Monday February 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news...Letters... Where your views make the news
The tribulations of the sugar industry DEAR EDITOR, Earlier reference was made to states of minds in which so many of us are locked so far as transitioning of the industry is concerned; and the requirement for such an important business entity to respond to the realities of the global environment by which it is impacted in this 21st century. However we as citizens may disagree on the way forward, it behooves us to reflect on the extent we respectively are embedded in a tradition of ‘customs and practices’ which reflect the prevailing psyche in the industry, and particularly in that of the unions, just perhaps moreso than in the workers themselves, the demographics of which groups have been slowly, if not noticeably to most, changing. For those interested inquirers it may not be inappropriate to quote the following excerpt from the Report issued by the Commission of Inquiry into the Sugar Industry of Guyana – Pages 29-31. “8.0 Training done at the GAWU Labour College It seems that in recent years Guysuco has ‘outsourced’ its responsibility for attitudinal and behavioral training among workers to the GAWU Labour College. This move appears to be in consonance with the tendency for the corporation to abdicate its primary responsibility for managing the industry or to seek refuge in deference to the growing ‘imbalance of power’ between the employer’s and the employees’ representatives. Since nationalization of the industry, the relative power relationship has shifted significantly in favor of the
union. While it is unwise to pursue any temptation to engage in ‘power plays’, it is necessary that the primary relationship between the employer and the employee be preserved. 8.1 The Table at 8.3 below shows the increasing numbers of employees being paid by Guysuco to attend courses run by GAWU at their Labour College in Georgetown; this coincides interestingly, if not disturbingly, with the closure of Guysuco’s Management Training Centre at Ogle. 8.2 A review of the agenda/curriculum shown at paragraph 8.5 below shows a heavy focus on philosophical and historical justification for trade unionism, ideological orientation to Marxism and Leninism and similar conceptual and organizational issues in pursuit of bolstering the Trade Union. Other items have no direct or indirect relevance to the interest of Guysuco, save and except a couple of hours out of the five day program when Guysuco staff talk about work standards and quality control. Very little or only tangential consideration and concern is reflected for the running of an efficient, productive and profitable enterprise; substantially more is done to ensure the continued growth and influence of the Trade Union at Guysuco’s expense. Nothing is wrong with the Union running these courses for their benefit, but why must Guysuco foot the bill especially at a time when its very survival is at stake and there is no indication of any tangible initiative or effort on the part of the Union to stop, let alone reverse the hemorrhaging of the
industry. 8.3 Workers Attendance at GAWU Labour College (2010 – 2015)
- Courtesy visit to Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (Red House) - Film Show: Workers
representatives to dilate on:”GuySuCo Corporate Issues” The foregoing recital
8.4 Costs to Guysuco: Guysuco pays each worker their average days’ pay for each day of the course. Using an average of $3,000 per worker per day the total cost to Guysuco for the 2011 – 2015 (Aug) period so far is almost $18M. The annual average cost to Guysuco for the courses is estimated at $3,540,000. Of course for the most recent year (2014) the cost was considerably more, approximately $4,605,000 which means that for 2015 it could go up to $5M.” Typical Agenda/ Curriculum for a 5-days Course for Estate Workers include the following samples: - GAWU/Guysuco Labour Agreements
struggle/Thunder in Guyana - GAWU emergence and highlights of its struggles - The importance of Ideology and MarxismLeninism as the ideology of the Working Class - Strengthening the Unions’ Organizational Structure - Capitalism-ImperialismGlobalization - Class Struggle and the Development of Society There is more of course, including an item which requires GuySuCo’s
should provide reflective minds with food for thought, contemplating, as they must do, how such an explicitly anachronistic mindset can be converted into a more positive approach to contributing to the viability of a business that must comply with current international demands.
Quest i o n s m u s t b e asked about the relevance of a philosophy long forsaken by the countries who initially promulgated it, and have since aggressively transitioned to such a market-oriented posture, that even in this very country their governing inheritors embrace, much to the exclusion and expense of the active unionism – albeit with the connivance of those who propel the very altruism in our local industries, preeminently including GuySuCo. The research into such a substantive contradiction must be the pre-requisite to finding right and balanced answers for the salvation of the national dilemma that is our sugar industry. In the meantime one clear indicator is that the employer must engage more proactively with its first public – its employees. E.B. John
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Kaieteur News
Foreign Ministry increasing awareness about Venezuela’s threat Months after Venezuela renewed its claim to Guyana’s territory the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commenced a sensitization campaign to keep the Guyanese public abreast on matters relating to the threat to the country’s territorial integrity. The recently intensified campaign was highlighted when Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed the National Assembly during the 2016 Budget debates. He said that a booklet entitled “What you need to know about the definitive nature of the Guyana/ Venezuela Boundary” was published in an effort to further sensitize the Guyanese populace. Also, Greenidge told the House of trips made to interior locations to inform persons living closer to the Venezuela border. Last year, Venezuela’s President, Nicolas Maduro issued a decree that claims a huge part of Guyana. The decree also threatened military force to bend Guyana into submission. At present, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is
Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge looking at the matter with an aim to settle the territorial controversy once and for all. In the meantime, Greenidge said that Guyana’s relations with Brazil remain excellent and the Ministry intends to continue to pursue a number of key initiatives that will further cement those relations. He added that during the visit by President David Granger to Brasilia last year, for the MERCOSUR Summit, a bilateral meeting was held between the leaders of the two countries. Greenidge said that the
President of Brazil gave the assurance of Brazil’s full backing on efforts for a peaceful resolution on the Venezuela controversy. “The Government of Brazil is in the process of putting in place preliminary arrangements for major infrastructure projects with Guyana, and my Ministry is now well poised to engage our Brazilian partners to bring many of these to fruition 2016.” Also, Greenidge told the House that as part of that effort, Guyana and Brazil are in the final stages of arrangements for the visit of Chancellor Mauro Viera, his Brazilian counterpart. A few weeks ago, President Granger admitted that there is more that his administration can do to educate the masses about the threat that faces Guyana and the danger that lurks. “We are sure that we are on the right side and we will continue to inform, educate and disseminate information to the population on these claims. More can be done; more can always be done. We need to get booklets into the schools,” said Granger. The President said that Minister Greenidge and Vice President and Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Sydney Allicock, had visited Kaikan, which is situated near the border between Guyana and Venezuela. Granger said that his two Ministers visited the community to assure residents there that Guyana is capable of protecting them from Venezuelan aggression.
Monday February 22, 2016
CJ rules in favour of Berbice Rice farmers, quashes decision to cancel leases
The three farmers, Phillip Johnson, Rawle Miller and Rupert Blackman following Friday’s ruling A group of rice farmers from Seafield, West Coast Berbice has secured a High Court ruling which can potentially see them repossessing farm lands that were reclaimed by the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA). The three farmers Phillip Johnson, Rawle Miller and Rupert Blackman had moved to the courts last October through Attorney Anil Nandlall after the MMA/ ADA cancelled their leases for several acres of plantation lands. Johnson had particularly described the scenario, which he said deprived them of their livelihood. During a visit to Kaieteur News, Johnson had provided this publication with a copy of a lease agreement, issued under the hand of former President Donald Ramotar, which was finalized in November, 2014. The MMA/ADA, he said, had subsequently published a notice in the dailies which stated that as a result of a court action last October, all the leases are cancelled with immediate effect. The farmer told this newspaper that he made contact with the MMA/ ADA General Manager, Aubrey Charles, who informed him of the court action and said nothing further could be done. The land, he said, had already been cultivated at a substantial cost. To
compound the situation, he said the rice farmers were asked to pay the MMA/ADA to reap the rice cultivated on the land. The affected rice farmers held out that the issue stems more from collusion between members of the MMA/ADA and a selected few farmers who control the majority of lands in the West Berbice District. Johnson said that just about six families were in control of some 500 acres of rice lands in the area. The legal challenge brought against the Authority, later described the decision as discriminatory, arbitrary, capricious, influenced by irrelevant c o n s i d e r a t i o n , unconstitutional, unlawful and should be rendered null and void. In the affidavit to support their claims, the farmers had noted that the MMA/ADA had issued them leases to the State lands in 2014 after the relevant documents were filled out and the fees were paid. The farmers lamented over the fact that they had spent monies to develop the lands and they had stayed within the boundaries of the agreement stipulated by the Agricultural body. Meanwhile, Attorney for the farmers, Anil Nandlall, had argued that the lands were leased in accordance to Sections 3(b) of the State Lands Act Chapter 62:01 and
in accordance MMA/ADA Act No. 27 of 1977. The document stated that in the September 26, 2015 edition of the Kaieteur News, a notice was published by the MMA /ADA outlining that the Authority has issues with the leases for State Lands situated in the rear of Seafield Village, West Coast Berbice. The MMA/ADA said the leases issued were contrary to an Order of the Court and in the circumstances, were cancelled. On Friday, Outgoing Chief Justice (Ag) Ian Chang handed down a ruling which essentially quashed MMA/ ADA‘s decision. The Chief Justice (CJ) noted that the Agricultural organisation had no authority to cancel a lease granted by the President on the ground that it was granted unlawfully. “If the MMA/ADA was aggrieved by the Presidential grant, the MMA/ADA or any aggrieved person could have taken proceedings in court, not against the President but against the Attorney General challenging the legality of the grant made by him,” Chang said in the ruling. He noted that such a challenge should have never been brought to Court since it is not open for MMA/ADA or any other person to make such a determination on a Presidential Grant. In granting judgment against the Authority, the CJ awarded the applicants cost in the sum of $40,000. Last year, the Full Court of the High Court had granted the farmers injunctions which restrained the MMA/ADA from further interference of the farmer’s peaceful occupation of the lands.
