Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

The single most important tile Every time elections come around there is a large measure of conflict and confusion. Almost inevitably there are complaints about the electoral roll, the conduct of the polls, and the use of the media. One would have expected that a country with a population no larger than a small town would have been able to have all these issues sorted out. However, Guyana has unfortunately developed into a land of perpetual disagreement. Ever since 1964, one political party or the other has been complaining about the elections. Of course the complaints did not begin prior to the elections, they came after the incumbent felt cheated at having to leave office, although it secured the most votes at the polls. No election since then has escaped criticism. There have been claims of rigging, disenfranchisement, terror tactics, and of course, padded voters’ lists. Today, more than 50 years later, nothing has changed. Over the years we have seen changes in the composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), but even this has done nothing to eradicate the complaints. And with each election comes an unsettling feeling. The fear is that any semblance of disorder could severely set us back. Already there is a paucity of foreign investors. At the same time migration is so great that Guyana has lost most of its skilled people, particularly those who obtained a tertiary education, over the past few decades. Had this not been a sovereign state, few could have faulted the people for calling for outside help, to manage the elections. Those with influence do not seem to respect our own enough to let them effectively carry out their functions. Every effort to reduce conflict is neutralized by provocative comments. It is as if some politicians are hell-bent on confusion at every turn. Indeed, the government has not been without blame. It has refused legitimate calls by the opposition on the grounds that the opposition wanted to run the country from the back seat. It has also accused the main political opposition, in the not too distant past, of trying to gain power through the back door. Despite all such confrontations, however, we have been experiencing in recent times, conscious efforts to ensure a peaceful atmosphere. The 2011 elections provided a lot to be admired in this regard. We believe that GECOM is doing its best to ensure the smooth conduct of the upcoming elections. It is heartening, for instance, that there is an insistence that new mechanisms must be developed to remove the names of persons who would have passed away and can no longer be part of the country’s voting process. According to Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, “The matter is being addressed…We have drafted a methodology to operationalise ways to remove the deceased (from the list).” A small but significant step in the right direction. And Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally has given assurances that the commission will do nothing to compromise any election. He also boasted that the Commission has a process of employment which ensures that staffers are 100% screened, and that they would be informed in no uncertain terms that they must not be compromised, and have to put partisan politics aside for loyalty to GECOM. Media operatives were urged to be fair and accurate in their reporting. But of course there are issues beyond GECOM’s control. Come election time, many of those who did not take the time to register will create problems for the wider society. There will be yet another set of acrimonious claims. And we could do without these. Dr. Surujbally’s wish for a smooth process is encapsulated by the following utterance: “We want an election that is peaceful; we want an election that is not scandalous. An election is the single most important tile in the mosaic of democracy; hence, it is important to note that GECOM’s team will do nothing to negatively affect the conduct of elections.” It is indeed the single most important tile.

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Letters... Where your views make the news

Selection of Elisabeth Harper cannot conceal racism and corruption DEAR EDITOR, The People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) has come down with schizophrenia and is in panic over the merger of the main opposition APNU and AFC, which will contest the May 11, 2015 general elections as a single party. The panic is not misplaced. The coalition portends an end of the corrupt, racist PPP regime. Combined, the APNU and AFC garnered a majority of votes in the last general elections. They then formed a modus vivendi to control the Parliament, rendering the PPP a minority government. The PPP government is an ethnocracy that practices institutional racism. Every elections cycle, the party acts like it is bipolar. It pretends to love Afro-Guyanese and secures some votes. It’s election time in Guyana and the PPP is in a desperate scramble to camouflage its racist image so as to compete with the multi-racial opposition coalition. Last Saturday the party dumped Prime Minister, Sam Hinds, and hastily selected Mrs. Elisabeth Harper – Director General of the Foreign Service and Ambassador to Caricom, as its Prime Ministerial (PM) candidate. Elisabeth Harper started off on the wrong footing. Without resigning from the public service, she appeared on the PPP platform with President Donald Ramator on Saturday and declared her candidacy. Her appearance is a breach of public service laws. Mrs. Harper cannot be a candidate for the National Assembly and simultaneously serve ad Director General. This is a

reprehensible violation of the Constitution. It is unfortunate that her first act was joining her party in its incessant disregard for the Constitution. She must resign from the public service. A career diplomat of some repute, Mrs. Harper hitherto never overtly aligned herself with any political party. Her nomination is therefore so superficial, that no one is oblivious to the certainty that she will become another Sam Hinds. Neither are we oblivious to their hoax to trick women to vote for the PPP. Mrs. Harper has never been a PPP member nor in its leadership. Does the PPP expect us to believe that it will allow such a political novice and outsider, who is an Afro-Guyanese woman, to take over the party and Presidency, if it wins? The PPP thinks Guyanese have amnesia. It believes that we have forgotten how it eviscerated poor Sam Hinds when President Cheddi Jagan died and by constitutional mandate he ascended to the presidency. The constitution mandates that the Prime Minister shall become President in event the President resigns, dies or becomes incapacitated. The PPP however, made a mockery of the Constitution when President Jagan died. After Hinds became President, PPP insiders forced him to appoint President Jagan’s wife, Mrs. Janet Jagan as Prime Minister. Once she became Prime Minister, they stunningly forced Hinds to resign as President. He did, and Mrs. Jagan automatically became the President.

Clearly, the PPP recruited Mrs. Harper to court black and women’s votes, but she has done nothing to improve the lives of these two constituencies. Has she worked on the ground to help develop a single local community or preserve any town or village? Has she worked on the ground to improve the lives of women; including ending pervasive violence against women in Guyana? Has she been involved in any women’s organization of any kind? Has she at least spoken out against violence or discrimination against women, or advocated for gender equality for women in Guyana? Has she ever helped to improve the lives and education of young girls? Has she done anything to address poverty or to preserve the human rights of Guyanese? Elisabeth Harper implemented the PPP policy that jettisoned AfroGuyanese from the Foreign Service. When we expressed outrage over the PPP’s all Indian Ambassador corps, and Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon said that there were no Afro-Guyanese qualified to be an Ambassador, Elisabeth Harper remained silent and went along with the pretense. She benefited directly from this PPP hegemony. She was the only AfroGuyanese Ambassador who they retained at the time. This was her reward for cutting down her fellow AfroGuyanese from the service. Does the PPP expect her to now influence us, when they used her to disenfranchise us? Rickford Burke

Contract-splitting can prove to be costly DEAR EDITOR, It was reported in the media that at the 5th Annual Engineering Conference organized by the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), Sunil Ganesh, Project Manager of the Works Services Group of the MPW in a presentation titled, “ Getting value for money in the construction sector”, argued that awarding road construction contracts to general contractors has resulted in the scarcity of equipment and human resources causing project completion delay, cost overruns and not getting value for money. He concluded, therefore, that awarding contracts to specialized contractors to execute specific activities of a project ensures that the project will be delivered on time, within budget and to high standards. To support his claim, Ganesh stated that the East Bank Demerara four-lane highway project under construction was awarded to three contractors based on geography rather than

specialization. Each contractor was responsible for constructing all items of work listed in his contract. Unfortunately the contracts were not completed on time and there are cost overruns yet to be determined because he opined that the contractors have had to compete for or share personnel and equipment. This created a scarcity of these resources among them and this adversely impacted their contract costs and timely completion. He presupposed that if the project was split-up among contractors specializing in specific aspects of project work instead of dismembering it willy-nilly into three sections and awarding them to general contractors, it would have been completed on time and within budget. No plausible example to support this claim was presented and he left unmentioned the effects removal of utilities (water, telephone, electricity) from

the work area and land acquisition for the right-ofway in a timely manner has had on construction progress. These problems were compounded by poor supervision and lax o v e r s i g h t b y M P W. Additionally, delays due to adverse weather conditions, traffic disruptions and the timely delivery of materials were not considered in the presentation. Hence delay in completing this project with substantial cost overruns has more to do with poor planning and poor resource management by the contractors rather than the postulation that the employment of specialized contractors would have made a difference. The East Coast Demerara Highway Project was another example quoted by Ganesh to support his claim that employing specialized contractors would have made a difference in project execution. This project was awarded to seven

contractors. He claims that 75% of project work was for concrete drains and because two of the contractors specialized in concrete work, they were able to finished their contracts on time while the other five who were general contractors have been struggling to complete their contract work. In this respect it appears that Ganesh’s claim is misleading regarding the percentage of project work attributed to concrete drains vis-à-vis other items of contract work since white sand backfilling and other materials placement for the drains and carriageways are substantial and costly and would have accounted for more than 25% of project cost. Further, many of the contractors have suffered inordinate delays in executing their work as they waited for MPW to resolve its disputes with B.M. Soat and others to acquire the right-of way for the highway. All major Govt. Continued on page 23

Wednesday February 25, 2015

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

GPHC outperforms Richmond Hill welcomes popular private hospital indictment on hate attack DEAR EDITOR, The management and staff of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation must be congratulated for improving service delivery. However, there is still room for developing interpersonal skills of staff. I was recently involved in an accident which offered me the opportunity to compare the services delivered by GPHC to that of a popular private City hospital. My encounter at the private hospital made me realize that prompt attention at the door and placement on a bed do not mean swift action to get the patient better. For that private hospital “prompt attention” means the patient forking out bank card, cash or cheque at the cash register. To make a long story

short I will provide a synopsis. My relative and I arrived at the private hospital about 08:20am and not until something to 10:00am was she sent to the operating theatre. During that time, for every service provided to the patient cash was demanded upfront. At one point I was forced to ask the doctor ’s receptionist to show some courtesy. I told her, “Had we not the money to pay we would not have come here; money is not a problem just give us some courtesy and wait a little I will come to you.” The hospital’s service was also sloppy. For instance, my relative was forced to wait in agonizing pain for an extra half hour because the nurse or whoever is responsible forgot to send

the blood sample to the lab for testing. In addition, when my relative arrived at the Operating Theatre room door no one was there to receive her. Frustrated by the hospital’s discourteous behavior I went to GPHC to take care of my injury. I arrived at GPHC waited a little. I was processed by the triage nurse and subsequently called to see a doctor. I was sent for an X-ray. I waited for about 20 minutes for the Xray and result. I went back to a doctor who read the X-ray. I received pain killers and was sent away. Now I received proper medical care free of cost without a hassle from GPHC. Thumbs up! Good job GPHC. I am never going back to that private hospital. K. Singh

