Monday February 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 5
Too much politics in local calypso - Judge Semple
‘The Mighty Sparrow’ By Kiana Wilburg Calypso music has undoubtedly earned its place in Guyana’s Cultural Heritage. And as such, it is now one of the most highly anticipated features of the Mashramani Festivities. This year’s competition was certainly a thrilling treat, especially at the Final leg of theAdult Calypso Competition. But the Competition though exceptional, can be taken to greater heights. This is according to Mr. Cecil Semple, who served as a judge for the Calypso Competition this year. Semple was a member of the Guyana Police Force who developed a passion for the art form and maintained a constant presence at the Trinidadian Calypso Tents. However, Semple who has served as a judge for several years and has been an avid collector and aficionado of Calypso music, urged the potential contestants for the Mashramani Calypso Competition next year to make a special effort to be crafty. “What I found was that most of the submissions this year were focused on politics, but the Calypsonians need to understand that they don’t always have to be political. And judging from the songs, I can tell you that most of them listen to calypso music by some of the people who actually pushed it in Trinidad and Tobago.” Further, “Our local Calypsonians need to understand that they don’t have to be so blatant with their lyrics. There are times when you are listening to calypso music and you wouldn’t have to guess who or what it is speaking to but at the same time it was not being plain about the issue. It is important to bait the audience, have the listener think. Don’t do it all for them. It is important to pay attention to techniques and the power of pun.” He added, “The greatest of the calypsonians have been known for their uncanny way of being funny with certain topics that are non-political. There was a time when a local calypsonian sang a song about putting meters outside. Long ago meters used to be inside of the
Reigning Champion of the Mashramani Adult Calypso Competition, ‘De Professor’ house for some people. And the man’s song was about him coming home one day and finding the meter man in bed with his wife. And so the way in which it was done was most certainly hilarious but it was also an important issue and so it had an effect on that very system. Meters started going outside. I’m not saying everybody should start singing about meters now; my point is that, Calypso is more than just political issues.” “If you take a look at some of the calypsonias like Lord Kitchener, Sparrow, and Chalkdust, you would see that whilst they can focus on the political side of things, they can also be adaptable and speak on other issues. This is what our local Calypsonians need to do as well. Be versatile,” Semple advised. In addition to this, the Calypso judge also stressed the need for Calypsonians to ease as much as they can, “the recycling of the lyrics of certain songs of yesteryear.” “While I know that some of the calypsonians may deeply admire some of the forerunners of this type of music, it kills me when I hear a set of contestants just repeating lyrics of calypsonians of the past. We are an innovative set of people. We aren’t supposed to be doing that. It is no doubt that our calypsonians are extremely talented but we want to see that talent. But you can’t develop that talent for Calypso if you continue to serve the public with recycled music. We can do better than that. We need to take the calypso competitions to another level. And monopolizing the political topics will not always work in your favour. Some things just need to take a rest. Take it to a higher level and spread your talents. You can only refine your talents by going outside the box. You can’t expect to grow when you confine yourself to a comfort zone.” Taking the aforementioned points into consideration, the Calypso judge said that if this advice is heeded, he can guarantee that come next year, Calypso lovers will be in for a show beyond their expectations.
Calypso Judge, Cecil Semple
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 24, 2014
CMO anticipates return of full accreditation for UG medical prog. In light of the fact that the University of Guyana (UG) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) are two of the main institutions in the Caribbean catering to the qualification of medical professionals, it is of utmost importance that these bodies retain a high educational standard. This notion was vocalised recently by Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, who during an interview with this publication, expressed optimism that the local University’s School of Medicine would swiftly put itself in order. His remarks were forthcoming following recent disclosures that UG’s Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Programme has since last year been subjected to provisional accreditation. The University had previously been afforded a five-year full accreditation from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP),
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud and was mandated to report on an annual basis to the accreditation body. CAAMHP is the legally constituted body established in 2003 under the aegis of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), empowered to determine and prescribe standards and to accredit programmes of medical, dental, veterinary and other health professions education on behalf of the contracting parties in CARICOM.
According to Dr. Persaud, who also facilitates lectures in Community Medicine at the University, moves to downgrade the accreditation status was premised on failure on the part of the institution to submit, in a timely manner, reports and other information to CAAM-HP. “So the restricted accreditation was not because of the quality of the school but mostly they were reprimanded because they failed to meet some timelines,” he explained. The CMO’s remarks were in fact synonymous with that made by Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Jacob Opadeyi, who during an interview with Kaieteur News had faulted the Faculty of the Health Sciences for failing to provide the University’s administration with requisite information that should have gained the
attention of CAAM-HP during its review last year. The Vice Chancellor informed that although requests were made by the University’s administration, no information was provided by the Health Sciences Faculty. “The Faculty has not brought a document for us to see the need; it has not yet been prepared...Give us a proposal of what is required to run this programme properly...do not ask for two of this, when you need two of that...I have asked them to send me a proposal and they have not sent it,” said an agitated Professor Opadeyi. He however, disclosed that based on his knowledge, efforts have since been made to prepare a list of resources and policy changes that are required for the attention of the Accreditation body. Ahead of Professor Opadeyi’s disclosure, Dean
of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr Anthony De Freitas, had told this newspaper that the most recent review by CAAM-HP had highlighted concerns that were mainly related to finances and funding of the medical programme. He had asserted too that the move to grant the medical programme provisional accreditation was in no way related to academic performance but rather linked to issues of an administrative and financial nature. But the downgrading move is certainly not unique to Guyana as according to Dr Persaud, similar actions have been taken in the past against the University of the West Indies. “UWI like UG was placed on restricted accreditation to bring itself in order...we have been advocating that since these are the two principle training schools for the population of
the Caribbean, along with Cuba, we have to do everything that we can to ensure that our schools maintain a certain standard and that they keep their programmes in place,” said Dr Persaud. Meanwhile, the CMO noted that the medical programme at UG is continuing as usual, therefore all students enrolled will receive their education component even as moves are made to restore the fullaccreditation status. “The fact that the accreditation status has changed, it might affect the university a bit but not in terms of the quality of the programmes,” added Dr Persaud. The local university has up to next year to put relevant measures in place before it i s a g a i n r e v iewed and become eligible for full accreditation.
Lombard Street shooting...
City businessman released on station bail A Light Street businessman who has been at the center of the investigation into last Thursday’s murder of money changer Brijlall Persaud has been released on station bail. The businessman was arrested shortly after Persaud was killed by bandits on Lombard Street, minutes after he had left his Eccles, East Bank Demerara home. The assailants, one armed with a handgun, also grabbed a bag containing $1M and made good their escape. Kaieteur News was told that the second person who was arrested in connection with the murder remains in custody. A vehicle which was also impounded has not been released to the owner either.
Brijlall Persaud Relatives of the dead money changer told Kaieteur News that they were yet to hear from the police. One close relative told this newspaper that Persaud had no known problems with anyone. A post mortem
examination is expected to be conducted on Tuesday. According to reports, Persaud was driving along Lombard Street when one of two men opened fire on his vehicle. The bullets shattered the glass on the driver’s side window. Kaieteur News understands that Persaud was shot to the head and leg. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Hospital. An eyewitness told Kaieteur News that he was walking along Lombard Street at the time of the fatal attack. The bandits reportedly snatched a bag from the businessman’s vehicle and rushed back into a waiting car. Kaieteur News understands that there was a second bag in the rear seat which was left behind.
Monday February 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 7
Sandvort Village gets community Library compliments of US Peace Corps
Peace Corps Volunteer, Matthew Cusimano and a student examine reading materials in the community library. Residents of the remote village of Sandvort, West Canje, Berbice will now have an opportunity to enhance their literacy skills following the recent commissioning of a new fully stocked community library in their
village. The Library which is located at the bottom flat of the Sandvoort Primary School was set up with the help of The United States Peace Corps. The setting up of the
library was the brainchild of former Headmaster of the Sandvoort Primary School, Mr. Madoda Alfred, who along with some village leaders had pondered the idea after seeing the need for such a facility in the community.