Monday February 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
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U.S. rejected North Korea peace Egyptian rights group asks court to talks offer before last nuclear test halt official move to shut it down Reuters - The United States rejected a North Korean proposal to discuss a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War because it did not address denuclearization on the peninsula, the State Department said yesterday. State Department spokesman John Kirby made the comment in response to a Wall Street Journal report that the White House secretly agreed to peace talks just before Pyongyang’s latest nuclear bomb test. The newspaper, citing U.S. officials familiar with the events, said the Obama administration dropped its condition that Pyongyang take steps to curtail its nuclear arsenal before any peace talks take place, instead calling for North Korea’s atomic weapons program to be just one part of the discussion. Pyongyang declined the proposal, and its Jan. 6 nuclear test ended the diplomatic plans, the newspaper reported. “ýTo be clear, it was the North Koreans who proposed discussing a peace treaty,” Kirby said in an emailed statement. “We carefully considered their proposal, and made clear
- State Dept. that denuclearization had to be part of any such discussion. The North rejected our response,” he said. “Our response to the NK proposal was consistent with our longstanding focus on denuclearization.” The isolated state has long sought a peace treaty with the United States and other parties in the 1950-53 Korean War, as well as an end to military exercises by South Korea and the United States, which has about 28,500 troops based in South Korea. North Korea said on Jan. 6 it had tested a nuclear device it claimed was a hydrogen bomb, provoking condemnation from its neighbors and the United States. Weeks later, it launched a long-range rocket carrying what it called a satellite, prompting renewed criticism. On Jan. 16, Pyongyang had demanded the conclusion of a peace treaty with the United States and a halt to U.S. military exercises with South Korea to end its
John Kirby nuclear tests. But U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken said then that Pyongyang needed to demonstrate by its actions that it was serious about denuclearization before any dialogues could start. The Korean War ended in 1953 in an armistice, not a peace treaty, signed by the United States, representing United Nations forces; the North Korean military and the Chinese army. Now North Korea wants those three sides and South Korea to sign a treaty.
Reuters - An Egyptian organisation that documents rights abuses and treats torture victims said yesterday it had filed an urgent application to a court in the hope of halting plans by authorities to shut it down today. The director of the Nadeem Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture told a news conference that a health ministry decision to shut it down was part of the toughest crackdown on dissent in Egypt’s modern history. “This is a political decision,” said Aida Seif elDawla. “And it’s coming from the cabinet that represents all the actors that are keen on the survival of this regime, despite the oppression and the torture that the Egyptian people are living through on a daily basis.” Sources in the Health Ministry, which issues licences for the Nadeem Center, have said it committed unspecified violations. Staff of the organisation said yesterday its complaint to the administrative court argued that it should have been informed of any
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi violations of regulations and given time to rectify them. The centre would continue to operate, said staff member Suzan Fayad, despite the closure order, which the authorities plan to implement today. Human rights groups accuse President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s government of widespread abuses, allegations it denies. As armed forces chief, Sisi toppled Islamist President Mohamed Mursi in 2013 after mass protests against his rule. Security forces killed hundreds of Mursi
supporters in the streets and arrested thousands of others. Secular activists were later rounded up. Nongovernmental organisations have also been closed under what government critics say is a rollback of political freedoms won in the 2011 uprising that ended 30 years of rule under President Hosni Mubarak. Egyptian authorities deny allegations by human rights groups and activists that security forces round up people and detain them in secret detention centres where they are tortured. Egypt’s human rights record has come under fresh scrutiny since Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni, 28, was found dead on the outskirts of Cairo this month. His body showed signs of torture. The government has denied media reports that he was arrested by security forces before his death.
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Domestic violence registry coming soon Trinidad Express - A Central Registry on Domestic Violence (CRDV), which will provide a more efficient and coordinated method of monitoring the occurrence of domestic violence, will be launched soon, the Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs) has said. Cabinet has also been approached to review the Domestic Violence Act. A statement Friday said Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was “disheartened” by domestic violence in the country. “The Honourable Prime Minister and Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Ayanna Webster-Roy are disheartened by the prevalence of domestic violence cases in both Trinidad and Tobago. The scourge of domestic violence erodes the fabric of society and infringes the human rights of the individual,” the release stated.
Legalising medical marijuana up for debate Daily Nation - The issue of medical marijuana goes beyond the legal landscape and has a larger social impact. This is the view of attorney at law Maria Phillips, who was weighing in on a recent request by lawyer Douglas Trotman to the Ministry of Health to have a one-year prescription for marijuana, which was written by a doctor in Canada, filled in Barbados. The drug is for his wife Kathy-Anne Trotman for palliative care after she was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer last year. The use of marijuana is illegal in Barbados, and Phillips cautioned that there were social implications in implementing legislation that would seek to change this.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 22, 2016
EU refuses to send observers to Congo vote: statement Brazzaville (AFP) - The European Union has decided not to send observers to the Republic of Congo to monitor a controversial presidential election set for March 20, according to a statement seen by AFP yesterday. The EU decision came as it dismissed recent electoral reforms in the
c o u n t r y, i n c l u d i n g t h e introduction of an independent electoral commission, as insufficient to guarantee a transparent vote. “The current context does not allow ... the EU to envisage setting up an electoral observers’ mission for the March 20 vote,” a spokesman for the bloc’s
foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in the statement dated February 19. The European Union considers that “the reforms to the electoral law that were introduced in January 23 appear limited” and do not fulfil the recommendations made by an EU mission to the country. The legal reform came
after a new constitution removed barriers to President Denis Sassou Nguesso extending his rule. The controversial new charter removed a 70-year age limit and a ban on presidents serving more than two terms. It was approved by a public vote, but the opposition has dismissed it as “a constitutional coup”.
German officials horrified by anti-migrant mobs in eastern state Berlin (AFP) - Shocked German officials yesterday condemned two “disgusting” incidents involving anti-migrant mobs in the ex-communist e a s t o f t h e c o u n t r y, including a crowd cheering a blaze at a planned refugee shelter. A group of 20-30 apparently drunken onlookers applauded as fire took hold in a former hotel being converted into home for asylum seekers in the town of Bautzen in Saxony state overnight.
Police suspected arson and traces of fire accelerant were found. Some members of the group tried to impede the work of firefighters dispatched to the scene, police said. A police spokesman said that the group showed “unabashed delight” at the blaze and made “disparaging comments” about the efforts to contain it. No one was hurt in the incident. Two 20-year-old men were temporarily detained for defying police
orders. The events came two nights after 100 people in the Saxony town of Clausnitz tried to block the arrival of a bus carrying about 20 asylum seekers to a new shelter. The scenes, captured on video, show the mob angrily shouting “We are the people”, borrowing the prodemocracy slogan from the peaceful revolution that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The images, which have gone viral on social media,
show police officers dragging terrified refugees out of the coach, including a teenage boy reportedly from Lebanon. Police chief Uwe Reissmann sparked further outrage when he gave the migrants themselves partial blame for the fraught scene, noting that some had filmed the mob with their mobile phones and made obscene gestures at them. He said he had not ruled out criminal charges against the protesters or the migrants.
Monday February 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
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INCONSISTENT AND ABSURD The newspapers of today can hardly avoid legal issues. We live in a litigious society. The court makes decisions everyday which impact on the lives of citizens and which have implications for governance. These are matters of public concern and must be reported on in the media. Other issues have legal implications and therefore the news dailies often find themselves discussing legal issues. The Letter to the Editor pages are filled with comments by trained and untrained legal minds offering their own opinions on legal matters. It seems these days everyone is a legal expert. The uninitiated in the law somehow have a way of presenting their arguments with authoritative relish. If you read the blogs, you will find people putting their own legal interpretation to rulings given by the Courts and presenting their opinions as
if it is based on solid legal reasoning. The danger, of course, is that people can be led astray by uninformed opinions. This is one of the reasons why reputable newspapers tend to solicit the views of prominent legal counsels to offer their opinions on legal matters. Guyana, however, is a special case because in many instances the opinions offered tend to mirror the divisions across political lines. There is little independent space in this country and when someone seeks to be objective they are often attacked as supporting one side or the other. There is also a plaster for every sore. For every argument that is made there is a counter argument, often made by someone who really has no legal training. Even before the arguments were made known, for example, in the recent constitutional challenge to persons sitting as Technocratic Ministers,
there were persons who were attacking the judge rather than discussing the merits of the decision. Then there are instances in which layman’s interpretations of our laws are given in order to make a case that the law has been broken. But none of those making such arguments are filing either private criminal or legal charges to prove their points. Is it because they know that their arguments are more political than legal? How is the average reader to assess these “legal arguments” that are being made? A good start would be to understand the three main rules of legal interpretation, or in other words, how would a judge interpret a statute. There are three main rules of legal interpretation: the literal rule, the golden rule and the mischief rule. The literal rule means that the interpretation that is applied takes the normal or literal use of the meaning of the words
Dem boys seh...
Jagdeo gun get Chase in hell A big man in size and in legal ability tell dem boys that dem got some lawyers who is nutten but devils. He seh he know one of dem, who when he dead, and not long from now, going straight to hell. De big man seh that even Satan gun have problem wid him because he more bad than de devil. Is Jagdeo gun give him a Chase for position in hell. Dem boys know that all two of dem Chase dem wife. In any case, Jagdeo and ee padnah belong to de same party. Jagdeo was one man who learn a special prayer and he teach de whole party big boys that prayer. Only Donald
Dumb didn’t learn it because he head hard. “Dear God, You gave me childhood, You took it away You gave me youth, You took it away. You gave me a wife ... It’s been years now, just reminding You.” God hear de prayer because he mek Jagdeo and he friend wife lef dem. And fuh mek sure he best friend, Babbie, don’t get a wife he carry him home. At de time Jagdeo still had ee wife. He carry Babbie home for dinner unannounced after work. His wife begins screaming at him and his friend just sits and listens in. “My hair & makeup are
not done, the house is a mess, the dishes are not done, I’m still in my pajamas and I can’t be bothered with cooking tonight! Why the hell did you bring him home?” Jagdeo seh, “Because he’s thinking about getting married” Soulja Bai is something else. He is a bad man in de office. One day Li’l Joe ask him, “Sir, You like a lion in the office! What about at home ??? Soulja Bai tun and tell ee, “I am a lion at home too, But there we have a lion tamer !!!” Talk half and pray fuh Soulja Bai.
of the law. The letter of the law is used in its interpretation, literally speaking. This can lead, however, to problems. It has in fact led to two sets of problems. The first is absurdity and the second is inconsistency. As such, the second rule of legal interpretation is known as the Golden Rule and seeks to promote interpretations that avoid either absurdity or inconsistency. In the case of the Golden Rule, one may opt for either a narrow construction of the law or a broader construction is used. The third method of legal interpretation is the mischief rule and seeks to determine the true meaning and intent of the legislators. Persons seeking to make layman’s interpretation of the law should at least be guided by these rules. The Fiscal Management and Accountability Act prohibits a Minister or public official from making a gift of public property unless that
Minister or official is expressly authorized to do by law. This provision has to do with the control and management of public property. It prohibits any public official, be that person a Minister, Permanent Secretary, driver – there are many of them these days – office assistant or secretary, from gifting public property. This provision is concerned with preventing public officials from taking the Ministry’s movable or immovable property such as the furniture, the cars, the filing cabinets, the staple machines etc. and handing it out to others. It is aimed at preventing any official from giving away property that belongs to the State. It is not intended to prevent the sale,
transfer or allocation of State lands or the privatization of State property by public officials. It has nothing to do with agreements entered into for development or investment purposes. If that section is interpreted to mean that governments cannot assign lands to others, then it would mean that President Desmond Hoyte unlawfully gifted to the International Community one million acres of land for use in sustainable environmental research and practices. Now that would be both inconsistent and absurd, would it not?