The use of the race factor DEAR EDITOR, It was with much surprise that I found a piece in the national rag sheet, the “Chronicle of Lies” written by the Operations Manager of GUYOIL, Mr Reggie Bhagwandin. What is Reggie’s core contention? According to Reggie, “Most of the prominent members of the PNC were former Ministers... during the Burnham regime.” So Reggie believed that once the PNC leaders are in the “driving seat, there is no guarantee that they will act democratically.” Upon reflection on these two statements from Reggie, I call to mind a statement from the Leader of the AFC, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, who made it very clear that there is a “fail safe mechanism” in the Cummingsburg Accord, if such an eventuality does occur. But Reggie refuses to listen to the voice of reason from the custodian of principled politics. Instead he

chose to spread subtle messages of racial fear. But let us fact-check this message of racial fear from Reggie. There was no member of the APNU leadership in the game today who was a Minister of the PNC Government when Walter Rodney died. But let me bolt on Carl Greenidge to humor Reggie and his racist agenda. The evidence will show that Carl was always more inclined to the technical side like his brother Winston Sirpaul Murray. They were the moderate voices in the PNC. They were certainly not political thugs and had no association with the House of Israel. Reggie will do well to advise himself as to who placed the House of Israel on the highest pedestal in 2011 by making one of them into a PPP Member of Parliament. Then Reggie should advise himself as to who was the person who led the protestors to throw stones at the leading

PPP Hindu leader because of his race at a PPP public meeting in 1992. That person sat in the 10th Parliament as a PPP Member of Parliament. Then Reggie should remind himself of the former PNC youth thug who is today a PPP Minister and whose live-in lover for years was a convicted drug dealer. So when Reggie wants to highlight the thugs and the crooks from the PNC years, we can highlight them, but they all live in Freedom House today. It was the PPP who placed these thugs and thieves on the highest pedestal of power quite opportunistically after 2001. The choices are clear for many – five more years of PPP theft, thuggery and terror or let us trust Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan and try something different and work for a different outcome. This has nothing to do with race Reggie, this has everything to do with reason. Name withheld

DEAR EDITOR, Guyanese community leaders in Richmond Hill welcomed the indictment (Feb 18) of a White American on a racial bias attack by the Queens District Attorney for assaulting a Richmond Hill resident of the Sikh faith and Indian ethnicity, calling the victim several racist names. So while Guyanese may feel their country has prejudice, it also exists in the great America. (As an aside, in Guyana one can feel the racial tension as the election campaign heats up. But Guyana is not the only society with its ethnic prejudices and issues. In the US, ethnic hate is a daily feature of life and it exists among all the numerous ethnic groups, unlike say in Guyana where ethnic hate is more pronounced during election time, though a permanent undercurrent). Guyanese also condemned that assault of an Indian American in Alabama earlier this month by a White police officer who “patkay” the Indian man. While the matter is treated as a regular assault, Indian Americans, including Indo-Guyanese, feel it is a hate incident and are pressing for an indictment while the officer has been suspended

from the force. And Guyanese community leaders condemned and spoke out against police violence on Black and Hispanic American in recent months. Just last week, the Queens court indicted an Italian American for a hate crime against a Sikh man in Richmond Hill, the heart of the Indo-Guyanese community. Reports say that Joseph Caleca, of Long Island, called Sandeep Singh a terrorist and shouted, “Bin Laden, go back to your country,” before mowing him down and dragging him several feet before fleeing the scene. Singh was hospitalized for abdominal and back injuries. CBS TV and WINS 1010 report that Caleca has been indicted on hate crime charges. He was given a nine-count indictment by a Queens County Grand Jury. Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said in a statement: “The defendant is

accused of an unprovoked attack that allegedly began with the defendant driving by the victim and his friends and calling him a terrorist and ordering him to leave the country. After an exchange of words, the defendant allegedly struck the victim intentionally with his vehicle and dragged him along the street.” Caleca’s attorney, Murray Richman, told a Long Islandbased newspaper, Newsday, it was not a hate crime. But Indian Americans, including Indo-Guyanese, feel it was a bias attack when referring to Indians and Sikhs as terrorists and relating them to Bin Laden, the deceased leader of Al Qaeda. Sikh and Indo-Guyanese community leaders have been cooperating to find solutions and obtain services on various issues impacting on the community that share the greater Richmond Hill space. Caleca, currently out on bail, will appear before a judge April 22. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Vishnu Bisram

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Wednesday February 25, 2015

‘Illegal’ $4.5B spending by Gov’t…

An unforgivable sin committed against taxpayers By Kiana Wilburg A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge, described the illegal spending of $4.5B of taxpayers’ monies by Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, as an “unforgivable sin” against the citizenry. This was against the backdrop of Chief Justice (ag), Ian Chang’s ruling that Government’s expenditure of billions unapproved by the National Assembly last year, is in breach of the nation’s Constitution. In an interview with Kaieteur News yesterday, Greenidge said that the first part of the Chief Justice’s 36page ruling entirely vindicates the opposition’s position, to the effect that the spending of billions of taxpayers’ monies was unlawful. He said that Chang’s ruling in that regard was unambiguous, and any attempt by Attorney General Anil Nandlall to indicate otherwise would be preposterous. The politician said that the Chief Justice (CJ) also

Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh found, that by simply laying a Statement of Excess, Dr. Singh could not expect that it would be treated as being tantamount to having the approval of the National Assembly. He said that this is so, because for the Statement of Excess to be given consideration, a resolution has to be drawn up, and the House would then give its vote in approving or disapproving of it. Greenidge said as well, that the CJ pointed that there is no provision for the deliberate spending of in excess of what has been

approved. “Therefore Dr. Singh’s decision to spend the money can only be considered as a cynical and deliberate act to disrespect the protocols and rules of the House.” It was the concern of some political activists that Chang failed to mention in his ruling, any sanction for those who committed the illegal act. But Chang had told Kaieteur News that it is not his business to deliver disciplinary measures against the defaulters. He said that it is the responsibility of the National Assembly. But Dr. Singh will not face any penalty from the House, at least, for matters of the Tenth Parliament cannot be raised in a new Parliament. Greenidge opined that he has no difficulty with the CJ’s position in this regard. He emphasized, however, that the penalties for the deliberate misuse of state funds are articulated in the law, specifically in the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA). The APNU financial point man insisted that Dr. Singh is liable for the illegally spent money, and to further cement his argument, he referred to Section 49 (1) of the FMAA, which says, “If a loss of public moneys should occur and, at the time of that loss, a Minister or official has caused or contributed to that loss through misconduct or through deliberate or serious disregard of reasonable standards of care, that Minister or official shall be personally liable to the

- Greenidge Government for the amount of the loss.” The Shadow Finance Minister said therefore, once the CJ made it clear that the law was broken, it is now a simpler matter for Dr. Singh to be prosecuted along with other offenders who acted in accordance with his decision, such as permanent secretaries, among other accounting officials in several agencies. As for the next step forward for APNU on this matter, Greenidge said that this is now left up to the lawyers in the case. He said that they would also have to establish, in addition to Dr. Singh, the others who were part and parcel of the spending. Additionally, the Chief Justice had said that the only option is for the opposition to take the case up in a criminal proceeding. But asked if and when APNU is likely to take this as its next step in holding the Minister accountable and recovering the expended funds, Greenidge referred Kaieteur News to APNU’s lawyers on the matter. Leader of the Alliance For Change, Khemraj Ramjattan, had filed a complaint with the Guyana Police Force against Dr. Singh, over what was deemed at the time, the “alleged illegal spending” of some $4.5B from the National Treasury. That matter, however, died a natural death.

APNU’s Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge Asked if he is worried that once APNU pursues a similar route, the case may be facing the same fate as the previous one, Greenidge said that the team is prepared to take the case to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) if required. He insisted that the matter of prosecution is now made easier for investigators given the CJ’s ruling. “And if the police want to remain credible, they should not have any problem proceeding with the case if we take that route,” Greenidge added. He said too that he is not worried, because the Minister’s “disrespectful behaviour” will soon be brought to a halt. Further, the politician answered in the affirmative when asked if he has any regrets about the Tenth Parliament, in relation to holding the Minister accountable. Greenidge opined that had the House Speaker, Raphael Trotman acted promptly to his concerns raised in previous years as regards to the

unapproved spending by Dr. Singh, then more than likely, he would not have been able to “get away with the amount of lawlessness he has today.” He expressed disappointment at this occurrence and emphasized that it is one of the failings of the Tenth Parliament. Though Chang had ruled that the government acted unlawfully, he declined to grant the conservatory order sought by the plaintiff, Opposition Leader David Granger. The order sought to prevent the government from spending more monies which did not receive Parliamentary approval. The acting CJ had said that the order was “misconceived and must be dismissed.” He advised that a conservatory order must now (in 2015) relate strictly to future constitutional or statutory spending excess and not past excesses. The Chief Justice had said that if the order was granted, it would in effect, be an injunction against Government spending permitted by the Constitution and the Financial Management and Accountability Act, rather than a conservatory order against non-approved spending for the past financial year, one he noted as “a classic case of the grant of an injunction as a conservatory order.” Chang said that for those reasons, the application for an interlocutory conservatory order cannot be granted.

Wednesday February 25, 2015

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Wednesday February 25, 2015

Alaska allows recreational marijuana as legalization campaign spreads (Reuters) - Smoking, growing and owning small amounts of marijuana became legal in Alaska on Tuesday as a growing decriminalization movement reached the United States’ northwest frontier. Alaska, which narrowly passed the measure in November, followed Colorado and Washington among states allowing recreational use, reflecting a rapidly shifting legal landscape for the drug. It remains illegal, however, under federal law. In the District of Columbia, Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Tuesday the U.S. capital would go ahead with legalized possession of small amounts of marijuana and pot plants despite opposition from Congress. Voters overwhelmingly approved legalizing pot last year, but its sale is still banned. Oregon voters approved a similar measure in November, but the drug does not become legal until July. In Maryland, the state legislature began hearings on Tuesday on a measure to legalize marijuana. In Alaska, anyone aged 21

or older can possess up to an ounce (28.3 grams) of marijuana and can grow up to six plants, three of which can be flowering. Smoking in public and buying and selling the drug remains illegal, but private exchanges are allowed if money is not involved. President Barack Obama’s Department of Justice has allowed the experiments to proceed, saying it would look to prosecute a narrower range of marijuana-related crimes, such as sales to children. But that could change if a more conservative president is elected in 2016, when Alaska’s first marijuana shops are likely to open. Supporters of the measure say it reflects a sense of personal freedom that resonates

with residents of Alaska, a state with a libertarian streak. They also say legal sales will generate income and jobs. “Alaska now has some of the most sensible marijuana laws in the nation,” Dr. Tim Hinterberger, chairman of the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, said in a statement. The state’s alcohol regulatory board, which is set to meet on Tuesday, and other officials must still fill gaps in the legislation, such as a definition of the public places where people cannot light up. State regulators are drafting rules covering the taxation and sale of marijuana and which must be adopted by Nov. 24. Applications for the first business licenses will not be accepted until February 2016.

