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

ABANDONING morality for Mash This is carnival season, even if carnival is the street fete and parade by which Trinidad’s celebration is named. There is the Brazil carnival which attracts thousands from all over the world. Someone once said that it is the most colourful spectacle in the world. Then there are similar events in Haiti, St Kitts, New Orleans in the United States, Trinidad of course, and Guyana. These festivities see people donning costumes and parading through the streets. It goes without saying that alcohol helps to fuel the spirit on the streets so there is often liberation of minds and spirit that causes people to do more than they normally would. In Guyana, Trinidad, and Brazil, the main feature is the women who don skimpy garments and lead the gyrations that one visitor once described as the closest thing to sex with clothes on. Thousands, if not millions would leave their homes to be a part of the spectacle which in Brazil and Trinidad is extended over two days. In Trinidad, a study showed that many of the births could be traced to the carnival season. This would suggest that more than minds and spirits are liberated. We have not seen a study on births in Brazil but certainly investigation would reveal more than a casual link. These street parades are once a year spectacles; people save up money, energy and spirit for this grand occasion which signals so many things. In Brazil and Trinidad, the carnival is the precursor to the Lenten season when people of Christian faith abstain from those things that they like the most. It is their way of making sacrifices and people have often wondered why, if these people could go without whatever they chose to sacrifice, should they return to those very things. People have given up cigarettes and alcohol. The more dedicated have even abstained from sex for the duration of the Lenten season. It is this drive for abstinence that allows or perhaps motivates people to do all that they could before Ash Wednesday. These carnivals date back to more than a century. One must admit that the costumes and what happens in the parade have changed as societal norms appeared to be modified more in favour of individual preference. This has seen criticisms from the more morally severe in the societies. Because of the size of the city and the allembracing nature of the carnival parade, there is not much by way of criticism from the wider society. It is the same in Trinidad where people are more likely to decry the participants of national leaders in the street jam. In Guyana, however, where the street festival is relatively new and where many people still hold on to societal norms, one hears of the vulgarity in the parade. In fact, scarcely a year goes by without there being some caustic comment, many stopping short of calling for a ban on the Mashramani parade. As is the case in every carnival all over the world, the parade is about costume and gyrations and lusty performances designed to entertain the spectators. More recently, there have been religious groups participating in the street parades and the organisers have done well to insulate these groups from the more bawdy aspects of the parade. The religious groups would lead the parade to the sound of music and they do dance, minus the gyrations that have come to characterize the carnivals. There are also the Chinese who are culturally different. For one, the rhythms that infuse this corner of the world are foreign to the Chinese ear. The rhythm is also different so the Chinese bring a new flair to the proceedings with their dragons and their flame dance. But it is the rest of the parade that causes criticisms. There are people who contend that the lascivious movements do nothing but corrupt the minds of children and entice the sick minds in the crowd. However, the parades will be what they are because any move to restrict the dancers would spell doom for any carnival event.

Saturday February 21, 2015

Letters... Where your views make the news

The youths are frustrated and will not vote for the PPP DEAR EDITOR, The continuing collapse of the economy, health care, education and the social systems in Guyana that has evolved from the failures of the incompetent PPP regime has affected the vast majority of Guyanese, especially the youths. In fact, in this election year, all Guyanese have to be greatly concerned that after 22 years of PPP rule, including 15 years of the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime, the country’s political and economic system is still not working as it should in the interest and to the satisfaction of the majority of the population, including some of their own supporters. But more importantly, no one should take the PPP regime seriously in this election year because during the past five months, the price of oil has reduced from US$109 per barrel to US$50 per barrel but the president has offered to reduce electrical rates by a meagre 10 percent. Why not 25 percent? He should be ashamed of himself for taking advantage on the poor. Things are so bad under the PPP government that more than half of the nation’s youth population between the ages of 16 and 30 and spanning all social classes and ethnicity are making plans to migrate to another

country on account of their perception that better opportunities for social and upward mobility reside outside of Guyana-the same Guyana, mind you, that the president has said that its GDP has increased by 25 percent during the past three years. If this is true, then why he has not increased the salaries of public/civil servants by 15 percent and old age pensions from $13,000 to $20,000 and lowered VAT by two percent to ease the burden on the poor. In fact, why does he continue to pay rock-bottom wages to the workers and punish the people of Berbice with such high tolls on the Bridge? So deep-rooted and befuddling is the crisis of the youths’ non-allegiance to Guyana that it has spurred great concern by some to posit the view that Guyanese should seek their fortunes elsewhere and be willing to repatriate remittances to help their relatives and build the country, even though the PPP regime claims that the country is rapidly developing in all sectors. If there is not a change in government on May 11, and things remain as they have been in the past 22 years of PPP rule, then the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, among others, will continue

to claim the loyalties of the youths who will educate themselves at home before leaving for greener pastures in those countries. The first step in averting the deepening of this crisis in this election year is for the people to come to terms with the reality that after 22 years in office, the PPP has not done anything to develop the country, improve the lives of the poor and reduce corruption and crime. It is clear for all to see that the old-time 1960 economic policies are not working, therefore new ways must be found urgently to

keep the youths in the country, especially the technology-savvy young generation. S o l e t ’s n o t f o o l ourselves. In circumstances like these no amount of exhortation about patriotism for the land of their birth will be heeded. The youths are frustrated and will continue to distrust the PPP cabal who had promised them the moon and the stars in the last election. They no longer have trust and confidence in a regime that has subverted Parliament, violated the (Continued on page 23)

Democracy has new meaning in Mabaruma DEAR EDITOR, My attention was drawn to a post on Facebook by a PPP supporter from the Mabaruma area who is expressing his thanks for the party that brought democracy to our dear land. The individual even invited those who have negative comments to first bring their Certificates of Perfection. Quite a solid invitation from someone who may not be in a position to throw in any certificates of his own – since we all know that this official holds a senior position in the Administration and spends our tax dollars on his

whims and fancies. He is so above board that he is not called to account for the funds he utilizes. One instance (among others) to note - the Schools’ National Athletics Championships were aborted last year due to inclement weather, yet no monies have been refunded to the Regional system. If this is what the supporter is thankful for, then he needs to rephrase his comment. If the democracy he boasts of includes being free from sanction for misdeeds, then Oxford is totally wrong in its definition. Mabaruma resident

Saturday February 21, 2015

Kaieteur News

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

Over the years, I’ve tried to right a wrong and to recognize and support the PPP/C for good governance DEAR EDITOR, I have no clue of the identity of Punti Peraud, the author of a letter “Harry Gill now speaks from the other side of his mouth” (Kaieteur News, February 20). I also have no clue of the gender of this person or whether anyone bearing the name “Punti Peraud” really exists. But this letter caused me to take a break from my busy schedule to respond appropriately. I hope it is given the same prominence in the Kaieteur News as the one used to attack my character. Editor, it is no secret that I had once foolishly and unjustifiably attacked the Jagdeo Administration while living in New York, believing then that I was an authority on the domestic policies of Guyana simply by reading the Kaieteur News online and listening to Mark Benschop “Hate” Radio on the internet. I was wrong then, and I personally and publicly apologized to former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, for my indiscretions. Over the years since, I’ve tried to right a wrong and to recognize and support the PPP/C for good governance; for rescuing Guyana from economic disaster caused by the policies of the then Minister of Finance in the PNC Government, Carl Greenidge; and for improving the quality of life of every Guyanese, including those living in opposition strongholds like Linden and Buxton. It is obvious that the letter writer “Punti Persad” is as brainwashed and misguided as my brother whom I love, but no longer have a relationship with after issuing threats to my personal safety on behalf of the PNC party he foolishly continues to serve. In an effort to silence me, I was told that a senior PNC functionary was really upset by my letters attacking t h e mismanagement of Guyana’s resources under past PNC Administrations that led to the nation’s bankruptcy, and was told “Harry, they’re some people in the PNC who could hurt you really bad...I cannot protect you if you don’t stop writing letters

criticizing the PNC.” This is the same brother who called me in Bartica during the 2013 Regatta to say that he has no respect for David Granger because Granger failed to thank him and others in Region 3 who worked tirelessly for the APNU campaign during the 2011 general election. He wanted me to relay this message to Granger as he knew Granger and I were both staying at the same hotel in Bartica. Surprisingly, David Granger did not know who my brother was, a man who served the PNC with loyalty and passion since the days of Burnham. But I merely mentioned my brother in this letter to illustrate that nothing this PPP/C government does would ever change the hearts and minds of those who blindly disregard all the positive changes taking place here that have made life much easier for them and their families under the same government they so despise. Anyone who knows my brother will agree that he has achieved more wealth conducting honest business under this PPP/C government than he ever did taking tremendous risks under the PNC, but for him to admit that, would be seen as blasphemous given his loyalty to the PNC-APNU. The writer “Punti Peraud” asked that I itemize “the new projects which have come on stream” to justify development in Guyana. This person must be either blind or lives on the summit of Mount Roraima, far away from civilization. For everywhere one goes in every Region of this country, there are real signs

of ongoing development and economic prosperity. New businesses and beautiful homes can be seen everywhere. More Guyanese own their own homes and house-lots; and more families now own a car, a necessity that was only a dream 20 years ago. And while the opposition will argue that these are privately owned, the PPP/C government has made it possible through good governance and a growing, stable economy, to allow commercial banks to give mortgages to new and existing homeowners and loans to buy vehicles. If the economy of Guyana was bad or unstable like it was in the days of the PNC, banks would not have money to lend, and Courts would not risk giving credit to anyone to purchase furniture or appliances as they willingly do now. New projects are so commonplace that most Guyanese now take them for granted: New schools; new roads and bridges; new hospitals and health centres with new ambulances and modern medical equipment; a new Police Training Centre; new police vehicles and technology to fight crime; a new forensic lab; a brand new Marriott Hotel soon to be opened; incentives given to the Private Sector for job creation; and new sports facilities, just to name a few. And despite efforts by the Joint Opposition to derail progress under the PPP/C government, Guyana will soon have a Specialty Hospital; a new international airport; another bridge over the Demerara River, and the Amaila Falls Hydropower Plant...all because we now

have a caring, responsible government that is committed to improving the lives of every Guyanese. A student of economics, Davendra Kissoon, wrote the following in a recent letter: “Under the PPP, Guyana has seen tremendous growth in standard of living, land, life expectancy and economic stability. During the PPP/C reign, we have seen a dramatic increase in the per capita Gross Domestic Product Purchasing Power Parity (GDP (PPP)). In the year 1992, the per capita GDP (PPP) was US$509.37 and was ranked 133 globally. By the year 2013, the CIA estimated Guyana’s per capita GDP (under the PPP) at US$8500 and was ranked 104. This represents a growth of $308 per year growth in per capita GDP or a 17 times growth. There has also been an increase in overall standard of living as shown by the Human Development Index. In the year 1990, the Human Development Index of Guyana was 0.509, by the 2013 it has increased to 0.638. Guyana has moved 0.129 points up the index. This shows an overall increase in the living standards of the country. Over the last 23 years, Guyanese have seen

increases in life expectancy. In the year 1992, the average life expectancy was 62 years, by the year 2012, the life expectancy had risen to 66 years. This represents an increase in life expectancy by 4 years. This is due to tremendous improvements in the diagnostic capabilities and overall improvement in the health sector. Under the PPP, the inflation rate has been stabilised. The total inflation of the Guyana dollar in relation to the US$ from the era before the PPP was a massive 3150% while in the era of the PPP was 66%. This represents a massive reduction in inflation or an average inflation of 2.9% in comparison to the US$. Another triumph of the PPP was the overall reduction of debts and the reduction of the debt to GDP ratio. In the year 1992, the

Debt to GDP ratio amounted to a massive 602%, in comparison, Guyana’s present public debt only amounts to 60%. This is a massive reduction and a very important one. Guyana now boasts the fastest growing economy in the Caribbean, better access to healthcare, better accessibility, better schools, press freedom and democratic elections. According to the GRA, there are approximately 36 new car owners per day and 8 persons who will own a home for the first time each day. Guyana has also experienced 8 successive years of economic growth. The points presented are only a small part of the many improvements we have seen under the PPP. A lot of these improvements are now things we take for granted.” I rest my case. Harry Gill

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Kaieteur News

Saturday February 21, 2015

Guyana is dying under the PPP Recently, several critics have been questioning the relevance and necessity of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) entering into a pre-election coalition at this time. However, APNU’s Shadow Minister of Local Government, Ronald Bulkan, sought to confront such sentiments yesterday as he categorically stated, that Guyana is dying under the administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C). For this reason and more, he emphasized that the coalition is crucial to ensuring that a new era of accountability, national unity and good governance are restored. Bulkan was at the time speaking at the first press conference held by the APNU-AFC coalition since their official announcement of their relationship on Valentine’s Day. Representing APNU at the Hadfield Street office of the Leader of the Opposition, was its General Secretary Joseph Harmon and Ronald Bulkan. They were joined by AFC representatives including General Secretary David Patterson and cofounding member of the party, Raphael Trotman. The APNU Local Government Shadow Minister said that Guyana is in a situation that calls for such an alliance and that the overwhelming response received from the citizenry can attest to that. He told media operatives that while he holds the view that Guyana is dying under the leadership of the current administration, his point can be substantiated by the irrefutable fact of the dwindling population since the PPP/C took office. Bulkan reminded that,

- APNU/AFC

APNU’s General Secretary, Joseph Harmon, House Speaker, Raphael Trotman, APNU’s Shadow Minster of Local Government, Ronald Bulkan and AFC’s General Secretary, David Patterson. based on his research, statistics would show that in the 1990s the population was placed at 764,000 persons and in 2012 the census placed the nation at just under 748, 000. “So we have been depopulating and I think it is fairly well established that any organization or entity that is not growing is dying, hence, I hold the view that Guyana is dying. In my opinion, the main reason for the mass exodus and the fleeing of our people in droves – the talented and the educated – is the fact that we don’t have social cohesion and it is due to the failure of governance in the 49 years since we have been an independent nation. “We have not created the conditions to keep up our best human talent in Guyana. The last 49 years I refer to has been largely ‘exclusionary politics’, ‘one party rule’ and ‘winnertakes-all’. APNU and AFC now together, have firmly established that they reject that approach to governance and that what is required is a new dispensation,” the APNU Parliamentarian said. Harmon said that the APNU-AFC pro-democracy

alliance has presented a tenpoint programme for democracy, development and national unity. He said that this follows their decision to contest the forthcoming General and Regional Elections as a coalition. The Shadow Minister of Public Works and Telecommunications, also stated that the decision was embodied in the “Cummingsburg Accord” signed by the APNU Leader, David Granger and AFC leader, Khemraj Ramjattan on Valentine’s Day. Of significance, he said, is the fact that the APNU and AFC pledge to lead Guyana forward into a new era of accountability, human safety, financial probity, governmental transparency, parliamentary democracy and national unity among other things. The coalition partners, he said, have promised that, with the formation of a government of national unity, they would implement a programme of governance. The main elements will include constitutional reform which will be an introduction of meaningful reform

programmes geared towards improving governance and fair representation. The programme will also include economic development strategies which will see the creation of a long-term economic development programme,

based on consultation and consensus and aimed at realizing the vast potential of the country. As for financial legislation, this will mean the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill as well as the establishment of the Public Procurement Commission, he explained. The politician said that even the date for Local Government elections would be released and a programme for national unity introduced. Harmon said that their improved governance programme would also see a comprehensive review of current taxation policies, including the value added tax. The lawyer asserted that moves would definitely be made to review, restructure and liberalize the

telecommunications and information sectors, as well as, implement a programme for ensuring sustained improvement in public security. Programmes for youth development and the reorganization of public services, are also on the table to be rolled out under an APNU-AFC government. Harmon said that in accordance with the Cummingsburg Accord, both parties commit themselves to accept and promote dialogue, discussion and the use of constitutional means to advance economic, political and social change, reject ethnicity as a consideration for participation of citizens in government, denounce corruption and promote financial transparency and probity at all levels of government.