The idea was later put to the United States Peace Corps, which has a volunteer Matthew Cusimano working at the school. It was forwarded to the principals in Georgetown who responded readily. Speaking with the media, Cusimano stated that the Peace Corps is willing to assist residents in any community to better themselves in terms of education. Noting that despite the fact that Sandvoort Village is not in a town nor is it a hinterland settlement, the establishment of a library in the village is testimony that such projects can be executed anywhere in Guyana. He said that when the idea came up, he thought it was a good one and an opportunity to do something unique and tangible for the community. He said that his involvement in the project was more of a liaison between Georgetown and the village and he was happy that it came to fruition. He was also particularly please with the work ethics and the turnout of the
villagers who gave their services in various ways. “This was great and with attitude like this any or most things can be achieved,” Cusimano stated, while congratulating the villagers for their support. Because so many people in this village came out to support the project, in terms of painting, cleaning, donating and shipment of materials, the cost of the project was broken down from the original US$ 70,000 to US$5,750. The library is fully stocked with books and is also equipped with three computers, printers and internet access, Speaking at the commissioning ceremony was Literacy Officer attached to the Department of Education, Region 6, Ms. Simone Dainty, who reminded residents of the community
of the importance of reading. She noted that the establishment of the library will enable the students to enhance themselves and perform better academically. “It is so important for you to make full use of the facility and make sure that it is utilized to the fullest,” she told those in attendance. Praise was also showered on present Head Teacher Ms. Raylene Whyte, who was very instrumental in making the project a reality through her support, inspiration and technical guidance. Sandvorth Village, which is located about five miles from New Amsterdam on the right bank of the Canje River, was the one of the first villages established by freed African slaves after the abolition of slavery. The school there presently houses some 30 students and four other staff members.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 24, 2014
Monday February 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 17
Body of missing tug captain found It turned into a sad Mashramani Day for the family of Tug Captain George Clarke, when his body was fished out of the Mazaruni River at Iteballi, four days after he was reported missing. His son, Oswin Clarke, said that he received the news of the discovery of his father’s body at around 7.15 hrs yesterday. He said that another brother, who saw the body, told him his father’s remains were found near the tug, which was moored on the Mazaruni River shore near Iteballi. According to the son, the corpse was badly decomposed, and he
expressed suspicion that his 74-year-old father may have died earlier than was reported. According to Oswin Clarke, his father’s trouser zipper was down and his genitals were out. This, he said, seemed to indicate that his father might have been urinating when he ended up overboard. But he stated that his father knew to swim, and would have been able to reach the shore, which was a few feet away. He said that his father’s rings were missing, but his watch, and cell phone which were on the tug, were recovered. Family members again urged that police question
those who were around when the Tug Captain vanished. George Clarke, of Lot 10 Nelson Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara, is said to have vanished at around 11.00 hrs on Thursday, while working on the MV Arawai, which is owned by Toolsie Persaud Limited (TPL). Clarke’s relatives and a crewman from the tug are at odds as to when he went missing. The crew member, who was the only other person on board, told Kaieteur News that he last saw Mr. Clarke at around 11.00 hrs on Thursday. However, a daughter of the missing man
Monday February 24, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): If you're not active today, you may wonder what you can do to change that. Make sure that you've got multiple options in case anything falls through, and you should be right where you want to be. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): While you might not have clairvoyant powers, today you will have a knack for predicting the future. Friends will want to know which risk is safe to take, which person is most interested -- even which stock to buy. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You are ready for seriously bold action today! It's time to step up and make the grand gestures you know you can make. If you have been beating around the bush with someone you have growing feelings for, today is the day to bite the bullet and confess your true emotions. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Focus on your own needs today -- things are getting harder, but you can nurture your own talents so that things start to get a lot better quickly. Your friends and family can wait for one more day. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): You could have fun doing almost anything today -- so make sure that you're staying focused. The drudge work you've been putting off could be made into a game or a group activity. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): Your inner being is pushing you to do something new and untested, but you know perfectly well that it won't work out -- and why, for that matter. *********************
LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): You are exploring more than just your immediate surroundings. You're checking out the psychic landscape and drifting far and wide over this world -- and any other that seems appealing. Enjoy the view! ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Something seems risky -- because it is! Your personal energy is better spent on things that are safe and cozy, like home chores or snuggling with your sweetie. Get back in the fast lane tomorrow! ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Try not to get too wrapped up in ego issues, but it's hard to miss the waves of admiration coming your way today. At work, at school or in the neighborhood, people are taking notice of your best features. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Your idealistic side is making itself known in a dramatic fashion today, so make sure that you're pushing for what's right. You may not come out ahead, but the moral high ground has a great view. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): Friends can be more than partners for good times and giggles -- they can be the greatest teachers you will ever meet in your life. But to learn their lessons, you have to listen without getting defensive. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Exercise your authority early today, so you don't have to deal with conflict or chaos later on. Things should start to ease up pretty soon, but if you're not at least a little uncomfortable, you're taking a risk.
insisted that she spoke to her father at around 19:00 hrs on Thursday. The crewman told Kaieteur News that they were moored near the Mazaruni River shore at Iteballi, while other TPL workers were loading logs onto the pontoon. He said that in the meantime, he was assisting Clarke to pump water out of the tug. According to the crewman, he was below deck holding a hose while the Tug Captain was above operating the pump. The crewman said that after about 30 minutes, he realised that the pump had ‘slowed down’ and he went on deck to check on Mr. Clarke, but did not see him. The man said he then searched the entire tug, including the engine room and the toilets, but saw no sign of Clarke. “Then I called the rest of the men on shore and they (also) say that they had not seen Clarkie,” the man said. Kaieteur News was told that the men then concluded that
Mr. George Clarke and his wife Mr. Clarke had fallen overboard. However, the crewman said that Clarke had never complained of feeling unwell or of having dizzy spells. The victim’s eldest son said that Mr. Clarke was employed for about 10 years as a seaman with Toolsie Persaud Limited. He was the Captain as well as the Engineer on the tug. He described his father as
a dedicated worker and expressed the view that he was not adequately rewarded for his dedication. The company is said to have owed Mr. Clarke several months’ salary. “At one time they called him out of his house at around one o’clock in the morning…another time we hid his shoes (so he couldn’t go) and he found a pair of slippers and went.”
GTUC urges private sector... (From page 11) claiming his non-assent to Bills is because they are unconstitutional…The determination of constitutionality is vested in the Judiciary, not the President.” It reminded too that as Head of State and Head of Government, the President’s vested primary responsibility is to deliver leadership to the society by assuring the citizenry, regional and international bodies of his administration’s capability and commitment to respect/ implement all laws. “It is his responsibility to address the just demands made by the GTUC, opposition and CFATF, and he is urged to do so.” GTUC reminded also that the matter of the Anti Money laundering law, its implementation and being CFATF compliant began in 2009. Guyana was placed on the Watch list (Black list) in 2013. “This nation must get it right and President Ramotar has more than enough time before the National Assembly meets again to attend to the outstanding matters brought to his attention…There are 24 hours in a day…It can be done if the President has the political will.” According to the GTUC, should the Bill fail to pass, it is not because of the Opposition but the result of the administration’s comfort with the status quo.
