramdass, who was one of five cricketers of the League last year, got 54. Last year, Ramdass scored three centuries in Trinidad to help his team to second place in the League before returning home to participate in Guyana’s inter-county competition where his performances earned him a call-up in the Guyana 26-man FirstClass training squad. Ramdass last played for Guyana in 2005. At 38, Legspinner Nagamootoo’s Test and First-Class career is long

over, ending as the leading wicket taker in Regional cricket with 331 wickets, breaking the previous record of the 270 held by countryman Clyde Butts. His five Tests were played in five different continents and his 68 against Australia at Sydney is his best Test score. The leg-spinner, who also played league cricket in England, has been among the wickets for Munroe Road with his latest performance being a four-wicket haul on Sunday.

Tuesday February 18, 2014 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) You can expect to have problems with your mate if you've been spending too much time away from home. TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) Go out with friends or family. The personal problems you may be having are interfering with your productivity. You may have a hard time relating to children today.

thoughts into action. Make plans to do the things you enjoy. Changes regarding your image will bring you greater confidence. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) Be careful not to misplace your wallet or belongings. Much knowledge can be obtained through the experiences you have. Invite people home to discuss your plans for group fundraising events and outings.

GEMINI (MAY 22JUNE 21) Try to be understanding. If you can include them in your plans, do so. Your emotions have been pulled out of shape and you need to do a little backtracking.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Try to be fair in your dealings with acquaintances. Don't overspend on luxury items. Travel will also be very informative.

CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) You are exceptional at presenting your ideas. Talk to superiors about problems that you feel are getting out of hand. Don't get involved in joint ventures.

CAPRICORN (DEC 22.- JAN. 20) You will learn a great deal from people with different cultural backgrounds. Your personal situation is fluctuating. Your lover may disappoint you in such a way that estrangement will follow.

LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) Travel will also entice you. Catch up on correspondence. Avoid any hassles. VIRGO (AUG. 23 SEPT. 23) Partners may try to argue with you; however, you must stand your ground. Make money using your ingenuity and creative talent. Investments that deal with property will pay off but could cause conflict with some family members. LIBRA (SEPT. 24 OCT. 23) Put your

AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) Take your time and try not to overload yourself. Your irritability may drive your loved ones crazy. Family outings or a quiet stroll through the park will lead to stimulating conversation and a closer bond. PISCES (FEB. 20MAR. 20) Your talent will be recognized. Be confident in your endeavors and others will believe in your efforts. Get on with business.

From page 32 a close split decision. Trinidadian, Taylor started at a fast pace and forced London to work overtime to stay in contention. The Guyanese has had quite a few fights under her belt and is among the best locally. She utilized that experience to weather the storm and eventually triumphed over Taylor, carting off the 75kgs (female) title as well as the best boxer award. There were also four

all-Guyanese encounters and Junior Henry prevailed over Michael April in the 52kgs affair, while Delon Charles proved to be too good for Stephan Nedd to take the honours in the 56kgs category. Imran Khan stamped his authority as the local bantamweight king with a classy display that earned him a convincing points decision over his nemesis, Claimonte Gibson. Organizers also made provisions for Simon Pures and in the first bout in the

pinweight category, Shaquancy Wright (EBG) prevailed over Jamie Kellman (Eagles).Shaquille Wright, also of the EBG, won from Roy Samuels (Eagles), while Joel Williamson (PRBG) was gifted a walkover after Orin Bancroft (Eagles) failed to turn up for their bout, also in the pinweight division. The final bout in this category between Travis Fraser (TEBG) and Geldroy Smith was in the 75kgs Elite category and ended in favour of the former boxer.

Afghanistan stun... From page 30 received little by way of support at the other end. Abdullah Adil was the pick of Afghanistan’s bowlers, finishing with 4 for 45, while Sharafuddin Ashraf snared three scalps. The victory was Afghanistan’s first of the tournament, after they had opened with a loss to Bangladesh Under-19s on Saturday. Afghanistan and Australia are both tied in Group B with two points each, with Australia slightly ahead by virtue of a better net run-rate. “I am very proud of our team, they played so well today,” Nasir Jamal, the Afghanistan captain, said, “I don’t think many people expected us to defeat Australia but we did it and we did it convincingly. We hope the people at home are enjoying the victory as much as we are - we play for our country and our people and we love to make them happy and proud. Now we have to put our heads down and try to achieve as much as we possibly can in this competition.” Scores: Afghanistan Under-19s 253 (Mujtaba 75, Ihsanullah 63, Valente 3-59)

beat Australia Under-19s 217 (Bazley 54*, Adil 4-45, Ashraf 3-55) by 36 runs. In another result: B’desh U19 v Namibia U19 at Abu Dhabi - Feb 17, 2014 B’desh U19 won by 52 runs India U19 v Scot U19 at Dubai (DSC) - Feb 17, 2014

India Under-19s 92 for 5 (Sarfaraz 45*, Hooda 24*) beat Scotland Under-19s 88 (Umeed 44, Gani 4-28, Kuldeep 4-28) by five wickets. India U19 won by 5 wickets (with 165 balls remaining)

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GAPF disciplines Gumendra Shewdas for doping violation The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation wishes to inform the General Public that it has concluded its investigations into the matter concerning the confirmed Anti-doping violation and suspension of its Sub junior lifter at the World Sub junior/Junior Powerlifting Championships in Killeen Texas by the Governing Body for Powerlifting the IPF, the organisation stated in a release. The release further informs: The Federation concurs with the report of the IPF Antidoping hearing Panel comprising Mr. James F. Cirincione (Chair) – USA, Ms. Janie Soubliere LLM, LLB -CANADA and Dr. Hugo Velasquez - COSTA RICA. As a result recommendations were therefore forwarded to the Disciplinary Panel for deliberations and the imposition of penalties (if any). The Panel considered the following arguments by the lifter and his support personnel (his mother, his grandfather and his coach) 1. Athlete had taken tablets for a cold; 2. The source of the tablets was his grandfather;