South Road execution…

Survivor to have bullet removed on Tuesday Debert Mohamed, who according to police sources was at the wrong place at the wrong time on Wednesday night and ended up being shot, is expected to undergo surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) next Tuesday to remove the bullet lodged in his elbow. The 33-year-old is currently being treated for pain as a result of the gunshot wound he sustained. Mohamed was injured on Wednesday night when a lone gunman opened fire on owner of Airmax Vulcanizing Shop, Randolph Singh around 22:45 hrs. It is believed that Mohamed was struck by a stray bullet. Kaieteur News was told that the police have since viewed surveillance footages around the business place but have failed to identify the shooter. The lawmen are however, convinced that the gunman was only interested in Singh since he showed no interest

in the two persons who were standing next to the businessman, including Mohamed. Singh reportedly died on the spot. Kaieteur News was unable to contact the wounded man for an interview, but his mother, who asked that her name be withheld, said that her son informed her that he and his employer were sitting in front of the premises when the incident occurred. “He said that they were sitting and a boy walked past them and asked, ‘y’all alright’ and dem say yes, then he (shooter) took two steps forward and turn back and pull out a gun. My son said he run, and his boss run behind him,” the woman explained. She continued, “The gunman opened fire at the boss man, and because my son was in front of him running, that is how he get shoot.” According to the man’s mother, her son had no idea

that his employer was killed, and thought that the businessman had been wounded. “He said that the shooter only wanted the boss man,” the woman related. Eyewitnesses say that the gunman was not masked. He reportedly wore a hat that covered most of his face. No one could say how the perpetrator managed to escape from the scene, as everyone ran for shelter. When this newspaper visited the dead man’s home on Thursday, neighbours said that all of his close relatives live overseas. According to one neighbour, Singh only returned to Guyana from the United States two weeks ago to monitor his business. Reports are that Singh was seated with Mohamed and another employee opposite his place of business located on South Road, between Cummings and Light Streets, when the gunman struck. Kaieteur News was told that every night around the time when the incident occurred, Singh would make monetary collections from his businesses. The tyre shop is a 24-hour establishment.

Saturday February 21, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Judicial Service Commission sends two magistrates packing The relatively new Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has issued dismissal letters to two Magistrates— Geeta Chandan-Edmond and Chandra Sohan. Sources close to the Commission yesterday told Kaieteur News that both Magistrates were found guilty of infractions that the Commission found to be totally unacceptable. Sohan and ChandanEdmond had to appear before the Commission for a number of misdemeanors. Chandan-Edmond, who was presiding in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, was sent packing based on charges ranging from her inability to deliver 19 decisions to her leaving the country without approval. Magistrates are required to get approval from the Chancellor of the Judiciary to travel overseas. Being absent from a Magistrates’ Association meeting to discuss the Sexual Offences Act; failing to report absence from work to the Chancellor and failure to respond to queries from the Chief Magistrate are said to be a few other reasons for her dismissal. Also, Kaieteur News understands that questions were raised over the fact that Chandan-Edmond submitted medical leave for two days from a doctor in Berbice, even though she lives and works in Georgetown. The Commission also

Geeta Chandan-Edmond

Chandra Sohan

looked at the fact that the Magistrate’s husband, Joel Edmond had been appearing before her as a lawyer in some courts. Some of the allegations of misconduct leveled against Chandan-Edmond were being looked at during the life of the previous Judicial Service Commission. However, Kaieteur News understands that Chandan-Edmond, who was being represented by Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes, asked for a number of postponements. Yesterday, Alliance for Change issued a statement that suggested that the Magistrate was fired because she found Prime Minister Samuel Hinds’ son guilty on a wounding charge and was supposed to hand down sentencing yesterday. AFC stated, “There was no hearing or any invitation to any hearing on the

allegations for the entire year of 2014. Samuel Hinds Jnr was charged with a serious criminal offence of unlawful wounding on the 3rd March 2014. Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmund conducted the trial and found Samuel Hinds Jnr guilty on the 6th February 2015.” However, that very release noted that ChandanEdmond was written to by the Commission since January, which is way before she found the Prime Minister’s son guilty. The Prime Minister’s son, Samuel Hinds Jnr, was found guilty of Unlawful Wounding. The maximum jail time for such a charge is 18 months. Kaieteur News was informed that ChandanEdmond, since she was due to hand down her ruling yesterday, had already decided on the sentence. This can still be imposed by

another Magistrate; there is a precedent. On the other hand, Sohan, who was given temporary marching orders early last December, was fired primarily for tampering with documents. Kaieteur News understands that the Senior Magistrate, who was presiding in the Georgetown Traffic Court, also had a few other alleged infractions. Reliable sources said that it was alleged that Sohan, who was charged with dangerous driving, on occasions modified his records. Sohan was fined for the charge but reportedly caused the records to be changed in the docket to reflect that he was reprimanded and discharged. Sohan, like Chandan-Edmond had also left the jurisdiction without permission. But perhaps the most troubling infraction looked at by the JSC is what the commission called “some inconsistencies” with regards to Magistrate Sohan’s dealing with other court matters. Sohan, who was the Magistrate that committed Social Activist Mark Benschop to the High Court in an alleged treason matter, was tipped to replace Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry who is expected to be elevated to a Judge soon. He is no stranger to controversy, having been involved in a much publicised spat with the police a few years ago.

Mark George, the Toshao who barred President Donald Ramotar from entering Moco Moco, North Rupununi on Monday last, was held yesterday by police over allegations of rape. The Guyana Police Force issued a press release stating that investigations are ongoing into a report of sexual assault allegedly committed on a 13-year-old female student of the Moco Moco Primary School. The missive said that a report of the incident which is alleged to have occurred on February 01, was made to the police at Lethem on Wednesday by the Region’s Schools Welfare Officer. This would have been two days after George’s refusal of Ramotar into the village was made public. The Police said, “It is believed that there was some attempt to cover up the matter

initially by members of the village because of who is the suspect in the matter. The police were earlier unsuccessful in contacting the victim and were only able to do so today Friday February 20, 2015, and are currently investigating the matter. The suspect, who is a senior official of the village of Moco Moco, has been arrested and is in police custody assisting with the investigations.” President Ramotar had to abort a campaign visit to a Region Nine Amerindian village after he was reportedly refused entry by the village Council. According to information, Moco Moco village Toshao, Mark George, turned down the President’s visit after “short notice” was given to the Council. The Amerindian Act of 2006 permits that once a person is not travelling on

official business for the government, they must then seek the permission of the village Council for a visit. So since President Ramotar was on campaign business for the upcoming General and Regional Elections, he had to seek permission to enter the Amerindian community. Toshao George told the media that he had received a call from the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP)’s campaign organizer in that region around 10:00 hours on Sunday, explaining that the President wished to visit the community the very next day. George said that he informed the campaign organizer that the visit to the village was

given at short notice and no official notice or letter was dispatched to the Council. The Amerindian Act, he confirmed, clearly states that one week must be given for the visit to be approved. The Toshao further explained that he had opted for the President to visit at a later date, but no date had been set aside. He said in the case of the President, the Council would have attempted to speed up preparations for his visit. George said he was very concerned about being unable to allow the President entry into the village, but reiterated the content of the Act. (Abena Rockcliffe)

By Abena Rockcliffe

Toshao who refused Ramotar’s entry to village, held for rape

Coke Swallower Jailed for Four Years A joiner, who was busted with 850 grams of cocaine, was given a four year sentence when he appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Stephen James Watson, 28 of Lot 86 Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara appeared before Magistrate Zameena Ali and pleaded guilty to the charge. Particulars of the charge stated that on February 16, at the Ogle International Airport, East Coast Demerara, he had in his possession 850 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. On the day in question at around 14:30hrs, Watson was an outgoing passenger on a LIAT Flight destined for Barbados. While at the airport police ranks from the narcotics branch noticed that

the man was sweating profusely and confronted him. Watson was questioned by the lawmen and admitted to swallowing pellets of cocaine. He was then taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where an x-ray was carried out on him. This proved that a foreign substance was inside his body. The man later excreted 83 pellets containing the illicit substance while under guard at the GPHC. At yesterday’s sentencing Watson who was unrepresented by an Attorney asked the Magistrate for leniency. The Magistrate in handing down her sentence took into consideration that the man did not waste the court’s time and pleaded guilty on his first appearance.

TEACHER, SIX... From page 3 this case. “We're usually very clear that children must be supervised at all times. For the ages (of the victims), one teacher is not breaching our rules in anyway, as far as I understand. So this was just a tragic accident. Of course we call on everyone to use the roadways in a way that would minimize something like this happening… but we don't know exactly what happened, so let's not jump to conclusions.”

And asked to comment on complaints that the Burma Road was in a deplorable state, Benn stated that the road was under repairs. “The road is being repaired at the moment. I was on the road two nights ago where I discussed with a committee of truckers and others who use the road, explaining how the road is being done, how we need to protect the road, the infrastructure generally and how we will go ahead to the completion.”

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Saturday February 21, 2015

Greece, euro zone creditors REACH ACCORD ON LOAN (Reuters) - Euro zone finance ministers reached an agreement yesterday to extend heavily indebted Greece’s financial rescue by four months, officials on both sides said. “It’s done. For four months,” one said. An agreement removes the immediate risk of Greece running out of money next month and possibly being forced out of the single currency area. It provides a breathing space for the new leftist-led Athens government to try to negotiate longer-term debt relief with its official creditors. European Union paymaster Germany, Greece’s biggest creditor, had demanded “significant improvements” in reform commitments by Athens before it would accept an extension of euro zone funding. Euro zone officials said the accord required Greece to submit by Monday a letter to the Eurogroup listing all the policy measures it planned to take during the remainder of the bailout period, to ensure they complied with conditions. Officials said an outline deal was reached in preparatory talks involving the Greek and German finance ministers, as well as the managing director of the IMF. It was then agreed by the full 19-member Eurogroup, ending weeks of uncertainty. With the 240 billion euro EU/IMF bailout program due to expire in little more than a week, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras voiced confidence of an agreement despite the objections to the request made in a letter to Dijsselbloem. “I feel certain that the Greek letter for a six-month extension of the loan agreement with the conditionalities that accompany it will be accepted,” Tsipras said in a statement to Reuters before the crucial Brussels meeting. Officials said Greece’s partners requested the shorter period. A report by German magazine Der Spiegel that the European Central Bank was making contingency plans for a possible Greek exit from the currency area if the talks fail, on which the ECB declined comment, highlighted the high stakes. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking after talks in Paris, said all EU partners wanted to keep Greece in the euro but added: “There is a need for significant improvements in the

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras substance of what is being discussed so that we can vote on it in the German Bundestag, for example next week.” The Greeks won sympathy from Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. “I believe that the principle of doing reforms in exchange for more time is just and correct,” he said after a meeting of his government in Rome. REASON FOR SOME OPTIMISM After preliminary talks with Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem said there was “reason for some optimism” but the search for agreement remained very difficult. Finance ministers arriving from other euro zone states lined up to insist on more guarantees for creditors that Greece will fulfill the bailout’s strict conditions on budget discipline and economic reforms to win their agreement. Athens is determined to loosen austerity to revive its economy. Tsipras had a long telephone call with Merkel on Thursday and has spoken repeatedly to the leaders of France and Italy in the search for a solution that allows his radical government to fulfill election promises and hold its head high. “Greece has done everything possible so that we can arrive at a mutually beneficial solution, based on the principle of double respect: respect both to the principle of EU rules and to the electoral result of member states,” he said. Greece could run out of money by the end of March without new external funds, people familiar with the figures say, driving it nearer to the euro zone exit. Euro zone officials said

Greece’s track record and the combative behavior of its new leaders have undermined their confidence in whether Athens will deliver what it agrees to in talks with the other countries sharing the euro. “Unfortunately the changing rhetoric of the Greek authorities has created a certain erosion of trust, so we must build this once again at this Eurogroup meeting and we are hopeful a solution can be found based on the current program,” European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said. Some pointed comments were directed at Varoufakis, an outspoken Marxist economist and blogger, and his casual style. “Even hardliners like us have to give the benefit of the doubt to a communist in a Burberry scarf,” an official of one hawkish European country joked. Adding to pressure to reach a deal, Greek savers have withdrawn their money from the banks at an accelerating pace despite government assurances that there is no plan to introduce capital controls to stem the outflows. Deposit outflows rose to a total of over 1 billion euros in the past two days, some of the highest daily levels seen this year, three senior banking sources told Reuters. Greeks are nervous before a three-day weekend, given memories of capital controls imposed in Cyprus in 2013 over a long weekend, a senior banker said. Monday is a public holiday in Greece. Tsipras, elected last month on a platform of scrapping the bailout, says austerity has strangled his country’s economy and caused a humanitarian crisis. Merkel has in the past agreed financial rescues only at the very last moment when she could tell Germans the future of the euro zone was at risk. Berlin is Greece’s biggest creditor, owed 50 billion euros as its share of the EU/IMF bailouts. As Europe’s biggest economy, it would take a hit in the turmoil that might ensue if Greece defaulted and left the euro area. However, whether for tactical reasons or out of deep exasperation with Athens, Germany has conveyed the message that a Greek exit, while not desirable, would be manageable. The euro rose against the dollar after news of the draft accord on Friday and Greek government bond yields fell on optimism for a debt deal.

