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Kaieteur News

KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210

Guest Editorial

SHOULD MURDERERS BE GRANTED BAIL? In Guyana as in most, if not all countries, murder is considered a very serious and highly sensitive offence. Quite often, society always appeared shocked and outraged by the act and the circumstances surrounding murders, especially when it involved children. The remand of the former Guyana Police Force Sergeant, Colin Bailey, for the alleged murder of his common-law wife, Sirmattie Ramnaress, has raised questions about the length of time it takes the police to solve crimes. It also highlights what constitutes a bailable offence. In some cases, not in Guyana, some murderers are granted bail based on their status in society, while those without status are denied their pre-trial liberty. This is likely to become a high profile case since it involved a ranking member of the Police Force. In Guyana people on trial for murder have been granted bail after a very lengthy delay in getting to trial. Some languished in jail for as long as eight years before the preliminary inquiry. These people were sometimes granted bail. The notion of whether someone accused of murder is entitled to bail or should remain on remand until the court hearing is always a touchy issue that requires the balancing of the rights of the accused and those of the family and the public. However, the granting of bail to those accused of murder could result in implications for the family and friends of the victim, the community, the accused, the police and the legal system. If persons accused of murder are granted bail, they will enjoy freedom until their next court hearing. Should this happen, family members of the victim can become vindictive and hateful, and may seek revenge as a form of justice by taking matters into their own hands. This position can most likely undermine public peace and national security and, at large, disturb the public order of society. Some family members may also be fearful that the accused may threaten or harm them. Society may also be fearful of the accused murderer. Individual safety, public safety, and the threat of violence should be taken into consideration before bail is granted to murderers. It is also interesting to note that the safety of the accused murderers might be jeopardized upon their release. This can lead to unwanted criminal acts and disorder in society. Considering that some accused of murders are granted bail, they may attempt to influence, threaten, bully or intimidate witnesses from testifying against them. Many believe that those who are accused of murders should not be released on bail for the fact that it can send the wrong message to career criminals, many of whom believe that there is no value in life and that it is acceptable to take another person’s life, in some cases for no apparent reason. Generally speaking, the granting of bail to murderers could lead to a lack of public confidence in the criminal justice system. People’s confidence in the criminal justice system is already low. However, the rights of all, whether innocent or guilty must be protected at all times by the justice system. Hence, no one should be sentenced, based on public condemnation as is sometimesthe case with the media. An accused person must receive a fair trial by the courts and due process of the law.

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur M@ilbox Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com

He writes about the same thing in every letter everyday DEAR EDITOR, I am not interested in politics and I have never written a letter to any newspaper in Guyana but I feel compelled to do after reading the exchange between CR Peters and Mr. Vishu Bisram in Kaieteur News last week. Mr. Peters responded to Mr. Bisram’s charge by saying Mr. Bisram sees race in everything. Instead of proving Mr. Peters wrong, to my mind Mr. Bisram replied and proved Mr. Peters right. I would like to go back to my parent’s arrival in New York in the seventies. We are Indians. When our parents left Mahaica for the US, my brother and sister and I were young children. But the memories I will always keep close to me. We w e r e w a r m l y welcomed by Guyanese of every colour. Indians and Blacks from Guyana were kind to my parents. Our parents built close friendship with Guyanese who were both Indian and Black. My siblings and I became friends with all types of Guyanese of all types of races. I write this letter because I am familiar with two persons who are the children of my parents’ friends that are in that committee to plan the 50th anniversary of Independence here in New York. I don’t know the extent to which Mr. Bisram knows these people who are Black Guyanese but to say that these two persons would ever think of their fellow Guyanese in terms of Indian versus Black people would be the Devil’s deed I never thought I would write a letter to a Guyanese newspaper because I am simply not that kind of person but Mr. Bisram’s accusations against the Anniversary Committee and Mr. Peters shocked me to my senses. It has caused me to inquire from Mr. Harris, the editor what standard he uses to publish letters. I read all the newspapers online though I admit I am hindered in my access to the Stabroek News because it is not a free online service. Most Guyanese in New York in their fifties and onwards, I believe read as a matter of routine the Guyanese newspapers online. The Kaieteur News

for me is the most interesting. I like the Kissoon columns, the letters section and Dem Boys Seh. People here in New York love Dem Boys Seh. Most of all the Kaieteur News brings the news of

Guyana into the homes of Guyanese-Americans I don’t know Mr. Bisram. For all my years in New York, I have never met him but to be honest I have never attended a Guyanese

political event. I am not interested in such matters. I read the letter pages before anything else and that is so even though I would not miss the Kissoon’s columns (Continued on page 6)

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Can someone research Help me to reply to things I read in Kaieteur news justice Chang’s decisions? DEAR EDITOR, As a Guyanese who is residing in Florida, I must tell you that I read the Kaieteur News almost every day and I am quite pleased with its content. It keeps me abreast of what is going on in Guyana and to me, that’s really important. I read mostly Freddie Kissoon and Peeping Tom and on the weekends I read the Editor’s article (Adam Harris) and the Ron Saunders article. My on-line reading also covers the news and Letters to the Editor, which I find very interesting. Perhaps, the only thing lacking for me is that I

am unable to respond to articles as they appear on line, because although I mostly agree with Freddie, sometimes I strongly disagree with him and would really like to make my views known. Freddie says that he loves Guyana but there are times when the tone of his articles (some of them) suggests otherwise. He is sometimes very negative about Guyana and basically sees it as a country with no hope for betterment. Sometimes I want to respond to such articles, but there is no way for me to do it, other than write a Letter to the Editor, which may or may

not be published. However, I prefer to leave a comment under the article but it appears that this cannot be done. However, I believe that Freddie is doing an excellent job of analyzing and clarifying the existing political landscape, but Guyana has a future and he should also be aware of that. Peeping Tom is also somewhat controversial and I would like to respond to him as well but like I said, the opportunity isn’t there. But all in all, I am quite pleased with the Kaieteur News-you can’t get everything. Rudyard Vyfhuis

DEAR EDITOR, Good commentary by Freddie on Justice Chang’s decision. Does indeed boggle the mind of coming out of retirement leave to issue a decision on a matter involving the government which in the final analysis is one’s employer. Now that a stay of execution has been granted, there should be no interruption in the government’s activity. In the Sooba case decision, it might be that the Honourable Judge was playing with words to meet the intellectual level of the affected individuals who probably would not have understood the difference between de jure and de facto. Fortunately the government changed and that permitted the pompous ones to take their hikes. It was a constant amazement to me that the Honourable Judge would regularly spend lots of time dealing with applications for

changes in bail amounts and conditions, an activity which in reality belittled the rulings and decisions of the magistrates closer to the cases and defendants. One can wonder what else mattered that so much time had to be so spent so regularly. Next Freddie should get his lawyer friends to do a case by case search and come up with figures on the Honourable Judge’s decisions which favoured the administration. There is nothing untoward in such analysis as it is done all over the world with conclusions such as pro this or pro that. Will we surprised at any conclusion? Finally why was the Honourable Judge not confirmed in his his position? He was acting in the position for quite a long time. I wonder why. Carl Veecock Markham, Ontario,

Hinds never headed a Non-stop exposure of listSam thus never won an election corruption at City Hall

DEAR EDITOR, Though it shall be grossly unfair, the new Councillors who will be elected on March 18 to govern Georgetown for the next three years will be met by an empty and broken Treasury. Worse than meeting an empty Treasury they shall be met with a monstrous overdraft of tens of millions of dollars. So they will not only be deprived of have anything to spend but will have to use their energies repaying this

huge loan (overdraft to the bank). It is clear that this present administration of the Council is in a race for time trying to spend every last cent they can get their hands on under the guise that they are cleaning up the city for the Golden Jubilee, before the new Council arrives and brings some orders to the madness taking place at City Hall. This is bad fiscal management; this is dishonesty at best, and it is just plain and simply wrong and must be stopped immediately.

Of course the first thing the new Council must do is have a comprehensive forensic audit that should cover if not the life of this present Council then for the last seven years which would undoubtedly turn up some very interesting facts. Public Officials must be made to understand that the taxpayers’ money is not their own to spend as they like, filling their pockets and that of their friends, but must be spent prudently and lawfully. Sean Moniz

Helpless victim of noise madness DEAR EDITOR, I write to you out of frustration on the issue of noise nuisance. There is a gentleman who plays music very loudly from his car PMM 7249 at Lot 17 Joseph Pollydore Street, Lodge obliquely opposite my home. I have made a report to the East La Penitence Police station and numerous calls to the police for over a year now. The police have been

responding to my calls but I’m getting no results. The perpetrator would gaff with the police, turn off the music and turn it right back on as soon as they leave or turn the music off until the next occasion he feels like making some more noise. I’m therefore appealing to the relevant authority to bring an end to this situation immediately. Julianne Gaul

DEAR EDITOR, It is recorded in history, that Mr. Gerald Ford, the 38th. President of the United States has been the only U.S. President to date who never won a Presidential election. Likewise, in the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana it is no doubt noted and recorded that Mr.Samuel Hinds, the 3rd. EXECUTIVE President, never headed a list as a Presidential Candidate and won an election. The fact is, Mr. Hinds never contested nor won an election in Guyana. Mr. Gerald Ford contested the Presidential Elections as the Republican Candidate in 1976 but was defeated by the Democratic Candidate, Mr. Jimmy Carter. Gerald Ford was appointed as Vice President to President Richard Nixon, following the resignation of Spiro Agnew in October 1973. He was later appointed as

President after Richard Nixon, on August 9th 1974, resigned the Presidency in disgrace as a result of the Watergate scandal. Gerald Ford therefore, claimed the distinction as the

first and to date the only person to have served as President and Vice President of the United States without being elected to either office. Lloyd H Marshall

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Why Drs. Thomas, Roopnarine Sam plays it again; defends himself and Hinds did not testify? DEAR EDITOR, Dr. Walter Rodney, the politician, in his lifetime crisscrossed the country rallying persons around conversations on racial unity and improvement in the lives of the working class. One would therefore have expected that any Commission of Inquiry (COI) into his mysterious death would have among its objectives bringing closure to an era in this nation’s history and beginning the process of healing the society. These have not been achieved because of various reasons, inclusive of the role and conduct of the PPP government, the APNU+AFC government and Sir Richard Cheltenham, Chairman of the Commission. The named above are the principal players given their authority to make decisions that impacted the commission and its results. Rodney as a public figure does not belong alone to his blood relations, colleagues, and the WPA; he belongs to Guyanese and the international academic community. The question before us is not only about the gathering of evidence but also a lack of systemic thinking in the entire affair. In 2005 the parliament passed a motion, with the support of the PNC, to have an inquiry. The Government of Guyana had an obli-

gation to the society to maintain the solidarity on this matter among the political forces. Instead, the PPP government embarked on a process of appointing a commission with Terms of Reference that had all the appearance of scoring political points, and which was compounded with the selection of a panel without the required consultation. These acts robbed the nation the opportunity at achieving consensus by the political forces, inclusive of the PNC and WPA. The Chairman should have refused to accept the assignment, given that in his tribute in June 1980 at a Rodney’s memorial he took the liberty of placing guilt at the door of the government of the day, which was the Forbes Burnham administration. When this information was brought to the public’s attention initially the chairman feigned ignorance, then subsequently said he did not see his 1980 tribute and present role being a conflict of interest. It is reported in another media outlet that Cheltenham in responding to President David Granger’s view of the Report saying, “It is a political party and you understand what is happening. The hero of that party was Burnham, so you understand where it comes

from…They had an idol.” This gentleman has done an injustice to the society and Rodney, evident in his utterances and presence which raise questions about the findings of the COI. It is instructive to note that prominent members of the WPA and close comrades to Rodney like Professor Clive Thomas, Rupert Roopnarine and David Hinds were never called to the commission and apparently did not submit statements. Hinds and Roopnarine are on public record requesting a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and it was expected at least they would have been called. The nation was advised that Cecil “Skip” Roberts, who headed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the time of Rodney’s death was in the country to appear before the commission but was never called to lead evidence, neither was a statement taken from him. Robert Corbin, former Leader of the PNC-the party of Forbes Burnham- name was mentioned in damaging testimony but he was never summoned to appear before the commission. David Granger, who was head of the army during the 1980 incident, was mentioned in testimony but he was not summoned to appear. Norman McLean, who was the Chief

DEAR EDITOR, In spite of the growing concerns and criticism regarding the performance and management of the Georgetown City Council, and quite rightly so, I write to let you know of an experience of mine that is a rainbow in the dark clouds at City Hall. Last Thursday February 25, 2016 I had cause to telephone the Solid Waste Department on Princess Street after unsuccessfully calling several other departments. I was seeking guidance and assistance regarding two matters of concern to me.

These included the dire need to remove the carcass of a dead animal that lay on my parapet for a number of days and the acquisition of a skip bin that I needed to rent for the purpose of removing a quantity of discarded household articles. To my considerable surprise, I was met with a very pleasant voice, Mr. Editor I had to ask twice if I was calling the Mayor and City Council. The female answered ‘Good morning, Solid Waste Department, How may I help you? And yes you are calling the Mayor and City Coun-

cil…. After I indicated my earlier frustration I was advised how my two concerns could have been dealt with. I enquired to whom I was talking, to and she responded by saying that she was the Secretary to the Solid Waste Director. Clearly this young lady possessed the knowledge and competencies required to handle office administration. She understood her role within the organization. She spoke with confidence using clear, concise sentences that I was able to understand quite easily, interacting professionally with me throughout the conversation. After terminating the call, I told my wife that all is not lost at the Mayor and City Council. Such competent, friendly and professional staff, seriously, deserve special mention. I do believe that public servants should to the best at their workplace, to serve the public, since they have been lacking in that area. Seon Levius

This lady is a bright spot in Guyana

of Staff during the period, was never given the opportunity to finish leading evidence. During the life of the commission, the APNU+AFC was elected to government. The commission publicly stated the need for and requested more time from the new government to conclude their work, particularly that of taking evidence. The Government of Guyana did not permit the duration of time requested. There are a few issues before us. One, the commission was not granted the time requested to conclude its work. Two, by the commission’s own admittance of needing more time is indicative that its report cannot be considered complete. Three, the APNU+AFC government in denying additional time set the stage for confrontation with the commission. Four, the denial of additional time raised questions as to whether there is something to hide. Five, the refusal of the PPP government to engage the other political forces in arriving at a Terms of Reference that would have built on the political bipartisanship of 2005-which was a rare moment in our history- set in action a process whose results will never be accepted by all the groups in the society. Clearly, where processes are flawed and compromised, results/findings can never be credible. A grave injustice has been done to this society and the life of a man, who as a political activist spoke about racial unity and as an academic was methodical and systematic in his thinking and writings. In terms of race and political relations, Guyana is poorer from the COI report. The only bright spot around this report is that a body of work is compiled in a single document that provides fodder to the curious. Lincoln Lewis

DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me to respond to the questions recently raised by a “primary school teacher” regarding comment I made at a meeting with Heads in Region 6. The first concern related to the statement “teach the pupil and not the curriculum”. This statement was made while addressing the issue of the unacceptably high failure rates in some schools. The evidence clearly showed that teachers were still engaged in the antiquated practice of teaching our pupils ‘for the sake of teaching’, with little regard for their ability levels and their learning needs. The message was that teachers must focus on the competencies of our pupils and, where necessary, modify our pedagogical approaches to adopt more pupil-centered elements. Many teachers are obsessed with curriculum coverage and feel that as long as they would have covered the curriculum their work is done. This is occurring at the expense real learning, manifested by the large numbers of pupils failing and teachers moving on to new topics with little regard for the struggling pupils. Teachers were urged to diagnose before teaching, to devise action plans that are tailored to the competency needs of pupils, to consistently monitor their progress to ensure that learning is taking place and, where necessary, devise interventions to avert impending failure. This was the context within which the statement was made but given our examdriven culture in many schools the issue of the assessments is forever raised as a reason not to place the pupils first and to slavishly teach the curriculum. Another issue that was raised was that of Education Officers not

sharing a similar mindset. As it relates to the former, I would have emphasized the point that once one focuses on and improves the pupils’ competencies; the assessments will take care of themselves. Secondly, one would be hard-pressed to find an Officers in this system who has not been steeped in these relevant approaches to teaching and learning given the emphasis placed on it at all levels. Where we have found opposition is at the level of the class where teachers seem reluctant to change their traditional approaches to teaching. It is also worth mentioning here that the Ministry does not use examination results as the sole measure of the output of any institution. It is ironic however, that many who are obsessed with the school’s image fail to appreciate the fact that everything mentioned above is focused on improving pupil performance and will ultimately enhance the school’s overall output. Lastly, as it relates to the issue of parental involvement, it is my humble opinion that the attainment of our objectives in the education system cannot be dependent on such external factors. Where it exists it is to be appreciated and nurtured.Its absence however, should not be a justification for the acceptance of underachievement. I feel that schools must try, as far as humanly possible, to compensate for any deficiencies or anomalies that emerge from our pupils’ domestic circumstances. To that end I urge all teachers to give of their best within the context of the pupils’ school-based experiences because external factors are oftentimes too complex and well beyond the school’s sphere of influence. Olato Sam Chief Education Officer

He writes about the same... From page 4 and Dem Boys Seh. It is through the letters I am familiar with the writings of Mr. Bisram, and others like Mr. Ogunseye. These two persons have nothing else on their minds but race. I would like to know if Mr. Harris has a certain standard by which unpleasant race ramblings are judged I am in complete agreement with Mr. Peters’ sentiments on Mr. Bisram. I don’t know Mr. Peters at all. I don’t know if Peters is him or her since the person did not state their entire name. Mr. Bisram fills the letter pages of

the Kaieteur News daily with race rhetoric. You read any letter written by Mr. Bisram today, last year or five or ten years ago and as night follows day, the contents are about Indian people. I have not read a letter by Mr. Bisram that is not on Guyanese Indians and always it is about how Blacks mistreated Indians. Haven’t we gone past that? Should we not leave that part of Guyana behind? Mr. Bisram brings it up in every letter. We had good Black neighbours in Mahaica. We never had any quarrel with our Black friends and

neighbours in Mahaica. It is unnerving to go on the net, click on Kaieteur News and there is always a letter from Mr. Bisram on Indians. Mr. Ogunseye is always writing on Black people but he does not write as often as Mr. Bisram. I think Guyana needs to move beyond race. It is time we do. Happily my four children have missed that boat and I think they are better Guyanese for it. My children have close white, black and brown friends. I would urge Mr. Bisram to move on. All of us should Rajendranauth R. Singh

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

Trading more insults, Trump and Rubio fight on for Republican nomination

Marco Rubio and Donald Trump react to each other as they discuss an issue during the debate sponsored by CNN for the 2016 Republican U.S. presidential candidates in Houston, Texas, Thursday. REUTERS/MIKE STONE Reuters - Fresh from an endorsement by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump accelerated his political slug fest with opponent Marco Rubio yesterday just days before the delegate-rich Super Tuesday contests. With duelling appearances in Arkansas and Georgia, the billionaire businessman and U.S. senator from Florida continued an onslaught of personal insults that began on a debate stage on Thursday and looks likely to continue for months. “The majority of Republican voters do not want Donald Trump to be our nominee, and ... they are going to support whoever is left standing that is fighting against him to ensure that we do not nominate a con artist,” Rubio told reporters in Georgia. Trump, speaking in front of his private plane in Arkansas, along with Christie,

whose endorsement on Friday shocked Republican leaders anxious about his likelihood of winning the nomination, belittled Rubio and accused him of being fresh. “I watched this lightweight Rubio, total lightweight, little mouth on him, ‘bing, bing, bing’ ... and his new attack is he calls me a con artist,” Trump said. “The last thing I am is a con man.” Their back and forth came while voters went to the polls in South Carolina’s Democratic presidential primary between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, taking place a week after South Carolina’s Republican primary. Former Secretary of State Clinton is expected to beat Sanders handily there. The state’s large African-American population is expected to favour her over Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont. A big win would give Clinton added momentum

ahead of Tuesday, when roughly a dozen U.S. states make their choices for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations. With hundreds of delegates at stake in Tuesday’s contests, the day could be a critical turning point for candidates in both parties. Nominations in both parties are contingent on winning a majority of the votes by the delegates sent to the party conventions in July. The Tuesday contests could upend the Republican race further if underperforming candidates drop out. Ted Cruz, the U.S. senator from Texas who won the Iowa nominating contest, must do well in his home state on Tuesday to regain momentum. Texas will send 155 delegates to the Republican National Convention, more than 10 percent of the 1,237 delegate votes needed for the party’s nomination.

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Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

SASOD meets with Ministry on LGBT discrimination

From Left: Alana DaSilva, Secretary of the Board of SASOD; John Adams, Ministerial Adviser on Social Protection; The Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence; Managing Director of SASOD, Joel Simpson; SASOD Advocacy and Communications Officer, Schemel Patrick; and SASOD Social Change Coordinator, Jairo Rodrigues. (Aubrey Odle photo) The Society against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) met with the Social Protection Minister, Volda Lawrence, and other officials on Thursday last, to discuss a human rights approach to social protection issues in Guyana. Also present at the meeting which was held at the minister’s office on Lamaha Street were Ministerial Advisor on Social Protection, John Adams; and the Minister ’s Personal Assistant, Ezelyn TatonWilliams. Managing Director, Joel Simpson; Advocacy and Communications Officer, Schemel Patrick; and Social Change Coordinator, Jairo Rodrigues; and Secretary of the Board of Directors, Alana Da Silva, of SASOD met the Ministry officials to discuss a human rights approach to social protection issues in Guyana. The organisation simultaneously presented to the Minister its recently published Fact Sheet on Social Protection. SOCIAL PROTECTION

AND LGBT RIGHTS SASOD’s Social Change Coordinator, Jairo Rodrigues, informed the Minister and Adams of the community’s dilemma, stating that samesex intimacy between men is still criminalized under the laws of Guyana. While it has been noted that these laws are generally not prosecuted, Rodrigues said, the very fact that they exist, inhibit lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people from seeking police protection when they face harassment, assault, intimate-partner violence, homophobic and transphobic violence because of fear of discrimination, revictimization and threat of possible prosecution. Rodrigues recalled that in June 2014, the late Dr. Faith Harding, a child specialist and former government Minister stated that “If people are being abused and dying because of such [antibuggery] laws and we are not doing anything about it, then we are all killing them. For every child that commits suicide because of rejection, we must all take the blame.”

“The absence of specific prohibition against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997 leaves LGBT persons exposed to discrimination with impunity in the workplace, allows employers to refuse to hire LGBT persons, to harass or otherwise discriminate against them during their employment, or to terminate their employment on these grounds, with essentially no consequences under the law,” Rodrigues expressed. SASOD’s Managing Director, Joel Simpson, noted that many LGBT Guyanese who are open about their sexual orientation or gender identity at work regularly face discrimination. He spoke of a documentary published by SASOD about the working experiences of a transgender woman, who said that it was extremely hard for her to obtain work in the formal economy, and when she did, she was grossly underpaid and faced discrimination because she is a transgender

woman. Transgender persons, Simpson said, may face more discrimination when accessing employment because of their visibility. Simpson also cited a 2012 Report from the University of the West Indies’ Faculty of Law titled, “Collateral Damage: The Social Impact of Laws Affecting LGBT Persons in Guyana,” where Dr. Christopher Carrico reported that both men and women identifying as homosexual or bisexual “reported being denied access to jobs as well as being blocked from career advancement because of Continued on page 95

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Dem boys seh...