Page 18
Kaieteur News
Monday February 24, 2014
Art and craft production will play... VACANCY
(From page 19)
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant Call: 670-8893/684-2838
WANTED WANTED One male store assistant. Apply to K&B Mining & Hardware Supplies @109 Regent Road Bourda. Call: 225-0349; 222-2475 Taxi Cars at M&M taxi service @ 29 Queen St Kitty Tel: 226-4743; 231-7392 Live in waitress must be honest & courteous. Salary $50,000. Boarding & lodging free – Tel:610-5043 Supervisors to work at 704 Bar – Contact:223-5273/4 Attractive live in waitress Tel: 228-5129; 604-8277
Experienced bartender, male/ female waitress & cooks. Apply in person @ Sheriff Restaurant & bar, Lot 10 Sherriff St, between 1pm-4pm Tel: 658-0719 General Domestic, cleaner – Contact:609-1535; 227-8529 Skilled mason and carpenter – Tel:668-9863; 625-0930 Restaurant cooks, bartenders, cleaners, handyman to work in kitty – contact: 223-6284/ 225-9211 FOR SALE/ RENT For Sale/ Rent: One Taxi Service with complete base station radio, frequency, lighted sign board etc. Call: 619-2800
Drivers / Mechanic Contact: 644-3600 Urgently needed live-in waitress to work in bar, reasonable salary offer – Tel:259-0574 Live in male & female domestic – Tel: 613-6613 One Dragline operator – 613-6613 Live in , live out babysitter Tel: 225-6070 Upholsterer, joiners, spray painter & handyman – Contact:225-6810; 660-5190 Sawmill workers – Tel:6539752. Driver with minibus licence for contract. Living in Georgetown – Call:675-3093 1 Live in domestic from the interior age 18-30 Contact:614-1020 One cook to work in interior Contact: 681-6044 Live-in care taker for sawmill @ Yarrowkabra Soesdyke, Linden Highway, family person – Call: 261-2553 for information. Experienced Counter Servers, roti /puri cooks & waiters. Apply @ Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce St. Husband / wife to live in and work. Husband: Labourer, wife: domestic – Tel:227-1830 Hire car drivers - 35yrs and older - Tel: 611-1018 or 6426564 Babysitter from Georgetown, Monday - Friday – 8Hrs – Tel:611-1981 One Cook (must be able to prepare a variety of Indian Dishes & assist in cleaning) – Tel No:688-3686
Experienced Pharmacy Assistant. Must have at least 3yrs experienced working in Pharmacy – Call:661-3124 One Cosmetologist required Call: 227-4799 Two Joiners to work in Workshop - Tel:610-7005; 219-1342 1 Housekeeper must know to cook @ 223 Camp Street. (3 Storey building next to Shell Gas Station) - Call: 644-7724 One Male Janitor. Apply in person at Alabama Trading Georgetown, Ferry Stelling, Stabroek. Salesgirl & accounts clerk. Apply in person with written application @ Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling Stabroek. An Established company is looking for 1 experienced outdoor sales representative (own vehicle) - Tel:642-4779
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 CAMP STREET, Prime Business Space Call: 6394499 GT TOOLS RENTAL: TEL: 675-0767; 627-5098 1 Newly renovated house @ Eccles Front. 3 Bedrooms upstairs - $90,000 & 2 bedrooms downstairs $80,000, separate entrance & parking – Tel:268-2121
TO LET Furnished apartments for rental @ Bent Street, Wortmanville - $US30 per day – Contact Numbers: 2263309; 693-2190; 218-1033; 678-4267 Furnished Apartments for Overseas Visitors – Contact: 668-5198
5 Acre Land with house to lease $95,000 for month – Call:261-2988
Aracari Hotel. West Bank Demerara Rates from US$30 Tel: 264-2946-8
Church to rent @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda – Tel:226-5183; 227-4406
1 Complete Lumber Factory to rent/ lease with all sawmilling equipment situated @ Eccles, Industrial Site. Call Richard: 609-7675.
New house at Leonara WCD, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, double garage, fully tiled yard. Decent Person Wanted. – Tel:2691277; 685-4016 Bulldozer, bobcat and excavator for hire best rates. Please contact:261-6664; 261-6607 or 629-5414
Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call:6193660,639-4452 House to rent @ East Bank Demerara less than 10 minutes from Georgetown – Call:643-5220;685-5306
One Semi furnished apartment to rent at Industry ECD – Tel:222-6001
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
1,2,3 bedroom @ Lot 2 Anna Catherina W.C.D – Tel:2760818 Bottom Flat @ Nandy Park, EBD – Call:610-4436
Natural Beauty Salon & Spa: Grove Market Street, EBD tele:265-4138, 652-5800 specialized in everything for women & children
From page 16 The agreement with TFO dates back to 2011. The association itself was incorporated in 2008. “You have come a long way, but I want to encourage you to keep on going and advance even further,” Prime Minister Hinds said. He pointed out that Guyana looks to tourism to be an important growth sector in the economy and that the production of art and craft would be an important part in a growing tourism industry. He challenged the association to recognise that they have to reach a point where they become a net provider of cash to Guyana’s economy. “We have to become a cash cow for the economy sometime because there are other areas which are calling
for support and development also, and maybe sugar cannot carry the load it used to carry, bauxite cannot carry the load it used to; we are looking to other things. We need other things to start picking up the load that our traditional areas like sugar and bauxite could carry in the way it used to before,” he said. “TFO has changed the lives of the Guyana Art and Craft Producers Association, the one thing with GACPA is that we need some hands on skills and that is what they did, they prepared us for the Caribbean market,” President of the Association Denzil Hollingsworth said. “The techniques that Beverley and Paul brought to Guyana have changed the entire outlook of leather, that is making us ready to go into any market that we want to
go into,” she said. She explained too that the Williams have encouraged and fostered a relationship with Harris Paints for the association. She said that the artists in the association were making use of acrylic paint that was very expensive, and through discussion with the company, it was found that the company could produce a much cheaper paint that works on leather, wood and all the other materials utilised by the association. She said that Harris Paints is now producing these paints in smaller tins, and it is accessible to all of Guyana, and available now all over the country. The Williams also crucially imparted to the association several safety measures, especially as it relates to the dangerous use of lacquer and contact cement, Hollingsworth said. Programme Manager, CESO Beatriz Munarriz said that the organisation’s support in the venture would not have been possible without the Canadian Government’s assistance through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. She said that CESO believes strongly in the concept of partnership and expressed hope that the venture with the Guyana Art and Craft Producers Association, in association with the Canadian Trade Facilitation Office will be a successful one. (GINA)
Monday February 24, 2014
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES O F H IGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICKSILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Natural Herbal Turmeric & Neem soap from $120 – Tel:666-5319 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Live/pluck chicken call: 6504421, 220-9203 1- 500 Ton Cargo ship - Tel: 676-6933 Large Plucked Chickens $280lb retail, Pork $380lb retail @ George & Hadfield Streets. Sears Riding mower $280,000, Honda Generator - $430,000 New, Brand new 18" Chain Saw 38,500 - Call: 261-2988 1 Honda Twister – Contact # 671-3533 One 210 Hyundai Excavator with one complete 6" Dredge and also 4" Dredge Contact: 650-2391
Kaieteur News
FOR SALE
PROPERTY FOR SALE
PS3 Controls PS2, PS3 and XBOX original games, Nintendo DS Cartridges - Tel: 672-8569 or 609-8132
One Land (100ftX50ft) and small house @ Tuschen E.B.E $5,000,000 - Tel: 6846245; 611-3802
1 precision built 14-16" bore, rice field, trailer, pump, 1 -4 wheel box trailer – Tel:2271830
Newly built prime exclusive property @ Norton Street for sale – $35M negotiable - Call: 687-7017
Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call: 672-2566 One snow cone cart complete –Tel:621-1549 Original Games- Call:6722566 Fluffy Pups – Contact: 2225671; 641-6162 1-2640 MF Tractor 4wd with 1 – Rome Plough 20 dish, 1CAT Satndby 3306,194KVA 3 Phase 60 Cylinder – Tel:6934596 2 – M132 Laverda Combine, 3- Pressure Pump 4x3 for gold field, 3 - 50 H/P 3 Phase Motor – call:627-0447 No Blackouts, Affordable 1 inverter + 2 deep cycle batteries 6 to 8 hours electricity 1 one year Tel:226 2646/ 691 9595
One three storey business property @ Middle street, Georgetown, 2 business Property on Whim Public Road Berbice - Tel: 619-7134; 225-6481 Lot 9 Jones Port Mourant, Berbice, 12 rooms , house with 16 acres land, price negotiable call:337-1500 House & Land @ 676 Parafaite Harmonie – Canal No 1 WBD, price:$5.5M Call: 678-9160; 653-3635 Prime Property for sale Light Street, Alberttown Contact: 639-3619, 619-7299 1 Business house and land @ Lot 28 Mon-Repos Public Road, E.C.D opposite the market Tel:220-1882; 220-9889 Satya Cinema Good Faith Mahaicony – Call:641-8472