Saturday February 21, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 9

NO NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS The AFC has ceded the presidential candidate to APNU. In return it has been given a promise that if the combined opposition wins, there will be constitutional change that will see the presidency degutted and authority over Cabinet and ministers handed to the Prime Minister who will be an AFC nominee. In other words, the AFC is presenting the Cummingsburg Agreement as one in which it has given up the Presidency in return for an empowered Prime Minister. There is of course a catch. That catch is that the Prime Minister can only be empowered through constitutional change. And for that to happen there has to be a two-thirds majority. Unless the combined opposition wins a two-thirds majority, the devolving of executive authority to the Prime Minister cannot take place. The agreement speaks only of constitutional change to achieve this. Read the fine print. As such the only way that the promises contained in the Cummingsburg Agreement can materialize is if the combined opposition garners 67% of the total votes cast. Any other lesser percentage leaves the sharing of executive power to the whims of the President. This fact must be understood because it seems

as if the selling point of the agreement is not this caveat about constitutional change but an optimistic formula. That formula is that if the 2011 results are repeated, the combined opposition would win the presidency. In other words if APNU holds its 40% of the votes; and if the AFC returns its 11% of the total votes cast, then the combined opposition would have 51% of the total votes cast. They would have a majority and therefore be assured of the presidency. Of course, the combined opposition does not need a majority to secure the presidency. It only needs a plurality. The hope of repeating 2011 when the parties were single and disengaged is the minimum outcome that the opposition parties seem to be hoping for. The objective is to combine the support of the two parties in 2015 so that the combined opposition wins. But the whole is not necessarily equal to the sum of its parts. Obviously, the AFC and APNU will hope that the two parties will gain more than a bare majority. After all, APNU is not stagnant. It would want to trump the 44% that the PNC gained in the 1992 elections. 2011 was not so special after all. APNU secured just over 40%. This was above the 36%

Dem boys seh...

Donald tun a copy cat When children small dem does look to big people to learn certain things. That is why some li’l children does end up playing mommy and daddy and dolly house. Big people does only copy one another if de person is a film star or some big one. Some people does try fuh sing like Elvis Presley and some does dance like Amitabh Bachchan. Well Donald decide that he gun follow Obama. And is Jagdeo who was de first one to model heself after Obama. He meet Obama in Trinidad .fuh de Summit of de Americas and everybody see how he never tek he eye off Obama. When he come back to Guyana he start fuh talk like Obama and even walk like Obama. Donald tek over from him and now he trying fuh talk like Obama. Dem boys hear de other day when Donald had to talk to de nation. He copy Obama word fuh word. What next. It got to be that Jagdeo tell he not to talk too much because he might seh de wrang thing. After all, he was de man who seh that had to be a jackass and mek people use to call he Mr Hee Haw. De same Jagdeo who train Donald does always mek people smile when he walk past then whisper, “once a scamp always a scamp.” Half of Guyana gone to Jagdeo friends and de rest ain’t even available to de people. De same Jagdeo travel round de globe as de Champion of de Earth and when people ask he wheh he live he does tell dem that he family from India and he from de West Indies. He would thief de whole earth if he get a chance. He never one day tell people that he come from Guyana but he does seh that he got nuff friends in Guyana. He is de man who can’t hold up one project that he can be proud of and he rule Guyana fuh twelve years. He mek nuff people rich and de people who going to Freedom House wid de petition is dem who Jagdeo promise that he gun mek dem rich but he ain’t get a chance. Well dem boys seh that dem ain’t gun get a chance because when chance was sharing, Jagdeo tek all. Talk half and watch how dem copying other people.

gained by the PNCR in the 2006 polls but well short of what the PNC gained in the 1992 elections. From a statistical point of view, it seems easier to decrease the PPPC support from 49% to 45% than it would be to increase APNU’s tally from 40% to 50% with the AFC on board. But the combined opposition parties believe they have the formula to not just go to 50%. Judging from the agreement signed, they believe that they can gain as far 67% of the total votes cast. How else does one explain the fact that the Cummingsburg Agreement speaks to constitutional change to allow the AFC nominated Prime Minister to have control over Chairing of the Cabinet and supervision of ministers? Under the

Constitution of Guyana sole executive authority is vested, not in the Cabinet, not in the Prime Minister, but in the President. The President can delegate responsibilities but he or she remains the sole custodian of executive authority. The supporters of the AFC are being wooed into believing that should the combined opposition win the presidency, then AFC will be running the country because there is an agreement that would allow for the Prime Minister to do so. That is a smokescreen. It is intended to cloud the shape of what is a lop-sided agreement that makes meaningless concessions to the AFC. It makes it look as if the AFC wrested major concessions from APNU when in fact this whole

proposed coalition is an APNU dominated creature. The AFC must therefore, stop this insult to the intelligence of its supporters by parading this agreement as one in which the AFC has wrested major concessions from APNU. That is not so at all. The agreement speaks about constitutional change to allow for the Prime Minister to control Cabinet and ministers. For that part of the agreement to be activated there has to be constitutional change and this requires the opposition winning would have to win more than 67% of the votes. But even if the combined opposition wins 67% of the votes, what is to stop the government from not going ahead with the changes that would put power in the hands

of the Prime Minister? The AFC wants us to believe that if there is a reneging of this agreement, then the AFC can pull the plug on its own government by doing what it had planned to do to the PPP: pass a no – confidence motion. Donald Ramotar negated that by proroguing parliament. What is to stop the government formed by APNU from doing the same and leaving the AFC out in the cold? The AFC has signed an agreement without the necessary safeguards.

We are not changing our names - APNU/AFC By Nicholas Peters A week after signing the historic Cummingsburg Accord, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) have confirmed they will not be changing the name or identity of either party in the pre-election coalition. The statement was made by co-founder of the AFC, Raphael Trotman, at the first press conference held by the APNU-AFC coalition, yesterday at the Hadfield Street office of the Leader of the Opposition. Trotman, in his address to the media fraternity, explained that since signing the Accord, the parties have been getting to know each other in addition to fomalising their plans for moving forward in the elections campaign season. At the media event it was confirmed by Trotman that the coalition’s national campaign office will be situated at the corner of Albert and Crown streets and will be the operation centre. It was further related that the office has been and will continue to be used to prepare party members from both sides and all regions for elections campaigning. In addition to a campaign office, the AFC member announced that the coalition has set up a National Campaign Committee, which will be co-chaired by Trotman and APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon. The committee will consist of five members from the APNU and AFC collectively, including Harmon and Trotman. From the APNU side; Amna Ali, Winston Felix, Ronald Bulkhan and Mark Archer, will represent that party. Meanwhile, the campaign body from the AFC party will

consist of David Patterson, Katherine Hughes, Dominic Gaskin and Clayton Hall. While both parties will be contesting the May 11 General Elections under one banner and as one entity, the AFC member was adamant that the parties will maintain their symbols for the sake of their electorate. “As political veterans we are quite aware that with the time remaining till Election Day, the last thing we will do is to confuse the electorate with something that is new and unknown,” explained the committee member, “(our) two symbols will feature prominently on the ballot paper and will of course be subject to confirmation to the electoral laws, the Representation of Peoples Act, which sets out how symbols should be represented.” He assured members of the media that neither party will see their symbol diminish or desecrated in any way as both will be featured prominently in the final symbol for the coalition. The coalition is however; open to suggestions for the unveiling of their official symbol, slogan and theme on March 4. When asked whether this meant the parties were merging into one, the committee member asserted that that is not the case either way. “I am not suggesting anything either way. We have experts advising us and we are of course asking the electorate and the people of Guyana to make suggestions, since they are the ones we

have to convince. So far we have been hearing that people like what we have (as two parties). They have said that maybe we can put one (symbol) next to the other. They just want to vote and have their symbol represented,” said Trotman. “We are not going to be changing our names at all,” the AFC executive further stressed. He elaborated that both parties have been listening to their supporters and are comfortable with the feedback they’ve received since collating with APNU. The two parties’ move to coalesce, Trotman explained, was the result of the majority of Guyanese voting for a change in governance in the 2011 elections. Nevertheless, both parties will maintain their identity as “the name will not make a difference” since the people have already resolved to be against the incumbent People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) party. The APNU General Secretary further clarified that the Cummingsburg Accord requires that the parties

maintain their individual identity for the integrity of their electorates. “An important element of the Cummingsburg Accord requires that the parties maintain their individual identity. We considered that people wanted to see their symbol or the party they represented in whatever ballot is going to be made,” said Harmon. Harmon recalled APNU’s experience in the previous elections when people from that initial coalition wanted to see representation of their individual parties in the official party symbol. Maintaining the respective parties’ identity was done with the consideration of what their electorates wanted, related the campaign committee member. “The people said they wanted to see their party symbol in whatever symbol we (APNU) chose,” explained Harmon. He added that that is why this new coalition has both parties retaining their identity, while entering the Election Day with a single slate of candidates.

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Saturday February 21, 2015

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

The world in 2014: Some goodness, some sadness As a daily columnist, I think it is expected that some readers, even if they are a tiny set, would like to read something about the world in the year that just went into history. I had every intention of doing such an analysis as 2015 began but in Guyana unfolding damnations in the corridors of power prevented that. Well better late than never. The year just gone by has left its impressions on history. There were some good, bad and sad things that we will always remember 2014 for. As usual, we should start with the positives. The United States has reestablished diplomatic ties with Cuba. And as expected, it was done through the thinking of President Obama.

If anything didn’t make sense in the world the past fifty years it was the US policy of disconnection with Cuba. Why have friendships with the world’s most despotic regimes and not your neighbour that is way ahead of those tyrannical regimes in terms of acceptable conduct? Comparing the governance of Cuba and Saudi Arabia is like comparing turning milk and milk that is so stale that if you smell it you would get Ebola. The Cuban leadership must have political decency and allow its dissidents to have space to voice their disagreements. Fidel Castro became a dictator and Cuba is a dictatorship. The time has come for Cuba to end its nasty rule that includes, the semi-

civilized policy of hunting down any Cuban who holds a placard protesting Cuba’s oligarchic rule and putting secret police surveillance of any Cuban who returns with a Time magazine in their suitcase. 2014 belonged to President Obama. He faced recurring accusations of former supporters who claim that he must pursue pathways long desired by America and the peoples of the world. Last year, Obama signed an Executive Order that prevented more than five million illegal migrants from being deported. He took the first step to overhaul the immigration system in the US that has seen the birth of children born to illegal migrants who will

grow up and not be allowed to enjoy their rights as citizens; because their parents are illegal entrants despite the twenty or thirty-odd years they have lived in the US. India saw a good thing with the fall of the Congress Party from power. The story of the Congress Party is a global mystery. For four generations, one family has owned that party and its control of government. Every one of its leaders, beginning with its First Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to his great grandson who would have been Prime Minister in 2014 has never been to an Indian university; all educated at Cambridge University. The Nehru dynasty at the psychic level believes it owns India. The good news was Congress lost. The bad news - a party no better has won. Before space runs out we should look at the ugly that 2014 produced. Without a doubt, it was the expansion of an uncivilized bunch of

people who go by the name Islamic State (IS). How and why these people came into existence has to find an explanation from science and not sociology. Are the ISIS people a result of a genetic flaw as we see in science fiction movies where a lab experiment went wrong? Tragically, the world community is yet to come up with a military strategy to defeat ISIS. If the armies of the world need a donation to bolster their resources to fight ISIS, you bet I will contribute my last dollar. Now for the sad parts of 2014. Journalism will lose its best Editor-in-Chief. It will not be easy for global journalism to recover. It is my opinion that the Guardian of the UK is the best newspaper in the world. I would definitely rate it above the New York Times. It achieved these heights through the ambition of its Editor-in-Chief, Alan Rusbridger. Last year Rusbridger announced that

Frederick Kissoon he was leaving journalism to take up the Chairmanship of the Trust that owns this fine newspaper. Last year the paper won a Pulitzer Prize for its Edward Snowden coverage. Journalistic investigation and independent reporting will never be the same without Alan Rusbridger. We can never repay the Guardian for bringing down the nemesis of fair, independent, risk-taking journalism – Rupert Murdoch. One of the sad things of last year was the control of Congress by the Republican Party thereby undermining the authority of President Obama. His last two years in the White House will be marked by fierce attempts by the Republicans to vitiate his legacy. It was an unfortunate day for the world because Obama deserves better.

Saturday February 21, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Students forced out of city nursing school building - Facility to be converted into doctors’ quarters Scores of students from the Georgetown School of Nursing located on East Street, Georgetown, were forced out of the building early yesterday by four aggressive contractors who informed them that the facility no longer belongs to them. The facility which has been a teaching institution for nurses since 1970 was recently handed over to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the University of Guyana. Kaieteur News was told that the building was handed over to the two institutions during a meeting with the Minister of Health, Bheri Ramsaran, and representatives from both facilities. The building will be converted into living quarters for doctors attached to GPHC. The nursing students will be transferred to a Ministry of Health building in Kingston, Georgetown, which is already facilitating a number of students since the East Street building is overcrowded.

The students in front of the Georgetown Nursing School building yesterday The Kingston building, according to the students, is dilapidated and cannot facilitate 462 students. Yesterday, the student nurses picketed in front of the Georgetown Nursing School, condemning the move by the Minister of Health to “throw them out of the building.” This newspaper was told that another batch of nurses is expected at the facility next week. Taruna Manger, a student nurse explained that the building on East Street is the only facility in the country that has a learning lab for students. “The building in Kingston is very small compared to this. We have 462 students here,

now how are they going to move us to the other building which also has students. Plus we are expecting more persons,” Manger stated. She explained that students were in classes around 08:00 hrs yesterday, when four contractors stormed the building and asked the students to leave. When the students asked why they should vacate the building, the contractors allegedly verbally abused them. It was then they were informed that the building was handed over. “When the contractor told us that the building was handed over, we went to the Ministry of Health and they told us that the building was

The contractors who forced the students to vacate the building given to the GPHC and UG,” Manger explained. She stated that even after being informed by representatives from the Health Ministry that the building no longer belongs to

the nurses, officials from the nursing school were tightlipped. “No one is saying anything. They just come and put us out of the building in the middle of classes. This is unfair,” the student nurse

stated. During the protest, the students shouted, “We are not moving, we are not going anywhere.” No one at the Georgetown Nursing School was willing to speak to the media yesterday.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday February 21, 2015

Don’t use children for school protests, Manickchand urges Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, says that it is wrong for people to use children to protest at schools across the country. The Minister was speaking on Thursday at Port Mourant, Corentyne, during the launch of the new Primary Readers Series of locallyproduced textbooks. Over the past days, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has been hit by several protest actions. On Tuesday, parents and supporters of students from St. John’s Secondary School at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, were protesting the closure of the school for the past two years by the Region Three administration. On February 2, several teachers attached to the Mackenzie High School, converged at the Regional Education Department to protest the “untenable situation” that currently prevails at the school. Manickchand, speaking to teachers, students and

senior officers within the MoE, said that she expects more protests, especially during this, “sexy elections period.” She stated that the MoE attracts much of the protest actions since she believes it is very easy to target the MoE and the school buildings. “Over the next couple of weeks…we expect at the MoE that we are going to see protests rising up across the spectrum, in schools and in front of schools, because we know it is the easiest place to target.” Notwithstanding the many challenges that exist in the education sector, the Minister asked the gathering to carefully examine the strides made in education, “and to also ask you to spread the message , that using children to hold placards that they can barely read, to discuss issues that they do not understand, is just bad for those children!” “Any political party that asks you to do that-tell them,

Minister Manickchand and the group of teachers from across Guyana at the writing of the Atlantic Readers Primary series books ‘no-bring out your children (the politicians) and grandchildren from their schools-because you are running for office’-and then I’ll take mine.” The Minister urged all parents to not take their children on the road to be involved in placard demonstrations and protests in front of schools. “When you see these risings up in front of schools, understand that it is not that the system is bad-it’s just that it is the easiest place for people to target.” She added that the government, over the years, has matched political ideology (in education) with investment, “but we have this ideology—it looks nice on paper, but how can we fund this, so we can make a difference for the children.”