- Personal Coach Egbert Jackson also penalized 3. The main ingredient in the tablet was geranium 20; The athlete was unaware that he was ingesting a prohibited substance as he listened/and trusted his grandfather whom he grew up with all his life. The findings by the Governing body’s doping hearing panel were very clear as were the rules governing the WADA Body to which the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation and its governing body are signatories: 1. Prior to the taking of samples the athlete was given the standard doping sample form to be filled in which required him to state a. The sample number – 2778838 b. Amount of sample (90ml) which was then poured in his presence into two tamper proof bottles and labelled sample 1 and Sample 2 containing 35ml and 55 ml respectively. c. Questioned as to whether he had been administered/taken any medicine within the last 48 hours to which his written response was NONE. d. The bottle was then

sealed in his presence and he was given a copy of the signed declaration form. 2. An Adverse analytical finding was found in the case of the sample referred to as Sample 1 of 2778838. 3. The sample number listed in the form and that as listed above by the WADA Accredited lab are one and the same. 4. The IPF / WADA ruling has identified the following articles to justify the suspension a. Article 2.1, 2.1.1 and 2.1.2, 10.4 and 12.2. The question of whether he knowingly or unknowingly ingested the prohibited substances listed as methylhexaneamine and Oxylofrine is NOT debatable. Whereas an explanation may have been proffered for the first, none was done for the latter. Neither did the lifter mention this on his anti-doping form. No concrete evidence has been produced by anyone to date as to proof of deliberate actions. His grandfather has claimed responsibility for the administration of the medicine. The Federation

Afghanistan v Australia, Under-19 World Cup, Abu Dhabi...

Afghanistan stun Australia for first win Abdullah Adil and his team-mates set off on a celebratory run © ICC

ESPNcricinfo Afghanistan Under-19s pulled off a major upset by defeating Australia Under19s by 36 runs in Abu Dhabi. Afghanistan’s top order were at the forefront of the victory, as Mohammad Mujtaba (75), Ihsanullah (63) and Hashmatullah Shaidi (57) all scored half-centuries to propel the team to 253.

The team had lost Usman Ghani in the first over of the innings, but Ihsanullah and Mujtaba steadied the innings with a second-wicket stand worth 126 that gave Afghanistan a solid platform to build on. For Australia, James Bazley and Cameron Valente picked up three wickets each. Australia’s captain Jaron

Morgan scored 47 to give the team a decent start, but fell in the 20th over after being caught by Shaidi off his own bowling. Jake Doran and Damian Mortimer added 70 for the fourth wicket, but from 143 for 3 in the 37th over, the team were bowled out for 217 by the 48th. James Bazley blasted a 36-ball 54, but (Continued on page 25)

wishes to point out clearly that article 2.1.1 states It is each athlete’s personal duty to ensure that no prohibited substance enters his /her body. It is not necessary that intent, fault, negligence or knowing use on the athlete’s part be demonstrated in order to establish an antidoping violation under article 2.1. As an affiliate of the IPF and signatory to the WADA Code, the federation has accordingly 1. Imposed a corresponding suspension and period of ineligibility of the lifter to participate in any meet locally or internationally whether as a lifter or referee for a period of two years commencing from October 21st 2013 to October 22nd 2015. 2. Imposed a fine of 2,000 euros on behalf of the Governing body the IPF. Failure to repay the fine will see the lifter having his suspension prolonged until repayment has been effected. Additionally, the Disciplinary Panel has deliberated on charges made against the Owner/Trainer of Total Fitness Gym Mr. Egbert

Jackson for conduct unbecoming in the utterances of wild and unsubstantiated allegations in the media and Public with respect to the integrity of the IPF, WADA and the Federation. These allegations have been well documented publicly by the media. The Federation wishes to point out that Mr. Jackson, as a member of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation through his Club Total Fitness Gym Corriverton has committed a breach of the rules of the governing body the IPF under article 14.13 – “Bringing the sport into disrepute by means of his comments, Published articles, TV or radio broadcasts”. Mr. Jackson has been found guilty and his defence waived by virtue of recorded Public interviews/broadcasts that have been considered as damaging to the integrity of the IPF, WADA and the Federation. Accordingly the disciplinary Panel has 1. Imposed a suspension of 12 months for violation of Article 14.13 with reference to the IPF effective February 1st 2014. 2. Imposed a suspension of 12 months for violation of

Article 14.13 with reference to the WADA effective February 1st 2014. This suspension precludes Mr. Jackson and/or members of his gym from participating in any IPF/ GAPLF competitions locally or internationally whether as a lifter, referee or coach. The suspension is effective from February 1st 2014 and ends of February 2nd 2015. The Federation wishes to point out that Powerlifting has had over 8 of its lifters tested repeatedly over the years since 2008 at the world level and none has been found positive prior to this anti-doping violation. Lifters to represent the Country outstandingly at the World level include 1. Winston Frank Stoby – World Masters Champion 74kg class 2. John Arlington Edwards – World Masters Bronze Medalist 120kg class 3. Randolph Reginald Morgan – World Open Dead lift Gold Medalist 83kg class. It considers the matter now closed and hopes all wild speculations, unsavory name calling, and falsely created perceptions through the use of innuendo from a certain journalist amongst others is brought to an end.

