Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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

EDITORIAL

The expectations and the disappointments Another year has come to an end; a new one has begun and the cycle continues. Many can be heard saying that they could not understand the pace at which the year went. It seemed as though it was yesterday that many welcomed the new year either in a church, or at home or at a place of entertainment. In keeping with tradition, there were the loud explosions as people detonated firecrackers and those bombs that pass for firecrackers. People made resolutions that they broke within hours of making them but for the greater part, people expected the new year to be better than the past. Now, when we take stock, some of us did not get better than we expected. Many lost loved ones, some were victims of criminal attacks and some became embroiled in disputes that could have been resolved without the extreme measures that were adopted. On Wednesday, the police announced that there were more murders in the year just concluded than in the previous year; more violent crimes and more armed robberies. On the plus side, the police took more illegal firearms off the streets, had to respond to fewer suicides and fewer road traffic fatalities. In retrospect, there was nothing preventing 2015 from being one of the better years in local history. For one, the people managed to secure a change in administration. No sooner had the new government taken office than ExxonMobil reported a significant oil find, something that had been elusive for decades. There was the immediate attack on the garbage that had drowned the city to the extent that the pseudonym for Georgetown was the Garbage City. The year ended with people being proud to show off their city to the rest of the world. It was a Georgetown that two generations had not seen. If only for that, 2015 was a good year. But there were things that threatened to overshadow the good. For example, there was the preponderance of young gunmenpeople who should have been pursuing gainful employment. With the report on each crime, people suddenly came to realize that the criminals were becoming younger. Some of them were killed and they in turn killed each other. At one time the people of Guyana who had raced to welcome 2015 began to talk about leaving the country that in their eyes was being overrun by young criminals. The country had more to worry about than the young criminals. It had to worry whether it would retain its shape and size. Neighbouring Venezuela renewed its claim to Guyana’s territory and was at its most bellicose in decades. The action of the Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro, forced Guyana to seek international support. The newly elected Guyana President, David Granger reached out to the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the Caricom Summit and Mercosur. The pressure has eased somewhat, but the deed has been done. Guyana enters the new year knowing that it would earn less for its export commodities. Gold that was the flagship produce a few short years ago, while reaching even higher export volumes, would earn the country less. It is the same with rice—huge increases in volume, but not that much by way of foreign earnings. Yet 2016 should be the dream year that people seem to be pursuing every year. Oil will not be coming on stream, but the preparations will see even more people coming to Guyana with a promise of increased employment. At the same time, the government is developing the institutions that would fashion people to take up meaningful roles in the society. One such is the development of the Public Service Training Centre. Yet for all the promise, there are those who will opt to bring with them into the new year, their irresponsibilities and their disregard for change. These will be the people who through their carelessness would fuel the road accidents and the subsequent fatalities. And so it is that some of us welcome the new year - most with hope, but a few with trepidation.

Friday January 01, 2016

Letters... Where your views make the news

Tacuma Ogunseye takes on Clement Rohee DEAR EDITOR, As the person to whom tremendous prominence was given in his letter in the media on December 30, 2015 captioned “A group is trying to push an extremist agenda on the administration” I crave your indulgence to offer a response to PPPC General Secretary, Clement Rohee. The first point I wish to make is this – Mr. Rohee is not a naïve politician. Many often overlook his political astuteness, forgetting that he came through the ranks of the PPPC and benefited during the days of the Cold War from years of training in the best political and propaganda schools in Eastern Europe. It is therefore not surprising that he brings to bear in his letter his experience in political propaganda. Secondly, I submit here that Rohee’s reaction to my letter represents not only his personal views but also that of the PPPC leadership. It confirms my observation that the PPPC’s approach to

its new role as opposition is to engage in hostile and aggressive political tactics to force the APNU+AFC government to a position of not prosecuting PPPC wrongdoers. In his letter, he accused me and other comrades of pushing an extremist agenda on the Granger administration and in the process attributed to me political influence that I wish I have. For the record I wish to state that my position that the Government would be making a big political mistake if it does not honor its commitment to the nation to prosecute wrong doers and seek to recover stolen state assets, is a principled political position that has nothing to do with vendetta. However, I do admit that my position is influenced by ideological considerations based purely on the need for justice. The saying that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander is applicable here. The logic of the PPPC General Secretary is that we as a nation

must continue to accept the double standards that was on display during the tenure of the PPPC Government, i.e. a situation which saw one law for the poor and powerless and another for the rich and the political powerful. He wants to see a situation where some citizens are sentenced to jail for stealing mangoes while political criminals go unpunished after stealing millions from the state and the people. Good governance, democracy and the rule of law make it imperative for the nation to come to grips with the political dilemma it faces. Guyana cannot go forward unless we resolve this historic challenge of a criminalized state. The rule of law must be reestablished. If this represents extremist politics, I am on good ground for advancing the cause since the majority of the Guyanese people share the view that justice must be done. Rohee and other elements in the (Continued on page 5)

Plea for the advent of modern minds for Guyana in 2016 DEAR EDITOR, Guyana has never seen democracy played out in its truest form that benefits the people since independence. We saw our country became a rigged system for 28 years and even though the PPP/C fight for and brought some democracy and prosperity, it also suffered from a few greedy and narcissistic people that held the party ransom and ultimately led to its loss of power. And now we are seeing that APNU is simply reactionary and fragile in its leadership that leaves a bad taste in our mouth due to a broken electoral system. However, during this time, I have seen a revolution of the minds, especially the young minds who want something better than what exists; they are seeing Guyana not moving forward as much as it is swinging from side to side. It is time for progressive young minds to rise up and be heard, we

understand the modern world better to lead our country, we have that rare ability to forgive and unite our country for the greater good and we know how to work together. There is a longing desire in our hearts and minds for prosperity and peace to come to our land. We are the generation that is free from the colonial curse of divide and conquer; a strategy that kept us in poverty and violence for far too long. We must demand that our political parties change the way things are done by beginning to listen to the people more and find solutions for prosperity instead of using our resources to fight their personal wars and raise their salaries. People are seeing how democracy has been taking hostage by a powerful few to gain control of wealth and power. We are seeing that sometimes they are

enemies in public but sleep in the same bed in private. So as the people fight each other on the streets, the people you fighting for are sleeping together. Let 2016 be the start of a revolution that see people being represented fairly in politics and their needs met. Let’s see the government of the day lead objectively and not filling their pockets and providing only for their voters. Guyana deserves the right to prosper; we have enough resources to have a good life. But that good life will never see the light of day unless we start opening our minds and removing the veil from our eyes. Let’s continue to liberate our minds and dream for a better Guyana. We will continue to use all tools available to be heard. The freedom of social media must become stronger and a game changer. Malcolm Watkins

Vincent Alexander is stunned DEAR EDITOR, On Monday, Dec 28, 2015, as I scanned the television channels I was attracted to General Secretary Rohee’s ritual press conference, since he was addressing a matter that I had attended to, in my capacity as Technical Facilitator to the Minister of Education. He was reporting that the Government had not involved the PPP/C in the preparations for the ushering in, and celebrations, of the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence. I was stunned since I was convinced that the allegation was baseless and all that followed from it was uncalled for and could only be regarded as the usual ‘politricking’ that has become a norm in Guyana. To avoid being accused of the said culture, I took some time to verify the following: 1. Matters relating to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Guyana’s Independence are being handled by the

recently appointed National Commemoration Commission. 2. The Cabinet approved composition of the Commission provides for a nominee/representative of the Opposition. 3. The leader of the Opposition has been written to as recent as Nov 11, 2015, re question the submission of the name of his nominee. That correspondence was delivered to, and signed for by one Majeed at, Freedom House on Nov 13, 2015. 4. To date there has been no acknowledgement and submission of the name of the Opposition nominee. In the aforementioned circumstances, the Government can hardly be accused of excluding the Opposition (the PPP/C) from participating in the preparations for the jubilee celebrations. It can only be concluded that for reasons only known to the PPP/C, it has not acknowledged, and, or availed itself of, the opportunity

to participate in those preparations. Incidentally, this trend has been manifested in at least two other instances. The PPP/C has failed to nominate a representative to sit on the University’s Council after receiving a request approximately five months ago and at least one subsequent reminder. Similarly, a response is awaited for a nominee to sit on the Commission of Inquiry into the Education System. It is the PPP/C’s prerogative to respond, or not to respond to such requests. But it is certainly unacceptable for them to cast blame on others when the fault, whether contrived or otherwise, does not lie at the feet of the Government. Responsible political behaviour can only be good for Guyana. The contrary will only take us further into the morass from which we need to be extricated. Vincent Alexander Technical Facilitator to the Minister of Education

Friday January 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

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

Demand Greater Accountability and Analysis of where West Indian cricket Transparency from the Bank of Guyana is falling down DEAR EDITOR, Wasn’t it great when we would awake in the mornings to hear the radio blaring, “We are the champions, we are the champions, we are the West Indies.” You remember how proud we use to feel; is boy “Marshal is a bad man eh, or Richards, well don’t talk bout he.” Wasn’t it great to know that while others were paying we were winning? In the illustrious words of the great and former captain of the West Indies cricket team Mr. Clive Lloyd: “Any cricketer worth his SALT should try to get a playing contract at one of the counties in England.” And that is what the West Indian players did. Every one of them with salt (read that as talent), got themselves a county cricketing contract. During the time the West Indies was rampaging through the cricketing world most if not all of their players were engaged in county cricket. They were paid handsomely while honing their skills, benefiting and enjoying all the coaching techniques and strategies of the county he was representing. A few names: SOMERSET: Viv Richards, Joel Gardner: HAMPSHIRE: Andy Roberts, Gordon Greenidge, Malcolm Marshal, Alvin Kalicharrand. WARWICKSHIRE: Brian Lara, Lance Gibbs, Rohan Kanhai. GLAMORGAN: Roy Fredericks, Courtney Walsh. MIDDLESEX: Desmond Haynes. LANCASHIRE: Clive Lloyd. Michael Holding, Carl Hooper also (DERBYSHIRE). Some English Players around the same era. SURREY: John Edrich. YORKSHIRE: Brian Close/Jimmy Adams (WI). SOMERSET: Ian Botham. HAMPSHIRE: David Gower/Andy Roberts (WI). MIDDLESEX: Mike Gatting. ESSEX : Graham Gooch. When the English Cricket Board (ECB) finally decided that the names that played had captivated the crowds they had hoped for, the board announced (and it was not abruptly) one foreign player per county team. That pronouncement began the decline of West Indies cricket. The reservoir was beginning to dry up. There were no more tutors, they had picked up their gears and left. The gravy train had come to a halt. The people that make up the WI cricket board figured like Mr. Lloyd that the training of their players by the counties would be ad-infinitum. That they would be the