Xerox Phaser 3300 MFP, brother intellifax, Epson projector S5, CRV RD5 radiator – Contact:665-7353 1 20 KVA enclosed generators - call: 675-7838 PVC Ceiling Panels, PVC Mouldings, Medallions. American Standard! – Tel: 614-8564; 629-0372 6 weeks old German Shepherd & pit-bull mixed pups – Call:695-3813 Rottweiler pups for sale – Contact:639-1431 or 6659140 Greenheart Piles - Tel: 639-3450 Pure Rottweiler pups - Tel: 650-8496 1 - 3 Ton Mitsubishi Canter, long base, excellent condition – Contact: Imtiaz Baksh – 621-1240 Desk and benches – ideal for school or lessons – Call:6833887 1 Stall @ Stabroek Market Tel: 658-0115; 718-757-8031 Diesel Perkins generator 12,500 watts - $495,000, wheel alignment machine hunter P611 - US$2800 – Tel:601-8276; 619-6863
LAND FOR SALE 1 Transported large lot @ Tuschen EBE - $2.5M – Tel: 617-4439 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968 House lots for sale on the West Bank of Demerara Harbour Bridge in Harbourville SchoonordContact:650-0402 20 Mining Blocks in North West between Sebai and Yarakita – Tel: 686-4936 or 687-7834
Princeton College Forms 1-5 CXC adults classes, Phonics, Sat, Lessons & Mathematics for slow learners - Tel: 2237906; 690-5008 Learn to decorate with Balloons. Classes on March 1st – Call: 225-3133; 613-7513 for more information. IAE @ Camp Street Register Now for January / June 2015 Classes: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science . – Tel: 683-5742; 223-0604
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) COOL TECH: Repairs Services & Installation of all types of home appliances: Air Condition & Refrigeration units - Tel: 2332008; 675-4959 House plan drafting from$10,000 surveying and estimates services available Tel: 667-2189 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,662-6045, 223-8115 Transportation services available in and out of Georgetown - Tel: 646-4501 Masons seeking job work – Tel:678-9043 We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699 Design Team Neher, The most dependable, professional, trustworthy landscapers in Guyana - Tel: 648-1821 or 2190468 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar FOR SALE / RENT American Pool Table - Tel: 277-0578; 635-9714 FOR HIRE Dump Trucks for hire to transport sand, aggregate, etc and bobcat for rental Tel: 694-1657; 261-6664
VEHICLE FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
One Mitsubishi Lancer in excellent condition – Tel:6454755
New 2014 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabsCall:691-0234
Mitsubishi Galant $900,000Call:645-3605
One Honda CRV fully equipped with running bars & other accessories, PNN Series. Excellent Condition! Price Negotiable - Tel: 6606763
1 Toyota AT212, AT192, AT170, EP71 Starlet, LTouring Wagon, Hilux Pickup 4x4, 1 Nissan Caravan E24 - Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453 One Toyota Prado and Tundra for sale: - Priced to sell – Tel:600-5759 or 225-0683-5
Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered: Premio, Runx, IST, Spacio, Fielder - Call: 652-3820; 665-4529
AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / termsCall:680-3154
Rav4 PLL Series LHD standard, sun roof, one owner, asking $1.35 Million Tel: 225-6046 or 663-2079 / 695-3091
2008 Fielder: Bodykit, spoiler, rims. Unregistered $2.95MCall: 617-2891
1 Toyota R4 2004 model – $2.6M cash – Tel:686-5083
We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 RX-8 – Tel:602-6024 Nissan Tiida, 45,000 KM leather interior, reverse & side cameras, CD & TV deck, excellent condition - $2M – Tel:615-2684; 227-8822 One Verossa, with chrome rims PMM 5454, excellent condition – Call:682-3396; 665-7206; 687-3866 Toyota Corolla HH 9111, Toyota Hiace, BMM 597 – Contact: Teemal Persaud:592-626-7479; 592648-5893 Toyota Corona 170 - Tel: 696-1355 Driven Auto Blowout Sale!!! – Unregistered Mazda Axela - $2,295,000 – Pioneer CD, crystal lights, remote start alarm -Tel:643-6565; 226-9931
Blankenburg Public Road WCD 38X150, 39X150 -$16M Each. Call:658-0132 ADOPTION Kittens for Call:628-1486
MASSAGE The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call:657-5979
PEN PAL Overseas Male seeking female 29 & up No Texting! 661-3299
American Style massage services- Call: 678-7499 Massage is one of oldest and simplest form of therapies. To experienced massage Call: 666-9274
Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www. dolly sautorental.com Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131 Aidan’s Car Rental & Pickup Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Untouchable Car Rental: Low Rate , Low Deposit call:231-8653,621-6827 Premio, vitz call:679-7139,6394452
2007 Axio $2.85M, Spacio $2.250M, fully loaded unregistered- Call:617-2891 800 Ford Tractor & 1 - 450 Ford Towing Truck, 1 Rear Size 38 tractor back wheel – Contact Floyd:694-5599 or Gurro: 689-1864 One Ford Crane Truck & 10 Ton Crane (new) - $8M – Call:622-6746 1 Mitsubishi Galant Car; 1 Toyota Corolla AE100 Car, 1 Honda CBR motorcycle – Call: 227-7544; 612-2542; 614-6011 Toyota Premio- Dark interior with TV, mags, spacio. Tel: 697-0294 1 Toyota Hilux LN170 in excellent condition - Tel: 641-2763 New ATVs: Introductory price $1,875,000 (Duty Paid)Call:691-0234 1 Toyota ACE small bus, excellent condition – Call: 642-4779; 616-5622, also 1 fully equipped music system sold separately. 1 Leyland DAF 4x4 Bush Truck. 1 Toyota Hilux 4x4 bush ready – Contact Kim: 658-5193
CAR RENTAL
Adoption
1 Large Plucking Machine brand new must go – Tel:655-4538 1-40ft drift sheen boat, 1round head 40 Yamaha , 3,000 ice box – Contact:275-0955; 6631879 or 663-8755
EDUCATIONAL
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LEARN TO DRIVE Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal street. Fee $16,000Call:227-3869 Ultravoilet Driving School – Contact:231-2372;6022583;658-4015 Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 689-5997, 644-5166,622-2872,6150964
1- F150 and 1- 212 (new model) for sale: Call:621-8129 Leyland DAF 85 truck - Call: 693-0088 First Class Auto: Avensis, Allion, IST, 212, Premio, Spacio, Raum, Passo, Fielder, Verossa -Call:6098188; 602-6307 2 Ton open back canter with power gate, unregisteredCall:617-2891 (Continued on page 18)
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Monday February 24, 2014
Barbados central Governor Meeting between Venezuela govt., wants VA T scrapped opposition may help ease protests Barbados Nation - Central Bank GOVERNOR Dr Delisle Worrell has recommended that Government scrap the Value Added Tax as a source of revenue since it is complicated, has hurt the tourism industry and is basically “a mess”. He is quoted as telling a Bahamian newspaper during a visit by regional journalists for last week’s Caribbean Economic Forum, that his stance on VAT, implemented here since 1997, was “very radical” because he believed it to be an inappropriate tax for a tourism-related economy. “VAT is an anti-tourism
Delisle Worrell tax if you are a tourism producer because it makes your tourism more expensive than the people who don’t
charge VAT . . . . A simple sales tax would do. If you had a simple sales tax then that would be a more efficient way to raise the same level of revenue,” he told the newspaper whose country is about to introduce a ten per cent VAT on goods and services. Describing VAT as very complicated, problematic, regressive and “horribly complicated”, the Governor told the Nassau Guardian that it placed a tremendous burden on Government administration. “Our VAT system right now is a mess because of outstanding refunds,” he stated.
Dominican Republic to present bill to help Haitian descendants WASHINGTON - CMC – The Dominican Republic’s Ambassador to the United States, Aníbal de Castro, says President Danilo Medina will this week present a bill to Congress aimed at creating a legal pathway for those born to undocumented Haitians and other foreigners. “It will provide for a path, a quick way to Dominican nationality to those people who can prove they were born in the Dominican Republic, that they have been living there all of their lives, that they have roots in the Dominican Republic,” de Castro told reporters here,
stating that Medina will present the plan on Thursday during his “State of the Union” address. “This solution will respect human rights and take a humanitarian approach,” he added. Last year, the Constitutional Court in the Dominican Republic ruled that Dominicans of Haitian parentage, who were born in the country, would be stripped of Dominican citizenship. International human rights groups, leaders from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Haitians, and others, have called on the
Dominican Republic to reverse the court ruling. Critics say the September 23 decision, retroactive to 1929, leaves hundreds of thousands of individuals, the majority of them of Haitian descent, “stateless”. They also say the ruling threatens to create a permanent under-class of people in the Dominican Republic. De Castro said the proposed bill is a result of Medina’s promise to CARICOM leaders that he would “implement a clear and transparent migration policy” that would provide legal status to those affected, according to the Miami Herald. The envoy rejected as unfair allegations that the Dominican Republic is a “racist country”.