CWC-Columbus merger will lead to Caribbean monopoly says Digicel KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, February 24,CMC – The Irish-owned telecommunications provider, Digicel, Monday said the proposed merger of Columbus Communications and Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC), will lead to a monopoly in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVC) and other regional markets. Digicel is urging regional regulators to prevent or impose conditions before approving the merger. David Geary, general counsel for Digicel, told a panel discussion and public consultation here Monday night that the merger

“is wit h o u t d o u b t t h e most important thing

t h a t ’s h a p p e n e d i n t h e telecoms industry since the industry was liberalised all those years ago. “… It is about Cable and Wireless and Columbus creating what will be a monopoly over fixed telephone, fixed Internet, and subscription TV services,” he said, an allegation that the CWC and Columbus representatives at the event denied. Cable and Wireless, which operates in the Caribbean unde r t h e b r a n d , LIME, is offering US$3.1 billion to acquire Columbus International, the operator of FLOW in the region. Head of government relations at CWC, Chris Dehring, referred to Cable and Wireless’ 140-year legacy in the region and sought to convince the public that the Cable and Wireless monopoly and its legacy of high prices and poor customer services are things of the past. “It’s been 140 years and, as I said, good bad and ugly. The reality is that that company that we all knew and love to hate, no longer exists. That company, which is this massive company called Cable and Wireless … has been demerged over the years…” he said.

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GIVE DEMOCRACY A CHANCE! We s t m i n s t e r - s t y l e d democracy is being pilloried in countries in which there are two dominant ethnic groups. It is argued that rather than promoting stability, this model does the opposite. Democracy, traditionally associated with free and fair elections, is under threat, because it is argued it does not address the ethnic question in bifurcated electorates. In the Caribbean, ethnic polarization of the electorate has led to demands in both Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana for new system of politics. It has led to strong criticisms of the Westminster model of government. It has prompted calls for this model to be scrapped. The politics of Trinidad and Tobago is similar to Guyana. Voting is polarized along ethnic lines in both countries. This is a product of these countries’ political history. In both countries there are two main parties. In Guyana there is the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC). The equivalent in Trinidad and Tobago is the United National Congress (UNC) and the People’s National Movement (PNM). Each of these parties draws

the bulk of its support from one of the two major ethnic groups. The same obtains in Guyana. Elections in both countries are normally characterized by ethnic polarization. There is however a major difference between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. In Trinidad and Tobago there have been UNC governments and PNM governments over the past twenty years. On the other hand, in Guyana, the PPPC has been in power for the past twenty-two years. There is another related difference. In Trinidad and Tobago, there have been smooth transitions when it comes to a change of government through elections. In Guyana, the opposition has consistently refused to abide with the wishes of the people, and therefore after each election there is usually a period of tension and instability. The Guyanese people have never had an experience of a smooth transition from one government to another. This difference is important, and I believe crucial to undermining ethnic polarization during elections. While there remains strong ethnic polarization at the polls in Trinidad and Tobago, significant cracks are

beginning to appear in that country’s voting patterns. This was apparent when former UNC Chairman Jack Warner contested a run-off election against a candidate from his old party for a constituency long considered a UNC stronghold. Jack Warner won that runoff. His electoral fortunes subsequently dipped, but his victory was a signal that things were changing in Trinidad and Tobago, slowly but surely. In Guyana, a similar situation has never occurred. The AFC has emerged as an important political force, but it has not done anything like what Jack Warner did in the run-off elections. While the AFC did make some headway in 2006 into the PNCR stronghold of Region 10, it still did not win that region. And while it made headway into some PPP strongholds in 2011, it did not win those regions either. In fact there is a myth that one of the AFC’s leaders was responsible for the good showing of the AFC in Region 6 in the 2011 elections. A review of the votes secured by the AFC in Berbice would however reveal that the party’s support was widely spread in all of the areas of that region. And an understanding of

Dem boys seh...

Dr. Raj and Jagdeo got secret fuh each other Everything Jagdeo touch tun kaka. He touch Skeldon Sugar Factory and seh that he spend US$200M. That was de biggest investment fuh any single project in Guyana to this day. Everybody know wha happen. Donald Duck see that happen and still announce de other day that Jagdeo would be de boss fuh some kind of Economic committee. Wha that mean, according to dem boys, is that idiot, Jagdeo, would be in charge of overseeing and controlling all dem projects that would develop Guyana—and he gun do just like wha he do wid de Skeldon factory and de cable from Brazil. And that is only to name two. Dem boys can name 200 and more, and dem intend to in time to come. ‘Guyana got only one university wha Jagdeo presided over when he was president of de country. De university got de wuss toilet wheh de students can’t even kaka much less pee pee properly.

Is 12 years he was de head and now that de country get rid of him he want people fuh believe that 6,000 people sign a petition saying that dem want he fuh come back in power as prime minister. He want de nation fuh believe that Guyana got 6,000 bigger idiots than he. Dem boys see when he sit down and sign 6,000 names. When he done he send and call all de Bees plus Ash Knee, Irfaat and Anil to sign up that list. That idiot was de man who bring Fip that flip pun de Amaila road, and get pay US$7 million and Surendra wha drown in water from one of the pump wha he still to supply to Guyana. This same idiot Jagdeo set up a foundation wha he can’t open up to today. He alone does go to de building. Nobody don’t go there and he not accustom to that. Dem boys hear that de other day he put ten lock pun de door of he foundation and order Rohee out of he, Rohee, Freedom House office and tek over. He walk wid Kwame.

Dem boys hear when he seh, “Bhaarwah, you tek one next to me.” That is how Kwame end up at de Pee Pee Pee press conference today and behave like de fat flouncing fool he is. Jagdeo ain’t no different. And dem boys notice that he friend, 76-year-old Dr Rajendra from India, who head de UN Climate Change body in big trouble. De same man give Jagdeo one of de five Doctorate that he got. He send e-mails, messages, plus WhatsApp messages to a 29-year-old woman, and then he seh is people hack he e-mail and thief he phone, then talk wickedness. Dr Rajendra quit de big wuck. Jagdeo did mek de same Dr Raj head of the Iwokrama Rainforest Project. Dem boys want fuh know wha more Jagdeo give he in return fuh de doctorate, because Dr Rajendra willie put he in trouble now. Talk half and ask Jagdeo bout Dr Rajendra Pachauri who resign.

why this happened has to do with the footwork done by former activists of the ROAR party, formerly led by Ravi Dev. It was the canvassing by these activists that secured the votes for the AFC in both Regions 5 and 6. Sadly, for reasons well known to the AFC, these activists were sidelined after the elections and will not be there to help the AFC repeat in 2015. There have been all kinds of theorizing as to how the ethnic polarization of the electorate in Guyana is to be reduced. All manner of solutions have been proposed. Faith has even been put in the young voters to break with this tradition. But election after election, the young voters continue the tradition of the past and the polls remains ethnically polarized. Voting in Guyana in democratic elections is today viewed as an ethnic census. As such, questions are being raised as to whether this form of Westminster democracy perpetuates Guyana’s ethnic polarization. I want today to differ from this view, and to argue instead that the same Westminster democracy offers the best

hope for the eventual demise of ethnic voting. I want to suggest that enough attention and faith has not been put in democracy as a solution to ethnic polarization. I believe that if people in Guyana are able to experience smooth transitions of power from one party to the other, if the will of the people is respected and if there is no instability created after elections, then the various ethnic groups will come around to realize that the fears they have of the assuming of power of a government from the “other” are misplaced. This will eventually reduce ethnic insecurities and consequently ethnic polarization in voting. However, if after each election in Guyana, all the people see are the losers from those elections trying to create unrest and claiming that they were cheated and robbed, this will continue to stir ethnic insecurity and promote rather than reduce ethnic polarization. If the opposition parties in this country are keen to reduce ethnic insecurity which is what keeps the PPP in power - they have to give the Guyanese people an

experience of respecting the will of the people. If the supporters of the PPP see an opposition that is willing to gracefully accept defeat and not cause problems in the country, they will come around to the idea that it is possible for smooth transitions to a new government via elections. In Trinidad, this experience is bearing fruit. There have been UNC governments and PNM governments over the past twenty years. This year is an election year in Trinidad. If the People’s Partnership loses, you can be sure there will be another smooth transition to the PNM, because the people have had that experience before. Voting is still polarized there, but this is no longer sufficient to secure political power for either of the two main parties. Democracy is transforming voting patterns in Trinidad. The process may be slow, but it is sure. Democracy should be given a chance in Guyana.

Page 10

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 25, 2015

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

My cousin died on Mash Day at Woodlands without doctor attendance I got the call from his wife about 3.45 p.m. that my cousin was deteriorating and had to be transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He was a patient at Woodlands Hospital. We arrived at the Hospital around 4.15 p.m., because of delays on the road due to Mash celebrations. Minutes later, Islamic scholar of the CIOG, Sheik Moen ul-Hack arrived. We

were told by the nurses that his condition worsened badly and the attendant doctor at the Emergency Department ordered his transfer to ICU. Both the Sheik and I asked to see the doctor for the ICU, but were told that there was none. The Sheik tried to call doctors he knew who work at Woodlands, while I went in search of other doctors at the hospital. Sheik Moen

ul-Hack is the priest who a t t e n d s t o m y c o u s i n ’s family and who did the funeral rites at the CIOG last week for my cousin’s brother. The two brothers died six days apart. I was informed that there was only one doctor on duty and he was based at the Emergency Wing. I was told his name was Dr. Khan. I went to speak to Dr. Khan to ascertain the situation with my cousin. There were three patients waiting while the doctor was in a room t r e a t i n g a n o t h e r. I w a s instructed to wait. I went back to Sheik ul-Hack to find out if he had made contact with any of the other Woodlands doctors who could come to the ICU. Sheik ul-Hack said he didn’t get communication with them. Let me make it clear for readers to note; at 4.15 p.m. at the Woodlands Hospital there was only one doctor at work in the entire hospital. A prominent Guyanese, Sheik Moen ul-Hack, was

with me all this time, and he can testify to that fact. I can say unambiguously that Sheik ul-Hack agreed with me when I told him this was unacceptable. At 5.30 p.m., I went back to Emergency to see Dr. Khan. By this time there were six patients and Dr. Khan was treating one of them. It was clear to me that he couldn’t leave his patient to talk to me, and I accepted that gracefully. I asked the nurses who at that particular moment was the person with authority at Woodlands. I was told it was Dr. Khan and a matron. The matron had jurisdiction over the entire staff. I went to see her. She told me that Dr. Khan transferred my cousin to the ICU and they were awaiting other doctors. I went again to see Dr. Khan, but again the nurses said he was attending to emergency patients. At 6 p.m., Sheik ul-Hack went into the ICU room to pray for my cousin. This was two hours after the arrival of the Sheik and I

at the hospital. At 6.15, the Sheik reported to me that he went into the room and the nurses were beating the chest of my cousin to revive him. The Sheik looked at me, and I knew my cousin was dying. I went immediately to Emergency, but the doctor was preoccupied. My cousin died twenty minutes after. Two and a half hours after Sheik Moen ul-Hack and I went to the ICU, there was never a doctor who went to the ICU to see my cousin. He died without seeing a doctor in the ICU. Let me state in pellucid terms, on February 23 when Sheik ul-Hack and I were at the Woodlands Hospital there was only one doctor manning that entire hospital, even though it has an ICU section with patients. After Dr. Khan transferred my cousin to the ICU, there was no doctor in the ICU to assess my cousin’s situation. After his death, it was time to remove the body. The Sheik looked agitated because of some bureaucratic procedure which he said he

Frederick Kissoon had no experience with and suggested I deal with it. I was told I had to clear the bill before the parlour could remove the body. Time was going and the bill could not be tabulated. I told the hospital that the bill will not be a problem. They agreed and said that the hospital knows the Sheik well. The Sheik then summoned the parlour. Life is hard. I have to pay a huge bill at a hospital that failed to get a doctor to see my cousin whose condition was rapidly deteriorating in the ICU. I will pay the bill but I am suing Woodland’s and I will do so even if I have to creep to the courts to testify. I have a witness who is an eminent Guyanese. I am writing to the Medical Council. I ask readers which hospital in the world would have only one doctor on duty?