breeding grounds for a talent that does not represent them when it counts. The WICB reaction, like the proverbial ostrich, did what ostriches do. The ECB had in fact liberated the players. They were given their INDEPENDENCE. A word that politicians cannot come to grips with the meaning even to this day. Likewise the people who run the WICB, to them INDEPENDENCE of their players was a thrust-ed responsibility. Now it was incumbent upon them to create something substantial to hold the players interest and continue the progress. Did they do anything? Did the WICB, as the people who run things, take this opportunity that independence presented to them, the ability to pave their own and new way. Our present position in the cricketing world is what we have to show for our independence. Failing to prepare is; you know how that ends. As my wife often points out to me; “we are so third world.” Yes indeed we are. Of course the players take the brunt of the disappointment, on and off the field. Waste Indies, Horrible W.I., Woeful West Indies, etc, etc. Past and present pundits calling WI cricket a basket case. Some are calling on past legends who benefited from the English County League to come out of hiding from embarrassment and to assist the present team. Some suggest a psychiatrist, even a soothsayer, along with a hypnotist. The real reason for the demise is that the crutch that was used all these years to embellish WI cricket had been yanked away, and the batting collapse has continued for a decade and a half. Are we training our own? Are we prepared to continue sending mediocre teams abroad which begs the question; “can’t we do something.for ourselves by our selves for a change? Is it asking too much for a dysfunctional group a.k.a the WICB to come up with anything to benefit the game and the players? I guess the answer to that is no. The Trinidad Express Editorial December 24,2015.”Those who have placed themselves in the position of administering it cricket- “are vision less.” I have always felt that the WICB, past and present has been sitting on their brains for the past decade and a halt. And unless they are removed, nothing will happen. Milton Bruce

DEAR EDITOR, The 1991 novel Powershift by Alvin Toffler is a remarkable book whose name captures the transformation that has overtaken progressive societies. Old power structures which seek to maintain themselves by their entrenched systems of control find themselves confronted by the inevitable push by humanity invigorated with new knowledge and ideas for economic and social progress. Unable to withstand the forces of democratic change, these old power structures collapse and are replaced by our new guardians of society, the principles of governance, ethics, transparency and accountability. This change or transformation has become an inevitable constant in societies which have embraced it. In particular, abuses which were the norm in the absence of transparency and proper systems of governance and accountability are being challenged and eliminated. These abuses naturally must first be identified for what they are, with abuses at the lower levels of power being capable of being resolved within the organization or system. Abuses at higher levels ultimately require the combined efforts of groups of persons within organizations in some instances, or public address for cases in which authority comes from political power. Dr. Gobind Ganga, Governor of the Bank of Guyana, has spoken out recently at the inquiry into the management of Guyana’s public service, identifying the need for greater transparency in the affairs of the public service. According to him, transparent rules ensure better accountability and improved efficiency in the sector. This is excellent. In the past there have been issues concerning accountability and transparency at the Bank of Guyana, particularly in re-

spect to the staffing and operations of its Research Department. To the extent that Dr. Ganga is sincerely committed to the principle of transparency, he may wish to engage the public on a memorandum addressed to Dr. Ashni Singh, Minister of Finance in 2008, copied to Dr. Ganga, which should make some of the issues and challenges of the Bank of Guyana, in particular its Research Department, more transparent to the relevant authorities and major stakeholders, notably the public. A copy has been made available to the press which they can use at their discretion. To those unfamiliar with these matters, the Research Department of the Bank of Guyana is crucially important to conducting relevant research aimed at promoting an understanding and appreciation of the dynamics of Guyana’s economy, which ultimately guide monetary policy decisions and advise government on matters of fiscal policy. Then, as now, the research function of the Department has been effectively stymied by someone who it seems is afraid of, and challenged by, intelligent professionals. Since its submission, the major risks relating to the management of monetary policy have more than likely been addressed. The principal issues that relate to governance, transparency and accountability within the Bank remain. As of recently, the Research Department is still without its Director, Assistant Director, Division Chiefs for the respective Sections of the Department and a number of senior economists required to facilitate the kind of research expected of the Department. To my knowledge, little if any research papers are being produced, through no fault of the current staff, except that there are no senior staff to encourage and direct

Tacuma Ogunseye... From page 4 PPPC leadership have consistently taken the position that they did nothing wrong and that they played by the rules. Their supporters and the nation have been assured by them that all the government is doing is witch hunting and the audits will not support allegations of wrongdoing by the PPPC regime. Given these statements of self-confidence in their innocence I find Rohee’s panic response, contradictory. If he is so confident of the PPPC lean and cleanness in government – why worry? The truth is that

he knows the extent of PPPC’s corrupt behaviour committed during the twenty three years of that regime’s tenure and it is just a matter of time before irrefutable evidence is presented to the courts. It will be remiss of me not to recognize what this letter is really about. He is trying to sow seeds of division in the APNU+AFC coalition by raising the “red herring” that extremists are seeking to set the President’s and government’s agenda. Sadly, the PPPC leadership and Mr. Rohee are clutching at straws. Tacuma Ogunseye

junior staff in research endeavors. Society, from financial institutions through to businesses, Government and the wider public, needs to demand greater accountability and transparency in the affairs of the Bank of Guyana, which is not anyone’s personal fiefdom, but is in fact a Government institution with the level of independence necessary only to effectively execute its mandate. These are the very real issues which need to be confronted in our push for social and economic development.

With the recent May 11 elections Guyana has once again regained its independence, this time from the oppressive government of the previous administration, and has embarked on the process of transition and transformation, building and strengthening institutions critical to our goal of achieving that good life. The Bank of Guyana is one such institution, and needs to be brought into focus to address its governance, transparency and accountability issues, all of which have been sadly lacking for quite some time. Craig Sylvester

2015 has been one of mixed blessings DEAR EDITOR, The dawn of a new year always brings with it a renewed sense of hope and optimism. The year 2015 has been one of mixed blessings both internationally and at the national level. At the international level, the restoration of diplomatic relations between the USA and Cuba after some 50 years of adversarial relations would certainly go down as one of the highlights of the year. Of significance also was the meeting in Singapore between the leaders of arch rivals China and Taiwan. On the negative side there has been an escalation of the crisis in the Middle East, in particular Syria and the rise of terrorist actions by extremist groups most notably ISIS and Boko Haram. The humanitarian crisis which resulted from the influx of migrants from Syria and other countries of the Middle East to Europe will also go down as a tragedy of international proportions. The same can be said of the ethnic conflicts in the Central African Republic, Sudan and Nigeria which resulted in the senseless killings of countless number of innocent men, women and children.

At the national level, Guyanese look forward to an improvement in their quality of their life and the reduction of crime. The challenge faced by the new administration is to grow the economy in a sustainable manner and to create and to put measures in place for all to benefit from such growth. The ushering in of our 50th anniversary since the attainment of political independence and the reduction of the toll on the Berbice River Bridge from January 1 2016 is a good way to start the year. At the political level, Guyanese look forward to the creation of an environment that would engender trust and reconciliation among the two major political parties. More fundamentally, there is need to initiate a process both at the legislative and executive levels which could create an environment conducive for national unity and inclusive and participatory governance. The holding of local and municipal elections in the first quarter of the New Year is indeed a welcome development. I wish to take this opportunity to wish all Guyanese a prosperous and productive new year. Hydar Ally

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Kaieteur News

17 maternal deaths reported for 2015 By Jeanna Pearson With one case short of 2014’s maternal mortality rate, it looks like Guyana might have missed its goal to reduce maternal deaths by threequarters between the years 1990 and 2015. As of December 30, Guyana had recorded 17 maternal deaths, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud revealed. He said that the Public Health Ministry was still gathering data and as such a few cases were still under investigation by a committee to determine whether they were either a direct or indirect pregnancy-related cause. In 2000, a total of 189 world leaders met at the United Nations (UN) Millennium Summit and accepted the Millennium Declaration. It was there they agreed to the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which are intended to overcome poverty and other related targets. One of those goals was to improve maternal health and reduce it by threequarters between 1990 and 2015. So far, the maternal mortality ratio has decreased from 270 per cent in 1990 to 86 per cent in 2012. Therefore, in order to achieve its target, Guyana would have had to reduce its maternal mortality rate to 67.5 percent by the end of 2015. Public Health Minister, George Norton, stated that while he is saddened that Guyana was unable to meet the millennium goal, the Ministry will still continue to tackle the issue and bring it down to the lowest in the Caribbean. “We made a commitment in our campaign trail to have maternity mortality rates reduced and we uphold that,” he said, adding that the majority of maternal death cases were pointing directly to the negligence of health care professionals.