(Reuters) - A meeting between a top Venezuelan opposition leader and President Nicolas Maduro today may help ease nearly two weeks of violent antigovernment protests that have killed at least eight people. State governor Henrique Capriles will meet Maduro at a routine gathering of governors and mayors and will likely get a chance to present the opposition’s grievances. The daily unrest has sharpened the bitter divide between critics and supporters of the ruling Socialist Party, although even Maduro’s rivals appear to be growing weary of blocked streets and constant clashes between students and police. “Dialogue is not about listening to what the government wants to say, it’s about making sure the demonstrators’ voices are heard,” Capriles, a two-time opposition presidential candidate, wrote yesterday in his weekly column. Five people have died from gunshot wounds in the unrest that began on February 12 with the death of a student protestor and was later fuelled by the arrest of hard-line opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez. A 23-year-old female student died on Saturday after being shot in the face with rubber bullets, while others have died in accidents caused by the roadblocks. Maduro, who has vowed to nurture the self-styled socialist revolution he inherited from late president Hugo Chavez, calls the demonstrations acts of
Nicolas Maduro and Henrique Capriles terrorism by “fascists” seeking a coup similar to the one that briefly ousted Chavez in 2002. But he has expressed willingness to meet Capriles. “Welcome, governor (to the meeting) ... we’ll speak there,” said Maduro, 51, before a rally of supporters on Saturday. His government has freed almost all of the nearly 100 students arrested during the recent unrest. That has been a central opposition demand, so could encourage dialogue. Maduro received a group of senior citizens at the presidential palace yesterday in one of several government events “for peace” in recent days that have been aimed at drawing a contrast with the opposition’s protests. The seniors, clad in red shirts, sat in the courtyard of the Miraflores palace listening to a folk music band. The protests were initially presented as a renewal of a stagnant opposition movement, but have risked alienating moderates. Roadblocks of burning trash and clashes between rock-throwing students and tear-gas-lobbing troops have shown no sign of forcing Maduro from power but have become a growing annoyance for the mostly well-to-do neighbourhoods where they take place. Many of Maduro’s harshest critics were outraged when a young supermarket worker died late on Friday after driving his motorcycle into a cable stretched across a road as part of an improvised opposition roadblock. “Who are you trying to convince by blocking your own street if your neighbours are already on your side?”
Capriles said on Saturday at an opposition rally. “Bravery is not throwing the most stones or talking the loudest, it is using ideas to change someone else’s mind.” The unrest has been worst at night, when clashes between hooded students and the security forces have tended to break out. Most cities have returned to business as usual by day. Residents of Caracas’ poor west side have not launched many demonstrations, though government critics there have joined traditional protests of banging pots and pans at their windows during Maduro’s hours-long television broadcasts. The wave of violence has shifted attention away from economic troubles including inflation of 56 percent, slowing growth, and shortages of staple goods such as milk and flour. The opposition attributes these problems to a collapsing economic system built on years of nationalizations, a corrupt currency control system and a constant refusal to heed the requests of private industry. Maduro calls it an “economic war” led by the opposition. The former bus driver calls himself the “son” of Chavez and has vowed to continue the generous public spending that helped reduce poverty and propelled the late president to repeated election victories over 14 years. Opponents say socialism has crippled private enterprise and weakened state institutions while spawning a nepotistic elite that enriches itself with the country’s oil wealth.
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Jamaica can earn US$800m from sea island cotton Jamaica Observer Jamaica can potentially earn US$800 million ($85.6 billion) annually from exporting Sea Island Cotton, according to expert estimates. Initially 500 acres of the crop will be cultivated in a pilot project with $11 million in grant assistance from the Japanese Government. The country can however maximise its earning potential by increasing the acreage tenfold. If the industry were to attain its putative potential it would rival the foreign exchange earnings of the third largest industry in Jamaica that of the bauxite/alumina sector. “We estimate that a vertically integrated west Indies sea Island Cotton Industry supported by 5,000 acres of cotton production when fully implemented will provide employment for over 2,000 persons full-time; 15,000 on a seasonal basis and generate income in excess of US$800 million per year in foreign exchange,” stated Vitus Evans CEO at Jamaica Agricultural Development Foundation (JADF) in his
address at a Wednesday press conference at JEA’s Kingston headquarters to announce the pilot project. The figure was corroborated by Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke in his address. “The prospect of the West Indian Sea Island Cotton industry which could create 15,000 new jobs and generate almost US$1 billion in foreign exchange earnings annually is an initiative which the Government must support at all costs. I therefore have no difficulty in pledging my support and that of my ministry to this project,” stated Clarke. But cynics cite historic false-starts and price fluctuations as evidence of the crop’s unattainable potential. Technocrats now posit that this time around markets and farmlands are secured. Jamaica produces Sea Island Cotton with a quality and texture that garners a comparatively higher price than in most parts of the world. The JEA indicated that the industry would require
government support to provide sufficient lands with irrigation infrastructure and farmer loans. Dalkeith Hann, chairman of the JADF indicated in his address that over the past decade JADF, the University of West Indies and Ministry of Agriculture had spent time and money developing a vertically integrated Sea Island Cotton industry in Jamaica. The JADF represents Jamaica on the board of the West Indian Sea Island Cotton Association which owns and controls the trademark. “There is a high demand internationally for West Indian Sea Island Cotton , the major buyers are from Switzerland and Japan with interest also from the USA , Italy and UK,” explained Hanna. “The cotton is presently being grown in Antigua, Barbados, Nevis and Jamaica — with Jamaica being the only island capable of large scale production at this time.” Hanna stated that cotton is a niche product with annual
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Roger Clarke (second left) witnesses the signing of an agreement between the Jamaica Agricultural Development Foundation (JADF) and the Japanese Government for the revitalisation of the West Indian Sea Island Cotton (WISIC) industry in Jamaica. Signing the agreement at the offices of the Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) on Winchester Avenue in Kingston are: Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency, Yasuo Takes (second right) and Chief Executive Officer of the JADF Vitus Evans. global demand at six million pounds (lbs) of lint. One third of the demand comes from Japan. “Hence today, I am especially pleased to join in Jamaica’s development endeavour in the agricultural field by providing this grant to rejuvenate the West Indian
Sea Island Cotton Industry,” stated Ambassador Yasuo Takase of Japan in his address. “The West Indian Sea Island Cotton is known by its highest quality of its kind, resulting in great demand by the Japanese industry. Thus, revitalisation of the
West Indian Sea Island Cotton production in Jamaica benefits both Jamaican farmers and Japanese industry.” The grant is funded through the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots and Human Security Projects of the Government of Japan.
WADA to implement new changes to code Jamaica Observer - THE World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has proposed new changes to its regulations and standards which will be implemented at the end of this year, some of which were highlighted at a forum hosted by the University of the West Indies, Mona, on Thursday. Tony Cunningham, manager of Education Programme at WADA, outlined that the anti-doping agency will be making a total of 2,269 changes to its code, which is aimed at protecting the integrity of sports. Some of the changes will see the code being clearer and shorter, having a better reach to athlete support personnel, smart testing, an increased importance of investigation and use of intelligence, sanctions, as well as clearer and fairer proportionality and human rights. The code will also see those found in breach as a deliberate cheat, now facing the maximum four-year ban period, up from two years, as well as greater flexibility. An athlete will now be found in violation of the antidoping violation rule if he or she misses three tests in eight months, down from 12 months. Minister with
(From left) Tony Cunningham, manager of Education Programme at WADA; Dr Rachael Irving, senior lecturer in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences UWI, Mona; Minister with responsibility for sports, Natalie Neita-Headley; Dr Paula Dawson, lecturer in the Faculty of Medical Sciences UWI, Mona; and Prof Horace Fletcher, dean in the Faculty of Medical Sciences UWI, Mona, in discussion after the Anti-doping Forum at UWI, Mona, on Thursday. (PHOTO: ASTON SPAULDING) responsibility for sports, Natalie Neita-Headley, told the Jamaica Observer that the forum was well put together and she is hoping to see more in the near future, as they will have to ensure that athletes are educated about the changes. “This seminar was fantastic, it is one of many I hope to come, and we will continue to collaborate with
UWI in the interest of preserving the integrity in sports. Most of what they are doing here we are to partner on, to ensure that we are working together for the betterment of sports development in Jamaica,” she said. The minister went on to say that they will ensure that core personnel of athletes, including parents, coaches,
administrators, managers, heads of associations and the support system of athletes are
also educated as it relates to the new code and what will be required of the athletes. President of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA), Mike Fennell, believes the changes are an improvement on the already existing code. “They have streamlined certain things that show the depth of the research that goes into this, because it is not easy to understand. “The important thing for us to grasp in Jamaica is that the importance of WADA is to ensure that there is harmonisation right across the world, so that athletes who are treated in our country, it is the same way they are treated in a country far away because they have a common platform to deal with the anti-doping in sports,” he explained. The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO), with the objective of educating athletes, support personnel, media and the general public about drug use in sports, has
commenced a process of training and development for junior athletes. The forum was a part of the university’s Research Days 2014, which lasted over three days, and was also used to present information on the e-Education pilot programme. The e-Education pilot is an initiative that provides anti-doping and drug-related information and training for sport professionals at various levels through a virtual learning hub. The University of the West Indies is seeking to lead the programme in Jamaica, as it has already been implemented in other regions such as Latin America and the Caribbean. If selected by WADA for the programme, UWI will seek consensus from JADCO to set up the online mechanism. The theme was ‘New Era Testing and Antidoping e-Education in the Caribbean’, that is in keeping with the new developments.
