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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
The bane of drunk driving The law is clear; avoid driving after drinking. The records would show that too many accidents, many of them fatal, were caused by drunk driving. All over the world law enforcement officers take a very serious view of this offence. In the United States there is a law that actually makes a fatality caused by a drunk driver a murder. It stemmed from a drunk driver killing a young person. The mother went the distance to get the authorities to deem such accidents a homicide and succeeded. The first person will be spending a very long time in jail, perhaps never to see the streets again. In Guyana we have had our fair share of such road deaths but the longest anyone spent in jail is four years. To add to the trauma, people do not take legal action against the perpetrator. It is as though whatever the courts decide is the end of the matter. The insurance companies try their bit but the level of insurance is so low that the companies opt for the victim to spend some money up front before chipping in. And depending on the coverage the other person has, there is a limit to how far the compensation would go. One would expect that those entrusted with upholding the law would at least adhere to the law but this is observed more in the breach. It is perhaps a case of do as I say and not as I do. Then again, it may be a case that the perpetrators may consider themselves above the law and could subvert the course of justice. There have been quite a few cases of prominent people getting off scot free because they managed to slip some money to the police who in turn would botch the investigation. Sometimes the perpetrator is so high up the social ladder that even the police are afraid to pursue their investigations. For example, there is a policeman, albeit a special constable who is crippled for the rest of his natural life. He was riding along the East Coast Demerara public road when a Government Minister knocked him down. The Minister fled the scene and his son turned up to claim that he was the driver. Nothing has come out of that matter; there was no prosecution and the victim was never even compensated. Perhaps the authorities wanted to send a message to the rest of society that only certain people need to be using the roadways. However, lesser drivers have been prosecuted out of hand. On Mash Day, in Alberttown, a police rank driving a police vehicle collided with a car driven by a woman and containing her children. The policeman failed to stop at a major road and to crown it, he was drunk. Fortunately, members of the public were on hand to raise their voices in protest. The police who turned up claimed that they had no breathalyzer so they had to take the rank to the Brickdam Police Station for testing. A relative of the victim went along so one can assume that the police could not hide the fact. It was not long after that Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh crashed into a car, this time in Campbellville. He too was drunk and he too failed to stop at the major road. He walked away from the scene without offering any help to the victims. We now want to see if he would be charged with leaving the scene of an accident, with failing to render assistance and above all, drunk driving. A member of his clique turned up at the scene to offer compensation to the point of replacing the damaged vehicle. This is a case of money talks but the law is still the law. The police should act; the victim must have her day in court. However, we doubt this very much and thus the indictment of this country and its government.
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Letters... Where your views make the news
Is this the return of democracy to Guyana which was proudly promoted? DEAR EDITOR, I am pleading with the President and begging for his personal intervention into a matter which if left unchecked could easily descend into legal, mafiastyle governance. We the common law-abiding, hardworking, tax-paying citizens of Guyana would like to know how the fundamental rights which are guaranteed us by the Constitution of Guyana are allowed to be trampled upon by public officials in broad daylight in the presence of the community at large and without the fear of consequences. In democracies, public officials when dealing with the public must be mindful of violating the constitutionally-protected guaranteed rights of ordinary citizens. I for one don’t feel like I live in a
democracy or a democratic state. I’m afraid for my life, I feel weak and helpless against the powers meted out against me in recent encounters with two public officials (names provided), emissaries of an unidentified power only described to me by one of these individuals as (“Higher Up” and “Bigger Boys”). Even in the face of a non-violent sit down protest I am met with force, intimidation and retaliation. There is no accountability. No documents detailing by whose orders these public officials act. In this particular instance, I did some in-depth research on how to acquire a piece of land to conduct my business. I saw a piece of land in the neighbourhood where I grew up. I enquired about the land through the Lands and Survey Department and
Deeds Registry, these are places where records of land ownership can be found. You can find out who legally owns any particular piece of land throughout the entire length and breadth of Guyana. According to the records at the Lands and Survey Dept. and the Deeds Registry, the particular piece of land of my interest did not belong to anyone. It was later determined that the land belongs to the government of Guyana. All land which is not owned by private citizens and/or companies fall under the jurisdiction of the Government, therefore I am within my rights guaranteed me by the constitution of Guyana when I acquired the land I currently possess for the sole purpose of or in pursuit of being a productive citizen of this country. As a Guyanese, I (Continued on page 27)
The Marriott Hotel is at a bad site
DEAR EDITOR, In a KN Article of Feb. 23 on the above referenced subject, it was reported that Mr. Phillip Allsopp, a celebrated Engineer, has dedicated his life towards understanding the drainage and irrigation network of Guyana and he has made sterling contributions towards the country’s development. I happened to work under Mr. Allsopp first when he was Director of Public Works and later as Chief Works and Hydraulics Officer (CWHO), a politically-generated post at that time, as senior engineers with hydraulic engineering experience (which Mr. Allsopp does not have) and management capability were not considered by the civil service commission for the post. As I recall, Mr. Allsopp’s major contribution while at the Ministry of Works and Hydraulics (MWH) was his development of means and methods to better understand the soil characteristics of Guyana with particular application to the design and construction of roads. He was head of the Roads Division of MHW for many years and oversaw the design and construction of some of Guyana’s major roads. However, I am not aware of his
sterling dedication to the drainage and irrigation of Guyana although during his tenure as CWHO he had administrative responsibilities to make policy decisions regarding drainage and irrigation as well as sea defence, after due consultation and advice from the relevant Divisions. It is worth noting that not so long ago he was appointed by the PPP Govt. as a Commissioner of the East D e m e r a r a Wa t e r C o n s e r v a n c y (EDWC). The evidence during his assignment suggests that he made no significant contribution to the strategic development and management of that poorly managed entity although the controversial Hope Canal Project was conceived and launched during his period of service. With respect to his comments on the Marriott Hotel, he was bang on when he stated that the hotel is located at a bad site. Any Architect advising their clients will tell them that one of the most important requirements for a hotel is location! Location!! And Location!!! The rear of the hotel accesses to a beach and guests will have wonderful views from their rooms of the Atlantic Ocean and Demerara River which are definite attractions to lure tourists, but
the landscape from the front is depressing, with a panoramic view of dilapidated city buildings, unkempt properties and a noisy power-plant in the vicinity spewing-out harmful gases (no installed scrubbers) into the atmosphere. Also, robberies in the Kingston area are not infrequent and this could impact adversely on hotel guests if they take casual steps outside the hotel’s b o u n d a r y. Wa t e r S t r e e t ( f r o m Muneshwers to Hotel), the main roadway to the hotel, would need a major overhaul, as presently it is an eyesore with too many potholes. The hotel location in contrast to many other areas in the Kingston Ward has not been subjected to flooding from heavy rainfall or a broken sluice in recent times, and therefore flooding as Mr. Allsopp claims is unlikely to pose any serious problem for the hotel. However, as he noted, climate change with resulting sea level rise generating severe wave actions could cause a breach in the sea defence at the hotel’s location, but it seems that the influences of the Demerara River and nearby groyne are providing some protection from such an eventuality. Charles Sohan
Must the affluent be so self-centred?
DEAR EDITOR, During a cricket match played at the Enmore Community Centre on Sunday 23rd February, the son of an affluent individual was riding his ATV in the Community Centre compound, the venue of the cricket match. He did not care about the noise the vehicle was making to the discomfort of others; he was doing stunts and making sharp turns on the grass. He had no concern for the damage he was doing to the grass. After he was stopped by an official of the Centre, that official became the subject of verbal attack from the friends and relatives of the affluent parent. The “posse” said the young man was “breaking in” his ATV. What a venue he chose to do so! A few months ago, this same young
man was “breaking in” this same ATV in the Enmore Martyrs Monument compound. Again, he was stopped by another responsible individual, and that individual suffered a similar verbal attack from the affluent parent and his relatives and friends. A few weeks ago another affluent man opened up his truck’s ensemble of “noise makers” while cricket was being played and had to be threatened with Police action before he stopped. Must the affluent be so self-centred? Do they always have to advertise their wealth by insulting others? Do they have to go to any length to be noticed? The Enmore Community Centre and its ground were in a state of severe neglect for over a decade. These affluent and obnoxious individuals
were in hibernation. Today, when hard work is being put in to restore the Centre to its earlier prominence as a venue for discipline and sports development, the naysayers are crawling out of the woodwork to advertise their destructive tendencies. I call upon all reasonable thinking lovers of sports and youth development in the Enmore Community to resist all attempts by some to drag the Centre back to last decade when no one wanted to do anything about it. Cricket and other sports are important stimulants to our children’s development. Let us not short-change them. Let us join together to help them. Taajnauth Jadunauth Chairman, Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
Our problem is not the Standing Orders but the social order DEAR EDITOR, “According to the CJ’s ruling as reported, under Article 219 it is open to us to conclude that the whole budget debate and the days and process of Committee of Supply are high farce. All the Minister has to do is to see that the estimates “are prepared and laid before the National Assembly.” (from my letter in SN, Feb 1, 2014) The Honorable Attorney General of Guyana, Mr Nandlall, has thrown his heavy weight as the titular head of the Guyana Bar and as adviser to the Government into the discussion of the CJ’s ruling on the powers of the National Assembly versus the privilege of the Executive as he sees the issue. Mr Nandlall had to set aside his dislike for exchanges in the press with non-lawyers like the thousands who voted for him and this writer. His letter attracted several comments. True, I hold that a Committee of Supply with elaborate procedures and no power is a farce, but clearly only if its customary powers are finally declared nonexistent as the Court has ruled so far. The Attorney General should really not exchange
with non-lawyers if he will insist that I claimed for the Standing Orders supremacy over the supreme law. He puts a false claim in my mouth and then spends his time arguing to prove his false rendering a huge abysmal mistake. If I am caught doing that to anyone, let me have 60 months in jail like the now famous baby sitter. His reliance on the referendum of 1978 allows me to understand why he should agree to subvert the Standing Orders and especially the Committee of Supply. He is not arguing law. He is arguing authority, and going as far as to say that the 1980 Constitution “was born out of a referendum” and is “the supreme voice of the people.” just because he wants to give it a popular origin. It is like using false evidence to impress a jury. Even the authors of the 1980 Constitution have not claimed for it a popular origin. He finds my failure to grasp constitutional concepts abysmal. I will not apply such dismal terms to the young Attorney General’s sense of our Constitutional history. Let his helpers remind him of the comments on the
1980 process by a very loyal member of the then ruling party, Mr JH Pollydore, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress. I am not unreasonable with my learned mentor. Let him simply state how the 1980 constitution is the “voice of the people.” I find it is a document in which “the people” have done this and this and done that to be sheer flowery constitutional fiction. A High Court judge found the 1997 elections on the pleadings before her to be null and void, conducted in violation of the Constitution. She did not find fraud but illegality. In such a case the government has the right to bring a Bill to legalise past illegality. The PPP never brought such a Bill. It may be may argued that everything done by that parliament was illegal. There is not a serious insistence on legality in the political culture. Let me avoid his evasions and bring us to the point. The
Attorney General believes that the Standing Orders are inconsistent with the Budget provisions of the Constitution. He believes and I do not - that the Constitution prohibits cuts by the Committee of Supply, that is the whole Assembly sitting in committee for attention to details of expenditure proposed by the Finance Czar. Standing Order 76 says what amendments may be moved and may not be moved. Amendments to increase a head may be moved only by a Minister who must signify the consent of the cabinet. Amendments to reduce an item, head or subhead may be moved by any member. The form of the amendment is provided. Does S.O. 76 seem to be absent-minded? Does it not accord special rights to the Executive while permitting “any member” to propose reductions? The question is whether
the government’s Attorney General in 2011 was at the time unaware of the absolute Executive privilege claimed to exist in the Constitution. When did he or she become aware of the violation of the Executive privilege? How did he or she vote, and what did he or she do about this serious invasion of the Constitutional rights of the Executive? The Standing Orders can be read online. They were amended and updated some three years ago. When they were last considered Mr Nandlall’s party had a majority. What has not been said so far is that the British Guiana Combined Court and the Jamaica legislature, both colonial in the 19th century, rang with
rejections of the Governor’s budget because of differences over policy. In Jamaica, the Governor’s salary was cut out along with those of others. Between 1947 and 1953, Cheddi Jagan used this right to move in Committee of Supply the reduction of heads by one dollar in order to indict the administration. Our trouble is not the Standing Orders. It is the political culture. In Germany and in the UK election results producing a winning minority, “enemies” get together as nationals and form a government. They place country before party. It is not so in Guyana. Our problem is not the Standing Orders but the social order. Eusi Kwayana
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Tuesday February 25, 2014
APNU’s track record is keeping Jagdeo benefits from the govt. accountable - Granger pension package
Leader of the opposition coalition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) David Granger has said that during its two years in the National Assembly it has been able to keep the government accountable. The opposition leader explained that over a little more than two years, APNU has faced the challenge first of all of ensuring that the integrity and autonomy of the National Assembly would be preserved. “It is because of that I was taken to court four times by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, so there’s been a big battle to ensure the autonomy of the National Assembly.” The second area of challenge, he said, has been the accountability of Ministers. “After 21 years in government, the Peoples Progressive Party Civic [PPP/ C] administration had literally lost respect for the Assembly. They knew they had the majority of votes and they could do what they liked. “This came to an end in 2012 and they were made more accountable. When we asked for explanations if they were inadequate or were not forth coming we simply did not approve. APNU did not go to the National Assembly to block or cut; we went ensure good governance,” Granger explained. And with regard to accountability Granger, said that APNU ensured particularly with the Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, that when he brought any
Leader of APNU David Granger measure before the National Assembly he had to explain in sufficient detail what the money was used for. “In the event he is coming for supplementary funding, he had to justify expenditure.” According to Granger this has been successful because they (government) have started to comply. Granger added that with Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, after the opposition brought a motion of no confidence against him, since July 2012 APNU “did not entertain any measures he brought before so that shows you that we have clout; we have leverage and we have the ability to ensure that our decisions are put into effect.” However he said that there are some areas of disagreement. He cited the Finance Minister as an example. “We are going to bring the Minister before the
Committee of Privileges, because in 2013 he did expend monies which were not approved by the National Assembly. Now at the end of the Budget he has to bring what is called an Appropriation Bill. Once that is approved it could be reduced, once its approved in whatever form it is signed into law, if the Minister of Finance spends money not approved in the Appropriations Bill and we are not satisfied with his explanations, we are going to impose sanctions on the Minister.” According to Granger those are the two areas that APNU in particular, and the opposition in general, have been able to establish a higher standard of accountability with Government Ministers and a higher standard of autonomy of the National Assembly. “It is now clear that the Courts cannot intrude into some areas of internal management, and it is now clear that Ministers cannot trample on the opinions and the decisions of the National Assembly” said Granger. “I would say that over that last two years APNU has been able to transform Parliament into a more deliberative forum and one in which there is greater attentiveness on the part of the executive to what the opposition has to say; we have got their attention,” Granger asserted.
…state to foot multi-million-dollar medical cost Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, is a private citizen and can choose to seek medical help wherever he wants, said Minister of Health, Bheri Ramsaran. Dr. Ramsaran was not at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) when Jagdeo was medivacced to a Florida Hospital, reportedly suffering from persistent fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Dr. Ramsaran said, yesterday, that he was unaware of Jagdeo’s ailment. He added that while he is close to the former President, he does not have to answer to Jagdeo anymore. According to Dr. Ramsaran, he was only made aware of the President’s ailment through media reports. He described the former President’s ailment as a private matter. Asked repeatedly about the fact that it is the state that would have to foot the bill for Jagdeo’s treatment, the Minister maintained that it is a ‘private matter’. Asked whether the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), could have dealt with Jagdeo’s fever, vomiting and diarrhea, the Minister said that this is possible, but was adamant that he was unaware of what was afflicting the former
Former President, Bharrat Jagdeo President and as such could not offer a comment. He said that like any private citizen, Jagdeo is entitled to choose wherever he wants to seek medical attention. Jagdeo was flown to a Florida Hospital, Friday evening and accompanying him was Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, who was described as his best friend. How long he has had this condition is still to be ascertained. A privately-owned Lear jet out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) shortly after 21:00 hours Friday night to medivac Jagdeo to the United States.
His entourage, comprising Dr. Ramroop and his security detail arrived at the airport at 22:00 hours that night. The aircraft took off for Florida at 22:30 hours. This publication understands that the chartering of a Lear Jet, from Florida to Guyana and back for a medivac, would cost between US$35,000 ($7M) and US$40,000 ($8M). In May, 2009, then President Jagdeo assented to the controversial Former Presidents (Benefits and Facilities) Bill bringing it into to law. Under that Act, he would receive free medical attention and medical treatment, paid for by the state, or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by him for the medical attention or treatment of himself and the dependant members of his family. Jagdeo became Guyana’s youngest ever President when his predecessor Janet Jagan demitted office in 1999. During his term in office Jagdeo initiated many controversial projects, among them the Amaila Falls Hydro-electric Project, the Marriott Hotel project, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project and the failed Skeldon Modernisation Project.