GSCL Inc Republic Cup...

Wolf’s Warriors blow away Trophy Stall in Open final By Zaheer Mohamed Wolf’s Warriors held their nerves to beat Trophy Stall by eight runs to win the Open final of the inaugural Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) Republic Cup on Sunday night at the Everest Cricket Club. Wolf’s Warriors posted 154-7 off their allotted 20 overs after they were inserted by Trophy Stall in front of a fair size crowd. Trophy Stall threatened before they were bowled out 146 in 19.4 overs in reply. Wolf ’s Warriors found themselves in early trouble after they were reduced to 434 and then 68-5, but Safraz Karim and Vishnu Tannechandra stabilised their innings with level headed batting; and the pair added 48 for the sixth wicket before Tannechandra was dismissed for 21. Karim and Ameer Nizamuddeen then put together a further 37 runs for the seventh wicket to give their bowlers a defendable total. Karim was run out off

the last ball of the innings for 38, while Nizamuddeen was not out on 13. Martin Dutchin was the pick of the bowlers with 2-29. Trophy Stall, despite losing wickets at regular intervals, were always on par with the asking rate, but it was Wolf ’s Warriors from the West Coast of Demerara who prevailed in a contest that swung to and fro throughout. Safraz Karim top scored with 20, while Kumar Bissoondial supported with 14, Randy Katwaroo and S. Singh 11 each. Davanand Persaud grabbed 3-26, Nizamuddeen 3-29 and Dianand Singh 2-22. Karim was given the man of the match award. Amrit Rai of Wolf’s Warriors claimed one three piece living room suite for being the player of the series as well as the best batsman prize, while Richard Latiff collected the best bowler trophy. Wolf’s Warriors received a trophy and $600,000 and each player received a medal, while Trophy Stall took home $200,000 and a trophy. In the Masters category,

which was won by Regal; Rafiek Ali of Frontline took the best batsman award, while Mahendra Arjune of Regal grabbed the best bowler prize and Ramesh Narine of Floodlight received a three piece living room suite for the most valuable player. Trophy Stall Angels won the 10\10 female exhibition game which was played before the Open final. The competition was sponsored by Five Star Minerals and Reuben General Store of Bartica, Everest Cricket Club, Memorex Enterprise, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Trophy Stall and Romaine Car Wash, Demerara Cricket Club, GNIC, Star Party Rentals, Elegance Jewellery, Blue Spring Water, Full Works Auto, Buddy’s Auto Sale, Muneshwar General Store, A and N Electronics, Shivjattan Molding Establishment and A. Khan contracting services. The GSCL expressed gratitude to the president and executives of the Everest Cricket Club, NCN, the umpires and fans for their input.

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‘Got to go’ takes feature as Jumbo GSDF COACHING PROG. Jet stable dominates proceedings ENDS ON A HIGH NOTE Bacchus stables also outstanding

Mrs. Rose ‘Jumbo Jet’ Mohamed, Junior Mohamed, trainer Deonarine ‘Black Boy’ Ramroop and connections display the trophy after winning the D class race. ‘Got to Go’ of the Jumbo Jet Stable took the feature event to lead a string of dominant performances by horses of that entity when the Port Mourant Turf Club in collaboration with the Jumbo Jet Business Establishment and Racing Stables held a grand One day Horserace meet on Sunday at the Port Mourant Turf Club. ‘Got To Go’, ridden by Colin Ross and trained by top trainer Deonarine “Black Boy” Ramroop, was in top form as it came down the homestretch with blistering speed to take the feature D1 and lower event and the $1M top money from Run Nana Run and Red and Lovely with Milwaukee Blitz, running in its first race in Guyana, taking the fourth spot in the 1500M event compliments of the Jumbo Jet business enterprise. The animals were out fast and with 11 horses taking to the track there were some initial jostling as they headed into open country and the lead changed hands constantly as the riders pushed their charge forward for the early advantage. As the speed picked up and the animals hit the home stretch the race was still wide open. Some bad riding and some more jostling cost some of the animals considerable ground as Ross took full advantage on Got to Go to push it over the finish line. Unsettled of the up and coming Inshan Bacchus stable was a big winner as horses of that entity also had a good day on the track as it won the Three year old cofeature 1200M event. Ridden by Trinidadian Jockey Nicholas Patrick, the animal accelerated down the homestretch to beat Release

the Beast, Today is my Day and Time to dance in the 10 horse field. The win was worth $600,000 and trophy. The E1 and lower 1200M event saw Captain Crook of the Jumbo Jet stable, piloted by Patrick, being a straight winner from Damascus Dream, Fairy landing and the Message as it took the $500,000 and trophy available. It was a happy day for the Bacchus stable as they were back in winners’ row in the four year 1500M event for Guyana and West Indies bred horses. Ameera’s Joy, with Patrick in saddle, raced away from its opponents to take the $500,000 and trophy. Another Jet, It’s my Turn and Monsoon were the others that placed. The Jumbo Jet stable started things off nicely with Appealing Harvest and Ross taking the $400,000 and trophy in the G1 and lower 1200M event from Damascus Dream, Top of the Line and Rosetta. I want Revenge of the Jumbo Jet stable with Ajai in the saddles took advantage of its opponents to win the “I” and lower 1000 event and the $250,000 winning take from Mary Ann, Savion and Affinity. Piece of Cash of The Crawford/Persaud stable with Yap Drepaul on the mount took the lion’s share of the takings available as it romped ahead of Lady Secret, Famous Pride and Iron Man in winning the J and lower race and the $200,000 purse. The champion Jockey on show was Nicholas Patrick with Deonarine “Black Boy” Ramroop copping the champion trainer award and The Jumbo Jet entity the champion stable accolade. Over 90 horses were

entered for the day’s meet which had over $10M at stake. The day’s event was incident free and with a new GHRA body under Mr. Vic Oudit, must be commended for making a gallant effort to improve things. For most of the day the crowd was off the track and the police were commended for doing an excellent job. (Samuel Whyte)