A system coming to clean up dem crooks When dem boys did tell de nation that Jagdeo is a scamp and he mek nuff people in Guyana tun crooks, people use to think is joke. Nuff use to shake dem head and seh is true but some use to cuss dem boys while others tell dem boys that dem like exaggerate. Dem boys remember de IFMAS programme that mek dem spend hundreds of millions of dollars to avoid counting wid dem hand and lead pencil. Dem deliberately lef out de part fuh record de spending. Everybody know why. That same scamp Jagdeo train Irfaat in de Ministry of Finance and then mek him a Minister. He send him to Housing wheh billions of dollars use to pass through he hands. Despite wukking at the Ministry of Finance and knowing all de financial programmes and accounting systems, no one would believe that de same Irfaat record de Ministry finances wid lead pencil and paper. Dem boys don’t have to explain that but dem know that if Soulja Bai don’t tek action against these people, and charge nuff of dem, come next week dem boys gun lef dem wuk and go way. Dem going away because dem ain’t able wid de skullduggery here, there and everywhere. Dem boys bruck de story bout fuel and before de ink dry pun de paper dem trawlers was seen crawling out de Demerara River. Dem boys also hear, yesterday, some of de fuel smugglers was sprinting through de airport. But dem boys want to suggest a new method to Soulja Bai how to deal wid terrorists, scamps and smugglers when dem running out de airport. Dem boys deh half way through developing this new device to be planted at Ogle and CJIA. De device cut out privacy concerns. It is a booth you step into. It would not X-ray yuh, but will blow you up if you got any crooked thoughts, thiefing money/gold and explosive. This is a win-win situation fuh everybody. It will stop the nonsense people talking about race, party and politics. It will also cut out nuff, nuff time and big, big money people does spend fuh trials. Suh if you in de airport terminal and you hear a boom. Shortly after, you gun hear an announcement: “Attention to all standby passengers, de plane got an extra seat.” Isn’t that brilliant, Soulja Bai? Talk half and encourage Soulja Bai to put this system in place.

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Magistrate Allan Wilson returns to G/Town Magistrates’ Courts

In an effort to ensure that legal matters are expedited in a timely manner, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has appointed a Magistrate to sit in Court 12 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Magistrate Allan Wilson will now be presiding over that court which has been without a Magistrate for some time. Wilson is no stranger to the courts since he had presided in two of them in the city before he was transferred to the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court. Court 12 will be hearing matters one week per month. Just last year, Magistrate Wilson was said to overstep his authority when he granted bail in the sum of $750,000 to murder accused, Neville Chandrawattie, in the Matthews’ Ridge Magistrate Court. But the bail was immediately revoked after the prosecutor sought the intervention of then Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Chandrawattie, of Lot 33 Sparta, Essequibo is accused of killing his employer, Darran

The Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

Chanmangra, on April 21, 2007. Chandrawattie, also called Sunil, made headlines in November, 2013, after he was named the mastermind who skillfully orchestrated a $93M gold heist in Port Kaituma from the El Dorado

Gold Trading Company where he had worked for years. At present there are 12 courtrooms with 10 sitting Magistrates. Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan sits in Court One. The Chief Magistrate has the authority to allocate work amongst the courts and to transfer any cause or matter pending before any court to any other court, having jurisdiction to entertain such cause or matter, so as to ensure expeditious disposal of such work, cause or matter, and to relieve congestion of the work in the courts.

Courts Two and Four are without Magistrates. However, Magistrate McLennan presided over Court Two until she was appointed Chief Magistrate last October, following the appointment of Former Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry as High Court judge. Magistrate Judy Latchman sits in Court Three; Magistrate Fabayo Azore sits in Court Five; Magistrate Dylon Bess presides over Court Six, which hears matter twice weekly; Magistrate Renita Singh presides over Court Seven which handles

traffic related matters; Magistrate Faith McGusty sits in Courts Eight and Nine; Magistrate Alex Moore sits in Court Ten and Magistrate Annette Singh presides in Court Eleven. Magistrate McLennan, Latchman and Fabayo are handling some high profile matters including that of PPP Parliamentarian Jennifer Westford and her exassistant Margaret Cummings. Dr Westfrord and Cummings are currently before the courts for an alleged $639M fraud at the

Public Service Ministry. They are also facing charges of attempted larceny and forgery in relation to the transfer and purchase of eight state vehicles. There is also the case of Police Sergeant Leon Lindo who is before the court for allegedly conspiring with Lennox ‘Two Colours’ Wayne to murder businessman, Mohamed Khan. And that of the murder of political activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing who was gunned down on March 10, last at Diamond, East Bank Demerara among other cases.

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

Patricia Sanasie’s murder PI…

Attorney for accused calls for case to be thrown out An Attorney for Richard Stanton who is currently on remand for the murder of Patricia Sanasie has made an application to the court for his client’s file to be reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Attorney Mark Waldron is contending that the case against Stanton, 39, of Princes Street, Lodge, should be nolle prosequi because the prosecution is not in possession of sufficient evidence to link Stanton to the crime. At a recent court hearing, Waldron stood before Magistrate Zamilla AllySeepaul in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and argued that there is not enough identification evidence. Waldron had explained that the police’s description of the person who is alleged to have shot and killed Sanasie is vague. He said that the evidence leaves much doubt in the prosecution’s case. Additionally, Waldron also requested that Police Prosecutor, David Goodridge,

Patricia Sanasie

Murder Accused: Richard Stanton

disclose any form of identification he has of the alleged shooter to his client. Prosecutor Goodridge had indicated that he would seek advice from his superiors on the way forward. This matter will be called again on March 1, in the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court for the continuation of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI). Stanton is accused of killing the woman on January 12, 2015 at 129 Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara. It was reported that Stanton was positively

identified by Sanasie’s daughter who flew into Guyana to identify him. At the time of her mother’s death the young woman was in the car with her mother. Sanasie, who was the wife of Deokaran Sanasie, owner of Ram’s Auto Sales, was riddled with bullets by gunmen clad in black. She was shot to the chest, abdomen, neck and groin. The shooting occurred almost a year after her husband survived a similar attempt on his life.

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16-year old killed in Moruca boat crash

An investigation has been launched into a boat accident at Acquero, Moruca, North West District which resulted in the death of 16year-old Alisha Romascindo. Reports are sketchy but this newspaper understands that the teenager who attended the Santa Rosa Secondary School was in a small boat with four persons heading to Kumaka when it collided with a large passenger boat around 14:00 hours yesterday. According to a source in the area, the passenger boat which is fitted with a 200horsepower outboard engine was heading to charity in low water. In an effort to navigate the boat into the side of the river where the water is higher, the captain steered it into the path of the oncoming small boat. Three of the occupants of the small boat were hurled into the water and made it to the shore of the river, while Romascindo could not be immediately found.

A rescuer tries to resuscitate Romascindo after pulling her from the river.

A short while later an alarm was raised that someone was under the overturned small boat that the teenager was finally found. At the time she was still alive but despite the efforts of medical personnel at the

location, who rushed her to the Charity Hospital, the teenager was pronounced dead on arrival. The police were informed and the captain of the passenger boat was detained for questioning.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

Govt. moves to tackle judicial backlog The Coalition government is getting ready to address a severe problem that has been plaguing the local justice system for decades now. The Administration, through the Ministry of Legal Affairs, will soon begin addressing the backlog of cases, including civil cases. This and other initiatives will be falling under a new Justice Sector Programme. The Programme is designed to consolidate improvements in the Justice Sector. It is a collaborative initiative be-

…to appoint part time judges tween the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the government. Under the project, US$49,020 has been allocated to allow for the disposal of backlog of cases. To do this, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams said that a number of measures will be implored including the appointment of part time judges to deal with

the civil backlog. Williams said that this will be done within a specified time frame. The judicial system is clogged by an overwhelming number of unfinished cases. The backlog is nothing new. Some cases date back to more than a decade. As a result, suspects languish in prison much longer than the length of time they would have spent had they been con-

victed. While the backlog exists mostly in the civil and criminal courts no court is without work. During the last ten years, the only attempt by the former PPP administration to solve the problem was to increase the statutory complement of Judges from 12 to 20 but the administration did not provide the courtrooms and chambers for them. Outgoing Chief Justice Ian Chang had admitted that the situation is in dire straits. He said that in dealing with it, consideration needs to be given to a change in the leave system. Currently, there is a rotating 10 weeks and three weeks leave system per year for Judges. He said that with such a backlog, Judges should not be off the job for 10 weeks. Chang said that there is almost never a case where Judges, after returning from 10 weeks leave, return with a number of judgments ready to be handed down. ”Let them work,” Chang declared. The media was always blaming the backlog on the shortage of Judges in the

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams court. Several Editorials and articles were written to this effect; but there seems to be bigger matter, one that reportedly involves incompetence and in some cases “laziness.” During his Budget speech, Williams said that the Guyana IDB initiative will see the setting up of a law revision office and undertaking a revision of Guyana’s laws to update them to 2015. US $182,260 has been allocated to deal with this. In addition, Williams said that the programme will be setting up a Permanent Law

reform Commission with Secretariat for the purpose of continuously examining Guyana’s laws and make recommendations on areas of reform. Just about US $504,150 has been set aside for this aspect of the programme. There will also be training for judges, magistrates and prosecutors including writing of decisions and sentencing. This will be done with the use of US$ 42,150. The project will also see the introduction of Voice Recognition systems for recording evidence in the criminal sessions in the High Courts and Magistrate Courts hearing serious offences. This will be done to enhance and speed up trails. Williams said that US $327,000 has been set aside for this. There will also be an introduction of Cybercrime Legislation and a regime to train investigators, prosecutors, magistrates and judges to understand the nature of these emergent crimes. US$58,200 has been allocated to oversee this aspect of the project. Provision of funding has also been made for the acquisition of legal research database programs.

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

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A valiant fight against a daunting health challenge By Sharmain Grainger Not even the persistent cramps that kept creeping up into her feet as a young child would prepare her for the health complication she was destined to experience as a young adult. Like most people, Francine Leitch didn’t readily accept her fate, but she has been soldiering on quite well with the support of her parents, Linden and Desiree, and loving siblings. Added to this, she is convinced that she has been blessed with divine strength to make it through each day since being diagnosed with perhaps one of the rarest cancers. It is certainly not one common in this part of the world. So rare is the cancer she was diagnosed with that it almost went undetected. But I’ll elaborate on that a little later. Since being diagnosed with cancer, Francine has been a regular visitor to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)’s Oncology Unit to access treatment. This usually sees her, on specified days, leaving her Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, early enough in order to commence treatment by 08:30 hours. Last week Wednesday was one of the 20-year-old’s treatment days. Reflecting on having a persistent condition over the years, Francine disclosed during a recent interview that growing up was not without excessive pains at time. She recalled being a victim of constant shortage of breath, and muscular cramps that were bad enough to jolt her out of her sleep. Her monthly menstrual cycle was often laced with intense pain too. The former Queen’s College student remembers her condition becoming worse while she was in fourth form.

“There is still life after cancer; you become such a transition person after being diagnosed. For me I know that I have changed somewhat and for the better. You simply look at life differently, because today you can have it bountifully and then tomorrow you don’t know what it would be.” NOTHING FOUND TO BE AMISS By December 2014, her condition became even worse. A thorough health check was in order but, according to Francine, at that point nothing was found to be amiss. “Everything seemed to be okay, so the doctor gave me some

severe menstrual pains that her mother simply wasn’t willing to simply sit by and watch her daughter suffer. “My mother wanted to make sure that there wasn’t any underlying problem and so she wanted me to be examined by a Gynaecologist. She was worried more because I had a fever for a

radiologist who attended to her, that helped to give an inkling of the source of her condition. “The radiologist checked my abdomen area and found that my lymph nodes were swollen and explained that that could either be tuberculosis or something called Non-Hodgkin

week, so we knew that something was really wrong,” Francine intimated. But a number of tests and an ultrasound of her pelvic area, later, still gave no indication that anything major was wrong with an evidently ailing Francine. CURIOSITY OFA RADIOLOGIST However, it was eventually the curiosity of a

lymphoma, a type of cancer,” related Francine. The advice from the radiologist was to have Francine’s doctor investigate what was the cause of her swollen lymph nodes. Of course this meant that she would be subjected to several more tests and many x-rays and ultrasounds over a period of time. This bout of investigation did however

Francine being attended to by a nurse.

antibiotics and pain killers,” Francine related. But almost a year later her condition had not remotely improved. This, however, did not dissuade the ambitious Francine from commencing the Medical Technology programme at the University of Guyana. However, October 13, 2015, when she celebrated her 20th birthday, Francine was overwhelmed with such

bear fruit. A mass was detected in the area of her lung. There was, however, nothing the attending doctor could have done for her, other than refer her to the Cancer Institute. There she underwent a CTScan which revealed a tumour positioned behind her heart. A biopsy was required, but because of the position of the tumour, a decision was instead taken to use a sample of her swollen lymph nodes. The sample was sent for testing at a laboratory overseas. About two weeks later, Francine and her parents were being told that the sample tested positive for ‘dysgerminoma mediastinal’. ‘WE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE’ “We never heard of this before...but the doctor told us it was cancer. My parents didn’t want to rely on one opinion and so we went to other doctors,” Francine recounted. But by mid-November of last year, both she and her family members had accepted her fate. She was the victim of a type of malignant cancer that usually occurs in the ovary or the gonads. However, in Francine’s case it was detected in her midsection which is medically termed the mediastinum – the cavity that separates the lungs from the rest of the chest. To the professionals who attended to her, it was a rather strange development that warranted even more tests before treatment was administered. “It happened all so fast; it didn’t dawn on me that I really had cancer until maybe my second cycle of

chemotherapy. This was when I started to lose my hair; I hadn’t even broken down like some people do when they hear they have cancer,” a petite Francine related to me on Wednesday as she sat calmly awaiting her treatment. Her treatment has certainly been working in her favour. According to Francine, the attending Oncologist has informed that the malignant tumour behind her heart has significantly decreased. In fact, it is expected that after three more bouts of chemotherapy, she should be in the safe zone. But it might have been this very disclosure earlier this month that might have troubled Francine the most since being diagnosed with cancer. You see, she was led to believe that an initial three cycles would have been enough to rid her system of cancer. So being informed three cycles later that another three cycles would be necessary was not too heartening. This was especially due to the fact that Francine could have already completed her second year of University had she not been forced to take leave because of the difficulties associated with her treatment. ‘GOD YOU ARE IN CONTROL’ Her passion is her studies. “I was hoping to return to my normal activities. I took one year off and when I return (to UG) it will be like starting second year all over again...so when I heard there was still signs of cancer, that was when I broke down for the first time. I actually cried...I thought it would have been over and I would be better and I could have just returned to my studies; treatment for me has not been easy but it is much harder for some people,” said Francine. Continued on page 94

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

President Granger sees no immediate need for police Aeronautical Branch Any thought that the Guyana Police Force will have capacity to fight crime by using aircraft has been shelved, at least for now. According to President David Granger, establishing aerial capacity of the Police Force is not too high on the list of priorities for the government. This means that the Police will have to continue to rely on the Guyana Defence Force for aerial support. President Granger told reporters last Thursday, following the opening of the Annual Police Officers’ Conference, that the current situation with the army supporting the police with air support is working quite well. “The important thing is that they already have a

capability. You may not realize it but every single month we have been conducting aerial anti-piracy patrols. Many you can’t remember when last there was a piracy attack,” the President stated. Three years ago, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic through the then Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, had announced that police ranks at the level of Cadet Officers will be trained at the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Rohee had said that the objective is to establish an Aeronautical Branch of the GPF so it could own and operate its own aircraft. But according to

President Granger, while ownership is good, the function is also important. “We are conducting reconnaissance of our coastland, literally from Skeldon to Charity,” the President said. But is this enough? Especially, given Guyana’s porous borders through which drugs and weapons are brought in, and its vast forested terrain where monitoring operations could be difficult. And with the need for swift police deployment to these regions becoming more necessary, it was envisaged that aerial capacity for the Police Force will be of utmost importance. It has been two years since the Guyana Police

Force selected 15 of its ranks to undergo training to become aircraft pilots but the plans appear to be in limbo. The training should have commenced in 2014 as long as funds were provided in that year’s budget. Two budgets later and of course no funds were provided for the programme in the estimates. Some senior officers of the Guyana Police Force believe that the present position of the new government is a backward step. Applications were received from a number of ranks and interviews were conducted. In the end, 15 officers were selected and were ready and waiting to be trained.

President David Granger The ranks identified by the Force for the training, were interviewed a year ago by prominent local aviator Captain Gerry Gouveia. “I did the shortlisting and I haven’t heard back from the police. I did what I had to do,” Gouveia had told Kaieteur News in 2014, adding that he highly recommends and supports the programme. He had stated that for the police to effectively provide security in the hinterland,

there is a definite need for them to mobilize more air support. He was impressed by the enthusiasm shown by the ranks who were selected for the programme. “It is a highly required skill and the young men were some very good young men, I don’t know why they (the police force) did not follow up,” Gouveia had stated. Also in 2014 former Commissioner of Police Winston Felix who is an A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, was supportive of the programme. He said that Guyana needs a policy to address the issue of crime and it should include air, land and sea assets to fight crime in the interior. “In the sprawling hinterland community there is need for an aircraft. The police should have adequate vessels and vehicles and the force itself should have increased numbers that it can maintain a fighting strength to deal with the issues of the day,” he said.

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

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No mining land, 'landlordism' cause miners... From page 3 Budhram, said yesterday that the police had to take the necessary steps to ensure passage to Mowasi since the protest action was not a peaceful one. He also stated that the road has been cleared and vehicles can continue to traverse. BULLYISM According to sources, the issue of landlordism throughout Guyana and in that particular area is rampant. The protest is the by product of years of frustration and desperation experienced by the small miners. Sources indicate that large companies in the interior have taken to forming personal 'quasi' military-like security forces, which carry out their every command while heavily armed. Some of these security guards are said to be former police and army ranks and officers. There have been complaints of large operations allowing miners to mine on their vast land until they “lash out�, i.e get unexpectedly large gold deposits. At this point, Kaieteur News understands, these companies would then send their security forces to forcibly remove or threaten the small miners or block their operations. Once the hapless miner removes from the site, the area is disposed of as the company sees fit. This state of affairs has been blamed on corruption

A still from the video taken of the Konawaruk mining camp attack last year. Here, Mario Figueira can be seen trying to bar the attack

and weak policing in the interior. Miners have gone so far as to describe the situation in the interior as Guyana's equivalent of the 'Wild West'. A case which highlights the small miner's plight is the case of the Konawaruk, White Water backdam mining camp attack. On May 10, last year, the mining camp of Mario and Aliecia Figueira at Konawaruk, District H45 was invaded by shotgun toting men dressed as security guards.

The men then proceeded to spray the camp with shotgun pellets, all the while declaring that they had been sent to destroy the camp. Besides damages amounting to millions of dollars, an employee was also shot in the head. Notwithstanding fears for their own safety, the mining couple overcame obstacles with the result that four men stand before the courts charged with the attack. The men are Jason and Quincy Critchlow, Troy Pellew and

Godfrey Christmas. While the case is currently in Mahdia, Region Eight, se-

curity concerns have caused the couple to agitate for the case to be moved to

Georgetown. They have also expressed little faith in the course of justice in Mahdia.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

Govt takes outreach to Linden

Minister Adams-Patterson and MP Jermaine Figuiera listen with rapt attention to a resident’s concern Cognizant of the needs of the community, the APNU/ AFC coalition planned yesterday’s Government outreach, to afford residents of Linden and surrounding communities, the opportunity to highlight their issues, according to Chairman of Region Ten, Rennis Morian. The venue was the lawns of the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) The Regional Chairman said that some of the issues highlighted included house lots and unemployment. “The whole focus is to give strength to the Regional

Democratic Council and to the Town council, to ensure that the people’s issues are heard. Today we don’t only have the Chairman, we got officials from housing, health, water, GTT and the police. Morian described the initiative as a very positive first step. He noted that the outreach was not just happening in Linden alone yesterday, but in other areas across the country as well. Minister of Housing, Valerie Adams- Patterson, said that she was surprised that despite the fact that she would have already had two public outreaches before,

persons were still coming with some of the very same issues,” but I did not bring my officers here. So when I get back I have a lot of issues to look at,” she pointed out. “I feel real good about this. Since we commenced the programme people have been coming –we are steadily engaged and I think that most of the agencies that are holding the reins of Linden are present here today to deal with whatever issues they may have. “It’s a one on one, so once somebody comes that person has the opportunity to speak with us on a personal level.”

These ladies and gentlemen patiently await their turn at the outreach

Residents highlighting their issues This is something that the government had commenced this year. “We were in Essequibo, Lethem and the Mabura district-- a very successful programme and today we are here in Linden. All of the Ministers are engaged in similar outreaches in other parts of the country.” Member of Parliament Jermaine Figuiera said that the government should be applauded. It brings

government to the people, and it shows that those tasked with leadership are really serving the people as they are not just sitting in their offices but are coming to the people. This I believe is real service. And I think it’s the President leading this, and this is what we need as a people. “ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, said that the event was two-fold

as it afforded persons the opportunity to highlight their personal as well as their collective issues and also to raise awareness of the importance of local government elections, which would be held for the first time in over two decades. Greenidge pointed to the walkabout that the team had in the Mackenzie Municipal Market where stall holders grabbed the opportunity to voice their concerns about the prevailing conditions. Chief Executive Officer of Linden’s lone radio station, Haslyn Graham, said that the initiative was a good one, which he hoped would help to speed up the house allocation process. That process would be of great assistance to potential homeowners like himself. Those sentiments were reiterated by several residents, including prominent businesswoman, Mayfield Greene, who lamented that she had applied for her house lot and paid for it over eight years ago, yet to date has not received her land title. (Enid Joaquin)

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

The Essequibo speedboat service is 34 Many traveling to the Essequibo Coast would notice the physical and cultural transformation that continues to prevail on the Essequibo Coast (Pomeroon/ Supenaam). In the area of transportation, two men credit themselves with initiating the speed boat service some 34years ago. That service has expanded from one speedboat to many others today. Eustace Alphonso and Asif Akbar (Bata) are the initiators. Akbar spoke about

how his life was transformed over the years. The business man said on October 5, 1982 he and Alphonso who remains friends were the first two Essequibians to have introduced the speedboat services to the Essequibo Coast. Akbar said that he provided a 48-horse power Yamaha engine while his friend Alphonso provided the boat which bore the inscription” Snow White”. Back then Akbar said the fare from Supenaam to Eustace Alphonso

Asif Akbar (Bata)

Parika was $20. Today that fare has increased to $1,300. Akbar said at that time the only people that used the speed boat service were Pomeroon residents.

“I had a bus. Even if it was one person, I used to t a k e t h e m t o C h a r i t y. ” Akbar said that as young entrepreneurs he and Alphonso were more fascinated with the idea of

providing a service to the people of Region Two than earning a living. However, after three months of operation, Alphonso returned to the interior and Akbar was left with the boat which he continued to operate for a month after which he handed over to his brother.

Akbar said that he and Alphonso were unable to continue the speedboat service because it was not economically viable due to the location where they lived and operated the service. Akbar lived at Reliance while Alphonso lived in the Pomeroon. (Yannason Duncan)

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Irfaan Ali ran Housing’s $$$B accounts with ‘pencil and paper’ system To enhance the system used to manage and properly account for billions of taxpayers’ moneys, the former regime purchased the Integrated Financial Management and Accounting System (IFMAS) from a Canadian firm. This was some ten years ago. IFMAS, an electronic method of accounting, was intended to replace all manual systems being used by the State. It was felt that the “pencil and paper” system of accounting allowed for too many loopholes for corrupt practices. IFMAS was essentially intended to be a tool for checkmating various forms of financial corruption with taxpayers’ moneys. But after spending $132M to secure the Canadian system of accounting evidence seen by this newspaper shows that Former Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali was not making use of it. In fact, he allowed the accounts system of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) to operate in a “pencil and paper” manner. It is something that even continues to this very day. This would appear to be rather suspicious to some persons given Ali’s respected background in finance. At one time, he even served in the Ministry of Finance and has on more than one occasion boasted of his knowledge in best practices in accounting. Kaieteur News understands from reliable Government sources that Board Members of the Central Housing and Planning Authority held recently, a meeting to address

Former Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali

CH&PA CEO, Myrna Pitt

a number of matters one of which includes the system of accounting at CH&PA. This entity operated as the main arm of what was formerly known as the Housing Ministry. Members of the Board were disappointed in the fact that the accounting system for the Housing Authority was manual and hoped for provision to be made for the implementation of a structured computerized software package. CH&PA’s former Director of Finance, Taslim Baksh, has disappeared since the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections and the CEO Myrna Pitt never explained his absence to the new board. Baksh was also charged with overseeing the operations of the Scrap Metal

Unit, which was tasked with regulating the scrap metal trade. In 2014, this newspaper reported that Government was wasting assets and was not doing enough to prevent fraud in the national accounting system. This came about because the Ministry of Finance failed to implement two of the seven modules it had acquired for the Integrated Financial Management Accounting System. The two modules that are not being used are the Purchasing Module and the Assets Inventory Module. A senior officer of the Canadian company that designed the IFMAS said that he is unaware of any case where a government bought the system and did not use

CH&PA’s former Director of Finance, Taslim Baksh all of the modules. Doug Hadden, Vice President of Sales, said that while Governments are treated with a sense of privacy, he would advise that all the modules be used. Asked whether the system was designed for mature or small environments, he said

it was designed for “the immature to the very mature”. “We have implemented this system in countries with a far less mature environment than Guyana has.” Hadden said that when it comes to the management of taxpayers’ dollars, accountability is of absolute importance. He said that it has been proven that manual systems which are in place to ensure accountability can be flawed and beaten. To help ensure transparency and liability, his company designed the computerized accounting system, IFMAS, which covers how taxpayers’ money is budgeted and spent by the government. He said that at this point the system is designed exclusively for governments and is implemented throughout the world.