Collaboration - an important aspect of vector control says Director Although vector control in Guyana is easily a multi-million-dollar undertaking, there would be no success realised without collaboration. This notion was recently amplified by Director of Vector Control Services, Dr Reyaud Rahman, who related that strategic moves are continually made to collaborate with a number of entities including the Environmental Health Unit of the Ministry of Health, the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown, among others. “Vector control services can do as much work as we
want to do and even accomplish all of our targets, but if we are not able to get support we will always be at zero,” said Dr Rahman. “Support really needs to be seen as important because we are basically going to be left at square one, so that is why we need all the help we can get.” And it is of immense importance, the Vector Control Director said, that support is garnered from members of the public as well. “Everybody needs to get on board and get involved in a sort of stamp-it-out approach.”
The vector control focus here in Guyana is mainly on malaria and dengue, but according to Dr Rahman there are also cases of Chagas, Leishmaniasis, Filariasis and Leptospirosis. While malaria cases are found in the thousands and dengue in the hundreds, the other vector transmitted diseases seen are much fewer. Nevertheless, combating these vectors, Dr Rahman disclosed, could prove to be a rather difficult task when the population does not adhere to rules and regulations. He pointed to the culture of some people to litter indiscriminately, a practice that is particularly evident in the capital city. “Some persons' yards are dirty; there is a lot of stagnant water and all sorts of receptacles around with water and no effort is made to get rid of these. “Things like these make it very difficult for us because the vectors are allowed to thrive in these conditions. Regardless of how much work
Vector Control Director, Dr Reyaud Rahman we do, if the public does not buy-in and help us, we are going to go nowhere in our vector control fight,” asserted Dr Rahman. He is convinced that if the ideal structures are put in place where adequate personnel is complemented by needful collaborations, Guyana will be better poised to reduce further all cases of vector borne diseases. He said that work in this regard during the past year was able to realise a notable (continued on page 24)
Tuesday February 25, 2014
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Tuesday February 25, 2014
Govt. prepares evacuation plan...
CAL TO AIRLIFT TRINIS FROM VENEZUELA
A group of masked men run for cover after riot police launched tear gas in Caracas, Venezuela. (AP Photo) (Trinidad Guardian) The Government is preparing a contingency plan involving Caribbean Airlines to evacuate any T&T nationals and staff of this country’s Caracas Embassy out of strife-torn Venezuela if the situation there deteriorates further, acting Foreign Affairs Minister Roodal Moonilal said Sunday. Moonilal told the T&T Guardian he has been talking with National Security Minister Gary Griffith and Finance Minister Larry Howai, the line minister for CAL, about the plan, in case violence in Venezuela—going on for more than a week—becomes worse. Clashes have been taking place since February 12 between students and state agencies, as well as between supporters of Venezuelan opposition groups and those of President Nicholas Maduro. Most recently, paratroopers were dispatched to the state of Tachira where violent student protests were reported. Late Saturday T&T’s Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement assuring that all of the six T&T staff at its Caracas embassy were safe and arrangements were being made to secure them. It also said the embassy’s hours were being reduced to deal with the situation in Caracas and an evacuation plan was on the table. Moonilal said Sunday: “We’re monitoring the situation very closely via Ambassador Anthony Edghill in Caracas. I’m getting reports every 12 hours. “After I received a report on the situation last Saturday I talked with Ministers Griffith and Howai to have plans in place to evacuate T&T nationals including our embassy staff, via CAL in case the situation worsens.” He said the Government is now checking to see if there were any T&T holidaymakers or businessmen visiting Venezuela. He said he didn’t think the situation was bad enough for the Government to tell them to cut short their plans and leave Venezuela. However, Moonilal urged them to monitor the situation carefully and see if they wanted to return home. He advised them to exercise precautions while in that country. Moonilal said the situation in Venezuelaseven miles across the Gulf from T&T-was getting difficult and the Government hoped Venezuelan authorities and the people would resolve their matters. He said emergency airlift would depend on the number of people to be returned home and availability of flights. An assessment of those in need would be done if the situation required evacuation. He said acting Prime Minister Errol McLeod has been briefed on the situation and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who
left for China on Friday, was also being informed. On Sunday, Ambassador Edghill told the T&T Guardian the embassy had sought logistical support from the Government but “we also have an evacuation plan and we’re monitoring to see if certain things are triggered and if so we’ll respond.” Edghill, who has been moving around various areas to ascertain the situation, said protests continue in pockets at cities all over Venezuela. The death toll by yesterday was around ten, he added. Several wounded in earlier clashes have died. Deaths included a student who was “clotheslined” and almost decapitated when his motorcycle hit a clothesline strung across a street and his throat was slit by the line. Sunday’s protests went off relatively calmly however, Edghill said. Over the weekend, he said, several pro-Maduro demonstrations were mounted, first by female supporters, followed by senior citizens. Edghill said embassy staff had been keeping tabs on T&T nationals working with foreign firms in Venezuela to ensure their safety. This included a number of T&T nationals contracted with Spanish energy company Repsol Oil Company. He said they are safe and some had ventured out to hot-spot areas to see what was taking place He said there were also 14 T&T nationals working with a German company west of Caracas. “They too have been in contact with the T&T embassy,” he added. Edghill said some T&T nationals were considering leaving Venezuela, but others were staying. Further protests continue this week, he said. Last week, Venezuelan Ambassador to T&T Coromoto Godoy accused extremist right wingers in Venezuela of an attempted coup and of several international media of encouraging it. She also accused private Venezuelan media of manipulating information. Various TT-based Venezuelans, including Ida Hernandez, Marta Reyes, Yesenia Gonzales and others deny that, blaming Venezuelan authorities. Hernandez, who has been resident in T&T for more than 20 years, said she returned to Caracas recently to carry supplies for her family including her aunt, who is 100 years old and her uncle, 106. She said:”There’s no food, no milk, no toilet paper. They have to line up two hours for one migraine tablet, it’s $5,000 for a car battery and the line for that is miles long. People are throwing tear-gas and protesting all over. I had to take a boat, bus and ferry to reach Caracas—flights are scarce.” Gonzales said Venezuela is in civil war and people would soon demand new presidential elections.
Tuesday February 25, 2014
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A NASTY COUNTRY! Listening to the radio yesterday, I heard a man call in to make his contribution to a programme about the craziest things that happened on Mash Day. This particular caller said that he saw a garbage bag being thrown out of a moving vehicle. Amazingly, the bag ended up in another vehicle and quite tragically seemed to have hit a woman in that vehicle. This story just goes to show how reckless and carefree Guyanese have become when it comes to garbage disposal. It was not bad enough for someone to throw their garbage out of a moving car. It ended up in another car and possibly caused injury to
an innocent person. The guilty party, according to the caller, realized what had happened and instead of stopping and apologizing and lending a helping hand, actually sped away. There have been many comments about the unsightly state of the route after Sunday’s Mash Day events. After the bacchanal had ended, garbage was strewn all over. The absence of an adequate number of bins is not an excuse for the mass littering that took place. People did not even bother to find a convenient spot to stockpile their litter. They simply dumped it wherever they were. Bottles were not just left along the edges of the
Dem boys seh ...
road. In some cases they were broken, with the splinters lying on the roadway. It is said that City Hall made a few millions of dollars by renting spots to vendors along the parade route. However, it will cost City Hall, quite a few millions to clean up the mountains to garbage left behind after the celebrations were over. Some of the garbage has fallen in the canals that run along the streets of the parade route. This will entail additional cleaning. By today everything should be spick and span. But there is a huge cost involved and a great lesson to be had about the habits of Guyanese. We like to feel that government is the biggest problem we have. But we have not looked at ourselves long and close enough. Most
of the problems that citizens expect the government to clean up are problems that could have been avoided if citizens were more responsible. There was no need for so much garbage to be strewn all over the parade route. That is a result not of the lack of garbage receptacles but of a total disregard for the country. How can people claim to love this country when they litter with such impunity? Yet when they go overseas they do not behave in the same way. They go to a foreign country and they fall in line. The reason they fall in line is because they know that others will look down on them if they dare litter. They know that they will be reported and the penalties will be severe. Fines are however not the
ultimate solution to littering. In Guyana fines have a way of increasing corruption. At one time there used to be a member of the Constabulary of City Hall who would pounce on smokers who disposed of their cigarettes butts in the gutters. I n most parts of the world, you do not dispose of the ends of your cigarettes into rubbish bins because it would cause a fire. As such, smokers are in many cases allowed to defuse their cigarettes in certain ways. In Guyana, this particular constable considered that littering and would pounce on passersby who disposed of their butts in public. He is no longer on the job and the reason why is not hard to appreciate. He was like a judge and jury at the same
time. What is needed is for a culture of good civic habits to be developed. People have to begin to learn to not litter, not pee on the roadways, not spit in public, to walk on the correct sides of the roadways and a host of other civic duties that seems to be fast disappearing in this country. At one time, it was felt that those who littered represented a minority in the country. But after seeing the state of the parade route after Sunday’s Mash Day celebrations, that view has to be reconsidered.
Donald commitment don’t mean nutten ‘D’ Division ranks engage strategic Donald get corner and he think he can do wha Jagdeo use to do. Jagdeo use to mek all kind of promise and commitment. But that was when he was in control of de parliament. Donald desperately want de anti-money laundering Bill pass suh he tell AFC that he gun give dem a commitment fuh de Public Procurement Commission. Dem boys seh that once Donald talk bout commitment, dem should run because over de years dem can’t believe a word that does come out of dem politician mouth. Jagdeo promise GT&T that he gun allow de company fuh expand. That ain’t happen. Instead de same Jagdeo who now sick, give permission fuh he friend, Bobby, and dem who get cable licence, to expand and to use all de bandwidth, de spectrum, de GPL poles, everything that dem want. Before he tun president, Donald promise to review VAT. That was a commitment that he give. Then he promise to give Linden radio and television. All that was commitment. Now dem boys seh that he tunning out to be more scampish than Jagdeo. Donald talk how Jagdeo president pension Bill was very embarrassing. He tell dem boys that this thing was embarrassing not only to de party but to de whole country. He sehe that de opposition should fight this thing to de last. Now that de opposition vote fuh change de Bill he refusing to sign because he now qualify fuh enjoy de same sweetness. How can anybody trust wha come from dem mouth. Now he want to give a commitment again. He want de Guyanese people to trust him when he tell AFC that he give a commitment fuh put de procurement commission in place. That is why dem boys does deh keeping an eye pun dem. People got to keep dem in check and remind de people of de things dem do and dem things that dem promise to do. Dem boys give de people a commitment that dem gun expose all de wicked, scampish and crookishness that dem do. De people know that dem boys keep dem commitment. In fact, dem keep it suh that is this same column that mek Jagdeo get sick. Dem boys sehe that he passing blood both in front and behind. Is not nice to talk bout sick people but is de same Jagdeo who cuss Uncle Sam day in day out and praise China and India. Now that he sick wid a li’l belly wuk dem boys want to know why he ain’t gone to China and India. He always in India and he best friend Bobby train in India suh either that or China shoulda be de place to go. But as old people seh, when dog get knock he does know fuh find he house. Talk half and don’t listen to Donald and he commitment
action to swiftly intercept criminals
Consistent tactical approaches by police ranks attached to ‘D’ Division of the Guyana Police Force have proven to be effective, not only in the interception of criminal elements, but also the reduction of such activities in a number of Region Three communities. Classic examples of meticulous police work were particularly evident on Friday last when ranks were able to solve not one but three daring robberies. In fact, the perpetrators in each instance were arrested and are set to face the court, possibly today. Aside from a robbery that was committed on a gas station at Nismes on the West Bank of Demerara, which was reported on in this publication, there were two others that were equally dramatic. In the case of the gas station robbery, five young men were apprehended a matter of hours after the
incident which occurred around 10:30 hours on Friday. This was however, a continuance of strategic police work that had started earlier in the day. According to Police in a statement, around 15:45 hours Friday, a 52-year-old taxi driver, Narine Bahadur, of Canal No. 2, West Bank Demerara, was attacked and robbed of his Carina motor car and the sum of $5,000 by two men who had hired him at Vreed-en-Hoop to take them to Parika. However, while in the vicinity of New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, the men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, held up Bahadur and took away his vehicle. The matter was reported and ranks were soon dispatched to hunt down the perpetrators. The response would soon yield result as the police were able to recover the vehicle at a location in Vreed-en-Hoop. Added to this,
investigations, according to Police, led to the arrest of the perpetrators in a restaurant at Harlem, West Coast Demerara, and the recovery of an unlicensed .38 Taurus revolver. The men are in police custody assisting with investigations. Police ranks were also instrumental in handling a robbery carried out on a man while a patron of the Chill-Out Bar at Wallers Delight, West Coast Demerara. According to Police the man was robbed by two men on a motor-cycle of a gold chain valued at $800,000 and $80,000 cash. Both men were apprehended. In helping to tackle criminal activities on the West Demerara, anti-crime ranks are
often strategically placed in the vicinity of the Demerara Harbour Bridge where they are able to monitor the movement of persons across the interconnecting path which some criminal elements are known to use as a getaway route. In fact, three of the perpetrators involved in the gas station robbery were intercepted aboard a minibus en-route to the eastern side of the Demerara Harbour Bridge by ranks conducting a road block there.
Page 10
Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 25, 2014
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
President Ramotar is enraged. Is he a blackmailer? At the rate President Donald Ramotar is going with his laughable demagoguery, like his predecessor and benefactor, Bharrat Jagdeo, he is going to lose the respect of even the young underlings in his party. Near the end of his tenure, the young generation lost respect and admiration for Jagdeo because he just consistently
put his foot in his mouth. When a leader sets out to make an analytical statement about his country’s politics he has to ensure the foolproof nature of his commentary so that there are no naked contradictions that expose him at the level of facts not opinions. A good example would be a Prime Minister or President
criticizing strike action by deeming the union unreasonable to refuse a twenty-five percent offer when his critics and detractors can openly say that he was lying because he is on record of offering only five percent. Now why would a leader be so foolish? The answer is not all leaders are bright. President Ramotar is drifting from one sordid rhetorical mess to another. The time has come for him to seek serious advice assuming that within the castle of the PPP there are astute, smart people. His semantic hilarities are slowly erasing his credibility. Days before he became President, he exclaimed that the 2011 elections were rigged. As Vice-President of the Boy Scouts, I contested the presidency of the organization, tampered with the process yet lost. Only one word describes such morbid incompetence – asininity.
How can you control an election yet come out as the loser? It simply makes no sense. So APNU, according to the gospel of Donald Ramotar, rigged the 2011 elections but APNU did not win the presidency or secure a majority in Parliament. Of course, the nation’s curiosity was not satisfied because Mr. Ramotar did not explain how the rigging cost APNU the plurality. For me the moment of both exasperation and laughter was his pappy show at the 50th anniversary of UG’s birth. I have written about it before and I will keep it in focus because it is one potent area of presidential politics that reveals the t o t a l i n e p t n e s s o f M r. Ramotar. Trying to sound like Obama, he threw his hands up and said to the nation via the media that opposition and Government must not paralyze the nation with their different ideas; it would
better if each idea is tested and if they failed, at least they were tried. The brutal reality is that once Mr. Ramotar looks over his shoulder and sees the ideas floating in front of his face, he turns around to see the attached name tags and once the names, AFC, APNU, ACDA, Red Thread, TUC, Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, 1823 Monument Coalition, Georgetown City Hall, Transparency International, Public Service Union, Mr. Ramotar runs away. He refuses to stay and test the ideas coming from these stakeholders. Next, Mr. Ramotar tried a little thing, once again hoping he would look good. He didn’t. He told the Public Service Union that he would negotiate directly with it on wages and salaries but can only offer what the Government can afford. Mr. Ramotar ’s logic, semantics and epistemology are difficult to comprehend. If
Frederick Kissoon you can only give what you can afford why should the union negotiate with you when the result is already known – you can only give what you can afford so no point pressing you on a figure that the union wants. Would it not have been better to simply say – “I will negotiate with you directly.” And leave it at that. Yo u would have thought that Mr. Ramotar would have learned his lesson. Speaking at the opening of Hope Bridge, again he tried in vain to emulate President Obama with appealing pleas and attached emotions. He said; “The opposition should not be degenerating into blackmailing type of politics where you gave me this and I will give you that…it outrages me to have to engage in that blackmailing type of politics “ But Mr. Ramotar maybe doing some blackmailing himself. The Procurement Commission is a constitutional body which is not yet alive because President Ramotar wants the law to be changed so that his Cabinet has the final decision in that his government can object to an award by the Procurement Commission. Mr. Ramotar is saying give me that clause and I will give you the Commission. Mr. Ramotar is saying give me the City Council and I will give you money to clean up the city. Sounds like the very thing Ramotar is accusing the opposition of. It has a name which the President was quick to pronounce – blackmail.