The Guyana Sports and Development Foundation (GSDF) Coaching programme came to an end on Saturday last with more than thirty Coaches/Teachers being instructed on the basics of Soccer coaching. All Coaches/Teachers are attached to schools competing in the 2014, Scotia Bank/Pepsi Schools Tournament, which starts on March 15, 2014. Technical Director, Stanley Harmon, a New York based Soccer coach said he was satisfied that the overall objectives and achievements of the programme were accomplished. Harmon said even though he had some concerns about the Georgetown Group and their timings, the programme was an overall success. Harmon credited the New Amsterdam Group as being the most outstanding group when compared to Georgetown and Linden. This is the fourth year of the programme, but the second year that Linden and New Amsterdam are participating; however the New Amsterdam Group of coaches/teachers remained intact, while Linden and

Georgetown had some new faces. This however, will in no way impact the programme, since each school will be paired with a coach from the Guyana National Coaches Association. The partnership between the GSDF and the National Coaches Association will make up for any lack of knowledge for new or absent coaches/teachers. Harmon said, “The product that we are going to put out should be even across the board, because each school is going to have a coach from the national coaching staff working with them. We have also given them (Coaches/Teachers) sufficient documentation that they can review in case they miss certain or should they need to refresh themselves on certain aspects of what was taught. From that stand point it should be complete, but the help of the national coaches will be invaluable in terms of helping them to execute a lot of the concepts.” The Technical Director said, while many of the coaches were knowledgeable on the game, they lacked the knowledge to teach the game. According to him, it will take

some time for them (Coaches/ Teachers) to grasp all the concepts of the game, but in time and with more training supplemented with the documentation provided they are going to become better. On the expectations for this year’s tournament, Harmon said there is never enough time to be really ready for any competition, but said he expects marked improvements in the level of play and the standard of the competition. “We are striving every year to increase the competitiveness of the tournament, but there will be some learning curves, most schools will have new students which will see the competition off to a slow start, but as the tournament progresses this will change.” Meanwhile, a referee’s seminar will start today at the Carifesta Sports Complex from 9:00hrs. Similar sessions will be done in Berbice tomorrow at the Prison Officers Sports Complex and in Linden on Thursday at the Wismar Secondary School. Starting time is also 9:00hrs. All sessions will be facilitated by Roy McArthur and Lawrence Griffith, senior referee’s instructors.

Seventy students equipped with school bags from RHTY&SC cricket teams Seventy (70) less fortunate students attending schools in the Lower Corentyne and Central Corentyne areas on Friday last received school bags from the cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club under the ProEducation Campaign. The students were drawn from the Central Corentyne Secondary, J.C Chandisingh Secondary, Lower Corentyne Secondary, Port Mourant Secondary, Corentyne Comprehensive High and Winifred Gaskin Secondary Schools. The presentation was done during the finals of the club’s GBTI Inter Secondary Schools cricket tournaments for females and Under-15 students. The recipients were selected based on performance in school, personal discipline, attitude and involvement in sports. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster informed that the school bags, worth $100,000 were given with a view to encourage the students, who are mainly from single parent households, to

Twenty of the students pose with their bags after the presentation. stay in school and to obtain a rounded education. He cautioned the attentive students that education is the most important asset a person can attain and that it would open doors that would remain closed to an uneducated mind. He also urged them to get involved in a youth and sports club in their district and to develop a strong faith in the God they believe in. The club’s Office

Manager Moonish Singh, who is also the cricket Manager, disclosed that over the last ten years a total of 5500 students have received school bags under the entity’s Pro-Education Programme which is administered by the RHT Farfan and Mendes Under-15, RHT Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Female and the Gizmos and Gadgets Under 21 and First Division

teams. This year, the teams intend to assist close to 1000 students in Berbice with bags.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Beaton eager to become first Winners and E’bo player to play for Windies still champion!!! By Sean Devers in Trinidad In Association with Digicel, Carib Beer, Giftland Office Max, Payless Variety Store & Leisure Inn & Car Rentals Talented Guyana and West Indies ‘A’ team fast bowler Ronsford Rodwick Beaton was born on the volcanic Island of Montserrat to Kirk and Camille on July 17, 1992 but grew up from a toddler in Guyana’s largest but least populated County. Beaton hails from the Village of Reliance on the Essequibo Coast and is arguably the fastest bowler in the NAGICO Super50 tournament presently being played in Trinidad and Tobago. The 21-year-old Central Essequibo pacer should not be too far away from becoming the first Essequibo player to play for the West Indies. Although 79-year-old Ivor Mendonca, who played two Tests against India in 1962, was born in the Essequibo town of Bartica and 33-year-old Ramnaresh Sarwan, who has 15 centuries from 87 Tests, was born on the Essequibo Island of Wakenaam, they both played for GCC and represented Demerara at the Inter-County level. The uncapped Beaton was also among a list of 36 Caribbean cricketers for auction in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL). Beaton is pleased with his performances for Guyana Malta Supreme in this year’s Super50 tourney and admitted to being excited at being in the IPL auction. “I am excited about the ILP auction….. Even if I am not bought the fact that I am in the auction means that I am being recognized which could be good for my chances in making the West Indies,” Beaton said. The fast bowler was not surprised with his work in this tournament informing that his preparation was great, both physically and mentally. He has already played a lot in