Monday February 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Hosororo residents slam police, soldiers for “unprofessional” early morning raids
Curious residents took to the streets as police and soldiers conducted the raids Two families of Hosororo Village, Mabaruma, Region One have criticized members of the disciplined forces who raided their homes early yesterday morning, saying that the lawmen used excessive force and terrified
their families. They are also of the belief that the men from the security forces acted unprofessionally since they failed to produce search warrants. According to reports, police and soldiers were at the time in search of
several men, one of whom had allegedly assaulted a cop at an entertainment event on Saturday at Kumaka, Region One. In an interview with this publication, Hosororo resident Maylene (only name
After 40 years, woman, 88, still awaits division of property hearing “I divorced Mr Ashton Chase in 1976 and since then in the years between 1976 and 2011 (35 years) this case has gone back and forth through the judicial system by the device known as postpone and delay.” Those were the painful words of Audrey Salamalay, a trained journalist who studied at the London School of Journalism and who was the first wife of Senior Counsel Ashton Chase. On Saturday, because of the injustice meted out to her by the judicial system of this country, she penned a letter to the Kaieteur News in protest. In 1987, eleven years after her divorce, she got her first maintenance cheque, $800 per month, on an order by the then Justice Desiree Bernard. Two years later, in 1989, this sum was hiked to $2,200 monthly. In 1994, Ms Salamalay successfully filed in the court for an increase. She was awarded $25,206 per month, citing Ashton Chase’s lucrative practice, his earnings and his assets. In 1998, the Appellate court presided over by Justice Cecil Kennard and included Justices Lennox Perry and Prem Persaud ordered that the monthly fee be doubled. She got $52,206 per month. Justice Kennard said then, “I feel that to do justice to the case, the order should be backdated to July 1, 1995.” In the letter that she wrote
Snr. Counsel Ashton Chase to Kaieteur News on Saturday, she said she got her present maintenance of $77,866 in 2011. And she got this because she again went to the Court of Appeal. The woman is now 88 years old. She said that when she filed for divorce in 1976 and was represented by Sir Lionel Luckhoo. She said that Sir Lionel had told her that he did not do divorce cases but when he went through the papers, he said that this was the worst case he had ever come across. He eventually agreed to do the case. He filed for divorce; he filed for maintenance; he filed for custody of their only child and he filed for division of property.” All this was done in 1976. To this day the court has not dealt with the case of division of property.
Sir Lionel had given up on the matter because of a lack of patience with the system of postponement and delay. When he did, Senior Counsel Rex McKay stepped in and never gave up. She got custody of the child but despite the court order, Ashton Chase managed to take their daughter out of the country without her consent. She was forced to travel to Canada in search of her daughter. “The Canadian Government after learning of my desperate situation, offered me residence there.” The Canadians said that they would offer her residence on the condition that she claims political persecution. She said that she stopped the process immediately. “I told them that I had no problem with the government or the opposition. The only problem was with my exhusband.” She said that Ashton Chase deprived her daughter of her mother and deprived the mother of her daughter. She later spent a year in Jamaica. When contacted, Senior Counsel Rex McKay said that he cannot explain why the division of property filed by Sir Lionel Luckhoo has not come up in the court system after 40 years. The case has outlasted Presidents Burnham, Hoyte, Cheddie and Janet Jagan, Sam Hinds, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar.
given) said that two policemen, one of whom was armed, visited her home early yesterday morning in search of her 25 year-old son Roger Simon. She said that the officers, who are attached to the Mabaruma Police Station, are claiming that her son was the one who assaulted the cop. The mother recalled that it was around 05:00hrs, and she told them that son was not at home. Maylene related that the men demanded that she open the door. “So I move the blind and peep through the window and asked the police what they want.” The two officers asked to search Maylene’s home and she told them she had no problem with them doing so providing that they have a warrant. The woman said, “They (the officers) started to shake the door and I open it. An officer (name given) pushed me and walked into
the house.” She said that they searched her home and did not find her son. However, the woman stressed that before the lawmen exited her yard they told her that she was lucky her son was not dead. They barefacedly exclaimed that they had the right to do what they did. According to her, the police went further into the village and arrested four other men after searching their homes. Simon, a goldminer, eventually turned himself into police around 10: 00hrs, after his mother informed him that he was wanted. He is currently assisting with investigations. Meanwhile, the home of another villager, 86 year-old Augustine Solomon was also searched. Police and soldiers went to his home in search of his grandson Dave Solomon. Solomon is said to be in his early thirties. The older Solomon is still unaware of the
reason why his grandson was being sought despite the fact that the young man was taken into custody. Augustine Solomon recounted that he also got the surprise visit from the Disciplined Forces early yesterday morning. He stated that “they (the police and soldiers) came and rap on the door”. He added that they shouted “Dave, Dave” and subsequently barged into his grandson’s bedroom.” “They slap him (his grandson) and told him get up, get up. You’re under arrest!” the elderly man related. Augustine said that his grandson complied but inquired on what basis he was being arrested. But according to him, his grandson never received a response. Kaieteur news understands that the lawmen began seeking out the young men after they were engaged in a confrontation with a cop over a female villager.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 22, 2016
Berbice land dispute murder…
Accused recalls being stoned by mob in police presence Justice Franklyn Holder on Thursday last overruled a No Case Submission and called on the accused to lead
a defence when the trial in the Angoy’s Avenue land dispute murder continued in the Berbice High Court.
On trial before Justice Holder and a mixed Jury is former national volleyball stalwart and popular New
- as Judge overrules Defence No Case Submission Amsterdam businessman, Charles Henry called Charles Bristol, 57, a re-migrant Guyanese of Main Street and Lad Lane, New Amsterdam, and owner of the Bristol Mall. He is accused of killing Errol Lindo, 51, on Wednesday April 16, 2014 at High Dam, Caracas, East Canje, Berbice. Henry is being represented by Attorneys-atLaw Nigel Hughes and Kim Kyte, in association with Tanya Warren Clements and Shabana Barnwell. In a lengthy narration from the dock, Henry stated that he is the owner of a plot of land situated at Lot 1 Caracas, Vryheid West Canje. According to him, the land was owned by his great uncle since the 1930s and it was handed down to him by a court order granted by Justice William Ramlall on the 8th May 2012. He stated that after visiting the area on many occasions, he was informed that persons were claiming the land and collecting rent from others who were occupying it. He consulted his lawyers Adrian and Ian Anamayah who sent notices to the squatters to vacate the land. The residents including Lindo attended meetings with his lawyers and Regional Chairman David Armogan and were told the land belongs to Henry and they should cooperate. He learnt that Lindo had moved out from the area but had left his shack behind. Henry said that he was advised by his lawyers to dismantle the shack. He contacted some workers and they went to the premises and began the process. Henry told the court that while doing so, a woman came and using profanities and slamming a cutlass against the wall, she threatened to chop the men if they did not stop breaking the building. According to the accused, he told the woman that he owned the place and urged her to leave.
Charles Bristol called Charles Henry
Errol Lindo
The woman refused and Henry was forced to call his lawyers including Horatio Edmonson and related to him what was happening. He was advised to call the police, which he did. He was subsequently alerted by a shout of “lookout”. Henry said when he looked up, he saw Lindo with an axe advancing towards him. He was about 15 feet away. He took out his licensed firearm and fired a warning shot in the air. Lindo was still advancing towards him, Henry said. He said began to back away and as Lindo advanced he fired a shot towards his left leg. Lindo was still advancing towards him and as he continued to back away he slipped. Lindo was almost upon him and upon falling, he fired another shot at Lindo who eventually fell to the ground. He said he immediately called his lawyer and told him what happened. Henry said he was advised to call the police, by the lawyer who also told him to secure the axe, so that he could hand it over to the police. He was also advised not to leave the crime scene and wait until the police arrived. He said he began taking pictures with his IPod and while bringing the axe out of the yard, he was attacked by a mob that took the axe, his I Pod and his holster away and threw them into the trench. They also tried to take his firearm away. He sought
refuge in a nearby yard since the crowd was coming after him. He called 911 and Central Police station but got no response. He also called Commanders Brian Joseph and Clifton Hicken. All the time he was being stoned until the police arrived. He claimed that some residents began looting the vehicle and tried to push it into the trench. The vehicle was eventually set on fire. Despite the presence of the police, the crowd became more hostile and the police had to fire warning shots in the air. The police called for backup and a squad of fully armed ranks with riot gear eventually arrived and escorted him out of the area. The defence also called Attorney-at-Law Edmonson who stated that on the day in question, he received a number of calls from Henry and he advised him accordingly. He also told him that he was on his way. Also called to the witness stand was contractor Mark O’Brien. He outlined what happened on the day in question. He was at the scene and saw most of what occurred. He was beaten and had to flee. He gave a statement to the police and sought medical attention at the New Amsterdam Hospital. Prosecutor Backer, during the cross examination of Obrien, pointed out a number of inconsistencies in his statement. The matter is continuing today.