He said that the modules provide better control over what was spent, how it was spent, who is assigned to the asset acquired and what has become of its value. He stressed that all the modules are important and should be implemented. While the Government of Guyana has refused to implement the other two modules, Hadden says that it may very well be the case that the modules were implemented in a manner that suits the “priorities of the government.” Hadden reiterated, “The whole purpose of the IFMAS is to replace manual systems with automation for accountability and transparency.” The current administration is in the process of evaluating how it is going to proceed with the IFMAS programme.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

Guyana confirms three more Zika virus cases Three more cases of the Zika Virus have been confirmed by the Ministry of Public. The cases were confirmed in two females and a male after samples were tested by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and found to be positive for the virus. A senior Ministry of Public Health official made this disclosure to this publication. According to the official, one of the victims said to be in her early 20s was also tested positive for dengue fever. The woman resides at Timehri. And based on investigations spearheaded by the

Ministry, the woman might have contracted the virus while visiting Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, which has been found to have a thriving mosquito population. Moreover, Vector Control Services Unit, this publication understands has been mandated to conduct a fogging exercise in the East Bank community. “The Timehri area where the woman lives does not have a mosquito problem but the woman as well as other members of her family have been visiting Kaneville very frequently and there is a serious mosquito problem there,”

an official told this publication. At least three other members of the woman’s six-member family developed symptoms consistent with the Zika virus, including rashes and conjunctivitis (pink eye). However, her manifestation was deemed more severe thus a blood sample was taken from her for further tests. But the fact that the woman was found to be inflicted with both Zika and Dengue is not a surprising occurrence, according to the official, since both viruses are transmitted by Aedes type mosquito. The other two victims of the Zika virus are two Cuban doctors stationed at the Diamond Regional Hospital. Both doctors reside in the living quarters of the hospital. According to the official, there were reports that the Diamond hospital and its environs are also infested with mosquitoes and this required the Vector Control Services Unit’s intervention. Since the detection of the virus here earlier this year, Guyana has confirmed five cases. The first case was a woman with addresses on the East Bank of Demerara and Berbice while another case of a teenage boy residing at

An Aedes Aegypti mosquito which can transmit the Zika Virus Eccles, East Bank Demerara, has been recorded. The Zika virus is spread by infected Aedes mosquitoes that bite throughout the day into the evening and at nights. In addition to the Zika virus and dengue fever, the mosquito can also transmit chikungunya. They are able to breed around homes especially in collections of fresh water such as open black tanks, tyres, roof guttering, plant

containers and other vessels. While most people who contract the virus may not manifest any signs or symptoms, health officials have urged that pregnant women in particular seek to protect themselves from the bites of the mosquitoes since the virus has been linked to birth defects. Persons can seek to prevent mosquito bites by wearing light coloured clothes that cover the body, arms and

legs. They can also help to protect themselves by using insect repellents to exposed body parts and use household insecticide sprays, coils and candles to ward off mosquitoes. The Ministry of Public Health is urging persons to check with the nearest health facility if they, or a family member or friend, develops a fever or any other Zika symptoms including joint pains or muscle pain or headache.

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

Commentary By Audrey Salamalay Chase

In my 35- year long journey through juridical and legal territory, during a period of difficult, dark political dissention, I was much heartened and encouraged to find Guyana still had justice of the court, and practising attorneys who yet stood up when they saw cases of extreme injustice. To name a few whom, I encountered Frank Vieira, Claude Massiah, Cecil Kennard, Lionel Luckhoo and Rex Mckay. And I also felt much encouraged to keep up my faltering courage when I sensed the empathy of K e i t h M a s s i a h , Vi c t o r Crane, Kenneth George, George Pompey and so many others along my long journey in so many ways. To all these persons, names and unnamed, I say heartfelt thank yous and May God Bless you all. I must also say that that both President Forbes Burnham and I crossed the divisionary lines in 1971 when he personally appointed me his nominee on the National

Working Hours Commission. I accepted on the condition that I had independence of views with no pressure from my “patron”. It so happened that in the course of several discussions “Burnham and I did not differ on any points concerning this Commission. And so too, in my long journey I drew solace from his empathy. The “divisiveness” in our society, now greatly exacerbated, was originally in my view brought to the fore by politicised ambitious and racial insecurities. But if more Guyanese were able to cross that “imaginary divisive” line, like my old friend Retired Post Master General, George Doris, who was buried recently, God rest his good soul - and also my good neighbour Bevon Currie -- it would make a difference slowly and surely. High sounding rhetoric, expensive seminars etc, etc, are not going to make much difference. Guyanese on both sides of the political fences have to work hard at the grass roots to restore unity; to budget tight and fairly solely in the interest of Guyana and to di-

minish personal grievances. We pass this way but once. FOOT NOTE If Adam Harris and Glenn Lall in a reformed responsible Kaieteur News with carefully re-trained staff, are willing to sincerely work for a united Guyana, I am willing if my prolonged life is extended, to work with them for a united country. If we do not work for unity (and we are now at the cusp, so we must grasp this moment and the momentum), then we run the risk of descending into civil war and destroying our small beautiful country. Students of history will be reminded of the terrible 20year long English Civil War in the 12th century, when it seemed “Christ and His Saints” had forgotten the citizenry of England of that period....Let not this fate befall Guyana!! So step up to the “plate”, Glenn Lall, and earn your place in journalistic history (alongside H. R. Harewood, Claud Robinson, F. B. Salamalay, W. I. Gomes and others). Repel the “carpetbaggers”, local and foreign and Guyana will select you and Adam!!!

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

Over 2,000 house lots to ‘Rescued’ Essequibo woman be developed in Linden transferred to GPHC Residents of Linden, Region Ten are to benefit from a $500M housing programme, which will see the development of over 2,000 house lots, according to Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Sharpe- Patterson. The Minister was at the time speaking at a Business dinner at Watooka House in Linden Friday evening. She said that this development will be realised through a partnership between the Ministry and a female millionaire from Atlanta. F u r t h e r, Minister Sharpe-Patterson noted that the government is working towards creating cohesive communities. As

such it is not just giving out lands. To this end, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), as well as the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc., (HECI) will be onboard to ensure water and electricity are provided as the lands are being developed in this project. The lots will be developed and made available in several categories of residential housing, commercial, public spaces, low, middle and high income houses. Minister SharpePatterson added that upon taking office in early January, she looked at all available house lots

countrywide and found that none was available in R e g i o n s O n e a n d Te n . Eleven were available in Region Seven. A large number were available in Region Six at a cost of $92,000 each. A later report showed that 30 house lots were available in Linden which she distributed during a public day exercise. She then told the gathering that “before long you will get your house lots, some at the cost of $92,000 (also).” The Minister pointed out that there is $500M available for housing in Linden. Several other regions are also expected to benefit from significant housing programmes this year.

Almost a month after she was rescued by the police acting on instructions of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the mentally challenged Essequibo woman was transferred Friday morning to the Georgetown Public Hospital for advanced medical treatment. The Prime Minister had ordered her removal from her mother’s Richmond Housing Scheme home. The young woman is said to be responding to neighbours. She is also showing improvements in her personal hygiene. “She is doing things for herself now.” Doctors at the Suddie Public Hospital have completed their part in taking

care of the former aspiring nurse. Her transferral is in keeping with continued medical treatment. The young woman was locked away in a room for several years at her mother’s residence because she had become violent, reportedly towards her mother. Nagamootoo learnt about the young woman’s plight after an Anna Regina resident informed the Prime Minister about the condition under which the girl lived. The information was provided during a “meet the public” forum where Government Ministers met with residents and listened to their concerns. Immediately he ordered the young

woman’s removal from her mother’s home. Compassionate residents who knew of the young woman’s prolonged mental issue have expressed satisfaction especially to Nagamootoo and to the resident who alerted the Prime Minister about the young woman’s plight. Devika Persaud, a resident of Land of Plenty, on the Essequibo Coast said she was impressed with Nagamootoo’s swift response toward rescuing the young woman. The young woman suffered a mental breakdown while she was pursuing nursing at the Georgetown Public Hospital. (Yannason Duncan)

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Bill passed to increase fees under ‘Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act’ By Kiana Wilburg Members of the National Assembly on Friday passed the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act which was brought by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan. The Member of Parliament said that the Bill seeks to do two things— to exempt persons 65 years and over, from paying for a driver’s licence; secondly, increase a set of fees on licences under the Act which has not been done in the past 20 years or so. In relation to the first objective, Jordan recalled that during his 2016 budget presentation, he indicated that Government is committed to sharing the wealth as the economy improves. He said that he is trying to find other ways of bringing the good life to all of the citizens regardless of their age. “And one would know that there are two novel measures in the budget one of which we are debating now which has to

do with persons who have intentions of driving, perhaps for the first time. Once they are 65 years and older they would not have to pay for a license to enjoy this pleasurable activity. “I don’t believe that this aspect would attract negativity from the opposition,” expressed the Finance Minister. He said, too, that the second objective of the Bill should also not attract resistance. Jordan said that fees on some of the licenses under the Act have been there for at least 20 years. He said that what Government is seeking to do in this instance, is to improve the cost sharing aspect because many, he believes are not paying the full cost recovery. The Finance Minister said that he does not believe that the system should be this way because several of the fees are more regulatory than for raising revenue. As such, Jordan said that there is an element of cost and what he is asking the taxpayers to

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan bear in some respect is a part of that cost for issuing a license whether it is revenue raising or regulatory. “I think for the most part there was some tardiness on the part of the past regime in not reviewing the licenses in the last 20 years. I say tardiness because when you seek to increase these rates, they appear to be arduous and burdensome. “In going forward, we need to have a trigger mechanism put in place that will see periodic reviews of

many of these licences,” the Finance Minister said. He said that this review mechanism could perhaps be done on a biennial basis. He then commended the Bill to the House for passage. The next speaker on the Bill was Opposition Member, Juan Edghill. He agreed that any relief to the senior citizens, in terms of exemptions from licences is a good one. Edghill said that the real issue with this Bill is the range of Guyanese that will be affected and the manner in which they will be affected. He recalled that the Finance Minister in his 2016 Budget speech said, “Most of the measures however, are designed to support our thrust of stimulating the economy while rekindling hope and confidence, these are essential ingredients to attaining the good life.” The Opposition member said that stimulate means to create some amount of activity, interest and to stir up enthusiasm. He is doubtful

that Guyanese would be enthused by the domino effect of the Bill which proposes astronomical increases to the fees for certain licenses. He said, “It is the travelling public that will pay more. If the license fees for the Canter or lorry truck increases, it is the person who is paying to have two zinc sheets or five sacks of cement removed that is actually paying for the fees. Everything will be passed on to the worker…That is an important thing for us to consider.” He said that most of the fees are moving in a percentage of 100 and 200 percent. Edghill said that he understands that Jordan wants to raise money given the size of his budget. He said that the approach to raise the fees on licenses under the Act is “lazy, shows lack of innovation” and unconscionable. Supporting him was former Attorney General (AG), Anil Nandlall. Nandlall, too, hammered home the point that the first objective

of the Bill was visionless. He challenged Jordan to tell the House how many Amerindians in various parts of the Hinterland Region will benefit from it the measure. He said that Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, is from Whim, Berbice and even he would be unable to say how many persons from that area would benefit from the first objective of the Bill. In this regard, Nandlall stressed that fiscal measures must benefit all and not a small group. He called for the proposed fees in the Bill to be reduced by 50 percent. Jordan however did not acknowledge the proposed amendment by the Opposition. He said, instead, that “in life only two things are certain; death and taxes …and as it relates to taxes, no one likes to pay taxes.” He added, “What happened (yesterday) proves that when you take so long to increase taxes then it will end up being a painful exercise when moves are made to do it.”

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

House passes legislation for hike in gun licences fees By virtue of its one seat majority, the government, on Friday, passed the Firearms Amendment Bill despite pleas from the Opposition for reconsideration and amendments. The Firearms Act makes provision for a range of fees in relation to shotguns, pistols, revolvers and rifles. The amendment secures a hike in firearm licences fees. Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan said that Cabinet had approved an increase in the fees. The fee for a shotgun licence has moved from $2000 to $5000; the cost for pistol and revolver licences goes from $5000 to $25,000; rifle fees will be increased from $7,500 to $40,000 and dealer’s licences will be issued at a cost of $150,000, up from $20,000. These increases are expected to take effect from May 1. Ramjattan told the House of the “need” for the increases. In this

regard, he spoke of the revenues to be spent on processing the applications for licences. He said that it requires great effort from members of the Guyana Police Force and takes away resources that would have serviced other matters. Ramjattan noted that there is a three-stage process. This starts with the application letter being sent to the Commander of the Division who assigns a rank to go check on the applicant’s character in his or her community. The application is then sent to the Commissioner’s Office to ensure that the applicant’s antecedents are positive in the sense that there were no previous convictions. The application then goes to the Firearm Licensing Board. It is then decided, at that stage, whether the applicant is fit. If so, the application is sent to the Minister for the final stamp of approval.

…Opposition cries for ‘insensitivity’

Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan “All these require resources,” said Ramjattan. He indicated that there are hundreds of applications to be processed. Responding to issues raised by the Opposition when the hike was first announced, Ramjattan said that generally, for one to be granted a firearm licence in the category of rifle, pistol or revolver, that person has

to be dealing with large sums of money. Therefore, the fee should not be formidable and should cause no problems for those persons, said Ramjattan. In relation to the shotgun that is a category that involves farmers and Amerindians who do hunting in the interior. That is why the increase was so small.” It was revealed that there are 4500 registered pistols, 3000 registered shotguns and 3047 registered rifles by the Guyanese public. Ramjattan also noted that there are no more than five dealers. PPP Member of Parliament, Dharamkumar Seeraj, said that while he can understand Ramjattan’s point about the process required for the granting of the licence he does not think that that argument can extend to

justify why the cost for renewal is also being hiked. The MP said that $5,000 may seem like a small sum to the “big ones” but every dollar means something to the ordinary man. His reference was to farmers who need shot guns to protect their crops and live stock. He said, “$5000 can spell the difference between eating today and going to bed hungry.” Seeraj said that the government is insensitive to the ordinary people. He said that this is mainly because Government members are insulated from economic hardships by especially the recent salary increase. The PPP MP told the House that there is no silver lining beyond the dark cloud hanging over the heads of the ordinary

people. The government was also challenged by former H o m e Aff a i r s M i n i s t e r Clement Rohee who claimed that the increase will open the window for more illegal guns coming into the country. He also predicted that dealers will raise their selling prices since increase also covers them. “We heard that illegal firearms are entering this country….that firearms are pouring into our country across the border. It seems to be that the attention should be focused on addressing that situation,” said Rohee. The Bill was subsequently passed in the National Assembly with the government voting down an amendment by the Opposition for the increase to be waived for farmers. (Abena Rockcliffe)

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

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BranderZ Guyana: Taking advertising with promotional products to new heights By Kiana Wilburg There’s nothing wrong with investing money in television advertisements or social media promotions. But any true entrepreneur worth his or her salt would know that diversity in advertising campaigns is vital. And while all the commercials in the world can be helpful, sometimes you need something tangible for your product promotions or trade show. Promotional products convey priceless brand impressions at an economical price, and that’s an inescapable reality. This just happens to be BranderZ Guyana’s area of expertise. This young company located in Georgetown has been making a lasting impression with its customers in just a short space of time. It is run daily by Martin Brock and his endearing wife, Amanda. Apart from his love of his two children, Amy and Alexander, Brock said that he is motivated everyday to do his job because he is afforded an exciting opportunity to

Some of the promotional cups done by BranderZ Guyana. embark on a creative journey each day. The 40-year-old explained how he is on a mission to take the business of promotional products to new heights. HOW ITALL GOT STARTED The former student of Bishop’s High School said that the idea of getting involved in the promotional products industry all got started from an idea given to him by a dear friend. He said that he was informed that Digicel, for example, is one of the good customers in such a niche market.

Brock who had already started with his wife a company, Corporate and Executive Gifts, decided to try their hands at the promotional products sector. They soon realized that they were on to a money-making venture. He said, “When we got everything in order, we approached Digicel and they jumped on board immediately. They made a big order too. At the time we were doing engraving and other works.” The father of two said that he eventually lost Digicel as a customer as they changed

their policy and began to outsource their items. But that did not discourage him at all. He said that he and his wife pursued other big clients and were able to secure the likes of Republic Bank, the Guyana Lottery Company, Western Union, Industrial Supplies Guyana, Wartsila, and Neal and Massy. They have maintained these as valued customers even to this day. Brock said, “Because of the outstanding support we have received from Republic Bank, we were able to open up BranderZ Guyana last

year November and stock copious supplies of items, locally.” The businessman said that the company at first started by outsourcing its products and the number of special works it did on promotional products but now they have been able to acquire the necessary equipment to do these works independently and on a larger scale. BENEFITS Brock contended that promotional merchandise, branded with a company’s name and/or logo should be considered an investment and part of an entity’s marketing budget. He said that they are not only for companies that attend trade shows, even though that might be what they are best known for. The businessman said that giving promotional gifts to current and potential customers can aid in branding, improve their opinion of the company, helps them to remember the products or services, will make them more likely to buy from the entity.

He said that it is also less expensive and more effective than other forms of advertising and marketing. Brock stressed that the best part about promotional gifts is that they are kept for a long period of time by customers and this he intimated, helps with branding. Brock noted that a goal for businesses, big and small, is often brand recognition and when this is taken into consideration, promotional products prove to be a simple tool that can help increase brand awareness for a small business. He said that while business cards will always be an incredibly valuable business staple, promotional products are a fun, creative way to showcase a company’s contact information. Instead of just leaving a potential customer with your business card, for example, he said that a businessman may want to consider leaving behind their business card in addition with another tangible, branded product. The BranderZ Guyana Continued on page 31

Page 30

Kaieteur News

SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals and Black Opal - Cosmetology Courses - Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257 SERVICES

WANTED

PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

1 Security Guard at Eccles Industrial Site, with a valid police clearance. Call: 2332473

Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana passport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 626-7040; 265-4535.

General worker/labourer (male) - Call: 265-3586 One salon assistant at Nalline’s Beauty Salon: Vreed-en-Hoop JunctionCall: 625-3899 or 264-0034

Building Construction: house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362

Female domestic to work in Trinidad, must be educated and know to cook. Between 25-35 years. Call: 1868-683 1528

Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206

We are offering a brand new reconditioned Premio car for land in Eccles or Herstelling. Call: 604-2207; 611-7223

Specialised in A/C installation, service, repair fridges, freezer & re-gas systems. Call: 6566708, 648-3955

FAST GROWING FOOD IMPORTERS IS SEEKING E X P E R I E N C E D SALESPERSON WITH DRIVER’S LICENSE AND POLICE CLEARANCE. CALL: 231-8529

Brian Moe @ 642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165: Home and Office visits at your comfort!!

Attractive live in waitressPassport forms, taxation etc. Call: 327-0252/674-4665 Call Sir Dinesh: 666-6889 Store clerk: must have CXC, Microsoft Excel, know QuickBooks, flexibility to work shift. Call: 231-6854 One live-in or live out maid/ assistant salesgirl- Call: 6035416; 644-9802 EDUCATIONAL Private Custom Brokerage Certificate: training course- 29th March 2016. Register now! Call: 2231506; 694-8322

Private teacher for home school, for CXC English, SSEE (all subjects). Call: 696-7467 Music 2016!! Register – learn to play musical instruments and train your voice-Call: 225-1151/ 678-9489

1 Domestic cleaner, must know to prepare vegetarian food, apply @ Alabama Trading, Ferry Stelling. Live in domestic must know to cook Indian dishes, salary $80,000 monthly. Call: 6105043

Hairdressers, nail technician, barbers, also hair & nail stations available for rental location: New Market StreetCall: 638-1106 Monique’s Nail Studio @ Bent Street Wortmanville: Acrylic-tips, airbrush, nail art, pedicure, hair, lashes, make-up. Call: 699-4889; 2316980

WANTED Experienced drivers and dispatchers. Call:622-6413; 231-3709 Experienced cashier at American Variety Store, 140 Regent & Light Street. Call: 225-1864 Female dispatcher @ 18 Henbury Avenue Nandy Park E.B.D- Call: 233-5227 Female worker wanted sound secondary education, computer literate-Tel: 6225518 Experienced taxi driver must have proof of address and police clearance. Call: 6112414 3 Experienced salesgirls needed in Bourda Market. Call: 227-3407 from 8am-4pm.

Vreed-en-Hope Junction: Lessons place, office, storage bond, church -$20,000$25,000-Call: 603-6400 Two bedrooms apartment$42,000 monthly. Call: 6873017 Two bedrooms apartment, semi-furnished & self contained at 97 5th Street Industry E.C.D - Call: 6847853; 619-2388 Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park with free Wi-Fi, recently renovated- 1&2 bedrooms -$70,000-$80,000. Call: 641-3318 Two bedrooms, bottom flat, with A/C, hot & cold, security in business area, overseas clients only, asking $600USD- Call: 226-1519 Bottom flat for business situated @ Robb Street Bourda. Call: 226-1647; between 9am-4pm daily

New model 4X4, RAV4, excellent condition- $2.2M. Call: 618-1395; 220-6380

Cook/baker for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 Male housekeeping Dept Supervisor, male security guard 30-45yrs, 233 South Road Lacytown. Call: 225-0198 1 Driver- apply @ Technical Service, 18-23Industrial Site Eccles. Hairdressers, nail technician, barbers, also hair & nail stations available for rental location: New Market StreetCall: 638-1106 One sales representative. Call: 225-8205 Cashier with 6 months experience & Grade 3 in English @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff St. Campbellville.

General Managers to work in the interior on land dredges with popular mining firm-Call: 226-9768 Accountant/clerk to work with mining firm, ages 2355yrs & TM truck drivers for interior. Call: 226-9768 Cashiers & pump attendants. Call or text: 670-6005; 627-2550

Executive 2 bedrooms apartment in exclusive Residential Area close to the Ogle Airport. Call for appointment: 653-2920

One lower flat at Herstelling – price $45,000- Call: 629-2912 Self contained rooms for rent. Call: 225-0305 Restaurant & Bar -$1250USD negotiable, space for rent suitable for supermarket $3,000USD negotiable. Call: 225-0305

CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM

Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807

1 Qualified surveyor, salary $300,000 monthly/saw men. Call: 231-8053 Qualified persons- floor supervisor, experienced in retail business, tertiary education @ Survival Shopping Complex, 173 Sheriff St. Campbellville.