Investments, she said, has shown that the number of trained teachers in 2005 was 50.8 per cent in the primary sector compared to 77 per cent being trained today. “That didn’t happen by magic…It happened because we wanted our teachers trained and we invested, and the system is such, that it took a while to move from 50 to 77.” She noted in 1992, eight per cent of students passed English Language, compared to 46 per cent in 2014. Similarly, 18 per cent of students passed Maths in 1992 while 38 per cent pass Maths today. “It means that when you put money into a sector…you will see more of them graduating, with passes in the core subjects.” A trained teacher for students brings a whole host of benefits for students. “A trained teacher means that your children are likely to have a more solid education,” she added. While not putting down the great work that some untrained teachers are doing in the schools, the

Minister mentioned that it is more likely that children would receive a more solid type of education if taught by a trained teacher. “If we don’t put trained teachers in front of the classrooms, then we are killing this nation slowly,” she noted. In the next five years, it is the desire of the MoE to have more than 85 per cent of teachers in the school system trained. “We are working to see that happens.” Minister Manickchand said that another achievement for the MoE, is that it was able to attain Universal Primary Education. “Again, that didn’t happen by magic-we looked and saw there were no schools existing in some places, and we built those-we invested-and we built new classrooms and we made sure that our children could go to primary school…” There are still some attendance problems with children, she added, and the ways in which the government has looked to

solve this, is the school feeding programmes and other social grants, such as the Uniform Voucher Grant and $10,000 voucher. There are also hot meals and snacks for students up to Grade Two. “We ensure all students have free exercise books and text books,” she noted. Every school, too, has enough furniture for the children, “and this is the first time in our country, that we could record Guyana having enough furniture for every single child in this country.” She called on parents to raise the issue with their regional representatives, if there are furniture shortages. “There was a time when your children didn’t have furniture…when they were asked to bring their own furniture, but I hardly think it was because the people at the top didn’t want it to happenit happened because they had no money to make it happenthey managed so badly, there was nothing in the pool to spend to make these things happen.”

Saturday February 21, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Two ambulances presented NGOs called on to submit entries - as film festival deadline nears to Regions Five, Six

Regional Officials in Region Six handing over the ambulance to Dr. Mahadeo Healthcare delivery in Regions Five and Six have been boosted with the purchases of two new ambulances. The Region Six Administration recently presented its $11M ambulance to the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA). The vehicle will benefit the Mibikuri Hospital in Black Bush Polder (BBP), Corentyne. Each ambulance is equipped with a Heart Monitor, EKG, Fire Extinguisher, and CPR Bed. A similar gesture was carried out by the Region Five Administration at Fort Wellington. Region Six Chairman, Mr. David Armogan, during the handing- over ceremony, said that the administration is trying to bring improvement to the health care system, “despite the many complaints and criticisms we get, but this is part of the health system…and so sometimes, not everybody is pleased.” He added, “We felt that there was need for another ambulance in Black Bush Polder, because the one that we have there presently sometimes end up with lots of mechanical problems—17 years old and after 17 years, most of these machines tend to get problems.” Armogan noted that one of the major problems of the Region Six healthcare system is the recklessness of the ambulance drivers. The Chairman said that much care is expected on equipment when such a large sum was spent on its purchase. “We have got to do a lot of work, too, in terms of educating our chauffeurs who drive these ambulances. They must understand that it is not because (the vehicle)

has to go fast and reach the hospital that they must speed. Sometimes before you reach there, you kill the patient and break up the whole ambulance.” He added that the BRHA is currently conducting training for chauffeurs so that better care can be taken. “Hopefully we wouldn’t have too much difficulties as in the past—and I think it’s a very timely intervention especially in an area like BBP where the hospital isn’t equipped to the extent that N/A Hospital is equipped, and people (would) need to be hurried out of BNBP in the event of an emergency to N/A or G/T Hospital.” Chief Executive Officer of BRHA, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, stated that they tried very long to acquire such a vehicle. “We had to get a new ambulance for New Amsterdam and Port

Mourant Hospitals. Now it’s Mibikuri Hospital’s turn.” Dr. Mahadeo said that he has had discussions with Emergency Specialist of the G/T Hospital, Dr. Zulfikar Bux, to assist with the setting up of an Ambulance Brigade in Berbice, “And we are looking at doing some training…hopefully that will happen sooner than later, and would entail employing additional staff.” The Ambulance drivers, he said, are also undergoing training sessions with the police in ‘B’ Division to enable them (the drivers) to use the road in a safer manner when transporting patients to and from hospitals during medical emergencies. “They (the ambulances) have sirens and flashing lights, but they still have to drive, not aggressively, but defensively on the road, and that training is going to happen next week.”

The organizers of the Loyola Documentary Film Festival are hoping for further success and improved participation, particularly from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as the deadline for this year’s festival draws nearer. This is according to Coordinator Samanthani Singh who further told this newspaper that the organizers are hoping for more submissions this year. This year’s festival was launched in July 2014 and Singh said that to date there had been no submissions. She explained that this was because it was still early. She said entrants would usually wait until the deadline was very close before making their submissions. Singh said too, that a year was given to allow the entrants adequate time to research, film and edit their work. For the 2014 festival, Singh said there were only a handful of submissions. She added that the figure was slightly lower than the judges would have wanted, but the quality of the works had been very impressive. “Last year there were about 6 entries. We were hoping for at least 10 but what really mattered to us was that those ones were very well done,” Singh said. Five of the submissions had been in the amateur category while only one (1) had been submitted as professional work. She expressed hope that this year’s festival will see the participation of some NGOs in sticking with the festival’s mandate to highlight social, economic and political issues which affect the Guyanese society. Further, she called on schools to become involved in the festival. Singh also said that the organizers are providing services and advice to persons in the amateur category in terms of editing

and composition. Last year, some students from the University of Guyana made an impressive submission and Singh hopes that this year will see more work of a high caliber. “The entry from UG was in the amateur category but it was very professionally done, so this year if they enter again it will be in the professional category,” she said. Meanwhile, the judges for this year’s festival are yet to be selected. Last year, submissions were judged by a panel of multi-talented, wellknown Guyanese: Francis Quamina Farrier, Margaret Lawrence and Kojo McPherson. According to Singh, hundreds of thousands of dollars are up for grabs; in both the amateur and professional categories, the first place winner will be awarded $200,000 along with an award and a certificate. Second place winners will earn $100,000 and an award with a certificate while third

place winners will be given awards and certificates. Producers are considered amateur if they have some idea of film productions but had never made a production for public airing on television. Professionals, she said, must have at least a year experience in film or television production. Further, a submission may be done as an individual, an independent group or a corporate group. The registration fee for amateur producers and professional producers are $5,000 and $7,000 respectively with a $2,000 late fee in each category. The official deadline is June 15, while the late deadline is June 30, Singh added. The 2014 festival saw the Catholic Media Group partnering with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. Singh explained that the ministry came onboard and promised to set aside $1M each year to support the festival’s continuance.

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VACANCY Work from home: Earn $5,000 to $20,000 daily, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday - Call: 233-6517/ 638-0595 or www.jobfairworldwide.com Salesgirls apply @ D. Singh & Sons, 95 King Street Georgetown –Tel: 226-1316 International Cruiseline AB Sailors, waitresses, waiters, cooks, receptionists, storekeepers, cleaners, electricians, carpenters, welders, cosmetologists, etc. Tel: 231-6296, 650-9880 One female clerk - Call: 2315171 Experienced legal clerk for computer & general work, good salary, immediate – Tel:226-4283; 258-0213 One combine operator & one tractor operator, must have mechanical knowledge, Lodging provided – Tel: 647-0463 Waiters to work at a bar at Agriculture Road, E.C.D- Tel: 612-2522 One Female house keeper, between ages 30-45yrs – Contact: 225-8205 RA Soda Factory: Bond Clerk, Accountant, Drivers – Call:330-2399, 330-2772, 6235920 One male sales clerk between 20-30yrs old Contact: 225-8205

DRESSMAKING Jean is offering courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration. Lot 153 Barr St Kitty - Call: 670-2653, 618-1706 FOR SALE/RENTAL American pool table – Tel: 277-0578

Presser / Clipper, straight stitch/over edge machine operators, cleaner – Call: 222-2541 (8:00am-4:00pm) (Mon-Fri) Cook: must know how to bake, bar attendant, waitress, cleaner and house keeper needed. Tel: 669-1900 One live in couple or one domestic to work in Mahaicony River – Tel:2256571; 644-6905 1 Farm Manager to work @ Pomeroon River must have Vast Farming Experienced. Accommodation & Attractive Salary offered. Contact: 226-9768 1 Female (20-35yrs) must be able to work day/night @ Snackette & Bar, must know to cook- Tel:647-7432; 2235798 Experienced Cook & Chef (shift). Apply in person @ Cotton Club Restaurant & Bar, 44 Public Road Kitty – Tel: 231-1908 Welder/Fabricator. Apply @ Technical Services Lot 18-23 Industrial Site Eccles. Diesel Mechanic, machinist with technical background, 1 office clerk, Apply @ Technical Services Lot 18-23 Industrial Site Eccles. Experienced driver for a 42 Route, 1 RZ minibus – Contact Kelvin: 621-6897 One driver must be living within Georgetown, apply in person at 176 Middle Street – Tel: 227-0152 Driver with minibus licence, living in Georgetown for contract – Call: 646-8748 Wash bay attendant for wash bay in Georgetown – Call: 629-5913 Live in Waitresses to work in bar – Contact: 604-6606 One live in/live out maid / Nanny – Tel:623-5011; 6226113; 227-0152 Pastry maker, counter servers, roti cooks & handy boys @ Hacks Restaurant, 5 Commerce St Georgetown

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.–CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620 Guyana Passport & Visa Forms Application, USA, Canada and England. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535. Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves. Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Repairs to plasma, LED, LCD television etc – Call: Abdul Electronics: 225-0391 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call Sabita: 225-6496, 6626045 REPAIRS AT LOW COST: FRIDGES, AIRCONDITIONERS, WASHING MACHINES, TVS, MICROWAVES, FREEZERS- CALL:6294946 OR 225-4822 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655, 683-8734 Khemraj & Son landscaping & plant nursery, cutting big trees & removing, 18 Months Coconut trees & lime plant for sale – Call: 627-5969 Eagle’s fridge re-gas - $8,000 & washing machine repairs. Phone: 697-2969, 646-0966 Phone unlocking services/ Computer reload, located @ Tuschen – Tel: 683-2202

WANTED Need real estate agent & maid – Contact:231-7805; 618-7483 Carmen’s Funeral Home, wanted driver, porter, handyman – Call: 265-5010, 265-4099; 666-3637; 647-1776 LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997

Saturday February 21, 2015

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 70 Inch Aquos Smart Sharp Television - $1.1M; bed set $1.3M, Price negotiable, owner migrating - Tel:628-7884 Sofa Set- $325,000; Aquarium $25,000, price negotiable, owner migrating - Tel: 628-7884 Sale! Sale! 2004 Toyota Premo: TV, CD, DVD, fully loaded, unregistered - $2.2M. Call: 642-7295 New shipment of pit bull parts: Wind Screen, bumpers, fog lights, back/ front bearings - Tel: 628-0909 Lights: Premio, Allion, Fielder & Carina and One Toyota IST never registered - $1.9M - Tel: 628-0909 XBOX 360 S: 250GB, 16GB, 2 controllers & original games each – Call: 683-8386 600 Amp Automatic transfer switch sold as is – Tel: 6277835 Cheap! Cheap! CCTV Security Surveillance Kit, 8 Channels DVR with built in Hard Drive, 8 bullet cameras Tel: 621-4740 2 Digital stereo surround sound system AM & FM, receiver techniques & Kenwood good as new – Tel:216-0671; 622-0267; 6928464

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 2-Bedroom upper flat @ 5 Wallers Delight, W.C.D – Tel:674-4929; 662-0187 GT TOOL RENTALS: COMPACTOR; CHIPPING HAMMER RANSOM & FLOOR SANDER, , JACK HAMMER, CONCRETE SAW & MORE - CALL: 675-0767, 627-5098 1 -8000 SQ Feet ware house, located 20 miles from City $5000USD monthly – Contact: 695-0333 Sharon’s Building, limited mall space from $65,000 $275,000- Call: 225-4413/ 614-0949 Lodge apartments (Vlissengen/Durban) unfurnished - $50,000-$60,000 monthly; furnished (for visitors) $500USD monthly – Tel: 677-9638. 1 Executive apartment in an exclusive residential area with all modern amenities including parking. Call for appointment: - 653-2920

VEHICLE FOR SALE Nissan X-Trail 2006, low mileage, good condition $2.6M – Call: 695-9548 Nissan Titan 4X4; fully loaded; good condition; price negotiable - Call: 6201026 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 Toyota Prado, Price$5M Neg. Call: 643-2403 Unregistered vehicle: Toyota Sienta- $1,895,000, Honda Civic-$1,895,000, 318i B M W -$3,000,000 Contact: 650-0402 2008 Fully loaded Rav4 (PRR Series), White Rush (PRR Series), owner migrating – Tel: 628-7884 One RZ minibus, good condition – Contact: 6785887 1-19 Seat pit bull bus BSS series; price $3.5M negotiable – Contact: 6603385 Twin steer dump trucks, 312 excavators, Toyota Vigo, Toyota Primo, Toyota Prado. Tel: 611-5606

FOR SALE 1 Miller welding generator 225 amps – Tel:616-5424; 6800378 Pure bred pit bull pups – Tel: 661-1601

Double bunk with mattress, 4 burner stove, sewing machines, quality cake tools, nail & hair stuff & other – Tel: 664-3454 Ryobi Tools, routers, sanders, circle saw, glue –Tel: 264-2126/ 683-0113 One 30ft Criuser, One 15 Yamaha engine, all next to new, prices negotibale - Call: 688-4139

House hold furniture – Tel: 225-6458 Brand New, Power fist, 6,500 watts gasoline generator (on wheels) 110/240 volts AC/DC – Contact: 617-2205; 681-1032

Earth Delivery on spot – Tel: 617-5536

3 Engel moulding machine – Please Contact: 695-0333

One 580C Hymac @ Mahaicony Creek – Call: 611-8283; 638-6125 One 2004 NZE $1.750M, One 2001 Stick Shift, Carina 212 - $1.9M – Call:616-5974 or 618-8703 One Toyota Alteeza excellent condition, Spider, mag rims, flair kit, AC –Price $2.75M neg. Tel:648-0494, 642-0786 Canter: Short Based - $2.2M, Voxy $1.7M, Spacio $2.1M, (all never registered) – Call: 617-2891

25 2’X2’ Tables, 18 Steel chairs, 5 B1 Fold Doors, 330"&32" 6 Panel doors, 2 26" French Doors, 1 -36" Shower Stall – Tel:683-5234