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Tenders submitted for GWI Iwokrama Chairman resigns amidst sex scandal Shelterbelt construction supplies - had given Jagdeo doctorate in 2012 Chairman of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, who gave former President Bharrat Jagdeo a doctorate in 2012, yesterday resigned as head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in a sex scandal. The high profile Indian climate scientist was installed as the new Chairman of the Board for the Iwokrama in November 26, 2012. He is being accused of sexual harassment by a female employee at his research institute in Delhi. The organisation will now be led by acting chair Ismail El Gizouli until the election for a new chair which had already been scheduled for October. “The actions taken today will ensure that the IPCC’s mission to assess climate change continues without interruption,” said Achim Steiner, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, which is a sponsor of the IPCC, said a report in the theguardian.com. Pachauri, 74, is accused of sexually harassing a 29-yearold female researcher shortly after she joined The Energy and Resources Institute. Lawyers for the woman, who cannot be named, said the harassment by Pachauri included unwanted emails, text messages and WhatsApp messages. Pachauri, one of the UN’s top climate change officials, has denied the charges and his spokesman said: “[He] is committed to provide all assistance and cooperation to the authorities in their ongoing investigations.” His lawyers claimed in the court documents that his emails, mobile phone and WhatsApp messages were hacked and that criminals accessed his computer and phone to send the messages in an attempt to malign him. In his letter of resignation to the UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon, he said: “The IPCC needs strong leadership and dedication of time and full attention by the chair in the immediate future, which under the current circumstances I am unable to provide.” Pachauri thanked the thousands of scientists who had worked for free on the IPCC’s reports and made an “unmatched contribution to global society.” He added: “I will continue to [work on climate change] assiduously throughout my life in whatever capacity I work. For me the protection of planet Earth, the survival of all species and sustainability of our ecosystems is more than

Bharrat Jagdeo was granted a doctorate by Dr. Rajendra Pachauri (left) in February 2012. my mission, it is my religion.” Climate scientist Professor Iqbal Hasnain, at Jawaharlal Nehru University told The Hindu newspaper: “I am outraged on the news that R.K. Pachauri is suspected to be involved in a sexual harassment case with a Teri employee.” He said Pachauri should step down from both the IPCC and Teri “to safeguard the interest of global climate science”. Bob Ward, policy director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change at the London School of Economics, said: “It is understandable that Dr Pachauri has resigned from his post while he is facing allegations against him in India.” Ward said: “There will no doubt be some climate change ‘sceptics’ who seek to use Dr Pachauri’s resignation as an opportunity to attack the IPCC [but its most recent report] is the most comprehensive and authoritative assessment of the causes and potential consequences of climate change that we have ever had, and that remains true with or without Dr Pachauri as chair.” Pachauri had chaired the IPCC since 2002, during which time it has taken the lead in the scientific assessment of the causes and risks of climate change. Its reports are written and reviewed by thousands of scientists and approved by the IPCC’s 195 member nations. The most recent report concluded that climate change is set to inflict “severe, widespread, and irreversible impacts” on people and the natural world unless carbon emissions are cut sharply and rapidly. The IPCC was jointly awarded the Nobel peace prize with former US vice-president Al Gore in 2007 for their part in driving international action against climate change.

Pachauri was reelected unopposed by the 195 member nations of the IPCC in 2008 but the election in October will see a number of scientists standing as candidates. Prof Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, from Belgium, and Prof Thomas Stocker, from Switzerland, have both declared their candidacy. It is also understood that Prof Chris Field, from the US, will run. In February 2012, Jagdeo received an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from Dr. Pachauri, who is also Chancellor of TERI University of India. Iwokrama was established in 1996 and dedicated as a place for research “to develop, demonstrate, and make available to Guyana and the international community systems, methods and techniques for the sustainable management and utilisation of the multiple resources of the Tropical Forest and the conservation of biological diversity”. The Iwokrama rainforest is located in the geographical heart of Guyana. It comprises 371,000 hectares of forest (1.6% of Guyana’s landmass and 2% of Guyana forests).

Under the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) bids were tendered for the supply of materials, labour and equipment for the construction of a new building, Shelterbelt Compound, Georgetown. The bids were opened yesterday by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), Ministry of Finance, Main Street.

Meanwhile, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) received bids for the procurement of stationery and printer ink for the entity. The bid was divided into two lots.

The Ministry of Agriculture received bids for the procurement of a smart board and projector.

Within the Health Sector, price proposals were opened for the selection of consultants – Audit services for the period 2010 for Global Fund HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria programme.

Page 12

Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Neesa Gopaul murder trial…

Mother told investigators teen became wayward before her death By Rehanna Ramsay Superintendent of Police, Hugh Jessemy yesterday recalled statements made by murder accused Bibi Sharima Gopaul, in which she said that her daughter Neesa Gopaul had become a wayward teenager, some time before her death. Jessemy took the stand in the murder trial for which Gopaul and her former lover Jarvis Barry Small are accused of the murder of the 16-yearold Queen’s College student. The teen was found at a location along the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway tucked inside a suitcase which was partially submerged in a creek with the use of a pair of weightlifting dumbbells. Y e s t e r d a y , Superintendent Jessemy related to the court that he was stationed at the Criminal Investigation Department, (CID) of the Ruimveldt Police Station in October of 2010 when he assisted a party of officers with the investigations. He recalled that on October 3, 2010 he went with the officers, along with Mohamed Kayum and Bibi Sharima Gopaul, to the Lyken

- police witness

MURDERED: Neesa Gopaul

Bibi Sharima Gopaul

Jarvis Barry Small

Funeral Home. Jessemy recalled that the relatives had identified the teen’s body by the clothes she was wearing – “a black tights and a multiflowered dress.” He noted too that most of the victim’s head was missing. Jessemy told the court that on October 4, 2010, he accompanied ranks of the Crime Scene Investigation, (CSI) unit to the Lot 13 Leonora Public Road residence of the number two accused. He recalled that the ranks conducted a search on the premises, during which he

saw a bag containing a kitchen knife in addition to male and female clothing on a table in the upper section of the house. The witness said that on October 6, 2010, he applied to the court for an extension of time for the two accused persons to be kept in police custody. The witness said that after the extension was granted, he returned to Ruimveldt Police Station where he contacted Nazar Mohamed Okeeland and Bharrat Narine Samaroo. Jessemy said that he

showed the two men a pair of dumbbells and they told him “something”. As a result of what the men told him, Jessemy said that he instructed them to take the dumbbells to his office; Small was present at his office. Jessemy said that he subsequently held separate confrontations between Small and the two men during which the accused denied ownership of the exercise equipment. The witness said that he thereafter made a record of the conversation. In response to questions to Prosecutor Diana Kaulesar,

the witness noted that the dumbbells were kept in a cupboard at the station; the cupboard had a padlock and the keys were lodged with the station sergeant. He recalled that the dumbbells were painted black, red and white. Jessemy went on to tell the court that he subsequently obtained an ordinary statement from the number two accused Bibi Sharima Gopaul. The officer explained that he did not caution the woman, because he thought he had no evidence against her. The witness was thereafter showed a document which he recognized to be the statement which he procured from Gopaul. He read the document aloud to the court. Gopaul paid keen attention as her statement was read aloud. Small was seen smiling in the direction of the courtroom audience. He fidgeted as he sat in the prisoner’s dock. The document, which the detective read aloud, was attributed to Gopual as a statement which she gave to the police with regards to the

matter. The document outlined that the woman had been married in 1989 and that she, had two children, Neesa and Miriam Gopaul, with her husband. The couple had lived at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, but after the birth of their daughter Neesa, the family moved to Leonora. However after several years of marriage, Gopaul related that her husband began suffering from high cholesterol and diabetes. He eventually passed on October 20, 2009. Before her father passed, the woman said Neesa had become wayward. Gopaul noted that the teenager had started sleeping out and leaving the home without permission. She was not listening to her father either. She said that the teenager was at the time a Form Two student of Queen’s College. Gopaul recalled that on September 23, she and her two daughters were at home; they had been in the bedroom of the house watching Continued on page 24

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 21

Alliance offers historic opportunity to achieve national unity – Dr. David Pollard By Kiana Wilburg Executive Members of the Burnham Foundation on Friday, last, concluded a memorial symposium for the late Elvin McDavid, who served as Minister of Information and Culture from 1971 to 1972. The event was observed on the 92nd birth anniversary of the late President Forbes Burnham at the auditorium of Critchlow Labour College. The seminar was chaired by GECOM Commissioner, Vincent Alexander. Ms. Nicole Cole, Vice Chairman of the Burnham Foundation, delivered a tribute to Mc David, while Retd. Brigadier David Granger paid respect on behalf of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). His eulogy was read by Justice Brassington Reynolds to the McDavid family. The occasion provided food for thought, not only on the life of the political activist, but also on attempts at national unity in Guyana. On the latter topic, the political dissertation was deepened when physicist, Dr. David Pollard delivered a presentation which reflected on the number of attempts at partnerships between the

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the People’s National Congress (PNC). Dr. Pollard examined at length, the three periods when the attempts were made and some of the factors that might have led to their failure. Upon this premise, he then turned his attention to the fourth and what seems to be a most serious endeavour at a genuine alliance, between A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC). The presenter spoke about the opportunities the current partnership holds, which were in keeping with the theme of the symposium; “Burnham and National Unity Government.” He reiterated that there have been three failed attempts to a government of national unity, but in his opinion, the APNU-AFC arrangement seems to have overcome certain hurdles which led to the breakdown of talks of alliance in the past. Dr. Pollard also spoke about the importance of ensuring national unity given Guyana’s social, economic and political make-up, and stressed that the leaders of such a government should also strive to ensure that the

Dr. David Pollard

The late Elvin McDavid

ideals of national unity are not only maintained to remove oppressors, but to also maintain a certain environment that is imperative to ensuring the nation’s overall well-being. He then placed the spotlight on several sections of the Cummingsburg Accord which was signed between AFC Leader, Khemraj Ramjattan and Opposition Leader, David Granger. In doing so, he said that the parties involved were able to quickly discuss and get over the matter of allocation of posts and the dispensation of powers in that document. Dr.