Excited to be named in IPL auction

Roddy Eswick shows Ronsford Beaton the correct wrist position during a bowling practice. different conditions and has grown tremendously as a bowler. Colin Croft, the former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler, described Beaton as one of the most promising young pacers in the Region. Croft, who took 125 wickets from just 27 Tests between 1977 & 1982 feels that the only problem with Beaton, seems to be when he comes back for a second spell. ”He has good rhythm and bowls with genuine pace but only for short four or five over spells. When he came back for his second spell his pace dipped. But he is young and can only get better and I would not be surprised if he gets a West Indies call-up very soon,” Croft, one of only three Guyanese with over 100 Test wickets, declared. “Definitely, I wanted to perform to the best of my ability and come out with a good economy rate; I might not be the strongest person in the world but I feel I am in good shape with my fitness so I was really looking forward to doing well for my country. Trying to make the West Indies is also a big motivation for me here,” Beaton explained. Last year when Beaton toured with the West Indies ‘A’ team to India, Indian Test

Hutson returns to the... From page 33 replaced, stated that he was very happy to be back at the helm, noting that the clubs have shown that they are quite confident with him charting the way forward for the sport on the East Coast. While acknowledging that there’s lots of work to be done, Hutson noted that he has a solid group of adminis-

trators around him and together they will strive to satisfy the needs of the players. First Vice President is Sherry Abrams, Second Vice President Raul Jerrick, Secretary Gavin Huntley, Treasurer Randolph Adonis, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Delon Adams and Organising Secretary Joseph ‘Bill’ Wilson.

player Yuvraj Singh described him as a young Curtley Ambrose, the outstanding former West Indies fast bowler who captured 405 Test scalps from 98 matches. Having shown great aggression and hostility during his career so far, many feel he has the potential to wear the prestigious maroon colours. His First-Class debut was against the England Lions in 2011 and he has 25 wickets from 14 matches. Croft feels if the former Abram’s Zuil Secondary School student continues to improve he should soon make his International debut since many are impressed with his pace. After completing High school he attended the Guyana School of Agriculture and Beaton, an Essequibo sprint champion, who was invited to the national athletics trials, said that he is now eagerly looking forward to being picked for the West Indies. “I am bowling fast and with control and certainly looking forward for a West Indies pick this year, but I know I have to take wickets on a consistent basis and impress the selectors,” said Beaton, who should inspire other youths from the Cinderella County to take the game seriously. The entire Regional Super50 was televised by ESPN and Beaton recognized his chance to impress. He was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament just up to the semi-final against Barbados after making his Regional 50over debut against Jamaica last year at Providence and took 16 scalps from nine 50 overs games. “This is a good opportunity to showcase my talent in this (Regional Super50) tournament here in Trinidad,” revealed

Beaton, who missed the inaugural Caribbean Premier League T20 last year due to injury. Former Essequibo Inter-County cricketer Raul Khan describes the shortlisting of Beaton for the IPL 2014, as a historic moment for Essequibo’s cricket, adding that Essequibo will go down in the history books, if Beaton lands an IPL contract. “Essequibo is on the cusp of history as Beaton has been deservedly identified for the IPL 2014 auction owing to consistently stellar performances. Khan said Beaton was not just pitch-forked into the national team but worked indefatigably with unwavering commitment, adding that Beaton’s effort has now started to pay dividends. “Even if he lands a lucrative IPL contract and I do not foresee any deterrent as the scouts and his performances can validate, he is still uncapped and a leap away from the donning West Indies colours at the highest level and he should be guided by that as his bench mark,” the former inter-county player remarked. Beaton’s sister, Abigail Loncke, said her brother was always into sports without forsaking his academics and his rise to prominence should be a motivation for all young cricketers from Essequibo that in life hard work is most times followed by success. He played at the regional Under-15 level in 2008 and was one of three players from Essequibo in the 2009 Guyana U-19 team. Beaton made his senior four-day Inter-County debut in the 2009 as a school boy and later that year, despite an ankle injury, bowled with genuine pace in the U-19 Three-Day Inter-County competition. Beaton represented the West Indies Under-19 team in one Test and two ODIs against Australia in Dubai in April 2011 and against the USA in Florida in July. On his return from the USA he was named captain of the Guyana Under-19 team for the 2011 regional series in Guyana, joining Sydney Matthews, who led the side in 1971, as the only fast bowlers to Captain Guyana at youth level. In 2011 Beaton represented the West Indies U-19 team in a Quadrangular Series in India and again played for the Regional side the next year in the U-19 World Cup in Australia. Ronsford Beaton is certainly one to watch as he climbs the ladder in his career.

Local boxers cart off honours as 4-nation, goodwill boxing tournament concludes Thomas and London show off their accolades after a tough tournament

By Michael Benjamin Local amateur boxers turned in special performances to outmuscle and outbox their Caribbean counterparts and at the end of three nights of fistic fury, regained the coveted tab of King of the Caribbean when the curtains came down on the Guyana Boxing Association/Guyana Olympics Association 4nation, goodwill boxing tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Homestretch Avenue, Sunday evening last. Local middleweight champion, Dennis Thomas, earned a close split decision verdict over Jamaican Michael Gardner and carted off the spoils in that division. The lanky boxer, who had earlier earned a similar decision over St Lucian, Arthur Langelier, was subsequently awarded the prestigious best boxer award. Local female light/ heavyweight boxer, Theresa London, emulated Thomas’ feat and was awarded the best female boxer prize after a spirited display where she prevailed over Chimere Taylor of Trinidad and Tobago. Bert Braithwaite had easily defeated Jean Paul Cooper (T&T) on the opening night but had to pull out all the stops to earn a close verdict over St Lucian Lyndin Marcelin to cart off the honours in the 64kgs category, while Eon Bancroft won the 69kgs title after defeating Jamaican, Kestna Davis; he had also defeated