Toyota AT212, AT192, Raum, Premio, BB, AE100 Sprinter, Vitz, RZ Bus, EP71 & 825 Starlet, Yamaha R1 – Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453

1- Security System (DSC), 1Donut machine, 1-6 Burner Stove, 2 cone machine, 1Neon Sign, 1-7 Disc Burner – Tel: 683-5234

2003 unregistered Toyota IST Special Edition, TV/ DVD Player, HID, after market suspension, rims & aero body kit – Tel: 609-2815

1-10X10 wooden building (Kabukalli wood), with grill inside can be used for shop purpose (painted) – Tel: 6225986 1 New/ Ridgid /Generator 3600W - $180,000, Two 32" Flat Screen, TV $75,000 – Tel: 672-7194 Sawmill: Timber Harvester, 30th 25th fully hydraulic, electric motor- Tel: 261-2553

EDUCATIONAL CXC Day & Evening classes/lessons Forms 1-5, Phonics Classes - Tel:2233086; 619-7911; 690-5008 9 Courses Diploma In computers: offices 2013, IT $30,000 @ Micrographics , Vreed-En-Hoop: 264-3057 Computerized Accounting Quick Books; Peach Tree; Excel 2013 @ Micrographics, Vreed-En-Hoop: 264-3057

Toyota Raum; good condition – Contact: 2642954; 642-1305 Toyota Caldina, white Car, 2000cc – Tel:679-4420 One Toyota Raum – Tel: 2705059 Toyota Vigo smart cab for sale - $3.3M negotiable – Call: 668-4553 (Continued on page 23)

Saturday February 21, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 23

Letters... Where your views make the news

The AFC/APNU alliance is neither credible nor pro-democratic DEAR EDITOR, I would like to respond to the misguided and one-sided arguments presented supporting the Alliance for Change/A Partnership for National Unity so called prodemocratic alliance. From my point of view this alliance is neither credible nor pro-democratic and the opposition politicians and their supporters argue feebly to defend their position. As of recently, various massive disclosures were made by members of the opposition on the dictatorial conduct of the leaders of the party with regards to decisions being made within the party. These parties are no strangers to undemocratic moves and the members of the party display a very ‘nonsequitur’ approach to answering questions posed to them on the topic. The members of the party rely on tactics to change the premise of the argument and no conclusive answer is ever given. It was recently

disclosed by Attorney at law Balwant Persaud and Mr. Sixtus Edwards, both of whom were members of the Alliance for Change, until recently, that the party has eroded into a monarchy. Mr. Edwards emphasized that there was no party democracy in the AFC and no proper nominations for posts were made. Mr. Persaud, on his day of resignation, spoke of the aristocracy within the party. It was stated that the party is headed by the ‘gang of five’ and there was approximately $21 million in unaccounted spending. The AFC’s sister party, the APNU, is no different. It was stated by APNU member Sharma Solomon that the party’s elections were undemocratic. This party also has a fine history in the rigging of General elections and muzzling members such as Vanessa Kissoon when they choose to speak out. A party with such records cannot in any way be regarded as

credible. I would like them to publicly defend these actions without providing feeble responses such as; “This coalition is in the interest of the people”. Parties throughout history have used the phrase “in the interest of the people”, it’s a cliché. How can parties with undemocratic leadership and unaccounted spending form a pro-democratic and credible alliance? It’s a national disgrace that people have fallen prey to this grand act of hypocrisy; it shows an unparalleled level of delusion in the voter community. With the evidence given, there is no reason to think that this is a pro-democratic alliance. If democracy is lacking within the party, there is nothing democratic about this decision. If all the members of the party are not allowed to participate in the decisionmaking process, then making such a statement is blatantly lying to the public. Davendra Kissoon

The youths are frustrated... From page 4 constitution, and in the process has undermined the democratic system while invoking the sanctity of choice. In Guyana, the genius of statecraft, nation-building and of social transformation can only be realized when its citizens acknowledge that they deserve a better government. They need also to recognize that nothing much was achieved under the PPP regime, because its executives

have established a system that supports and favours themselves and their rich friends at the expense of the poor. Not only has the PPP not advanced any policies to develop the country, they also have no original ideas or thoughts of their own other than to rape the treasury, hijack the country’s resources, deny freedom to the press, and blame the opposition for the failures of their silly policies. In the 2006 and 2011 elec-

tions, the PPP cabal has made several promises of which none was fulfilled. The good thing is that the people do not believe anything coming from the mouths of these charlatans, not even their own supporters. Dr. Jagan is probably turning in his grave to know that the PPP he founded has turned against the poor and the working class. Dr. Asquith Rose, Chandra Deolall, Dr. Merle Spencer-Marks

(From page 22)

PROPERTY FOR SALE Houses & house lots for sale in 1 of Guyana’s top luxury gated communities, located @ Eccles E.B.D - Tel: 2272913; 683-3033 Property with concrete bungalow, modern amenities and features in gated community at Hutsonville E.B.D -G$16M negotiable – Call: 697-4131 1-6 Bedroom house and land in Mon Repos (Martyrs’ Ville) E.C.D, price $13M neg. Tel: 629-5300 One – Two Storied wooden & concrete building at Ketley & Howes Street Charlestown. Tel: 623-9679 Front Section, Diamond, East Bank Demerara – Tel: 674-9266 or 686-9248 Transported two storied concrete property $22M, Block “8” Mon Repos E.C.D Tel: 602-4418 South Ruimveldt – Tel:6493725; 649-7435; 665-8317; 614-6909 Two storey concrete house, 3 bedrooms @ 8th Street Foulis – Call: 685-8485; 2563360 Property located @ Gay Park, New Amsterdam, Berbice Tel: 669-7570 Prime Property in Brickdam $60M – Phone: 617-4261

LAND FOR SALE Eccles: Commercial lots for sale at Eccles – Tel:227-2913. Cell: 683-3033 Measuring 90’X165’ facing Atlantic Ocean, approximately half mile from Sheriff Street on High Way. Contact Shiv: 600-6681 51 Acres titled farm land @ The Belle, Upper Dem, River Front - $100M Negotiable, serious enquiries only! Tel: 669-8152 House Lots in 1 of Guyana’s top luxury gated communities @ Eccles, 60X100 - $7.5M. (Special prices) - Call: 2272913; 683-3033 Parfaite Harmonie - $1.4M, $1.5M, $1.8M, Eccles - $4.5, $5M, Herstelling - $45M, $5M, Leonora -$2.5M – Tel:675-7292; 689-3339 Land @ William Street Kitty; Size: 79FT wide by 116FT length, price $60M Negotiable - Tel: 664-0829 Land @ William Street Kitty; size: 38FT wide by 116FT length, reasonable price – Tel: 664-0829 1 Transported land for sale@ 2nd Avenue Diamond N/S, price -$6.5M neg – Tel:6295300 One residential land at Herstellling Plot ‘B’ E.B.D $4.5M Tel: 661-0618; 6013469; 600-1062

TO LET 1 Spacious 3 bedrooms upstairs including inside toilet and bath at Mon Repos E.C.D, Price $50,000 Monthly Tel: 629-5300 Fully furnished 2 bedroom house, short term overseas, TV, cable, Hot/Cold, AC, Washer (South) 689-5877 Fully Furnished vacation home with all amenities- Call during working hours – Call: 227-1218 Apartment with 2 self contained bedrooms in Kitty, wireless internet, Cable, TV, parking, rent $100,000 monthly - Tel: 645-0247 Furnished executive one or two bedroom suites in Diamond. Ideal for foreigners. Call 609 2466 1 Bedroom concrete flats New Road V/Hoop, Preferably working couple – Tel: 254-1772 Rooms & Apartment in Alberttown & Eccles – Call: 225-3234 Lower flat 3 bedroom apartment at Non Pariel Call: 654-0533 between 5pm to 8pm Two bedroom detached house – Contact Joy: 2181285; 627-8562

Guyana first 5 Star gated community, now opens, reserve your lot(s) & house. Call: 609-0783 or seroj_26@yahoo.com Land located @ Brushe Dam Friendship E.C.D -669-7570 ACCOMMODATION Harmony Inn Apartments: comfortable & clean apartments & rooms - $5000, $6,000 & $7,000 – Tel:6680306; 218-1400; 694-7817. Your luxury hideaway…… CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTAL CALL: 225-7126/ 2263693 DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM/ WWW.DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & Pickup rental, cheap rate, low security – Tel: 698-7807; 690-6494 VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Mitsubishi Canter GNN 722, good working condition – Tel:228-5655; 628-1756 GPP Tacoma 5VZ engine, stick gear, 4WD - $2.3M; negotiable – Call: 617-7113

Saturdays & Sundays after lunch @ Inner Retreat Hotel Parik: Bar-B-Cue & games: pools, darts, table tennis etc Phone: 260-4504. Inner Retreat Hotel Restaurant & Bar, Retreat Road Parika. Indoor / Outdoor bar in Picturesque setting – Phone: 260-4504; 685-6934. CAKES & PASTRIES Enroll now for cake & Pastries, cake decoration, floral arrangements & Cookery - Contact: 2233303; 612-4193; 672-8768

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Saturday February 21, 2015

UG Economics student gives worrying analysis of ongoing industrial action Even as workers of the University of Guyana (UG) maintain their striking stance in order to have their demands for better salaries and improved working conditions met, students have been increasingly vocalising their concerns. In fact, among the most recent such vocalization is that of Janelle Fu-Sum, a final year Economics Major at the tertiary institution. According to her, the ongoing labour dispute at UG understandably directly impacts efficiency that has the potential of severely hindering productivity at the institution. Fu-Sum, who was sharing her concerns about the dispute at a media conference, said that as an Economic major, one recurring fundamental concept that must be given attention in all programmes of each semester is that of efficiency. “We are taught in various retrospect’s that the most efficient option or allocation of resources is generally preferred ceteris paribus (all things equal),” said Fu-Sum. She, in directing her attention to the students’ perspective, pointed out that what would’ve taken the average four-month semester, would now require additional time due to the on-going industrial action. “Time, which is a valuable resource to any one individual and critical as it is in many situations becomes perishable,” said Fu-Sum as she pointed out that the costs which students face from the

dispute not only takes on the form of financial costs but also a social connotation. Speaking of the financial aspect of the situation, she explained, that for all students transportation is without a doubt a cost factor, as many classes are merely being announced but not being held due to the absence of lecturers resulting in the cancellation of classes. Although there are some lecturers who have remained on the job despite the strike action, Fu-Sum said that there has nevertheless been a resulting social impact since classes in all faculties are being taught disjointed. Speaking specifically of the Economic programme, she disclosed that the manner in which courses are allocated to each semester, shows a pattern and thus, most courses in any given semester are intertwined and lend themselves to one another which help to give the students a better understanding and grasp of the concept, and how it is applied in various contexts. Thus, there are learning implications, she said. “Also, being taught in a disrupt environment, discourages students in many ways as the industrial dispute poses uncertainty; has the semester really begun? When will exams be held? What about previous grades? When is graduation? Is there a semester break?” questioned Fu-Sum as she observed that these uncertainties often discourage students. She informed that in addition to costs, the

labour dispute gives rise to economic loss. This week marks one month since the beginning of the industrial dispute and with the uncertainty of class resumption, Fu-Sum said that it is reasonable to assume that the students who were expected to graduate in November of 2015, will not meet that expectation. “This has a negative impact on economic progress as it delays the surge of new employees into the labour market that occurs annually due to graduation. This potentially puts employers and businesses at a standstill,” she added. And according to her, “Many students that have intentions of furthering their studies would have already applied to various institutions with pending grades, when grades are not released in the expected timeframe, they would be forced to postpone their education. The delay of class resumption thus, indirectly restricts key inputs to a developing nation; labour supply and research and development (research projects, thesis, etc. by postgrad students),” added the final year Economic Student. Fu-Sum pointed out that it is important to highlight too, those students that study at UG and work simultaneously as she stressed that the delays and drawbacks that result from the industrial dispute unequivocally affects their careers. Other economic implications, she alluded to, was the use of physical resources such as

infrastructure since, according to her, more than 50 per cent of classes are not in progress. However, she noted that those that are ongoing utilise UG’s classroom facilities; a state of affairs that translates to factors not being utilised according to scale as the entire campus is put in operation for scarce classes. Further, she speculated that when normal classes do resume, additional resources will be required, thus causing actual expenditure for the semester would exceed future expenditure thereby placing pressure on already limited financial resources. Moreover, Fu-Sum is of the view that the industrial dispute creates a negative reputation for the university. “Students graduating from high school and seeking tertiary education, would be deterred from such an environment, contributing to the prominent issue of brain drain,” said the student who went on to note that “the financial and social costs and the economic loss in aggregate is immeasurable and an unfair burden to the students and further society at large.” Without dismissing the merit of the unions, she added, that it must be considered, given the allocated budget, “how can increases of such magnitude be executed?” The Unions were calling for a 60 per cent across the board increase for workers, but the University’s Administration instead offered a 25 per cent incremental increase, payable

Janelle Fu-Sum, final year Economics Major at UG over a three-year period. The University has since withdrawn its offer calling on the workers to cease strike action before negotiations resume. Making reference to the increase demanded by the Unions, Fu-Sum questioned, “If increases of such magnitude are made, what are the trickle-down effects with respect to other public servants both in and out of learning institutions given, that they receive annual increases of five per cent?” She noted too, that the counter measures to

compensate for the loss of time must also be considered. “How will the time be compensated for? Extending the semester would appear to be the most feasible path; however, does this imply that summer classes will be disregarded? Does this mean that application and registration dates for the 2015/2016 semester will be postponed? If the semester runs into the summer, will lecturers be exempted from their usual leave for that period?” asked the concerned students.

Deputy Mayor files writ... From psge 20 conference on Tuesday, said that she would have security forces on hand to deal with persons occupying spots not paid for. She said that the Chief Constabulary Officer has related that he was unsure how to deal with the matter consuming City Hall. To this end, Sooba said

she would seek police intervention. The outcome of this is unsure. Deputy Mayor ChaseGreen said Thursday, that information to her is that the police have already explained that they cannot get involved in the Council's internal matters and that the Mash sale contention is a matter for the City Constabulary.

Saturday February 21, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Transactions between WPA Leader and Gregory Smith were unlawful - Rodney’s brother testifies The transactions between then Working People Alliance (WPA) Leader, Dr. Walter Rodney and his suspected killer, Gregory Smith were ‘not normal’ and it was imperative that the two work in concert to conceal the relationship that they shared. As such, their meetings between February and June 1980 occurred during the course of the night and were held at different locations, including a place in North Ruimveldt and the Stabroek Market wharf. Lone eyewitness and brother to the slain political scholar, Donald Rodney yesterday returned before the Commission of Inquiry and under intense-cross examination, admitted that since Dr. Rodney was exposed to threats, having a relationship with someone who was ex-military might have been seen as intolerable by the ‘dictatorship.’ A walkie-talkie exploded in the politician’s lap on June 13, 1980, while the two Rodneys were sitting in a car on the corners of John and Hadfield Streets, purportedly to perform a test on the device.