Monday February 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 21
SUPER MARIO AND THE MOZZARELLA Trinidad is fun and funny including one of my favourite comic calypsonians, Lord Funny, who postulated that our naming a red woman “Green”, a black-head woman “Whitehead”, another “Grey” and other such inconsistencies in nomenclature are responsible for the country and the world being in a confused state today. What Funny did not mention is that in TNT someone with the surname “Bhola”, like my friend Orland from Siparia, might well be of mainly African descent and the patronymic Daniel or Charles might look as if they just stepped off the
Fatel Razack. But even so, when on June 2, 1972, Trinis found in what was formerly a sandwich shop in Valpark Plaza a place called Mario’s selling something called Pizza which was known mainly to people who had travelled to or lived in Canada or New York, they were surprised. The fat-faced, mustachioed chef on the advertisement and pizza box led them to expect a chubby Italian. It turned out that the key person in the ownership mix was a Trini named Richard Harford (appropriately known as “Slice”). For the record, there is a Mario in the pizza
business. His name is Mario SabgaAboud and he started with “Burger Boys”, then “Pizza Boys” and later, the “Rituals” coffee chain. By that time Pizza had become almost as much a Trini staple as Kentucky Fried Chicken. At first many people pronounced it Piz-zah (as in pizazz) and liberally bathed it in the readily available ketchup and mustard. Purists might condemn this practice since Pizza already has a lot of tomato sauce but Trinis found this the best way to transition into the unique taste. Spaghetti was a different story. I once
overheard a conversation in the food court of a mall. A young lady said to her companion, “I can’t deal with the spriggedy. It like squinge-up macaroni but it don’t taste good in fish broth. And I can’t take all the tomato.” What made Mario’s Pizza more than acceptable is that it contained cheddar cheese instead of the traditional mozzarella which is the most popular cheese in the U.S. Cheddar is what we grew up with – the “rat” cheese to which the British introduced us. It is oily instead of stretchy like mozzarella but it suits our taste and made Pizza popular.
State violence must be addressed... (From page 10) Professor said that there are some lessons to be learned from the findings of the Commission. He said that firstly, these findings are an indictment of the nation’s State. He explained that the country’s post-colonial or independence state, replete with all the characteristics of colonial domination, has been the antithesis of independence. “We have failed miserably in the area of human-rights for our weak, our powerless, our sufferers and those who dared to stand with them. We in Guyana and the rest of Caribbean never learned how to deal with dissent in our politics. As a society we are products of resistance, but we have used the State to assassinate resistance at every twist and turn. The State in such circumstances became a tool of repression of dissent. It is a flaw that begs to be corrected,” expressed Dr. Hinds. Hinds, a Buxtonian by birth, said that activists stood with their African brethren against racial apartheid while a vicious political and social apartheid was being practiced. He said that the reach for education as liberation produced some of the best minds in the world like Walter Rodney. He noted however that the powers that be marginalized and killed those very minds in the name of the party and the State. He added, “We marched with workers in 1962 and 1966 but turned the guns of the State on them in 1963 and 1967. From the ‘Bring the Rastas in dead or alive’ in 1963 to ‘Our steel is sharper’ in 1979 to “Shoot them off the bridge” in 2012, we have used the State against our own.” Hinds noted that the second lesson which must be noted is that Governments since 1980, “all of them”, have assassinated Rodney even after his death by carrying out what Elder Eusi Kwayana calls
“assassination of the evidence.” On his website w w w. g u y a n a c a r i b b e a n politics.com, Hinds opined that some government officials have trivialized the act and in the process diminished Rodney in the eyes of many Guyanese. In other instances, Hinds said that some justify the murder by saying he was trying to overthrow the government and he was causing trouble. The Political Activist said that it pains to hear ordinary Guyanese parrot that narrative—these very Guyanese, 200,000 of them who overthrew a government on May 11, 2015. With this in mind, he questioned, “Should we all be murdered as Rodney was? Should those who conspired to overthrow colonial rule be murdered?” Moving on to the third lesson, Dr. Hinds said that he has heard “many well-meaning and some not so wellmeaning” Guyanese say that Rodney’s WPA declined after his assassination. He said that in their haste to talk cheap politics, they miss something fundamental—Guyana declined after Rodney’s death. The University Professor said that Guyana declined after Rodney’s assassination largely because many of its citizens, high and low, justified the brutal acts of the State in defence of the Party and the Leader. And in so doing, “we left in place the brutal State
that would eventually devour Courtney Crum-Ewing, Ronald Waddell, the Linden Martyrs, the over 400 Black Men and those who tried to devour Freddie Kissoon.” Dr. Hinds said that what Rodney and all these recent martyrs had in common is that they have been victims of State Violence. He said that one would be hypocritical to cry for justice for Waddell, Crum Ewing, the Linden Martyrs and the victims of the Phantoms but try to justify Walter Rodney’s murder. He emphasized that they were all fighting to overthrow injustice and return Guyana to its noble tradition, and they were all assassinated by the State. Speaking to the fourth lesson, the University Professor said that many will hear the responses and counter-responses to the verdict of the Commission. He said that the politicians and pundits will have their say. He hopes that the findings however, do not become a source of further conflict but an occasion for bringing the country together. The political activist said that the coalition Government should also rise above the fray and not take sides. He said, “We have to deal frontally with the question of State Violence. There must be a commitment to democratize the State. All of us–the government, political parties, Civil Society–have a role to play in this regard. Political interfer-
ence in the work of State institutions should be ceased. And those who serve in the State must be sanctioned when they deviate from the rule of law and respect for human rights.” Dr. Hinds stressed that this government has an obligation to honour that commitment because it came to power as part of a mass reaction to the prevalence of State violence. The University Professor said, “Because of who Rodney was, his case gets much attention. So we must use the occasion to commit to righting the wrongs, to not walk that road anymore. State Violence in the end consumes all of us.” Concluding on his last note, Dr. Hinds said that with the findings in mind, no political party should be throwing around guilt. He said that younger and newer members and supporters of the PNC must not be made to bear the burden of an act that was committed long before they came into politics or were born and they, in turn, must not engage in the demeaning politics of justification of wrong. The activist said that the WPA should not use the findings of the Commission to ridicule those to whom the accusatory finger is pointed. At the same time, he said that the PPP should get off its so-called high-horse, for it too presided over political assassinations.
Additionally, recent research suggests that the popularity of pizza is mainly due to the fact that cheese is addictive and we eat about 65 pounds of cheese per person per year. Around Carnival time, Mario’s was springing surprise visits to panyards as part of its Carnival promotions and they were featured on Facebook. A few of my friends liked the ads and I wrote that I had not bought anything from Mario’s for years and would do so only if the company used Mozzarella in its pizzas instead of cheddar. Early on Ash Wednesday I got this Facebook response, “Mario’s Pizza Anthony, we have introduced the option of either cheddar or mozzarella on any pizza, check us out next time.” I was surprised. In this column (Funny Business) and in my
Saturday column which goes round the region (Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad), I have referred to products from TNT mostly in complimentary terms and never got any kind of feedback. In this country where a beer is one brewed in Trinidad and named after an indigenous inhabitant with cannibal tendencies, a warlike nature and constantly aggressive intent, or where a biscuit is considered a vital supply by those whose mental state can be clinically declared “crackers”, there is no response even when paid the highest compliments. I was pleased that Mario’s kept its side of the bargain and I will do the same. I will order a vegetarian pizza made from mozzarella and then pronounce judgment. “Richard, the cheese is good but there’s mushroom for improvement.”
Page 22
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Kaieteur News
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Monday February 22, 2016
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VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Ipsum, fully loaded, music system – 5,800 watt, 7 seater, excellent condition – Call: 653-1003 Continued on page 23
Monday February 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
Post-colonial assassinations abound DEAR EDITOR, Like other comrades of Walter Rodney, I welcome the findings of the Commission of Inquiry. Although I had misgivings about the motives of the PPP for setting up the commission, one it started I fully supported it. Whatever, its shortcomings, it was the furthest we had gone on this matter in three decades. For us, these findings are not surprising. But to hear and see it officially make a difference. We have been vindicated. Walter Rodney lives anew. And Guyana gets a chance to re-examine its politics especially as it relates to State Violence. They had killed Walter Rodney on June 13, 1980 on a Friday night. As Guyana cooled down at the bars and in the clubs after a long week of work, the State struck to physically remove one of the fiercest critics of the government of the day. Now almost four decades later, a Commission of Inquiry has found that the Government, the State and their top leaderships conspired to carry out that brutal act. Rodney was not the first victim of the State— his comrades Ohene Koama and Edward Dublin and the Catholic priest, Fr Bernard Darke had met a similar fate in the preceding year— but he was the best known. Murder by the state had become part of our political veins. There are some lessons to be learned from the findings of the Commission. First, these findings are an indictment of our State. Our post-colonial or independence state, replete with all the characteristics of
colonial domination, has been the antithesis of independence. We have failed miserably in the area of human-rights for our weak, our powerless, our sufferers and those who dared to stand with them. We in Guyana and the rest of Caribbean never learned how to deal with dissent in our politics. As a society we are products of resistance, but we have used the state to assassinate resistance at every twist and turn. The State in such circumstances became a tool of repression of dissent. It is a flaw that begs to be corrected We stood with our African brethren against racial apartheid while we practiced a vicious political and social apartheid at home. Our reach for education as liberation produced some of the best minds in the world like Walter Rodney, but we marginalized and killed those very minds in the name of the party and the state. We marched with workers in 1962 and 1966 but turned the guns of the state on them in 1963 and 1967. From the “Bring the Rastas in dead or alive” in Jamaica in 1963 to “Our steel is sharper” in 1979 to “Shoot them off the bridge” in 2012, we have used the State against our own. Second, the governments since 1980, all of them, have assassinated Rodney even after his death by carrying out what Elder Eusi Kwayana calls “assassination of the evidence.” Some government officials have trivialized the act and in the process diminished Rodney in the eyes of many Guyanese. Some justify the murder by saying he was trying to
overthrow the government, he was causing trouble. It pains to hear ordinary Guyanese parrot that narrative—these very Guyanese, 200,000 of them who overthrew a government on May 11, 2015. Should we all be murdered as Rodney was? Should those who conspired to overthrow colonial rule be murdered? Third, I have heard many well-meaning and some not so well-meaning Guyanese say that Rodney’s WPA declined after his assassination. In their haste to talk cheap politics they miss something fundamental—Guyana declined after Rodney’s death. Guyana declined after Rodney’s assassination largely because many of us, high and low, justified the brutal acts of the State in defence of the Party and the Leader. And in so doing we left in place the brutal State that would eventually devour Courtney Crum-Ewing, Ronald Waddell, the Linden Martyrs, the over 400 Black Men and tried to devour Freddie Kissoon. What Rodney and all these recent martyrs have in common is that they have been victims of State Violence. And we are being hypocritical if we cry for Justice for Waddell, Crum Ewing, the Linden Martyrs and the victims of the Phantoms but try to justify Walter Rodney’s murder. They were all fighting to overthrow injustice and return Guyana to its noble tradition and they were all assassinated by the State. Fourth, we will hear the responses and counter-
responses to the verdict of the Commission. The politicians and pundits will have their say. The findings will be discredited by some. But, I hope that these findings do not become a source of further conflict but an occasion for bringing the country together. I also hope that our government rises above the fray. The government is made up of the PNC, WPA, AFC and others—a Unity Government. As a government it should not take sides. We have to deal frontally with the question of State Violence. There must be a commitment to democratize the State. All of us—the government, political parties, Civil Society—have a role to play in this regard. Political interference in the work of State institutions should be ceased. And those who serve in the state must be sanctioned when they deviate from the rule of law and respect for human rights. Fifth, this should not be a time for throwing around guilt. Younger and newer members and supporters of the PNC must not be made to bear the burden of an act that was committed long before they came into politics or were born and they, in turn, should resist engaging in the demeaning politics of justification of wrongdoing . The WPA should not use the findings of the Commission to ridicule those to whom the accusatory finger is pointed. And the PPP should get off its socalled high-horse, for it too presided over political assassinations. Let Guyana live again. David Hinds
Some advice to people in the tourism industry DEAR EDITOR, So pleased to learn that “Guyana is open for business”. But, apart from the attractions listed, let us try, first of all, to make sure that our hotel and guest-house general facilities are those which investors and commercial travellers expect to be available after perhaps
much preparation and a long journey. In my travels, over many years, to ‘foreign parts’, c h o o s i n g holidays always from a travel agents’ brochure, booked through them, always covering flight and pick-up from airport to accommodation, in a holiday
An island in Guyana without water DEAR EDITOR, I would like to know as to why Wakenaam island is not getting any pipe water for the past couple months; maybe one hour every three days the island will get water. People depend on the water to cook and wash and bath and much more as rain has not been falling. It is very sad. I see people drinking the river water which is polluted. Pregnant women carrying water in buckets from the river to their homes. Please help these people. We need help. You know water is life. They can’t use the trench water because of the chemical the rice fields are sprayed with. HELP THEM PLEASE! Natasha Persaud
group, I have found that travellers expect, on arrival at their accommodation, either a drink of some sort available on the house - or in their room. In American hotels, in general, there are beveragemaking facilities, with packets of tea, coffee, whitener, and sugar on hand. On one of my American holidays, an elderly chap, on alighting from the pick-up coach, said he hoped he could get a cup of coffee soon. When I mentioned the hotel’s facilities, he was so pleased. In establishments elsewhere, drinks were always available on request. In Mauritius, every room had a minibar, well-stocked with local (non-alcoholic) drinks. A drink somehow seems to settle the system, and is often a good ‘gettingto-know-you’ move. One can relax (and chat) with a drink in hand.