St Lucian, Ron Bastien on the first night of competition. Thomas used his jabs to good effect in the first round with Gardner slipping in a few good punches even as he attempted to avoid Thomas’ occasional onslaught. The Guyanese picked up the pace in the second stanza with sharp combinations to his opponent’s body and head and then slammed in few uppercuts for good measure. It was after one such attack that the referee warned him for hitting below the belt. While Gardner lacked Thomas’ class he certainly matched his determination. Despite the ferocity of his opponent’s attacks, Gardner stood his ground and even managed to get in a few blows of his own. In the end, Thomas’ superior ring craft and skills influenced the judges’ decision in his favour. Braithwaite is more experienced than Marcelin but where he lacked in that department the St Lucian compensated with raw courage. Early in the first round, Braithwaite attempted to bully his man but the St Lucian would have none of it and matched his opponent’s aggression with several stiff offerings. The first round was indeed competitive and set the stage for the second which saw the Guyanese resorting to his experience to ease ahead. Braithwaite was made to work for every point accrued as Marcelin rushed him on several occasions and distorted his rhythmic flow. In the end Thomas had to call on his experience to capture (Continued on page 25)

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 33

8th George Cumberbatch Memorial Cycle Meet

Hutson returns Greaves reigns supreme in to the helm of East main race for 2nd year running Coast football Leading Roraima Bikers Club (RBC) cyclist Alonzo Greaves copped back to back titles when he successfully defended the main race trophy at the 8th George Cumberbatch Memorial Cycle Meet, which was held at the Seawall Bandstand on Sunday last. The event attracted sponsorship again from Mr. George Humphrey of Humphrey’s Bakery & Farm Products of Kettley Street Charlestown and Mr. Clifford ‘Toto’ Johnson, who is based in the United Kingdom. Facing a star studded line-up in the day’s final race, a 30 lap contest, Greaves, who has been somewhat invisible since the start of the new season, was in no mood to play second fiddle any longer. He crossed the finish line ahead of Geron Williams, Orville Hinds, Raynauth Jeffrey, Raul Leal and Paul De Nobrega in that order.

Alonzo Greaves

Race Juvenile/Junior/Category 4 Categories 1 – 3 Veterans Under-50 Veterans Over-50 Win and Out (Open) Mountain Bikes (Open) BMX (Open) BMX (9-12 years) Feature event (open)

Laps 5 5 5 5 8 3 30

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resident of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) and a former President of the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA), Aubrey Hutson, was on Sunday last returned to the helm of East Coast football when that entity held its Annual General Meeting at the Dorcas Center, Plaisance. Hutson, who served as President up to 2012 when he was (Continued on page 29)

George Humphrey Jeffrey took four (4) of the 10 sprint prizes on offer with two (2) each to Greaves and Hinds. Williams and Shaquelle Agard won one each. Cash prizes were presented to the top six in the feature race, while the first to third in the other races were also rewarded with cash. Following are the full results:

Placing Delroy Hinds, Raul Leal, Mark Harris Geron Williams, Marlon Williams, Paul DeNobrega Junior Niles, Talim Shaw, Ian Jackson Linden Blackman, Kenneth Meije, Virgil Jones Geron Williams, Orville Hinds, Marlon Williams Ozia Maculay, Richard Charles, Clyde Jacobs Amma Gomes, Rawle Small, Clyde Jacobs Sherwin Sampson, Tarus Ghabarran Alanzo Greaves, Geron Williams, Orville Hinds, Raynauth Jeffrey, Raul Leal, Paul De Nobrega

Prof. Clem Seecharan to lecture tonight at Everest Cricket Club’s 100th anniversary celebration

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he Everest Cricket Club launched its 100th year anniversary celebration on the Saturday February 1 with a simple ceremony opened by the President Mr. Rajesh Singh where he gave a brief history of the club from 1914 to present. As part of the celebrations, well renowned Caribbean History Prof. Clem Seecharan will deliver a lecture on the History of the Everest Cricket Club – 100 years tonight at the Club house starting at 19:00hrs. All are invited to this historic milestone achievement. The club will be producing a magazine that will capture the history from 1914 to 2014, these will include past Presidents, pictures, famous cricket matches, interviews and lots more. This magazine will be distributed for free and is being produced by Mr. Vickram Singh of Classimag. Any businesses or corporate entities willing to advertise in the magazine can do by contacting the club as soon as possible. The release date will be on February 28.

Mangal wins Memorial Golf Tournament

Winners of the Memorial Golf Tournament along with Doreen DeCaires and Christine Sukram, the daughter of one of the honorees, Basil Sukhram take time out for a photo. Mike Mangal streaked away from the field to win the David DeCaires and Basil Sukhram Memorial Golf Tournament on Saturday. Mangal scored an impressive 37 points according to

the Stableford format which awards points for each hole depending on how well they are played. Second place went to Avinash Persaud with 34 points and third place to Pur Persaud with 32.

Persaud is a newcomer to the game but very dedicated and clearly a player to watch out for this year. L. Ramsundar took fourth spot and nearest to the pin was Esau Shamshudin (who three putted

from eight feet). In remarks at the presentation, widow of Mr DeCaires, Doreen, remembered him as a keen if somewhat erratic golfer, and she urged the club to continue promoting golf in

Guyana. This week’s tournament is sponsored by Stag Beer and in order to leave room for post-round activities the sponsor has asked that the tee time be moved up to 11:00am.