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Ukraine: Parliament chief takes presidential power KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The whereabouts and legitimacy of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych were unclear yesterday, after he left the capital and his archfoe Yulia Tymoshenko was freed from prison and returned to Kiev to address a massive, adoring crowd. Ukraine’s newly emboldened legislature voted yesterday to hand the president’s powers to the parliament speaker, a Tymoshenko ally. But Yanukovych has said that parliament decisions in recent days are illegal. A plane with Yanukovych onboard was denied permission to take off Saturday evening from Donetsk, a city in eastern Ukraine that is the president’s base of support the State Border Guard Service said. The president’s spokesman said yesterday morning that even he does not know where Yanukovych is. Ukraine is deeply divided between eastern regions that are largely pro-Russian and western areas that widely detest Yanukovych and long for closer ties with the
Protesters guard the Ukrainian government building in Kiev, Ukraine, yesterday. (AP Photo/ Marko Drobnjakovic) European Union. Yanukovych’s shelving of an agreement with the EU in November set off the wave of protests, but they quickly expanded their grievances to corruption, human rights abuses and calls for Yanukovych’s resignation. The Kiev protest camp at the center of the anti-
Yanukovych movement filled with more and more dedicated demonstrators Sunday morning setting up new tents after a day that saw a stunning reversal of fortune in a political standoff that has left scores dead and worried the United States, Europe and Russia. “We need to catch and
punish those with blood on their hands,” Artyom Zhilyansky, a 45-year-old engineer on Independence Square yesterday, referring to those killed in clashes with police last week. He and other protesters called for law enforcement chiefs to be held accountable and Yanukovych put on trial.
The newly emboldened parliament, in a special session Sunday, voted overwhelmingly to temporarily hand the president’s powers to speaker Oleksandr Turchinov. They also voted to remove a string of government ministers and tried to work out a coalition government. However the
legitimacy of the parliament’s flurry of decisions in recent days is under question. The votes are based on a decision Friday to return to a 10-year-old constitution that grants parliament greater powers. Yanukovych, however, has not signed that decision into law, and said Saturday that the parliament is now acting illegally. The political crisis in the nation of 46 million has changed with blinding speed repeatedly in the past week. First there were signs that tensions were easing, followed by horrifying violence and then a deal signed under Western pressure that aimed to resolve the conflict but left the unity of the country in question. Protester self-defense units who have taken control of the capital peacefully changed shifts Sunday. Helmeted and wearing makeshift shields, they have replaced police guarding the president’s administration and parliament, and have sought to stop radical forces from inflicting damage or unleashing violence.
Monday February 24, 2014
Kaieteur News
Egypt prosecutor says expresident spied for Iran CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian prosecutor yesterday accused the ousted Islamist president of passing state secrets to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the first such explicit detail in an ongoing espionage trial. If convicted, Mohammed Mursi could face capital punishment. He already stands accused of a string of other charges, some of which also carry the death penalty, levelled as part of a crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood group after the military deposed him last summer. At yesterday’s hearing, part of which was aired on state television, the prosecution accused Mursi and 35 other Brotherhood members of conspiring to destabilize the country and cooperating with foreign militant groups — including Palestinian Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The case’s chief prosecutor, Tamer el-Firgani, said Mursi, his aides and senior Brotherhood members had “handed over secrets to foreign countries, among them national defense secrets, and handed over a number of security reports to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in order to destabilize the country’s security and stability.” El-Firgani, divulging details of the charges, said
Mohammed Mursi national security reports meant for only Mursi to see were emailed to some of these foreign militant groups. One report, he said, was sent to the Iranians about the activities of Shiite Muslims in Egypt. Iran is mostly Shiite. Mursi started off his time in office with repeated tirades against Iran over its support to Syrian President Bashar Assad, but soon warmed up to the Islamic Republic, allowing its tourists to come to Egypt for the first time in decades and founding a fournation contact group on the Syrian war that included Iran. Mursi and his codefendants were present at the hearing without their defense team, which had walked out of the previous hearing in protest over the
fact that the defendants were being held in a glass soundproof cage. Defense lawyers appointed by the bar association were present in their place. The cage was introduced after Mursi and his codefendants interrupted the proceedings of other court cases by talking over the judge and chanting slogans. The cage is fitted to give the judge sole control over whether the defendants can be heard or not when speaking. The military overthrew Mursi following millionsstrong protests after just a year in power. Since his ouster, he has largely been kept out of the public eye, appearing only in carefully managed court sessions in which he has frequently shouted defiantly, insisting he is still Egypt’s president. The country’s first freely elected president after autocratic ruler Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a popular uprising in February 2011, Mursi drew the ire of liberals, secular-leaning youth groups and a large sector of Egyptians who accused him and his Brotherhood of trying to monopolize power and failing to implement much-needed reforms. The trial, which began on Feb. 16, is set to resume on Feb. 27.
Polls show Scots becoming more sceptical about independence (Reuters) - Scots are becoming more sceptical about the idea of Scotland becoming independent of the United Kingdom, two polls showed yesterday, delivering a setback to nationalists who want the small country to call off its 307-year-old union with England. The polls were published on the eve of the first full cabinet meeting to be held in Scotland by Prime Minister David Cameron’s government, a move meant to demonstrate his commitment to keeping the oil-rich nation in the UK. Scots will decide whether to break from the UK in a referendum on September 18, with the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) trying to persuade them they would be freer and more prosperous on their own, a claim Cameron rejects. An ICM poll for the
David Cameron Scotland on Sunday newspaper showed support for a “no” vote had risen to 49 percent, up five percentage points in a month, while support for a “yes” vote remained static at 37 percent. A separate poll commissioned by the SNP itself and carried out by Panelbase put the “no”
campaign on 47 percent, up from 43 percent in September, and the “yes” campaign on 37 percent, down from 44 percent in September. The two polls come after British finance minister George Osborne ruled out a currency union with an independent Scotland and Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, said it would be “difficult if not impossible” for a breakaway Scotland to join the European Union. Cameron said Britain’s unity enabled it to maximise the benefits of Scotland’s North Sea oil and gas. “I promise we will continue to use the UK’s broad shoulders to invest in this vital industry so we can attract businesses, create jobs, develop new skills in our young people and ensure we can compete in the global race,” he said in a statement.
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Monday February 24, 2014
UK says to use Merkel visit to Italy’s new PM Renzi faces push curbs to ‘welfare shopping first parliamentary test
LONDON (Reuters) Britain said yesterday it planned to use a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week to try to persuade Berlin to support measures to discourage people from moving within the European Union to tap welfare benefits. If re-elected next year, Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to try to reform the EU before giving Britons an in/out membership referendum by the end of 2017 amid widespread public skepticism about the bloc. Trailing in the polls, Cameron has said he wants to eventually restrict migrants from poorer EU states relocating to richer ones like Britain to take advantage of its comparatively more generous welfare system, a practice British politicians have dubbed “welfare shopping”. Cameron has suggested possibly capping the annual number of EU migrants allowed to enter Britain each
Angela Merkel year or withholding full freedom of movement rights until a new EU member state achieves a certain gross domestic product per head. Such ideas are part of his overall plan to shake up the bloc, full details of which he has yet to disclose. Yesterday, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the government hoped to use Merkel’s visit Thursday to discuss enacting such reforms to the EU. “I’m sure these subjects
will come up. Germany also has strict benefit rules. Germany doesn’t want its benefit system to be abused. I think again with Germany we have a lot of common ground on that,” Hague told BBC TV. “Germany of course is our most important partner on seeking reform in the European Union because it’s Germany that has such a strong position in the euro zone.” Cameron is under pressure from the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) ahead of European elections in May and a national election in 2015, and from eurosceptics in his party who want him to take a tough line on clawing back powers from the bloc. Hague said he understood that Merkel was a profound believer in the EU and in strengthening it, but that she was also a strong believer in Britain remaining within the EU and understood Cameron’s ideas for reforming the bloc to make it more accountable and competitive.
(Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi faces his first test before a fractious national parliament when he goes before the Senate on Monday to put flesh on his ambitious reform plans and seek to win a confidence vote in his newly installed government. Backed by his own centreleft Democratic Party (PD), the small centre-right NCD party, centrists and other miscellaneous groups, he should have enough support in the 320-seat upper house. But there will be close attention to the size of his majority after some leftwingers in his own party threatened to vote against the government. If he falls significantly below the 173 secured by his predecessor Enrico Letta in December, his authority could be weakened from the start. With the euro zone’s third largest economy in urgent need of potentially painful reforms and weighed down by a 2-trillion-euro public debt, Renzi’s room for manoeuvre is limited and an uncertain parliamentary majority will not help. “If parliament is with us, good. Otherwise, Renzi is certainly not afraid of the ballot box,” his chief of staff Graziano Delrio told RAI state television. The 39-year-old mayor of Florence, who won the leadership of the PD in December, forced his party rival Letta to resign as prime minister earlier this month after repeatedly attacking his government’s reform record. He took office on
Matteo Renzi Saturday promising a radical increase in tempo, with an overhaul of the electoral and constitutional system to ensure more stable governments in future, tax and labour reforms and a shake-up of the bloated public administration, all within his first 100 days. Delrio said the government would cut taxes on non-wage labour costs, financing the reduction through spending cuts and privatisation revenues. It may also raise taxes on financial earnings from investments like short-term treasury bills, which are popular with many savers. But Delrio ruled out a new wealth tax, which some opposition politicians have suggested could be in the pipeline. He also said that the government would respect the European Union’s deficit ceiling of 3 percent of gross domestic product after comments from Renzi
suggesting that he will seek room to breach the limits temporarily to finance structural investments. Today’s Senate vote will be followed by a separate vote on Tuesday in the lower house, where the PD has a strong majority. But signs of dissent from within the party underlined how uncertain Renzi’s control of parliament remains. “If I could vote freely, without calling into question my relations with the Democratic Party, I’d vote ‘No’,” Pippo Civati, a leftwing Renzi critic who lost out to the new prime minister in last year ’s party leadership contest, told reporters. The two main opposition parties, Beppe Grillo’s antiestablishment 5-Star Movement and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right Forza Italia, do not have the numbers on their own to topple the government but both have made it clear they want new elections. For the moment, prospects of movement on that front have been held up by uncertainty over a deal reached by Renzi and Berlusconi to reform electoral rules blamed for hindering the creation of stable governments in Italy. The deal, meant to favour large coalitions and reduce the role of small parties, now looks to be under threat following demands by Renzi’s coalition partners to delay implementation pending a wider constitutional reform of the Senate.
Russia says Ukraine opposition has flouted deal and seized power MOSCOW (Reuters) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry yesterday opponents of Ukraine’s Viktor Yanukovich had failed to abide by a peace deal they signed Friday and had seized power, the ministry said. In their second telephone conversation in two days, Lavrov told Kerry “the most important thing now is to provide for the complete fulfillment” of the agreement brokered by three top European Union diplomats, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. “The Ukrainian opposition is deviating from the agreement, having in effect seized power in Kiev, refused to disarm and
Sergei Lavrov continued to place its bets on violence,” Lavrov told Kerry, according to a ministry statement. Lavrov “drew attention to the fact that the document
bears the signatures of representatives of several Western states, and that the United States officially welcomed its conclusion,” it said. A Russian envoy sent by President Vladimir Putin to participate in mediation efforts did not sign the peace deal. Since its signing, Yanukovich has fled the capital and lawmakers have voted to oust him and name a temporary replacement. The dramatic events followed a deadly twomonth standoff that began when Yanukovich shelved plans to sign political and trade deals with the EU and said Ukraine would seek closer ties with Moscow, which swiftly offered a $15 billion bailout.
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Nigeria’s leader surrounded by Pakistan jets pound militant hideouts, killing 38 ‘incompetent’ frauds: ex-bank boss (Reuters) - Pakistani fighter jets attacked suspected militant hideouts in tribal areas on the Afghan border yesterday, killing at least 38 insurgents, officials said, in the third air strike in recent days. The raids came after peace negotiations with Taliban insurgents broke down last week and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif authorised the army on February 20 to attack militants in the volatile region on the Afghan border. “Fighter jets pounded training facilities of the terrorists in Tirah valley early yesterday,” said one military official. He said the facilities destroyed had been used to train suicide bombers and make explosives. “There are confirmed reports that 38 terrorists including some important commanders were killed,” said another security official, adding that at least six hideouts were destroyed.
Nawaz Sharif There were no immediate reports of civilian casualties. Despite the violence, both sides insist they are still open for negotiations. Many observers are sceptical about peace talks with a group which has killed 40,000 people since 2007. The Sunni Islamist Taliban told the government last week there was no chance of peace in the country unless Pakistan
changed its political and legal system and officially embraced Islamic law. This year has been marked by a surge in violence and Sharif is under intense pressure from hawks in the armed forces to mount a tougher military response against the militants. Speculation has been growing that the armed forces might be preparing for a big ground and air offensive against the insurgents based in the North Waziristan region, but so far operations have been limited to short aerial raids. On Saturday, at least nine people were killed in helicopter gunship raids in Hangu district. On February 20, 15 died when fighter jets bombed the Mir Ali area of the tribal belt straddling the Afghan border. As violence spread, at least eight people, mainly minority Shi’ite Muslims, were killed in an explosion in the northwestern district of Kohat yesterday, police said.
U.S. governors plan to urge Obama not to downsize National Guard (Reuters) - Governors from both U.S. political parties plan to talk to President Barack Obama today about preventing potential cuts to National Guard units, several governors said yesterday. “In downsizing the military, we want to make sure that reserve and National Guard is protected in our country,” Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “I’m going to have that discussion with the President tomorrow, (today)” Malloy, a Democrat, said. Many governors are in Washington this week for a national conference of state executives. They are
scheduled to have dinner at the White House yesterday and meet with Obama on Monday. Several appeared on Sunday morning talk shows, where they said they wanted to speak to the president about the potential cuts to the National Guard. The Guard is a reserve force that is part of the Army but serves state governments often at times of crisis, such as during floods or after hurricanes. The budget deal Congress reached in December blunted the effect of the across-theboard cuts that had been expected to hit military programs, but the agencies are still expected to reduce spending.
“We cannot shrink that force the way that is being proposed out of the Defense Department,” Malloy said. Another governor, Republican Scott Walker of Wisconsin, echoed Malloy’s comments on “Fox News Sunday.” “We’re going to talk about the National Guard,” Walker said when asked what he planned to discuss with the president. “I think there is common agreement amongst all 50 governors that we shouldn’t go back to pre-9/11 standards when it comes to the National Guard,” he said.