If breakfast is included in the deal, then at least a continental-style one is expected. In Europe and the Middle East, I found that some hotels stuck to the minimum - a sweet bun or slice of cake, a crusty roll, butter, jam/marmalade and coffee/ tea. Tourists were usually happy with this. Fried stuff was always available as an extra, on request. So, open for business, Guyana may wish to consider the basics that ‘sophisticated’ investors expect. These make for good relations and pave the way for ‘doing business’. A ‘welcome drink’ of any sort is very important. It goes without saying that safe and reliable transport from airport to accommodation is a must. One hopes Guyana’s enterprise may thrive. Geralda Dennison
From page 22
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Monday February 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Monday February 22, 2016
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Many U.S. Catholics unfazed Syria violence rages as Kerry and by pope’s clash with Trump Lavrov reach provisional ceasefire deal Reuters - U.S. Catholics voiced support for Pope Francis yesterday after he criticized Donald Trump’s immigration stance as “not Christian,” but many interviewed by Reuters said the controversy would not necessarily sour them on the Republican presidential contender. The pontiff injected himself into the U.S. campaign during a conversation with reporters on his flight home from Mexico on Thursday. In his comments, Francis disparaged Trump’s vow to build a wall along the southern U.S. border to keep out illegal immigrants. A sampling of opinion from people before and after Sunday Mass suggested that many Catholics saw the pope’s comments as wellintentioned and grounded in a moral worldview. Many said Francis, who has become a champion of inclusion in his three-year tenure as head of the Roman Catholic Church, was right to insist on the humane treatment of all
immigrants. Even so, most of those interviewed in Boston and New York would not rule out voting for Trump based on what Francis said. About 21 percent of the U.S. population identifies as Catholic. “I agree with the pope as far as being a true Christian, you accept everybody,” said Paul Nappi, 65, outside Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Brooklyn, New York. “I happen to like Trump but I
don’t know if he’s literally about building walls or that’s just a figure of speech.” Many churchgoers said the media unfairly whipped up the controversy to goad the pope and Trump into a fight days before Saturday’s South Carolina Republican primary. Trump’s victory there made the billionaire real estate mogul the clear front-runner for his party’s nomination for the Nov. 8 election to succeed Democratic President Barack Obama. “It’s very treacherous for the media to ask those questions to the pope because they were questions inspired by the media itself,” said Catalina Carmona, 31, a lawyer visiting New York from Colombia. “He was put in a difficult situation and he said what a leader in his position would be able to say.” Francis never directly criticized Trump or mentioned him by name when he told reporters: “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.”
intact 100 percent and there is absolutely no concern of radiation.” A security official close to the investigation said it had been established soon after the material was stolen that it was being kept in Zubair and controls had been tightened to prevent it being taken out of the town. “After failing to take it out of the town, the perpetrators decided to dump it,” the security official said. “I assure you it is only a matter of time before we arrest those who stole the radioactive device.” The material, which uses gamma rays to test flaws in
materials used for oil and gas pipelines in a process called industrial gamma radiography, is owned by Istanbul-based SGS Turkey, according to the document and officials. The material is classed as a Category 2 radioactive source by the IAEA, meaning that if not managed properly it could cause permanent injury to a person in close proximity to it for minutes or hours, and could be fatal to someone exposed for a period of hours to days. SGS and Weatherford have both denied responsibility for the disappearance of the material last year.
Pope Francis
Missing radioactive material found dumped in south Iraq
Reuters - Radioactive material that went missing in Iraq has been found dumped near a petrol station in the southern town of Zubair, officials said yesterday, ending speculation it could be acquired by Islamic State and used as a weapon. The officials told Reuters the material, stored in a protective case the size of a laptop computer, was undamaged and there were no concerns about radiation. Reuters reported last week that Iraq had been searching for the material since it was stolen in November from a storage facility belonging to U.S. oilfield services company Weatherford (WFT.N) near the southern city of Basra. It was not immediately clear how the device, owned by Swiss inspections group SGS (SGSN.VX), ended up in Zubair, around 15 km (9 miles) southwest of Basra. “A passer-by found the radioactive device dumped in Zubair and immediately informed security forces which went with a special radiation prevention team and retrieved the device,” the chief of the security panel within Basra provincial council, Jabbar al-Saidi, told Reuters. “After initial checking I can confirm the device is
Reuters - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday he and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, had reached a provisional agreement on terms of a cessation of hostilities in Syria and the sides were closer to a ceasefire than ever before. Meanwhile, violence continued to rage in Syria. Multiple bomb blasts in a southern district of Damascus killed at least 87 p e o p l e y e s t e r d a y, t h e Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, and twin car bombs killed at least 59 people in Homs, the monitoring group said. Russian air strikes launched in September against rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad have exacerbated suffering and destruction in Syria, where a five-year-old civil war has killed more than a quarter of a million people. Assad said on Saturday he was ready for a ceasefire on condition “terrorists” did not use a lull in fighting to their advantage and that countries backing the insurgents stopped supporting them. The Syrian opposition had earlier said it had agreed to the “possibility” of a temporary truce, provided there were guarantees Damascus’s allies, including Russia, would cease fire, sieges were lifted and aid deliveries were allowed country-wide. “We have reached a provisional agreement in principle on the terms of a cessation of hostilities that could begin in the coming days,” Kerry told a news conference in Amman with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh. “The modalities for a cessation of hostilities are now being completed. In fact,
U.S. Foreign Secretary John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) go for a handshake before their bilateral talks in Munich, Germany, February 11, 2016. REUTERS/Michael Dalde we are closer to a ceasefire today than we have been,” said Kerry, who was also to meet King Abdullah. He declined to go into detail about the unresolved issues, saying the two sides were “filling out the details” of the agreement. And he indicated issues remained to be resolved and he did not expect any immediate change on the ground. He repeated the U.S. position that Assad had to step down. “With Assad there, this war cannot and will not end,” he said. Assad’s fate has been one of the main points of difference between Washington and Russia, the Syrian leader’s main international b a c k e r. Russia recently has begun to say Syrians should
decide on whether Assad should stay or not, but it continues to support Damascus with air strikes. Kerry said he had spoken to Lavrov on several occasions, including early yesterday, and that he anticipated U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin would talk in the coming days to complete the provisional agreement in principle. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed Lavrov and Kerry had spoken by phone yesterday about conditions for a ceasefire. It said the discussions were on conditions that would exclude operations against organisations “recognised as terrorist by U.N. Security Council”.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 22, 2016
Nipdec fails to pay Cuba government welcomes pharmacies $$M for months US president’s historic visit - Minister seeks quick resolution Trinidad Guardian President of the Pharmacy Board of T&T Andrew Rahaman claims the National Insurance Property Development Company Ltd (Nipdec) is owing 290 pharmacies millions of dollars for services rendered under the Chronic Disease Assistance Programme (CDAP). The pharmacies, which have been awaiting payments for the past eight months, are now threatening to withhold services to thousands of CDAP patients until they are paid. Saturday, however, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the issue was never brought to his attention by Rahaman and that the Sunday Guardian was the first to raise the issue. He described the situation as “very disturbing.” Deyalsingh could not say how much the pharmacies were owed, however, since he needed to speak with the ministry’s permanent secretary, who would then have to obtain that information from the accounts department. He promised to do so today. However, Deyalsingh
complained, “He (Rahaman) just runs to the media for every little thing.” Deyalsingh said that he found his ministry in a total mess and he had to fix things one by one. “It’s a wreck. I am assuring that all matters in the Ministry of Health are sorted out, whether it is maternal deaths, H1N1, Zika. The ministry is just in shambles,” he said. The minister gave the assurance he had received no formal request from the Pharmacy Board membership or its president on the matter. “All stakeholders that have issues to be resolved have always found the ministry ready and willing to meet around the conference table, to enter into meaningful dialogue in an atmosphere geared toward problem solving based on mutual trust, understanding and confidentiality, the hallmarks of successful negotiation,” he said. Deyalsingh said it was therefore not his intention to enter into a public media discussion with Rahaman or the board’s membership, but he appealed for dialogue on
Terrence Deyalsingh the issue so their concerns could be addressed. Told that pharmacies have also been dispensing CDAP drugs without signing a 2016 contract with Nipdec, Deyalsingh responded, “All that is news to me.” On Friday, Rahaman said collectively the pharmacies “are owed millions of dollars” but could not quantify the sum involved. Asked what was causing the delay in payments, Rahaman said he believed that Nipdec was short of funds. For months, Rahaman said, “some pharmacies have been clamouring to stop dispensing CDAP until they are paid.