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Kaieteur News

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Morgan was belatedly informed of selection - Coach calls replacement “shameful” By Edison Jefford Leslie Black, Coach of distance-runner, Alika Morgan, informed Kaieteur Sport yesterday that the athlete was belatedly informed of her selection to compete at the South American Games in Chile early next month while calling her replacement “shameful”. Black said that despite the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) sending the list for nominations almost three months ago, and the other athletes being duly informed since last year, Morgan was only made aware that she will be going to Chile two weeks ago. The Coach sought to clear the air on the matter that has also prompted the GOA to warn AAG of the consequences of the mishap. Morgan was forced to withdraw from the team because she was inadequately prepared for grass competition, Black indicated. “The head of the association

(AAG) should not feel like the association is his own; the rest of the committee should know of things like selection,” Black said, adding that it was only on February 8 at a Council meeting that he was informed of the selection. When pressed, he stated that the AAG President, Aubrey Hutson, told him that it was an “on-the-spot decision” that the association had to make because the GOA was “on their back for athletes for the Games, so he gave them (GOA) a priority list.” “I was not there when the shortlist was done as a committee member, neither was I told that they have shortlisted Alika,” Black said, adding that his athletes do not go overseas on trips, but rather to compete and hopefully return creditable performances. “When I asked around, all the other athletes were informed since last year that they were listed to compete at the South American Games, but Alika was not informed,” he continued, adding

Aubrey Hutson

Alika Morgan

Leslie Black

that it was necessary for him to clarify the matter because it could be interpreted as Morgan pulling out of a meet after being informed months ago. He said that was not the case. The GOA, at the AAG Awards Ceremony Saturday night, chided the association for the ticketing and other confusion such withdrawals could create. The association replaced Morgan with Alisha Fortune, who is in the twilight of

her career and has been out of competition. Black informed that Fortune was never the choice of the AAG Council. He said that they decided that any replacement for Morgan would have been field events queen, Natasha Alder, but he saw a public announcement that says Fortune is going instead. “We never picked Fortune. We said Alder would replace Morgan, now we are seeing Fortune; it is

shameful,” Black said, adding that the Council had also named Leslain Baird ahead of Wayne Harlequin, but when the team was published they saw Harlequin. “I’m telling you this because I don’t want the AAG to continue blaming GOA and Morgan,” he said, adding “Hutson must admit his mistakes and stop casting blame”. Black said that Hutson is aware of exactly what transpired with the whole selection issue.

Ferguson cruises to 100m victory over Bollers

Guyana’s ex-test players making waves in T&T cricket By Sean Devers

Mahendra Nagamootoo

Rayan Ramdass

Ry a n R a m d a s s a n d Mahendra Nagamootoo are the only two Guyanese cricketers plying their trade in Trinidad’s premier League competition with West Indies Test experience and the pair has been making waves in the Twin Island Republic with outstanding performances in the 2014 competition. The 30-year-old Ramdass played his only Test against host Sri Lanka in 2005 and is among those shortlisted for the Guyana squad preparing for this year’s Regional four-day tournament which commences on February 28 with Guyana facing five times defending champions Jamaica in Kingston. The solid right-handed opener last week spearheaded his club Clarke Road to a seven wicket win over Comets with a commanding unbeaten 119 in the TTCB 50-over (Continued on page 29)

Team Quick’s, Rawle Ferguson (left) cruises to a comfortable victory over Team Lightning’s, Kerwin Bollers, in the much hyped Entertainers’ 100m showpiece race at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.

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ith a hyped techno audio introduction that reverberated through the boom-boxes of Fusion, the Chief Executive Officer of Hits and Jams, Rawle Ferguson, rolled back many years when he was a schools’ athletic champion with a 100m victory last Sunday. Ferguson, ‘repping’ Team Quick, concluded weeks of hype and cross-talk in a grudge race against,

Kerwin Bollers, who represented Team Lightning with a comfortable win at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary before hundreds of curious onlookers and patrons. The Hits and Jams Day of Sports was a precursor to Hits and Jams Sports, which is expected to be launched later this year. The organisers brought together the Entertainers, Promoters and the media, among other groups, for novelty races,

football and cricket matches. In the anticipated race of the day, Bollers bolted out the blocks for a quick start before Ferguson caught him at around 60m before pulling away to win easily. The massive crowd celebrated with lots of fanfare as cameras flashed from all angles. It was as if a world record was broken with the type of celebration that ensued after the win. The idea was to test the ground for the type of

publicity and entertainment in local sport that will help catapult it to greater spectator support. At the official launch of the event, Hits and Jams had said that they will be partnering with some serious sport events this year. In other news, Guyana Times/TVG/RGI’s Treiston Joseph won the media race comfortably at the inaugural Hits and Jams Day of Sports. (Edison Jefford)

Tuesday February 18, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 35

Confidence shown in Green for Milo/Petra Organisation Schools Football Competition... trounce St. Winefride another term as GAPF President -QC wins for St. George’s, North Ruimveldt and Lodge

GAPF President Peter Green (seated 2nd right) flanked by Secretary Gordon Spencer (seated right), John Edwards (2nd left) and Deonarine Dutt. Standing from right are Winston Stoby, Paul Adams, Wendell Mc Pherson and Erwyn Smith.