...One fewer than previous year “We have recognized that we have a real problem on our hands and we have decided to tackle it by taking a multisectoral approach,” he said, noting that the ministry plans to improve the physical conditions of maternity facilities, especially at the Georgetown Public Hospital. He stated that he was not satisfied with the response of the health care practitioners, highlighting that it was brought to his attention that some doctors were more “concerned about changing over shift than tending to mothers”. ‘I want the doctors to be more involved. They are negligent and I will not hide that fact. I’m hearing talks that I’m micro-managing everything, but if that’s what it will take to stop mothers from dying and dropping the maternal mortality rate, so be it,” he added. He said that he is aiming to have doctors in the delivery room at all times, instead of just the midwives and nurses. He noted further that he will hold every nurse or doctor accountable once they are found being slack. “They will be investigated and sanctioned. I’m not satisfied with them being sent on leave or six months suspension. That is not enough for the life of a mother and her child...instead of me sending back the report to the medical council for a lesser sanction, like it was done in the past, I will do the contrary and send it to the medical council for a higher sanction.” Persaud stated that the major causes of maternal deaths this year were haemorrhaging and shock, pregnancy-induced hypertension and septic abortion. Last January, 19 year-old Marina Persaud, of Golden Grove, died of an intestinal rupture after delivering her

baby on Christmas Day. It was her first child. Three months later a 22-year-old woman died on Good Friday during a botched abortion at a bottom house clinic. A month later, another young woman died after delivering her first child by caesarean-section at the Suddie Hospital. This was 20 year-old Yonette WilliamsGrey. She died after undergoing an emergency Csection. She was 38 weeks pregnant when she was rushed to the hospital. She was suffering from Eclampsia, which was pregnancy induced hypertension. Her family had recalled her complaining of severe abdominal pains before she started vomiting. On her way to the hospital she went into a seizure. Her family claimed that there was no first aid treatment or oxygen administered to Grey. She was sent immediately for the emergency c-section. After the surgery she was placed on life-support and her baby was saved. Akeisa Richardson was another young mother who died several days after giving birth. She died at the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was patient in the intensive care unit. The hospital had stated that she had begun experiencing seizures shortly after labour. Recently, a United Nations (UN) report revealed that Guyana was among five countries in the region with the highest Maternal Mortality Rate and among six nations where the incidence had amplified notably between 1990 and 2013. Seventeen-year-old Nikacia Allen died in October at the Georgetown Public Hospital after giving birth, via Caesarean Section, to her third child. She gave birth in September and was (Continued on page 53)

Friday January 01, 2016

Consolidated Fund $4.5B…

Ashni Singh will face the music for money illegally spent By Kiana Wilburg Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan insists that no matter how long it takes, justice will be served when it comes to the illegal spending of $4.5B from the Consolidated Fund by former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh. When he served in the political opposition, Ramjattan had filed a complaint with the Guyana Police Force against Dr. Singh, over the unlawful spending of the $4.5B from the nation’s coffers. But the matter was one which was plagued by delays on the part of the Police Force - some two months after, and nothing on the case was done. Ramjattan was later asked to prepare an extensive report showing how the Finance Minister could be charged. From the standpoint of criminal proceedings, the matter died a natural death. It was then taken up by the former Opposition Leader, David Granger. He was represented in the High Court by Basil Williams who now serves as Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General. The former Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang ruled that the $4.5B spending by Dr. Singh was unconstitutional. Chang had told Kaieteur News that while he was criticized for not declaring sanctions, it should be noted that it is not his business to deliver disciplinary measures against the defaulters. He said that is the responsibility of the National Assembly. He had said, too, that the only option would be for the APNU+AFC to take the case up in a criminal proceeding. Ramjattan says that he intends to go that route. “Nothing came out of the case when I first carried it, but I have all intentions to check on the status of it and have it reopened and followed up on. The $4.5B spending remains, in my v i e w, a case of illegal spending, and that is my legal opinion. The financial laws of this land were not meant to be broken.” “I promise you, this will not become some other cold case. If the powers that be give good reason why he should not be charged, well then that is another case, but in my opinion he should be charged. Listen, if we don’t

“For those who benefitted and think they will get away, listen to me carefully when I say that the long arm of the law will catch you!” - Public Security Minister

Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

set an example, then this nonsense will continue. This financial lawlessness has to change. We saw under the PPP, the lawless spending of taxpayers’ monies in defiance of the laws. It just cannot go down as though it is okay or else we would be saying too that this is the norm, and our own will think they can do the same and everything will be as cool as cucumbers.” The Public Security Minister said that the coalition Government intends to set standards so that others can know how necessary it is to abide by the laws. He continued, “Ashni Singh had no right to do it, and no minster has the right to do so. I have also spoken with the police, including the Commissioner, and I told them that any APNU or AFC official found in any skullduggery then they should carry out their duties without fear or favour. The reason for this being done is because I was told that the PPP had a heavy influence in the police system, especially when it came to charging ministers. But that will not happen under my watch.” Ramjattan said that he will not sit back and “allow these PPP culprits to get away”. In the same breath, he stressed that the citizenry should understand too that such cases take time to build. He vowed once again that while he pleads for the

nation’s patience, “not a single matter of financial corruption will become a cold case”. The Public Security Minister also expressed confidence in the competence of his officers in investigating the financial cases. He said that even if assistance is needed, he is more than willing to seek various forms of help through Guyana’s CARICOM partners. As for the abuse of the Contingencies Fund, this is another matter which has been highlighted every year in the reports of the nation’s Auditor General, Deodat Sharma. In his 2010 report, Sharma had pointed to the abuse of amounts totaling over $550M drawn from the Contingencies Fund and utilized to meet expenditures that did not meet the eligibility criteria as defined in the laws. In his 2012 report, Sharma said that $95.661M in advances was illegally drawn from the Fund. For 2013, he reported that $510M was withdrawn from the Contingencies Fund which did not meet the specified criteria. The 2014 report once again flagged the inappropriate use of the Fund under the previous administration, as $962M was withdrawn without meeting the specified criteria. Minister Ramjattan promised that this is another matter that will be investigated. He stated emphatically, “Ashni Singh will face the music for illegal spending. For those who benefited and think they will get away, listen to me carefully when I say that the long arm of the law will catch you!”

A mini health check is the first step to donating blood

Friday January 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

Media should give more space to good news, pope says after grim year

Pope Francis arrives to lead a special audience for ‘Pueri Cantores’ in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican yesterday. REUTERS/MAX ROSSI Reuters - The media should give more space to positive, inspirational stories to counterbalance the preponderance of evil, violence and hate in the world, Pope Francis said yesterday in his year-end message. Francis led about 10,000 worshippers in a traditional year-end solemn “Te Deum” vespers service of thanksgiving in St. Peter’s Basilica. In his brief homily, Francis said the outgoing year had been marked by many tragedies. “(There has been) violence, death, unspeakable suffering by so many innocent people, refugees forced to leaves their countries, men, women and children without homes, food or means of support,” he said. But he said there had also been “so many great gestures of goodness” to help those in need, “even if they are not

on television news programmes (because) good things don’t make news”. He said the media should not allow such gestures of solidarity to be “obscured by the arrogance of evil”. The Argentine pope, marking the third New Year’s season since his election in 2013, condemned the “insatiable thirst for power and gratuitous violence” the world had seen in 2015, without giving examples. But in his Christmas message last week, he urged the world to unite to end atrocities by Islamist militants who he said were causing immense suffering in many countries. Security has been very tight at the Vatican since the Nov. 13 Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed. Police are checking the bags of people as they approach the Vatican area and

then have to go through additional, airport-style screening if they want to enter St. Peter’s Square or St. Peter’s Basilica. Francis also condemned a political corruption scandal that hit Rome, the city of which he is also bishop. The scandal, known as “Mafia Capital”, has spawned a massive trial with 46 defendants that began last month. Mobsters, bureaucrats and politicians are accused of siphoning millions of euros from public contracts for everything from refugee shelters to trash collection. The 79-year-old pope, who appears to have held up well during his numerous public appearances over the Christmas and New Year’s season, is due to celebrate a Mass today in the basilica to mark the Catholic Church’s World Day of Peace.

Obama may expand background checks on gun sales: news reports Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to announce executive actions expanding background checks on gun sales, media outlets reported yesterday, citing people familiar with White House proposals and planning. The changes, which could come as soon as next week, would include requiring more small-scale gun sellers to be licensed and to conduct a background check whenever selling a weapon, Politico reported. Additional measures would impose tighter rules for reporting guns that are lost or stolen on their way to a buyer, the political news website said. Planning for the action is not complete and the announcement could be delayed, CNN reported. But gun control advocates told the cable news channel they are expecting the actions to be announced ahead of Obama’s annual State of the Union address, scheduled for Jan. 12.A White House spokesman said

Obama was aware that Congress was unlikely to take legislative action to reform gun laws as he has demanded. “That is why he has asked his team to scrub existing legal authorities to see if there’s any additional action we can take administratively,” spokesman Eric Schultz said. “The president has made clear he’s not satisfied with where we are and expects that work to be completed soon,” he said. Obama has repeatedly urged Congress to tighten gun laws, with his calls growing louder following the 2012 massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, and again this fall after mass shootings in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and San Bernardino, California. The day after the San Bernardino attacks, which killed 14 people and injured 21 in December, lawmakers in the U.S. Senate debated gun control but failed to advance any legislation addressing the violence.

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 01, 2016

Army Sergeant was chasing vehicle during Winston Brassington probe Police are reporting that Guyana Defence Force Sergeant, Robert Pyle, was chasing another vehicle during a “Special Operation” when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into an oncoming Canter truck The crash caused his death and that of his wife, Stacy, and the driver of the Canter truck. Police have confirmed that the son of a city businessman reported that he was being trailed by the occupants of two cars, one of which was driven by Sergeant Pyle when the accident occurred. A police source told this newspaper that the businessman’s son claimed that he was on Cowan Street, Kingston on Wednesday night to pick up his sister. While heading to his vehicle, the young man overheard voices say, “Look they coming out”. He said that he did not see anyone. The young man said that he and his sister entered their

vehicle. As he was about to drive off with his sister, a white Toyota Premio blocked his path and the driver came out and approached him. Since his window was up, the man knocked on it and signaled for him to lower it, which he did. According to the source, the man who was later identified to be Sergeant Robert Pyle, told him that he was a member of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) and that he ordered the young man not to move his car. But given the fear over the current crime situation in Guyana, the young man and his sister became afraid, since Pyle apparently did not show any proper identification. By this time another car had pulled up. Sensing that either he or his sister might be victims of a kidnapping, the businessman’s son managed to manoeuvre his vehicle from the blockade and sped off. The man who had approached him, jumped back

into his heavily tinted car and along with the occupants in the other car, raced off in pursuit. The high speed chase led all the way to Carifesta Avenue where it is alleged that Pyle tried to overtake the businessman’s son’s vehicle in an attempt to block him. Pyle’s vehicle reportedly clipped the businessman’s vehicle and careened into the path of the oncoming Canter truck. The businessman’s son continued on his way and went to the Kitty Police Station where he made a report. Eyewitnesses said that after the crash, the occupants of the second chaser car came out and hurriedly pulled Pyle from his badly damaged vehicle and sped off with him to the hospital. Pyle’s wife who appeared to have been killed instantly was left in the car. A senior police official dismissed any suggestion that Pyle was part of a plan to