Vreed-en-Hoop: new 2 bedrooms with granite counter tops, toilet, bath, security, camera, grill fence. Call: 682-5230, 628-9596

Two general workers to work shift system. Call: 218-1400

Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494

VEHICLE FOR SALE

Driver/purchaser to work with mining firm in Georgetown, ages 28-55. Call: 226-9768

1 Receptionist, 1 driver, for private car. Call: 225-3234; 698-7807

DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM

VACANCY

Space to rent bottom flat, two bedrooms apartment – Call: 670-9256

Self-contained rooms in Prashad Nagar. Tel: 2272993 One bedroom apartment for rent in Diamond E.B.D- Call: 683-4700

Live in waitress -$60,000$70,000 monthly, must have secondary education. Call: 610-5043 Handy boys to work, live in accommodation and meals free. Call: 228-5655; 628-1756

One female cook Should know Lessons! Nursery: Phonics, to prepare nutritious diets. Reading, Numeracy & Hourse of work: 9:00amPrimary: Reading, Revision in 1:00pm. Wage $20,000 per all subjects, Grade 7- all week. Call: 697-5221 Subjects @ Alberttown. Call: One maid. Attractive Salary. 690-9378 Call: 697-5221 Contract Cars for taxi service @ second location @ Norton Street- Call: 638-6045; 2260765 Drivers, paid salary & contract cars- Call: 231-0002; 231-0316 LEARN TO DRIVE We buy land in Eccles, Soman Son & Outar Driving Herstelling, La Parfaite School at Maraj Building- Harmonie, Zeelugt & on the Tel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 615- East Coast. Call: 611-7223; 604-2207 0964; 689-5997

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

Sunday February 28, 2016

PEN PAL Male seeking female (3552yrs) for relationship. Write: Mr. Other Heskey: Mount 92-96 Lord Street, Southport PR8 1JR England Overseas man is looking for a woman between ages 4956yrs for serious relationship. Interesting woman call: 6277339

1-RZ mini-bus BKK series, in excellent condition $750,000 negotiable- Call: 604-6016 Reduced prices on unregistered cars, Allion, Mazda, Fielder, BlueBird. Call City Motors:626-7478; 616-3413 First Class Auto: Rush, IST, Runx, Sienta, Bluebird, 06 Premio, 06 Allion, Fielder, Spacio, Noah. Call: 6278383; 638-3045 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall: 680-3154 Toyota Ipsum, fully loaded, music system – 5,800 watt, 7 seater, excellent condition Call: 653-1003 Toyota Raum, AT192, Fun Cargo, RAV 4, Tundra, LTouring Wagon, IST, 4X4 pick up sold DEF, (Ducati 1098cc) Call: 644-5096; 697-1453 Carsmart Auto Sale: Premio (08) -$2,895,000; C-light Premio (05) -$2,450,000; Premio (02) -$2,295,000 & Spacio -$2,095,000. Call: 6394295; 650-0402 Carsmart Auto Sale: Fielder -$2,095,000; IST$2,095,000, Audi A4 $3,895,000; BMW 318i $2,795,000- Call: 615-3075; 639-4295; 650-0402 CAT Skid Steer 236B -$4.5M; CAT 928F Loader -$7.3M- Call: 650-0402; 261-4121; 261-4018 1 Honda CRV, year 2001, PLL series, price $1.8M. Call: 624-6099

TO LET Four storey business place located on Robb Street, next to Bourda Market- Call: 6237731; 629-0636

Toyota AT212, in good condition -$1.2M negotiable- Call: 690-3352; 267-1308; 626-2841

Fully furnished 1 bedroom, air-condition $90,000 monthly, $6,000 daily. Call: 668-0306; 694-7817; 218-1400

4X4 PFF 6163 (Green) 4 door LHD,3 liter 3VZ engine, good condition – G$1.6MCall 657-6063

House to rent @ East La Penitence, Morocut Street: 2 bedrooms -$65,000. Call: 6939179; 604-60898

1-620-240 DAF Engine, foreign used, 1 Canter GNN 722, 1 Twin Steer CF DAF, GSS 5964. Call: 228-5655; 628-1756

3 Bedrooms apartment in Diamond Housing Scheme. Call: 216-2972 Two bedroom bottom front apartments situated @ Station St. Kitty. Ideal for working individuals. Call: 643-3061/ 654-0382/2276662 One bedroom self contained apartment, E.B.D. Call: 6931480

Tractor Massey Ferguson from Canada: MF165 -$1.7M, MF135-$1.1M, MF 265 $2.1M, MF165 loader -$2.4M. Call: 682-5230; 628-9596 Pickup truck-4 door, loaded, 2005, Toyota Tacoma $2.3M, Ford Ranger -$1.5M, Ford F150 Sport -$1.5M. Call: 682-5230; 628-9596 Continued on page 31

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 31

BranderZ Guyana: Taking advertising...

BranderZ Guyana CEO, Martin Brock, alongside some of his company’s promotional T-shirts for Guyana’s upcoming 50th Independence Day celebrations. From page 29 CEO also expressed that the diversity in promotional products is a powerful marketing platform for reaching the masses which all businesses should make use of. SERVICES PROVIDED “We offer a number of services here at BranderZ Guyana. We do embroidery, heat transfer, vinyl printing, foil printing, ID cards, screen printing, engraving, specialty printing on almost all promotional products such as clothing, cups, pens, mugs, umbrellas, key rings, badges etc,” related the 40-year-old. Brock also intimated that his company has for some time, invested in importing a range of products so that customers can enjoy the

benefit of seeing the type of product that they would be interested in as opposed to going through a catalogue. “Sometimes it is mindboggling, given the thousands of varieties of items we import. It is a logistical nightmare because what are the chances of you walking into any given store and seeing 40 different pens and the one out of that set you like is the one which they don’t have?” questioned the entrepreneur. He added, “The odds are very high and sometimes, entities find themselves in that position and we just refuse to be in that place. It is a challenge but we are determined to cater to the needs of the customers. Companies in Guyana would

not take that risk but we are crazy enough to do it.” The businessman said that what sets his company apart from others that are involved in the same line of trade is their amazing team work. He said, “We have also invested heavily in all the things needed to produce quality work and our minimum quantity is one. Regardless of how large we get, that will always be our trademark because some companies only allow you to do at least five or more products at a time but we are willing to do one. It is about producing a service at the end of the day and not just raking in the quick dollars. Here at Branderz Guyana, we love what we do.”

Brock added that he takes the time to meet and greet clients when they visit his company. He asserted that he takes pride in going through the creative process with them. With regard to business development in Guyana, Brock says that it has been an uphill battle in past years but now, it appears that there is a leveled playing field. “Before, it was all the old boys who got the contracts for promotional products from certain major state entities but now we are seeing massive changes. “Ministries are now asking us to provide work and quotations, the United Nations and UNICEF are also on board with us and the playing field is now open. We are of course happy about this because as I said, this is more than just a job we come to get done every day. For us, it is about providing quality service and products.”

From page 30

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Single & Bunk Beds; freezers, commercial stove, deep fryer, microwave, excellent condition. To inspect Call: 602-1473; 680-0405 Toyota Rear Differential 39.8 and 14.5 fiberglass boat with trailer and 35HP motor. Call: 678-9536 Brand new Samsung Smart 32" TV, wall painting, candle holder & baby clothes. Call: 669-0828 One-6 Cylinder Perkins generator set 55KWs – 110/ 220v, single phase, 60Hz-Call: 695-3444/674-7400

LAND FOR SALE 1 House lot in gated community -$4.5M negotiable. Call: 694-7817; 668-0306 Providence Scheme (115ftX81ft) located on a Cul de Sac close to Bai Shan Lin -$8.2M negotiable. Call: 6014163 or 223-0719

One two tons forklift, one blocks machine, one Leyland truck (scrap). Call: 617-9230; 269-1406 One Toyota Hilux Surf Model KDKZN185W, please call 227-7538 or 226-8247 between 08:15hrs and 17:00hrs, Mon-Fri. Lovely Tibetan terrier pups for sale. Call: 696-7467

Eccles New Scheme (prime land) 100ftX50ft -$5.5M, Dairy (fenced 100ftX50ft) $3M, Zeelugt (100ftX50ft) $2M. Call: 611-7223; 604-2207

Tibetan pups, fully vaccinated. Call: 225-4780

Lall & Sons Real Estate: Providence -$5M, La Parfaite Harmonie- $1M, $1.2M, $1.6M, Tuschen -$3M, Parika Public Rd -$65M. Call: 6046724 Lot 12 Mon Repos, E.C.D, First Street, Market RoadCall: 220-7330 Vacant land for sale in Eccles, East Bank Demerara 70’X100’- Call: 623-6136 Residential lease lot 100X100 @ Kuru Kururu – first Hill from Soesdyke Junction – price $1.8M negotiable. Call: 680-6136

Crash vehicle – Honda City for sale. Call: 225-0305

Truck, fully equipped for selling cones, ice cream and food- Call: 227-1830

VEHICLE FOR SALE ONE TOYOTA HILUX E/ CAB PICKUP M/T GASOLINE ENGINECALL: 676-0931 Toyota Vios- PKK Series, price $1.2M, price negotiable. Call: 644-6346 2001 Toyota Allex, Mileage 77,000km, $1.6M negotiable, first owner (female), in excellent condition. Call: 6871263

TOURS SURINAME EASTER WEEKEND TOUR TRIP: SHOPPING, FUN, TOURS & SIGHTSEEING DOLPHINS MARCH 23RD -28TH, 2016. CALL: 692-7270; 665-5171; 639-2663; 223-0056

HC Toyota 212: A/C, alarm, pioneer deck, in excellent condition, one million negotiable. Call: 617-7113 TAXI SERVICES GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 225-7878 (24HRS)

PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Tuschen Housing Scheme $7M negotiable. Call: 2641050; 683-7045/669-3553 Transport property located @ Rosignol W.B.B: 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, fully furnished. Call: 6793496; 602-6333; 330-2576; 699-4689 (motivated settler) 4 Bedrooms with washroom & bath @ 138 Uitvlugt, Ocean View, W.C.D -$7.5M – Call: 664-9998; 609-0514 Joint Venture- commercially developed City Park/ excellent facility with swimming pool, snackette. Call: 602-1473; 680-0405 Newly built 3 bedrooms flat concrete property 22ftX48ft, land 50X90ft @ Vision Garden Versailles, W.B.D $11M. Call: 616-0111 Transported property @ 19 Good Hope Gardens, size: 24X61, concrete buildingall convenience, price $33M. Serious inquiries only-Call: 234-0046; 656-3525 Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street Bourda-Call: 2276817; 624-7341 Transported property @ Grove $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461 Property at Lot 173 Diamond Housing Scheme, E.B.D- 5 bedrooms; 2 storey- Call: 681-5790 Property @ 650 Section ‘A’ Block Great Diamond East Bank Demerara. Call: 2254792; 609-1114 Property @ prime location 18 Acres, suitable for house lots/farming @ Independence St. W.B.D, any reasonable offer accepted. Call: 6750506; 663-0753 House & land at Windsor Forest -$15M. Call: 642-6664 Property @ Lot 87 Albert Street- Call: 669- 8701 Lot 67 First Street Garden of Eden E.B.D – 7 (seven) acres of land with two buildings. Call: 639-8376 House & land (3yrs old) for sale at Canal No.2 Polder, 53/ 4 rice land elsewhere. Call: 718-657-9040; 266-2897; 6909331 FOR SALE/FOR RENT American pool table – Call: 277-0578 Concrete structure, fully equipped for casting brass and aluminum components – Call: 227-1830

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

Standards in focus

CONSUMER CONCERNS

An international standard exists to curb road accidents

The new policy for purchasing drugs and medical supplies – some refinements

Road traffic accidents are the eighth leading cause of death globally. They are the greatest cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29 years. Perhaps even more shocking, nearly 3500 people die in road accidents around the world each day. There are nearly 1.3 million personal tragedies a year. The grim reality is that the death toll is on the increase, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Guyana. Without action to reverse this trend, experts project that fatalities from road crashes will reach 1.9 million per year by 2020, and millions more will suffer non-fatal injuries. Fortunately, we can now look forward to a major breakthrough in the realm of traffic safety with this relatively new management system standard on road traffic safety published in 2012 by the International Organisation for Standardisation. This standard, ISO 39001: 2012 Road Traffic Safety (RTS) Management Systems - Requirements with guidance for use, experts believe will play an important role in reversing the trend. ISO 39001:2012 specifies requirements for a road traffic safety (RTS) management system to enable an organization that interacts

with the road traffic system to reduce death and serious injuries related to road traffic crashes which it can influence. The requirements of the standard include the development and implementation of an appropriate RTS policy, d e v e l o p m e n t o f RT S objectives and action plans, which take into account legal and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and information about elements and criteria related to RTS that the organization identifies as those which it can control and those which it can influence. ISO 39001:2012 is designed for public and private organizations that interact with the road traffic system. It is expected to be particularly relevant to organizations with large numbers of vehicles. These include freight and passenger companies as well as those with large fleets of private vehicles like those used by engineers, sales people or supermarket delivery drivers. It will also be of interest to organizations that manage road networks. Global research has shown that death and serious

injury can be considerably reduced by adopting a holistic safe system approach to RTS. This involves a clear focus on RTS results and evidencebased actions supported by the right levels of organization management. The incidence of road accidents cannot be reduced by the actions of Governments alone. Organizations of all types and sizes, as well as individual road users, have a role to play. It is in this regard that the United Nations has been making considerable effort to save lives on the roads, by spearheading its “Decade of Action for Road Safety 20112020 resolution”. Launched in over 100 countries on 11 May 2011, the resolution has a clear goal in sight which is to prevent five million road deaths by 2020. Through the development of the ISO 39001 standards, ISO is making a significant contribution to that ambitious UN goal. The Standard is expected to have a considerable impact on the future of traffic safety by addressing safety aspects relating to speed, vehicle condition and driver awareness. This will improve traffic safety and to reduce the number of persons killed or severely injured on the road. For further information, please contact the GNBS on telephone numbers: 2190065, 219-0066 or visit the GNBS website: www.gnbsgy.org

By PAT DIAL Recently, as published in the newspapers, the Minister of Public Health adumbrated a new policy for the purchase of drugs and medical supplies for his Ministry. On the face of it, the new policy put forward is an improvement of the past but on reading it carefully, there appears to be some refinements necessary. The first major change is that each Region will estimate the drugs and supplies it needs and forward the requirements with the necessary funds to the Ministry. The Ministry will make central purchases to benefit from economies of scale and quality control. It is suggested that an officer or officers should be deployed to the Region to give guidance and ensure that the drugs are not wasted or stolen. The Minister mentioned that the Ministry would be moving away from brandname drugs and equipment to generic ones. Presumably, the main reason for this is that generics are much cheaper than brand-names. Brandname drugs have a universal acceptance and are covered by insurance in case such drugs cause harm to the user. The great attraction of the generics is that they are so much cheaper and a budget goes a longer way. In buying generics, the Ministry will generally have

to monitor to ensure that such drugs are not below standard. There are a number of well-established firms with proper laboratories which supply quality generics and the Ministry should source these. Sometimes, generics made by unknown firms tend to be deficient in strength and this could have harmful effects on patients, especially in surgical procedures. Incidentally, country of origin of drugs is no guarantee of quality or safety. For example, several years ago, the local market was inundated with fairly cheap drugs coming from a firm in Hamburg, Germany. All products carried Helms labels and gave the impression that they were German products. It turned out that none of the products were produced in Germany but rather in the “bottom-houses” in various countries of East Asia. It was the Bureau of Standards which uncovered the fraud and had Helms banned forthwith. The other major change effectuated in the new policy is in the bidding documents. These changes include being allowed to bid for specific lots of items and also be allowed to bid for a partial supply rather than 100%. There will also be adjustments to the requirements to be met by suppliers as to the validation of the standards of the drugs

supplied. These changes were made according to the press reports to accommodate the bids of small suppliers. The Ministry should provide laboratory testing for all drugs bought from non-reputable generic firms or have the suppliers provide valid certificates from reputable laboratories. Such testing or certification should be a necessity from smaller suppliers who tend to source their supplies from the cheapest suppliers. In any case, the bidding documents must ensure that the interest of the consumer takes precedence over that of the supplier or anyone else. There are one or two requirements which the New Policy does not mention as stated in the press release. The first is the requirement of the storage of drugs. Every supplier should have facilities to store the drugs he is supplying to the Ministry since many drugs deteriorate with poor or inadequate storage. The Ministry must inspect such storage. And secondly, the expiry times should be specified in the Policy; a supplier may offer an extremely attractive price but with an expiry date which is in a few months. Lastly, it is suggested that the Ministry should give priority to locally-produced drugs since surveillance as to quality would be easier and this would help towards achieving national drug security and may also induce some suppliers to embark upon manufacturing.

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Keeping the elderly in mind By Sharmain Grainger “The future of a nation lies in the youths of today” is a notion to which many people subscribe. But it was only recently I came across an interesting quote that really summed up the important role the older folks have in helping to truly shape our society. The quote (sourced at brainyquote.com) simply reads, “The wisdom and experience of older people is a resource of inestimable worth. Recognizing and treasuring the contributions of older people is essential to the long-term flourishing of any society”. You might have seen this quote before. However, when I saw it for the first time, it definitely touched a nerve and caused me to consider that all too often it is the youths that are factored into the talks about the future. The emphasis is always that the youths are the future and must be groomed for the role they must eventually take up – the development of the nation. And I dare say that even some of the older folks, too, believe that the future belongs to the youths and more attention should be focused on them. This may be true in some cases, but given the fact that more of our old folks are living longer and healthier lives, even outliving some of our youths, efforts should be directed to them, too, to continue a task they have already started. It could be deduced that Guyana has already embraced this notion. Just take a look at the David Granger-led administration. But my intent is not to look at the workforce, but rather, the fact that our

A raid by a special organization will uncover another money laundering scheme. Indeed, there will be a political outcry, because the suspect was a contributor to a political party. At the same time rumours will fly that a government official would take a bribe to protect another launderer. That would force a major political change. ************* Drunk driving is common, and try as the authorities might, they just can’t seem to halt it. So there would be another crash resulting from drunk driving. Another senseless loss of life, and again, another

elders are sticking around much longer. Although some struggle with chronic Non Communicable Diseases and other health challenges, it would seem that they definitely manage to keep going, complete with faculties intact. Guyana’s life expectancy rate averages about 70 years. It has been recognised that globally the life expectancy rate has increased and Government, understandably, has been paying close attention to this state of affairs. Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, at a recent stakeholders’ forum underscored that while her Ministry’s goal is to provide the best quality health care possible to all Guyanese, the elderly, like any other group, are being catered for in the strategic plans of the Ministry. And this tactic is being embraced, she noted, as the Ministry continues to reform and enhance its healthcare delivery services. But the Ministry will have to pay even closer attention to staffing capabilities in order to deliver tangible, best quality health care to our elders, Minister Cummings has observed. She has therefore stressed the need for trained staff to be able to competently cater to the health care needs of the elderly. “Health care of the elderly is integrated within the elements of primary health care in Guyana. However, I do believe we need to address, strategically, the provision of appropriate means and facilities of enhancing the training of health care workers operating in the

scramble to halt the nonsense on the roads. ************** The Berbice police would act very quickly and thwart another armed robbery. They are after people who are bent on stealing and who would do anything to execute their plan. Another sensational arrest would be made, driving another nail in the crime coffin.

Some elderly folks whose input to society was celebrated last year end by the Guidance and Counselling Unit of the Region Three Department of Education. health centres so that they can deal competently, efficiently, and compassionately with the elderly,” the Minister declared at the stakeholders’ forum. But catering effectively to the elderly is not something that the Public Health Ministry can do in isolation. As such, the Ministry has been reaching out to various individuals and organisations to help advance its care for the elderly goal. At the aforementioned forum there were representations from the Ministries of Social Protection and Indigenous People’s Affairs and a number of geriatric homes and other likeminded organizations. The need for collaboration has been emphasised by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), which provides technical and other health-related support to the Ministry. Speaking to this issue of the need for collaboration was PAHO/WHO Representative Dr. Jean Seme Fils Alexandre who attended the forum. Dr. Alexandre pointed out that “it is absolutely imperative that all agencies and organisations plan and develop effective programmes to deal with the rapidly expanding, aging population.” And PAHO/WHO has not only committed assistance, but has lauded moves already initiated by the Public Health Ministry to establish a Focal Unit to deal specifically with elderly health care. In the quest to improve health care for the elderly population, the Ministry has been seeking to be efficient in identifying early health risks and detecting diseases, according to Minister

Cummings. She has acknowledged that “Timely intervention and prevention of complications, in a multi-disciplinary approach under best quality primary care settings will be the result of establishing best practices in elderly health care services.” PAHO/WHO is an ideal

partner to advance the efforts at preparing health workers for the proper care of the elderly and this has been encapsulated in its ‘Health care for the elderly: a manual for primary health care workers’. A summary of the publication outlines that “the increase in ageing

populations around the world has brought new focus to the particular health need of the elderly,” thus it is imperative for health care workers to be equipped with necessary skills and knowledge if they are to take seriously, the task of caring for our elders, who continue to play a very vital role in our society.

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Sunday February 28, 2016

Walking past her sister’s corpse By Michael Jordan Had it been a horror movie, some psychic force would have whispered a warning to Madonna Welcome. But this was real life, so Madonna walked right past the Matthew’s Ridge playfield without the slightest inkling that her sister, Samantha Ashby, lay dead just a few feet away. It certainly never entered her head that her sister could have met such a cruel end. Not after all this time; when 32-year-old Samantha had walked away from her old life as a commercial sex worker. Samantha’s story was that of so many other pretty girls who live in interior locations like Matthew’s Ridge, North West District: a place with few educational opportunities and too many free-spending men. By the time she was in her late teens, Samantha had fallen in with the wrong crowd. “We tried talking her out of it, but she chose that way of life,” her sister, Madonna, told me. But the fun-loving woman finally settled down with a young man from the community. All it took was one night out to change that…

Samantha Ashby On the night of Monday, September 15, 2014, Samantha Ashby visited a relative’s shop at Matthew’s Ridge. The shopkeeper remembers seeing her drinking with three men. Samantha’s companions were said to be newcomers to Matthew’s Ridge who were working with a businessman from the community. They say that two were porters, while

the third was a miner. One of the men went by the nickname ‘Killer.’ According to reports, no one saw them leave. At around 11.00 hrs the following day, a group of students who were training for school sports entered the Matthew’s Ridge Community Centre ground. They ventured further onto the playfield, and it was then that

they spotted a woman’s body. Someone had dumped her at the side of the community centre. She was clad in her brassiere, her underwear lay a short distance away. The students immediately contacted a teacher, who identified the victim as 32year-old Samantha Ashby. Ashby’s killers had raped her then beaten her to death, some 30 yards from her home. Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh established that she had suffered multiple injuries, including a broken hip and fractured skull. Detectives retrieved two condoms from the scene. Madonna, who confirmed the victim’s identity, recalled that she had passed that area a few hours earlier on her way to work. Knowing that her sister was not one “to take stupidness from people,” Madonna believed that the five feet seven inches tall

companions. They brought the suspects to Georgetown and interrogated them at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary. But the detectives found nothing to implicate the men, and released them on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigators also took DNA samples from the suspects, and similar samples from the two condoms that they retrieved from the crime scene. Madonna is convinced that these same men know more than they are saying about her sister’s death. She alleges that about two months before Samantha’s murder, one of the suspects had stalked another one of her sisters.

close to the police station. How is it that nobody heard anything and people are living near to the (Matthew’s Ridge) Community Centre? People know what happened, but they are afraid to talk.” But there’s a saying in forensic circles that the dead speak, and there’s that slim hope that, in the very near future, the contents of two used condoms will help to unmask Samantha Ashby’s killers. If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown offices. Our numbers are 2258465, 22-58473 and 22-58458.

Samantha Ashby’s body was found near the community centre

Samantha would have put up a valiant fight before being overpowered. Detectives soon learned about Samantha’s night out, and picked up her three

Madonna also believes that there are people at Matthew’s Ridge who may have actually witnessed the attack on Samantha. “It (the crime scene) is

You need not disclose your identity. You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email a d d r e s s mjdragon@hotmail.com.