Pollard said that it is important to note that such a matter was a stumbling block to alliance talks of the past. In giving more direct comments on the APNU-AFC partnership, Dr. Pollard said he would do so from two perspectives. He said that this effort at national unity reminds one of the efforts by Burnham in pursuing the same and both parties have to be cognizant of the issues that arose at the time and what served to tarnish the talks which included the haggling of the dispensation of power in the previous mergers.

Man falls off shed, dies hours later A 54-year-old man was pronounced dead at the West Demerara Regional Hospital around 23:30hrs on Friday, hours after he fell from a shed, which is reportedly nine feet high, and hit his head. The dead man has been identified as Bisnauth Singh, a brush cutter operator attached to the said hospital. He lived at Best Foreshore, West Coast Demerara (WCD), in the vicinity of the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour. According to information received, Singh was standing on a shed, painting a structure when he slipped and fell to

the concreted area below. This happened around 18:00 hrs on Friday. Chetram Singh, the dead man’s son explained that when his father fell off the shed, they rushed him to the hospital where they were told that everything was okay with him. “The doctor requested an X-ray, but when we went the workers in that department refused to do it. They said that they only have small films and they didn’t want to do it. I had to beg them to print the result on the small film. When I took it to the doctor, he said he ain’t see anything

wrong with my father and they stitched his head and then send him away,” Singh explained. He added that his father was in tears when he left the hospital. “He didn’t want to go home. The pain was too much, but the doctor didn’t want to admit him, so we didn’t have a choice.” Singh stated that when he took his father home, he continued crying out for pain. “Around 11’o clock (23:00hrs) he fainted and when we took him back to the hospital, the doctor pronounced him dead,” the

dead man’s son recounted. Family members are blaming the hospital for Bisnauth Singh’s demise. “If they had printed his result on the regular film, then maybe the doctor would have been more accurate with his judgment.” “They didn’t even test my father pressure, they just stitched his head, give him pain killers and send him away, and my father was working for that place for 20 years,” a devastated Singh stated. Bisnauth Singh leaves to mourn his three children and siblings.

The physicist shared the view that the upcoming elections campaign period will provide AFC Vice Chairman, Moses Nagamootoo and Granger with the much needed opportunities to work together and iron out any concerns, if any exist at all. For the younger voting generation, he sought to deliver the message that the APNU-AFC alliance provides “a historic opportunity to achieve national unity out of the box...” He said that this time, most stakeholders can assist in helping to put it together and truly install a national party. “If the two parties work together to build real consensus, we can have a government that will get Guyana in a position where its true potential can really be harnessed for the good of all,” he added. At the end of his presentation, the Chairperson entertained two or three comments on the symposium from members of the audience. But before doing this, Alexander commented that the parties in the past which engaged in alliance or coalition talks, perhaps failed to be successful because, as they were engaged in a struggle for national unity, they were also in a struggle against each other for power. The GECOM Commissioner said that it is fundamentally different this time, because APNU and the AFC have a broader vision in mind, and have already overcome that hurdle. He concluded that it is a critical difference to be noted. Taking the floor were just a few others, one of whom was APNU’s Shadow Minster of Finance, Carl Greenidge who thanked those who were

part of the symposium for their insightful presentations into the life of McDavid. He too agreed that the APNU-AFC arrangement has an interesting series of antecedents, but nevertheless sought to emphasize that the conditions surrounding the recent partnership are rather different than those of the past. On the life of McDavid, presenters said that the political activist shared a close relationship with Burnham. After the passing of the late President, it came as no surprise that Mc David went on to establish the FBF which is a registered nongovernmental organization to commemorate the life of Burnham, and keep his legacy alive. The former Culture Minister was also described as a “complex character” who gained the interest of Burnham in the 1960’s when he was a young student pursuing studies in London. It was noted that his activism as a ‘Burnhamite’ was birthed during that period. On completion of his studies in Political Science, McDavid had returned home and almost immediately, embarked on a political career which saw him assuming many portfolios, all of which were political. He was also responsible for the establishment of the now obsolete Guyana National Service (GNS). McDavid who passed away last year, was saluted by those who gathered for his foresight and fortitude in founding the Burnham Foundation, and there were pledges to keep his legacy, the foundation, alive and also to uphold its founding principles.

Page 22

Kaieteur News

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CAR RENTAL

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Building for sale & removal dimensions 105ftX50ft – St Anne’s Anglican Church Agricola – Call: 233-0077 to arrange viewing. Public Road Grove corner property $25M Negotiable Call: 613-5645 LAND FOR SALE Land @ William Street Kitty; size: 38FT wide by 116FT length, reasonable price – Tel: 664-0829 One residential land at Herstellling Plot ‘B’ E.B.D $4.5M Tel: 661-0618; 6013469; 600-1062

Toyota Vigo smart cab for sale - $3.3M negotiable – Call: 6684553 One Toyota 212 Carina PSS Series & one Toyota Premio, PPP, Immaculate Condition (Owner migrating country) – Tel:618-2576; 678-0109

VACANCY Work from home: Earn $5,000 to $20,000 daily, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday - Call: 233-6517/ 638-0595 or www.jobfairworldwide.com One Female house keeper, between ages 30-45yrs – Contact: 225-8205 RA Soda Factory: Bond Clerk, Accountant, Drivers – Call:330-2399, 330-2772, 6235920 One male sales clerk between 20-30yrs old Contact: 225-8205 Vacancy for cashier/CSR apply with written application & passport size picture to survival – 173 Sheriff Street – Tel: 2275286/9 FOR SALE/RENTAL American pool table – Tel: 277-0578

LAND FOR SALE Measuring 90’X165’ facing Atlantic Ocean, approximately half mile from Sheriff Street on High Way. Contact Shiv: 600-6681 Land @ William Street Kitty; Size: 79FT wide by 116FT length, price $60M Negotiable - Tel: 664-0829 VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Mitsubishi Canter GNN 722, good working condition – Tel:228-5655; 628-1756 Toyota Mark 11 GX90- $1.1M, Ford F150 - $1.2M, good condition – Call: 610-6066 Honda Civic PLL remote start alarm etc - $560,000 negotiable – Tel: 615-7473

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

Page 23

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

Elderly and Home Alone = Certain Death DEAR EDITOR, With activated lacrimal ducts I gazed steadfastly into the faces of the seven “home alone victims”, at the selfsame time battling swirling thoughts hovering around the abysmal depth to which my once beloved country has sunk. Call it sennicide, geronticide, senilicide, eldercide, whichever side one prefers to view it from, this newbreed of crime cries out for urgent attention to prevent its spread. Whatever cases are reported in print media, it does not depict the real scenario of the entire problem. Homicide generates intense emotional reaction in the popular press, particularly when it involves elderly individuals. Violence is a universal scourge that tears at the fabric of communities and threatens the life, health and happiness of us all. Putting it bluntly, this is a darn serious situation affecting the whole society and need social and Police actions in order for the elderly to live fear-free. The trend of an aging population, along with its accompanying issues has been witnessed

throughout the entire world, being a phenomenon that is universal and irreversible. Currently, in the Guyanese society the state of aging has now been intermingled with phasing causing the elderly to become far too easy targets for criminals. Whether living alone or going about daily lives the elderly are viewed as helpless and easy victims, a shameful way for them to have to live their lives. Are we then to believe that for the elderly to be safe they must barricade themselves behind barred, burglar-proof locked doors, with security windows, or become an instant victim just by going out to the grocery store or even walking in their own yard or neighborhood? Why suddenly have they become the targets for grievous hurt, robbery, murder and even sexual assault? Although, elders consider their home the secure place, this is the place where a large number of the murders occur. Perhaps as I write, there are many elderly women who are afraid of going to bed, merely due to the underlying

fear that they may be the next victim. Action to relieve the plight of the elderly(at least those that are still alive) is long overdue. The deceased have all paid their debt to society and sadly in their declining years have become the reapers of the ignominy of a truly hostile state of the nation. We cannot adopt a laissez-faire attitude, nor must we allow the continuance of this sad state of affairs. Nevertheless, in so doing, it serves to remind us that safety and security don’t just happen, but are the result of collective consensus and public investment. Violence proliferates in the absence of displayed democracy, lack of respect for individual and collective human rights and good governance. The government of Guyana and by extension, the judicial system, owes the elderly– the most vulnerable citizens in any society – a life free from violence and fear. In order to ensure this, they must be tireless in their efforts not only to attain a cessation of the violenceand justicebut execute swift and indelibly

harsh prison terms or even death by hanging to the accused. With the specter of election or defection looming on the horizon, an opportunity has arisen for the issue to be brought to the forefront. The need to keep the elderly safe with “ Get tough on Crime” Quadruple the Time” or Let the killers die Hang them High” is totally supported by both statistical evidence and ratio of unsolved murders. In view of the latter – mentioned dismal success instead of tackling crime the Police need to strengthen its policies for ¯preventing crime, and instead generate corresponding funds towards building healthier and safer communities. On one hand while solitary living can be great fun, it does have its drawback. The fact should not be overlooked that in some instances the children of the deceased had offered the parent residence in their home, almost as if they had a foreboding of danger. Yvonne Sam

The impact of the dutty wine parade DEAR EDITOR, I wish to thank the Alberttown Police Station for heeding my desperate plea on Monday night and turning up in my Queenstown neighbourhood to shut down the Banks DIH post-Mash noise. This was after 9pm. It took the police an hour to get there but they did and for that I am very grateful. I intended to check whether there is any law that allows a commercial entity to plop itself down in a residential neighbourhood and emit from 10 in the morning and onwards a thumping, raucous racket – I think it’s called music – until whenever it decides to turn it off. But is this about legality or about being good citizens? And since I am on the subject of the annual dutty wine that serves to mark our Republican status, I am stating here that I will vote for whichever party is willing to change this annual parade and by doing so change our nation. We are bent on copying Trinidad and Brazil. Since we are bereft of creativity and cannot make anything of

our own, I move that we copy the more decent nations and have a Republic Day parade that we can all be proud of. It is a day to parade our best and finest. I want to see our army and police in dress uniform marching in perfect order down our streets before bands that have rehearsed and are in perfect tune and harmony. Our fire service, drug enforcement unit, our schools and clubs, our Girl Guides and Boy Scouts, our judo and shakti masters and students, and our commercial sector who will build and display aesthetically pleasing floats to a theme and can compete for prizes – these should constitute our Republic Day parade. Note that I am not asking for better education or economic systems, or a cleanup of corruption. Whichever of the two presidential candidates has the cojones to institute a decent Republic Day celebration will, in that one decisive move, turn this country around. He will be stating that ours is a proud, law abiding nation where the attributes of decency, neighbourliness,

morality, and all around pleasantness like good manners and courtesy are the ones we encourage and reward. These are the characteristics on which progressive nations are built. I say all this and know already that neither candidate has what it takes because, perhaps, they are cowardly or they believe the dutty wine is really good stuff. What we have and will continue to have for a long, long time is leadership that will now send around a cleanup crew to pick up the droppings of litter that the ‘dutty winers’ have left behind. I usually flee my home on dutty wine day. This year I stayed. Next year I will flee again unless the incoming president changes the nature of our Republic Day parade. Given that this will not happen, would he at least change the parade route? The citizens of Queenstown and Kitty have more than done their duty for country and the annual dutty wine should now be inflicted on another neighbourhood. Ryhaan Shah

Contract-splitting...