kidnap the businessman’s son or his daughter. He said that Pyle was part of a team that was at the time carrying out a special operation in the vicinity of the residence of the head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, (NICIL), Winston Brassington. The official explained that earlier on Wednesday evening, SOCU had raided the Cowan Street, Kingston home of Brassington, after receiving information that documents were being removed from the property. These documents were believed to pertain to an ongoing investigation. He said that some of SOCU’s operatives were staking out the location when they observed the businessman’s son and his sister, who was mistaken for Brassington’s daughter, emerging from a property, which they believed to be linked to Brassington. They confronted the

couple and this led to the high speed chase. “We don’t know anything about kidnapping. “It could have been a case of mistaken identity. We are investigating this matter thoroughly,” the official said. But a question mark surrounds the presence of Pyle’s wife in the car during the operation. Hours after soldier Robert Pyle and wife Stacy lost their lives in the tragic accident, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier Mark Phillips and a military entourage visited their home at Paradise, Housing Scheme, and East Coast Demerara. There they expressed sympathy and prayed with the grieving relatives. The couple left behind two children aged six and two. Chief of Staff Phillips said that Pyle’s death is a great loss for the GDF. “He was a young man in his prime with a great future ahead of him. He was member of the Army and we will be

assisting the family throughout this time. He will have to be accorded a military funeral; it’s much deserving.” The Army Chief further said that Pyle was more than a good soldier. “He is somebody you could call upon at anytime and deploy him to any part of Guyana. He likes to be out there in Berbice, somewhere in Lethem, New River, anywhere. You can pick him up and send him. “He was somebody who enjoyed doing what he was doing with the right energy. A young professional. I, myself had reason to promote him on the spot last year for good intelligence work he did. He was instrumental in the swift recovery of a pistol by working through the night and he was recognized for that among other things. “We will be doing everything according to our regulations for his family which would include his children… we don’t give up on our people,” the Chief of staff assured.

2016 ‘A Year of National Renaissance’ – President Granger The following text is President David Granger’s New Year’s Message to the nation:‘Guyanese, The New Year – 2016 –is a time for renewal. This is a time for reform. This is a time for a national renaissance. The prospects are bright. The portents are propitious. This New Year is a time to chart our course for the next five years to 2020 and beyond. The New Year – 2016 – is a special year for Guyana. It is an opportunity to hasten our economic recovery, to strengthen our social integration and to deepen our mutual,cultural understanding. We, the Guyanese people, shall commemorate the Golden Jubilee of our Independence on 26th May. This 50th anniversary of our nation’s Independence –our ‘quinquagenary’ – is a time for determination, decision-making and decisive action. Guyana became independent fifty years ago. The new nation was born under a state of emergency. The acrid odour of civil conflict, ethnic insecurity and political disunity hung like a pall over the land. We subsisted in a dependent colonial economy. We languished as a small, servile satrapy ruled over by a colonial governor. We became independent, nevertheless, and we struggled dauntlessly to: · build a nation that had been damaged by dis-

President David Granger unity and division and to promote peace and national unity; · build our national university, our multilateral schools, our airport, bridges and highways and repair roads and sea defences; · build national institutions, create a credible Foreign Service, introduce our Ombudsman and our own Court of Appeal and erect municipalities and other institutions; · build international alliances, secure our territory from external aggression and to take our place in the international community · build the first second-

ary schools in the hinterland, build huge housing schemes and expand public education, health, communications and transportation services. We are proud of our achievements over the past fifty years. We shall be prouder if we use this special year of our ‘national renaissance’ to remove the remaining obstacles that still keep us disunited, underdeveloped and insecure. We, the Guyanese people, chose to change the country’s political culture when we elected a multi-party coalition in 2015. It is now time for a ‘national renaissance.’ It

is time for a new beginning. It is time to redouble our efforts to banish crime, disease, ignorance and poverty. We aspire to strengthen national unity, expand national infrastructure, fortify national institutions, ensure national security and extend public services: · National Unity: We shall reinforce national unity. We can be one nation only if all sections of our population feel that they share in our country’s development. We must, in 2016, dispel hatred among individuals and groups. We must move forward as a united nation, constantly reaffirming our national motto –‘One people, One nation, One destiny.’ · National Infrastructure: We shall extend our physical infrastructure in order to foster integration and promote development. We shall, at the same time, provide greater access to the resources of the hinterland which can be exploited for the benefit of all of our people. National infrastructure will provide the means to integrate the coastland with the hinterland. · National Institutions: We shall fortify our national institutions which promote a sense of national identity and ensure a stable legal and constitutional environment. We shall defend the integrity and independence of our National Assembly, the judiciary and the autonomous agencies.

We shall equip the enforcement arms of the state with the resources to enable them to serve our citizens and safeguard our independence. We shall ensure that local government elections are conducted this year to empower our people to better administer their communities. We shall respect and preserve our national symbols and monuments, assert our identity and celebrate our achievements. · National Security: We shall continue to reinforce national security in order to protect the country’s patrimony in the face of threats from our neighbours to the east and west. We must also secure our citizens from the threat of national and transnational crime, violence and chaos. Public Services: We shall continue to work to ensure public trust by improving and extending education, health, sanitation, water supply, electricity services, affordable housing, social protection to the vulnerable and decent working conditions to everyone. Public services must also include having

happy households in safe communities with adequate facilities for recreation. The New Year – 2016 – will bring us closer to the goal of realising our mission. Our mission is to remake Guyana as the most beautiful, bountiful and greenest country in the Caribbean. Our mission is to enable our citizens to enjoy the good life which they deserve as citizens of an independent state. Our mission is to ensure that the promise of Independence, won fifty years ago, is fulfilled. Guyanese, We urge you to join us in realising the objectives of this programme. We encourage you to join us in ensuring that 2016 will be Guyana’s glorious year of ‘national renaissance.’ Let us resolve, together, to grasp the opportunities that this year provides for us - to enjoy a ‘national renaissance,’ to recapture the spirit of Independence and to secure a good life for generations to come. I wish you a happy New Year and pray that God will bless Guyana.’

Friday January 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

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NEW YEAR, SAME NONSENSE! A New Year! The same old story; the same old nonsense! It is being reported that the Guyana Power and Light is imposing a security deposit equivalent to the cost of an average of six months electricity consumption on those persons who are disconnected. GPL disconnects you for the smallest of balances, not simply for not paying your Bill on time. I believe that once you owe GPL $1500 or more per month, they will dispatch the disconnection crew to cut your current. It is no use trying to reason with the crew. They are paid every time they

disconnect you; so they have an incentive not to be lenient. Do not even bother to try to reason with the disconnection crew. They will not be interested in any arguments. They earn their keep by disconnecting you, and there is no reason for them to consider the fact that you only owed a small sum and may have missed the payment deadline by a couple of days. They have no interest in explanations. Once you cannot produce a receipt from the GPL contradicting the outstanding balance that has been supplied to them by

GPL, they will disconnect you faster than you can say, “Ow!” In order to be reconnected you have to pay a re-connection fee of $3,500. This is how the system works. It is not consumer-friendly at all. It is brutal and unconscionable and the increased security deposit will have the effect of ensuring that poor people who are disconnected would be unable to enjoy electricity, because a poor man cannot find six months security deposit. This is an oppressive burden on the poor and coming from a government that gives Linden electricity at

16-year-old charged with murder A teenager was on Wednesday remanded to the juvenile holding centre after he was charged with the murder of Kevon George. George was stabbed to death last Sunday at Bare Roots, Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara. The 16-year-old appeared before Magistrate Alicia George at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the indictable charge. There is no relationship between the Magistrate and the victim. The court hearing was held in-camera. According to reports, George, 28, a construction

worker was dealt a fatal stab to his neck by the teenager, whom he had accused of burglarizing his home. It was reported that on the day in question, George approached his attacker and a confrontation ensured. The now dead man was left lying on a parapet for more than an hour before his lifeless body was removed by police. According to a police source, the murder suspect alleged that he was acting in self-defence. He claimed that he was attacked by George, who struck him to the head with a stone and stabbed him to the neck. The accused will make

MURDERED: Kevon George his next court appearance on January 28, in the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court. Police Inspector, Hattie Anthony presented the case of the prosecution.

about one tenth of the cost of the rest of the country, it is highly repressive. If a poor man cannot afford to pay the security deposit that is now being demanded, that poor man is going to be tempted to steal electricity. The GPL by its unconscionable increase in the security deposit for those disconnected, is in effect pushing consumers into criminality. It is not right for anyone to steal electricity. It is plain wrong, but poor people will argue that the punishment that is being meted out to them for simply being late with their bill payments is excessive and leaves them with little options than to steal electricity. GPL is running at a loss. It is running at a loss because of high electricity theft. This latest policy, which I am certain has not been approved by the Public Utilities Commission, will increase the losses of GPL. Is this the change that the people of Guyana voted for in 2015? Electricity is not a luxury. The high tariffs that are charged may make it seem to be a luxury item. But electricity is an essential item; it is a necessity.

A person’s electricity supply should not be disconnected simply for owing $1500. GPL should afford customers a chance to pay their outstanding balances rather than disconnect them. GPL should practice good customer relations. It should not place the interest of disconnection contractors above that of its customers. It should obtain the telephone numbers of all its clients and each month it should send a message to that customer informing them that they have an outstanding balance. Only

when this is done should GPL move to disconnection. The newly constituted Public Utilities Commission should move swiftly, upon any complaint, about the new security deposit. Even if GPL has the authority to impose such a measure it should be deemed oppressive against consumers and should be struck down.