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 11
Petro-Caribe oil deal …
Start preparing to pay more for imported oil - Sir Sanders As unrest continues in Venezuela, the pressure may be on Guyana and 16 other Petro Caribe nations to start thinking about buying oil at market prices. As of yesterday, at least 13 persons have died, over 500 charged and almost 50 thrown in jail following the almost two-week-old protests in the neighbouring country. About 150 people have been injured, authorities say. Former Caribbean diplomat and business analyst, Sir Ron Sanders, has urged Caribbean governments that are members of the Petro Caribe Agreement with Venezuela, to start preparing for the worst case scenario, by adjusting their budgets to take account of the loss of benefits now derived from the oil arrangement. “This is especially important for the countries of the Eastern Caribbean that appear to have made little provision for the possibility that the arrangements with Venezuela could end abruptly.” The 10-month old Nicolas Maduro government is facing
one of its worst unrests over food shortages and foreign currencies, with calls for steps to be taken to reverse the current decline of that neighbouring country’s economic decline. Already, Guyana and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has called for peace, in support of Maduro, who took over from former army strongman, President Hugo Chavez, following his death in March last year. The demonstrations are the biggest challenge to President Nicolas Maduro’s 10-month-old government. Venezuela is Latin America’s biggest exporter of crude oil and has the world’s largest petroleum reserves. Under the Petro Caribe arrangement, several Caribbean member states, including Guyana, purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment. Launched in June 2005, the payment system allows for purchase of oil at market value for 5%-50% up front, with a grace period of one to two years. The remainder can be paid through a 17-25 year financing agreement with 1%
interest if oil prices are above US$40 per barrel. Petro Caribe accounts for 30% of Venezuela’s production, the Curacao Chronicle has reported. Twelve of the 17 countries are from CARICOM, excluding, Barbados, Montserrat and Trinidad and Tobago. EXPENSIVE OIL Countries benefiting from the deal will have to increase their productivity dramatically and start paying market prices. This will be worrying for Guyana which is largely dependent on fossil fuel for its power and the increasing number of vehicles. Government has been subsidizing the Guyana Power and Light which has been struggling to meet growing power demands. “The “manana mentality” of the islands is no longer sustainable. Since change of a culture takes time and leadership, it is likely that the Caribbean, consequently, will slide into a deep and lengthy economic recession,” the newspaper predicted. Under the deal, Guyana is supplying rice and using
Policeman’s collision with Demerara Bridge causes $200,000 damage The badly damaged car after the accident.
An accident last month on the Demerara Harbour Bridge and involving a policeman left more than $200,000 in damages to the structure. According to a release from the Ministry of Public Wo r k s , t h e p o l i c e m a n , David Lindo, also allegedly threw the cell phone o w n e d b y t h e b r i d g e ’s General M a n a g e r, Rawlston Adams, into the Demerara River, when he arrived on the scene of the vehicle accident to assess the damage. The accident, the Ministry said, occurred on January 29 around 23:40 hrs. Lindo is said to be
attached to the police Tactical Services Unit (TSU), Eve Leary. Adams said that the policeman’s vehicle collided with the bridge rails at Span 45 which damaged two cable trays and a diamond panel member. “The total figure for the compromised section amounted to $233,703. Furthermore, the officer involved threw Mr. Adams’ mobile phone into the river. H o w e v e r, i t h a s b e e n replaced,” the Harbour Bridge Official said. The police are now involved in the matter and conducting an internal investigation.
Last month, Adams in confirming the incident, said he had lost valuable information that was stored in the phone.
some of the outstanding oil monies to pay local farmers, through the Ministry of Finance and the Guyana Rice Development Board. With the Venezuela market an assured one, for the time being at least, both Government and rice farmers would be nervous as the current instability spells real trouble. “Venezuela’s economic conditions make it tough for President Nicolás Maduro to continue the largesse of Petro Caribe started by his predecessor Hugo Chávez. Inflation is now at 56 per cent; the government’s budget deficit is almost 50 per cent…,” Sanders said in his latest commentary published Sunday in Kaieteur News. With a sliding bolivar fuerte, Sanders said that there are real food shortages across the country – the food shortages have a worse effect on the poor who, unlike the better-off, cannot afford to pay to circumvent normal food distribution chains. Venezuela also has debt obligations it must service. For example, reports indicate that the government and the state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) signed loan agreements with China amounting to US$49.5B between 2007-2013. Of that sum, only US$20B - or less than half - has been repaid in oil supplies. “These economic conditions make it difficult for Maduro, with the best will in the world, to continue the Petro Caribe arrangements as they are. His government needs to address its crucial fiscal problems as well as the performance issues that confront PDVSA which has been the source of financing not only for the social transformation measures under Chávez, but also for the Petro Caribe arrangements.” SECRET DEBT Sanders also said that the amount of the debt owed to Venezuela by many Caribbean countries is shrouded in secrecy because the process of dealing with Petro Caribe has not been
transparent. “A notable exception is Jamaica where, in January, the government publicly put its Petro Caribe debt at US$2.5 billion. For each of the other Caribbean countries, the debt would amount to hundreds of millions of dollars that, in their current situation of very high debt and large fiscal deficits, they would find almost impossible to repay.” According to the columnist, sources within the Venezuelan government have lamented that in many Caribbean countries not only has provisions not been made to repay the debt, but the loan component of the oil price has not been used for the social programmes for which Chávez intended it. It has been used in one case to pay the government’s public sector wage bill and in another to meet commercial obligations. Sanders believed that Maduro is politically committed to continuing Chávez policies of helping Caribbean countries through the low-cost loan component of oil supplied by Venezuela but as conflict and confrontation increases and intensifies within Venezuela, and economic conditions worsen for his own supporters, he may be forced to choose between them and his own political fortunes and a political commitment to Chávez’s ideas.
Sir Ron Sanders “They would be sensible to approach the Caribbean Development Bank for technical advice on how to alter their financial circumstances to make the transition and to propose ways in which such a transition could be accomplished with the least amount of inevitable pain; pain which would be more desirable than calamity.” Towards the end of 2012, Guyana signed its first debt compensation agreement with Venezuela which reduced the Petro Caribe debt owed to that country by US$100.8 million, equivalent to the value of rice and paddy shipped from December 2009 to July 2011. At the end of 2012, Guyana reportedly owed Venezuela US$364M.
Page 12
Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Dumping of expired drugs in Agricola…
Those medications were donated to us - Health Minister Minister of Health, Bheri Ramsaran said that the expired drugs which were dumped at the Agricola Health Centre more than two weeks ago were given to his Ministry by a donor agency. The Minister made this statement recently, reiterating that the expired medications were taken to the centre so that it could be stored in a vacant flat until representatives from the Food and Drugs Department were ready to destroy them. Two Wednesdays ago this publication was called in after workers from the Health Ministry were seen dumping boxes of what turned out to be expired medications in the health centre’s compound. When this publication visited the facility, two of the four workers were seen taking the drugs out of the Ministry’s truck while the other two collected and dumped it in the compound, just a stone’s throw from the
The workers when they were dumping expired drugs in the Agricola Health Centre
Bheri Ramsaran gate. Some of the medication seen by this newspaper had expired since 2010. While dumping the drugs, the workers came under attack from a group of men, some of whom had guns. During an interview with this newspaper yesterday, Minister Ramsaran said he
was informed that the workers were doing just what they were informed to do when “lawlessness” took over. He said that the Director for Region a l H e a l t h Services was simply separating the expired drugs from the viable ones and was advised to store the expired ones in a flat at
the Agricola Health Centre until they were ready to be destroyed. “Workers taking the drugs for legitimate purposes were beaten by certain aggressive elements in the village. They were instigated by known persons and authorities are looking into it,” Ramsaran said.
According to the Minister, the drugs were not taken from the hospitals or the Ministry’s bond. It was removed from the “abandoned” building on Waterloo Street which used to be the Doctors’ Quarter. Asked why the medications were stored in an abandoned building, the
Minister responded, “You are being difficult now. Don’t flip words on me. You are just like the Adam Harris. This interview is over, I am going.” Meanwhile, an official from the Agricola Health Centre said that the drugs were removed from the location last week.
Authorities to probe another disbarred lawyer The leadership of Guyana's judiciary is to probe yet another Guyanese lawyer who has run afoul of the law while practicing overseas. This has resulted in him being struck off the list of attorneys eligible to ply their trade in Canada where he committed the offence. However, he is still operating openly in Guyana. Attorney General Anil Nandlall told reporters on Friday that while “I have not yet received formal notification about the (Canadian) case,” he has nevertheless forwarded correspondence to
Chancellor Carl Singh about the issue of Attorney Vishnu “Joey” Poonai being disbarred by judicial authorities in Canada after he was convicted and served time for committing frauds that involved millions of dollars. The former Canadian based lawyer was ordered by the Milton Superior Court back in 2007, to pay CND$59,000 in restitution to several banks before serving his three and a half years prison term for mortgage fraud. Poonai was further disbarred by the Upper Law Society of Upper Canada.
Nandlall said that members of the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) have expressed concern over the issue. This written concern, he added, has been dispatched to the Chancellor. “Someone from the Bar Association wrote to me and I forwarded the letter to the Chancellor,” the AG said. President of the local Bar Association Ronald BurchSmith told media operatives that a member of the organization's Executive Council-in a personal capacity-wrote the AG last November expressing concerns over
the disbarred lawyer. Secretary to the Bar Christopher Ram also confirmed making the issue known to senior judiciary officials. Poonai told Kaieteur News that he will continue to practice here since he was admitted to Guyana's Bar, “long before” he was admitted to the Canadian and UK Bars. He said his, “problem in Canada has nothing to do with what I am doing here.” “I am licensed to practice in Guyana and until somebody stops me… I will practice here.” According to the online report from Law Times, Poonai, a Brampton Ontario lawyer, defrauded four financial institutions of some $4M. A 99-page agreed statement said that the former real
estate lawyer admitted to engaging “in professional misconduct and that the appropriate penalty was immediate disbarment.” The law society said that Poonai was involved in 13 counts of professional misconduct, including acting as the solicitor in 49 mortgage transactions between 1997 and 2003 where he knowingly assisted in a scheme to obtain mortgage funds from mortgagees under false pretences, in what the court called a “flip fraud.” The total aggregated loss to the financial institutions (the rest was covered by insurance) was $2,853,403, according to the ruling from Poonai's criminal trial. The lawyer was arrested in October 2003, and pleaded not
guilty to the initial set of charges during his trial. At one point, he claimed that the Law Society of Upper Canada had given him permission to do the flips. The frauds occurred when a property was purchased around its market value, conveyed immediately afterwards for a falsely inflated, significantly higher price to a second buyer who was not a bona fide buyer and mortgage funds were advanced based on the higher second selling price. The difference between the funds needed to close the first deal and the mortgage for the second deal is the profit for the fraudsters, with the mortgage then falling into default. In these lucrative flips, Poonai or another lawyer “acting in concert with him” would act for all the parties including the lending institution, without fully apprising the lender of the circumstances of the transaction. In one of the transactions, the report said, the property saw a 2.123-per-cent increase in price over the two-week period between the first and second agreements, resulting in a $275,999 profit. Another property increased by 1.508 per cent over four days. The agreed statement notes that Poonai “admits that the transactions were (continued on page 21)
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 21
Enforcement of wildlife There is a protocol for dealing regulations needed to stop with vulnerable children over fishing and hunting
The Childcare and Protection Agency like most child care agencies the world over is struggling to meet the increased demands for services to children and families. Services such as alternative care options for children; training and support for parents to prevent unnecessary separation of children; effective monitoring for children placed in out of home care; mental health and therapeutic services for troubled children and their families; fostering of community awareness and psychosocial support for vulnerable children and families; support for vulnerable children in the school system; and advocacy to ensure that perpetrators who violate children are accountable for their actions in a court of law. Taking the range of services identified, how one can consider that one agency or organization working in isolation from others can successfully meet these demands. Vulnerable children and families have need for a number of services. Meeting the holistic needs of vulnerable children and their families or providing them with a continuum of care, require a coming together – a pooling of resources, skills and coordination of the care services. This is called Interagency Collaboration and it has been described as “the process of agencies joining together for the purpose of interdependent problem solving which focus on improving services to children and families.” Just think of a child or family having to go to several social services agencies for assistance and having to give the background information each time: even when the services are in the same building. Interagency
collaboration has tremendous benefits for vulnerable children and families. It results in faster access to services, increased quality of case monitoring and support, better decision making, improve ability to provide needed and timely resources; more effective use of limited resources and reduces duplication of service among other benefits. The CPA is working towards increasing collaboration with other key Governmental Agencies and Non-governmental Agencies but it is said that true collaboration can only be achieved when the family emerges as full partners in the process. Working with families is a key strategy in ensuring a child’s continued well-being. A child’s place is with the family; a child is only placed in an institution as a last resort. To achieve interagency collaboration is no easy task for it requires participating agencies to be able to see the bigger picture: the benefits to be derived from the partnership for the participating agencies and most of all for the clients served. Effective collaboration requires the letting go of personal agendas; narrow minded thinking; undue criticism of other professional partners; determined quest for heroism; petty jealousy and the promotion of oneself by berating other partners. Communication is a key element in relationship building for effective interagency collaboration. We must communicate and understand the roles and responsibilities of the participating agencies and appreciate each other cultural and operating differences. The barriers to interagency collaboration are many, but true professionals
will work towards removing these barriers if it means improve outputs for children and families. The CPA is a Governmental Agency whose mandate and functions are set out in the Childcare and Protection Agency Act 2009. The staff is public servants who have no agenda other than serving vulnerable children and families. We are still a relatively new agency who having been seeking to forge partnerships with NGOs and other civil society groups from the inception of our establishment for it is the only way to go to building a comprehensive child protection system for Guyana’s children. The CPA is a national institution and national institutions are known to last forever it is people in them who come and go. National programmes need to be supported by all citizens, particular ones to improve the lives of our children. It is of great concern when funding agencies are willing to support NGOs to do programmes that duplicate or overlap national programmes and do not stipulate or encourage the agencies to collaborate with state agencies. I have travelled abroad and have seen NGOs and Governmental organizations working programmes together to bring relief to the vulnerable with full understanding of each other roles and responsibilities and with no open hostility and mistrust amongst the professionals. Interagency and interprofessional collaboration is a professional activity that is said to work if the leaders of the participating agencies provide strong competent leadership and encourage the frontline staff to buy-in and work at building relationships.
Authorities to probe another ... From page 12 dishonest and fraudulent and that he was aware of their dishonest and fraudulent nature.” The report went on to say that in October 2003, Poonai was also charged with five counts of fraud over $5,000 relating to 12 real estate transactions between April 2002 and May 2003. The court lists the Royal Bank of Canada, the Bank of Montreal, CIBC Mortgages Inc., and Scotia Mortgage Corp., as being defrauded in the schemes. While the misconduct proceedings against him were initiated in 2003, in 2004 Poonai agreed to an interim suspension in exchange for an
adjournment sine die of the law society proceeding, pending the outcome of the criminal trial. He was found guilty on December 22, 2006 of four counts of fraud over $5,000 and pleaded guilty to an additional count of fraud over $5,000 on March 30. In December, Poonai was found guilty of professional misconduct for providing legal services while suspended and destroying client property. At that point, he was ordered suspended for two years. Ten days later, he was convicted of four counts of criminal fraud in the Ontario Superior Court, with Justice John Murray concluding:
“Mr. Poonai acted in a manner that reasonable, decent persons would consider dishonest and unscrupulous.” It was noted by the Law Times that two other lawyers - Pretam Kaur Purewal and Patience Boatemaa Whyte were also involved in the frauds. It was reported that, “They knowingly assisted in or encouraged dishonesty, fraud, crime, and/or illegal conduct or to have become the dupe of clients who were engaged in dishonesty, fraud, crime, and/or illegal conduct, with respect to several properties.” Whyte was given permission to resign in January and Purewal was disbarred on March 19.