From page 4 contracts have had significant time and costs overruns but no attempt was ever made to audit them to identify the causes and make recommendations to remedy the underlying problems. Ganesh in his presentation dodged these problems although he is fully aware of the political dictates involve in the selection of contractors and the award of contracts to them as well as the procedures which should be followed in the process as he veers his professionalism to plug the dubious advantages of awarding projects to specialist contractors as against general contractors. Ganesh, no doubt, is aware that before any contractor is allowed to build anything he should be prequalified. Pre-qualification is based on a number of factors including professional competence particularly with respect to a contractor’s workforce and equipment, relevance experience and financial capability. After an award, the contractor is required to prepare a work programme for the government and the project supervisor’s approval. The supervisor’s duty is to ensure compliance with the work programme as well as execution of the contract in accordance with the approved drawings and specifications. If these requirements were met and those employed had performed their duties with the desired competence with respect to the two projects mentioned above herein, there is no reason to believe that the employment of specialist contractors would have been the preferred method for contract execution. Further, the contractors should have been bonded to enable the Govt. to recover its costs should the contractors fail to perform in accordance with the terms and condition of their contracts. In case of default, the Govt’s could terminate the work of tardy contractors and have the

Bonding Agency complete their work. Finally, except for very large projects few of them are split-up into specialized contracts to achieve the objectives outlined by Ganesh, for several reasons. Experience has shown that it is extremely difficult for a supervisor to manage the work of several small contractors on a project particularly when their work overlap or is done sequentially and when completion time is of the essence. Often a contractor cannot start his work until another has finished his activity and because of this overlapping of contract works coordination becomes difficult with conflicts arising which could easily de-rail completion of a project on time and within cost. A project where many items of work crisscross each other and cannot be easily separated into distinct parts it is usually awarded to one general contractor who has the sole responsibility to complete the various items of work based on his means and methods and as per his contract. Large projects such as hydropower are often splitup because their varied components (dam, power plant, transmission lines, access road) could be separated into distinct large contracts with little or no overlapping of activities. Such projects however, require Project Management Teams for coordination, inspection and execution. Splitting-up projects whose costs are within the range of those being executed by the government and awarding them to specialist contractors has shown to be more costly to complete than if they were undertaken by prime contractors with the support of experienced subcontractors. There is no reason to believe that the works will be done any quicker and the projects are likely to be nightmares to supervise. Charles Sohan

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Auditions for ‘Julius Caesar’ Mother told investigators teen became wayward... From page 12 Assistant Superintendent with his client in the presence contained in his statements. set for NCC tomorrow television. The accused of Police, (ASP) Joel David of police officers, but he refused The attorney then asked the

Aimed at attracting the interest of students hoping to write Literature at the level of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), GEMS Theatre Productions is gearing to facilitate a presentation of William Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’. And according to a statement issued by owner of the theatrical company, Gem Madhoo-Nascimento, in addition to students, actors and potential actors are invited to attend auditions for the play at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) tomorrow (Thursday 26 February, 2015). Auditions are slated to commence at 17:00 hours. “This is an open reading and interested persons with a flair for Shakespearean language and knowledge of his works are all welcome to audition,” said Madhoo-Nascimento in her statement. Veteran stage performer, Derek Gomes is slated to direct the production which will be staged in April. According to Madhoo-Nascimento, since ‘Julius Caesar’ is being taught in many schools as part of the Literature curriculum, it is expected that the staging of the play will help students to have a better understanding of Shakespeare’s work. The play will be staged at the National Cultural Centre and the various schools will be invited to attend, said MadhooNascimento as she disclosed plans for the play to be taken to various parts of the country and performed in schools.

related that she and her daughters were watching a programme on Channel 72, when she fell asleep. The woman said that she awoke early the next day and realized that her teenage daughter was not in the house. She said that she searched the house and even in the yard, but she could not find her daughter. She subsequently lodged a missing person’s report at the Leonora Police Station. The accused said that on October 3, 2010, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP) Terrance Paul of the said Police Station contacted her and told her that her daughter had been found. The woman said that she later identified a body to be her daughter Neesa, based on the clothes she was wearing. Gopaul related that she was also shown a black bag, a sheet and a black dress. The woman noted that the sheet might have belonged to her, but she was not familiar with the other two items.

also testified before the court yesterday. He recalled that he had joined ASP Caesar at the Ruimveldt Station on October 6, 2010, while he was conducting an interview with Jarvis Small. The witness told the court that the accused had admitted to ownership of the dumbbells after he was cautioned in relation to the allegation of murder. He related that Small told investigating ranks that he did not murder Neesa Gopaul but he knew who did. He said that Small further stated that what he had to say would take the investigation in a different direction and that Gopaul would be charged with accessory. The witness noted however that the accused promised to release the information in the presence of his Lawyer, Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos. The witness related that the accused was given a cellular phone to contact his lawyer but he was unsuccessful in his attempts to do so. David said that on October 7, 2010, Mr. De Santos went to the Ruimveldt Police Station. The lawyer met

to be a part of the conversation at the station after Small told him that he wanted to relate his story as it related to the death of Neesa Gopaul. The witness quoted Mr. De Santos as saying “I have given you 45 years of experience and advice. I will not sit in any conversation between you and the police…You see where you are and where your wife is?” David said that De Santos then left the station, but his words were recorded in the diary by Detective Caesar. Asked what else he did in relation to the matter, the witness told the court that he took statements from the persons who were said to have fabricated the dumbbells, and witnessed a confrontation between the two accused persons. Under cross examination by defence counsel, Lyndon Amsterdam, the witness later agreed that he never gave evidence about obtaining statements from anyone with regards to the dumbbells or witnessing the confrontation between the two accused persons. David also admitted that the pieces of evidence are not

witness whether he had considered those events which were not recorded in his statement as important. “Yes sir,” David replied, noting that in 2010 he had been a detective in the Guyana Police Force for about 22 years. “Do you consider yourself to be an experienced policeman?” the lawyer asked. “Every day you learn something new,” the witness responded as the attorney questioned further about his statement. Based on the questioning of the defence, David told the court he wrote his statement about four to five days after he witnessed the events. Asked how he was able to write a statement after that time, the officer said that he had been taking “mental notes.” Under cross examination by Attorney George Thomas, the witness also admitted he had no information with respect to the relationship between the two accused persons or whether Small had keys to the woman’s home. He also admitted that Gopaul never confessed to killing anyone. The trial continues today.

Only legitimate objections will get... (From page 2) GECOM executives said that the officers, some of whom have served in that capacity before, are knowledgeable of the issues on the ground, but

will receive the necessary guidance and support from the agency to efficiently function and carry out the Commission’s mandate. Lowenfield noted that at

UG Unions advocate... (From page 13) basis of their research, teaching, public service and administrative profiles. “All of these difficulties arise from the decision on the part of the Administration to pay who they believe had turned out to work,” said Dr Ifill. This publication understands that a number of persons who were openly engaged in full strike action were paid their full salaries. But according to the UGSSA President, the Unions are focused on advocating for “no loss of pay” for workers. This, she noted, is based on the fact that both academic and support staff are prepared to fulfil all of their obligations. “There is a ton of work waiting for all of us...lecturers.

We will have to teach those weeks that were missed; the support staff they will have all the backlog of inputting grades and all kind of materials for the students. Everybody will be on an accelerated pace when we get back and we will have to make up for work we would not have done,” Dr Ifill asserted. Moreover, she is convinced that once striking workers are able to outline to the Administration how they will make up for the work not done “then clearly we will have to be paid. I rather suspect that the University’s administration is not opposed to paying us our salaries once we work out an arrangement to fulfil all our obligations to the University and to the students.”

the end of the hearings period, GECOM will be adding new electors and removing those names objected to, if those objections are upheld. The agency is thus transitioning between registration officers in the field as it relates to location of polling stations and polling places and understanding geography as to time and distance appreciation required, so they have total knowledge of their districts. The Returning Officers’ swearing in is part of the smoothing process between the list to be prepared and arriving at polling stations to ensure that all electors in the various divisions are catered to. The Commission’s Chairman Dr. Steve Surujbally aired his expectations to the officers and warned that they must carry out their functions to such a degree that they leave no space “for anyone to default” the agency. On another matter, GECOM expects that the agency will have the number of staffers needed come voting day. The CEO had noted previously that they were still to fill all the agency’s vacancies. He said however, that the reservoir of staffers for polling day is almost filled. There have been shortfalls in District four of about 1200 staffers, Region six’s Upper Corentyne area, and about 30 persons in Region one are still to be trained. The agency is working to have all these person trained by early April.

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

J’can-born man and wife get 15 years in US prison KINGSTON, Jamaica – A Jamaican-born man and his wife, who operated a tax preparation business in Texas, have been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison on charges of tax fraud. According to The Dallas Morning News, Jacqueline and Gladstone Morrison were sentenced Friday in Fort Worth by US District Judge John McBryde. The sentence of 187 months, although steep for a tax preparation fraud case, was below the sentencing guidelines in the case that ranged from 262 months to 327 months, the report added. The couple, who operated Jacqueline Morrison & Associates on North Collins in Arlington and on James Street in Fort Worth, were also ordered to pay nearly US$18 million in restitution. Following their marriage in 2004, the Morrisons

Jacqueline and Gladstone Morrison opened the business in 2005 and continued successfully until a federal search warrant shut it down in 2010.

They were charged with 17 counts of tax evasion and fraud, and were convicted at trial last October.