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 01, 2016

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

What New Year’s madness is this? Attorney Kamal Ramkarran has published a letter of protest against GPL (and by extension, the Government of Guyana). When there are justifications for denouncing unfair treatment of the citizens of this land by their government, unless we join in, then the creeping stages of dictatorship begin. This columnist is joining Mr. Ramkarran and he is urging others to do so. I would like to see a justification from the APNU+AFC Government on

this New Year’s insanity. Just before 2015 was about to pass into history, GPL made an announcement that ushers a change of policy. When you are disconnected, to be reconnected, you have to pay off every cent of your arrears. The reconnection fee has gone up to $3,200. Then as a requirement to have your electricity supply returned, you have to deposit six months of your normal bill in advance. Meaning then that if your average bill is $10,000, then to get back lights, you have to advance GPL, $60,000. As Attorney Ramkarran puts it: how can the poor can comply with this? This descent into social sadism is coming from one of the most incompetent companies on Planet Earth. Now mind you; not utility company, but company in the general business sense of the word. If you take a poll of dis-

liked entities in Guyana, only the police force would beat out GPL. It is not that GPL is incompetent; it is also an agency that operates without a human face. If ever a company cannot perform and has not been performing, it is GPL under past and current governments, whether it was the regime of Burnham, Hoyte, Jagan, Jagdeo and now the APNU-AFC. How can this hopeless, failed machine muster the temerity to tell the Guyanese people that they have to pay six months in advance when their supply is disconnected in order to get back lights? I am not a lawyer, but Mr. Ramkarran has suggested this internecine imposition may be illegal. When I read the GPL’s notice in the papers, I immediately said, “Look who is talking?” This is a utility service that turns up hours after you call them about a sparking wire. Let me be bold and call my wife as a witness. I would not cite my wife in a situation where I am lying. We in our

neighbourhood called GPL about a sparking wire. The crew came one day after. We were so worried that hours after the sparks began to fly we used other avenues to fix the problem. When the crew came the next day, we were all laughing. If ever there is a reason to use the word asinine, it is this new policy of GPL. Surely, the database would show that there are customers who for over thirty, forty years did not default on their monthly payments. Now if because of holiday or illness or busy schedule, you are disconnected, it is unconscionable to ask such a loyal customer to pay six months billing in advance. I fall into the category where for over thirty years I never missed a payment. My wife is unusually meticulous when it comes to these things. Yet I almost got cut off last month. Did you notice that the advertisement never mentioned a time frame for restoring your electricity when you are cut? They will come a week after. Here is something

about GPL, I only published once in these columns. I send my column around midnight to Adam Harris because terrible, emotionally horrible experiences with GPL have taught me to do just that. You see, many times I waited until afternoon hours before I contacted Kaieteur News because I wanted to see how the day unfolded. But countless times, when it reached 5 pm, blackouts would come and I could not type the column. Unless I rushed to someone’s home, I would be without a column. To deal with GPL’s insanity, I normally send my column around midnight. I live at Turkeyen, next to the Caricom Secretariat, and please believe me when I say we get blackouts almost daily. Many times they last for over four hours. I will analyze in a forthcoming column, this new

Frederick Kissoon policy of GPL and the Government’s acceptance of it using the brilliant theory of the Pakistani political theorist, Hamza Alavi. He produced a theory to explain authoritarian culture in the Third World after the colonials left. His focus is on what he calls the “over-developed state.” It is a brilliant concept that explains the failure of Guyana since Independence and why Guyana will continue to fail unless Nietzsche’s Übermensch comes to this land.

Dem boys seh...

Brassington running and passing wind You can run but you can’t hide. Brassington running and passing wind. He forget that he got 20 lawsuit gainst de Waterfalls paper, and 19 out of de 20 file one day. Now ee run and lef all of dem. Dem boys thought that he run from dem court story only to realize that is Soulja Bai really want ee in court and wearing bangle and foot chain and not gold jewellery. He come from de States when he hear that de auditors put up dem report and show that he and he deputy scamp de poor people of this country. He hold a press conference and things wha he didn’t tell de auditors he tell de reporters. He remember everything. But when he was in office and dem boys call him he didn’t remember if he was answering he own phone. He use to play dumb, deaf and stupid on de phone. And most of de time he use to talk like if he born without a tongue and ee throat lef in he tail. All dem months when he had to answer de auditors he use to tell dem one thing and ask fuh time to remember suh he can tell dem something else. Dem boys believe that Jordan, he friend, was giving him de kind of latitude. But all good things come to an end. Jordan find himself under de gun. Brassington fly in de day before de Cabinet meet and hold he press conference. When Soulja Bai tek de decision to instruct de police to investigate Brassington, somebody call Brassingon and tip him off. Dem boys believe is Jordan. Brassington ketch de next plane and disappear. He do wha de GPL man do. But wha he don’t know is Uncle Sam is willing to ship him back once de charge is laid and Soulja Bai want him. Marcie deh right here. Anyhow, we are in de New Year. We know you supported us throughout 2015. Just felt we should thank everyone who made us smile, laugh and grin throughout 2015. You is one of dem, so here’s a big ‘Thank You’. Happy New Year.

Friday January 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

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Opposition condemns Govt.’s “draconian” Terrorism legislation By Abena Rockcliffe The opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has condemned the severity of the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill which was passed in the National Assembly on Wednesday. The opposition party is of the opinion that the mandatory death penalty is too extreme in dealing with terrorism. As he introduced the Bill, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, told the House that the Bill seeks to help Guyana join the fight against an enemy of the world— terrorism. Williams said that the legislation comes at a time when terrorism stalks the world. He stressed upon the opposition that the National Assembly should provide a united front on the critical issue. Williams explained that the Bill has two major clauses that speak to Recommendation 35 of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) rules. Recommendation 35 requires the reduction of certain laws, in compliance with three international conventions. Those conventions are the International Convention For The Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocols thereto, and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Williams said that the Bill makes it illegal for someone to commit a terrorist act, assist in a terrorist act, aid and abet a terrorist, or even attempt to commit an act of terrorism. He added that the Bill criminalizes the recruitment of people to commit a terrorist act, it criminalizes the equipping and outfitting of people to commit an act of terrorism, as well as the raising of funds and deployment of property to assist persons to commit terrorist acts. The Bill also makes provision for extradition in certain cases. It criminalizes dealings with biological, chemical, nuclear weapons and radioactive materials. Williams did not fail to point out yet again that it is PPP who failed to put this legislation in place since 2011, even though it was asked to do so by CFATF and the Financial Action Task Force

Attorney General, Basil Williams (FATF). Former Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee told the House that the PPP/C is inclined to support any Bill that seeks to strike out terrorism. He noted that the PPP has an unblemished record in this regard and is obliged to be part of the journey towards making the world terrorist-free. Rohee even lauded government’s efforts to move in this direction. However, he bemoaned the fact that “my colleagues on the other side” failed to address the challenges that the Guyana Police Force may face in dealing with certain provisions of the Bill. Rohee cautioned, “In your zeal to pass this Bill, do not look over the human rights issues of the individuals that may be caught up in the matter”. He reminded the gathering of the adage “more haste, less speed”. He said that more time should be allowed for consultation and “it is too serious an issue not to consult.” Opposition Members Gail Teixeira and Anil Nandlall concurred with Rohee. They said that the PPP wants to support the Bill, but just not in its current form. Teixeira said that the Bill, even though important, “is a wicked piece of legislation.” She said, too, that the language of the Bill contradicts the three international conventions, because it employs the death penalty. “Why the death penalty? None of the consultations call for the death penalty.” The politician warned that should the government use its majority and push ahead with the Bill despite the objections, it will simply be making a big mistake. The death penalty is attached to 14 offences outlined in the Bill and is accompanied by a fine. The inclusion of the death penalty has caused

Teixeira to describe the Bill as “draconian.” She said that Jamaica has a similar piece of legislation which calls for life imprisonment, “…they have avoided the death penalty. Teixeira’s colleagues in the opposition, in carrying on with the usual heckling, questioned the sense in putting a fine and a death penalty. “Which man gon pay a fine knowing he gon get hang anyhow?” Declaring that “draconian times require draconian measures,” Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, justified the use of the death penalty where terrorists and extremists challenge democratic values and human rights. Ramjattan, who represented the teen whose genitals had been burnt by police during a murder investigation, acknowledged that human rights and the death penalty were sometimes on a collision course, but in the end it is the need to protect the larger good of citizens that prevails. Arguing in favour of the death penalty, he said that such a sentence would discourage terrorists from carrying out various acts. “It does affect me personally-—the death penalty. I have always argued against it, but draconian measures are needed. It has a dissuasive effect, as I said, and that is important, because when people feel they could terrorize, and will not be hanged, it may not have that preventative, dissuasive effect.” The Public Security Minister hoped that the new law would help prevent Guyana from becoming a safe haven, or training ground, or a place where their funds could be easily accessed for financing terrorist activities. Backed by laws, Ramjattan said Guyana would be seeking international training assistance; build stronger prisons to house terrorists and purchase drones and boats to monitor Guyana’s vast borders through which guns are smuggled from neighbouring Brazil and Venezuela. The Minister supported the provision in the antiterrorism law that will allow Guyana to transfer terror suspects to other countries. “Some people feel that we are now doing the wrong thing by going the great leap of rendering. I believe that sometimes it is necessary that when certain information comes from another country and a person is a suspect, and a known one, that the

extradition process is an extraordinarily lengthy, and so you can do a transfer,” he said. But PPP/C Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall chided government for not taking into consideration the international lobby against the death penalty and that even Guyana had amended its laws to allow for the death penalty only if certain persons such as law enforcement personnel are murdered during the course of their duties. “If that is our position, then so be it, because we would be sending some very, very strange messages to our people in terms of our legislative agenda,” he said. Nandlall appealed to government to send the “unvarnished” bill to a parliamentary select committee to facilitate proper consultations and arrive at a law with minimum acceptable standards. He noted that a number of Caribbean countries, and even France and Britain, which have similar anti-

Opposition Member, Anil Nandlall terrorism laws, do not have the death penalty, even as the Bill in Guyana contains the death penalty for 14 terrorist and terrorist-related offences. In the end, Government used its one-seat majority to pass the Bill while the opposition abstained from voting. In the context of the Bill, a terrorist act means an act committed in or outside of Guyana, which is likely to cause loss of human life or serious bodily harm. It is an act that results in damage to

property, a threat to national security or causes disruption of public safety, including disruption in the provision of emergency services or to any computer or electronic system or to the provision of services directly related to banking, communications, financial services, public utilities, transportation or other essential infrastructure. Terrorism is also classified for this purpose as an act that is intended to compel a government or an international organization to do or refrain from doing any act, or intended to intimidate the public or a section of the public for the purpose of a political, ideological or a religious cause, or any act which constitutes an offence within the scope of and as defined in, any of three conventions earlier outlined. The death penalty is attached to any terrorist activity that results in loss of human life. In cases of serious bodily harm, a fine and imprisonment of not less than 15 years but not more than 20 years can be imposed.