HAVANA, Cuba (ACN) — The director general of the United States office of the Cuban ministry of foreign affairs, Josefina Vidal, said US President Barak Obama will be welcomed by the government and people of Cuba, with their characteristic hospitality, during his planned visit to Cuba on March 21 and 22. “It will be an opportunity for President Obama to appreciate Cuban reality and continue holding exchanges on the possibilities of expanding bilateral dialogue and cooperation on issues of mutual interest to both countries,” she said, adding that this visit will be another step towards improving relations between Cuba and the United States. “Of course,” Vidal continued, “to achieve the normalization of bilateral relations, key outstanding issues, including the lifting of the
embargo and the return to Cuba of the territory occupied by the naval base in Guantanamo, would need to be resolved.” The visit of the US head of state, she said, will also be an opportunity to ratify the willingness of the Cuban government to continue making progress in building a new relationship, based on the observance of the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and the principles of the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, and based on respect for differences and on the mutual benefits derived from the historic, cultural and family ties that have united the two countries and peoples. Last week, White House press secretary, Josh Earnest, confirmed that President Obama and the First Lady will travel to Cuba on March 21 and 22, the first visit to the Caribbean island by a sitting US
Josefina Vidal president in nearly 90 years “In Cuba, the president will work to build on the progress we have made toward normalization of relations with Cuba – advancing commercial and people-to-people ties that can improve the well-being of the Cuban people, and expressing our support for human rights,” he said.
IMPACT Justice project to host media law workshop in Barbados BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Media personnel from across the region are scheduled to attend a media law workshop hosted by the Canadian government-funded project Improved Access to Justice in the Caribbean (IMPACT Justice). IMPACT Justice, which is a regional justice sector reform project, is being implemented from within the Caribbean Law Institute Centre, UWI, Cave Hill Campus. The workshop, which takes place from tomorrow to Wednesday at the Radisson Aquatica Resort, Barbados, falls under the project’s public legal education component. The topics to be presented are aimed at addressing the rights of the media; the role of the media in educating the public about their rights and the media’s duty to act responsibly.
The workshop will commence with an opening ceremony at which Dr Margaret Gail Miller, senior director to the Caribbean Regional Programme and director for Canada to the Caribbean Development Bank, will deliver remarks on behalf of the government of Canada. Prof. Velma Newton, regional project director of IMPACT Justice, will provide an introduction to the project. Commenting on the goals of the workshop, Newton stated, “It is expected that the delivery of this programme will result in increased knowledge of the rights of journalists and the legal parameters within which they are expected to operate; increased knowledge of the rights of the public in relation to the media and an overall awareness of the principles of responsible journalism.” (Caribbean News)
Polls to be decided by uncommitted voters, says JLP’s Chang The Gleaner - The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says the imminent polls will be decided by uncommitted voters, dismissing the results of polls and research which indicate that it will lose Thursday. The position of the JLP comes as the island’s two main political parties give their reactions to the latest projections of the outcome of Thursday’s general elections by The University of the West Indies research team. The projections, published in Sunday Gleaner, predict a 40-seat win for the ruling People’s National Party (PNP), using the CHAMPSKNOW forecast. The team of political scientists says the PNP has a
Dr. Horace Chang 56 per cent chance of winning compared to the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) 44 per cent. However, the JLP’s general secretary, Dr Horace
Chang, says although the intellect of the researchers should be respected, the projection is subjective and based on research done late last year. He says the election will be decided by uncommitted voters over the course of the next four days. Pointing to the Don Anderson polls, he says the number of people who have decided to vote has increased significantly since January. The PNP’s Deputy General Secretary Julian Robinson, however, says even with the favourable projections for his party, its confidence is supported by further internal analysis. He opted not to give a seat count projection.
Monday February 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
Courts 50 miles Independence cycle road race set for next Sunday
Courts Berbice Branch Manager Stanley Alexander (right) presents the entity’s sponsorship cheque to FACC coach and organiser Randolph Roberts. A part of its observation of the 50 Independence anniversary celebrations, Courts Guyana has organised a 50 miles cycle road race in Berbice. The event is slated for next Sunday and all the top cyclists in the country are expected to travel to Berbice to participate in the event which is dubbed “the Courts Independence 50 miles cycle road race.” The event which is open to cyclists throughout Guyana is set to begin in front of the Court store in New Amsterdam at Main and St Ann Street, proceed to Nand Persaud Business Complex up the Corentyne before returning to finish at the place of origin. Female and U16 cyclists will pedal from the No.10 miles pole to the finish line. There is also a race for BMX cyclists and they will ride
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Jaguars, Pride contribute to Cancer foundation
Griffith (left) & Coppin presents Mrs Lewis with the shirt. Carlos Braithwaite is in the background with pink T-Shirt.
from the Canje Turn to the finish line at Courts. Starting time is 10:00 hrs and the cyclists are expected to be sent on their way by Regional Chairman Region No6 David Armogan. There will be prizes for the first six finishers, the top three juniors, the first three females, first three U16 riders and the first four BMX riders to cross the finishing line. There will also be eight sprint point prizes up for grabs. A grueling event is anticipated. The presentation ceremony will be held immediately after the completion of the event. The event is organized by the Flying Ace Cycle Club and coordinated by Coach Randolph Roberts. Cyclists are reminded that they must ride in their club colours. (Samuel Whyte)
Hope, Carter hammer tons for Pride... From page 34 a reckless swipe and topedged Permaul high into the air for Leon Johnson to run back from slip to hold the catch after batting for 160 minutes and 127 balls. Corbin reached the ropes just three times and faced 105 dot balls to leave the score on 96-2 and break the 48-run partnership. The 27-year-old Brooks joined Shai Hope and was soon into his stride in a slight drizzle and a strong breeze. Brooks drove with majestic elegance and an exquisite cover drive off pacer Keon Joseph was absolutely orgasmic and rekindled memories Carl Hooper in full flow before he edged Permaul for four to join Vishaul Singh as the only batsmen with 500 runs this season. While 22-year-old Hope was very circumspect in his approach, Brooks was entertainingly fluent and his several audacious shots were ‘easy on the eye’ as he was quickly catching up with Hope. The sun returned in all its glory just before Lunch on another ‘Pink day’ at Kensington as the partnership flourished. By lunch the Pride, desperately
looking for an outright win to narrow the gap on the tournament leaders, were 1302. Hope was on 35 and Brooks on 22 and with five sessions remaining the lead was 214. After Lunch Brooks (26) was removed by Joseph after facing 55 balls and hitting three fours at 142-3 but Hope who playing at pedestrian pace exploded ‘out of the blue’ with back-to-back boundaries off Bishoo to post his fifth half-century from 130 balls, 192 minutes with three fours. Chase arrived at the crease needing seven runs to join Singh and Brooks in the 500 club but when on three he chased a ball that left him from Joseph and edged it to slip as the Hosts slipped to 158-4. Joseph, who bowled impressively in sweltering heat, dropped a reflex catch off his own bowling when Hope, then 60, smashed one back at him which the pacer involuntarily parried to midon. Carter bent on one knee and swept Bishoo for four before nonchalantly easing Permaul onto the sightscreen, while a wide half volley from Reifer was dispatched disdainfully to the point boundary. Carter pounced
onto Beaton, who leaked runs, and flat batted him past mid-on for four and by Tea the Pride had progressed to 2314 with Hope on 86 and Carter on 40 and the overall lead of 315. After Tea Carter carted Bishoo for four to get to his 16th fifty from 66 balls, 97 minutes with 3 fours and a six and celebrated with consecutive boundaries to take the lead past 350, while the more sedate Hope put his foot on the gas and reached his fourth ton at this level from 308 minutes, 207 balls with five fours. Carter pulled Bishoo for another four while Hope kept hopes of Barbados securing an outright win alive with a dismissive pull for four off part-time off-spinner Johnson. Carter danced into Johnson and clipped him for another four. Carter dumped Permaul for consecutive sixes to gallop into the 80s. Carter then stroked Johnson, who persisted with his innocuous spin, imperiously through the covers before getting to his third hundred at which time the declaration was made. Joseph and Permaul had two wickets each for the Jaguars.
Cancer survivors Lynda Lewis and Guyanese Journalist Sean Devers. Saturday during the Tea break of the seventh round PCL game between the Guyana Jaguars and the Barbados Pride at the Kensington Oval, the Managers of both teams presented the Little Pink Gift Foundation with a team shirt with autographs of every team
member from both sides. Little Pink Gift Foundation was established in 2010 by Breast Cancer survivor Lynda Lewis and provides financial assistance to Barbadian Citizens for their diagnosis and treatment for Breast Cancer. Although rare, men too
can get Breast Cancer. On Wednesday the Barbados team along with several supporters participated in a pink parade to raise Cancer awareness on the 166 square Mile Island and to help raise funds for the Foundation. The venture was initiated by Barbados and West Indies all rounder Carlos Braithwaite who leaves for the t20 World Cup. Jaguars Manager Rayon Griffith and his Bajan counterpart Wendell Coppin presented the cricket shirt to Mrs. Lewis, while Braithwaite presented the funds raised by the Bajan team. Mrs. Lewis thanked the cricketers for their thoughtful gesture and the Barbados public for their support and informed that a group of Breast Cancer survivors were in the 3Ws Stand watching the cricket. She was also introduced the Guyanese cricket commentator and Kaieteur News Sports Journalist Sean Devers, who is in Barbados to cover the PCL match. Devers is a brain Cancer survivor. Spectators were encouraged to wear pink during the course of this game which ends today.