…witness says it was necessary for them to conceal relationship Guyana Defence Force Sergeant Gregory Smith was suspected of Rodney, since he had earlier handed him the communication device which exploded. Donald Rodney has testified that due to the political climate at the time, he had felt it necessary to act as a buffer for his brother and yesterday, his evidence was being tested by a several attorneys. Basil Williams, the lawyer representing the interest of the People’s National Congress (PNC), asked the surviving Rodney whether he hadn’t grown suspicious during the six visits he previously spoke of that he and his brother had with Gregory Smith. Though the visits he and his brother made to Smith’s house were by night, and the vehicle was never parked in front of the premises, the surviving Rodney claimed that the situation in the country was not normal and as such, neither was the

relationship between the two. But Williams asked if he was not suspicious of the transactions between Smith and his brother, to which the dead politician’s brother responded “Well I think that the situation in the country was not normal and in that sense the transaction was not normal.” He claimed that when he and his brother dealt with Smith, he was an ex-army man and the PNC lawyer questioned whether having a relationship with an ex-army man was something that had to be hidden. The lawyer asked “Are you aware that the WPA boasted about its ability to infiltrate the army?” but the surviving Rodney said “Oh, I’m not aware of that.” Williams asked if he had considered that the transactions with Gregory Smith were not lawful and Donald responded “Yes, because I understood that walkie-talkies were banned.” Williams said “An

Another elderly woman raped and murdered

The body of Suroogpattie Ramlakan (inset) being taken away Police are probing the murder of yet another elderly woman who lived alone. Suroogpattie Ramlakan, 73, called Auntie Carmen, of Richmond Village, Essequibo was found lying on the floor of her two-bedroom residence yesterday. Her night dress was pulled above her knees and her neck bore lacerations. There were other injuries that indicated sexual assault. Detectives also found a packet of condoms below a window through which the killer(s) reportedly gained entry. A raincoat was also found at the scene. Detectives believe that

Ramlakan’s killer dragged her off her bed sometime between Thursday night and early Friday morning. Residents later saw blood dripping from the slain woman’s floor. Detectives said that the victim was last seen around 19:30 hrs on Thursday. A woman, who first discovered the body, said that a pupil saw a snake attacking one of Ramlakan’s chickens and called for the pensioner. The resident stated that after going to Ramlakan’s home, she noticed the back door was ajar and saw the pensioner lying on the floor. The dead woman’s sister, 74-year-old Sumindra, who

lives in Richmond Housing Scheme, said that a child relayed the news to her. She said her sister visited her Thursday and she was in high spirits. The sister said that her sibling never married and was childless. Police, who are now tasked with finding another Essequibo rapist, are clueless as to who might have slain the pensioner. Police recently arrested a La Be Alliance labourer, who reportedly confessed to raping at least 20 women from the Essequibo Coast. Investigators concluded that the suspect was the lone perpetrator.

innocuous transaction of making a walkie-talkie …why would that be against the law of the land?” and Donald said “That I wouldn’t know.” The lawyer went on to question “But making an explosive device, you agree is against the law of the land?” “I understood that walkietalkies were banned…it didn’t occur to me that making an explosive was against the law. But if you ask me then, I would say yes. I couldn’t see how it could not be,” Donald Rodney said. “You must have had an idea that what this walkietalkie would look like that you would have to get from Gregory Smith, the lawyer prodded, “ but Rodney responded “I can’t agree because I knew that Gregory Smith was building it...what he had built was only in the process of being a walkietalkie or becoming a walkietalkie” Williams questioned too, whether a conversation could be carried on with a walkietalkie in a bag but Donald Rodney said he didn’t know. He confessed that he never took the object out of the bag before he took it to Walter, and said that he assumed it was a walkie-talkie under construction. Williams questioned the younger brother about his disinterest in knowing what was concealed in the bag, and later asked whether he considered that for him to have taken the object out of the paper bag was something that would have had to have been done in a very skillful manner. But the witness said he didn’t know. Williams suggested that the reason he didn’t take it out was because it would have required a delicate touch and that he could have triggered it , but the younger brother said that he didn’t open the bag because he had seen the box before. When asked whether he hadn’t considered that the dealings of the walkie-talkie were surreptitious, Donald Rodney told Commissioners “Well as I said before, it was one to be hidden so to that extent it could be surreptitious.” “After going to such lengths down the wharf, North Ruimveldt, New Market Street, going and test it in that manner ,you didn’t consider that you should take it out of the bag and say let me see what I am taking to my brother?” the lawyer asked. But Donald insisted that he had seen the box before

and he hadn’t considered that. He said he hadn’t considered whether Smith was untrustworthy or shifty at the time. Williams suggested to Donald that was because he believed and knew it was not a walkie-talkie but a sensitive device and he couldn’t take it in his hands, but he said “Oh no sir.” The lawyer asked whether his brother knew it was a sensitive device to which Donald said he didn’t know and would in fact be surprised if the deceased had known. He revealed that the instructions from Smith did not include removing it from the bag. “If it’s a walkie-talkie then to test it you would have to talk into it to see if it would carry whatever you’re saying and you were supposed to hear him with the so called companion-set coming in when he talks in his,” Williams probed but the witness disagreed. The witness stated that he understood the device to be something that was being constructed in sections. “If in fact you don’t have the section that would support the audio then you can’t use the audio.” He went on to say that he isn’t sure whether it was the final collection or for testing but “when I arrived there I was told that it was for testing.” “That’s why I am putting it to you that what you were collecting from Mr. Smith could never ever been a walkie-talkie” Williams suggested but the witness disagreed. Williams further suggested that Dr. Rodney knew that it was an explosive and the instructions given to him by Smith were for his “ears” especially considering that his brother went past the prison, but the surviving Rodney denied this. “Having disregarded this thing about the prison wall and all of that I would tell you that when Walter stopped to check in accordance with light and flash, he knew that that exercise was associated with danger,” the lawyer said. “How would I know that?” the brother questioned. “If so, I wouldn’t say it was associated with danger because that would mean that he and I would be exposed to danger.” Williams, who recalled that Donald had previously testified that his brother was muttering when the first test was conducted, said Rodney knew he was deceived. But

the younger Rodney denied the claim. The way the younger brother responded to the explosion too came under question. Williams suggested that his first thought was to flee the scene before the police came, because he knew that the explosion was caused by an explosive device handed by Smith, but his priority was to get help for Dr. Rodney. He confessed that while he was at Croal Street after it was reported to him that his brother had died, he didn’t immediately think of what caused the explosion and he believed it could have been that someone stepped around the corner and threw something at the vehicle or it could have been the Death Squad or someone who followed the vehicle after being tipped by Smith. The Death Squad, he explained, was a group of ununiformed policemen assigned to deal with the political opposition. According to court documents presented at the Commission, the search conducted at Donald’s home unearthed subversive material and explosives’, suggesting that he was part of a plot to overthrow the Burnham regime by violent means. Meanwhile, during cross examination by Attorney-atLaw Christopher Ram the witness said he was neither informed nor present while his South Ruimveldt Park home was searched. However, Mr. Rodney rejected these claims as untrue and part of attempts by the then government to victimise him. Donald told attorney Andrew Pilgrim who represents the wife and children of Walter Rodney, that the killing of Father Darke was a turning point in Guyana’s governance structure. Attorney pilgrim highlighted to the Commission a letter written by “concerned citizens” who recognised the “deep political and economic crisis” in the country and as such, registered their support for a broad based governance structure. This evidence concretized the view expressed by Mr. Rodney. The eight round of public hearings of the Commission adjourned yesterday with the next round scheduled to be held from March 23 and 27, next. The younger brother has not completed offering his evidence.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday February 21, 2015

Saturday February 21, 2015

Kaieteur News

Global collaboration must aid counterterrorism efforts - Obama It is an established notion that the security of any country is a matter of paramount importance. The ‘challenges of security’ was therefore a subject that gained immense attention at the recently concluded Summit in Washington D.C., United States on Countering Violent Extremism. President Barack Obama in his closing remarks at the Summit made it clear that “we face genuine challenges to our security today just as we have throughout our history. Challenges to our security are not new.” Even as he spoke of the resilience and strength of the Western territory, President Obama spoke of the importance of overcoming challenges by working together. “When tragedy strikes, when we take a hit, we pull together and we draw on what’s best in our character – our optimism, our commitment to each other, our commitment to our values, our respect for one another. We stand up, and we rebuild, and we recover, and we emerge stronger than before. That’s who we are,” the President asserted. His attempt to outline the method of overcoming challenges of security was done even pointed out that “One of those challenges is the terrorist threat from groups like al Qaeda and ISIL. But this isn’t our challenge alone. It’s a challenge for the world. ISIL is terrorizing the people of Syria and Iraq, beheads and burns human

beings in unfathomable acts of cruelty. We’ve seen deadly attacks in Ottawa and Sydney and, Paris, and now Copenhagen.” And so in the face of this challenge, President Obama informed that “we have marshalled the full force of the United States government, and we’re working with allies and partners to dismantle terrorist organizations and protect the American people.” But achieving this ambitious goal, he noted, is one that will take time and requires vigilance, resilience and perspective given the complexities of the challenge and the nature of the enemy — which is not a traditional army. Nevertheless, the President is confident that, “just as we have for more than two centuries, we will ultimately prevail.” And his confidence is nestled in “the overwhelming response of the world community to the savagery of these terrorists — not just revulsion, but a concrete commitment to work together to vanquish these organizations”. At the United Nations in September of last year, President Obama called on the international community to come together and eradicate the scourge of violent extremism. And he later expressed “I want to thank all of you — from across America and around the world — for answering this call.” The US State Department, governments and civil

society groups from more than 60 countries were earlier this week set to focus on the steps that can be taken collaborative to address the security threat. And according to the President, “…our nations have to remain relentless in our fight — our counterterrorism efforts — against groups that are plotting against our countries.” Moreover he pointed out that countering violent extremism is something that is not just a matter of military affairs. He went on to explain that “…by violent extremism, we don’t just mean the terrorists who are killing innocent people. We also mean the ideologies, the infrastructure of extremists — the propagandists, the recruiters, the funders who radicalize and recruit or incite people to violence.” “We all know there is no one profile of a violent extremist or terrorist, so there’s no way to predict who will become radicalized,” said the President as observed that “around the world, and here in the United States, inexcusable acts of violence have been committed against people of different faiths, by people of different faiths — which is, of course, a betrayal of all our faiths. It’s not unique to one group, or to one geography, or one period of time.” (Extracted from President Barack Obama’s closing remarks at the Summit on Countering Violent Extremism)

U.S. Justice Dept. to seek emergency stay to allow immigration action (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department will seek an emergency stay to block a decision by a federal judge and allow eligible immigrants to apply for benefits granted under President Obama’s executive action, the White House said yesterday. Immigration advocates have called on the administration to take legal action to reverse the injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen that halted the issuance of work permits to eligible immigrants one day before the program’s launch. But seeking a stay comes with added headaches for the Obama administration. Hanen must approve the stay and the Justice Department is concerned he could drag his feet or deny it. Delaying a decision could keep the administration from filing an appeal in the 5th

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen Circuit, where the decision would be taken out of Hanen’s hands. Approximately 4.7 million undocumented immigrants are expected to be granted relief from deportation under

the program if it is allowed to go through. The Justice Department will file paperwork to seek a stay by Monday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.

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Kaieteur News

Saturday February 21, 2015

Kiev accuses Russia of sending more tanks to east UKRAINE (Reuters) - Kiev accused Russia yesterday of sending more tanks and troops into eastern Ukraine and said they were heading towards the rebel-held town of Novoazovsk on the southern coast, expanding their presence on what it fears could be the next battlefront. Russia did not immediately respond to the accusation which, if confirmed, would go further to kill off a European-brokered truce that was met by relentless rebel advances after it came into force on Sunday. Moscow has always denied accusations in the past that its forces are fighting in Ukraine. Nevertheless, there were signs that the rebels may be prepared to halt their advance, having achieved their main military objective this week by seizing the strategic town of Debaltseve in defiance of the ceasefire. Reuters journalists in the battle zone, including Debaltseve itself now firmly in rebel hands, said it was quieter than it had been for days. Kiev and the rebels both announced a new agreement, signed by Ukrainian generals and separatist leaders, to begin withdrawing heavy weapons from the front line, one of the main requirements of the truce deal. Kiev’s biggest worry is that rebels will continue their advance to threaten Mariupol, a highly strategic port of 500,000 people that is the biggest city still under government control in the two rebellious eastern provinces. Novoazovsk, where Kiev said Russia was reinforcing, lies 40 km (25 miles) to the east along the coast near the Russian border. “In recent days, despite the Minsk (ceasefire) agreement, military equipment and ammunition have been sighted crossing from Russia into Ukraine,” military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said. He said more than 20 Russian tanks, 10 missile systems and busloads of troops had crossed the frontier. The United States, which is considering tightening sanctions against Russia and arming Kiev, also says it has sighted Russian reinforcements. The State Department said Russian support for the rebels was undermining international diplomacy and would bring “costs” on Moscow. Western nations have held out hope they can revive a peace deal brokered by France and Germany in the

Belarussian capital Minsk on Feb. 12, even though the rebels ignored it to seize Debaltseve, a town on a strategic railway hub, inflicting one of the worst defeats of the 10-month-old war on Kiev. “We are more convinced than ever that they must be applied - all the agreements, nothing but the agreements,” French President Francois Hollande said in Paris alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday. “THESE ARE OURS NOW” In Debaltseve, where Kiev was forced to withdraw thousands of besieged troops this week, the black, blue and red flag of the rebels’ self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic flew over the town hall. Artillery could be heard in the distance. Walls were pock-marked by bullets or had huge holes blown in them. Burnt-out hulks of tanks and military trucks lay abandoned on the road. Heavily armed rebels and tanks patrolled the streets on the outskirts, where bridges had been blown up and the railway appeared to have suffered major damage. A separatist fighter picked out ammunition left by fleeing government troops from the rubble. “These are ours now, and we’ll use them against them. We have to expand,” said the rebel who refused to give his name, straightening up while a dozen others continued their search for arms and ammunition. The town held around 27,000 people before the fighting. Most fled during the battle, but thousands remained trapped inside, sheltering in cellars during days of relentless bombardment. Several hundred lined up for food in the centre of town. Many were weeping as they stood in the queue. “We’re waiting. They should bring dry meals in blue packaging since the pasta is already finishing,” said Yulia, 28, a teacher, holding her 10-

year-old niece by the hand. DARK MOOD AT UPRISINGANNIVERSARY In the capital Kiev, the military setbacks darkened the mood as crowds gathered for the first anniversary of an uprising that toppled the Moscow-leaning president Viktor Yanukovich and culminated in war. Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko accused a top aide to Russia’s Vladimir Putin of being behind the sniper killings of 100 Ukrainian protesters on the streets of Kiev during the uprising a year ago. “Just a few days ago, the head of state security told me that special forces operatives gave evidence that the Russian presidential aide Vladislav Surkov led the organisation of groups of foreign snipers on the Maidan,” Poroshenko told some of the relatives of those killed, according to his website. Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the accusation “madness”. Crowds headed to observe the anniversary at Independence Square in the heart of the capital, known locally as “the Maidan” and revered by Ukrainians as platform of a revolution that turned the country away from Russia and towards Europe. “We have shown the world, we have shown everyone that we can stand against the regime without weapons, that we are free people and we will fight till the end, till victory,” said Mykola Tokar who travelled from the Lviv region in the west to attend the ceremonies in Kiev. Some people wore combat fatigues showing allegiance to pro-government militias that have fought alongside Kiev’s troops against proRussian separatists. The mood was sombre. More than 5,600 people have been killed in fighting since mid-April last year, soon after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine following Yanukovich’s overthrow.