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 01, 2016

COI into sugar industry finds…

Industry will not be viable anytime soon The Commission of Inquiry (COI) set up to examine the sugar industry has found it impractical to overcome a challenge to develop a plan that will return the Industry to profitability. The report laid in the National Assembly on Wednesday indicated that the “realities” facing the industry do not

allow for such a drastic turnaround anytime soon. Further, the COI has recommended that Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) be privatized. However, the report stated that the recommendations contained lay the foundation for bridging the current internal

situation in GuySuCo with a more viable option. The report pointed out that there is no one package which can be recommended that will envelope all of the solutions and remedies required. There will be need for an ongoing review of what recommendations are approved. “It will be an

evolving situation and the dynamics must recognize changing circumstances.” The mandate given to the Commission was to develop a series of five-year plans leading up to 2030. But the Commission, having regard to the vicissitudes and dynamics adverted to in the report, has decided that any

such 15-year plan would be more theoretical than practical. The Commission has therefore limited its attention to the more foreseeable future leading up to privatization. UNREALISTIC BUSINESS PLAN PROJECTIONS It was reported by the Commission that there is widespread agreement among industry analysts that GuySuCo’s Business Plans and projections, cannot stand up to close scrutiny, even for a period as restricted as the very first year of its projections. “Indeed, as GuySuCo’s projections go further into the future they are revealed to be extremely unrealistic. Most of the stakeholders who have worked at GuySuCo previously, and who have presented to the COI, have bemoaned the all-round decline in the corporation’s managerial, implementation, and operational capacity.” GOVT. HAS TO LET GO The COI has found that the best thing for the government to do now that GuySuCo is at a “point of no return” is to sell and interestingly, it was reported that there have already been expressions of interest. “Based on both the financial and economic analyses, the only rational conclusion which can be drawn is that which the COI had arrived at by consensus. The Government needs to decide urgently whether it can afford to continue, repeatedly, funding GuySuCo from the National Budget (via bailouts) in order to remain as a producer of raw bulk sugar for export. To repeat such “bailouts” and expect different vastly improved results from GuySuCo would be irrational.” In light of this, the COI has deemed that a continued state-run GuySuCo in its present form/structure is strategically unacceptable. Further, it was stated that it would be an inefficient financial and economic

Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder decision if the government chooses to hold on to GuySuCo. “A decisive shift to private ownership and control of the assets now employed in sugar production has to be an essential element of any long-term resolution of the present paradoxical situation.” By consensus it has been recommended that GuySuCo be sold as soon as possible. The report stated, “The process should start as early as practicable and aim to be completed within three years.” The COI recommended that the state should divest itself of all assets activities and operations currently associated with GuySuCo. Nevertheless, it recommends another bailout. “Financial support in the short term will be needed and this should be provided by the government in a timely basis.” “In the interval, as the privatization process is awaited, the new management of GuySuCo must focus on basic essentials to rehabilitate the fields, factories and infrastructure of GuySuCo. There should be no accommodation for any projects which will demand limited funds. This is aimed at making the estates more saleable and attractive to investors, local and foreign. A few expressions of interest both formal and informal have been received.”

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Friday January 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

JUNE NICIL, GRA, 30 others for forensic audit – Minister Jordan F i n a n c e M i n i s t e r, Winston Jordan said that he has submitted a list of about 30 state entities; funds and national projects to the Ministry of the Presidency which he believes warrant an immediate forensic audit. He said that once Cabinet gives the green light, work shall commence. The special team will comprise “highly qualified and competent officials skilled in this sort of exercise,” the Finance Minister expressed. Judge lifts Jagdeo's travel ban after “humble” plea Days after his wellpublicized appearance in the prisoners' dock at Whim Magistrate's Court, Berbice, former President Bharrat Jagdeo is now free to travel after applying to the High Court for permission. Chief Justice (Ag) Ian Chang, agreed to lift the restrictions which Jagdeo, through his lawyer Murseline Bacchus, claimed would stop him from seeking medical attention and carry out his overseas commitments. In the 'humble petition', signed by Jagdeo and his lawyer, the former President said that he resides at Parcels 241 and 246 Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara, and is an adult and former Executive President of Guyana. “Your Petitioner has a fixed place of abode at the above address and has been living there for a number of years. Your Petitioner holds an honorary doctorate and because of his activities has been named 'Champion of the Earth'.” Jagdeo claimed that because of “international obligations”, he is required to leave Guyana regularly as matter of fact he has done so on numerous occasions but has always returned. Govt. sacks 2 dozen 'secret' staffers More than 20 persons who were secretly working at the Office of President under the guise of being 'Work Processor Operator', but were actually doing political work under the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government, had their services terminated. According to sources within of the Ministry of the Presidency, most of the

staffers were being paid to write letters to the editors to the various newspapers, and to create fake profiles on Facebook and other social websites. It would be one of the most glaring cases that have emerged in which state resources were being abused under the previous Government. Almost a dozen of them had contracts with the National Communications Network (NCN), reportedly receiving salaries from that entity as well as from the Office of the President. Other state entities were used to pay salaries for the PPP activists. This is being investigated. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, confirmed that he had earlier in the day issued letters ending the contracts. “They were not working in the interest of the state. They were basically doing party work. We can't waste taxpayers' monies like this,” the Minister said. Leonora 'torture cop' kicked out of Force – Ramjattan also pushing for dismissal of colleague Corporal Mohanram Dolai, who was found criminally liable for burning a teenage boy's privates in the Leonora Station lockups six years ago, has been kicked out of the Guyana Police Force. Dolai was given his marching orders by Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, following instructions from newlyappointed Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. Ramjattan confirmed that Dolai was fired on his instructions, and indicated that he will be seeking to have Dolai's colleague, Inspector Narine Lall, given similar marching orders, as he signaled that there will be zero tolerance for rogue cops, under the new dispensation. Ramjattan explained that Inspector Narine Lall, who was also found liable for the torture of 15-year-old Twyon Thomas, could only be dismissed by the Police Service Commission (PSC). “I intend to write to the PSC, which is the authority (to rule on dismissal)… making the request that in the public interest that the Inspector (Lall) also be fired. You cannot have done this major misconduct and still be retained in the Guyana Police Force, and then be promoted.”

ExxonMobil is currently drilling for oil.

Corporal Mohanram Dolai Ramjattan, who was Thomas' attorney, said that the argument that Lall was not criminally convicted is misconstrued, since Justice Roxanne George had found Lall and Dolai liable for being responsible for burning Thomas's genitals while he was in custody at Leonora. Ministry set alight hours after audit launched into $1B cleanup Mere hours after an investigation was launched into last year's $1B “Clean up my Country” campaign initiated by the previous administration, an arson attempt was directed to the Audit Section of the Ministry of Communities, Fort Street, Kingston. The Ministry, formerly known as the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, had spearheaded the cleanup project under the People's Progressive Party/Civic government, which saw a $500M expenditure in the Georgetown area alone. The rest was allocated to various regional bodies. This newspaper understands that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communities ordered a special audit into the spending of the countrywide cleanup project. According to sources close to the Ministry, documents regarding spending in the project were subsequently requested by auditors within the Ministry. These documents would have provided records of the Ministry's spending with regard to transactions. However, reportedly one hour after the request was made, Ministry staff

Inspector Narine Lall

members were alerted that a fire had started in the Audit Section of the compound. The fire was reportedly in a room immediately next to where the documents were housed. The Minister's office is also said to be located in the same section of the compound. Sources close to investigation, told this newspaper that the fire was contained to an isolated room. After the flames were reportedly extinguished it was found that two chairs and the walls of the room were scorched, while the carpet was discovered to be burnt. It is believed by investigators that the floor had been saturated with kerosene, hence the reason for the burnt carpet. Territorial claim…Venezuela threatens force, Guyana will defend national interest at all costs – Greenidge Things are about to get

intensely serious between Guyana and Venezuela as Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge has revealed that Venezuela is threatening to use force to deprive Guyana of a significant piece of its territory. Greenidge has however declared that the Government of Guyana “will not accept this new provocation by the Venezuelan Government, sitting down.” He stated emphatically that the Government intends to “utilize all tools available to us to defend our national interest.” The provocation to which Greenidge referenced is the fact that Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on May 27, 2015 issued a decree, extending Ve n e z u e l a ' s c l a i m t o Guyana's territorial waters. A map which was issued, accompanying the decree, shows that the claim includes the area where the US giant oil company,

Fire Service and the police outside the Ministry of Communities

Minister Broomes sweeps Bartica - human trafficking raid nets 29 A Counter Trafficking in Person Unit of the Ministry of Social Protection and the Guyana Women Miners' Organisation (GWMO) raided several homes and the two business entities, as part of an investigation into human trafficking. Heading the operation was internationally recognised Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Hero and recently appointed Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Simona Broomes. As the team scoured Bartica, two bars/hotels on First Avenue, Bartica and a few homes were raided. A number of women – Brazilians, Colombians, Venezuelans and Dominican Republicans and about three men were taken into custody. In all, authorities found 29 foreign nationals living under suspicious circumstances at the various locations. Investigators are looking at the possibility that some of the women were being trafficked to Guyana and exploited, and being controlled by some Brazilian business people, including one who was previously charged with five counts of human trafficking. Eleventh Parliament convenes – 36 Mps sworn in One of the most powerful organs of the land, the Parliament, was convened after being in a state of dissolution for several months. Given its victory at the (Continued on page 37)