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

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=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

Khemraj Ramjattan, Nigel Hughes, and philosophy I took Carlyle Goring and Gordon April to lunch last week at “Excellence,” the working class restaurant on Charlotte Street, that I am fond of patronizing. I met Goring and April in the AFC arena when I campaigned in the last general elections. April provided security for me during the election campaign. While we were seated I called Leonard Craig and Marlon Williams, two rising leaders of the AFC, to join me. I think by now readers would know Craig and I are good friends; I taught both Craig and Williams as students at UG. Both are AFC candidates in the upcoming local government elections An interesting emanation came out of the mouth Carlyle when we were driving to pick up April. Carlyle asked me for my vote in the election. He is an APNU-AFC candidate. I responded with an extensive philosophical explanation why I cannot vote for him, even though we are friends. And Carlyle and I are friends; up to Friday evening, I invited him to ice cream at Demico while we were outside of Parliament waiting for Michael Carrington to come of the National Assembly. Carlyle was stunned when I told him I cannot give him my vote even though we are friends. He carried on and on. Then on Friday night, he brought up the subject again while we were enjoying our ice cream. Carlyle believes as a friend of his who is contesting the election, it is natural for me to give him my vote. As we braced against the rail that rings the Parliament Building (and which should not be there) eating our cones, Carlyle said something to me that got me emotional. He suggested that if people like me do not vote for APNU-AFC in the local gov-

ernment, then the PPP could return to power. I moved off the rail, looked at Carlyle intensely and said; “that is blackmail and I refuse to be blackmailed.” I then explained to him that once the PPP is around I have to vote, without a choice, because the threat will be there – “if not us, then it is them, and you know what they will do to you and Guyana.” I went further and philosophized for Carlyle why I will not vote for AFC candidates. I brought up the name of Khemraj Ramjattan and Nigel Hughes. The first is the leader of the AFC; the other is the chairman of the AFC. These are two persons that will get conspicuous mention in my memoirs if and when I write it. These are two persons that have been extremely good to me. These are two persons, I owe great debts to. These are two humans I admire intensely. These are two politicians that I consider close friends. But I will not vote for the AFC candidates in the election next month. Why? It has to do with philosophy, not friendship. I have deep philosophical beliefs about political behaviour. Here are some of them. I reject unlimited tenure for office holders. Prime Ministers, Presidents, Mayors and Cabinet Ministers should be limited in the time they hold office. Secondly, there should be term limits for trade union leaders, human rights organizations, important NGOs like the consumer rights bodies, etc. My reasoning is simple. Power is extremely dangerous and should never be concentrated. You prevent power madness by putting a time constraint on its possessors Thirdly, I believe in the existence of different poles of

power within the same territory. For that reason, I think the Westminster system is flawed. The Prime Minister’s party has a majority in Parliament then his/her party dominates Parliament, so the Executive and Parliament become one, and the only other poles of power you have is the judiciary and the media. Parliament should have constitutional authority that in-

sulates it from the hegemony of majority rule. Fourthly, I embrace as a valuable principle in life, the diffusion and sharing of power. It is at least a pathway that could weaken the concentration of power. As a matter of philosophical principle, I do not accept the control of central and local power by the same organization. If APNU-AFC wins

the municipal elections then the leaders in charge of central government are the leaders who will be in charge of local government. Where then are the guarantees? Where then are the checks and balances? Where then are the people to turn to when power is abused? I have just seen it in Guyana. The City Council abused vendors and East

Frederick Kissoon Street residents and the leadership of central government said not one word of public condemnation. Sorry Carlyle! But let’s stay as friends!

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

CREATING THAT ENABLING ENVIRONMENT - Financing for new, innovative Infrastructure (The following is an excerpt from Budget 2016 presented by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan) ADDRESSING THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEFICIT “The absence of well-developed infrastructure has impeded Guyana’s development in several ways. Inadequate transport linkages across Guyana have increased production costs, making many of our products uncompetitive in world markets. Limited road, water and air access across Guyana has obstructed our ability to fully exploit the abundant opportunities in our Tourism and Natural Resources sectors. Skewed transportation systems and road networks have thwarted the creation of employment in areas beyond the coastland. Sub-optimal infrastructure in housing settlements has prevented the development of sustainable communities. This is why this budget has placed a high priority on infrastructural development. Our existing road network is incapable of meeting the rapid growth in vehicular traffic. The consequences of this mismatch are many, including frustration of all categories of road users; lost time and productivity, and frequent accidents, many of them deadly. The recently expanded East Bank Demerara Road is

already incapable of accommodating the flow of traffic into the capital, while the East Coast and West Coast roads can be harrowing during rush hours. To address this lacuna, the Government has concluded a sustainable urban transport plan which includes: · A traffic model for Georgetown · A parking management plan · Regularization of minibus operations · Provision of public transport facilities · The use of public transport and non-motorized modes in the most congested areas. In addition, we have budgeted $14.4 billion to continue the upgrade, expansion and rehabilitation of the network of roads and bridges. The Government is finalizing negotiations with the Government of China for the construction of the East Coast Highway from Better Hope to Belfield. In collaboration with the IDB, the Government will conduct studies and create designs for an improved East Coast Railway Embankment Road in 2016 which entails: · Construction of bridges between Sheriff Street and Mahaica · Upgrade of the current embankment road from Sheriff Street to Enmore · Extension of the em-

bankment road from Enmore to Mahaica Additionally, we will invest over $5B in the reconstruction of Sheriff Street to facilitate improved traffic safety features including pedestrian overhead crossings at strategic locations. Shortly, a US$50 million loan will be signed with the Government of India to construct a new road link between Ogle, ECD and Diamond EBD. This proposed new road will intersect several communities including Sophia, South and North Ruimveldt, Eccles and Providence, creating an alternative access route to these densely populated areas. It will expand business opportunities and open new lands for housing development. Over time, it is the vision of the Government to extend this East Bank-East Coast road to connect the Ogle International Airport and the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. We will also invest $2.3 billion to upgrade the West Coast Demerara Road from Parika to Vreed-en-Hoop. Connectivity between West Demerara and the Essequibo Coast and Islands is severely challenged by the aged floating bridge across the Demerara River. The daily traffic bottlenecks to access and exit the city create untold hardships for commuters and entrepreneurs alike. We must con-

struct a fixed high-level bridge to facilitate easy commute and allow for improved river navigation. We are committed to this project and have made provision in this budget for a feasibility study. This is the first step to realizing a public/ private partnership. ADDRESSING DEPLORABLE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE HINTERLAND The Government will pursue several initiatives to extend the integration of road networks into our intermediate savannahs. This will help to bridge the divide between our vast rural and hinterland communities and the coastland. A total of $6.72B has been allocated for the improvement of hinterland, rural and urban community roads in Bartica, Mahdia, Ituni to Kwakwani, Puruni/Itaballi, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma/ Baramita and the Sophia ring road, among others. In collaboration with the IDB, we will complete rehabilitation of the 47-year-old Soesdyke/Linden Highway while critical works are undertaken for its upkeep. Concurrently, maintenance works will be undertaken on the LindenKwakwani corridor. Over the longer term, we aim to fully pave this road to open access to the communities in Ituni, Aroaima, Kwakwani, Ebini, Kimbia and other remote areas along the Berbice River. A feasibility study for the reconstruction of the bridge which links Wismar and MacKenzie at Linden will also be carried out. An alternative link to Bartica and other hinterland communities would be created when ongoing negotiations with our development partners are finalized to construct the Parika/Goshen road. Additional resources have been made available to expand efforts currently being undertaken to improve farm-to-market access roads at Parika, Ruby and Laluni. We are also in discussion with the same donor for new farm access interventions in Triumph, Buxton and Ithaca, in order to stimulate microfarms and small scale agroprocessing initiatives. RIVER TRANSPORT The full potential of residents living on the banks of our numerous rivers and waterways has been inhibited by the poor and inadequate river transport network. To vastly improve river connections between the coast and riverain areas and remote regions, the ageing

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan fleet of vessels must be replaced. The Government expects to conclude arrangements shortly with the Government of India for financing to procure new river transport vessels. In addition, private financing is being explored for the purchase of at least two ‘semi-new’ vessels. To complement the new fleet of ferries, emphasis will be placed on replacing navigational aids and improving conditions at stellings and wharves. To this end, the Government has started preparations to access the UK–Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (CIF) for the upgrade and reconstruction of several facilities, including those in Georgetown, Parika, Port Kaituma, Kumaka and Bartica. UPGRADING PORT GEORGETOWN Navigation into Port Georgetown is severely hampered (by the shallow draught of the Demerara Channel) and the presence of several sunken wreckages. This has restricted container traffic and increased the cost of shipping. Similarly, our main rivers and creeks are clogged and inaccessible to ferries and water taxis. Government will aim to secure funding through the UK-CiF to purchase a dredge. It is expected that the dredge will be managed by collaboration between the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) and the Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG). The sum of $1.3B is also budgeted for the rehabilitation of the Bartica stelling and the goods wharf at Kingston; for docking of dredges and ferry vessels; dredging of the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers; and installation and maintenance of navigational aids. Works will begin on a phased waterfront development programme over the next

five years. This investment, estimated to cost over $1.6B, will see the development of stateof-the-art waterfront facilities which will be on par with those in the Caribbean. This development will target Kitty, Kingston, Stabroek, Vreed-en-Hoop, Supenaam and Skeldon. The proposed project will include boardwalks; recreational areas; modernized ramps for ferries and water taxis; and a dockyard for yachts. The initiative will serve as recreational facilities and tourist attractions, and will create opportunities for small business development. AIRPORTS & AERODROMES The advance of improved technologies and the everexpanding list of travel destinations being offered to our people have encouraged Government to undertake a massive upgrade of our airports and aerodromes. An allocation of $5.2B has been made for the continued development of the air services industry including the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. The improved facilities at the Ogle International Airport have led to increased services to multiple local and overseas destinations, inclusive of commercial flights at nights. The extension and upgrade of the Ogle runway has transformed the airport into a Regional hub linking Georgetown to Suriname, Barbados and Trinidad. We are currently pursuing financing to upgrade many of our hinterland airstrips at Eteringbang, Annai, Paramakatoi, Kurupung, Kato, Kopinang, Monkey Mountain and other locations. The Government is earmarking over $2B in the medium term, for its Airstrips and Aerodromes Improvement Programme …”

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

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My column

The day a conviction disturbed me This past week a number of things bothered me, but none more than the 25-year sentence meted out to a media colleague. When the news reached me I was stunned. My mind went back to when the story broke that my colleague had molested a female member of his family. People met me on the streets and sought to convince me that the man was innocent. One person said to me that he was the victim of being too strict. It was in 2014, and the woman said to me that the girl was bent on heading to the wild side. I asked how this could be if the household is strict, when adults have the power over the children in their care. As a father with children of my own, I did not have too difficult time to get my children to walk the straight and narrow. I got them to appreciate whatever the home provided; I got them to appreciate the love in the household and of course, their mother and I were always there to lend an ear. The rules were strict; you had to be home at a certain time, you could not dare bring home something that was not yours and things like that.

So when I heard about this girl running away, the first question I asked was whether the adults had sought medical confirmation about the child’s perceived sexual activity. All the woman would say to me was that the man was a victim of being too strict. So, when I heard the sentence I called among other places, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Liz Rahaman explained that while the matter was done in chambers, the man was there and he had his lawyers who were free to cross-examine the child. She told me that whatever transpired was enough to convince the jury that the child was to be believed. She did say that the circumstantial evidence was overwhelming. The one thing that I found hard to believe was that the child suggested that the molestation had begun since she was three years old. I could not believe that a three-year-old, eleven years later, would remember that early molestation. Suffice it to say that the verdict went the way it did. Then I saw the emotion displayed by the accused and concluded that such emotions would only be dis-

played by an innocent person. I am still unconvinced that I was wrong. However, my mind ran riot. Andre Hetsberger is not jail material, so I am worried about his state of mind. His life is over unless he succeeds in his appeal. Yet the state must protect its children. All too often child sex abuse is reported and the abuser goes unpunished. As a reporter I have spoken to my fair share of people who were abused. There is a reporter at the Guyana Chronicle who is a grown woman. Years after a rape when she spoke to me she was reduced to tears. She felt the pain. Then there was another reporter who worked with me at Kaieteur News. She too was very tearful when she told me her story. She spoke of having to face her abuser. She got some satisfaction of sorts when the abuser’s daughter was murdered. She told me that she confronted and asked him how he felt. She said that she told him that he now knows the pain she felt. Ann Greene of the Childcare and Protection Agency often tells me some

horror stories. She spoke of mothers actually blaming the child for the abuse and actually preventing any prosecution. A long time ago in Lodge there was a man who went to jail for raping and killing a woman at Bartica. He was living with a woman who had an eight-year-old that this man molested. He is now dead, but I can still see him in my mind’s eye. He was never prosecuted for molesting that child who is now a teenager. There are also the too numerous incestuous parents. Despite the evidence, these criminal men continue to live in the homes with the children. Ms Greene told me of a situation in which a man molested first one daughter and then the smaller one. I asked why no prosecution; she said that the children would tell their friends, but they would not tell the authorities. I firmly believe that children should be allowed to grow and to appreciate life. Some policemen did take matters into their own hands some time ago. There was this Moulvi on West Demerara who was in the habit of molesting his daughters. One of the girls com-

plained to a policeman whom she had befriended. The policeman set a trap for the man so the next time he made his move they were there. He would take the girls out of the home to the back of the yard. That was where the policemen pounced on him and beat the daylights out of him. As fate would have it, they were transferred. Hetsberger is not going to be the last to suffer that fate. But then again, will he suffer the fate of child molesters in prison? All over the world, jail men do not take kindly to

Adam Harris child molesters. They beat them mercilessly. If that is the fate that awaits child molesters, I wonder why men still do it.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

Local Govt. Elections, Democratic Renewal and Regional Development Local government elections, scheduled for March 18, are being held not only because the administration is committed to the rule of law – which mandates such elections every three years – but also because democratic renewal is necessary for devel-

opment. Guyana is a country characterized by diversity; our peoples originate from many parts of the world, their cultures are as varied as they can be. Our country’s geographic and human realities are equally dissimilar across our various regions, with

widely diverging human and natural resources and landscape features. Therefore, logically, real development – which we define as, the improvement of personal standards of living – is possible only when our varied communities are al-

lowed and empowered to make meaningful and significant contributions to the decisions which affect the people. Central government cannot know the needs of all individual communities; only the people living in those communities can identify their needs. That is why strong local government is an absolute necessity for community development. And, the strength of local government organs is heavily dependent on regular and frequent renewal of councils. Your government is dedicated to the development of the lives of Guyanese. We are determined that all citizens must have a good life. It is therefore necessary for us to strengthen and empower local democratic organs to deliver the services which they are legally mandated to provide. There are three words which encapsulate government’s approach and attitude towards

local government and regional development. First, decentralization; moving decision-making power from the centre to the grassroots level. Second, empowerment; giving power and capacity to local government organs. Third, communitarianism; people must be allowed to practice their constitutional right to manage and develop the areas in which they live. The administration is not merely paying lip-service to these ideals; we are acting on them. In the eight months that we have been in office, we have passed legislation to facilitate the holding of local government elections. We have gone further than that; we have named a date, March 18. Local democratic renewal is so important that we are prepared to invest the $1.3 billion it will cost to give decision-making power to the people, where it right-

fully belongs. With the holding of local government elections will come the dawning of a new day. In the new dispensation, the iron fist of central government domination will be banished to the dustbin of history. Instead, with the dawning of a bright and beautiful future, the open hand of collaboration and cooperation will be extended to the people. In this fresh approach to governance, real development will be possible. Communities will flourish. Our children will have a good life to which they can look forward. Local government elections is but the first step in a process which will culminate in a better life for all Guyanese. A bright future beckons; let us seize the opportunity to take control of our lives by voting wisely, for the APNU+AFC candidate in your local authority area, on March 18.

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

Hemorrhoids/Piles: A painful and uncomfortable condition

can make hemorrhoids worse. Here are some steps you can take to avoid getting constipated or having hard stools: % Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. They have fibre, which helps to increase bowel movements. % Take fibre powders, wafers, or pills. You should get

water. You can do this up to two to three times a day for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not add soap, bubble bath, or anything to the water. There are also medicines that you can get without a prescription. They are usually creams or ointments that you rub on your anus to relieve pain, itching, and swelling. Some hemorrhoid medicines come in a capsule (called a suppository) that you put inside your rectum. Others come in a cream that comes in a bottle with a nozzle that you put inside your rectum. It is okay to try these medicines. But do not use medicines that have hydrocortisone (a steroid medicine) for more than a week, unless your doctor or nurse approves. WHAT IFTHE SELF-CARE STEPS DO NOT WORK? If you still have symptoms after trying the steps listed above, you might need treatments to destroy or remove the hemorrhoids.

20 to 35 grams of fibre a day. % Take medicines called stool softeners such as docusate sodium (sample brand names: Colace, Dulcolax) or bulk-forming laxatives. Bulk-forming laxatives include psyllium seed (sample brand names: Metamucil, Konsyl), methylcellulose (sample brand name: Citrucel), just to name a few. These medicines increase the number of bowel movements you have. They are safe to take and they can prevent problems later. WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE MY SYMPTOMS? Some people feel better if they soak their buttocks in two or three inches of warm

One popular treatment is called “rubber band ligation.� For this treatment, the doctor ties tiny rubber bands around the hemorrhoids. A few days later the hemorrhoids shrink and fall off. The doctor can also use lasers, heat, or chemicals to destroy hemorrhoids. But if none of these options work, there is always surgery to remove the hemorrhoids. As usual, eating healthy and using more fibre will help decrease your risk of having hemorrhoids but more importantly, it will help to relieve symptoms for those that already have hemorrhoids. This will always remain the number one treatment/ prevention plan.

By Dr. Zulfikar Bux Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Hemorrhoids, or locally known as piles, are becoming an increasingly common condition, with projections indicating that up to 50% of populations will become affected, given the current trend of unhealthy eating. Currently it is estimated that one in every three persons has some form of hemorrhoids. WHATARE HEMORRHOIDS? Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum that cause it to prolapse resulting in itching, pain and difficulty defecating. Sometimes they can also make you bleed during a bowel movement. In some cases, you can see or feel hemorrhoids around the outside of the rectum. In other cases, you cannot see them because they are hidden inside the rectum. SHOULD I SEE

A DOCTOR? You should see a doctor if you have any bleeding or if your bowel movements look like tar. Bleeding could be caused by something other than hemorrhoids, so you should have it checked out. If you do have hemorrhoids, your doctor can suggest treatments. But there are some steps you can try on you your own first. WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP FROM GETTING MORE HEMORRHOIDS? The most important thing you can do is to keep from getting constipated. You should have a bowel movement at least a few times a week. When you have a bowel movement, you also should not have to push too much. Plus, your bowel movements should not be too hard. Being constipated and having hard bowel movements

Dr. Zulfikar Bux

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

again.” Blended with his commanding stage presence and hilarious antics, ‘De Professor’ drew most patrons from their seats in obvious excitement as they gathered closer to him on the raised platform. It was unanimously agreed that ‘De Professor’ deserved this year’s title – in the process dethroning Manoel ‘King Perai’ Pereira – but his win was not without some spirited attempts to win the coveted title by his competitors. The sponsors (Ministry of Education – Department of Culture, Youth and Sport and Banks DIH) would certainly not have been disappointed, as hundreds of Calypso lovers from across the country gathered for the show. Television personality Basil Bradshaw chairing the proceedings. Former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram

SUNDAY SPECIAL

It was also involved in the completion of the Amaila Falls access road after the previous contractor had failed to meet his obligations under his contract. Ram told Kaieteur News that it is obvious that the decision to gift the property was ultra vires and has no effect in the law. He said that the property should be taken back and the person who made the decision to gift the land should be made to face the lawful consequences.

GOVT. SHOULD TAKE BACK LANDS ILLEGALLYGIFTED TO CHINA RAILWAY – OFFICIAL WHO AUTHORIZED GIVE AWAY MUST FACE LAWFUL CONSEQUENCES- RAM Superstition dictates that one should not “give and take back”. But what if that which was given was not yours to give away? Whatever would be the superstitious course of action in this regard does not apply to governance. Chartered Accountant and Attorney-at-Law, Christopher Ram, is recommending that the government moves swiftly to recover lands that were gifted under the previous administration. Section 77 of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act speaks to the gifting of public property. That section makes it clear that “A Minister or an official shall not make a gift of a public property unless the making of the gift is expressly authorized by law.” In 2014, the Alliance for Change (AFC) made public its discovery that National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) had gifted a plot of Turkeyen land to China Railway Engineering Group. China Railway was involved in the controversial award of the East Coast Demerara Road Expansion Project from Better Hope to Belfield.

‘DE PROFESSOR’ IS NEW CALYPSO MONARCH Seasoned Calypsonian Lester ‘De Professor’ Charles was fittingly placed at the head of the class, emerging as the new ‘Monarch’, when the 2016 Adult Calypso Competition Finals concluded in the wee hours of last Saturday (February 20) at Banks DIH compound, Thirst Park. The witty political commentary in his winning rendition entitled “We nah put yuh back deh” focused on what he described as the rampant corruption and merciless exploitation of Guyana’s wealth, which occurred under the watch of former President, Bharrat Jagdeo. Pointing to a life-sized image of a rat dressed in a suit and tie, he sang, “Look how yuh come running like a glutton swine since ya hear ‘bout de oil find/Yuh nah go back deh, we nah put ya back deh/Guyanese got to be going insane to put a rat like you as deh leader

MONDAY EDITION WALTER RODNEY COI…STATE VIOLENCE MUST BE ADDRESSED FRONTALLY – DR. HINDS URGES The leaked findings of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry have stirred the society once again. The report says essentially that under the Burnham era, Rodney, a Guyana scholar and founder of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) was a victim of state violence. Adding his comments recently to the public debate over the COI revelations is University Professor, Dr. David Hinds. Hinds, an Executive Member of the WPA, said that like other comrades of Walter Rodney, he welcomes the findings of the Commission of Inquiry. He noted that in the beginning, he had suspicions about the motives of the Commission which was established by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). He noted however that once the COI got into swing he supported it for it was the furthest the nation had gone on the matter in three decades. Hinds said that with the findings, Guyana gets another opportunity to re-examine the politics of the day especially as it relates to state violence. The political activist said, “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 leadership 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.” BENSCHOP CALLS ON COPS TO PROBE 2011 ATTACK BY KWAME MC COY, OTHERS Political activist Mark Benschop is calling on the police to reopen the investigation into the March 5, 2011 incident in which he was assaulted and his vehicle vandalised by former Presidential Information Liaison Kwame McCoy and his associates. The attack occurred outside McCoy’s Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara home, while Benschop was attempting to take photographs of McCoy’s lavish mansion. Benschop was forced to flee the scene on foot and seek refuge in a resident’s yard following a scuffle with McKoy, and after at-

Mark Benschop tempts were made to take away his camera. Benschop has repeatedly identified McCoy as the individual who attacked him. On Sunday last, he also named former Office of the President employee Jason Abdulla as the individual who made off with a computer and other documents from his damaged vehicle. Benschop estimated his damage and losses as at least $1M. Despite clear evidence of extensive damage to Benschop’s vehicle, McCoy was neither detained nor charged, though he did give a statement to police. But it was Benschop who was detained at the Brickdam Police Station lockups, after McCoy alleged that Benschop had damaged a window on his property. He was eventually released on $25,000 station bail. Now, nearly five years after the attack, the Political Activist is hoping that he will finally receive justice, as appears to be the case for columnist Freddie Kissoon who was also allegedly assaulted by McCoy and Abdulla close to six years ago. TUESDAY EDITION BODY IN DIAMOND HOUSE…POLICE SERGEANT HIRED ME TO KILL WIFE – KILLER TELLS INVESTIGATOR – IMPLICATED BY ALLEGED KILLER In a case with as many twists and turns as a mystery novel, police believe that they have finally found the individual who plotted and paid to have businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress clubbed to death in her home just over two years ago. The trail has led them back to an individual they had questioned but had apparently exonerated: Sergeant Colin Bailey, the victim’s estranged reputed husband. A senior police official disclosed Monday that a man who was implicated in the slaying has told investigators that Bailey had hired him to kill Ramnaress. After consulting with legal advisors, police were advised to institute murder charges against the former cop. At around 14.30 hrs Monday, Bailey was arrested and taken to CID Headquarters, Eve Leary. Police started to crack Sirmattie Ramnaress’ murder in November 2015, after arresting and charging the slain woman’s neighbour, 32-year-old Colin Grant, with the businesswoman’s murder. Paul Bascom, who was among two bandits slain by police in December 2013, in Grove, East Bank Demerara, was also said to have (Continued on page 45)

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

“fly girl, fly!” An amazing sight it was indeed as the evening progressed, where spectators, including the President, First Lady, Government officials and other dignitaries, were treated to clinical displays of marching by the Disciplined Forces and serenaded by the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Defence Force bands. Many in the stands, moved to the rhythmic beats of the drums as they waved flags and colours associated with national symbols.