- Ecotourism operator
Sport fishing at Rockstone Residents, tourism operators and conservationists are demanding the speedy implementation of the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations to prevent overfishing and irresponsible hunting of animals in Guyana, particularly in the interior regions. According to Wayne De Freitas, an Ecotourism Operator, for years there have been hardly any laws or regulations monitoring excessive fishing and hunting in Guyana, which are threatening the continuity of animal species and residents’ livelihoods. As such, enforcement of this new regulation is very important. The Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations were gazetted and tabled in the National Assembly, and gained the full support of the National Assembly at its January 16 sitting. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Robert Persaud, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said, “The regulations and guidelines will enable the development of systems, including penalties and mechanisms for enforcement for the management of local wildlife.” “As it is now, people would complain that it’s over hunting, overfishing, disrespect for spawning seasons for fish, giving other species time to
procreate…sometimes if you travel along roadways in our hinterland, you would see containers upon containers of ice boxes and when you check these boxes they would contain wild-meat. So you had these unchecked and certainly disruptive practices that have been taking place for a number of years, it had gotten out of control,” he said. The Minister emphasized, “The regulations will address these issues, as well as the needs of those indigenous communities which traditionally utilize various wildlife species. According to De Freitas, residents in the Iwokrama area have been complaining about depleting fresh water fish stocks owing to commercial fishing in the area. It is believed the catches are sold to mining camps, leaving little or no fish for residents who engage in domestic fishing for a daily bread. He added that in the Rupununi during the rainy season the river raises, forcing the fish to swim to the top. During this period, fishermen use nets to catch thousands of fish, even those with eggs. This practice is a major contributor to the depleting fish stock and there is no preventative measure currently being enforced. De Freitas emphasized that with the continued depleting fish stock, sport fishing which is being touted by the Ministry of Tourism could die before it catches on. He said that sport is an
acceptable form of recreational activity and is not dangerous to the continuity of the fish species. Traditionally, hunting is an economic activity for persons living in the interior locations. However, hunting of wild animals such as ducks, pigs, ‘labba’ and deer is now being done on a commercial level because of the high price for the meat. De Freitas related that because there is no season for hunting, hunters frequently set traps and shoot wild animals. In some cases, they provide ammunition to residents to hunt for them. The meats are stored in large ice boxes and are reportedly sold in restaurants and exported to Trinidad and Tobago. According to GINA, “The rules will see those who engage in any aspect of the wildlife trade being subjected to licencing and certification requirements as it deal with domestic trade regulation, as well as broader wildlife management issues. However, it does not make provisions for the regulation of international trade of wildlife. A Wildlife Import and Export Bill is being considered to complement the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations. The Wildlife Import and Export Bill will provide a national framework and mechanism to govern the international trade of all species of Wildlife in Guyana.”
Page 22
Kaieteur News
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Fluffy Pups – Contact: 2225671; 641-6162
American Style massage services- Call: 678-7499
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
We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar
Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 689-5997, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
VEHICLE FOR SALE Mitsubishi Galant $900,000Call:645-3605 1 Toyota AT212, AT192, AT170, EP71 Starlet, LTouring Wagon, Hilux Pickup 4x4, 1 Nissan Caravan E24 - Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453 One Toyota Prado and Tundra for sale: - Priced to sell – Tel:600-5759 or 225-0683-5 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / termsCall:680-3154 Toyota Hilux Solid Diff pickups Gasoline (4Y) & Diesel Engine. Just arrived, in excellent condition – Call:691-2077 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 Leyland DAF 85 truck - Call: 693-0088
FOR SALE/ RENT
FOR HIRE Dump Trucks for hire to transport sand, aggregate, etc and bobcat for rental Tel: 694-1657; 261-6664
VACANCY 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant Call: 670-8893/684-2838 One Cosmetologist required Call: 227-4799 Two Joiners to work in Workshop - Tel:610-7005; 219-1342
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:6797139,639-4452
VEHICLE FOR SALE One Mitsubishi Lancer in excellent condition – Tel:645-4755 One Honda CRV fully equipped with running bars & other accessories, PNN Series. Excellent Condition! Price Negotiable - Tel: 6606763 Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered: Premio, Runx, IST, Spacio, Fielder - Call: 652-3820; 665-4529 Rav4 PLL Series LHD standard, sun roof, one owner, asking $1.35 Million Tel: 225-6046 or 663-2079 / 695-3091 1 Toyota R4 2004 model – $2.6M cash – Tel:686-5083 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
For Sale/ Rent: One Taxi Service with complete base station radio, frequency, lighted sign board etc. Call: 619-2800
CAR RENTAL
LEARN TO DRIVE Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal street. Fee $16,000Call:227-3869
1 Large Plucking Machine brand new must go – Tel:655-4538
Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032, 647-2943
Design Team Neher, The most dependable, professional, trustworthy landscapers in Guyana - Tel: 648-1821 or 2190468
Natural Beauty Salon & Spa: Grove Market Street, EBD tele:265-4138, 652-5800 specialized in everything for women & children
Diesel Perkins generator 12,500 watts - $495,000, wheel alignment machine hunter P611 - US$2800 – Tel:601-8276; 619-6863
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION, WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
We Refill HP cartridges for $1800 call: 650-7699
EDUCATIONAL
PEN PAL
Desk and benches – ideal for school or lessons – Call:6833887
Prime Property for sale Light Street, Alberttown Contact: 639-3619, 619-7299
Blankenburg Public Road WCD 38X150, 39X150 -$16M Each. Call:658-0132
PVC Ceiling Panels, PVC Mouldings, Medallions. American Standard! – Tel: 614-8564; 629-0372
1 - 3 Ton Mitsubishi Canter, long base, excellent condition – Contact: Imtiaz Baksh – 621-1240
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
No Blackouts, Affordable 1 inverter + 2 deep cycle batteries 6 to 8 hours electricity 1 one year Tel:226 2646/ 691 9595
Pure Rottweiler pups - Tel: 650-8496
One three storey business property @ Middle street, Georgetown, 2 business Property on Whim Public Road Berbice - Tel: 619-7134; 225-6481
Tuesday February 25, 2014
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
1 Toyota Hilux LN170 in excellent condition - Tel: 641-2763 Toyota Corona 170 - Tel: 696-1355 One Verossa, with chrome rims PMM 5454, excellent condition – Call:682-3396; 665-7206; 687-3866 1 Leyland DAF 4x4 Bush Truck. 1 Toyota Hilux 4x4 bush ready – Contact Kim: 658-5193 1- F150 and 1- 212 (new model) for sale: Call:6218129 2008 Fielder: Bodykit, spoiler, rims. Unregistered $2.95M- Call: 617-2891 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 23)
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Fugitive Ukraine leader wanted for murder, Russia sounds alarm (Reuters) - Ukraine’s fugitive president was indicted for “mass murder” yesterday over the shooting of demonstrators as new leaders in Kiev sought urgent Western aid to make up for a loss of funding from Russia, which is angry at the overthrow of its ally. Moscow said it would not deal with those who led an “armed mutiny” against Viktor Yanukovich, who was elected in 2010, and said it now feared for the lives of its citizens, notably in the Russian-speaking east and Crimea on the Black Sea. Russia’s top general agreed with NATO to maintain contact on a crisis that has raised fears of civil war and which U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said called for an “inclusive political process” that “preserves Ukraine’s ... territorial integrity”. While Russia, its strategy for maintaining influence in its former Soviet neighbor in shreds, made clear its $15billion package of loans and cheap gas deals was in jeopardy, the European Union and United States offered urgent financial assistance for a new government that may be formed today. They were responding to warnings from Ukraine’s acting head of state that the country was heading for bankruptcy. The acting interior minister - appointed by parliament when Yanukovich fled at the weekend after mass protests sparked by his rejection of closer ties with the European Union - said the 63-year-old was now on the wanted list and had last been seen at Balaclava in Crimea, near Russia’s Sevastopol naval base. “An official case for the mass murder of peaceful citizens has been opened,” Arsen Avakov wrote on Facebook, referring to the shooting by police marksmen of many of the 82 people killed in two days of bloodshed in Kiev last week. “Yanukovich and other people responsible for this have been declared wanted,” he added. The ousted president was still at large, Avakov said. He had left by helicopter on Friday from Kiev, where his lavish residence was quickly overwhelmed by curious compatriots who took its lavish fittings as proof of grandiose corruption. Having arrived in his power base in the industrial east, Yanukovich was prevented from flying out of the country and then diverted south to Crimea. He had later left a private residence at
Viktor Yanukovich Balaclava for an unknown destination, by car with one of his aides and a handful of guards. Pursuing a political opponent who had already appeared last week to have lost the confidence of Moscow and of Ukraine’s wealthy business “oligarchs” is popular with protesters still occupying Kiev’s Independence Square, close to parliament. But many are wary of opposition leaders like Yanukovich’s arch-rival Yulia Tymoshenko, whose record in government before him was mixed. Tymoshenko, who was released from a prison hospital on Saturday having served more than two years on graft charges, said yesterday she will go to Berlin for treatment. She is widely expected to run in a presidential election parliament has set for May 25. Underlining how that vote could be as divisive as previous ballots, the governor of Kharkiv region, on the Russian border, said he would run. Businessman Mihailo Dobkin has been prominent in calling for military veterans and others to form militias to challenge anti-Yanukovich militants. Over the weekend, small groups of political activists clashed in a number of towns and cities. FINANCIAL HELP European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was in Kiev yesterday to discuss measures to shore up the ailing economy, which the finance ministry said needs urgent financial assistance to avoid default. After her talks with acting president Oleksander Turchinov, she was quoted in a statement from the Ukrainian parliament as
saying: “We are ready to support Ukraine and give a signal to other countries that your country is not only solving the problems of the past but also looking ahead.” EU officials have said that a free trade pact, spurned by Yanukovich in November under pressure from Moscow, could be available to Ukraine once it has a government to negotiate. In Washington, the White House spokesman said the United States was ready to provide financial help to complement aid from the International Monetary Fund that would support reform. Whoever takes charge in Kiev - possible prime ministers include Tymoshenko ally Arseny Yatsenyuk and billionaire former minister Petro Poroshenko - faces a huge challenge to satisfy popular expectations and will find an economy in deep crisis. The Finance Ministry said it needed $35 billion in foreign assistance over the next two years and appealed for urgent aid in the next one or two weeks. It called for a donors’ conference involving representatives of the European Union, the United States and the International Monetary Fund. The EU has contacted the United States, Japan, China, Canada and Turkey to coordinate aid for Ukraine, a senior EU official said. France’s foreign minister said an international donors’ conference was being discussed. Ukraine’s parliament, exercising power as leaders try to form an interim government, replaced the head of the central bank, appointing lawmaker and former banker Stepan Kubiv. AMBASSADOR RECALLED
Russia recalled its ambassador from Kiev for consultations on Sunday, accusing the opposition of having torn up a transition agreement with the president it supported. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow had grave doubts about the legitimacy of those now in power in Ukraine and their recognition by some states was an “aberration”. “We do not understand what is going on there. There is a real threat to our interests and to the lives of our citizens,” Medvedev was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. Russia cited a duty to protect the lives of its citizens in 2008 as one justification for military intervention in Georgia, another former Soviet republic, in support of Kremlin-backed separatists in South Ossetia. On Independence Square in Kiev, cradle of the uprising, barricades of old furniture and car tyres remained in place, with smoke rising from camp fires among tents occupied by diehards vowing to stay until elections in May. The mood among the few hundred on the square was a mixture of fatigue, sorrow for the more than 80 people killed last week, and a sense of victory after three months of protests. A large video screen by the side of the stage was showing the faces of the dead, one after another, on a loop. “Now is not the time for celebrating. We are still at war. We will stay here as long as we have to,” said Grigoriy Kuznetsov, 53, dressed in black combat fatigues. Galina Kravchuk, a middle-aged woman from Kiev, was holding a carnation. “We are looking to Europe now. We have hope. We want to join Europe, “she said. The cost of insuring Ukraine’s debt fell on hopes that the country would avoid default, while bonds recorded gains on expectations that a new government would focus on the economy. Ukrainian stocks soared to their highest since September 2012, but the hryvnia currency tumbled to a five-year low against the dollar as expectations grew the new government would focus on using dwindling foreign reserves to repay debt rather than defend the currency. While bond markets reacted jubilantly to the possibility of Western aid, major investors fretted about how fast Kiev can secure a rescue and whether an IMF bailout may reschedule its debts, costing them money.
(From page 22)
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 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 Attractive live in waitress Tel: 228-5129; 604-8277 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 – 6136613
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 5 Acre Land with house to lease $95,000 for month – Call:261-2988 Church to rent @ 180 Charlotte Street Bourda – Tel:226-5183; 227-4406 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
Live in , live out babysitter Tel: 225-6070
One Semi furnished apartment to rent at Industry ECD – Tel:222-6001
Upholsterer, joiners, spray painter & handyman – Contact:225-6810; 660-5190
1,2,3 bedroom @ Lot 2 Anna Catherina W.C.D – Tel:2760818
Sawmill workers – Tel:6539752.
ADOPTION
Skilled mason and carpenter Tel: 668-9863; 625-0930
Kittens for Adoption Call:628-1486
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
TO LET Furnished apartments for rental @ Bent Street, Wortmanville - $US30 per day – Contact Numbers: 226-3309; 693-2190; 2181033; 678-4267 Furnished Apartments for Overseas Visitors – Contact: 668-5198
Babysitter from Georgetown, Monday - Friday – 8Hrs – Tel:611-1981
Aracari Hotel. West Bank Demerara Rates from US$30 Tel: 264-2946-8
One Cook (must be able to prepare a variety of Indian Dishes & assist in cleaning) – Tel No:688-3686
1 Complete Lumber Factory to rent/ lease with all sawmilling equipment situated @ Eccles, Industrial Site. Call Richard: 609-7675.
FOR SALE / RENT American Pool Table - Tel: 277-0578; 635-9714
Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call:6193660,639-4452
Page 24
Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Egypt govt. resigns, paving way for Sisi to seek presidency (Reuters) - Egypt’s government resigned yesterday, paving the way for army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to declare his candidacy for president of a strategic U.S. ally gripped by political strife. After the July overthrow of elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi and subsequent crackdown on Islamists and liberals with hundreds killed and thousands jailed, critics say Cairo’s military-backed authorities are turning the clock back to the era of autocrat Hosni Mubarak era, when the political elite ruled with an iron fist in alliance with top businessmen. “(The outgoing government) made every effort to get Egypt out of the narrow tunnel in terms of security, economic pressures and political confusion,” Prime Minister Hazem elBeblawi said in a live nationwide speech. Beblawi, who was tasked by interim President Adly Mansour with running the government’s affairs until the election, did not give a clear reason for the decision. But it effectively opened the way for Sisi to run for president since he would first have to leave his post as defense minister in any case. “This (government resignation) was done as a step that was needed ahead of Sisi’s announcement that he will run for president,” an Egyptian official said. He told Reuters that the cabinet had resigned en masse as Sisi did not want to appear to be acting alone. Government spokesman Hany Salah said only: “This government feels that it did what it had to do in this critical period, and maybe it’s time for a change.” Sisi has unveiled a political roadmap meant to lead to elections after toppling Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood following mass unrest against his
A man stands on a bridge where huge posters of Egypt’s Army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi are hanged in central Cairo February 3, 2014. (Credit: Reuters/Asmaa Waguih) increasingly arbitrary rule. But promises of democracy have not borne fruit in the biggest Arab nation, where hundreds of thousands of people gathered in 2011 in an armybacked uprising that overthrew Mubarak and raised hopes of a new political landscape. The presidential vote is expected within months in Egypt, which has great geostrategic importance due to its peace treaty with Israel and control over the Suez Canal, a vital global shipping lane and the shortest between Asia and Europe. ZEROING IN ON THE BROTHERHOOD Egypt’s stock market rose 0.26 percent after news of the government’s departure to 8029.37 points, reversing losses from earlier in the day. Mursi’s removal touched off the bloodiest political crisis in modern Egyptian history, with security forces killing hundreds of Brotherhood supporters,
Collaboration - an important aspect of vector control ... From page 6 reduction in malaria. However, vector control is a facet of health care that must be ongoing whether there is an outbreak or not. “If you do not continue to fight vectors you end up in a situation basically where the vectors multiply, and multiply very quickly and can overwhelm all your efforts... “Even if you may have complete control of them, you need to continue to do this activity over and over in a cyclic manner,” Dr Rahman explained. He noted that funding towards this programme has al-
ways been enormous. Although the vector control fight attracts a large chunk of the annual budgetary allocation to the Health Ministry, Dr Rahman disclosed that funding from donor agencies such as the Global Fund does not go untouched. “If you look at treatment alone for malaria, for instance, it could cost at the least US$50 and if you add the treated bed nets and other aspects of tackling this disease it amounts to a great amount,” added Dr Rahman, who is convinced that without sustained support the needful vector control fight, will be in vain.
jailing thousands and putting top leaders on trial. The Muslim Brotherhood accused Sisi of plotting a coup to restore militarydominated government, and human rights groups say that abuses are spreading by the day, allegations the armybacked government denies. Housing Minister Ibrahim Mahlab, a former official in Mubarak’s National Democratic Party, was expected to be named prime minister of the new government, said a security source. The Egyptian authorities are likely to remain preoccupied with efforts to further weaken and isolate the Muslim Brotherhood and fight a mushrooming Islamist insurgency. The government has also clamped down on some secular activists who were instrumental in the popular uprising that deposed Mubarak, and who supported Mursi’s removal. They are
now languishing in prisons and face trial. Compounding the instability, Islamist militants based in the widely lawless Sinai Peninsula have
intensified attacks on police and soldiers, killing hundreds since Mursi’s fall. The Sinai-based group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for a
suicide bombing which killed two South Koreans last week, inflicting yet more harm on a tourism industry gutted by political turmoil and protests. Ansar also said that it was behind assassinations of army and Interior Ministry officials. A security source said Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim, who has been spearheading the campaign to crush the Brotherhood, was expected to retain his post in the hope he could provide tight security before elections. He survived an assassination attempt by a suicide bomber last year. The Gulf Arab states of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, deeply suspicious of the Muslim Brotherhood, showered Egypt with billions of dollars in aid after Mursi’s political demise. That raised the morale of the government and filled state coffers. But any new government will be under pressure to come up with long-term plans to strengthen the tottering economy.