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From page 36 May 11 polls, A Partnership for National Unity plus the Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) entered the House and its elected Members of Parliament (MPs) took their seats on the eastern side of the House. But the People's Progressive Party (PPP) did not turn up. The proverbial show, in spite of the PPP's absence, went on. The eight first-time MPs, who were sworn in along with 28 seasoned members, were excited about the auspicious event which saw the presence of several special invitees from the diplomatic community, the business community, the judiciary, the Disciplined Services and civil society. The Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs at precisely14:00 hrs, read the Proclamation summoning the session. During that time, the Mace of the Parliament was brought from the Speaker's Chambers and erected at the table of the Clerk. The Clerk announced that the Social Cohesion Minister, Amna Ally, was nominated the government's chief whip. Ally had served in this position when the APNU was in opposition. Isaacs also declared that he was still not in receipt of the names of the PPP elected MPs. The session for the nomination of Speaker then began. The Chief Whip rose to her feet and nominated Attorney-at-Law, Dr. Barton Scotland. This was seconded by Minister of Tourism, Cathy Hughes. Dr. Scotland was confirmed to the post and escorted by Ally and Hughes to the dais. Parliament was suspended to allow members to witness President David Granger inspecting the Guard of Honour in the forecourt of the Public Buildings Compound. The President then made his way to the Parliament Chambers. Meanwhile, there was a rather entertaining discussion brewing in an online chat room by those who viewed the first live streaming of the proceedings of the Parliament via the website parliament.gov.gy. Nagamootoo, the leader of the House, named June 25 as the date for the first sitting of Parliament. Success Elementary pupil is top NGSA performer With five marks more, Solomon Cherai could have

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secured a perfect score, but his effort was enough for him to be named the top performing candidate at the 2015 National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA). Cherai, a pupil of the privately-owned and operated Success Elementary School gained 530 out of a possible attainable score of 535. His schoolmate Shania Eastman followed closely with 529 marks. They are both eligible toattendQueen'sCollege. Via a televised press conference, Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, made the highly anticipated announcement of the results. Sam graced the spotlight in what was a noticeable shift from tradition, as usually it is the Minister of Education who is tasked with making the official pronouncement. The recently appointed Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, sat in the company of senior officers of his Ministry, as Sam took to the podium to announce the results. Many persons across the country were reportedly glued to the National Communications Network (NCN Channel 11) to hear the CEO's report of the results and, of course, mostly to learn the identities of the top performers. Although Sam was able to reveal the names and scores of the top performers of the country and even by Regions, he was however unable to present a detailed analysis of the results. This he said will be done at a later date. Among those named in the top performing one per cent are 72 males and 94 females. Rubis executive gunned down in Meadowbrook home A senior Rubis Guyana Inc. employee was shot dead in his Lot 262 Jamoon Drive, Meadowbrook home, allegedly by a lone gunman who fled with his victim's jewellery and licenced firearm. Jason Cort, a 27-year-old account executive, was shot in the chest shortly after arriving home with his fiancée, Shauna Garraway. He died subsequently at the Balwant Singh Hospital. Police recovered a 9mm casing from the scene. Information suggests that Cort confronted the gunman near the kitchen area, apparently after leaving the southern door open. Police suspect that the

accountant was trying to draw his firearm when the intruder shot him. The slain executive's holster was found on the floor. Kaieteur News understands that the couple, who have a two-year-old son, had just come from a Kingston location, and were reportedly preparing to head to another venue on the East Bank of Demerara. Cort's fiancée, Shauna Garraway, told Kaieteur News that after they had arrived home, she went to the top flat, while Cort remained in the bottom flat. “I was about to come downstairs when I heard a gunshot. I then heard Jason cry out, and someone (else) said 'where the money? Give

me the money.” Garraway said that she hid under a bed, while frantically trying to contact the police, relatives and friends. House passes Anti-Money Laundering Bill After a tumultuous past, the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill, was passed in Parliament. The passage of the Bill will strengthen the Government's capacity to fight money laundering and the financing of terrorism. As the Opposition People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was absent from the National Assembly, the passage of the Bill was met

with no resistance. Presenting the Bill was Attorney General B a s i l Wi l l i a m s . T h e AML/CFT (Amendment) Bill was not passed in previous House sittings under the 10th Parliament due to a lack of consensus in the House, which led to Guyana's being “grey listed” on the global market. Williams lauded the legislature for its amendments which would ensure transparency at all levels of its enactment. Among the amendments were some major changes to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). In accordance with the Act, the AML/CFT Authority and the FIU will have to liaise to attain “maximum coordination” to

achieve the objectives of the Act. He said that with the amendments to the Bill the National Assembly will, by a majority; and on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments, appoint the AML/CFT Authority which will have 10 members. The Attorney General said that the AML/CFT Authority will in no way rob the FIU of its independence. In fact, Williams said that provisions clearly state that the Authority will not interfere with the daily operations of the FIU. “They are merely for policy guidelines to give policy guidance for the FIU,” added the Attorney General.

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JULY PPP/C takes control of seven regions July saw the election of Regional Chairmen and Councilors from across the 10 administrative regions of Guyana, and, while there are mostly new faces in the halls of the councils, the heads for Regions Three and Six were returned. The People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won Regions One, Two, Three, Five, Six, Eight and Nine, at the May 11th elections, with A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) securing Regions Four, Seven and 10. Multiplex Mall owner shot dead in home invasion - $5M reward offered Guyana's business fraternity was left in shock after bandits invaded the home of Regent Multiplex Mall owner Ganesh 'Boyo' Ramlall and shot him dead. Ramlall, 48, was shot seven times, including to the head, a few minutes after he had returned to his Lot C La J a l o u s i e , We s t C o a s t Demerara home just after midnight. Ramlall's relatives and friends responded by posting a $5M reward for information that would lead to the capture and prosecution of his killers. Ramlall was the

Ganesh 'Boyo' Ramlall proprietor of the popular Regent Multiplex Mall on Regent Street as well as other business interests. The attack was a robbery, and was prematurely aborted when an alarm was raised by the businessman's wife and neighbours began responding. Neighbours fired warning shots, but by then Ramlall was already dead and his killers had fled. Police in a press release stated that Ramlall had just returned home and went to use the outside bathroom when he was confronted by four men who shot him about his body and took away his jewellery and a wallet and escaped. Territorial claims…Venez.

recalls ambassador, reviewing diplomatic relations with Guyana – Maduro accuses Granger of making racial statements to Venezuelans – wants E'bo through peace Venezuela recalled its ambassador and threatened to reduce the number of Embassy staffers here as a simmering border claim took a turn for the worse. Hours after CARICOM leaders collectively called on Venezuela to withdraw a May 28 decree which lays claims to not only lands in Essequibo, but also the waters of Guyana and a number of Caribbean territories, President Nicolas Maduro, in an address to his National Assembly ordered his Chancellor, Delcy Rodriguez, to review diplomatic relations with this country. The age-old land claims and now the waters have angered not only Guyana but a number of CARICOM countries who last weekend discussed the issue, lending support to President David Granger who complained of Venezuela's aggression, during his inaugural address to the Heads. According to a report in Venezuela's online news, El Universal, Maduro took his entire executive to the National Assembly for the 4pm address, during which he also called on the Opposition for support

Lennox Roberts

“because it is the destiny of the country that is at stake. This is an issue that departed from the internal electoral confrontation, the electoral political confrontation…” Maduro is facing severe troubles at home with food shortages and economic turmoil and the territorial claims have been seen in some quarters as a mere distraction when his language took on serious intent. Venezuela halts all rice, paddy shipments …270 containers of rice stuck on wharf, over US$5M in limbo As the fallout from the collapse of the Guyana/Venezuela rice deal continues, Venezuela issued a directive for Guyana to cease all paddy and rice shipments to the neighbouring country with immediate effect. This came four months before the PetroCaribe agreement was scheduled to come to an end. With some 270 containers of rice worth over US$5M left stranded on the wharves, and a further surplus crop expected, the move by the oil-producing giant, left Guyana with a more urgent need than ever to find an alternative market to Venezuela, which was responsible for 34 percent of rice exports under the PetroCaribe oil for rice deal. The cancellation was reported to have been first communicated to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) by Venezuelan rice counterparts through a phone call. The news was subsequently conveyed to the Guyana Rice Millers Association in a meeting. Ezjet boss gets

Fazeel Bacchus 20 years for fraud Florida (Sun Sentinel) When Sonny Ramdeo embezzled at least $21.4 million from his employer, he didn't blow the money on fancy cars and waterfront homes. Instead, federal prosecutors said Ramdeo, 38, envisioned himself as the next Sir Richard Branson with a bandit twist - and used his ill-gotten gains to set up a charter airline company. Ramdeo was sentenced to 20 years in prison after a hearing that went on for more than eight hours in federal court in West Palm Beach. The Sunrise man was payroll manager for the Boca Raton-based Promise Healthcare and Success Healthcare hospital management companies when he set up his own charter air service offering flights from New York City and Toronto to his native Guyana. He was being feted as a gifted entrepreneur and planning to expand the service to Miami when it all came tumbling down in October 2012. After his employers figured out something was amiss and confronted him, he fled and hid out in New York City for two months until federal agents tracked him down. In late 2013, Ramdeo pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. He admitted he had secretly set up his own corporation, PayServ Tax Inc., and told his employers the company would handle the transfer of the hospital management company's local, state and federal payroll taxes to the government. Ramdeo transferred tens of millions of dollars to his

own bank accounts and used more than $80 million of it to pay the taxes that were due. But he skimmed off what prosecutors very conservatively estimated was more than $21.4 million that he used to set up his airline charter, EZjet. TERROR GANG SMASHED -Ringleader killed, wounded suspect among 10 detained Police have smashed the gang that was behind a recent spate of killings and violent robberies, following a SWAT team-led operation that left the gang's alleged ringleader dead, and another suspect and a police rank wounded. Ten persons in total have been detained. The alleged ringleader, Rolston Morrison called 'Mappy' or 'Sadam', was killed after police cornered the gang in an apartment at First Street, Craig, East Bank Demerara. Police had issued a wanted bulletin for the 29year-old in connection with the murder of Dwayne Kennedy, who was gunned down at the Golden Grove Market on March 14, 2015. Another suspect, i d e n t i f i e d a s Wa r r e n McKenzie, 22, of Brutus Street, Agricola, was shot in the stomach. He was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. A constable from the SWAT unit was shot in the thigh. According to a Guyana Police Force release, the ranks, “working with a concerned citizen”, were able to track several persons wanted for the murders of businessman Ganesh Ramlall at La Jalousie, WCD, and Travis Rudder at (Continued on page 39)