Guyanese Hetmyer, Paul, Imlach... From page 34 coaches and manager that it wouldn’t happen again, and I remembered that when I went out to bat in the final so I took it upon myself take the team home; Carty did well too,” he said. Paul stated that the victory is for the West Indian people. “We have been going through a lot recently so I really wanted to win; I was a bit emotional since my family was watching.” The all-rounder whose short term goal is to get into the Guyana senior team advises youths to put their trust in God and remain
humble. He thanked his family and friends for their support. Wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach who performed creditably said he was elated to see the West Indian People so happy. “When we arrived in Barbados and for us to see the people so happy is a plus for us. The guys in the team love cricket and are willing to give their best, we help others throughout the competition and those little things can take you a far way,” he added. When asked about him affecting the run out of opener Rishabh Pant to trigger India’s slide Imlach said, “I saw him leaving his crease the
previous delivery so I decided to have a throw the next opportunity and it worked.” The DCC player credited club mates Trevon Griffith and Christopher Barnwell for their assistance while on tour. “These guys helped me a lot, they were in touched with me most of the time and I appreciate their advice a lot,” he informed. Imlach told Kaieteur Sport that while he is willing to share his knowledge with the youngsters at his club, he is looking forward to the national academy and thanked his family and members at DCC.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 22, 2016
New Amsterdam/Canje/East Bank are BCB/JZ Mohamed Inter Zone U-15 champs Nikeem Noble is named man of the finals New Amsterdam/Canje/ East Bank played unbeaten to beat West Berbice by 49 runs to put their hands on the first edition of The JZ Mohamed of City Bias, New York, USA inter zone under-15 cricket tournament organised by the Berbice Cricket Board. In the final played at the Albion Sports Complex on Saturday 20th of February, 2016 under brilliant sunshine, West Berbice won the toss and inserted the New Amsterdam/Canje/East Bank team who started well with openers Jarron France and Ricardo Ramdehol putting on 23 before they lost Ramdehol for 6 bowled by off spinner Marvan Prasad. Carl Gilgeous came in at 3 but went quickly for 5 bowled by left arm spinner Nigel Deodat. The combined team soon lost France also bowled by Deodat for 16 with the score on 33. Aaron Beharry and Leon Swamy joined forces to put together a good partnership of 48 for the 4th wicket before Beharry went for 10. Swamy stayed the course and rallied with the tail until he went for 32. He got support from Nicolas Haywood who made an unbeaten 18 with his team finishing on 147 for 7 off their allotted 50 overs. Shahid
The winning team enjoys the moment with representatives of the sponsors. Baksh, Nigel Deodat and Marvan Prasad took two wickets a piece. In reply, West Berbice started poorly losing Berbice selectee Fawaz Gafoor bowled by skipper Jevan Schultz for 1. In came captain Seon Glasgow (Jnr) who looked positive. He lost his partner Keshwar Adhim bowled by Schultz for 4 with the score on 17. Prasad joined his skipper but he didn’t last long, going caught behind by wicketkeeper Carl Gilgeous off Haywood for 8. Deodat joined
Glasgow and repaired the innings somewhat putting on 35 for the fourth wicket before Nikeem Noble bowled Deodat for 16. Romel Ross came and went for 2, bowled by Noble. Hemraj Heralall was then bowled by Beharry for 6 followed by skipper Glasgow caught at long on off Noble for the topscore of 35. West Berbice suffered further as Shahid Baksh was brilliantly stumped by Gilgeous off Beharry for 4 with the score on 86 for 8. Gaurav Narangal was then caught off Noble for 4 and Tyrese
Carmichael lbw Beharry for 0 as West Berbice folded for 98 off 33 overs. Noble ended with 4 for 16 off 9, Beharry 2 for 25 off 10 and Schultz 2 for 18 off 5. Noble was voted man of the match for his four wicket haul. Speaking on behalf of The Berbice Cricket Board, Dhiriendranuth Somwaru thanked Shabeer Baksh of Blairmont Cricket Club, Upper Corentyne Cricket Association and Young Warriors Cricket Club for hosting a match each. He also said big thanks to the major sponsor Jameel Mohamed of City Bias, New York, USA. Somwaru encouraged the players to mix the game with education and congratulated those who made the Berbice under15 team and wished them well. Mohamed said that he was pleased with the way the
Man of the match Nikeem Noble receives his award from a representative of the sponsor. tournament was run and assured that next year will be bigger and better. The BCB is grateful to the
print and electronic media for their extensive coverage of this tournament and all the work of the board.
Nadal dumped from Rio semifinals by Uruguayan battler (Reuters) Rafa Nadal’s below-par season has continued with the former world number one dumped from the Rio Open semi-finals with a 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 6-4 defeat by unseeded Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas on Saturday. The top seed pipped Cuevas in a first set tie-break and denied his opponent two set points in the second but succumbed to his first defeat against the world number 45. “I lost an opportunity, that’s it,” Spaniard Nadal said after being denied his 100th ATP final by claycourt specialist Cuevas who fired 48 winners to clinch the contest. “I fought until the end. I have to accept it and keep working to try to change the dynamic. That’s what’s happening today and I have to work hard to change it,” added the
14-times grand slam champion. “I didn’t win a title, so it wasn’t a positive two tournaments. I had my chances in both. I lost in the semi-finals of both tournaments and just have to look forward to Indian Wells.” Cuevas will meet another unseeded player in Guido Pella in the claycourt final after the Argentine’s 6-1 6-4 humbling of fifth seed Dominic Thiem, who beat Nadal in the semifinals in Buenos Aires last week. World number five Nadal, who failed to win a grand slam title last year for the first time since 2004, entered the season positive after an injury-free off-season but was dumped out of the first round of the Australian Open and has struggled to return to his best form since.
Monday February 22, 2016
Kaieteur News
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GBBC ‘Hostile Territory’Boxing extravaganza Jackie Chan leads Golden Jaguars Elton Dharry arrives for his ring date to 2-0 triumph over Suriname with Hidrogo; spews confidence of victory By Franklin Wilson A fine display of possession football interspersed with strategic offensive and defensive plays saw Guyana’s Golden Jaguars romping to a 2-0 win over old rivals Suriname at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, last night. Elevated to the Captaincy after being out of contention for some time, a new and matured Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson blasted goals either side of play to lead his country to a commanding win as both nations are preparing for action in the Caribbean Men’s Championship, next month. Richardson who scored in the 18th and 74th minute crafted a memorable win for the Guyanese which has been achieved with an all home based team that would have benefitted from the ongoing and inaugural, Stag Elite League. Within the first minute Richardson had the Suriname goalkeeper Claydel Kohinor punching the ball away from a powerful shot just outside the six yards area as the home team showed their intentions of taking the attack to their rivals. Fellow forward, Vurlon Mills missed the opportunity of putting the Guyanese ahead from a beautiful square that was served up by Dwight Peters playing right midfield in the 4th minute as the locals looked a well-oiled unit. They utilised the full width of the field as the ball was allowed to do the work. Peters in the 7th minute was very casual in accepting a long pass which he could have volleyed home but choose to pass it to a teammate but the Surinamese intercepted. The visiting side which also featured mostly their Under-23 team with a few senior players did not look too fazed by the Guyanese as they played a patient game. Peters again in the 10th minute found Mills in the area but Mills was not able to get off a shot owing to tight defending. Mitchell Kisoor in the 12th minute made the first promising run for the Surinamese but his effort was shortlived as Guyanese goalie Alex Murray anticipated well to intercept. Peters, Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant, Mills, Eon Alleyne and Richardson proved a handful for the Surinamese in midfield and attack. Defender Solomon Austin sent a header wide in the 15th minute from a corner taken by Grant with the domination the Golden Jaguars continuing. In the 17th minute Captain Richardson gave Guyana the lead on an assist from left side midfielder Eon Alleyne whose run deep into the area triggered the experience of Richardson as he calmly collected and hammered home for the Golden Jaguars to take the lead, 1-0. It was just reward for the constant raids on the Surinamese by the Golden Jaguars which also enjoyed the bulk of possession. In the middle moments of the half it was quiet, the exchanges being even. Richardson came close to increasing the advantage in the 32nd minute but his shot was blocked by the defender for a corner. The combo of Richardson and Mills had the Surinamese defence on high alert all along. Richardson and Mills in tandem again in the 39th minute came up short of increasing the lead. Mills again one minute later was not forceful enough on the end of a high pass from Allen, his header going wide of the upright. Peters was fouled just outside of the box in the 41st minute trying to get past two defenders, the ensuing free kick by center midfielder Colin Nelson went just wide of the post as the Golden Jaguars continued to show excellent aggression and condition. Peters threw over a tantalizing ball in the
43rd minute and Grant’s aim for goal saw the ball going way over the bar. Suriname made another enterprising run, which were few and far, in the 44th minute to end the first half which belonged to the home team. Aiming to continue their domination of proceedings, Guyana brought in Konata Manning at the start of the second half for Travis Grant, a minute of silence being observed for the passing of former National Player Julian Moe. The home team continued their attacking style of play. Richardson sent a nice cross in front of the visitor’s goal in the 48th minute but there was no one to finish. He himself came up short in the 52nd minute when he had only Kohinor to beat; his shot went directly into the body of the Surinamese custodian. The visitors looked more aggressive at the start of the second half, forcing back to back corners in the 54th minute but could not crack the home team’s defence. They enjoyed a good period of possession in the Guyanese defensive third but could not get past the air tight defence of the Golden Jaguars. On the hour, the home team made two more subs, Eon Alleyne and Vurlon Mills making way for Devon Millington and Daniel Wilson even as Suriname continued to press forward.Wilson in the 63rd minute almost doubled the lead with a powerful shot from just outside the area that rebounded into play off the upright with Kohinor beaten all ends up. Trayon Bobb came on in the 69th minute for Colin Nelson, while Suriname made their first change when Milton Pinas made way for Galgyto Talea. Suriname’s first real challenge on goal saw Murray negating them in the 71st minute pressing deep into the Guyanese defensive third. It was really the Richardson show as he; on the end of a punchy and well directed pass from Joshua Browne in the 73rd minute finished clinically to double the home teams lead in grand fashion much to the applause of the appreciative fans on hand. The goal came during a period when the Surinamese were enjoying their best possession of the match but not even that could have kept the Golden Jaguars from increasing the advantage. Desperate for a goal, Suriname brought in Jual Pengel for Bruce Diporedjo (a product of the Digicel Kick Start Clinics) in the 77th minute. Richardson’s second goal swung the momentum back the Golden Jaguars way and with the fresh legs that were introduced, the home team kept pushing the visitors back, play after play.With five minutes to play, Richardson was replaced by debutant Dwayne Lindie, while Peters was replaced by Dellon Lanferman for his debut at the senior level. Suriname went wide of the upright from a header taken by Galgyto Talea in the 91st minute. The final score Guyana 2 Suriname 0. Guyana – 01 Alex Murray,30 Solomon Austin, 16 Joshua Browne,21 Colin Nelson,08 Travis Grant, 18 Kester Jacobs, 23 Eon Alleyne, 17 Vurlon Mills, 11 Gregory Richardson,10 Dwight Peters, 04 Quincey Adams Subs -22 Alywn Mc Donald, 03 Linden Pickett, 15 Mark McLean, 12 Dwayne Lindie, 09 Devon Millington, 20 Trayon Bobb, 09 Daniel Wilson, 05 Trevon Lythcott, 06 Jahall Greaves, 14 Dellon Lanferman Suriname - 01 Claydel Kohinor, 02 Miquel Darson, 03 Saverio Adenie, 04 Albert Nibte, 05 Guno Kwasi, 06 Bruce Diporedjo, 07 Mitchell Kisoor, 08 Enzo Senkye, 09 Milton Pinas, 10RpxeyFer, 11 Evani Esperance Subs - 12 Galgyto Talea, 14 Jual Pengel, 15 Yvanildo Miesidjan, 22 Sercinio Profijit