(From page 44) participated in the murder. Police had recovered a computer and a diamond ring, which were identified as items that the killers took from Ramnaress’ home. GPL’S BOARD SACKS WELCH, SEARCH ON FOR NEW CEO – BADAL Chairman of the Board of Directors for Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), Robert Badal, has confirmed the sacking of Colin Welch, the Chief Executive Officer (acting). Welch was appointed to act as the company’s head six months ago, but his tenure was rocky, with several clashes with Management. He was fingered, via a number of leaked texts and Skype messages, in an attempt to tamper with an $800M contract to buy prepaid meters from a Chinese contractor. There were questions also about his qualifications and whether he was a Harvard graduate. Following the appointment of a new Board of Directors for GPL last month, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, who is charged with responsibilities for the electricity sector, made it clear that issues and questions of Welch would be dealt with. Responding to queries, Badal, in confirming that GPL has decided to end its relations with Welch, said that applications for the CEO’s position will now be entertained, and the aim is to attract a competent and dynamic replacement to lead the GPL team. Welch reportedly left last week for Asia, with senior management saying they had little idea why he went there. KWAME MCCOY TWO OTHERS CHARGED WITHASSAULTING FREDDIE KISSOON …PLACED ON $100, 000 BAIL EACH …EACH RELEASED ON $100,000 BAIL From very early, long before 09:00hrs, scores of persons including members of the gay and lesbian community flocked the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and the Avenue of the Republic thoroughfare in anticipation of the arrival of Former Liaison Officer under the PPP government, Kwame McCoy. The wait was not in vain; heralded by load roars McCoy and his alleged accomplices, who are accused of throwing feces on newspaper columnist and social activist Frederick Kissoon, arrived at the courthouse around 10:00hrs. McCoy and his co-accused, self-confessed death squad member Sean Hinds and Opposition Executive, Jason Abdulla, were seated handcuffed and shackled in the tray of a police vehicle. However, McCoy was the most targeted. The crowd hurled insults at him but he did not appear to be bothered. As persons chanted for him to be jailed, McCoy loudly exclaimed, “We have degenerated as a society”. He then claimed that the charge against him was politically motivated. McCoy, 40, of Section A Diamond, East Bank Demerara; Hinds, 51, of Albouystown, Georgetown, and Abdulla, 34, of Barr Street, Kitty, Georgetown were kept in the prisoners holding area for a while before they were taken before a Magistrate. In a packed courtroom, the accused were not required to plead to the indictable charge which alleged that on May 24, 2010 they assaulted Kissoon. When asked by Magistrate Judy Latchman what was his position on bail for the accused, Kissoon told the court that at a philosophical

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ASST. COMMISSIONER BALRAM PERSAUD SUCCUMBS WEEKS AFTER CAR CRASH

From front: Jason Abdulla, Kwame McCoy and Sean Hinds

level he would not want to deny people their liberty. He made it clear that he was in fear for his life. The three men were granted bail to the tune of $100,000 each. WEDNESDAY EDITION PPP’S MASSIVE ROLLOVER SCHEMES HAVE LEFT COUNTRY IN A BIND – FINANCE MINISTER The Coalition government finds itself in a bind as it is unable to implement to a significant degree, large pet projects that it may have on its agenda. According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, it is mainly due to the fact that there are massive loanfunded projects by the PPP which have rolled over into the plan of the current government. One might say that the government could simply drop the projects of the PPP so that it can have the space to execute its own. But this is easier said than done. Jordan explained that because of the huge size of the loans for some of these projects, simply dumping all of them would be unwise, as they have attached to them, penalties for not seeing it through. It is a dilemma that may see the Coalition administration being accused by the Opposition, perhaps for the next five years, of having a “recycled budget” or a “budget that fails to bring anything new to the table.” The Finance Minister first noted this comment by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo after his maiden budget presentation in 2015. While Jagdeo and his members hurled the same accusations for the 2016 budget, which was passed in the wee hours of Tuesday last, Jordan said that he was not surprised. He said however that the Opposition Leader used the opportunities in and out of Parliament to distort the t r u t h o f t h e m a t t e r. The Finance Minister said that when it comes to these projects and their implementation, there is something which must be taken into consideration—Fiscal Space. 46TH REPUBLIC ANNIVERSARY…DURBAN PARK HOSTS HISTORIC FLAG-RAISING The sight at Durban Park on Tuesday,

aback of Square of the Revolution, was nothing short of spectacular as Guyanese in their thousands converged to show solidarity and experience the feel of new surroundings at the flag-raising ceremony, as Guyana celebrated its 46th Republic Anniversary. A massive Golden Arrowhead, measuring 65 feet by 35 feet, was hoisted some 180 feet in the early evening air as spectators in the pavilions and beyond shifted barricades, waved their hands , some saluting, as they shouted in unison a deafening “blow breeze blow!” with an occasional

The Guyana Police Force is mourning the loss of its Second in Command, Assistant Commissioner Balram Persaud, who succumbed to injuries he sustained in a vehicular accident a little over two weeks ago. Persaud breathed his last breath early Tuesday morning at the Woodlands Hospital to where he was transferred after initially being hospitalised at the Balwant Singh Hospital. He was reportedly suffering from a damaged lung and several broken ribs. His death Tuesday came as a shock to many, since he was reportedly responding well to treatment days after he was admitted. Assistant Com m i s s i o n e r D a v i d Ramnarine confirmed Persaud’s death, informing that the force’s welfare officer is in communication with the now dead senior officer’s wife. It is not too clear what prompted the move from the Balwant Singh Hospital to Woodlands, but according to a source, the request was made by the Assistant Commissioner’s (Continued on page 46)

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Kaieteur News

(From page 45) close relatives. On February 5, Persaud was driving along the Schoon Ord Public Road, West Bank Demerara, when he lost control of his car, which toppled several times before slamming into a utility pole. THURSDAY EDITION 82% OF LARGE TIMBER CONCESSIONS GRANTED TO FOREIGNERS – FORESTRY FIGURES SHOW Ever since the disclosure that 100% of Guyana’s productive forest was given out to investors, information continues to lay bare the operations of the country’s forestry sector. Recent information from the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) indicates that 82 percent of the large concessions was given to foreigners. Of the 4.5 million hectares of production area allocated for Timber Sales Agreements (TSA) and Wood Cutting Leases (WCLs), some 3.7 million hectares (82%) were allocated to foreigners. The remainder 0.8 million hectares (18%) were granted to locals. (1 hectare = 2.5 acres) According to the GFC data, of the Timber Sales Agreements for the foreign companies, the majority are Chinese with the Malaysians and Indians, making up the remainder. BaiShanLin, a Chinese company under the radar for its activities in Guyana, controls over 615,000 hectares. It would rival what is being held by Vaitarna- 737,852 hectares. The largest concession held by Barama, a Malaysian company, holds 1.6M hectares– dating back to the early 90s. This foreign company has established a plywood factory and has sawmills and other processing facilities. Its arrangement with the Government is currently being reviewed. GFC, according to indications, is now allowing Vaitarna Holdings, an Indian company, to conduct value-added activities using a portable sawmill. This is raising questions about what exactly the GFC considers value-adding. POLICE SERGEANT CHARGED WITH REPUTED WIFE’S MURDER

McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. It is alleged that Bailey, 52, of Lot 63 South Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara killed the woman between August 30 and August 31, 2013 at Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara. According to reports, the body of 36 year-old Ramnaress was found lying face down in the garage of her home on August 31, 2013. It was a blaze coming from the woman’s home that led firefighters to a bond, when they stumbled upon her body. Her body reportedly bore two stab wounds- one to the neck and another to the hip. The police, in a statement had said that Ramnaress’ house was ransacked and drenched with a flammable liquid, and a storage bond at the rear of the building was destroyed by fire. Bailey was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until March 15. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Neville Jeffers, said that the police file is still incomplete since another person is being investigated in relation to the crime. The ex-Sergeant had always claimed that he had no involvement in the woman’s death when he was being viewed as a suspect. And police had later suggested that Bailey was no longer a suspect. Bailey had told Kaieteur News, “I had a feeling all the time because I knew I was not part of it. I knew some time it would have come to light.” La s t y e a r, t h e d e a d w o m a n ’s neighbour, Colin Grant, of Lot 1161 Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD was charged with her murder. Bailey was arrested following the arrest of another suspect in custody. The suspect had reportedly told police that he was hired and paid by Bailey to kill the woman. FRIDAY EDITION MASSIVE CORRUPTION UNEARTHED…SMUGGLEDFUEL ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN HALF OF LOCAL CONSUMPTION Guyana has to depend heavily on oil imports to meet its energy and transportation needs. Regulating the oil imports

The dead bandit at Arif’s Service Station at Onderneeming W.C.B. GEA’s annual report in 2014 shows that it spent US$561.6M on petroleum products imports – a little more than half was purchased from Venezuela under the PetroCaribe arrangement. On every gallon of gas and diesel Government has been charging up to 50 percent tax, an indication of how much revenues Guyana has been raking in. Revenues from both gas and diesel, especially, have been one of the biggest earners for Government over the years. So much so that the new administration has been reluctant to drop the fuel tax after world oil prices fell by twothirds over the past year. Government insisted t h a t i t n e e d s t h e w i n d f a l l t o f u n d a number of critical projects and to carry out its programmes. However, there is a massive corruption network in the fuel sector which is poorly managed at almost every level–from purchasing to distribution. The unbelievable scale of corruption and mismanagement in the fuel industry trickles down to even the fishing, timber and mining sectors. It also involves key entities such as the Guyana Oil Company and Guyana Power and Light Inc. However, half the amount of fuel that is being consumed locally is unaccounted for both at the level of the treasury or Guyana Revenue Authority. BANDIT SHOOTS ACCOMPLICE DEAD DURING ROBBERY

Murder accused: Colin Bailey

Police Sergeant Colin Bailey was on Wednesday remanded to prison for the 2013 murder of his reputed wife, Sirmattie Ramnaress, after an appearance before Chief Magistrate Ann

Murder victim: Sirmattie Ramnaress for the country is the Guyana Energy Authority (GEA). The authority has been playing a key role in negotiating the purchases and ensuring that petroleum products are imported legally.

Sunday February 28, 2016

A robbery at Arif’s Service Station at Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice went badly wrong for the perpetrators last night when a gun-toting bandit shot his partner dead, while trying to shoot the fuel station supervisor. The bandit, who is still to be identified, was shot in the centre of the forehead by his accomplice, who reportedly fled the scene in a car that belonged to a customer who was there to refuel. The vehicle was recovered at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, some three villages away from the scene of the robbery. The robber is believed to have escaped with about $100,000.

Police reportedly recovered a knife, a mobile phone, and a pair of sunshades from the slain man. At press time, the hunt was still on for his accomplice. The entire episode is believed to have been recorded by security cameras at the Guyoil outlet. The drama began at around 19.15 hrs when two men, one armed with a knife and the other with a gun, entered the service station and headed for a female pump attendant. The attendant told Kaieteur News that one of the men went over to her and ‘calmly’ ordered her to hand over ‘the money.’ She thought the ‘customer’ was joking, when she saw he was pointing a handgun at her, she immediately gave him all the money and fled to a nearby shop. CAMERAMAN GETS 25 YEARS FOR RAPINGTEEN RELATIVE Television cameraman and former reporter, Andre Hetsberger, was on Thursday jailed for 25 years by Justice Navendra Singh, on a charge of having sex with a minor female relative – a 13-year-old who he and his wife had cared for. The offence was committed in 2014 and came to light after the girl had alleged that Hetsberger had sexually molested her. When the matter first surfaced, people close to the 39-year-old Hetsberger and even his friends doubted his guilt. In fact, after he managed to secure bail, his employers re-employed him. He continued to work until Thursday when he was sentenced. The matter was heard in-camera after the jury was empanelled on Wednesday. On Thursday, sentencing was imposed in open court. Immediately there was commotion in the courtroom. Hetsberger burst into tears. Those members of the judiciary who were in the court left immediately. The prosecution said that it relied on serious circumstantial evidence. The victim insisted that she was molested and penetrated one day in 2014. Because she was under the age of consent the charge was statutory rape. The victim testified that she was molested repeatedly and convinced the jury that Hetsberger was the perpetrator. He was represented by attorneys Lawrence Harris and Hewley Griffith. The prosecutors were Siand Dhurjon, Michael Shahoud, and Narissa (Continued on page 47)

Sunday February 28, 2016

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(From page 46) Leander. SATURDAY EDITION MASSIVE CORRUPTION UNEARTHED IN FUEL SECTOR... $150M IN TAXES LOST IN DEMERARA FUELMARKETWEEKLY More details are emerging over the massive, countrywide fuel-smuggling racket allowed under the watch of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and Guyana Revenue Authority. Evidence, this time around, indicates that the racket is very “extensive.” According to Government officials and sources close to the regulatory agency, an estimated $150M is being lost weekly from taxes, since the GEA neglects to carry out mandatory checks and balances along the Demerara, Essequibo and Cuyuni Rivers. Indications are that for the longest while, fishing trawlers from Venezuela have been coming under the guise of doing business with local companies here. While some of them are legitimate; bringing fish or buying fish and other grocery to take back to Venezuela, a number of the Spanish vessels are really here to sell fuel. Many of them have modified their tanks, with some having the capacity to fetch up to 25,000 gallons at any one time. An average of 60 to 70 of these ‘fishing’ vessels are said to be visiting areas along the Demerara River weekly. About 50 of them have modified their tanks to smuggle more fuel. This does not include the fuel coming in through local smugglers. From the Venezuelan vessels alone at least $150M in taxes that should have been paid, are lost weekly. The boats are supposed to moor at the Stabroek Market area, at the Customs Boathouse for Immigration and other checks. However, in most cases, the boats bypass the checkpoint and go their merry way to designated wharves where they discharge the smuggled the fuel. Many of the crew members would disembark and can often be seen making their way through the La Penitence area to Lombard Street en route to the Stabroek Market, daily. “We are aware that Immigration is not even aware that these people are here,” a whistleblower ex-GEA staff said this week. There have been growing complaints of smuggled fuel, with the David Granger-led administration reportedly paying attention after it became clear that the country was losing billions of dollars annually, in revenues. The Demerara River drop-off points are but a tip of the iceberg of what is taking place in the fuel sector. GOVT. RAISES CONTRACT LIMITS FOR MINISTRIES, RDCS Government has started making changes with regard to the limits of contracts that Ministries and other state agencies are allowed to independently award. According to a notice called the “Procurement Amendment Regulations 2016 and published on February 18, in the Official Gazette of Guyana, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure can award construction projects up to $14M. Before time, under the old procurement

19 Venezuelan fishing boats just aback of the Rumiveldt Police Station

system, the hands of the Regional Democratic Councils, Ministries and Agencies were tied when it came to certain amounts. Under the new regulations, the thresholds have been raised. Recently, Government explained that the idea behind the changes is to make the procurement system more efficient and reduce the workload of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board, which handles the awards of all the large contracts. Under the revised regulations signed by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, at the regional level, contracts for goods and services can awarded by authorities there for between $250,000 and $800,000. For consultancy services, the amount will go up to between $400,000 and $800,000 and for construction between $600,000 and $14M. At the Ministerial/Department and agency level, contracts for goods and services, (other than consulting), have been increased from $250,000 and $1.5M. Consulting contracts under this category are now $400,000 and $800,000 while construction projects can be awarded for amounts between $600,000 and $2M. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure, under which significant road and other repair workers are being conducted, can now independently through its tender system, award Goods and Services contracts of between $1M and $6M; consulting contracts between $1M and $5M and construction of between $1M and $14M. The limits of the Ministry of Agriculture for construction contracts have also been hiked to $14M while goods and services will go up to $6M and consulting between $1M and $5M. Under the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Public Security, construction contracts can be awarded up to $8M while goods and services between $250,000 and $1.5M and consulting services, $400,000 and $800,000. The Ministry of Education will now award contracts for goods and services between $250,000 and $1.5M; consulting services $400,000 and $800,000 and construction, of up to $8M.

The new changes will come at a time when Government is making a number of reforms in the state procurement process which in the past was highly flawed and prone to corruption. A significant amount of monies set aside for state contracts is reportedly being lost to bribery and corruption. WOMAN, 80, SURVIVES PLUNGE FROM SECOND FLOOR WINDOW AT PALMS Doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospi-

tal Corporation are monitoring the condition of an 80-year-old woman, who survived a plunge through a window of the Palms geriatric home. Lyma Peters, the patient, reportedly jumped through a window on the second floor of the institution sometime Friday morning. She sustained fractured ribs and injury to her left leg. However, Mrs. Peters is said to be conscious and has been admitted to the hospital’s High Dependency Unit (HDU).

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Guyana’s fiscal position over the years...

Can the picture of incredible growth be trusted? By Kiana Wilburg A country’s fiscal makeup is nothing simple. It’s an intricate web of government expenditures, taxation, and debt. It must all stay firmly together with strong policies lest it be destroyed by global economic conditions, among other factors. The fiscal position of the country, as one would imagine, is of immense importance. It determines Government’s next political and social moves. In essence it’s the position of the country’s spending and borrowing power, and it can determine whether the prices on the market skyrocket or plummet; whether the public servants will receive a sizeable increase or if the country will advance in its overall infrastructural portfolio over a specific period. Looking back some 10 years ago, one would observe

from the statistics available that Guyana’s fiscal position has apparently demonstrated encouraging development. The former regime might contend that this was all possible through its prudent fiscal management abilities. Taking a closer look at some of the statistics available by Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance, under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) it shows that Guyana’s fiscal performance in the nonfinancial public sector improved in 2009, with an overall deficit of $13.5 billion or 5.3 percent of gross domestic product. This was a significant reduction from the 7.6 percent in 2008. Revenues in 2009 amounted to $94.9 billion, an increase of 15 percent over 2008, as a result of improved performance of both the tax and non-tax revenue categories. The Guyana Revenue

Authority (GRA), which is also accounts for government’s spending power, contributed $89.1 billion in 2009, representing a 93.9 percent of total revenue. Government was pleased with the fact that internal revenue collections increased by 6.3 percent to $36.7 billion, underlying which was a 24 percent increase in income tax payments by self-employed persons and a 19.9 percent increase in corporation tax payments by public sector companies. In 2009, Corporation tax payments by private sector companies and income tax under the pay-as-you-earn system increased more moderately at 5 and 4.3 percent, respectively. Taxes on customs and trade grew by 2.8 percent to $7.7 billion, attributed primarily to increased levels of imports of consumption goods. Excise taxes amounted to $21.4 billion, while excise

taxes on motor vehicles increased by 25.4 percent to $7.3 billion reflecting higher levels of vehicle importation, returns from the computerization of the motor vehicle registration process, and increased surveillance activities. Additionally, as a result of the restoration of the excise tax on fuel and notwithstanding its subsequent lowering, additional revenues of $6.5 billion were collected. This commendable performance was also notable in the following year, as the fiscal deficit of the nonfinancial public sector was contained to $18.2 billion or 4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, notwithstanding scaled-up investment in physical and social infrastructure. This was reflective of Government’s continued prudent management of the public finances. Central Government revenue in 2010 amounted to $108 billion, 13.8 percent over 2009, as a result of enhanced collections across both tax and non-tax revenue categories. Tax revenue increased by 13.3 percent and accounted for 93.6 percent or $100.9 billion of total current revenue collections, while non-tax revenue collections increased by 19.1 percent to $6.9 billion. Internal revenue collections amounted to $43.3 billion or 18 percent more than the 2009 level. This was largely on account of continued robust performance by the private sector, with corporation tax and income tax from the selfemployed increasing by 21.5 percent and 16.9 percent respectively, to $17 billion and $2.4 billion, on account of higher reported profits. Income tax generated from the pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) system surpassed 2009 collections by 15.8 percent, as all sectors of employers remitted higher levels of PAYE, and as the number of

employers remitting taxes also increased. Withholding taxes increased by 16.5 percent or $470.6 million due to increased collections from gold miners. Customs and trade taxes amounted to $9.2 billion, representing a 20.1 percent increase over 2009, mainly due to a 21.5 percent increase in import duties bringing collections to $8.3 billion, driven by all categories of imports. Total value added tax (VAT) and excise tax collections increased somewhat more moderately by 8.2 percent to $48.3 billion, with increases recorded on import and domestic supply VAT along with excise tax on motor vehicles, while excise tax on fuel products declined due to the lower tax rates applied. Total Central Government expenditure for 2010 amounted to $133.1 billion or 4.5 percent above 2009, with the 2010 expenditure reflecting an increase of 7.4 percent and totaling $86.4 billion, mainly as a result of a 6.3 percent increase in noninterest expenditure. Though Guyana held its General and Regional Elections in 2011, the fiscal position of the country was not daunted but rather, had similar success for the next three years which followed. Under a new government, the A Partnership for National Unity plus Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), Guyana’s fiscal position was declared ready for multiplied advancements. With regard to Guyana’s fiscal position for 2015, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan said that Central Government’s current revenue has improved as net of inflows from Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), totalled $144.7 billion, which was 6.7 percent above the 2013 level. He said that tax revenue collections amounted to $135.9 billion, representing

93.9 percent of total revenue. Internal revenue increased by $5.1 billion or 9.8 percent. Jordan asserted that this was primarily attributed to increased collections from private sector companies and a $2.7 billion increase in personal income tax from the Pay As you Earn (PAYE) category. On the other hand, the Finance Minister said that there was a decrease of $581.6 million from withholding tax collections associated with the contraction in the gold mining sector. He noted, however, that this is not worrying, as the gold prices seem to be improving for the later part of this year. Meanwhile, Customs and trade tax collections totalled $13.5 billion, an improvement of 2.1 percent. Jordan said that Value Added Tax collections rose by 9 percent, to $37.5 billion, largely on account of better administration that resulted in arrears of $2.7 billion being recouped. Excise tax collections increased by 3.5 percent to $28.2 billion. He noted that total noninterest current expenditure amounted $127.5 billion, 10 percent more than in 2013, reflecting primarily increased expenditure on personal emoluments and other goods and services. Also of significance is the fact that transfer payments increased by 12.9 percent, while capital expenditure amounted to $51 billion, an increase of 1.7 percent. It is clear that the stats, at first glance, reflect that Guyana’s fiscal position has seen nothing but incredible growth. But when one places this picture alongside the imagery of the massive scales of corruption taking place and its direct link to the billions o f d o l l a r s b e i n g lost annually in various sectors, then the picture of fiscal progression in Guyana as alleged by some might need to be reevaluated.

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Low voter turnout in LGE can hamper councillors’ effectiveness - US Charge d’ Affaires By Jarryl Bryan With worry rising that Guyanese are taking the forthcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) for granted, a collection of Youth Organizations banded together to launch an aggressive drive, with support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID), at Herdmanston Lodge on Friday last. Addressing the gathering, United States Charge d’ Affaires, Bryan Hunt, expressed some satisfaction in the process now in motion. He, however, expressed dismay at the fact that the majority of Guyana’s population, who had once clamoured for Local Government Elections, now seems to have fallen silent when it is within their grasp. “We had protests; we had people who were determined to stand outside the Office of the President every day,” he recalled. “And then we had prorogation and we had national elections… and then in the aftermath of national elections was the announcement that we were going to have Local Government Elections. And everyone got excited again. And the date was set for March. And the enthusiasm seems to have evaporated.” “The question isn’t if GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) is ready. It’s whether people will turn out,” the diplomat continued. “Are we going to have an elections in which the majority of Guyanese go out and cast their vote for Local Government or are we going to have councils that are elected with 10, 12, 15 percent turnouts?”