Swedish journalist missing in Syrian-Turkish border area: report (Reuters) - A Swedish freelance journalist has gone missing in the Syrian-Turkish border area, the Swedish newspaper Expressen reported yesterday, without disclosing its sources. The journalist was not identified but was described as in his 30s. He had planned to enter an area of Syria controlled by Islamic State militants via the Turkish town of Gaziantep but had not been heard of for four days, the paper reported. A Swedish foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment.

Saturday February 21 , 2015

Kaieteur News

MCYS/EBFA Pee Wee League continues today Under-11 teams on the East Bank of Demerara will continue their quest for glory while learning the fundamentals of the game in the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports sponsored East Bank Football Association U n d e r- 11 P e e We e

League. All six teams will be in action today with the feature match between Grove Hi Tech and Craig Primary. Grove will be hoping to return to winning ways having lost to Herstelling Raiders last week by the lone goal

of that encounter. Agricola Red Triangle and Mocha Champs will collide in the days opening game at 11:00hrs with the main supporting game bringing together last week’s winners, Herstelling and Diamond United.

Kraigg Braithwaite hits First day ... day... (From page 30) batsman as the Bajans slipped to 2434. Bishoo first got rid of Braithwaite at 240-3 and then induced Hope to sky one to Chanderpaul at deep mid-off after batting for 297 minutes, 169 balls and reaching the

boundary seven times as the Jaguars fought back towards the end of the day. Roston Chase and Shane Dowrich took the score to 252 after a six from Dowrich off Bishoo brought up the 250 from 95.4 overs before

Dowrich (7) edged Bishoo to the Keeper. With extra batting points up from grabs, the Bajans sent in Warrican to join Chase and they opted to close shop. Play is scheduled to commence at 10:00hrs today.

Saturday February 21, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Jealousy could rear its ugly head today, Aries. This may involve a romantic relationship. Jealousy is often groundless. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Nervous tension could cause a temporary malaise that keeps your energy low today. Tasks and chores need to be done, Taurus. GEMINI (May21-June 20) A group with which you're affiliated may be temporarily torn apart by politics and quarrels. If so, Gemini, it's best to stay out of it. A friend could be having trouble and come to you for advice and help. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Changes in your home could cause temporary frustration that creates some tension with family members.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A person you're attracted to may seem to be interested in someone else. This could bring up your insecurities and jealousy. Don't make yourself crazy, Libra. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Someone is keeping secrets from you. We all have private issues we don't wish to share, Scorpio, but this affects you. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Perhaps you planned to attend a group event but circumstances beyond your control got in the way. Maybe it was canceled. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) A visitor who needs a little sympathy could visit you today. Your friend probably wants some advice about some problems.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Miscommunication with someone far away could lead to bruised egos, heightened emotions, and angry phone calls.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Some important plans, perhaps for a vacation or involving education in some way, could be temporarily blocked by circumstances beyond your control, Aquarius.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Your psychoanalytical talents could be put to work today when misunderstandings come up. Yo u r f r i e n d s aren't likely to be thinking clearly and may not respond to reassurances, Virgo.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A letter or phone call could bring upsetting news about money, Pisces. Your first reaction may be to blame yourself or someone else, but the circumstances are probably beyond anyone's control.

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Silver Bullets, Show Stoppers clash in NEE Mash Futsal Final tonight Silver Bullets and Show Stoppers will battle in the final of the New Era Entertainment (NEE) Mackeson Mashramani Futsal Final tonight after setting up the riveting showdown in the semis last weekend at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court in Linden. Silver Bullets had defeated Magic Stars 6-5 in one of the semi-finals compliments of a hat-trick from Colwin Drakes and solit a r y s t r i k e s f r o m To n y Gilbert, Damian Williams and Keon Sears, which

evaded Magic Stars in a closely fought showdown. Clarence H scored twice while Jermain G, Jonathan F and Joel McKinnon scored a goal each for Magic Stars, who will play Plantain AllStars in third place game tonight. In the other semi-final, Sean Brewley scored a hattrick with Steve Brewley, John Waldron and Anthony Sancho each scoring a goal in Show Stoppers’ 6-3 win against Plantain All-Stars. Donavan Francis scored all three goals for

Plantain All-Stars, who will play Magic Stars in the third place game Saturday night in the Mining Town of Linden. These players will be on show tonight when the competition culminates. The winning team will pocket $300,000 while t he runner-up gets $100,000. The third place team gets $75,000 in the tournament with $25,000 set aside for the fourth placed team. The MVP gets a pair of Futsal sneakers and trophy.

Systems in place as one... (From page 29) Silent Night, Princess Alicia, War Craft, Shooting Star, Sent from Above and Settling Jet. There is a race for Guyana bred and born three year old horses for a winner take of $250,000 and trophy. Among those lined up to go are Amazon Warrior and Slim Shady. Mary Ann, Dance for Gold, Red Jet, the Gump and Little, Royal Cash are among some of the animals racing in the I3 and lower event for the $200,000 purse and trophy. The J3 and lower event has a winning prize of $150,000 and trophy and Quincy, Short Man, Dance for Gold, Royal Passion, Red Region, the Gump and Trigger will be looking to draw down on those winnings. Patrons attending the event will have the benefit of receiving free programmes and parking along with other benefits which will be announced on race day. According to organiser and coordinator Nazrudeen Mohammed Junior the Rising Sun Turf Club venue has been give a general face lift and is expected to accommodate the thousands of additional spectators expected to throng the venue to be a part of the day’s activities. The grand stand, the entire sward and other pavilion, the paddock, commentator’s booth and official viewing areas were renovated. A bevy of sponsors including Banks DIH Limited, the Jumbo Jet Business entity, Kanhai Electrical, Survival Supermarket, Imperial Connections, Sankar Auto works, Customs family, Sheriff Business Enterprise and racing stables, Buddy’s Night Club, Chris Jagdeo construction,

Rommel Jagroop Construction, Balwant Singh and family, I and R Trucking Service and Fazal Habibulla among others are on board.

The event will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. Race time is 12:30 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday February 21, 2015

GASA Mashramani Long GFSCA Mash Softball Course Meet looms set for today at DCC The best swimmers in the land are set to match strides when the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) commences its 2015 season with the hosting of the Mashramani Long Course Meet on Saturday February 28 at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal. This Meet will also be used as Time Trials for the 2015 CARIFTA Swim Meet which will be held in Barbados in April this year. They are two junior girls in the 13-14 age group who will be the talking point of the day when the action begins and that will be Amy Grant and Kenita Mahaica who were both swimming very well last year and will push each other all the way to the finish. The last thing any swimmer wants to encounter before one of the biggest swim meet of the year is a virus, but that is what Amy Grant is facing as the trials to the CARIFTA Meet approaches. Grant has contracted a bug that kept her out of the water

Amy Grant

Accalia Khan

last week and when she returned Monday she made it worse and now she is suffering from a relapse. After visiting the doctor Thursday morning last, Grant was instructed to stay out of the water until the course of the medication is finished and she has stopped coughing. She is expected to be back in the pool by the 25th of February, three days before the meet. The older junior girls swimming in the 15-17 group the likes of Onika George and

Accalia Khan will be hoping to set a record time which will see them through this time trial for CARIFTA 2015. But it won’t be easy to swim the qualifying times set for CARIFTA in each event so the girls might have to select their best events and try their utmost to compete at this level. Brittany van Lange is also enduring a set back as she has been faced with one illness after another. She has returned three weeks ago and it is hoped that she is fit enough to swim her key events.

All roads lead to the Young Warriors ground for Mash Cup - Sukhpaul business enterprise lends support All roads lead to the Cumberland Cricket Ground in East Canje, Berbice for the popular annual fundraiser Mash Cup 2015. This is the third edition hosted by the Young Warriors Cricket Club. The first two were very successful and this one is expected to be no different. Proceeds from this event will go towards further enhancement and maintenance of the venue, the day to day running of the club and small contributions to the three main religious organisation within the area. The tournament will be of five overs aside and involves 11 teams from the No 19 straight road to Gangaram in the east Canje area. At the presentation ceremony, Raj Sukhpaul, Managing Director of Sukhpaul Business Enterprise, New Amsterdam Branch said that he is happy to be part of this tournament for the third time and is impressed with the work of the cricket club. He is satisfied that his investment is for a good cause. Speaking on behalf of YWCC, Cricket Director and Senior Coach Hubern Evans thanked the sponsor for their continued support to the club and called on the public to support the business enter-

Raj Sukhpaul, Managing Director of Sukhpaul’s business enterprise hands over sponsorship cheque to Hubern Evans, the club cricket director and senior coach. prise so that they can in turn Mundal, Office a Express and give back to the community. Geddes Grant. Evans thanked the other The championship begins sponsors on board so far at 9 am sharp with the host namely: Ansa McAL, Ashiek YWCC taking on Gangaram and Son Motor a Supplies followed by Buski Eleven vs and Auto Sale, attorney at law Kendall’s Union, Seawell vs Mursaline Bacchus, Waqar Canefield, Rose Hall CommuSahid of A Ally and Son nity Centre vs Betsy Triple Showroom, New Building Star and No 7 vs Goed Society Ltd, Memorex En- Bananen Land. Defending t e r p r i s e , R epublic Bank champions Young and RestGuyana Ltd, Jim Bacchus less fittingly drew the bye. Travel Agency, Mortimer Cash, trophies and medGeorge, Magistrate Chandra als valued at $150,000 will be Sohan, Martin Singh of As- up for grabs. Fans will also sociated Business Services, have the opportunity to win Sharples Furniture Establish- fabulous gate prizes. Trampoment, Prakash Mahadeo, line for kids will be there along Rayman Seedatt of Extreme with a well stocked Ansa Trucking, Satyanand Sripal of McAl bar and musical enterPrice is Right, RHTY&SC, J’S tainment. DJ Spongy will be Printery, Ahmad Satar in the house.

The Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association Mashramani One Day Softball tournament will be contested today at the DCC ground on Lance Gibbs St., Queenstown. Action starts at 2:00pm and will conclude at 11:30pm. Fourteen teams will be taking part. Eight teams will play in the Open category (male of any age) and six teams will play in the Masters category (40 years and over). The Male

Open will be 5/5 overs while the Masters will be 10/10. Matches will be played on two pitches simultaneously. Time will be strictly implemented. A five over innings will be 20 minutes, while a 10 overs innings will be 40 minutes. Changing between innings is 5 minutes. Entrance fee for the Open category is $15,000 and the Masters wil pay $20,000. Winner of each category will receive $50,000 and the

Runner-ups will receive $15,000 each. The yellow Floodlight ball will be used. Teams can purchase it at Mike’s Pharmacy on Sheriff Street. Contact can be made with GFSCA organiser Wayne Jones at 650-1790 or 685-6908 for last minute details. A similar day/night Softball 14- team tournament is planned for every last Saturday of every month at the DCC ground.

Cycling fraternity mourns the loss of George Emerson Former Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) and Roraima Bikers Club (RBC) Vice President George William Emerson who has been described as a stalwart to the sport died early yesterday morning following a brief period of hospitalization at the Caribbean Heart Institute. The respected Linden based businessman and former Proprietor of Rubigee Pharmacy served the sport of cycling with distinction according to RBC Patron and buddy of the late Emerson, George Humphrey. Born in Caracas, Venezuela on April 2, 1934, Emerson, a father of nine, migrated to Guyana at age 8 and has been a selfless contributor o the sport of cycling and the community of Linden. Humphrey, in paying tribute to Emerson highlighted his willingness and humility to serve the sport. He took on the responsibility of forming an arm of RBC in Linden and was at the forefront in organizing the sport in the Bauxite Mining Town. National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed when con-

George Emerson and daughter Melanie at the Seawall Bandstand attending the Annual Troy Humphrey Memorial Meet. tacted yesterday was shocked to hear of Emerson’s demise informing that it was only on Thursday they were informed at a GCF meeting that Emerson was very ill. ”The news is really sad and I know for sure that Linden and Guyana by extension has lost a true friend and administrator of the sport. He has been around since the late 70s and has made his mark even though he did not have a

background in administration but was willing to learn,” Mohamed noted. Emerson who will be laid to rest on February 25, has left to mourn his wife Ruby, children Anya, Richard, Stanley, Michelle, Melanie, Marcia, Julia, Jose and George; other relatives and friends including Aubrey Major and the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation. (Franklin Wilson)

Mayweather-Pacquiao...

(From page 27) demand. Both have been considered the pound-for-pound king at various times, with Mayweather having held that mythical position for the past few years with Pacquiao right behind him for most of that period. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and living in Las Vegas, “Money” Mayweather (470, 26 KOs), who turns 38 on Tuesday, has won world titles in five weight classes, mainly with his defensive brilliance and speed, while becoming the highest-paid athlete in the world. Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), a 36-year-old southpaw known for his speed, power and aggressive style, became the only boxer in history to win world titles in eight weight divisions - flyweight, junior featherweight, feathe r w e i g h t , j u n i o r l i g h t weight, lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight while also generating hundreds of millions

of dollars and being elected to congress in his native Philippines, where he is a national icon. “The reason I like my guy’s chances so much is because of his speed, the tremendous number of punches he throws, the quality of his punches and the fact that he is lefthanded,” Arum said. “Top Rank promoted Floyd Mayweather for 10½ years and we recognized that he had difficulty handling a speedy, left-handed fighter and that he and his father (and trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr.) were insistent that we not match Floyd with a southpaw. I remember two fights he had with southpaws who didn’t have the ability Manny has but who gave him trouble - (DeMarcus) ‘Chop Chop’ Corley, who buzzed him and had him in real trouble and Zab Judah.” Since 2009 Mayweather-Pacquiao has loomed as boxing’s biggest fight, but it took all these years to make it a reality.