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Islamic State in Syria abducts at least 150 Christians (Reuters) - Islamic State militants have abducted at least 150 people from Assyrian Christian villages in northeastern Syria they had raided, Christian Syrian activists said on Tuesday. A Syrian Christian group representing several NGO’s inside and outside the country said it had verified at least 150 people missing, including women and elderly, who had been kidnapped by the militants. “We have verified at least 150 people who have been adducted from sources on the ground,” Bassam Ishak, President of the Syriac National Council of Syria, whose family itself is from Hasaka, told Reuters from Amman. Earlier the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 90 were abducted when the militants carried out dawn raids on rural villages inhabited by the ancient Christian minority west of Hasaka, a city mainly held by the Kurds.

Syrian Kurdish militia launched two offensives against the militants in northeast Syria on Sunday, helped by U.S.-led air strikes and Iraqi peshmerga. This part of Syria borders territory controlled by Islamic State in Iraq, where it committed atrocities last year against the Yazidi religious minority. Islamic State did not confirm the kidnappings. Supporters posted photos online of the group’s fighters in camouflage attire looking at maps and firing machine guns. The website said the photos were from Tel Tamr, a town near where the Observatory said the abductions occurred. Many Assyrian Christians have emigrated in the nearly four-year-long conflict in which more than 200,000 have people have been killed. Before the arrival of Kurds and Arab nomadic tribes at the end of the 19th century, Christians formed the majority in Syria’s Jazeera area, which includes

Hasaka. Sunday’s offensive by Kurdish YPG militia reached within five km (3 miles) of Tel Hamis, an Islamic State-controlled town southeast of Qamishli, the Observatory said. At least 14 IS fighters died in the offensive, in which Assyrians fought alongside Kurds, it added. Eight civilians were also killed in heavy shelling by the Kurdish side, which seized several Arab villages from Islamic State control. Last year, Islamic State fighters abducted several Assyrians in retaliation for some of them fighting alongside the YPG. Most were released after long negotiations. RELIEVING PRESSURE Military experts said militants were trying to open a new front to relieve pressure on Islamic State after several losses since being driven from the Syrian town of Kobani near the border with Turkey.

St Lucia rescue teams recover one body as search continues for missing brother CASTRIES, St. Lucia, Tuesday February 24, 2015, CMC – Rescue teams have recovered the body of one of tw o b r o t h e r s w h o w e r e swept away by strong waves off the coast of La Toc on the outskirts of the capital on Monday. Police said that the body of Mervin Darcie, 31, had been recovered and the

search is continuing for his 3 0 - y e a r- o l d b r o t h e r, Kervin. A third person, Kendel Charles, identified as a cousin of the brothers, was rescued on Monday, a public holiday here, as the island celebrated its 36th anniversary of political independence from Britain.. Reports posted on the so-

cial media, including Facebook, said that the three men were sitting on the shore when a strong wave took them out to sea. The incident comes one day aft e r f o u r - y e a r - o l d Torrel Joshua Elibox, of Augier, south of here, has been reported missing at sea since Sunday.

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Cell Phone Shack honours... CGI and GCB congratulate (From page 29) gift meant a lot to the effective promotion of the tournament and by extension, the sport. The K&S Director further said that this year’s tournament promises to be exciting when the action kicks off on Friday March 20 up to the final game scheduled for the National Stadium Providence on Sunday April 5. Sixteen teams will vie for the top spot including Alpha United, Pele, Western Ti-

gers, Rhythm Squad, GDF, GFC, Victoria Kings, Mahaica Determinators, New Amsterdam United, Slingerz FC, Den Amstel FC, Grove Hi Tec, Agricola Red Triangle, Winners’ Connection, Hi Stars and Bartica Beacon. Matches would be played at several venues around Georgetown as well as in the rural areas such as DCC, where the tournament will be o f f i c i a l l y l a u n c h e d with a march past, M a c k e n zie Sports Club Ground, Uitvlugt and Leonora

with the grand finals taking place at the National Stadium, Providence on Sunday April 5. The winning team will cart off two million dollars with the runners up winning half that amount. The third and fourth place prizes are five hundred thousand and two hundred and fifty thousand dollars respectively. There will also be trophies which will be presented for individual and team performances.

CB General Contracting... (From page 29) exchanged hands. Mr. Atwell was truly delighted by the show of support and expressed such sentiments to his benefactors. “Adequate funding is

very important to my advancement but there are times when I am forced to prepare devoid of proper support,” Atwell revealed. He said that on numerous occasions he felt defeated and wanted to quit. “It is the input

of generous persons like you guys that have kept me hoping and persevering,” Atwell exhorted. He is expected to leave Guyana shortly for his base in Dominica where he resumes training.

Wednesday February 25, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You may not be your usual cheery self today, Aries. Gloom may have come over you. You may doubt everything that happens in your life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Does a love partner appear to be moody today, Libra? One moment your friend may be enthusiastic and optimistic about the future, and the next moment overcome with gloom.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Happy memories of a beloved grandparent may float to the surface today, Taurus, and you may wonder why.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Are you working two jobs, Scorpio? Today one could demand a lot of you, probably at the expense of the other.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A meeting may take place today that you don't want to attend, Gemini. It could be long and boring, but you should still make the effort to listen.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your natural urge to innovate may seem to have vanished today, Sagittarius. You may not feel like doing anything outside of routine tasks that you can do automatically.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) A project could be successfully completed today, Cancer. Discussions may already be taking place about the next one, but you aren't inclined to think about that, at least not right away.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) You may want to clean out the shelves in your kitchen, add some new knickknacks, or rearrange your books into specific classifications.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) If you're involved in the study of a particular subject, Leo, today you might want to bury yourself in your books and learn as much as you can. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) . This isn't the day to make investments, Virgo. You may read in the paper or online about some hot new stocks, but be very careful. If you're interested, consult a professional before investing money.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Are you expecting an important communication, perhaps business related, Aquarius? If it comes today, it will probably come late. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A check you've been expecting to receive by mail will probably be delayed, Pisces. It's nothing to worry about. Chances are it got hung up at the post office and will arrive soon. Don't waste your time worrying needlessly.

Jaguars on a historic win against defending champs

Cricket Guyana Inc. and the Guyana Cricket Board have congratulated the Guyana Jaguars on their historic, second highest run chase that saw the Jaguars defeating Barbados by four wickets on Monday last. Following is a release from the entities: Cricket Guy Inc. (CGI) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) wish to record its warmest felicitations and congratulations to the entire team for such a great victory. This win displayed the sort of character that our team is capable of since they were

playing catch up with Barbados throughout the match until the fourth day. Rain almost robbed us of completing this revenge victory against our arch rivals, Barbados, but the Jaguars held their nerves to score at nearly three and a half runs per over in this innings to record the highest run rate for the match. Not to be forgotten is the management team who obviously handled our team well and truly motivated to complete this crucial seventh round win which was almost a final. Congrats to all

and sundry on a job well done! It should be noted that the Jaguars extended their lead in the tournament now with 107 points with six victories, a clear 25 points ahead of second placed Barbados on 82 points. Cricket Guy Inc (CGI) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) wish to also congratulate our young West Indies Test Opener, Kraigg Braithwaite for recording two centuries in this match. It was indeed a remarkable achievement.

Suarez scores twice as Barca win at Man City Luis Suarez marked his first return to England since a £75m summer move to Barcelona with two goals that leave Manchester City on the brink of a Champions League exit. The former Liverpool striker demonstrated the quality the Premier League has been missing - and which defenders have been spared - with two strikes (16’, 30’) in the opening half-hour to put Barcelona in command of this last-16 first-leg tie. City improved after the break and were rewarded with Sergio Aguero’s (69’) strike but their growing momentum was halted when Gael Clichy was sent off for a second yellow card. And even though they still face a mountainous task at the Nou Camp in the second leg on 18 March - they need to score at least twice to have a chance of progressing - they were spared an even tougher job after keeper Joe Hart saved Lionel Messi’s penalty from virtually the final kick of the game. Uruguay international Suarez preyed on the uncertainty of City captain Vincent Kompany throughout and with Messi the orchestrator, Luis Enrique’s side tormented the Premier League champions in the first half. Suarez ended this summer’s World Cup in Brazil in disgrace after biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini but it was not enough to dissuade Barcelona from taking him from Liverpool to La Liga and this was an illustration of exactly why, the movement and menace a familiar sight to those who had watched him terrorise opponents in the Premier League. And Juventus had to settle for a narrow first-leg lead after missing a several good chances against Borussia Dortmund in their

Champions League last-16 tie. Carlos Tevez (13’) put the Italians ahead after Roman Weidenfeller spilled at his feet, but Dortmund soon struck back. Marco Reus (18’) exploited Giorgio Chiellini’s slip to scamper in and shoot home just three minutes later. Alvaro Morata’s (42’) careful finish put Juve back in front and the hosts could have stretched away in the second half. After the break, Tevez

went close on three occasions, Chiellini rose unmarked to head over the top and Roberto Pereyra shot just wide. But the Italians ultimately failed to exploit Dortmund’s fragility and will take only a one-goal advantage to Germany. The win took the Serie A champions’ unbeaten home run to 47 games and they made the fast start that a simmering atmosphere at the Juventus Stadium demanded. (BBCsport)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Anamayah Mem. Inter Club 1st Div. B’ball

Hopetown Warriors beat Fyrish Black Sharks to advance to semis

Action in the Hopetown Warriors / Fyrish Black Sharks game on Sunday last at the Fyrish Basketball Court. Hopetown Warriors came prepared to fight on Sunday and fought all the way to maintain their unbeaten run when they disposed of Fyrish Black Sharks in a close encounter,(48-45) in the latest match of the second annual Anamayah Memorial Inter Club First Division Basketball competition for teams in Berbice at the Fyrish Basketball Court, Corentyne, Berbice. Both teams went into the game desperate for the win with the Warriors eager to take on the Sharks. The two teams went after each other from the first whistle with the score going neck and neck. At the end of the first quarter the visiting Hopetown Warriors were in front 16-12. The close encounter continued through the second segment with the half ending 27-24 again in the Warriors’ favour. The Fyrish Black Sharks made a desperate effort to burst through the Warriors’ defence in the third quarter, but the Warriors were pre-

pared for the battle and held on with a one point lead 3736. The final segment saw the teams giving it their all, but the Warriors were more desperate for the triumph as they came out winners 48-45. Leading the way for the Hopetown Warriors was Jerrol Allen with 13 points, while Trevon Lewis and Sherlan Gillis supported with 8 points each. Linden Joseph with 15 points and Keevon Williams with 14 were the top scorers for the Black Sharks. The win has propelled the Hopetown Warriors to the semifinal where they will take on Smythfield Rockers. The other semifinal will see New Amsterdam Warriors playing Rose Hall Jammers in another game. The top teams and outstanding individual players will receive trophies and other incentives including cash. The tournament is being coordinated by Vibert Garrett. (Samuel Whyte)

BCB congratulates Permaul on being Guyana’s 2014 Sportsman of the Year The President, Executives and Members of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) would like to extend congratulations to West Indies left arm spinner Veerasamy Permaul on being Guyana’s 2014 Sportsman of Year. “We at the BCB are very proud of Permaul once again as he continues to be a shining light in Berbice’s cricket and copping the 2014 Guyana Sportsman of the Year Award is well deserved.” The Board would also like to take this opportunity to wish him continued success in the on-going Regional First Cricket League and is very confident that he will soon regain his place in the West Indies Test and ODI Teams.Permaul, who is fast developing into a genuine all rounder is one of seventeen Berbicians to have played Test cricket for the West Indies. He has represented West Indies in four tests and six one day internationals and has twenty international wickets to date.