US Charge D’ Affaires, Bryan Hunt The gathering observes a slide show

YCG Executive Director, Dmitri Nicholson He noted that should that happen, the councillors would be in trouble, as the legitimacy of their authority would come into question. He stated that when the time comes for the councillors to make tough decisions, they must do so with the understanding that their policies are supported by their constituencies. “They need to have that legitimacy,” he stressed. “People (who) go to sit on those councils need to say my friends, my family, my community supported me in overwhelming numbers, and

therefore I am able to take difficult decisions as to what becomes a priority.” “We have to convince Guyanese to go to the polls on Election Day,” he added, though he acknowledged that getting people to vote in an LGE anywhere is always a challenge, much less in a country deprived of local elections for two decades. Hunt also stressed that the candidates themselves have to do their share in getting voters to come out. A NEWAGE Youth Challenge Guyana (YCG) Executive Director, Dmitri Nicholson, also addressed the gathering. He noted that a new age had come in politics, where inclusionary measures are employed in promoting national unity and a unified agenda. “The collaboration will bring a new dawn in how we do (business) in Guyana,” Nicholson said. “The GNYC (Guyana National Youth Council), NCC (National Coordinating Coalition) and

Would the real tax havens... From page 36 is running away from is a phantom”. “The empirical evidence” as he says, “is that money launderers seek to hide their illicit earnings in large financial places like London, New York and Zurich”. The Caribbean is a scapegoat for those in Europe and US who continue, conveniently, to brand the Caribbean as the home of tax evaders, money launders and terrorism financiers. Why? Because the region is perceived as small and weak. It can be picked-off first, laying a precedent for action against bigger countries that are more worrying competitors. It is not as if the authori-

ties don't know that their allegations about the Caribbean are untrue or that their own jurisdictions are non-compliant with OECD and FATF requirements. For instance, Bloomberg Business recently reported Andrew Penney, a managing director at Rothschild & Co as revealing that “after years of lambasting other countries for helping rich Americans hide their money offshore, the U.S. is emerging as a leading tax and secrecy haven for rich foreigners. By resisting new global disclosure standards, the U.S. is creating a hot new market, becoming the go-to place to stash foreign wealth. Everyone from London lawyers to Swiss trust companies is get-

ting in on the act, helping the world's rich move accounts from places like the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands to Nevada, Wyoming, and South Dakota”. Caribbean countries are right to resist vigorously the grave and unfair threat to their economies while the real tax havens hide…and benefit. (The writer is Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador to the United States, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London University and Massey College, Toronto University. The views expressed are his own) Responses and previous c o m m e n t a r i e s : www.sirronaldsanders.com

YCG are better together than apart. Therefore this collaboration will ensure that we do not see the kind of division that we see at our national level.” “To realize our goals, we have to come together as a

“They will have many things to ask,” Nicholson said. “I want you to know that we are empowering people to be better voters. They won’t vote because you live next door to me, they will like you because you can get the job

“The question isn’t if GECOM is ready. It’s whether people will turn out. Are we going to have an elections in which the majority of Guyanese go out and cast their vote for Local Government or are we going to have councils that are elected with 10, 12, 15 percent turnouts?” people. We will not seek to be divisive and call out people in a negative way. But in this Local Government Elections we will build relationships in positive ways.” He noted that efforts would be made to partner with other like-minded individuals in Bartica, Waini region, but sought to stress that his organization does not diminish the work of those who may have started along the same path. Nicholson also urged candidates to be more attentive to public matters and their constituencies’ concerns. He referenced a case of a Georgetown candidate who was approached about his plans should he gain public office. His response was to state that it would be better to cross that bridge when they got there. In light of this exchange, Nicholson stressed that votes will not be garnered by filial affections or the fact that one knows the other as a friend.

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

done.” INITIATIVES The groups who will be collaborating - GNYC, NCC and YCG - launched their official voter and civic education campaign. They will be embarking on activities that will generate interest, including jingles, public service announcements, and a heavy reliance on social media and well-known

hashtags. There will also be a promotion whereby citizens who can show by their inked finger that they voted, will win prizes and incentives. There are also plans for drama and entertainment activities, in places like the malls, parks, markets and other public places. One of their initiatives, an ‘Off da fence’ programme whereby youth party members stopped passersby in Georgetown and quizzed them about LGE, highlighted a worrying problem. One 20year-old participant, while being questioned, revealed that he does not look at television, nor does he go on the internet, except for Facebook, and he does not listen to the radio or read the newspaper. There is a general consensus that there are many more like this. So the campaign will be looking to set up information hubs in communities all over the country and sending out LGE ‘champions’ into communities, in the run-up to the March 18 elections.

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A valiant fight against a daunting health... From page 13 Francine was accompanied by her mother when she received her last treatment. And according to Mrs. Leitch, while for some people dealing with a family member with cancer could be difficult, it hasn’t been for her. “I am a very spiritual person and I said ‘God you are in control’.” “Every day I would sit with her (Francine) and late into the night we would pray and read the Bible about how God healed the blind and sick and these different things, and I kept telling her I still believe he can still do that, but it is left upon her to believe too,” Mrs. Leitch asserted. But Francine is definitely a believer and has faith that the Supreme Being has been ensuring that her treatment works. TREATMENT Treatment is administered based on a person’s stage of cancer. The stage of cancer is in essence the extent of the cancer when it is detected. According to cancer literature, Stage One suggests that the cancer is localised but further local spread may take it to Stage Two. This could include spread to the nearest lymph nodes and Stage Three usually indicates more extensive lymph node involvement while Stage Four indicates that the spread is well advanced.

In the company of her supportive mother

Fortunately for Francine, her cancer was detected at a very early stage. She explained that chemotherapy treatment is administered to her intravenously and lasts for at least four hours on each occasion. “Some days it is so hard. The thing about chemotherapy is that it doesn’t only root out the bad

cells but it carries some good cells with it, and that is why people lose their hair and stuff, and it makes you nauseous,” related Francine, who has experienced all the possible side effects of chemotherapy including a persistent loss of appetite. “Eating is the hardest thing. It’s like as soon as you eat at times you ‘bring up’

(vomit). Sometimes you see food and you just don’t want to eat...but it is your health and you have to try,” said Francine. And according to her, after treatment she is often left in a weakened state, both physically and emotionally. Added to this, being exposed to the stories of some cancer patients is not

always helpful, related Francine, as she disclosed that “sometimes you come in and see people at their wits’ end or sometimes you come here and you hear somebody you saw the day before has passed away.” But according to her, the support of her family and her belief in God has been the source of her mental stability. She is saddened by the fact that some cancer victims do not have a fraction of the support she has been blessed with. “I have had my parents coming with me, but some people are the breadwinners of their own homes and have to stop working so that they can get treatment, and some people don’t have a choice but have to try working while getting treatment...so for me I know it must have been easier than it is for a lot of people,” a grateful Francine said. GENES But Francine’s parents might have been more than prepared to tackle the cancer challenge. This is in light of the fact that her maternal grandfather died from cancer of the gonads and a number of her aunts have been inflicted with cancer too. She, however, hasn’t given much thought about cancer being passed on to her children when the time comes. This is in spite of the fact that based on her readings, chemotherapy could cause an

individual to become sterile. Francine has nevertheless wondered if she could have called such a fate upon herself by vowing in the past to remain in the care of her parents. But with divine intervention she is convinced that even the most daunting of circumstances could be dispelled. And according to Francine, although a person might be destined for a fate such as cancer, “they just have to be strong. All I can say to persons face with such a fate is fight on; be strong. Some days you don’t have a choice but to be strong and that is what really defines your strength.” Beaming with confidence, though the loss of her hair to chemotherapy is hidden by a head wrap, Francine insisted that “there is still life after cancer. You become such a transition person after being diagnosed...for me I know that I have changed and for the better. You simply look at life differently, because today you can have it bountifully and then tomorrow you don’t know what it would be.” It is for this reason Francine has cautioned that people should not seek to be defined by merely their appearance or possessions, but there should always be a much deeper meaning to life in order to triumph even over cancer.

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Kaieteur News

GINGIVITIS – Red, Swollen, Bleeding Gums By Dr. NerominiFagu

Signs of gingivitis

Gum disease is a serious condition in Guyana. Many persons have it but they may not be aware of it. The general rule is: bleeding gums are unhealthy gums. If you notice bleeding gums when you brush or floss your teeth, this is an indication that your gums are inflamed or infected.The first stage of gum disease is called Gingivitis. Gingivitis is the medical

Govt. paying $M to bring in... From page 18 private importer's fuel being on the boat from Trinidad and why it was not being marked had been raised with GEA's CEO, Mahender Sharma, and Head of the Fuel Marking Division, William Holder. However, both officials reportedly indicated that the fuel brought in by the private importer was in-transit in the country and there was no need. GEA came under the microscope last week after a number of ex-staffers and Government officials blew the lid off what is taking place in the country's fuel importation

trade. More than half of the country's fuel supply comes from smuggling and other illegal means, it was alleged. The country, as a result, has been losing billions of dollars annually in revenues from the taxes that are being charged on every barrel of fuel brought in. Earlier this year, those taxes amounted up to 50 percent on diesel and gas. In 2014, when gas was over US$100 per barrel, Guyana spent over US$561M to import over 4.934M barrels of oil to meet its energy and transportation needs. This

rose to over five million barrels last year. It was also alleged that almost $150M in taxes is lost weekly from fuel smuggled into the Demerara River, to a number of drop-off points. Yesterday, following the report, a number of GEA officers reportedly descended on fishing boats from Venezuela, moored at Ruimveldt, Georgetown. The inspectors were reportedly checking for documents, among other things. The new Government has been complaining that it is only collecting about 60 percent of the taxes due.

term for inflammation of the gum (gingiva). Gingivitis may be of two types: chronic gingivitis and acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG). I will focus this week on chronic gingivitis. Chronic gingivitis is the more common type of gingivitis and is closely linked to not keeping your mouth clean and healthy. As discussed last week, gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease and it is a reversible condition. Gingivitis may also occur in the gums that surround a tooth that has not fully erupted. In this situation it is given the name pericoronitis and is more frequently seen with impacted wisdom teeth. If gingivitis is left untreated, it can lead to: · Difficulty in eating and swallowing · Pain · Periodontitis · Abscess formation · Loss of teeth · Osteomyelitis (infection of the bone) · Infection of the mouth and face (rare complication of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis) · Death (spread of infection from untreated ANUG) TREATMENT OF GINGIVITIS Once gingivitis has been diagnosed you should begin treatment. Prompt treatment will usually reverse the

symptoms of gingivitis and prevent the condition from progressing to more severe gum disease or tooth loss. The goal of all treatment is to eliminate the plaque, tartar and other contributing factors and to ensure the patient’s mouth, gums and teeth stay healthy. Your dentist will perform a procedure call scaling and root planing (SRP), also called “deep cleaning”. The first part of the process, known as scaling, removes the accumulated plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth. Scaling may be uncomfortable especially if your gums are already sensitive or you have a lot of build-up. If necessary, your dentist will numb the area to make the process painless. The next phase of treatment, known as root planing, is done to make the rough edges on root surfaces smooth so that plaque cannot stick to them easily. After SRP, the crowns of your teeth may be polished using a rubber cup and a special paste. Gingivitis usually clears up after a thorough professional cleaning ONLY as long as you continue good oral hygiene at home! Your dentist will work with you to plan a good home care program to eliminate contributing factors and ensure you brush and floss properly.You may also be prescribed an antimicrobial

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Dr. Neromini Fagu mouth rinse to use to help keep the bacteria count low. If you have overlapping teeth or mouth appliances such as braces, crowns or bridges, they will make it more difficult for you to remove plaque properly. Fortunately, there are special flosses, brushes and other cleaning aids available to help keep your teeth and gums clean. I want to stress that there is no short cut to treating gingivitis. Many times patients would ask if they can use mouthwash (you know the various brands available) as a treatment method. The answer is NO. There is no substitute for proper brushing and flossing and regular professional cleaning. Also, when plaque has hardened to tartar you will not be able to remove it yourself. So, it is critical that you prevent the tartar from forming in the first place with proper personal oral hygiene practices. For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to nerominifagu@hotmail.com.

SASOD meets with Ministry...

A GuyOil document showing a recent shipment of oil from Trinidad and Tobago. On the ship was diesel destined for a local importer. GuyOil paid for the entire trip.

From page 9 their sexual identity.” Simpson continued that many LGBT Guyanese choose not to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity at work. This, he said, could result in greater anxiety and stress in the workplace, which not only impacts negatively on job performance but also has adverse psychological impacts. Minister Lawrence stated that she is fully aware of her responsibility to bridge the gaps in society to foster better functioning services between the people and the governmen t a n d i n h e r mandate as Minister of Social Protection, whatever there is she can do to bridge these gaps she would like to do it; “We would like to see more collaboration, we need it if we are to make a change. We must work together.” She discussed projects and initiatives by her Ministry that would see more cooperation with Civil Society Oraganisations such

as SASOD to work with people and other NonGovernment Organisations to foster better relationships, communication and advocacy for marginalized groups. SASOD recommended that the Government of Guyana amend section 4(2) of the Prevention of Discrimination Act 1997 to include sexual orientation,

gender identity and health status as grounds for discrimination; and implement and support comprehensive workplace equality policies and education programmes aimed at curbing discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and health status in the workplace, both in the public service and private sector.

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Rouhani, moderates make big gains in Iran polls - early results Reuters - President Hassan Rouhani won a resounding vote of confidence and reformist allies won 29 out of Tehran’s 30 parliamentary seats in elections that could speed Iran’s post-sanctions opening to the world, early results released yesterday showed. Tens of millions thronged polling stations on Friday for a twin vote for the 290-seat parliament and the 88-member Assembly of Experts, which selects the country’s highest authority, the supreme leader. President Rouhani’s reformist allies made gains in the races for parliament and the assembly, both in the hands of anti-Western hardliners for years. He said Iran’s election had given the government more credibility and clout. “The competition is over. It’s time to open a new chapter in Iran’s economic development based on domestic abilities and international opportunities,” the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying. He added that the government would cooperate

Hassan Rouhani with anyone elected to build Iran’s future. “The people showed their power once again and gave more credibility and strength to their elected government.” Rouhani and key ally and former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani were leading the race for the Assembly of Experts with most

votes counted and appeared to be sure of winning seats, early results released yesterday showed. The assembly results were initially announced as final in an official statement. A later statement said the results were partial and a final tally would be announced in due course.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

EOJ Promises Results Of Official Vote Count By tomorrow The Gleaner - The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) says the final counting of ballots cast in Thursday’s general elections is expected to be completed by tomorrow. Final counting for all constituencies across the island began Friday. The EOJ says counting is taking place in the designated counting centres in each constituency except for five. Counting for St Andrew Eastern, St Ann South Western, St Mary South Eastern and St Catherine North Eastern is being done at the EOJ’s Head Office at Duke Street Kingston. The counting of votes for St James Southern is being done at the EOJ’s Regional Office in Montego Bay. The Director of Elections Orrette Fisher reportedly made the decision to provide closer monitoring for the final count in constituencies where the preliminary results were particularly close. Based on the preliminary count, the Jamaica Labour Party has won 33 seats, and the People’s National Party 30 of the 63 seats available. While voter turnout was below 47.7 percent, Fisher says he is pleased with the proceedings on Election Day.

Orrette Fisher

No sale of govt. vehicles to former ministers - PM elect KINGSTON, Jamaica Prime Minister elect Andrew Holness has given directives

that no government motor vehicle is to be sold to former ministers. In a post to his

US govt. wants to become a party Jack Warner

Trinidad Express - The United States government has indicated its desire to become a party in the judicial review proceedings against former politician and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who is wanted in the USA for allegedly committing a series of fraud-related offences while he held the position in the world football governing body. This was revealed last week, at the Hall of Justice in Port of Spain, by attorneys

representing the US government through the Central Authority during a status hearing before Justice James Aboud. Warner is challenging the legality of the extradition proceedings against him before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar, at the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court. The proceedings have since been put on hold after Warner was granted leave by Justice Aboud on January 22 to file for judicial review.

Facebook page, Holness said he met with the Cabinet secretary and the permanent secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister Friday to discuss the earliest route to inauguration. He said too that he arranged a briefing on the important activities of the previous Government. “As part of our commitment not to be government as usual and to change how government works, I have indicated to the Cabinet secretary, the financial secretary and the permanent secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister that I do not intend to continue the policy of selling government vehicles to the ministers who had use of them,” Holness said. The prime minister elect said in his Facebook post that this move will save the government the cost of replacing motor vehicles. In November 2012, the People’s National Party Government confirmed that it had purchased several sports utility vehicles (SUVs) for Cabinet ministers. Former minister with responsibility for information Senator Sandrea Falconer, in confirming the purchase, had said then that the motor vehicles were provided to a number of ministers who had been driving their own vehicles since taking office. Information released by Jamaica House then indicated that 20 motor vehicles were purchased at a cost of nearly US$694,000. (Jamaica Observer)

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

Guns fall mostly silent as delicate Syria truce takes effect Reuters - Guns mostly fell silent in Syria and Russian air raids stopped yesterday, the first day of a cessation of hostilities that the United Nations has described as the best hope for peace in five years of civil war. Under the U.S.-Russian accord accepted by President Bashar al-Assad’s government and many of his foes, fighting should cease so aid can reach civilians and talks can open to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and made 11 million homeless. Russia, which says it intends to continue strikes

against areas held by Islamist fighters that are not covered by the truce, said it would suspend all flights over Syria for the first day to ensure no wrong targets were hit by mistake. The truce seemed largely to be holding, though rebels reported what they described as occasional government violations, and one commander warned that unchecked, the breaches could lead to the agreement’s collapse. Jaish al-Nasr, a group affiliated to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) which has backed the truce, said government forces had fired mortars,

ASEAN says seriously concerned about rising South China Sea tensions Reuters - Southeast Asian nations expressed serious concern yesterday about growing international tension over disputed waters in the South China Sea. China claims most of the sea but Southeast Asian countries Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam have rival claims. Friction has increased over China’s recent deployment of missiles and fighter jets to the disputed Paracel island chain. “Ministers remained seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments,” the 10-members Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) said in a statement after a regular meeting of the group’s foreign ministers in Laos. Land reclamation and escalating activity has increased tensions and could undermine peace, security and stability in the region, ASEAN said in the statement. The United States has criticized China’s building of artificial islands and facilities in the sea and has sailed warships close to disputed territory to assert the right to freedom of navigation. On Friday, the United States urged China’s President Xi Jinping to prevent the militarisation of the region. Vietnam, which accused China of violating its sovereignty with the missile deployment, echoed the U.S. call yesterday. “We call for nonmilitarisation in the South China Sea,” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh told reporters after meeting his ASEAN colleagues.

“We have serious concerns about that,” he said, when asked about China’s increasing military activity in the region. The group agreed to seek a meeting between China and ASEAN’s foreign ministers to discuss the South China Sea and other issues, Cambodian Minister Hor Namhong said. China’s maritime claims are ASEAN’s most contentious issue, as its members struggle to balance mutual support with their growing economic relations with Beijing. China is the biggest trade partner for many ASEAN nations. Neighbours Vietnam and China compete for influence over landlocked Laos, which has no maritime claims but finds itself in the difficult position of dealing with neighbours at odds over the South China Sea. Laos is tasked with finding common ground on the issue as the ASEAN chair in 2016. “The South China Sea issue is a headache that Laos would really rather not have to deal with,” said one Western diplomat in Vientiane. Thongloun Sisoulith, Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, played down the challenge. “We are a close friend of Vietnam and China, we try to solve the problems in a friendly way,” he told Reuters on Saturday. “We are in the middle, but it’s not a problem.” Barack Obama is set to become the first U.S. president to visit the country in September to attend an annual summit hosted by the ASEAN chair.

rockets and machine guns in Hama province and that warplanes had been constantly present in the sky. “Compared to the previous days it is nothing, but we consider that they broke the truce,” Mohamed Rasheed, head of the group’s media office, told Reuters. Another FSA-affiliated group, Alwiyat Seif al Sham, said two of its fighters had been killed and four more wounded when government tanks shelled them in rural areas west of Damascus. A Syrian military source denied the army was violating the truce agreement. State media described rocket attacks near Damascus and several deadly attacks by Islamic State. But overall the level of violence was far reduced. “Let’s pray that this

works because frankly this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace,” U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said at a midnight news conference in Geneva.

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Female fighters from the Democratic Forces of Syria use a tablet in alShadadi town, in Hasaka province, Syria Friday. REUTERS/RODI SAID

“I think that the feeling that we have today is that the situation is very different but of course every day has to be monitored,” he said. The agreement is the first of its kind to be attempted in four years and, if it holds, would be the most successful truce of the war so far.

De Mistura said he intends to restart peace talks on March 7, provided the halt in fighting largely holds. But there are weak spots in a fragile deal which has not been directly signed by the Syrian warring parties and is less binding than a formal ceasefire.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

Jamaica PM-elect pledges Fed up with murder rate, responsive and accountable govt. Rowley wants… Urgent Action KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Prime minister-elect, Andrew Holness, said he intends to lead a responsive government that is accountable to the Jamaican people. “We are under no illusions as to the ability of the Jamaican people to hold their government to account. We have a team, and all members of our family are committed to serving you,” he said. Holness was delivering his victory speech at the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) headquarters on Thursday night, following the party’s victory in the 2016 general election. Holness pledged that the new government will be faithful to plans to grow the economy and create jobs, while balancing the country’s fiscal accounts. “We will also address your water problems. We will address your housing problems, we will address education problems, and we will fix your health care problems,” he said. “What it takes are men and women, who are willing to be faithful to the cause of growing Jamaica. What it takes is a team that is willing to try new, innovative and creative ways to solve the problems of Jamaica and I commit to bringing new, creative and innovative solutions to the challenges faced in Jamaica,” Holness said. He hailed the strength of Jamaica’s democracy, and acknowledged the work of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica and the election day workers, as well as members of the country’s security forces – the Jamaica De-

Andrew Holness fence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force – in ensuring a peaceful and successful general election. Preliminary results indicate that the JLP won 33 seats, while the People’s National Party (PNP), led by Portia Simpson Miller, won 30 seats. The February 25 general election was the 17th to be held since the country achieved universal adult suffrage in 1944. (Caribbean News)

Trinidad Guardian - Urgent action is being taken to deal with the unacceptable murder rate in Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said Friday. Rowley, who is also the chairman of the National Security Council, made the comment as he responded to questions put to him by Naparima MP and former Ambassador to the United Nations Rodney Charles in the House of Representatives Friday. Charles had asked Rowley if, given the high murder rate for the year-to-date in the country, he was satisfied with his government’s plans to reduce the murder rate. Rowley got up and said: “The answer is yes.” The Opposition MP then asked Rowley if he agreed that the country was likely to have its highest annual murder rate this year and that there was need for urgent action to prevent that from becoming reality. Rowley said: “The answer is that the trajectory is unacceptable and urgent action is being taken.” There have been some 79 murders within the first 57 days of this year, among them 30-year-old Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya, whose body was found under a tree in the

Dr. Keith Rowley

Queen’s Park Savannah, Portof-Spain, on Ash Wednesday, and four teenage schoolboys—Denelson Smith, 17, and Mark Richards, 16, in Laventille (January 21), and Stephan Singh and Daniel Halls, both 16, in St August-

ine on Tuesday of last week. Days after the killings of Smith and Richards, Rowley said joint army/police patrols would intensify in crime hotspots and remain in effect for as long as deemed necessary by the authorities.