Saturday February 21 , 2015

Kaieteur News

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Explosive encounters promised as Atwell goes after Mullings GTM, Castrol, Fly Jamaica airways, Guyana Beverages Company and Guyana Tourism Board render sponsorship packages By Michael Benjamin When boxing fans troop to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) tonight for the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) ‘Jamaica Invasion’ boxing card, they could rest assured that their thirst for fiery fistic action would be quenched when multiple champion and world rated pugilist, Clive Atwell, tackles Jamaican Contender Welterweight Champion, Sakima Mullings, for the Caribbean Boxing Federation (CABOFE) welterweight title in a fight that is potentially explosive. Mullings and his entourage landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timerhi, last Thursday night and yesterday morning, attended a pre-fight press conference at the Thirst Park location of one of the sponsors, Banks DIH Limited, before returning to the gym for light calisthenics. The boxers also visited the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street, Stabroek, last evening to conform to the weigh in process. This fight is the main bout on the card which is usually the final bout but will be contested two fights earlier, at around 22:00hrs, to accommodate Mullings who is required to be at the CJIA for his return flight to Jamaica. The press conference was well attended and was chaired by President of the GBBC, Peter Abdool. Also sharing the head table were representatives of Banks DIH Ltd, Communication Manager, Troy Peters and Brand Manager (Malta Supreme), Clayton McKenzie. Those that attended the

Peter Abdool receives the gift from Ms Yadram in the presence of GBBC member, Howard Cox press conference were somewhat taken aback by the high level of respect bestowed upon each other by Atwell and Mullings, unlike the scathing attacks that characterize these events. “Clive is a legitimate contender and I expect a very good fight but I intend to cart off the spoils when the final bell sounds,” assured the Jamaican pugilist. Atwell was just as cagey but hinted at a possible stoppage, “I am expecting a good fight and am saddened to hear that (Mullings) has to rush off to the airport so soon but the magnitude of the fight might just force him to seek medical intervention just afterwards thus delaying his departure,” declared Atwell. For his part, the Jamaican, while lauding his opponent’s ability, pronounced that this fight is too important towards his future advancement while stating that he has bigger plans for his immediate future which a loss would disturb. CABOFE middleweight champion, Lindener, Edmond DeClou, will come up against local super/middleweight champion, Dereck Richmond and the former pugilist is still bristling from a knockout loss

to the latter, last year, that left him (DeClou) nursing a broken jaw. Richmond, who resides in Berbice, was unable to attend the press conference but had earlier stated his intention to replicate the knockout feat. Quizzed on the possibility of a similar loss, DeClou tersely stated, “My days for drinking soup are over!” He was referring to months of misery when the injury restricted his diet to just liquids. DeClou further said that while waiting for his injury to heal he had been training in the hilly terrain in Linden. He said that such training has stood him in good stead and he is ready to return to his winning ways. “Tonight is my night and it’s going to be a different story,” he promised. Dexter Gonsalves is a reticent person by nature but yesterday he was somewhat garrulous. He promised to take the fight to Mark Austin in their 8 rounds non title bout saying that his training sessions had been thorough. However, Austin has different ideas, “This time around will be different and I will be coming real strong to take this decision,” he confidently declared. In-

Tourism official Mr. Haralsingh ((R) hands over his organization’s contribution to Peter Abdool in the presence of GBBC member, Howard Cox deed, the last time the two had met, Gonsalves had clinically taken his man apart, forcing the referee to halt the fight in the final round. In all fairness to Austin though, he had taken the fight on late notice and his claim of not having enough time to prepare may just hold water. Nevertheless, the stocky boxer who operates out of the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym, under the tutelage of George ‘Canchi’ Oprecht, will have to dig real deep if he is to get past Gonsalves, a fighter of vast potential and promise. Also on the card debutant, Keeve Allicock will square off with Quincy Gomes in a 6 rounds catchweight affair while another debutant, Travis Fraser, will come up against his Barbados based countryman, Charwyn Eswick over 4 rounds. Meanwhile, organizers have recently received valuable support from GTM, Castrol and Fly Jamaica; the first two entities have donated much needed sponsorship dollars while the latter has pitched in with two airline tickets which will be won by lucky patrons after a draw of the ticket stubs just before

the start of the feature attraction. That person will win two airline tickets to any of the destinations serviced by Fly Jamaica Airlines; Jamaica, New York and Canada. On Thursday afternoon, two other entities added their ‘two bits’ towards the success of the card; Marketing Manager of Guyana Beverages Company, Shamieza Yadram and Director of Tourism, Indranauth Haralsingh visited the Avenue of the Republic office of Abdool and Abdools Insurance Brokers and handed over their contributions on behalf of their respective agencies. Guyana Beverages will be sponsoring under their energy drink, Turbo, and a lucky customer will win two cases of the product along with a Turbo bucket. Patrons are asked to retain their ticket stubs to improve their chances of being among the winners. Meanwhile, Ms Yadram said that her company is extremely delighted to have been able to render support to the card. She said that her boss, Robert Selman, is a sports enthusiast and is always delighted to render support to events of this nature.

She also said that Guyana Beverages is committed to the development of sports in Guyana and the gesture is but a continuation of that very support rendered in the past. She also wished the organizers and the boxers all the best. Mr. Haralsingh also expressed delight on behalf of the Tourism Board while indicating that his organization has been supporting the developmental efforts of the GBBC for more than two years. “Boxing fosters self discipline and we see the sport as having the potential of advertising Guyana on the international market so we are delightful to be a part of this exciting venture,” exhorted the Tourism Director. President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, received the gifts and thanked his benefactors for such chivalry. He also assured them of the value of their contributions in the wider objective of the development of the sport. “Consequently, I wish to encourage a wide audience support even as I beseech citizens to come out in their numbers for an evening of high class entertainment,” beseeched the GBBC boss. Fans are also reminded that the Mullings/Atwell fight will be the third bout on the programme to facilitate Mullins’ flight as the Jamaican will now be required to check in at the Cheddie Jagan International Airport at 12:00hrs of fight night to board his plane back to Jamaica. Boxing buffs are advised to be at the venue early to be a part of the action which starts at 20:00hrs sharp.

Mayweather-Pacquiao set for May 2

By Dan Rafael (ESPN.com) At long last, pound-for-pound greats Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will finally fight. Yes, the fight that looms as one of the most anticipated in boxing history is finally on. For more than five years, sports fans have clamored for a summit meeting between the two best fighters in the world, and after various failed negotiations — and a protracted and difficult effort to make the fight in recent months — they will get it on May 2 to unify their welterweight world titles at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The showdown is a lock to be the richest in boxing history and will, barring a draw, settle the issue that has been debated for years: Who is the No. 1 fighter in boxing and who is the king of his era? Mayweather made the announcement yesterday afternoon on a social media platform called Shots, of which he is an investor. Many involved expected the announce-

ment to come Thursday, but Mayweather was upset because Top Rank, Pacquiao’s promoter, was leaking word of the impending announcement, and he wanted it to be a surprise. According to those familiar with the agreement, the contract Mayweather signed for the fight gave him the right to be the one to announce the fight, even though he was obligated to notify Top Rank of when he would do it. Thursday afternoon, Top Rank was notified, and Mayweather made the announcement about an hour later. Although he announced it Thursday, the deal had been done for a couple of days with both sides having signed the paperwork. Contracts were also signed by broadcasters HBO and Showtime, who will team for a historic joint pay-per-view. “It hasn’t been easy, but I think in some strange way the inability to get the fight done before now enhances its value, and this is one event that the public all over the world has been talking about and discussing for

years,” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com. “The interest in the fight will be absolutely red-hot. I’ve been promoting boxing for nearly 50 years, and there is nothing that has come close to this, because there has been nothing that has been so difficult to come to fruition. As interest is concerned, this akin to the first [Muhammad] Ali-[Joe] Frazier fight. “You have to be grateful that this is finally happening. You can’t bemoan the false starts and the inability to do this before. It’s here now.” In addition to the future Hall of Famers finally hammering out a deal for their welterweight title unification bout — one that will see Mayweather receive the lion’s share of a 60-40 money split in a fight that could gross around $400 million — rival premium cable networks Showtime, which has Mayweather under contract, and HBO, which has a deal with Pacquiao, went through a brutal negotiation and will come together to produce and distribute a joint pay-per-view telecast, which

is expected to cost a record-high $89.95 (and probably $10 more for high definition). The fight is expected to shatter every revenue record in boxing history, including the pay-per-view buy record of 2.4 million generated by Mayweather’s 2007 junior middleweight championship fight against Oscar De La Hoya; the all-time pay-per-view revenue record of $150 million generated by Mayweather’s 2013 junior middleweight championship fight against Canelo Alvarez; and the all-time gate record of $20,003,150. It is only the second time Showtime and HBO have made such a deal. The first time was for the highly anticipated 2002 fight between then-heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, who was with HBO, and former champion Mike Tyson, who was with Showtime. For years, Mayweather and Pacquiao have been the two best fighters in the world, fighting in the same weight class but having not faced each other despite constant public (Continued on page 26)

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Kaieteur News

Saturday February 21, 2015

Rugby dominates as Cassie Top Brandz supports WBCA George claims double NSC awards Goodwill T20 Tourney Permaul and Yaw are respective sportsmen of the year

Following hours of intense deliberations by several editors of news organs and other influential personalities, middle distance athlete, Cassie George, was adjudged the top sportswoman, both in the junior and senior categories, while the Guyana Rugby Football Union ran away with several awards. National cricketer, Veerasammy Premaul earned the votes that segregated him from among several other sportsmen to clinch the top (senior) spot, while racecar driver, Kristian Jeffrey, drove off with the runner-up prize. Jason Yaw won the prize for the junior sportsman with Shemron Hetmyer clinching the runners up spot. Squash player, Akeila Wiltshire, copped the runnerup junior sports woman accolade, while in the senior department, the evergreen athlete and bodybuilder Alisha Fortune was the runner-up. Rugby player/coach,

Theodore Henry, copped the top award for the sports coach, while the efforts of officials of the Guyana Rugby Football Union were noted and that entity was awarded the sports association of the year award coupled with the most improved association accolade. Vidushi Persaud received the female sports official award, while the hard working President of the Guyana Power lifting Federation and Guyana Rugby Football Union, Peter Green, copped the Male Sports Official award as his organization extended their dominance from the field to the awards. Calvin Thomas was singled out as the best performing athlete with a disability, while Media practitioners were also among the top achievers. Sports reporter, Emmerson Campbell, was adjudged the best in the print media category, while Avenash Ramzan edged out

Jason Yaw several of his colleagues to clinch the sports journalist prize in the non print media. For the third year running, Orlando Charles has clicked his way to the top, earning the prize as the best sports journalist photographer award. These notable sports personalities will be aptly rewarded when the National Sports Commission stages the prize giving ceremony next month at the National Cultural Centre.

Bibi Ally of Top Brandz presents the trophy and cheque to WBCA PRO Abel Seetaram in the presence of Devi Henry. Top Brandz through its brand Corona Extra Beer has thrown support behind the West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA) in its Goodwill T20 tournament which is currently underway. Corona representative Bibi Ally yesterday presented a cheque worth $100,000 and a trophy which will be given to the winning team, to Public Relations Officer and Marketing Manager of WBCA Abel Seetaram at the Guyana Cricket Board office. Speaking at the simple

ceremony, Ally said they are pleased to be associated with the tournament and wished the teams well. “This is the company’s way of giving back to the public. Sports are very important to the development of the society and it also helps to reduce crime rate,” she added. Devi Henry of Top Brandz stated that cricket is very important to the Guyanese people. “This tournament gives the players an opportunity to showcase their talent and we are happy to lend

our support,” she said. Seetaram thanked the entity for its backing and said happy Corona is on board stating that this is a stepping stone for greater partnership. Top Brandz is a distributor of Corona Extra, Trio Stout, Mistic and Snapple juice among other products and is situated at 40 Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara. The playoffs will be held on Sunday at Cotton Tree ground.

Defending champs, Ravens, Royals set up Super Eight showdown

-National Basketball C/ships continue next weekend

NACRA 2014 champs

National Flour Mill assists Berbice U-15 cricketer The National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO) yesterday presented Berbice U-15 cricketer Nivendra Prasad of Bush Lot Rising Stars Cricket Team with equipment to enable him to participate in the ongoing Guyana Cricket Board’s Inter County U-15 Cricket competition. The simple presentation ceremony was done in the Company’s Board Room in the presence of Mr. Autamaram Lakeram – Assistant to the Managing Director, Mr. Afeez Khan Marketing Consultant, Mr. and Mrs. Prasad – Parents of Prasad, M r. J a v e d S a y w a c k – C o a c h a n d M r. R o b b y Saywack President Bush Lot Rising Stars.

Prasad was presented with a cricket bag and protective gear by Mr. Fitzroy McLeod – Financial Controller to NAMILCO. Speaking at the ceremony was Mr. Afeeze Khan, who admonished Nivendra to perform to the best of his ability. Mr. Khan also and pledged NAMILCO’s continued support towards his further development. He also mentioned the organization’s support and assistance to other charitable causes such as supporting the Rotary Club amongst other projects. In responding Mr. Javed Saywack the coach of young Nivendra summarized that the development of this youngster was mainly

due to the support and sponsorship the team received from NAMILCO in 2014. He emphasized that the development of Nivendra ballooned after the team won a sponsorship deal from NAMILCO. Mr. Robby Saywack, President of the Bush Lot Rising Stars expressed his thanks to NAMILCO for the wonderful gesture. He reiterated his gratitude and commended NAMILCO for playing an important part in making the life of Nivendra better. The NAMILCO team wished Nivendra continued success while emphasizing the need for him to stay in school and acquire an education.

By Edison Jefford Defending National Basketball Champs, Dyna’s Ravens balled to a lopsided victory after a slow start Thursday night against Berbice’s Smithfield Rockers, setting in motion their title defence at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in the 2015 National Championships. Ravens beat Rockers 8157 in the first game of the night. Marlon Rodrigues and Jermaine Slater top scored in the win with 13 points each while Akeem Kanhai had 11 points, nine rebounds and four steals and Tyrone Hamid nine points. Jamal Felix scored a game high 21 points, eight rebounds and four steals in the loss with Michael Bowen netting 10 points. Neil Wills scored nine points and eight rebounds while Kevon Manuel grabbed a whopping 18 rebounds and added four points. Ravens tested different

combinations on the court in the first half before releasing its backcourt, Dominic Vincente, Stephon Henry and Rodwell Fortune in a runninggame that completely blew Rockers out of the venue after a competitive first half of the game. The encounter set the tone for an intriguing night where Linden’s Victory Valley Royals set up a Super Eight showdown with Ravens, after defeating Georgetown’s Republic Bank Nets 73-61 in a game that was decided in the final three minutes. Forwards Harold Adams and Ron Beckles scored 24 points each, while Chris Williams and Lawrence DaCosta had eight and seven points respectively for Royals, who dug deep to pull off a big win against Nets. Michael Richards was the leading scorer for Nets with 18 points, complimented by four assists while Pelham Doris registered nine points,

four rebounds and six steals, while Hodayah Stewart scored nine points. Leading 46-43 heading into the final period, Adams went on a rampage, scoring 15 points in the last 10 minutes to inspire the win despite the efforts of Hodayah Stewart and Michael Richards, which kept Nets in the game. With 4:23 remaining on the clock, Adams again took on the offensive leadership of his team for a 9-3 run that propelled Royals to a 65-58 lead. Beckles and Chris Williams placed the game out of reach with four points in 20 seconds to set up the quarterfinal showdown with Ravens. The Super Eight Playoffs will commence The National Basketball Championship Weekend next Friday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The Final Four will follow the next day with Finals set for Sunday March 1 in a pulsating weekend of basketball.