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he powerlifting fraternity has r e p o s e d confidence in the stewardship of Peter Green and has elected him to serve as President for another term when the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) held their Annual General Meeting last Sunday at the Tropical View Hotel, Campbellville Avenue, Georgetown. ‘Big’ John Edwards was

elected to serve as Vice President with Gordon Spencer taking over the reigns as General Secretary. In charge of finances is Deonarine Dutt as Treasurer, Paul Adams will serve as PRO/Organizing Secretary while the Committee Members are Erwyn Smith, Wendell Mc Pherson and Winston ‘Little Master’ Stoby. President Green thanked the members for having him

back at the helm to continue the progress of the sport. The members were informed that the association has received three professional weights sets compliments of the Ministry of Sport valued Six Million Guyana dollars. The GAPF has indicated an interest in bidding for the Caribbean, Pan American and South American Championships in an effort to boost sports tourism according to the association.

FRANCOIS RETURNED AS EBFA PRESIDENT

Action in this year’s Milo Schools Football Competition at the Ministry of Education ground.

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ueen’s College Head Coach Johnny ‘Overseas’ Barnwell was beaming with delight as he watched his team inflict a crushing 7-2 win over St. Winefride as play in this year’s Milo/Petra Organisation Schools Football Competition continued on Sunday at the Ministry of Education ground, CarifestaAvenue. Aftab Crandon lashed in a hat-trick in the 37th, 46th and 57th minutes of play, while Stephen King in the 2nd and 40th and Ashmar Angel brace in the 17th and 26th completed their tally. On the scoresheet for St. Winefride were Steffon Reynolds in the 28th and Andrew Holder 44th. In another lop-sided contest, North Ruimveldt exhibited no mercy in their clash against North Georgetown after hammering them 7-0 thanks to a double each from Jeremy Garrett, who fired home in the 20th and 47th minutes respectively, while Jamal Europe complemented his effort with two goals in the 43rd and 55th minutes of play.

Matthew Harrison and Carl Griffith netted in the 24th and 60th minutes respectively. Defending champions St. George’s made a business-like start to their defence with a comfortable 2-0 triumph over New Campbellville. Adolph George opened the scoring after just five minutes of play and this advantage lasted until the half, before Neil Cameron made it 2-0 in the 65th minute and this scoreline remained until the final whistle sounded. In the opening game of the day, Lodge Secondary gained a walkover from Central High that failed to show up. The competition continues next Saturday with four more matches at the same venue. IN THE FIXTURES: 11:00 hrs David Rose versus Kingston High 12:30 hrs Carmel Secondary vs. Richard Ishmael 14:00 hrs Chase Academy vs. Tutorial High School 15:30 hrs Christ Church Secondary vs. South Ruimveldt Secondary.

GABF ‘wild card’ battle for slot in national club c/ship continues in Linden tonight Georgetown Panthers face Flames, Pistons take on Falcons The new EBFA Executive, President Wayne Francois (seated centre) is flanked by Secretary Franklin Wilson (appointed) and Vice President Clive Matthews (left). Standing from right are PRO Kevin Anthony, Assistant Secretary Treasurer Noel Harry and Organising Secretary Toralv Munro.

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ayne Francois was returned to the presidency of the East Bank Football association when that entity held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday last at the Grove Community Centre. Also being returned were Vice President Clive Matthews and Assistant Secretary Treasurer, Noel Harry. Former GFF Treasurer Dwayne Lovell took over the reign as Treasurer, while the other new faces on the executive are Organising Secretary Toralv Munro and Public Relations Officer, Kevin Anthony.

The Audited Financial Statement for 2011 and 2012 were presented and adopted by the members whilst the statement for 2013 would be presented at a special meeting, shortly. President Francois thanked the members for reposing confidence in him for another term promising that he would do his best for the continued development of the game in the EBFA for the 2014 – 2016 term of office. Clubs represented at the AGM were Grove Hi Tech, Soesdyke Falcons, Mocha Champs, Kuru Kururu Warriors, Diamond United FC, Herstelling FC and Agricola Red Triangle.

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s the Guyana A m a t e u r Basketball Federation ((GABF) continues its ‘Road to Mecca’ preparations with the aim of sending the best possible team to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Basketball Championships later this year in the British Virgin Islands, the battle for the remaining slot available in the National Club Championship will see two ‘wild card’ matches played tonight in Linden at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court. L i n d e n ’s B l o c k 2 2 Flames, who missed out of

the top five ranking, will seek to secure the only available place when they face Panthers of Georgetown in the first game at 7:00pm, while the other Linden sides who did not make the top cut among the Mining Town clubs, will see Wismar Pistons take on newcomers Bankers Trust Falcons in the second game at 9:00pm. This evening’s matches are set to continue the fight among eight clubs not named among the top five rated sides in the Linden, Georgetown and Berbice Amateur Basketball Associations, seeking to outplay each other in what is

a knock out eliminator competition. Already making it through to the next round are Plaisance and the two winners tonight will advance also into what will be the semifinals of this ‘wild card’ knock out series. This eliminator competition must culminate in time for the National Club Basketball Championship which will officially bounce off on Saturday March 1, involving the top sixteen clubs from around the country. I n i t i a l l y, a l l t h r e e associations were allowed to enter their top five ranked clubs for this championship.

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‘GOT TO GO’ takes feature as Jumbo Jet stable dominates proceedings Bacchus stables also outstanding

Ameera’s Joy of the Bacchus stable with Nicholas Patrick on the rails, winning a close race in the 3 year old event.

WOLF’S WARRIORS BLOW AWAY TROPHY STALL IN OPEN FINAL GSCL Inc Republic Cup

Members of the winning Wolf’s Warriors team exhibit their prizes.

WINNERS AND STILL CHAMPION!!! Local boxers cart off honours as 4-nation, goodwill boxing tournament concludes

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