Second Jury empanelled for Corentyne murder trial The murder trial of two Corentyne men who are accused of murdering another will commence today in the Berbice High Court. The matter was postponed for one week following the discharge of the jury after a few days and then another day’s wait when the matter restarted. On trial for murder are Joshua Persaud, called ‘Sunny Boy’ and ‘Bun Boy’, and Raphael Rene Morrison, called “Red Head”. They are indicted for the June 3, 2013 murder of Marlon Andrew Ramcharran who was 18 at the
time. The murder occurred on a street in Block C Tain New Housing area. Justice Diana Insanally and a mixed jury in the Berbice High Court will hear the matter. After the indictment was read on Thursday, defence attorney Mursaline Bacchus asked to make some preliminary submissions in the absence of the jury before the jury was empanelled. Mr. Bacchus and State Prosecutor Renita Singh addressed the judge up to Friday. In the end the jury was empanelled.
Joshua Persaud aka Sunny Boy
East Coast CPGs get mixed ratings ... From page 3 formed in Berbice in response to a spate of robberies that are occurring in that county. He told reporters that for several years, the Government has been placing much emphasis on the establishment of Community Policing Groups (CPG) and Neighbourhood Police, to assist the regular police force in maintaining law and order. Rohee said that most people have accepted these two concepts as best suited for Guyana as a whole. “Nobody has questioned the need to establish Community Policing Groups or Neighbourhood Police because I think we have managed to successfully gain buy-in to these two con-
cepts,” Rohee said. “Vigilante groups are something a little different,” he added. But according to a source at Mahaica, one particular group at Mosquito Hall appears to have taken their role outside of their mandate. Kaieteur News was informed that the group has implemented an unofficial curfew in the village, “harassing law abiding citizens who enter the community,” especially at nights. The source said that often times the group's actions receive the support of senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs. “Imagine they beat up a man and when the man went to report the matter to the po-
lice, a senior official from the Ministry call and instructed the police not to write any statement,” the source told this newspaper. But the reports are not always negative about the operations of CPGs at Mahaica. Earlier this month some members of a Mahaica CPG, in the company of a Police Constable came in for high praises from the Minister of Home Affairs after they apprehended a murder suspect who had been on the run for 10 years. And in the Vigilance and Sparendaam, ECD districts, which are well known crime hotspots, police have commended the work of the groups there, noting that they
have been of significant help to them. “They have their own vehicles, their own guns, which are given to them by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Sometimes we have ranks to send with them, sometimes we don't, but they generally have been very c oo p erative and professional,” a senior police official in the Division told Kaieteur News. This week the Ministry will kick start the CPG anniversary celebrations with a press conference tomorrow, which will be hosted by the Minister of Home Affairs. Presently CPG membership throughout the country stands at 4,244 with 268 groups.
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Kaieteur News
Ganja green light this year - Paulwell says Jamaica must not be left behind as world takes on marijuana Phillip Paulwell
(Jamaica Observer) Jamaica will this year join a virtual tidal wave of countries across the globe in decriminalising ganja, forerunner to the establishment of a medicinal marijuana industry estimated to be worth billions of dollars. The undertaking was given to the Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Taskforce (CCMRT) by Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives Phillip Paulwell, according to one of the main taskforce leaders, Delano Seiveright. In a press statement Sunday, Seiveright said Paulwell, who is also the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, told members of the taskforce at a meeting last Thursday that “ganja will be decriminalised in Jamaica this year and emphasised that
Jamaica cannot be allowed to be left behind on the issue”. “He also reiterated the multiple economic, social and cultural benefits that Jamaica stands to gain if the laws are adjusted sooner rather than later,” Seiveright said. He said the meeting held at the PCJ Auditorium in Kingston had agreed to the formal launch of the Future Ganja Growers Association next month to spearhead the establishment of a local ganja industry, which advocates swear will pump billions of dollars into the Jamaican economy. If Paulwell’s promise becomes reality — a strong possibility because of bipartisan support in the Parliament — Jamaica could be the first English-speaking Caribbean country to decriminalise ganja and usher in a new era allowing Jamaicans to grow marijuana
for medicinal purposes under State regulation. Legalisation or decriminalisation of the weed has been sweeping the globe, led by the United States where Colorado, followed by Washington, has demonstrated the earning power of marijuana. America’s tax take has already been put at an estimated US$100 million a year. Jamaica’s Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Taskforce comprises the Ganja Law Reform Coalition, the National Alliance for the Legalisation of Ganja and several members of civil society. The group is chaired by University of the West Indies, Mona Principal Professor Archibald McDonald. Other leading Ganja Law Reform advocates sitting on the taskforce include Paul Chang and Paul Burke. The taskforce also reiterated that a compulsory condition of involvement in the growers association was agreement by members not to take any part, directly or indirectly, in the growing/ cultivation of ganja until there is a legal and regulated framework in place. The association, according to the press statement, would “represent the best interests of the various stakeholders, giving primacy of place to the traditional ganja cultivator for a specified period”.
You want me to resign? (Jamaica Observer) Police Commissioner Owen Ellington says he is not fazed by criticisms and calls for his resignation, but has urged Jamaicans to use their freedom to do so responsibly. Ellington reiterated that he was proud to be top cop at a time when citizens felt free to criticise the commissioner of police without any fear of retribution and that he would never ever want to live in a country where people were deprived of that right or freedom. “If people were afraid to criticise me or call for my resignation, when they feel like it, even if they don’t have good reasons, then I would be failing at my job. But the fact that they can do it at any time, and the fact that they can take their safety and freedom for granted, means that the police are doing what they are here to do, which is to protect people, protect their
Police Commissioner Owen Ellington rights and their freedoms,” he said in a interview with the Jamaica Observer, the full report of which will be published this Wednesday. But the commissioner added: “What I would urge people to do is to use that freedom responsibly. And I think most Jamaicans do. That
is why we have not descended into anarchy as yet.” Ellington said most Jamaicans were law-abiding, respectable and respectful and had patience with the police, knowing they are not miracle workers. “They know the limitations that we work with. Most Jamaicans want peaceful, ordered existence and most Jamaicans know that the making of a commissioner of police is not an overnight affair. You don’t just get up and say, ‘Boy, we want a different commissioner’ and you get one tomorrow. There is a process and they respect the process. “So those who would make that kind of call they have their reasons, and as I said before, they have freedom to do it and I would never ever want to be in a country where they are deprived of that freedom,” Commissioner Ellington said.
Page 25
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Budget cuts to slash U.S. Army to smallest since before World War Two
(Reuters) - The Pentagon said yesterday it would shrink the U.S. Army to pre-World War Two levels, eliminate the popular A-10 aircraft and reduce military benefits in order to meet 2015 spending caps, setting up an electionyear fight with the Congress over national defense priorities. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, discussing the Pentagon’s plan for meeting its new spending caps ahead of the formal budget presentation on March 4, advanced a number of ideas that have been attempted in the past but rejected by Congress or are seen as likely to be unpopular in a congressional election year. As the United States military winds down its war in Afghanistan and looks to cut billions in defense spending, the Pentagon plans to continue shifting its focus to the Asia-Pacific region and will no longer need a land Army of the size currently planned, Hagel said. The department plans to reduce the size of the Army to between 440,000 and 450,000 soldiers, he said. The
A view of humvees parked at a courtyard at Camp Liberty in Baghdad September 30, 2011 file photo. (Credit: Reuters/Mohammed Ameen) Army is currently about 520,000 soldiers and had been planning to draw down to about 490,000 in the coming year. A reduction to 450,000 would be the Army’s smallest size since 1940 - before the United States entered World War Two - when it had a troop strength of 267,767, according to Army figures. The Army’s previous post-World War Two low was 479,426 in 1999.
The planned cut in the Army’s size comes as the Defense Department is in the process of reducing projected spending by nearly a trillion dollars over a 10-year period. A two-year budget deal in Congress in December gave the Pentagon some relief from the budget cuts, but still forced it to reduce spending in the 2014 fiscal year by $30 billion. The Pentagon’s budget for the 2015 fiscal year
is $496 billion, roughly the same as in 2014 but still lower than had envisioned last year. “This will be the first budget to fully reflect the transition DoD (the Department of Defense) is making after 13 years of war, the longest conflict in our nation’s history,” Hagel said. “We chose further reductions in troop strength and force structure in every military service - active and
reserve - in order to sustain our readiness and technological superiority and to protect critical capabilities,” he said. A senior U.S. defense official said the approach outlined by Hagel was “pragmatic and responsible,” but noted that “with a smaller force there is less margin for error.” The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, warned that a return to deeper budget cuts in 2016 would result in “our forces being too small and out of balance with respect to readiness and modernization.” Hagel said the Pentagon also planned to eliminate the Air Force’s fleet of A-10 “Warthog” close air support planes, which are much beloved by ground troops, in order to ensure continued funding of the new longrange bomber, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and a new aerial refueling tanker. “This was a tough decision,” he said. “But the A-10 is a 40-year-old, singlepurpose airplane originally designed to kill enemy tanks
on a Cold War battlefield. It cannot survive or operate effectively where there are more advanced aircraft.” In a reversal of an earlier decision, Hagel said the Pentagon decided to retire the 50-year-old U-2 spy plane in favor of the unmanned Global Hawk system. He said the decision to reverse course came about because the Pentagon had in recent years been able to reduce the Global Hawk’s operating costs. The Pentagon chief also announced a series of steps to try to reduce the Defense Department’s military and civilian personnel costs, which now make up about half of its spending. Hagel said the department would slow the growth of taxfree housing allowances, reduce the annual subsidy for military commissaries and reform the TRICARE health insurance program for military family members and retirees. The defense secretary added that the Pentagon had decided to build only 32 versions of the new Littoral Combat Ship, rather than the 52 envisioned.
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views
Is this the return Venezuela death toll rises to 13 as protests flare of democracy to...
(Reuters) Antigovernment demonstrators put up barricades and set fire to trash in Caracas yesterday despite calls from within the opposition to rein in protests that have led to 13 deaths in Venezuela’s worst unrest for a decade. Traffic in the capital slowed to a crawl and many people stayed home as protesters burned trash and piled debris along main avenues a day after opposition leader Henrique Capriles called on them to keep demonstrations peaceful. “We know we’re bothering people but we have to wake up Venezuela!” student Pablo Herrera, 23, said next to a barricade in the affluent Los Palos Grandes district of Caracas. Authorities in the convulsed border state of Tachira confirmed another death: a man who fell from his second-storey apartment after being hit by a bullet from a nearby protest. The demonstrations are the biggest challenge to President Nicolas Maduro’s 10-month-old government, though there is no sign they could topple him or affect the OPEC member’s oil shipments. Venezuela is Latin America’s biggest exporter of crude oil and has the world’s largest petroleum reserves. The government says 529 people have been charged over the unrest, with most given warnings but 45 kept behind bars. About 150 people have been injured, authorities say. Capriles, 41, spurned an invitation to meet Maduro in the afternoon as part of a gathering of mayors and governors that some had hoped would open up communications between both sides. “This is a dying government ... I’m not going to be like the orchestra on the Titanic,” he told reporters. “Miraflores (presidential palace) is not the place to talk about peace, it’s the center of operations for abuses of human rights.” Capriles and other opposition figureheads are demanding that the government release imprisoned protest leader Leopoldo Lopez and about a dozen jailed student demonstrators. They also want Maduro to disarm pro-government gangs and address national issues ranging from crime to shortages of basic goods. Hardline student protesters, though, are demanding that
Angel Vivas, a retired army general and anti-Maduro protester, stands in his house with an automatic weapon as he resists being detained in Caracas February 23, 2014. (CREDIT: REUTERS/STRINGER) Maduro step down, less than a year into his term. “If there’s one thing these violent protests have done, it’s unite ‘Chavismo’,” Maduro told state television, using the term for government supporters coined during the 14-year rule of his predecessor, Hugo Chavez. The president, a 51-yearold former union activist who has made preserving Chavez’s legacy the centerpiece of his rule, accuses opponents of planning a coup backed by Washington. ACCUSATIONS FLY Addressing a rally of progovernment motorbike riders yesterday, Maduro accused the opposition of bringing in “mercenaries” to fuel the violence, including one man from the Middle East who was detained with 11 telephones. Prices of Venezuela’s bonds surged as much as 4 percent on Monday, though this was largely due to the announcement of a new currency exchange platform that investors believe will strengthen government finances. In a rare stance for a Socialist Party official, the governor of turbulent Tachira state criticized the government’s response to the protests and called for Lopez’s release. “It’s a matter of peace; all of those in jail for political motives should be sent home,” said Jose Vielma,
referring to Lopez and another well-known opposition-linked prisoner. Socialist Party leaders have for years avoided making comments that could appear to be diverging from the party line, making Vielma’s comment all the more uncommon. The protests have hit the border state Tachira harder than any other, with gangs of student demonstrators now the de facto authorities in some parts of its principal cities. Even though Maduro has sent in troops to restore order, transport is frequently disrupted by improvised roadblocks that charge tolls to those seeking passage and throw rocks at those who attempt to move on without paying. Supermarkets in Tachira are opening only for several hours in the morning, with supplies of food limited because delivery trucks cannot get through. The nationwide wave of protests began with sporadic demonstrations in Tachira’s capital of San Cristobal due to outrage over an attempted rape, sparking student protests around the region. PROTESTS GRIND ON Lopez, a 42-year-old Harvard-educated economist and firebrand opposition leader, rode the coattails of those protests to create a nationwide effort called “La Salida” or “The Exit” meant to end Maduro’s rule. The government said
yesterday that 13 people had died in incidents directly related to the unrest, most from gunshots. Some 30 more, however, have also died from illnesses not attended to properly due to the protests, Maduro said. 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 an annoyance for the mostly well-to-do neighborhoods where they take place. “This is brutality. We are fighting for our freedom because when we go to the supermarket there’s no flour, there’s no sugar,” said Yesenia Alvarado, 29, an architect, at the upscale Plaza Altamira where a barricade was blocking traffic. As she spoke, a man driving a pickup tried to force his way through the barricade, at one point getting out and piling debris into the back of the truck. Angry demonstrators restored the barricade and prevented him from moving ahead. Residents of Caracas’ poorer west side have staged only a few minor 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 staples such as milk and flour. The opposition blames these problems on Chavez’s economic legacy of nationalizations, currency controls and constant confrontation with businesses. They say socialism has crippled private enterprise and weakened state institutions while spawning a nepotistic elite that enriches itself with the country’s oil wealth. 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. The White House, responding to Maduro’s call last week for dialogue with Washington, urged him yesterday to begin talks with his own people instead.