Stick with IMF policies, Jamaica advised

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Government should give consideration to maintaining the fiscal policies being implemented under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF), even after the agreement expires in March 2017. That advice has come from Richard Byles, co-chair of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) – a committee set up by government to monitor the implementation of economic reform measures. “The fact that the fouryear EFF will come to end doesn’t mean that we can or should abandon the policies that were implemented and followed over the last four years…we still have to follow those; not as intense but we still have to be (mindful) about those policies,” he contended as he addressed the media earlier last week. Byles said the programme has been very beneficial to Jamaica in maintaining a tight fiscal policy and reducing the debt burden. And he argued

Richard Byles

that sustaining the policy measures would put the country in a position to further pay down the debt. The EPOC co-chair pointed out that while the debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio, which stood at 145 per cent when the programme commenced in 2013, has been reduced to approximately 126 per cent, and could possibly fall to about 120 per cent by March 2017, “it would still be a far way from where we should

ideally be, which is 60 per cent (of) GDP…maximum.” “The debt is a big sword hanging over our heads,” he said. “We have to get rid of it as quickly as possible…we have to pay it…aggressively …and when we do so opportunities begin to open up.” Byles said that whether or not Jamaica negotiates another IMF agreement in 2017, depending on the state of the country’s economy he would like to see the IMF “continue to play a role”. (Caribbean360)

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

Volleyball outreach goes to Black Bush Polder There is no stopping the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) in its drive to spread the game to all parts of the Ancient County. As such the organization which has been very active so far for 2016 will be conducting another volleyball outreach in the remote farming areas of Black Bush Polder today. The activity will be open to persons living in the Black Bush Polder area that are interested in learning to play the game and those playing but are interested in enhancing their skills a n d e v e n t h o s e who would have stopped playing. Male and female players from all four of the polders

including Mibicuri, Yakusari, Lesbeholden, Johanna and also Zambia are expected to converge at the Mibicuri Volleyball court. There they are expected to be joined by players from the Orealla/ Siparuta areas and from established clubs from the coast. The outreach which is a part of the BVA series of volleyball outreaches will be the third for the year so far with the Riverain communities of Orealla/Siparuta benefitting. There was also one for female and junior players at Skeldon, Corentyne. The day’s activity is expected to get started at 09:00 hrs. Lectures, coaching and a

few exhibition games are part of the d a y ’s programme. Literature, balls and other volleyball assortments will be presents to the teams. A number of exhibition games are also expected to be played. The BVA is also hoping to spot a few talents, especially among the females and juniors players to join the BVA squad in training for upcoming competitions. Resource persons are expected to include BVA president Levi Nedd and former President Gregory Rambarran among others. A number of national players will be on hand to assist. (Samuel Whyte)

Sunday February 28, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Alienation may be the result of a misunderstanding. Try to ease any disappointment by making amends. Try not to get backed into corners. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Children might be on your mind. Don't hesitate to make special plans just for two. You might get behind if you spend too much time debating senseless issues. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) When the work is done, they may serve you for a change. Your diplomatic approach and rather outgoing nature will enhance your reputation and bring you the support you need. You will enjoy getting together with friends. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Direct your energy wisely. You would be wise to consider attending lectures that will broaden your awareness concerning your professional direction. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You will be able to work with fine detail today. If you can work at home, do so. Romance is likely if you participate in unusual forms of entertainment. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may win favors if you present your ideas and include your family. Proceed with caution if operating equipment or vehicles. You will be ready to jump on anyone who gets in the way of your progress today.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may want to plan physical activities that will help burn off some of their excess energy. Refuse to let others make unrealistic demands of you. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Romance will unfold through business trips. Take your time and try not to overload yourself. Travel will promote new romantic encounters and additional cultural knowledge. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Catch up on overdue phone calls and correspondence. You should socialize with clients or upper echelons of your industry if possible. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) If you join intellectual or cultural groups, you should meet individuals who stimulate you. Don't make excuses. Try not to argue about trivial matters. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You may have a problem at work with a female coworker. Don't let them blame you. Relatives will not agree with the way you are dealing with your personal problems. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Take special care in any home improvement project you work on today, you'll be glad you did. Loss or theft may occur if you are careless with your belongings. Visit friends or relatives who have been confirmed.

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West Berbice Chamber of Commerce 20/20 cricket extravaganza set for today The West Berbice Chamber of Commerce in supporting young cricketers and the development of Sports in Region, West Berbice, Region 5, will be staging a one day 20/20 cricket competition today February 28, at the C3 Recreational Park, Cotton Tree, West Coast, Berbice. An action packed day of cricket is anticipated as the day’s activities will feature four top teams from Berbice including Cotton Tree and D’Edward Combined, Blairmont and West Berbice

Combined, Universal DVD Port Mourant and Young Warriors. The day’s activity is set to commence at 9.00 hrs with the winners of two preliminary round games set to clash in the final. Admission to the venue is free; however the organizers will have a food sale and bar to raise funds for the less fortunate children.According to President of the Chamber Imran Sacoor- the WBCC is delighted to be part of this initiative since it believes that investment in youths represents investment for the

future. The Chamber, he said, welcomes the undertaking and urged residents to come out and support the matches. He said that the WBCC will continue to support the development of communities within which it serves. Interested partners and sponsors are asked to support this and other initiatives. For more information persons are asked to contact 592-3287977, 687-9009 or email wbcic2015@gmail.com. (Samuel Whyte)

All set for Courts 50 miles Independence cycle road in Berbice today All the top cyclists in the country are expected to throng to Berbice today for the Courts Guyana 50th Independence anniversary cycle race. With the cycling season in full swing the event is expected to be hotly contested for the lucrative prizes that will be on offer. The event dubbed “the Courts Independence 50 miles cycle road race,” Is set to pedal off from in front of the Courts store at Main and

Vegae Boyz Football Club launches with election of office bearers today At around 10:00hrs this morning, the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) will incorporate another affiliate into its fold when officials of the Vegae Boyz Football Club convene for their inaugural meeting that aspires to elect office bearers to conduct their affairs. Activities will be conducted at the club’s headquarters, 3-4 Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo and commences with opening prayers and welcoming remarks by Pastor L. Holder. Brother L. Williams will then deliver a short history pertaining to the club and its formation just before Reverend E. Nedd delivers the charge. Officials have also indicated that a representative of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) would be in attendance and he/she will also deliver brief remarks. Another official of the WDFA is also designated to deliver brief remarks just before the affiliates elect office bearers. Pastor O. Stewart will then deliver the vote of thanks before officials bring the curtains down on activities.

St Ann Street in New Amsterdam, proceed to Nand Persaud Business Complex up the Corentyne before returning to finish at its place of origin. Female and U16 cyclists will pedal from the No10 miles pole to the finishing line. The BMX cyclists will race from the Canje Turn to the finishing 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. The presentation ceremony will be held immediately after the completion of the event which is organized by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC). Cyclists are reminded that they must ride in their club colours. On Thursday Courts Berbice Branch Manager Stanley McKenzie presented the sponsorship cheque to coordinator Randolph Roberts at the entity’s Berbice Branch in New Amsterdam. (Samuel Whyte)

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Annual Milo Under-20 Schools Football Competition

Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

Bishop’s High, Christ Church and Richard Ishmael among winners Bishop’s High, Christ Church and Richard Ishmael were among the winners when play in the preliminary phase

of the Annual Milo Under-20 Schools Football Competition continued yesterday, at the Ministry of Education

-Action continues today

Part of the action in the clash between Bishop’s High School and Central High yesterday. ground, Carifesta Avenue. Appearing in the final game of the day against Central High, Bishop’s High School was led to victory through solitary strikes off the boots of Lloyd Anderson, Shamar Britton and Romeo Bradford. Also recording an impressive victory was Christ Church, who inflicted a 40 d r u b b i n g on Carmel, while Richard Ishmael gained full points from Sir Leon Lessons that had opted out of the competition. In the other match of the day, School of Nations and South Ruimveldt played to a 1-1 draw.

Action in the competition continues today, at the same venue with the final round of preliminary matches. 11:00 hrs S t . George’s Secondary v/s Tutorial Secondary 12:30 hrs Queenstown Secondary v/s St John’s College 14:00 hrs Charlestown Secondary v/s Freeburg Secondary 15:30 hrs Mae’s Secondary v/s St Rose’s Secondary Yesterday’s results: Game-1 Richard Ishmael vs Sir Leon Lessons Richard Ishmael won via walkover

Game-2 Carmel Secondary-0 vs Christ Church-4 Brad Evans-22nd and 27th Waynewright Adams-30th Shamar Carrington-56th Game-3 School of the Nations-1 vs South Ruimveldt-1 School of the Nations Scorer Lyndon Dorway-43rd South Ruimveldt Scorer Junior Thomas-56th Game-4 Bishop’s High 3 vs Central High Bishop’s Scorers Lloyd Anderson-12th Shamar Britton-21st Romeo Bradford-58th Central Scorer James Walcott-60th

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

PCL Four-Day cricket By Sean Devers in St Lucia In association with Tower Suites, Trophy Stall & Arrow Head Inn Leon Johnson led from the front with his second century of the season and shared in important partnerships with Vishaul Singh and Raymon Reifer to put the Guyana Jaguars in firm control against the Windwards Volcanoes at the end of a rain affected second day of their eighth round PCL four-day First-Class match at the Beausejour Stadium yesterday. Johnson’s fourth ton and second for the season lasted 183 balls, 285 minutes with 13 fours. The 28-year-old Jaguars Captain added 112 for the fifth wicket with Singh who faced 149 balls, batted for 161 minutes and reached the boundary four times in 58 to become the first batsman to reach 600 runs. Johnson also added 62 for the seventh wicket with Reifer, who stroked a robust unbeaten 27 from 100 minutes with two fours and a six as the Jaguars ended the day on 310-7 in reply to the 216 made by the home team. Mervin Matthew (3-73) was the pick of the bowlers while Kyle Mayers supported with 2-67. Watched by a sprinkling of spectators the Jaguars resumed the day on 44-2 with Chanderpaul on 20 and Assad Fudadin on 1. The pair posted the 50 off the day’s second over and carried the score 70 before Mayers broke the 43run partnership by trapping Fudadin LBW for 15 after 40 minutes of play yesterday. Johnson started his innings with 499 runs and soon joined Vishaul Singh and Bajans Shamarh Brooks and Rolston Chase in 500 runs club. He and 19-year-old Chanderpaul commenced ‘operation rebuild’ with Chanderpaul pulling Matthews for an audacious boundary before he seemed very unlucky to be given out LBW by Umpire Gregory Braithwaite. Chanderpaul seemed to get an inside edge at 100-4 and fell four short of what would have been his third FirstClass fifty. The diminutive Singh pulled off-spinner Liam Sebastien for four while Johnson continued to play confidently and favoured the cuts behind point. Singh began with 566 runs and by Lunch, which saw a generous diet of pace for most of the first session, had progressed to 18. Johnson was on 24 at the interval and the Jaguars on 132 still 84 away from the Volcanoes’ score. A brief shower interrupted play 20

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Johnson’s ton gives Jaguars control

minutes before the action resumed and the pair took their partnership to 50. Singh played with immaculate timing and placement, while Johnson was willing to pounce on anything short and wide. Just after reaching his 27th fifty from 78 balls, 137 minutes with seven fours, Johnson slashed at a wide half volley and was put down by Kaveem Hodge at point. Shillingford looked a shadow of his old self with the ball and failed to trouble the left handed pair, while Matthew and the Bajan pair of Mayers and McClean toiled hard and long in the conditions which frequently changed from sunny to overcast. Singh soon became the first batsman to reach 600 runs and continued to find the gaps on the heavy outfield with ease but Johnson was the more entertaining of the two. Singh danced into Shillingford minutes before Tea and with a rush of blood drove just over the head of cover but that did not deter him from using his feet confi-

dently to the spinners. By Tea the score was 199-4 as 67 runs were scored in the session in which no wicket fell. The partnership had progressed to 99 with Johnson on 63 and Singh on 46 and the Jaguars needed just 17 runs go to past the Volcanoes total. After the break Singh, who was dropped by Shillingford off his own bowling on 54, played no shot to off-spinner Sebastian and was trapped LBW for 58. This was his sixth half-century and his dismissal broke the stand and left the Jaguars on 212-5. Johnson smashed Shillingford gloriously to the cover boundary prompting Sebastien to take the new ball as soon as it became available. That ploy soon worked as Anthony Bramble (4) edged Matthew to the Keeper at 2296, but Johnson clipped Mayers for back-to-back boundaries in the next over even as Matthew peppered Reifer with a barrage of quick bouncers. Rain again stopped at 15:55hrs with the Jaguars on 220-6 from 84.3 overs with 10

runs needed for their second batting point and Johnson 14 short of his ton. Reifer grew in confidence the longer he batted and pulled Mayers for six before clipping Kevin McClean for a one-bounce boundary over mid-wicket. Johnson latched onto a half

volley from McClean and stroked it majestically to the extra cover boundary to reach his century from 169 balls, 259 minutes with 12 well struck fours. The partnership continued to flourish with Johnson playing an audacious drive

past Mayers’ ankle for four as the sun returned in all its glory before he was removed by Shillingford at 291-7. Veerasammy Permaul (16) and Reifer (27) batted to the close and ensured that their team collected three batting points.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

Stag Elite League

Alpha get past GFC, Pele edge Monedderlust: double header on today at GFC By Franklin Wilson Top marksmen of the Genesis segment of the Stag Elite League organised by the Guyana Football Federation, Dellon Lanferman and Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’

Richardson continued their marksmanship as they led their respective clubs, Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United and Pele to full points when the league Finale continued on Friday evening last at the GFC ground.

Contesting the feature game, Lanferman netted two second half goals after Alpha were given their initial advantage in the 13th minute by veteran forward Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams. The young GFC side took the fight to

their more seasoned opponents and gave a good account of themselves but it was the depth and experience of Alpha which made the difference in the end. Lanferman netted the first of his brace in the 58th minute, a well-directed header on the end of a corner as Alpha doubled their advantage. Inconsistent referring allowed the third goal in the 88th minute to stand even as Lanferman was clearly in an offside position. All along, GFC showed flashes of brilliance but found consistency difficult. Their most energetic and skillful player Romario Welcome, who even though playing outside midfield, had the stamina and presence of mind to fall back and defend at critical moments of the match. Welcome it was who pulled one back for GFC in the penultimate minute of full

time, a beautiful header away to the left of Dorville Stewart in goal for Alpha. The three minutes of added on time did not see the score changing with Alpha securing three points as a result of their 3-1 win. With limited time to recover, ‘The Hammer’ will be hunting another three points today when they engage Monedderlust at the same venue in the opening match at 18:00hrs. Monedderlust like Alpha with little or no recovery time before this evening’s match went down to Pele in Friday night’s opening match. Richardson, who was on song in last Sunday’ s friendly international scoring both goals in Guyana’s 2-0 win over Suriname, handed Pele the lead 35 minutes into the first half. However, the West Berbice based side did not

take long before they neturalised Pele’s advantage. Two minutes later, one of their new signing’s for the season, Pierre Joseph found the equalizer as the first half ended locked 1-1. Pele tried their best to penetrate Monedderlust in the final third but the West Berbicians stood solid up until the 64th minute when Runnel Gordon in a one/two play with Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant finally breached the opposition’s defence to ease the pressure that was building in the Pele camp and among their fans. Monedderlust Coach Gordon Braithwaite will have to devise a plan and strategy that can bring him a win today or at least a draw but that will be a tough task against Alpha. Pele will seek to take care of business against Buxton United in tonight’s main attraction.

Jumbo Jet releases provisional Programme for Guyana Cup Fever Horserace meet 2016 event set for Sunday March 27th at Rising Sun Turf Club The Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables who are the organizers of the annual Guyana Cup, Guyana Cup Fever and Guyana Cup rematch horseracing events is reminding Horseracing fans that the Guyana Cup Fever Horse Race meet is set for Sunday 27th March at the Rising Sun Turf Club. The organisers have released a provisional programme for the annual event and preparations have begun. Seven races are on the cards with close to $8M in cash, trophies and other incentives up for grabs with the feature event slated for horses classified A1 and lower for a winning purse of $1.2M. A look at the provisional programme will show the feature event is for horses classified A1 and Lower over 1400M for a winning take of $1.2million with total purse of $2,200,000 and trophy. The F1 and lower event has a winner’s take of

$600,000 and trophy from a total winning prize of $1.1M over 1400M. There is an 1100M event for West Indies bred three year old animals for a top prize of $400,000 and trophy with a total prize of $750,000. The G2 and lower 1400M match up will see the animals racing for a winning pocket of $400,000 and trophy with a combine purse of $750,000 and trophy. The Guyana Bred three year old maiden horses will have a chance at competing for the first prize of $300,000 and trophy over 11000M with a total prize package of $575,000 and trophy. Animals classified H3 and lower will be racing for a winning package of $250,000 and trophy. The final race will be for animals classified J1 and lower over 1100M for a pole position taking of $200,000 and trophy. The events will be held under the rules of t h e

Guyana Horse Racing Authority. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to cancel/refrain any race mentioned above. In the event that there are less than five (5) horses entered for any event the Organizing Committee reserves the right to cancel or reframe the said event or reduce the prize money after notifying the horse owners. Seven horses must start or no fourth prize will be paid. Interested persons can contact Chandu Ramkissoon (624-9063 or 232-0633), Irshad Mohammed on 664-1650, Fazal Habibulla on telephone no 657-7010, Ramnauth 3375311 or 697-1979 Campton Sancho on 690-0569 and Rajendra “Jim-Jo” Jagdeo 6187278. The coordinator is Nazrudeen Jumbo Jet Mohammed Jr. (Samuel Whyte)

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

Mitchell, Phillips, Caesar scintillates at National Youth, Junior Championships Kenisha Phillips

By Edison Jefford Fourteen-year-old Kenisha Phillips broke the 12 second barrier and Tirana Mitchell returned to form yesterday in their respective 100m races at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora on the first day of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Smalta National Youth and Junior Championships. Phillips sped to 11.97 seconds in the Under-18 Girl’s 100m to win ahead of Toyan Raymond and Cassie Tixey, who ran 12.61 and 12.77 seconds respectively. Phillips dismissed any challenge in the race early with a perfect start and acceleration that gave her a commanding lead midway through the distance. The prodigy used her almost perfect form to ease through the line without any hint of struggle. It was a comfortable race for Phillips. In the U-20 Category, Mitchell looked as dominant, but with a much slower time. Mitchell ran 12.37 seconds as Natricia Hooper (12.68) and Kenisha Prescott (12.92) placed second and third. Commonwealth youth finalist, Compton Caesar was also in dominant form, winning his 100m U-20 Boy’s race in 10.62 seconds ahead of Police’s Linton Mentis (10.77s). Tyrell Peters (10.80) won the U-18 Category ahead of Umkosi Va n c o o t e n , w h o p o s t e d 1 1 . 0 7 s e c o n d s . Avon Samuels was superior in the U-18 Girl’s 400m, winning in 56.87 seconds, which left Kezra Murray (1:01.39) and Tandika Haynes (1:02.08) in second and third. Samuels’ usual rival in that race, Hooper did not compete in the event. Daniel Williams won the male race in 49.90 seconds ahead of Samuel Lynch and Kristoff Archer who had 50.26 and 51.11 secs for second and third respectively. Aldon Henry was the U-20 winner in 50.46s with Quesi Blair (52.49) and Stayon Doris (52.82) second and third. Andrea Foster won the Girl’s 1500m U-20 race in 4:50.81 while Mathew McKenzie won the male event in 4:12.81. Claudrice McKoy won the U-18 1500m in 4:57.55 ahead of Joanna Archer (5:01.30) and Maria Urquhart (5:03.38) respectively. Jeremy Garrett was the male U-18 winner in 4:25.22 as Selwyn Mingo (4:36.67) finished second. The event continues today at the same location.

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Kaieteur News

Sunday February 28, 2016

Taylor, Dottin fifties lead WI Women to win ESPNcricinfo - West Indies Women narrowed the gap down to four points

between themselves and first-place Australia in the I C C W o m e n ’ s

Championship points table after a 57-run win over South Africa Women in East

London. The result follows a 15-run win by West Indies at the same venue on February

24 and they’ll seek a series sweep in the final ODI on Monday. West Indies were 25 for 2 at the eight-over mark after electing to bat when captain Stafanie Taylor (79) and Deandra Dottin (61) teamed up for a 135-run stand, four short of equaling the West Indies Women’s record mark for a third-wicket partnership set by Juliana Nero and Pamela Lavine against Ireland at the 2005 Women’s World Cup. It’s also the sixth-highest partnership overall in West Indies Women’s ODIs and the fifth century stand between Taylor and Dottin in ODIs. The stand ended on the first ball of the 32nd when Taylor was runout and Dottin perished not long after to end the 34th. Dottin was the first wicket on the day for 20-year-old legspinner Suné Luus, who

finished with 3 for 34 as West Indies were eventually bowled out in the last over for 232. South Africa made a bright start to the chase, reaching 85 for 1 in the 22nd over before Shaquana Quintyne sparked a slide by taking the wickets of captain Mignon du Preez and Marizanne Kapp two overs apart. South Africa’s hopes rested on opener Trisha Chetty to carry her team through but she was the fifth wicket to fall for 51, bowled by Anisa Mohammed for 51. South Africa then lost their last five wickets for 40 runs with Hayley Matthews spinning out the tail to end South Africa’s reply for 175 in 45.3 overs. Scores: West Indies Women 232 (Taylor 79, Dottin 61, Luus 3-34) beat South Africa Women 175 (Chetty 51, Matthews 2-18) by 57 runs.

File photo - West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor top-scored for her side with 79 off 83 balls © WICB Media/Randy Brooks

Bravo pilots Windies win over Zimbabwe in warm up game Allrounder Dwayne Bravo was the star of the show last night as West Indies defeated Zimbabwe by 18 runs in a warm-up T20 warm-up match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Scores: WEST INDIES 147-7 off 20 overs (Dwayne Bravo 55, Denesh Ramdin

40, Darren Sammy 21 not out; Tinashe Panyangara 230, Tendai Chatara 2-37). ZIMBABWE 129-7 off 20 overs (Richard Mutumbami 40, Malcolm Wa l l e r 3 3 , T i n a s h e Panyangara 25; Dwayne Bravo 2-20, Sulieman Benn 2-25).

Sport associations have Wednesday deadline to make submissions to NSC The National Sports Commission (NSC), as part of its contribution to National Associations and Federations, is in the process of acquiring sport gears and equipment, the NSC had invited all the Sport Associations/Federations to be part of this process. “In an effort to ensure the best quality gears and equipment is procured, we hereby ask of you to indicate the specific brands and types of gears that your association uses,” press release from the NSC stated yesterday, adding that the deadline for submissions is Wednesday.

Sunday February 28, 2016

Kaieteur News

EBFA secures sponsorship for U-11 League USA based Ralph Green to sponsor annually The East Bank Football Association ( E B FA ) t h r o u g h i t s President Franklin Wilson has secured sponsorship for the as s o c i a t i o n s Under-11 League which will kick off next weekend. Guyana based United States Soccer Federation (USSF) D, C and B (College Level) Ralph Green has agreed to sponsor the league on an annual basis. Green who is a founding member and current President of the Camptown Soccer Club of New York said that he had no hesitation in partnering with the EBFA for this level of football since setting a solid foundation will ultimately see Guyana’s foundation being a solid one. He commended the EBFA for being very active over the past two years in the area of junior football development having run off multiple competitions at the Under-11, 13, 15, and 17 levels. ”When the proposal was put forward to me by Mr. Wilson, I did not have second thoughts because I am aware of what the association has been doing under his stewardship and wanted to make my contribution which would be on an annual basis,” Green commented. Green reminded that through the Camptown Soccer Club of New York, they sponsored the biggest Under-15 tournament in Guyana which attracted 16 teams with each player receiving a ball and tee shirt. The EBFA competition will see the teams competing for a 25" lien trophy with the team to win it on three successive occasions able to keep it. That apart, the first, second and third placed teams will receive medals while the fourth placed team will be presented with participatory medals. There will also be five individual trophies that will go to the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Highest Goal Scorer, Best

EBFA President Franklin Wilson (right) receives the Lien trophy from Ralph Green recently in New York. Goalkeeper, Most Promising Player and Most Disciplined Player. EBFA’s Wilson said that the association is very grateful to Green for readily agreeing to commit to an annual tournament. He said that this is not the first time Green is contributing to the association, having also run off a two-day coach’s seminar in the recent past. Wilson also informed that the sponsorship agreement has the capacity to be expanded with the benefit of the players at the forefront. ”We will review how this inaugural event goes and make recommendations for a more expanded tournament next year with the possibility of tee shirts and balls being a reality since we want players to have the ability to play more football by having a ball of their own.” Wilson, while expressing gratitude to Green on behalf of the association on a recent visit to New York, also informed that a few more individuals have been approached to make this initiative a reality. He said that it is the intention of the association to take the sport to another level as they seek to expand the sport on and off the field of play despite the many challenges. Himself, a Youth Soccer Coach since 1989, Green who currently Coaches Academy players for Woodhaven FC (for the past 16 years) as well as Teams in the Long Island Junior S o c c e r L e a g u e underscored his commitment to Guyana’s football which he said would take off. Herstelling Raiders FC a r e d e f e n d i n g champions.

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t r o Sp Mitchell, Phillips, Caesar scintillates at National Youth, Junior Championships

Tirana Mitchell outclasses her opponents to win the 100m Girl’s U-20 race yesterday ahead of rivals, Natricia Hooper and Kenisha Prescott.

Linden’s Compton Caesar (forefront) comfortably sprints to victory in the 100m Boy’s U-20 Final at the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora yesterday.

Stag Elite League

Alpha get past GFC, Pele edge Monedderlust: double header on today at GFC PCL Four-Day cricket

Johnson’s ton gives Jaguars control

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