Lagos (AFP) - Nigeria’s former central bank chief Lamido Sanusi yesterday described the president who ousted him as a simple man trying to do well who has been undermined by incompetent and fraudulent aides. Sanusi, widely respected by economists in Nigeria and abroad, was suspended by President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday over alleged financial misconduct, a move seen by many analysts as politically motivated. Sanusi has accused the state Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) of misappropriating $20 billion (14.5 billion euros), allegations that earned him powerful enemies across the government. In an interview with AFP in Lagos, Sanusi said many of the people advising Jonathan are sycophants who do not speak frankly about the extent of corruption in government. “When you sit with President Jonathan himself he appears a nice simple person who is trying his best to do his best,” Sanusi said. “His greatest failing obviously is that he is surrounded by people who are extremely incompetent, who are extremely fraudulent and whom he trusts.” Jonathan, who has led Africa’s most populous country and top oil producer since 2010, is expected to seek another term in elections next year, but must first overcome unprecedented divisions within his own party. When Sanusi was removed, just four months before his tenure was set to expire, analysts voiced concern that Jonathan was seeking to sideline an increasingly vocal critic of his government’s record on corruption. Sanusi learned of his
Lamido Sanusi suspension while in Niger for a regional meeting. He immediately returned to Lagos, where intelligence agents from the Directorate of State Services (DSS) seized his passport. On Friday, he secured a temporary order from the Federal High Court in Lagos barring DSS agents or police from arresting him. “I thought taking away my passport was the beginning of infringement on my fundamental human rights,” Sanusi told AFP, explaining why he had already sought court protection. Regarding the allegations against him, Sanusi said he had earlier this year heard of a report condemning his performance and wrote to Jonathan in “June or July” asking if an explanation was needed, but received no reply. The first time he was formally notified about the allegations was the day he was suspended, he said. He argued it would be too simple to describe his removal as payback for his attacks on the NNPC. “Since 2009 I have been annoying the government... You’ve got people who think I have the wrong friends, people who think maybe I have not distanced myself enough from people who are
seen to be opposition figures,” he further said. The list of his enemies may have been built up over years, but the NNPC affair appeared to be the final straw. - Unprecedented graft The NNPC has become notorious as one of the most opaque oil companies in the world, but Sanusi said the extent of the graft may have reached an historic high. “I think everybody has known that NNPC is rotten. I don’t think it has ever been as bad as this,” he told AFP. He has levelled various accusations against the company, but an alleged kerosene subsidy payment scam has received increased attention. Even though the NNPC pays subsidies to kerosene vendors, Nigerian consumers still pay full market price for the product. According to Sanusi, the so-called kerosene subsidy money in fact pays for “private jets...yachts... and expensive property in Beverly Hills and Switzerland.” Sanusi has ruled out running for elected office, but said he may still have a future in public service. In the short term, he voiced readiness to face any attacks that may be coming from those committed to preserving the status quo in a nation where, despite massive oil wealth, most of the 170 million people live on less than $2 a day. “If I am sacrificed in whatever way, my freedom or my life... if it does lead to better accountability it will be well worth it,” he said.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 24, 2014
NSC Annual Mashramani age group tournament concludes The National Sports Commission (NSC) Annual Mashramani Age Group Tournament was played off over the weekend at the Queens College Badminton Courts. The tournament, which was very well attended by players from schools around Georgetown, saw matches in the Under - 11, 13, 15, 17 & 19 categories. Both of Guyana’s Top Badminton Players, Narayan & Priyanna Ramdhani defended their titles and maintained their strong form
at the top, strengthening their record of never losing an Age Group Tournament or any tournament locally over the last five years. The Finals results in each division are as follows: Under-11 Boys Singles Finals: Elan Rahaman defeated Vikash Mootoo: 216, 21-8 Under-11 Girls Singles Finals: Sarah Samad defeated Jayde DaSilva: 21-4 Under-13 Boys Singles Finals: Elan Rahaman defeated Tyreese Richards:
21-15 Under-13 Girls Singles Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Abosaide Cadogan: 21-4, 21-4 Under-15 Boys Singles Finals: Hemraj Beharry defeated Joshua Singh: 21-6, 21-8 Under-15 Girls Singles Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Abosaide Cadogan: 21-8, 21-3 Under-17 Boys Singles Finals: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Jonathan Mangra: 21-11, 21-14 Under-17 Girls Singles
Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Ambika Ramraj: 215, 21-11 Under-19 Boys singles Finals: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Jonathan Mangra: 21-14, 21-11 Other Matches Played was: Under-11 Boys SemiFinals: Vikash Mootoo defeated Omar Samad: 21-18 Under-11 Girls SemiFinals: Jayde Dasilva defeated Reanna Persaud: 25-23
Under-15 Boys SemiFinals: Hemraj Beharry defeated Christian Beharry: 21-4, 21-7 Under-15 Boys SemiFinals: Joshua Singh defeated Ransell Ramsaroop: 21-9, 21-8 Under-15 Girls SemiFinals: Abosaide Cadogan defeated Tatiana Lee: 21-8, 21-3 Under-17 Boys SemiFinals: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Joshua Singh: 21-5, 21-5 Under-17 Boys Semi-
Finals: Jonathan Mangra defeated Hemraj Beharry: 2110, 21-12 Under-19 Boys Semi Finals: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Omar Abdelbari: 217, 21-4 Under-19 Boys SemiFinals: Jonathan Mangra defeated Noel Shewjattan: 2321, 16-21, 21-13 The Presentation to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd placed winners will take place on Friday 28th February.
Choose on merit not affiliation From page 28 and when those who’ve satisfied these two criteria are overlooked it leaves a bad taste in the mouths of all. I will not even go into the rebuke that was committed on Kaieteur News Sports reporters, but to say that the sole nomination of Franklin Wilson in the photography segment highlights the problem the national sports awards is facing right now. Could it be because we are seen as opposing the status quo, thereby rendering us non-starters for the accolade?
The question becomes pertinent because many on the panel will be hard pressed to pinpoint any area of weakness in the dispensation of our duties in relation to covering sports. I will not attempt to speak for my colleagues, but like so many sports administrators, I have no interest now or in the future of vying for the award. I sincerely hope that by the time the selection for the next national awards come around; members on the panel will have more flexibility and independence to choose nominees on merit and nothing else.
Smith, Powell set up West Indies victory CMC - KINGSTON, Jamaica – West Indies made use of a solid opening partnership between Dwayne Smith and Kieran Powell to beat Ireland by four wickets in their one-off One Day International at Sabina Park yesterday. This was West Indies’ second victory on the trot following an 11-run win against the same opponent in a Twenty20 International match on Friday to draw the two-match series. West Indies started in a hurry with Smith and Powell
attacking the Irish bowlers and sharing 100 runs for the first wicket. Smith, who was drafted in the team to replace an injured Chris Gayle, made good on this opportunity and raced to 55 off 53 balls. Ireland brought themselves back into the match when Kirk Edwards and Darren Bravo went in quick succession. But Powell stayed around for a well played 57 off 72 balls. Captain Dwayne Bravo had a quickfire 35 to bring the West Indies closer to their
Khalil and Harding triumph in... From page 29 Winners and Runners-Up Main Draw First Place: Jason Ray Khalil Second Place: Regan Pollard Third Place: Lloyd FungA-Fat Category A First Place: Makeda Harding Second Place: Jonathan Edwards Third Place: Savannah Mendes Open Plate
First place: Ashley deGroot Second Place: Alex Cheeks Third place: Medhi Ramdhani Classic Plate First place: Pablio Mundini Second Place: Alec Melville Category A plate First Place: John Phang Second Place: Sarah Lewis Third place: Michael Alphonso
When we pause and experience silence, we discover answers that activity does not have time to reveal. During your day, take threeminute “vacations”. Relax and re-energise. Take time out to feel the peace of silence.
target. Marlon Samuels and Darren Sammy were left unbeaten at the end left to carry the West Indies home. Earlier, Ireland recovered from 78 for 4 to reach 202 all out, thanks mainly to a 45-run stand between Gary Wilson (62) and Kevin O’Brien (22). Stuart Thompson also frustrated the West Indies’ bowlers with a stubbon 33. Jason Holder (3-34), Dwayne Bravo (3-36) and Nikita Miller (2-30) were the pick of the bowlers. Ireland, with one win from three matches on tour of the Caribbean, will switch attention to the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 Tournament in Bangladesh. West Indies will engage in England in a threematch ODI series in Antigua followed by three T20s in Barbados. Summary Scores: Ireland Innings: 202 All Out (49.2 Overs). Gary Wilson+ 62, Stuart Thompson 33, Ed Joyce 25, William Porterfield* 25; Jason Holder 9-1-34-3, Dwayne Bravo 9.2-0-36-3, Nikita Miller 10-0-30-2, Darren Sammy 8-0-29-1. West Indies Innings: 205/ 6 (36.4 Overs). Kieran Powell 57, Dwayne Smith 55, Dwayne Bravo 35, Marlon Samuels 26*; Stuart Thompson 4-0-17-2, Paul Stirling 10-2-42-1, George Dockrell 9.4-1-48-1, Max Sorensen 4-0-34-1.