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Kaieteur News

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Gayle, Samuels shatter records in win Canberra, Australia, CMC – Chris Gayle smashed the first double century in a World Cup and the fastest ever in one-dayers, as West Indies pivoted on a record-breaking batting effort to beat Zimbabwe by 73 runs and post their second straight win of the global showpiece here Tuesday. Opting to bat first at Manuka Oval, West Indies powered their way to 372 for two off 50 overs – their highest ever ODI total – with the left-handed Gayle fashioning an extraordinary career-best 215 off 147 deliveries. Vice-captain Marlon Samuels joined Gayle in the run fiesta, carving out an unbeaten 133, to help the Windies to the fifth highest total in World Cup history. The pair blossomed from an uncertain start to unleash a furious assault on the Zimbabwe attack in a phenomenal second wicket stand of 372 – an all-time record for any wicket in One-Day Internationals. The stand shattered the 331 set by Indian legends Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar against New Zealand, 16 years ago in Hyderabad. Fast bowlers Jerome Taylor and Jason Holder then snatched three wickets piece as Zimbabwe put up a spirited response before they were bowled out for 289 off 44.3 overs. Taylor finished with three for 38 and captain Holder, three for 48, thwarting the African nation’s pursuit of a revised target of 363 from 48 overs, following a rain stoppage early in the innings. Gayle, predictably voted Manof-the-Match, weighed in with two for 35 with his off-spin. Sean Williams led Zimbabwe’s charge, top scoring with 76 off 61 balls while Craig Ervine struck an equally gallant 52 off 41 deliveries. Brendan Taylor chimed in with 37 and Sikandar Raza got 26, but once Zimbabwe began to lose wickets, the run chase became derailed. The victory lifted West Indies to four points in Group B, only second to reigning champions India on net run rate, while Zimbabwe slumped to fifth following their second loss in three outings. Heading into Tuesday’s contest still pumped up from their 150-run thumping of Pakistan in Christchurch, West Indies were handed a dose of reality when they lost Dwayne Smith to the second ball of the innings without a run on the board, bowled by seamer Tinashe Panyangara by one that nipped back and kept a trifle low. Samuels nearly played on to the next ball, inside edging past his stumps to get a single to fine leg and the turning point of the game came off the very next delivery when Gayle

Jerome Taylor collected three wickets ©Getty Images narrowly survived a very close lbw review. He missed one from Panyangara which pitched in line and hit him below the knee roll as he prodded forward hesitantly but was given not out. Reviews showed the ball barely clipping the top of the bails and the decision stood. Capitalising on his good fortune, the 35-year-old showman then took centre stage. Overall, he counted ten fours and an incredible 16 sixes, en route to a double century off a mere 138 deliveries, becoming only the fourth batsman to score an ODI double and the first non-Indian. The innings – Gayle’s 22nd one-day hundred – was also the third highest in ODIs behind Rohit Sharma’s 264 last year against Sri Lanka and Virender Sehwag’s 219 against West Indies four years ago. Gayle also broke South African Gary Kirsten’s 19-year-old record for the highest score in a World Cup match – 189 not out against United Arab Emirates in Rawalpindi – and surpassed his previous career-best of 153.

Mashramani Darts Classic

Fitzgerald and Hiralall take Singles The curtain came down Saturday night last on the Guyana Darts Association (GDA) Mashramani Classic at the Malteenoes Sports Club, Thomas Lands. Sudesh Fitzgerald and Rosetta Hiralall won the respective Men’s and Women’s Singles 501 in three straight games of the best of five sets. Their respective opponents, Anil Lactchman and Mary Correia, threw competitive darts but the title holders were just too good. The respective 3rd places went to Ricardo Madhoo and Melissa Smartt, the duo got the better of Jamal Holligan and

Shakuntalla Sewpersaud, 2-0 and 2-1, respectively. The respective singles events were sponsored by Apex Insurance Brokers and Peter Baker. In the other results: Women Doubles 501 sponsored by Dudley Kirton – the pair of Melissa Smartt and Natisha Fordyce took the honors from the more favoured Rosetta Hiralall and Shakuntalla Sewpersaud, 3-2. The 3rd place went to Mary Correia and Jean DeSouza. Men Doubles 501 sponsored by GUYOIL – Lallchand Rambharose and Anil Lachhman won from Sudesh Fitzgerald and Sanjay

Bhupan, 3-0. The 3rd place went to Sherwyn Greene and Chris Fulton over Delon Correia & Nicholas Seetaram 2-0. Two hundred and fortysix hundreds were scored overall in the various events; Sudesh Fitzgerald led the list with 62. Twenty one hundreds were scored by the women with Rosetta Hiralall scoring 11. The most 180s prize was won by Anil Lachhman, the only player to score two of them. One each was thrown by Lallchand Rambharose, Sudesh Fitzgeraldand Anthony Bissoondyal.

Along the way, he passed 9 000 ODI runs but more importantly, ended a slump that had left him without an ODI hundred for 20 months and burdened with an average of 14.9 during that period. Samuels was reduced to a virtual spectator, despite chalking up his ninth ODI century in a career-best effort. He faced 156 balls and hit 11 fours and three sixes. Gayle’s innings was a tale of two parts. He raised his first hundred off 105 balls but required only 33 more deliveries to complete his double – reaching the mark two balls faster than Sehwag’s previous record. While he struggled with his timing, West Indies drifted along at 83 for one in the 18th over but once he stepped up a gear, the scoring accelerated. He reached fifty off 51 balls and then motored on with two successive sixes back overhead off legspinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi, to move into the 70s. He joined Brian Lara as the only other West Indian in the 9,000-run club when he reached 79 and despite reaching 90 off 84 balls, he then spent 20 deliveries over the next ten runs before a single down the ground off medium pacer Hamilton Masakadza saw him reach three figures. With the landmark out of the way, Gayle exploded. Nearly single-handedly, he took 21 from Kamungozi’s third over, the 44th over of the innings and then clobbered left-arm spinner Williams for three straight sixes in the next over which also leaked 21 runs. He cleared mid-wicket with pacer Tendai Chatara in the 46th over to move to 196 and then whacked a full toss to the cover ropes a couple balls later, to become the first player in history with an ODI double, Twenty20 International hundred and Test triple century. A silent but effective partner throughout, Samuels reached his 26th ODI half-century

off 95 balls and topped three figures off 143 balls, with a boundary to fine leg off Chatara in the 48th over. He opened his shoulders to blast 22 runs from the penultimate over bowled by Panyangara as West Indies extracted 152 runs from the last ten overs. Gayle eventually perished off the last ball of the innings, slicing a catch to point. West Indies then pressed home their advantage when Holder and Taylor gained lbw verdicts against Regis Chakabva (2) and Masakadza (5), leaving Zimbabwe 26 for two in the fifth over. When opener Sikander Raza punched Holder uppishly to Lendl Simmons at third man in the eighth over, Zimbabwe were in danger of collapse at 46 for three but three successive cameo partnerships frustrated West Indies. Williams, who hit nine fours, put on 80 off 73 deliveries for the fourth wicket with Taylor, before posting a further 51 for the fifth wicket with Ervine whose breezy innings contained seven fours and a six. Holder returned to have Williams caught by Smith at forward square in the 28th over and a 49-run, fifth wicket stand off 35 balls between Ervine and Stuart Matsikenyeri (19) more served to entertain than threaten, as Windies sealed the points. Summary Scores: West Indies Innings: 372/2 (50 Overs). Chris Gayle 215, Marlon Samuels 133*, Dwayne Smith 0; Hamilton Masakadza 6.20-39-1, Tinashe Panyangara 9-0-82-1, Sikandar Raza 10-1-45-0, Elton Chigumbura 7-0-44-0. Zimbabwe Innings: 289 All Out (44.3 Overs). Sean Williams 76, Craig Ervine 52, Brendan Taylor+ 37, Sikandar Raza 26; Jerome Taylor 10-0-38-3, Jason Holder 7-048-3, Chris Gayle 6-0-35-2, Marlon Samuels 9-0-59-1. West Indies won by 73 runs (D/L Method)

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Kaieteur News

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Port Mourant & Corentyne Comprehensive... (From page 30) Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary bowlers kept a tight rein on the remaining batsmen with Hemchand Sukhai claiming 2 for 17, Jermaine Pollard, Emmanuel Seecharran and Keon Hooper took one wicket each. Corentyne Comprehensive needing to score 84 in 15 overs to secure the title for the first time, was restricted to 83 for 9 in response; Emmanuel Seecharran led with 22 not out while extras contributed a healthy 32. Needing to score six runs in the last over bowled by Justin Gobin, Corentyne Comprehensive only got five as Emmanuel Seecharran only scored a single off the last ball with two required. Ezekiel Kempadoo claimed 2 for 15 runs. With the tie, a super over was required, Corentyne Comprehensive scored 12; Avishask Ramnarine scoring all the runs off the left arm spinner Keith Simpson. Lower Corentyne Secondary could only manage 11 for both wickets as Jermaine Pollard kept his nerve. Karran Rajpaul was run out for 3 attempting a single which would have resulted in another tie much to the relief of Corentyne Comprehensive’s supporters. Emmanuel Seecharran was named best batsman while Ezekiel Kempadoo was named best bowler and Man-of-the-finals. The winners, runners-up and Players-of-

the-finals received trophies while the best batter and bowler received medallions and special prizes. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster praised the teams for providing a high class performance to entertain the large crowd and also praised the commitment and passion of the young cricketers, something which is sadly missing in West Indies Cricket. Foster urged the attentive school children to always Say No to Drugs and Suicide and to stay in school and obtain an educational background. He also expressed gratitude to the Management of GBTI for their sponsorship of the tournament and for their continued confidence in the work of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation. The players were urged to support the Bank by opening accounts at the Port Mourant branch. GBTI Port Mourant Manager, Mr. Ghoeblall Mahadeo and members of the staff distributed the prizes to the different winners. Members of all four teams in the finals participated in an Anti-drugs and Pro-education March before the games started. President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union Mr. Mark Lyte spoke at the opening ceremony and spoke on the importance of education and the need to mix sports and education.

GBTI Female Tapeball champions, Port Mourant Secondary.

Boys Champs