Singh and Gibson apply the finishing touches to their training sessions with a grueling session on the strike pads held by Lennox Daniels. By Michael Benjamin International Boxing Federation (IBF) InterContinental Bantamweight champion, Elton ‘The Bully’ Dharry, landed in Guyana early yesterday morning to keep his ring date with Panamanian boxer, Israel Hidrogo in a 10 rounds bantamweight duel on a card dubbed ‘Hostile Territory’ at the Giftland Office Max Mall, Liliendaal ECD February 27. Shortly after arriving in the Capital City Dharry, who travelled with former world rated fighter and Commonwealth champion, Lennox Blackmore, opened camp at the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym, Independence Boulevard and engaged in a light session of shadow boxing and pads work, under the tutelage of Blackmore. The recently crowned Inter-Continental Bantamweight champion is in top shape and said that he is confident of winning his bout. “I respect the fact that (Hidrogo) is a former world champion but I am up and coming and very hungry so I cannot let him step in my way,” Dharry stated matterof-factly. He said that he was first informed of a fight here in Guyana since early December last year and had been in training since then. He was, however, forced to endure several postponements after his previous opponents opted out of the bout. “When I was informed that Hidrogo had accepted the bout I was ecstatic and immediately
intensified training in New York,” Dharry intimated. This writer noted that Dharry is in ripping (physical) form and was told that this was due to the volume of work in New York under the guide of his head coach, Martin Gonsalves with support from Blackmore. He said that he has been viewing tapes of Hidrogo in action and is quite confident he could overcome the imminent hurdle. Quizzed on whether he will engage in sparring sessions before the fight, Dharry answered in the negative saying that he had sparred extensively while in New York and will be concentrating on a lot of speed and coordination work for the final leg of his training sessions. He said that he had engaged in tough sparring sessions with Jose Gonsalves and Ariel Lopez, two tough Spanish fighters in Gleasons. Blackmore is also confident that his charge will do well. He said that Dharry is a hard worker and he has been working diligently for this fight even amidst the many disappointments. Meanwhile, coach, Lennox Daniels was hard at work as
he whipped his charges into shape. He is in charge of Mandessa Moses and Dexter Marques and both of these fighters also trained diligently yesterday morning. Daniels also worked with Clairmont Gibson and Nankumar Singh, two of the amateur boxers that will be on show. Singh engages Jason Phillips, while Gibson battles Diwani Lampkin in the amateur segment of the card. Both boxers are sharp and ready for combat, evidenced by their diligent application on the strike pads. Fans will also get a chance to evaluate the form of Dennis Thomas and Desmond Amsterdam, the two boxers shortlisted for the Olympic Qualifiers in Argentina, next month. They will box in a three rounds exhibition bout to round off the amateur segment. The other fights on the card include Imran ‘Magic’ Khan against Quincy Gomes in a 6 rounds lightweight duel, while Cassius Matthews battles Kishawn ‘Special K’ Simon in a 6 rounds welterweight return bout. Admission is $5,000 for a ringside seat while general seating costs $2,000.
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Kaieteur News
Monday February 22, 2016
Bakewell renews sponsorship of RHTYSC teams for 17th consecutive years
Bakewell Administrative Assistant MS. Natasha Bhikhari hands over sponsorship to RHTYSC Club Captain Shawn Perriera. Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club well known ability to maintain a long term sponsorship, was once again on Friday last supported by Bakery giants, Bakewell who renewed its cricket sponsorship for the seventeenth consecutive year. The Georgetown based
business giant would be pumping $230,000 in the Club’s Under-17 and Second Division teams for 2016. Bakewell would also during the year, co-sponsor the RHTYSC annual youth magazine, annual cricket academy, annual awards ceremony, charity outreach programmes, educational summer camp and sponsor
the annual Naem Nasir 5 overs Memorial cricket tournament. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster hailed Bakewell as one of RHTYSC Main foundation of success and described the Company as one the Club’s best friends. Quoting former Patron of the Club, MS. Beverly Harper, the long standing Secretary/CEO
stated that the RHTYSC was a small Club from a small community doing great things and creating miracles. Bakewell, he stated has been sponsoring the two teams since the year 2000 and over the years have won a combined eight Berbice Championships and numerous local tournaments. The Second Division team
Jim Bacchus Travel Service latest sponsor on board with Young Warriors fundraiser All roads lead to the Cumberland Cricket ground in East Canje, Berbice tomorrow, Tuesday February 23, 2016, Republic Day, a national holiday. More support for the annual fund raiser of the Young Warriors Cricket Club of Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice - Mash Cup 2016 has come from Jim Bacchus Travel Service. At a simple presentation ceremony, Miss Kelly of the reliable travel service presented the sponsorship cheque to former national cricketer and club coach Hubern Evans. She said that her company is pleased to once more be part of this mega event. Evans thanked Jim Bacchus Travel Service for supporting this event. He added that support like this has helped to unearth talent like Shimron Hetmyer, the winning captain of the West Indies under-19 team. Other sponsors on board so far are beverage giants
Hubern Evans (left) collects cheque from Miss Kelly of Jim Bacchus Travel Service. ANSA McAL, Ashiek and Sons Motor Supplies and Auto Sale, Massy Distribution, Roshan Satar
Supermarket, A Ally and Sons Showroom, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, Memorex, NBS Ltd, J S Printery, Vickram
Jewellery, Sham Beer Garden, Mr Mortimer George, Attorney at law Murseline Bacchus, RHYY&SC, A Mahabir and Sons, Regional Democratic Council, Region No 6, Mundal Satar and Office Express. This event will form part of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebration with proceeds going towards further improvements to the club’s facilities and day to day running. In addition, funds will be allocated to three schools in the No19 to Gangaram area. Meanwhile, the draw for the first round will see: Canefield vs Gangaram, YWCC vs Seawell, Buski vs Canje Pathfinders, No 19 ‘A’ vs No 19 ‘B’, Betsy Ground vs Goed Bananen Land and Rose Hall Estate vs No 7. Incentives with the value of over $100,000 will be up for grabs along with lots of gate prizes for the fans.
is currently awaiting to play the semi-finals of the NBS 40 overs tournament, while the Under-17 team is also awaiting for the long delayed Under-17 Berbice Quarterfinals. The RHTYSC, he stated is proud to be the bearer of the Bakewell brand in Berbice and would continue to do so in the future with pride and passion. Foster informed that players like James Fraser, Askay Homraj, Michael Trim, Kemraj Mahadeo, Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Abdel Fudadin, Jason Sinclair, Shemaine Campbelle and Erva Giddings have all represented the Bakewell teams over the last seventeen years. The teams which has special responsibilities for the RHTYSC Say No to Drugs, Crime and Suicide programme has also competed a total of 804 projects/activities under the name of the sponsorship, with special emphasis on youths in the Lower Corentyne area. Both teams have committed themselves to successfully completing 8projects/activities during 2016 Under the Sub-heading of sports, religious, antidrugs, anti-suicide, charity and youth development. The
Club, whose Patron is President David Granger, expressed gratitude to the Management of Bakewell especially its General Manager Rajin Ganga for its continued support and confidence. General Manager of Bakewell, Rajin Ganga stated that Bakewell has never regretted its sponsorship of the Club and has watched on in admiration as the RHTYSC has transformed itself as the leading youth and sports organisation in Guyana. The Bakewell brand has received major promotion via the cricket teams and he offered congratulations to the RHTYSC on being awarded a national award – The Medal of Service by the Government of Guyana for its outstanding contribution to the development of our beloved country. The Bakewell Under-17 team in 2016 would be led by national junior cricketer Kevlon Anderson with Keith Simpson as his deputy, while Major James Fraser would lead the Second Division team with Anderson as his Deputy. Keith Hicks and Ravindranauth Kissoonlall would perform the duties of Manager.
Berbice, Demerara record victories Berbice and Demerara recorded victories when the Guyana Cricket Board/ Dave West Indian Exports Guy-NY Inter-County U15 50-over tournament commenced yesterday. Playing at Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda, Berbice overcame the President’s XI by eight wickets. Batting first, the President’s XI managed 124 all out in 45.1 overs with Daniel Dharamdat scoring 29 and Abdul Ramsammy 20; Aaron Beharry claimed 3-10, Nigel Deodat 2-14 and Seon Glasgow 2-26. Berbice were set a revised target of 105 off 36 overs after a lengthy rain delay, achieved victory with 15 overs to spare, losing two wickets in the process. Carl Gilgeous led with 36 while Jerron France got 22 and Glasgow 18 not out. At DCC, Demerara beat Essequibo by 112 runs. Demerara took first strike and scored 256-6 in 50 overs. Shoaib Sham struck a composed 79 while Sachin Singh hit a fluent 50, Yeudistir Persaud made 40 and Dwayne
Sachin Singh Dick 28; Amon Sarwan snared 3-28. Essequibo responded with 144-6 in 50 overs. Lance Roberts slammed 42, while Mark Fredericks got 19, Sarwan 15, Sheldon Charles 14, Salwin Williams 11 and Bumeshwar Ramkissoon nine. Daniel Mootoo captured 4-26. The competition continues today with Berbice facing Demerara at DCC and Essequibo playing the GCB President’s XI at Wales.