From page 4 grew up singing theme songs like “this land is my land, this land is your land” and it’s almost embedded into me like a religion of sorts. I literally grew up believing that this land is my land, my research further led me to the constitution of Guyana which to date still states “land to the tiller” which means to me that if I/ you see a piece of land which is unoccupied not owned by anyone in accordance with the constitution of Guyana, I could utilize that land in pursuit of being a productive citizen and in pursuit of my happiness and prosperity. These are rights guaranteed citizens of this country by the constitution. To date there is no record of ownership to the piece of land I enquired about and now possess. A piece of land which was literally filled with twenty-foot bushes and a swamp - which with several years of my hard labour, proceeds from my hard work and contribution to this country I cleared, land-filled and developed, is now being snatched from me by the current City Council of Georgetown without even the common courtesy of a written notice. It is not only a violation of my rights to due process as a citizen of this country it is also a human rights violation. I delivered personally and by mail my complaints to one of these official’s superiors, the current Town Clerk, Police Complaints Authority and a few others but to no avail. This official is now allowed to retaliate, unleash his vengeance upon me. He obviously came to the location with the intention to arrest me. It’s anyone’s guess what would have happened to me on the road. It is very clear that with each successful use of the abuse of power the abuser grows more emboldened.
Since there is no due process (no paperwork) involved, I am unable to determine with any degree of certainty, who was responsible for this official’s presence at the location, despite my previous complaints against him. How are public officials allowed to dispense their agenda and thus their powers without first addressing citizens’ rights to due process of law? Who are supposed to be tasked with first being mindful not to violate these rights of ordinary citizens in broad daylight and without the fear of consequences in a democracy? Mr. President, we the citizens of this country do not believe that this is the “return of democracy to Guyana” which you personally and proudly promoted in a recent string of events. We the people believe that there is a phantom power operating within your government, a power your humble law-abiding subjects cannot or are not allowed to identify. It does not have a name or a face, it does not recognize and/or respect the fundamental rights guaranteed the citizens of this country by the written constitution. This unbridled phantom power cannot be readily identified, for it does not have a face or an office address, it does not recognize or respect citizens’ rights to due process and/or notice of its intentions, nor does it wish to be held accountable for its actions. The only name it is known by is “Higher up” aka “The bigger boys”. However, we do know the names and can identify at least two of its emissaries and dispensers of its wrath. I would like to know if this is the return of democracy to Guyana which you proudly promoted in a recent string of events. Julius Belgrave
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Tuesday February 25, 2014
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Kaieteur News
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GEORGE IS DOUBLE SPRINT CHAMPION By Edison Jefford Police Progressive Youth Club’s (PPYC) Olympian, Winston George became a national senior sprint double champion yesterday when the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) hosted the 2013 National Senior Championships at the Police Sports Club Ground. The AAG did not host the competition last year and as part of their International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) obligations was forced to host the 2013 event in 2014 at the Police Club at Eve Leary after missing the calendar last
year. George proved why he may be arguably the best sprinter in Guyana at the moment when he won both the 200m and 400m events with impressive performances. Before his 200m race, the PPYC, George strode to a 400m title in 48.80 seconds ahead of junior sensation, School Championships’ winner, Jason Yaw (49.80) and Dequawn Vancooten (51.20) respectively. Both Yaw and Vancooten are from the Running Brave Athletics Club camp. George underscored his superiority when he blasted 21.50
seconds to claim the 200m ahead of Kevin Abbensetts, who had 21.90 seconds and Aranze Chance’s 22.20 seconds. Guyana Defence Force’s Akeem Stewart sprinted to the 100m national title in the relatively slow 10.90 seconds, while Enmore Owen Adonis (11.10) and Kenneth Semple (11.20) finished second and third respectively in one of the slowest marquee races. Alisha Fortune quelled all critics on her selection for the South American Games in Chile with a masterful performance in the Women’s 100m. Fortune won in 12.4
Tuesday February 25, 2014 ARIES (MAR. 21APRIL 20) Don't start a dispute unless you're prepared to accept irreversible results. You can make changes that will enhance your appearance. You will find it easy finalizing personal papers if you make an effort. TAURUS (APR. 21MAY 21) Your practical approach to life may charm someone who has been observing you. Don't let emotional upset force you into the poorhouse. Romance could be exciting if you are spontaneous. GEMINI (MAY 22JUNE 21) Don't overindulge in anyway. You may have a rather hectic day due to events that children are involved in. You are going through a period of questioning. CANCER (JUNE 22JULY 22) Put your energy into self-improvement programs that promise to make you into a better you. Social functions will bring you in touch with new lovers. Do not lend money or belongings to friends. LEO (JULY 23-AUG 22) You need time to rejuvenate. Unexpected bills will leave you a little short. Pay attention to small but important details. VIRGO (AUG. 23 SEPT. 23) You need to do more research before you make your final decision. You'll be dropping friends for no apparent reason. Put your thoughts on paper. LIBRA (SEPT. 24 OCT. 23) Talk to others about your plans. You can
offer your help to others but back off if they appear to be offended by your persistence. You've been hurt before and could be again if you don't play hard to get. SCORPIO (OCT. 24 NOV. 22) You'll be able to discuss your ambitions with your mate. Take your time; do not make any decisions in haste. Make money using your ingenuity and creative talent. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 23 -DEC. 21) Don't let your boss make you feel guilty enough to take work home with you. Your ability to dazzle others with your unique and innovative ideas will attract attention. You're in the mood to do things such as competitive sports, or perhaps a night on the town. CAPRICORN (DEC 22.JAN. 20) A change of attitude has probably disrupted your home environment. You'll find it easy to talk about your feeling today. Don't hesitate to find out what your mate's intentions are. You're in the mood to spend time with your lover. AQUARIUS (JAN. 21 FEB. 19) Stop telling others about your problems. Don't draw too much attention to yourself at work. Don't jump the gun; you may find yourself getting angry at the wrong person. PISCES (FEB. 20-MAR. 20) Lending and borrowing may be a problem. You can come up with solutions to the problems responsible for inefficiencies at work. If you're single, get out there and you'll meet someone new.
seconds ahead of rival Leota Babb and junior Shoquane Daniels, who had 12.50 and 12.90 respectively. Running Braves’ Natricia Hooper held on for a win in the Women’s 200m race in 25.60 seconds ahead of the 15-year-old Jevina Sampson, who was second in 25.90 seconds and PPYC, Tiffany Carto, who finished third in 26.20 seconds. The juniors dominated the race though it was a senior competition. The trend continued when Sampson sprinted her way to the 400m title in 59.20 seconds ahead of Running Brave team-mate, Natrena Hooper (1:00.60) and PPYC, Nadine Rodrigues’ (1:02.90) in that order, becoming one of the youngest national senior champions. Police’s Jenella Jonas won the Women’s 800m in 2:30.90, ahead of Fortune’s daughter, Andrea Foster and Cassie Kirton, who had 2:35.50 and 2:36.30 respectively. Foster then turned the tables on Jonas in the 1500m, winning for Running Brave in 5:12.20 as Jonas ended in 5:24.10 and the Lindener, Cassie Kirton (5:24.30) third. Alika Morgan won the 3000m Women race in 20:37.10 ahead of Guyana Defence Force’s Alicia Jack (22:27.40). PPYC Shion Boyer did not finish the race. Kevin Bayley reacted to his non-selection for the South American Games with a blistering 800m performance. The PPYC Bayley ran 1:56.80 to beat Running Braves’ Cleveland Thomas 1:59.60 and Orin Prince 2:03.30 respectively. South American Games selectee, Wayne Harlequin for the 800m, did not finish the race owed to respiratory problems. Thomas, however, returned a dominant performance in the 1500m race, leading from the front in a commanding effort to win in 4:13.60 with team-mate, Winston Missigher second in 4:13.90, as Jamoul Chisholm (4:18.50) finished third. Cleveland Forde had earlier underlined his reputation as the leading distance runner in Guyana in a masterful 5000m race. Forde won in 15:44.00 ahead of Nathaniel Giddings (16:37.70) and Carl McKenzie (17:20.70) respectively. In other results: Women’s Long Jump: Cindy Fraser (5.23m), Kelanie Griffith (5.05m) and Tandica Burgess (5.00m). Women’s Triple Jump: Natrena Hooper (11.32m), Natricia Hooper (10.17m) and Griffith (9.93m) respectively. Men’s Long Jump: Parish
Cadogan (6.25m), Yoel Benjamin (6.16m) and Quason Anthony (5.99m). Men’s Triple Jump: Cadogan (13.47m), Benjamin (13.47m) (Cadogan had the better jumps in tries overall) and Morris Gibson (12.43m). Women’s Shot Putt: Khadidja Ba (9.20m), Alicia Blackman (8.84m) and Tiffany
Pilgrim (8.16m). Men’s Shot Putt: Julio Sinclair (13.97m), Pablino Cupido (12.20m) and Brentnol Hoyte (11.84m). Men’s Discus Throw: Cloyd Prowell (37.11m), Troy Lewis (35.20m) and Warren Duncan (33.52m). Men’s Javelin Throw: Leslain Baird (52.22m), Lewis (47.59m) and Joshua Williams (39.86m).
Rafael Nadal wins Rio Open in straight sets... From page 35 match points in the semi-final against Pablo Andujar, never looked under threat. It was Nadal’s 43rd clay title and stretches his record on the surface to 298-21, the best of the Open era. Dolgopolov hit several exquisite winners, especially from the backhand wing, but struggled to find a consistent enough game to trouble Nadal, who made only a handful of unforced errors in the
whole match. The world number 57, who upset David Ferrer in the semi-final, rallied in the second set to break Nadal’s serve for the only time when the 13time Grand Slam winner was serving for the match. But Nadal, 27, took the title with a dominant tie-break. The 2013 French Open champion has not lost on clay since his defeat by Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo Masters 10 months ago.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Boxing Association intensifies efforts as Dexterity racing returns teams leave for overseas engagements after eight-year absence By Michael Benjamin They say that when it rains, it pours and local amateur boxers will be required to don the appropriate apparel as executives of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) pick up the pace to enhance their chances of acquiring accolades at the imminent 2016 Brazil Olympics. To this effect, the team of three boxers identified to represent this country at the South American Boxing Championships in Chile, will depart Guyana Wednesday March 5 next. Those
representatives are welterweight, Eon Bancroft, middleweight, Dennis Thomas and (woman) heavyweight, Theresa London. The tournament gets underway March 7-18 and the team will be accompanied by Terrence Poole who will serve as the Manager/Coach. National bantamweight champion, Imran Khan was omitted from the team after he sustained an injury to his left wrist while competing in the just concluded 4 nation boxing championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) earlier this month. President of the GBA,
Steve Ninvalle said that Khan’s injury has affected Guyana’s chances of procuring numerous medals but he (Ninvalle) is confident that the remaining pugilists will go on to do Guyana proud. He said that GBA was mulling a replacement but the other two boxers initially placed on standby were also ruled out. He said that one of them, Bert Braithwaite had sustained a cut during sparring sessions recently, while Ron Smith could be considered since he is a welterweight, the same division as Bancroft, and only one pugilist per division is
Novice & Junior Powerlifting C/ships set for April 6 -venue to be confirmed The new executive of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) held their first meeting on Saturday last and agreed that Sunday April 6, 2014 is the date for their Novice and Junior championships. A venue has to be confirmed, the federation said that they have a few air marked and the most suitable one would be decided upon shortly. The Novice competition is designed as the first step to becoming a star in the sport, while the junior level is stage
two. The young guns will be coming out with all muscles and power blazing as they seek to outdo each other to claim the title of the best novice and junior in the land. Athletes desirous of competing are being encouraged to make contact with the GAPF Public Relations Officer Mr. Paul Adams for further details and registration forms. A fee of $1,000 would be charged, the closing date for registration is March 28, 2014.
Adams’ email address is joe_grine_2k6@hotmail.com while his tel# is 641 6021. Any other member of the federation can also be contacted for info and registration. The GAPF further informs that athletes who are not registered members will be required to do so before competing. Applicants are being urged to register on time so as to allow adequate provision of trophies for competitors in the respective weight categories.
Jamaican athlete dies in Tobago
permitted to represent the country. However, all is not lost for Smith since he has been selected to be a part of another team scheduled to leave for Barbados March 7 next to compete in the Horace Phillips Memorial, one day after arriving on the Island; he will be fighting in the middleweight division. Two other countries, Barbados and the United States Virgin Islands, will also participate in that tournament and the GBA has named several other boxers to participate. Those shortlisted for the Barbados tournament are Flyweight Youth, Michael April, Flyweight Elite, Delon Charles, lightweight, Clairmont Gibson and bantamweight, Diwani Lampkin. GBA executive, Kesa Chase manages that team, while Sebert Blake is the coach. GBA referee/judge, Richard Braithwaite will also travel with the team in an officiating capacity.
After an eight-year absence, Dexterity Racing will return to the National Park when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) stages the event on March 1, starting from 16:00 hrs. In its continued effort to develop the skills of drivers and at the same time provide family entertainment for members, friends and fans, the GMR&SC has organised the Race Challenge which will see drivers use normal road while having fun in a controlled environment. Speaking to an official from the Club, he said while the aim is to resuscitate this form of entertainment, the entity also intends to bring back racing within the Georgetown environ after a prolonged absence. In disclosing information about the format of the event, the official said it will take the form of an elimination process
where a course will be designed with pylons and drivers given instructions on how to drive through it. “One car will be allowed at a time and you will be racing against the clock and your time will be taken to see who does it the fastest. The first 20 vehicles move on to the other round to another elimination where a new course will be implemented,” he outlined. According to him, the event will test maximum skill of acceleration, braking and turning and the driver and car should become one and be able to move through the course as quickly as possible. He added that to participate in the event, a driver do not need a specially built race car just the requisite skills. Drivers willing to be part of the action can contact the GMR&SC on Albert Street, Thomas Lands today.
Hearts of Oak Masters, Tutorial Academy organise schools one day football The Hearts of Oak Master Football Club in conjunction with the Physical Education Students of the Tutorial Academy Secondary S c h o o l (TASS) recently organised a one day football tournament featuring both male and female teams of the school as part of the Physical Education programme for the CESEC School Based Assessment (SBA). Two teams were selected namely the Romans and the
Spartans and competed against each other in both male and female matches and suffered mixed fortunes. The games were played under floodlights at the All Saints Scott Church Ground, Princess Elizabeth Road, New Amsterdam on Friday last. In the male encounter the Romans team edge out the Spartans unit 3-2 in a close encounter with Que Simmons, Loma Reid and Orin Glen scoring for the Romans. Converting for the Spartans
were Leon Swammy and Joshua Butts. The female encounter was a one sided affair with Spartans swamping Romans 6-1 as Abigail Walker netting three, Beyoncé Grant a double and Tammyann Savoury one. Donella Isaacs scored the lone goal for Romans. The winning teams received trophies. The day’s activity was coordinated by Neil “Grizzly” Humphrey, Randy Sears and Heathcliff Peters.
Boxing coaches form association to improve their fortunes Promising St. Jago High athlete Cavahn ‘Jaguar’ McKenzie (far left) in action in the 6K event in which he collapsed and died on Saturday, sending a shock wave of grief through the local track and field fraternity. Left: On site medical officials attend to McKenzie after he fell to the ground at the end of the fateful race. (PHOTOS: PAUL VOISON/ TRINIDAD EXPRESS) TRINIDAD EXPRESS — Jamaican Cavahn McKenzie died after completing the junior men’s six-kilometre event at Saturday’s North America, Central America and Caribbean (NACAC) Cross Country Championships, at
the Mt Irvine Bay Golf Course, in Tobago. McKenzie finished 21st in 20 minutes, 26 seconds, but then collapsed. The St Jago High School athlete reportedly died in an ambulance while being taken to hospital. National
Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) president, Ephraim Serrette told the Express that 18-yearold McKenzie’s death was “cardiac related”. Two more Jamaican athletes were also taken to hospital late Sunday.
Following consultations with various stakeholders and on the heels of the instalment of a referee/judges commission, the executive of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has given its blessings to the formation of a coaches’ commission, dubbed the Guyana Boxing Association Coaches Commission, which was installed last week Friday. Sebert Blake, just back from a coaches’ course in Hungary, has been elected to chair the body while Terrence Poole is his deputy. National Coach, Wensel Thomas is the Secretary, while
Cuban coach, Francisco Hernandez Roldon and coach of the Essequibo Boxing Gym, Clifton Moore, are the committee members. Shortly after their installation, the executives were congratulated by President of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle who urged them to streamline their activities while submitting recommendations to strengthen the body. The GBA President said that he is confident that the group will come up with tangible suggestions that will improve on the standing of coaching officials.
Sebert Blake
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Kaieteur News
Pooran:143 definitely one of my best WICB Media - DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Nicholas Pooran blazed a brilliant hundred, but it failed to inspire the West Indies Under-19s and Australia reached their third successive ICC Youth World Cup semifinal with a comfortable, fivewicket victory on Sunday. Pooran clobbered 14 fours and six sixes in a scintillating 143 from 160 balls before he was the last batsman dismissed, as the Young Windies were dismissed for 208 in 49.5 overs, after they chose to bat in the quarter-final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The 18-year-old Pooran came to the crease in the fourth over with the Caribbean side reeling at seven for three and things never improved significantly until he dominated a ninthwicket stand of 136 with Jerome Jones. They brought some respectability to the total after the West Indies Under-19s sunk to 70 for eight in the 27th over with Jones finishing with an even 20 – the only other player to have scored that many. “At 70 for eight, I wasn’t thinking much,” said Pooran, who was named Man-of-theMatch. “I just wanted to do what my coaches had said, which is to bat, bat and bat, and occupy the crease as much as possible. “I was kind of surprised with the kind of support I got from Jones because he’s a guy who likes to play his shots. “Definitely this is one of the best innings I have played to date, but I am disappointed that we did not
Nicolas Pooran hit 20 of the 23 boundaries in West Indies’ innings © ICC
win. When you make runs, you want to see your side to win rather than lose.” Defending such a modest total was always going to be a challenge for the Young Windies and the Australians reached their target with 20 balls remaining for the loss of five wickets, after Matthew Short and Jaron Morgan shared an opening stand of 107 to put them on the right trajectory. West Indies will now face Afghanistan in the fifth-place play-off semi-final today at the ICC Cricket Academy No.2 ground, while the Australians advance to the semi-finals to meet South Africa Under-19s on Wednesday here.
Pooran was 38 when Bryan Charles gave a return catch to leg-spinner Thomas Andrew and he changed gears from this point, playing one of the finest knocks in the history of the tournament. The left-hander’s 50 came from 76 balls, while he reached his hundred from 133 balls with eight fours and five sixes. Out of his final 43 runs that came off 27 balls, 30 were scored through boundaries. Pooran’s innings was finally ended when he was bowled by fast bowler Guy Walker, the pick of Australia’s bowlers with 3-44 from 9.5 overs, Ben Ashkenazi grabbed 2-37 from 10 overs and Andrews 2-57 from eight overs.
Phantom are Robert Williams Memorial dominoes champs Phantom marked 81 games to win the final of the Robert Williams Memorial Dominoes competition which was contested recently at Faye Joseph residence, Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt, Park. Strikers placed second with 79 games followed by Mix Up on 67. Michael Dongues and Eon Allen were Phantom’s leading players with 17 and 16 games respectively. Sidney James who took the most valuable player of the final award made the maximum 18 games, while Linden Boston scored 16 for Strikers. Mark Wiltshire and Gilbert Mendonca marked 16 games apiece for Mix Up who drew the bye to the final. Strikers chalked up 75 games to win the semifinal ahead of Phantom 70 and Dream Team 64. Gary Johnson chalked 17 and Boston 16 for Strikers, while Allen and Dongues made
17 and 16 respectively for Phantom. Kishan Myers scored 16 for Dream Team. Phantom received a trophy and $200,000, while Strikers pocketed a trophy and $100,000 and Mix Up a trophy and $50,000. The competition was sponsored by the president of the Georgetown Dominoes Association and played in the memory of the later Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Robert Williams. Meanwhile, Wednesday at Faye Joseph residence Gaulding Place, there will be a 27team open competition. Entrance fee is $9,000. The wining team will take home $150,000, second place $75,000 and third place $35,000. The man of the match in the final will be given $5,000. Entrance fee must be paid before the competition commences and prizes are also subject to change. The finals will be played on March 8 and 9 at Joseph residence.
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Windies Women crash to second defeat New Zealand Cricket Lincoln, New Zealand - The White Ferns have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead against the West Indies Women, after beating the visitors by 94 runs in the second One Day International in Lincoln. Anchored by Sara McGlashan with 71 and aided by some heavy hitting from Rachel Priest at the death, the White Ferns posted an imposing 274 for five in the first innings. The West Indies response lacked a big partnership and after 50 overs they were restricted to 180 for nine. Holly Huddleston was the chief destroyer with the ball for the White Ferns, taking her maiden five-wicketbag. Having lost the toss and been asked to bat, the White Ferns suffered an early hiccup when captain Suzie Bates was dismissed for seven. However, the pair of Samantha Curtis and Sara McGlashan steadied the ship for the hosts, putting on 98 for the second wicket. Curtis, playing in her second match, gave away few chances on her way to 42, but was run-out thanks to an athletic bit of fielding from Shemaine Campbell.
Thankfully it didn’t take long for her replacement, Sophie Devine (45), to establish herself at the crease. Even McGlashan’s dismissal in the 35th over didn’t slow the White Ferns down, with Katie Perkins teaming up with Devine to put on 62 for the fourth wicket. Devine’s knock came from 40 balls and included six fours, before ending when she was caught on the boundary. With eight overs remaining the White Ferns were 196 for four, but a flurry of boundaries from Perkins (45* off 34) and Priest (40* from 19) would add a further 78 to their total. Priest in particular was in formidable touch, crunching five consecutive boundaries at one point. Two run-outs hurt the home side, while three West Indies bowlers took a wicket apiece. With such a high target it was going to take a special individual effort to topple the White Ferns total, but the bowlers did a good job of pegging the West Indies back whenever they began to look threatening. The key wicket was that of Stafanie Taylor, who
looked dangerous en route to 32, before driving one to McGlashan who took a sharp catch. Shemaine Campbell (45) loomed as their last hope, but in the 33rd over the 21 yearold fell victim to Huddleston, who almost singlehandedly destroyed the West Indies middle-order. In the end the 26-year-old finished with impressive figures of five for 36 from 10 overs. The White Ferns will have a chance to go for the clean-sweep tomorrow. Summary Scores: New Zealand Women Innings: 274/5 (50 Overs). Sara McGlashan 71, Katie Perkins 45*, Sophie Devine 45, Sam Curtis 42, Stafanie Taylor 7-0-34-1, Stacy-Ann King 6-0-33-1, Shaquana Quintyne 8-1-47-1, Shanel Daley 6-1-20-0. West Indies Women Innings: 180/9 (50 Overs). Shemaine Campbelle 45, Stafanie Taylor 32, Shanel Daley 26, Shaquana Quintyne 18; Holly Huddleston 10-2-36-5, Nicola Browne 9-1-26-1, Sophie Devine 6-1-20-1, Frances Mackay 8-1-39-1. Result: New Zealand Women won by 94 runs.
Veronica CampbellBrown ‘cleared’ to race after failed drugs test BBC Sport - Two-time Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown says she has been cleared to race again by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). The 31-year-old Jamaican has not competed since she tested positive for a banned diuretic last May. CampbellBrown said in a statement: “The final court available to us as athletes have spoken and humbly I say they have confirmed my innocence.” She added the past few months have brought “much pain and suffering”. Campbell-Brown was provisionally suspended by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association after failing a test at the Jamaica Invitation meeting on 4 May. In October, a Jamaican disciplinary committee review deemed a reprimand was sufficient punishment because the banned substance was not used for performance enhancement.
Veronica Campbell-Brown However, CampbellBrown, who has won seven Olympic medals, had to wait for the IAAF’s verdict before she could compete again. It appears the body that governs world athletics decided to hand the case to Cas. Campbell-Brown added: “Yes, I lost out on the opportunity to compete for most of 2013 and the chance to defend my World 200m
title. However, I press on. “Dr Martin Luther King Jr spoke of the redemptive quality of unearned suffering and I must say I am redeemed.” She also thanks the IAAF for “expeditiously handing my case to Cas”. Campbell-Brown could return to competition at next month’s World Indoor Championships in Poland, with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July also an option. Yesterday’s news is a boost for Jamaican athletics, which has been under scrutiny following a series of failed tests. Last year, Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson tested positive for banned substances and missed the World Championships in Moscow. In 2009, Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake and three other islanders received reduced suspensions of three months after testing positive for a banned stimulant.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Bonus points for Regional By Sean Devers The 2014 Regional FirstClass cricket season, which will see teams playing six matches each in the preliminary rounds with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals, starts April 19-22 and Guyana face Jamaica in the opening round at Sabina Park from Friday. The Guyanese will play Day/Night games against Barbados at Providence from March 7-10 and CCC at the 3Ws Oval from March 21-24 in games which will commence at 15:00hrs and which will be played with pink balls. In 2010 pink balls were used for the first time in West Indies first Class cricket and Guyana opposed Trinidad and Tobago in the inaugural day/night four-day under lights in Antigua. However, the concept was shelved until this year when each team will have two day/ night games. According to the WICB, this year’s Tournament will have batting and bowling bonus points to encourage positive cricket and bigger totals by teams which rarely score 400 plus totals. Teams will be awarded batting and bowling points for performances in the first 110 overs of each first innings only and retain whatever the result of the
Day/Night matches scheduled for every team match. A maximum of five batting points will be awarded based on runs scored by each team as follows: 200 to 249 runs (1 point), 250 to 299 runs (2 points), 300 to 349 runs (3 points), 350 to 399 runs (4 points), 400 runs or over (5 points) A maximum of three bowling points will be awarded to the fielding team for wickets taken. Three to five wickets taken earns the bowling side one point, six to eight wickets (2 points) and nine to 10 wickets (3 points). Guyana has won six titles but none since they shared the 1998 crown with the Leeward Islands and teams will compete for two trophies this year. The team that accumulates the most points after the preliminary round matches will be awarded the WICB President’s Trophy and will qualify as one of four teams for the semi-finals. The 2014 Regional First-Class champions will receive the George Headley/Everton Weekes Trophy. Defending Champions Barbados hold the record for most titles (21), while Jamaica, who hold the record for most consecutive titles, are next on the list with 12 titles although it took 19 years after claiming their first in 1969 to win their second title.
Guyana with six titles (1973, ’75, ’83, ’87, ’93 & ’98) are third with T&T (5), Leeward Islands (4) and Windward Islands are yet to win a First-Class title although they shared one as a part of the Combined Islands in 1981. REGIONAL FOUR-DAYSCHEDULE: ROUND 1: Friday, February 28 to Monday, March 3 Windward Islands vs Barbados – Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia (3 pm daily) Jamaica vs Guyana – Sabina Park, Jamaica (10 am daily) Saturday, March 1 to Tuesday, March 4 Leeward Islands vs Combined Campuses & Colleges – Warner Park, St. Kitts (10 am daily) ROUND 2: Friday, March 7 to Monday, March 10 Trinidad & Tobago vs Windward Islands – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad (10 am daily) Guyana vs Barbados – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana (3 pm daily) Leeward Islands vs Jamaica – Warner Park, St. Kitts (3 pm daily) ROUND 3: Thursday, March 13 to Sunday, March 16 Guyana vs Windward Islands – Guyana National
Christian hammers ton as Guyanese shine in T&T Guyanese Derwin Christian crafted a solid century to spearhead his Trinidad club, Monroe Road to a four-run victory over Merry Boys in the Trinidad and Tobago Sunday League 50-over competition last Wednesday night under lights. Christian, who represented the West Indies in the t20 format, crafted a solid 103 as Monroe reached 205 all out in 49.2 overs. Christian was supported by Kristoff Andrews (41). In Merry Boys’ turn at the crease, former Guyana Under19 Captain, Troy Cornelius led the way with 47, while Aneil Kanhai posted 23 as Merry Boys fell short by four runs. Former West Indies Test Spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo was the pick of the blowers for Monroe Road with 3-23. Defending champions Queen’s Park Cricket Club stayed perfect with a 112-run
Derwin Christian win over Esmeralda at Queen’s Park Oval to confirm their place at the top of the Group A standings, booking a place in the quarter-finals as the top team in the group. They beat Esmeralda by 112 runs, despite 47 from Guyanese Anthony D’Andrade and a two-wicket haul from Trevon Griffith, who left the practice match at
the Guyana National Stadium between the Guyana team and a Rest team to represent his T&T club. At Pierre Road, Comets beat Mosai Sports by two wickets with T&T national player Imran Khan making 102 and Guyanese left-arm spinner Raj Nanan hitting an unbeaten 47. Seenath’s Auto Bamboo Sports, Merry Boys, Caldrac and Munroe Road will be fighting for the remaining three quarter-final spots up for grabs in Group A. In Group B, PowerGen, Jenexcon Tableland and First Citizens Clarke Road United are through to the quarterfinals, while Mosai Sports and Alescon Comets will be fighting for the other qualifying spot. The final round of group matches–the rescheduled third round—will be played on March 1. The quarterfinals take place on March 6 just after Carnival.
Stadium (10 am daily) Friday, March 14 to Monday, March 17 Combined Campuses & Colleges vs Barbados – Three Ws Oval, Barbados (3 pm daily) Trinidad & Tobago vs Leeward Islands – Queen’s Park Oval (3 pm daily) ROUND 4: Friday, March 21 to Monday, March 24 Combined Campuses & Colleges vs Guyana – Three Ws Oval (3 pm daily) Jamaica vs Windward Islands – Sabina Park (10 am daily) Barbados vs Trinidad & Tobago – Kensington Oval, Barbados (10 am daily) ROUND 5: Friday, March 28 to Monday, March 31 Jamaica vs Barbados – Sabina Park (10 am daily) Trinidad & Tobago vs CCC – Queen’s Park Oval (3 pm daily) Windward Islands vs Leeward Islands – Queen’s Park, Grenada (10 am daily)
Guyana draws bye ROUND 6: Friday, April 4 to Monday, April 7 Trinidad & Tobago vs Jamaica – Queen’s Park Oval (3 pm daily) Windward Islands vs Combined Campuses & Colleges – Arnos Vale Multiplex, St. Vincent (10 am daily) Leeward Islands vs Guyana – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua (10 am daily) ROUND 7: Friday, April 11 to Monday, April 14 Guyana vs Trinidad & Tobago – Guyana National Stadium (10 am daily)
Leeward Islands vs Barbados – Vivian Richards Cricket Ground (3 pm daily) Combined Campuses & Colleges vs Jamaica – Three Ws Oval (10 am daily) SEMIFINALS: Saturday, April 19 to Tuesday, April 22 Semi-final 1: 1st vs 4th – To be hosted in the territory of 1st Semi-final 2: 2nd vs 3rd – To be hosted in the territory of 2nd THE FINAL: Friday, April 25 to Monday, April 28 Semi-final 1 qualifier vs Semi-final 2 qualifier – To be hosted by higher placed team from the preliminary round
UNDER-19 WORLD CUP 2014, PLAYOFFS...
All-round Hooda powers India to victory ESPNcricinfo - An allround effort from Deepak Hooda helped India Under19s thump Sri Lanka Under19s by 76 runs in the fifthplay playoff semi-final. Hooda first blitzed 76 off 56 deliveries to propel India to 291, and then took three wickets to help bowl Sri Lanka out for 215. India, coming into the game on the back of an agonizing quarter-final defeat to England, were dominant throughout the match and had raced to 57 in the tenth over after being put in to bat. The openers Ankush Bains and Akhil Herwadkar fell within three overs of each other, but Shreyas Iyer (59) and Sanju Samson (40) added 87 for the third wicket as India consolidated during the middle overs. Sri Lanka fought back with four quick wickets, but Hooda and Kuldeep Yadav shared an unbroken eighthwicket stand worth 81 runs off 53 balls, setting Sri Lanka a required run rate of nearly six an over in their chase. Sadeera Samarawickrama helped Sri Lanka’s chase with a handy 58, but apart from Priyamal Perera (47), no other
batsman could make more than 27. Kuldeep, Karan Kaila and Chama Milind shared six wickets between them. Hoooda ended with 3 for 31, taking his all-round tally to 11 wickets (the thirdhighest) and 193 runs from five matches in the tournament. A patient half-century from Michael English, followed by three wickets apiece from the spinners Ross McLean and Mark Watt, paved the way for Scotland Under-19s’77-run victory against Papua New Guinea Under-19s in the 13th-place playoff semi-final. English hit just four fours during his 72 off 123 balls, but more importantly, helped Scotland recover from a shaky start by combining with McLean for a third-wicket partnership of 101 runs. McLean chipped in 41 runs with two fours, but from 121 for 2 in the 30th over, Scotland were bundled out for 209 by the 49th. Left-arm seamer Nosaina Pokana was the pick of PNG’s bowlers, and finished with 3 for 27. PNG, however, were unable to gather any
momentum during their chase as their progress was hampered by wickets at regular intervals. Riley Hekure and Allan Joseph were the only two batsmen to make more than 20, as McLean and Watt ran through the line-up in 43.3 overs. A strong batting display from Namibia Under-19s’ top and middle order helped them edge Canada Under-19s by 23 runs in the 13th-place playoff semi-final. Zane Green and Malan Kruger scored 57 each and put up 93 for the second wicket, but it was Jano Coetzee’s 50-ball 73 that eventually lifted the team to a formidable 263 for 9. Canada lost Sudeepta Aurka off the second ball of their chase, before a number of important contributions from their top order, led by Yug Rao’s 66, took the team to 133 by the 32nd over. However a number of quick dismissals from then on resulted in the team being bowled out for 240 in 47.3 overs. Coetzee notched three scalps to go with his quick fifty to cap off an impressive all-round display.
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Kaieteur News
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ICC UNDER-19 WORLD CUP:
Somwaru retained England edged out by as GCUC president
Pakistan in semi-final
Members of the GCUC executive standing from left are Heuvel Cunha, Dawchand Nagassar, M. Yosef-Yisrael and Zaheer Mohamed. Sitting from right are Shannon Crawford, Dhieranidranauth Somwaru, Eddie Nicholls and Arleigh Rutherford. Missing are Zabeer Zakier and Nigel Duguid
Zafar Gohar, along with Amad Butt, made England’s fielding lapses count © ICC
B
BC Sport England’s dream of reaching their first ICC Under19 World Cup final since 1998 ended with a dramatic three-wicket semi-final defeat by Pakistan in Dubai. After winning the toss, England fought back from 12 to post 204-7 thanks to captain Will Rhodes’s 76 from 79 balls. Off-spinner Rob Sayer and 16-year-old Yorkshire seamer Matthew Fisher reduced Pakistan to 142-7 in the 37th over. But Zafar Gohar and Amad Butt’s eighth-wicket stand of 63 from 74 balls saw Pakistan home with five balls to spare. England got off to the worst possible start in this day-night encounter, with neither Jonathan Tattersall nor his opening partner Harry Finch troubling the
scorers. Run-scoring was proving to be hard work for England’s batsmen, and they only registered a respectable score thanks to Rhodes and Sayer (18 from 15 balls) clubbing 50 from the last five overs to supplement Ryan Higgins’ pedestrian 52 from 99 balls which only featured one boundary. Defending such a modest target, England desperately needed to claim some early wickets, and this they did, limiting Pakistan to 57-4 in the 15th over. Saud Shakeel (45) and Ameer Hamza (35) hit back, adding 74 from the next 17 overs before the former fell to the impressive Sayer, whose well-flighted delivery trapped the batsman leg before. Along with the feisty Fisher (2-21 from 10 overs), Leicestershire prospect
GCUC congratulates Duguid
T
he Guyana Cricket Umpires Council (GCUC) has congratulated Nigel Duguid for his on field international debut. He officiated in the second T20 game in the West Indies and Ireland series. President of the GCUC Dhieranidranauth Somwaru said that Duguid elevation will serve as a motivation for the other umpires and hopefully will encourage younger people to join the profession. He, on behalf of the Guyanese umpiring fraternity wished Duguid well in the future.
Sayer, 19, then really frustrated Pakistan by bowling three maidens on his way to 2-39. Unfortunately for England, however, their bowlers’ hard work was undone by some uncharacteristically sloppy fielding. The worst offender was Jack Winslade in the 48th over. Amad slogged Sayer over the top but Winslade, standing on the long-off boundary, should have taken a steepling catch above his head. Instead, he parried the ball over the rope for six and a visibly deflated England never recovered. It means that instead of playing in their country’s first ICC Under-19 World Cup final in 16 years - when a side captained by Owais Shah and featuring fellow future Test stars Rob Key and Graeme Swann beat New Zealand to lift the trophy - England must now prepare for a third-place play-off on Saturday against either Australia or South Africa. Scores: Pakistan Under-19s 205 for 7 (Shakeel 45, Gohar 37*) beat England Under-19s 204 for 7 (Rhodes 76*, Higgins 52) by three wickets.
Dhieranidranauth Somwaru was reelected unopposed as president of the Guyana Cricket Umpires Council (GCUC) when the body held its Biannual General Meeting at the Georgetown Cricket Club Saturday. Shannon Crawford returned as the vice president, while Nigel Duguid retained his position as the secretary. Eddie Nicholls will serve as treasurer and Arleigh Rutherford is
the new assistant secretary treasurer and Zaheer Mohamed the Public Relations Officer. The committee members are Heuvel Cunha, Zabeer Zakier, Dawchand Nagassar and M. Yosef-Yisrael. Speaking after the elections, president Somwaru thanked the members for their confidence and urged the executive to work together for the development of the council.
Venus Williams beats Alize Cornet in Dubai Championships final
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BC Sport - Venus Williams beat Alize Cornet in straight sets to win the Dubai Championships title for a third time. The 33-year-old American, now down at 44 in the world rankings, gained revenge for her sister and world number one Serena, who suffered a semi-final defeat by the Frenchwoman on Friday. Venus used all of her experience to record a 6-3 6-0 victory against the world number 26 in Saturday’s final. This was her first WTA Tour title since she won in Luxembourg in October 2012. Dubai is a happy hunting ground for the seven-times Grand Slam champion - this win follows those in 2009 and 2010. Cornet’s impressive victory over Serena in the last four means the Williams sisters
have still not met in a final since 2009. Venus was not in a mood to join her sister in defeat, however, and beat the 24-year-old Frenchwoman in a match lasting 91 minutes. Key to the victory - her 45th on the WTA Tour - was the fact she converted five of eight break points against the Cornet serve, while her French opponent only took advantage of one out of six such opportunities to come her way. Cornet, hugging the baseline just as she did against Serena, claimed the first break of the match, however, to go 2-1 up. But Williams responded with a brutal barrage of ground-strokes for a double break and a 5-2 lead. She served out for the first set and picked up another double break at the start of the second before sealing victory when Cornet lofted a forehand long. Venus Williams (Getty Images)
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Stag Beer EBFA Div. 1 League
Agricola upstage Grove Hi Tech 2-1; Soesdyke Falcons trounce Herstelling 6-0 Travis Welch (left) and Gordon Grant.
L-R, Colin McLean, Ulatto Smith, Kelcey Benson and Roger Dey.
A
gricola Red Triangle made an exciting return to competitive football on the East Bank yesterday when they edged Grove Hi Tech 2-1 in the feature game of a double header as play in the Stag Beer sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) division-one league continued at the Grove Playfield. Grove, also fielding a team in the GFF Premier
League with provision for only their Under-21 players to be exposed at the East Bank level, went into the rubber a confident unit with much more playing hours under their belts than the reemerging Agricola side. However, on the field of play it was a different ball game as Agricola came out all guns firing, controlling the opening exchanges. Urged on by their supporters, scattered around the ground and even on nearby
verandahs, Grove kept in the game and enjoyed a few good runs of their own. Agricola’s goalkeeper, Yohance Roberts, was excellent between the uprights for his team. G r o v e ’s C a p t a i n , t h e experienced Domini Garnett was effectively shut out of the game by the Agricola team. The first half ended 0-0, but more pulsating play was reserved for the final half. Five minutes into the half
Agricola eased into the lead from an excellent cross by Travis Welch in the 50th minute. The high ball which looked like it was destined over the cross bar to the custodian, Michael Matthews’ right. But to the surprise of all, the ball dipped and entered the V on the far side, Agricola 1 Grove 0. It was truly a surprise for Grove whose defence could not believe but certain delight for Agricola who kept the
pressure up on the home team. That advantage was doubled in the 69th minute, Gordon Grant caught the Grove defence napping and the goalie beaten some way off his line, he kept his composure to dribble the lone defender before tapping the ball into the open nets, Agricola 2 Grove 0. The home team have a reputation for taking victory from the jaws of defeat and did show signs of a comeback but were not able to go all the way since time was not on their side. Joel Dick pulled one back for them to reduce the deficit in the 79th minute, Agricola 2 Grove 1. As valiant as Grove’s efforts were to draw level and grab an equal share of the points, it was not to be, the game ending in favour of Agricola which has now joined Timehri Panthers, Kuru K u r u r u Wa r r i o r s a n d
Soesdyke Falcons as the teams winning their opening matches. Soesdyke Falcons however registered the biggest margin of victory, a 6-0 thumping of the young but determined Herstelling Football Club. A double each off the boot of Colin Mc Lean and Ulatto Smith guided Soesdyke to a comfortable three points. Mc Lean opened proceedings in the 9th minute and completed his tally in the 25th. Smith was on target in the 23rd and 57th minute. Also inking their names on the score sheet were Kelcey Benson in the 26th minute and Roger Dey in the 60th minute. The young Herstelling unit got tougher as the game progressed but were no match for the seasoned Soesdyke side. Another double header is set for Sunday at the same venue.
Reece wins again at Flying Ace annual awards O
ne of Guyana’s top cycling club, the Flying Ace CC, on Saturday last held their 13th annual awards and presentation ceremony for its top performers for the year 2013 at the Sunshine Bar in New Amsterdam. Top cyclist Neil Reece yet again copped the award, winning for a fourth consecutive year. Reece for his exploits and top achievements was awarded the Berbice River Bridge Company Incorporated Trophy. He was however unavoidably absent and his prize was collect by coach Randolph Roberts. Veteran rider Syborne Fernandes, like good wine, continues to improve on both the road and track and show the younger cyclists how it is done by copping the runner award. Fernandes was also
The awardees following the presentation ceremony. Coach Randolph Roberts is at left with Reece’s award.
adjudged the best veteran rider of the club. Elijah Brijader once
again rode away with the top junior prize with Adrel Ross moving up from the juvenile
category to cop the runner up spot. Season campaigner Wazim Hassnu was also
awarded for his consistent performance during the year. Among some of the top cyclists to emerge from the club are Wazin Gafoor the Benjamin brothers, Gary and Wilbert, Peter Millington, Russell Allen, Rudolph Blair and female rider Rhonda Persaud among others. Club Coach and founder Randolph Roberts gave an over view of the Club since its formation Some 27 years ago. Today it is one of the leading clubs in Guyana. He also challenged the other cyclists to step up and challenge the two top riders. Roberts in his speech mentioned that 2013 was one of the more challenging years for the club. He said for the first time in years the club is without female riders. He mentioned the challenges faced by the club, he however said that the club was able to maneuver and
withstand the pressure. He said that the club is a stronger unit. He took the opportunity to thank those who have stayed with and supported the club Despite all the challenges, the FACC still shone bright among the other clubs in Guyana. It organised ten events which were by far the most organized by any local club. Roberts a had special words of appreciation for Banks DIH Limited, The Guyana Beverage Company, Furniture World, Berbice River Bridge Company, Benjamin Sports, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), Anthony’s Funeral Home, Feroz Grocery, Bounty Farm and Water Chris Hotel among others. He looks forward for a more productive year from his riders in 2014. (Samuel Whyte)
Tuesday February 25, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Geron Williams wins again G
eron Williams of the Continental Cycle club in time of 1hr: 35 minutes, 40 seconds, for the second consecutive day, rode brilliantly to win another fierce battle in an intense sprint home from a bunch of five cyclists that led the race for most of the way, which included Raul Leal, Orville Hinds, Wayne De Nobrega and Raynauth Jeffery to take top honours in the Sanko Benjamin cycle race, The event was sponsored by overseas based former national cycling champion Wilbert Benjamin of the Benjamin Sports Store and the Benjamin Family in honour of the senior Benjamin’s 80th birthday. The event which was organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) pedaled off from in front of the Benjamin Sports Store at Fyrish Village to the No43 Bridge before heading back to its place of origin for the finish. There were two events, one for senior, junior and veteran riders, while another seven miles race was for beginners which in all saw some 53 riders taking part that include sponsor Wilbert Benjamin and his brother Gary. The main event saw 47 riders that include the top riders in the country taking to the starting line and being sent on their way at 09:40 hrs by Mr. Sanko Benjamin himself and family. The race got off to what is call a ‘Flying Start’ with the riders first pedaling for one mile in the opposite direction up to Borlam Turn before turning
Takes Benjamin 50 miles feature cycling event in Berbice
Geron Williams (right) watches his challengers as they battle along the Corentyne route yesterday.
back in a sprint to the Benjamin Sports store for the first sprint point prize. From there on it was stiff competition with the cyclist going hard at each other for the early advantage in the large field. After taking top honours the day before in the annual Forbes Burnham Memorial Cycle road race in Georgetown, the inform Williams was among the bunch of about 10 riders that broke away early in the event that was held in cool conditions. As the race got deeper, the bunch split up to the eventual group of five that include Williams, Hinds, Leal, De Nobrega and Jeffery as they continued to press on. It was a ding dong
battle as the five kept the lead with each cyclist taking a turn to jump the others for the break away. However none was successful as the trend continued until the turn back stage. On the downward journey it was much the same as the five front riders kept on going, increasing the lead from the second bunch and the rest of the pack with every rotation. In the end it was Williams that won from De Nobrega, Hinds, Jeffery and Leal, with Alonzo Greaves beating out another group of about four to cop the sixth spot. The top junior on show was Leal with Akeem Arthur second and Michael
Anthony third. Junior Niles rode home first among the veterans with Kennard Lovell second and Wilbert Benjamin third. Richard Charles won the Mountain bike category from Ozia Macaulay. The eight sprint point prizes were taken by Jeffery with two, while one each were gathered by Ranole Crawford, Robin Persaud, Wi l l i a m s , D e N o b r e g a , Hinds and Leal. The special beginners seven miles race, which began at the Benjamin Sports Store and turned back at the Tain Berbice Campus, saw David Simon winning the boys’ category from Simon Allicock. The girl’s
race was won by Deonce Welch from Shenica Texiera and Alliyah Benjamin. The winners received lucrative prizes with the winner in the senior category taking home $80,000 a Bouquet of flowers and a bottle of Champagne. The
riders were also blessed with a bag of gifts, while each winner apart from their cash incentive also received a bouquet and a bottle of Champagne. The family plans to make the event an annual affair. GTU president and family member, Colin Bynoe, welcomed all and introduced the members of the Benjamin family and also blessed the activity with a prayer. It was one of the biggest races in the country for the year so far and one of the biggest held in the Ancient County. It is also the second event sponsored by the former national cyclist and his family for the year so far as they gave back to the country of their birth in a tangible way. The event and was well coordinated by cycling coach Randolph Roberts with assistance from club member Eli Hazel. The police contingent led by Cadet Officer Dufu, Corporals Hope and Gobin and the other ranks were also commended for doing an excellent job along the busy Corentyne thoroughfare.
Rafael Nadal wins Rio Open in straight sets to claim 43rd clay title
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BC Sport - Rafael Nadal beat Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 7-6 (7-3) in the Rio Open final on his return from injury. The world number one’s victory comes four weeks after he lost the Australian Open final to Stanislas Wawrinka having tweaked his back while warming up. The Spaniard, who survived two (Continued on page 29)
Amir Khan admits Mayweather fight will not take place B
BC Sport Britain’s Amir K h a n h a s admitted defeat in his attempts to lure Floyd Mayweather into a fight. Mayweather, 36, asked fans to decide if he should face Khan or Argentine Marcos Maidana in his next bout, with the Briton winning an online vote. But Khan has accepted he will not be Mayweather’s next opponent, although no official announcement has been made. “No response from Mayweather or his team,” Khan, 27, wrote on Twitter. “Fight’s not happening.” Bolton fighter Khan signed a deal in December
which he hoped would lead to a showdown with the unbeaten Mayweather, who currently holds world titles at welterweight and lightmiddleweight. But Mayweather, who has had 45 career fights, tweeted on 3 February: “I’m going to let the fans vote. Tell me who I should fight next. Khan or Maidana?” After several weeks of delay, Khan has finally voiced his frustration in a series of tweets and admitted he regretted not taking a fight with Devon Alexander for the IBF welterweight title, which was shelved after terms were not agreed. “I should have taken the
title fight last December against Alexander,” wrote Khan, who has 28 wins and three defeats. He admitted he felt “very disrespected by his team. Wasted my time. Good luck to Maidana against Mayweather. “Can I apologise to the thousands of people who are let down. You, me and everyone wanted the Mayweather fight. He’s running scared.” Khan beat Maidana in Las Vegas in December 2010 on a unanimous points decision, with his last fight a dramatic points victory over Julio Diaz in Sheffield in April 2013.
Amir Khan (Getty Images)
t r o Sp
Olympian, Winston George looks back at junior rival and Junior Sportsman of the Year, Jason Yaw as he crosses the finish line in the Men’s 400m Final yesterday at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.
GEORGE IS DOUBLE SPRINT CHAMPION Veronica CampbellBrown ‘cleared’ to race after failed drugs test
Sara McGlashan (Getty Images)
Geron Williams Dexterity wins again racing returns TAKES BENJAMIN after eight 50 MILES FEATURE EVENT IN BERBICE year absence
WI Women crash to second defeat Shemaine Campbelle
ICC UNDER-19 WORLD CUP:
England edged out byPakistan in semi-final
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