Friday January 01, 2016

From page 38 Nandy Park, EBD, and the armed robbery on a Judge at her home at Felicity, ECD, to a house at Craig, EBD. 'Lucky break' leads cops to Crum Ewing's killers – Ramjattan “absolutely confident” case will be solved A 'lucky break' led police to the individuals behind the assassination of political activist Courtney CrumEwing, and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan declared that he is “absolutely confident” that the case will be solved. Ramjattan's comments came a day after Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum revealed that police had made an arrest in the assassination, which occurred in March. “I am absolutely confident that it will be solved, based on information that was given to me by the Crime Chief (Wendell Blanhum),” he told Kaieteur News. Like the Crime Chief, Minister Ramjattan declined to provide details due to the sensitive nature of the case, but stated that police received “a really lucky break” in their investigation. While police remained tight-lipped about the evidence they gathered, Kaieteur News was told that police ballistics experts matched a .32 pistol in their possession to the gun that was used in the assassination of political activist Courtney Crum-Ewing. It is unclear where the firearm was found, though C r i m e C h i e f We n d e l l Blanhum confirmed that ranks from the Major Crime Investigation Unit had conducted an “intensive interview” with a suspect, who was detained. Two self-confessed plotters charged with Ramlall's murder “Hold de faith!” and “We know is not y'all do it!” were some of the passionate cries of family and friends of the two taxi drivers accused of killing Regent Multiplex Mall owner, Ganesh Ramlall. In a packed courtroom, Lennox 'Soldier Man' Roberts, and Fazeel 'Javed' Bacchus, appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court for the murder of the businessman. Roberts, 32, of 2279 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo and Bacchus, 21, of Lot 7 Anna

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Catherina, West Coast Demerara, were not required to plead to the capital offence of murder. It is alleged that on July 5, last, at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, they murdered Ramlall, also known as 'Boyo', during the course of a robbery. Ironically, “Soldier Man” was clad in a camouflage jersey, perhaps to place emphasize on his alias. As the charge was read to them, he constantly nodded his head though he remained silent. Instead, his lawyer did the speaking for him.Roberts' attorney informed the court that his client was tortured by the police during his time in custody. He asked the court for his client to be sent for medical attention because he had been experiencing pain in the abdomen. The Attorney claimed that Roberts had been passing blood in his urine. Further, the lawyer said that Roberts is strongly denying the allegation and that he has no prior matters before a court. He added that his client is a father of three and is currently expecting another child. P o l i c e P r o s e c u t o r, Corporal Deniro Jones, presented the prosecution's case and did not provide the court with any facts. On the other hand, Bacchus was unrepresented and only spoke to provide basic details about himself. Possibly in mourning, he was clad simply in black and white and stood calmly throughout the proceedings. They were both remanded to prison. GPL's deputy chief, director under police probe – after paying themselves $28.7 million Government asked police to investigate two senior officials of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) who reportedly paid themselves almost $29M without authorization earlier this year. In deep trouble and expected to be questioned by police are Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Aeshwar Deonarine, and Carvil Duncan, a prominent trade unionist who is a member of the Board of the Directors. Both are signatories on GPL's bank accounts. Deonarine has since been sent on administrative leave. A new Board of Directors will be appointed shortly to address the issue of Duncan.

The disclosures were made by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, during the Government's post-Cabinet weekly briefings. The discoveries of the suspicious transfers were made by independent auditors who are probing the PetroCaribe Fund, which hold proceeds of oil shipments taken from neighbouring Venezuela. Some of the monies were used to buy Wartsila engines for GPL, among other things. It was while tracking payments to GPL that auditors unearthed the strange transactions. Patterson said that he was alerted by the auditors to

their findings as it was felt that immediate actions were warranted. Deonarine reportedly signed off on payments to himself totaling $28.7M. Duncan would have received some $948,000. Explaining, Minister David Patterson said that there are two Deputy Chief Executive Officers in GPL one for administration and one for operations. Deonarine is responsible for administration. Cash-strapped pilot busted again in cocaine conspiracy As if losing his planes and bank accounts and facing jail time were not

enough, a Guyana-born pilot charged with smuggling bulk cash is now in deeper trouble in the US. Prosecutors said he was plotting to bring five kilos of cocaine aboard his plane from Guyana to the US, even while he was facing court for the cash-smuggling charges. Captain Khamraj Lall in June pleaded guilty in a deal with US prosecutors and was out on bail awaiting sentencing on October 27th. However, US Marshals arrested him in New Jersey, a state near New York, and charged him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. In July United States Attorney William Hochul, Jr announced a federal grand

jury has returned a twocount indictment charging Lall, of New Jersey, with possession with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine and importation of five kilograms or more of cocaine into the United States. A c c o r d i n g t o 7thspace.com online news, the charges carry a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life and a US$10,000,000 fine. Following his arrest in New Jersey, Lall made an initial appearance in federal court in the District of New Jersey and was detained. The defendant will be returned to (Continued on page 40)

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From page 39 the Western District of New York at a later date. Lall's arrest is connected to that of nine other defendants in February 2015. E d w a r d M i g h t y, Seymour Brown, Andre Taylor, Ricardo Bailey, Robert Wilson, Kenneth Harper, Desmond Bice, and Christopher Samuels, all of Rochester, New York, were charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base. They were accused of using a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking.

Carmen Ganesh

AUGUST Captured handyman confesses to murdering store owner – killers clubbed, stabbed him as he entered yard Detectives listened to a chilling tale of robbery and murder, as a handyman revealed how he and two others clubbed and stabbed businessman Abdool Farouk Ghanie to death in his Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara premises last April. The shocking murder of the 56-year-old owner of Hamson's General Store came after Mr. Ghanie's handyman, Floyd Anthony Rammit, was captured at an interior location to which he had fled. A senior police official said that under interrogation, Rammit provided details of the killing. With robbery as their motive, Rammit and two accomplices concealed themselves in Ghanie's yard at Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, while waiting for the businessman, who lived alone, to arrive. He eventually arrived in his Toyota Tundra, and when he entered the yard, one of the robbers clubbed the businessman behind the head with a piece of wood. The men then dragged Mr. Ghanie to the side of his yard. Rammit claimed that he then gave one of his accomplices a knife which he had used to cut up dog meat, and the accomplice stabbed his boss twice to the chest. Removing Ghanie's licenced firearm and keys from the body, the killers then entered his home, ransacked the premises and filled a bag with valuables. They then headed to an area near Ghanie's home where they split up the loot.

Rammit said that he then fled to the interior. Granny's gruesome killing captured on camera clubbed, kicked and strangled Police are hunting for a young sadistic killer who clubbed, choked, kicked and stomped an old woman to death in her own home. Carmen Ganesh, 77, who lived alone, was found dead in her home at Montrose, East Coast Demerara, by her son and daughter-in law, who went to check on her after she failed to respond to neighbours' calls. From all indications her killer was only interested in the few pieces of jewellery she was wearing at the time and the little pension she had collected from the Post Office. A surveillance camera on the premises recorded the gruesome attack from start to finish. It is believed that the killer broke into a car in the yard. Footage from the camera showed a man, who appeared to be in his twenties, peering out of the vehicle around 05.40 hrs. It was shortly after this time that Mrs. Ganesh came out of her house to pick flowers and perform her religious rites in her front yard. While she was doing this, the intruder, who was wearing a pair of threequarter camouflage pants, sneaked into the house through the back door and hid next to the refrigerator. When Mrs. Ganesh eventually entered her house, the intruder clubbed

her on the head with a tyre wrench. When she collapsed, the intruder dragged her into a corner and wrapped a handtowel around her neck. After that, he began to kick and stomp the old woman until she lay motionless. With Ganesh's corpse lying nearby, the killer then calmly opened her fridge and drank a can of orange juice. The footage shows the man ransacking the house after killing the elderly woman. Eventually, the killer exited Mrs. Ganesh's back door, jumped the fence, crossed the road then boarded a bus that was heading in the direction of Georgetown. However, no relative or villager could positively identify him.

'Grey Boy' charged with Crum-Ewing murder Loud cries of innocence could've been heard throughout the Georgetown Magistrates' Court as 37year-old Regan Rodrigues also known as 'Grey Boy' made his first appearance to answer to the charge of murder of slain political activist, Courtney Crum-Ewing. Clad in an American Eagle T-Shirt, three-quarter pants and slippers, the defendant after leaving the holding cell to make his way to the courtroom kept reiterating, “I just want his (Courtney's) family to know I'm not a killer… I did not kill anyone, is (name of a police officer) and (another named individual) kill him.” The unrepresented accused, a father of three, kept smiling and nodding his head repeating the words, “Yes Father” as Magistrate Fabayo Azore read the charge to him. It is alleged that on March 10, 2015, at Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, he murdered Courtney Crum-Ewing. Even though the defendant was not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge, he asked the magistrate for “a few seconds to hear me out”. Rodrigues told the court that he currently resides at Ruimveldt sea dam, and his occupation varies, since he leaves the country frequently to travel to neighbouring Suriname, but while in Guyana he would engage in mining. He further told the court that, “I know that in this country once money passes

to the police they do respond to you… I am an APNU stronghold.” “I know (police officer) kill Crum-Ewing, because when they ask me to kill Crum-Ewing and Mark Benschop, I told them no, because I'm not no killer. I even went to the police to make a report on the matter and they never took my statement,” Rodrigues said. He again repeated the names of the two persons he insists killed Crum-Ewing. The Magistrate eventually got him to settle down by informing him that he was being remanded until August 21 where he will make his next appearance before Magistrate Ann McLennan. Bandits hack Chinese restaurant owner to death, batter wife suspect detained, murder weapon found at scene The owner of the popular Jade Stone Restaurant on Mandela Avenue, East Ruimveldt, was hacked to death and his wife battered after robbers invaded their home. Zhenjz Su, 35, was found gagged and bound in the kitchen area with chop wounds about the head. The killers had also dumped sacks of rice on the body. There are reports that the intruders killed Su after he refused to open a moneysafe for them. While this could not be confirmed, a police source said that the killers made off with the day's sales. The intruders also inflicted a savage beating on the businessman's wife, 32year-old Fei Su, who was

attacked in her bedroom. She was battered into unconsciousness, with the attackers knocking out some of her teeth. Mrs. Su was admitted to a private hospital. Finance Minister unveils $221B Budget Closing in on nearly four hours, Finance Minister Winston Jordan delivered his maiden budget which amounted to $221B for the last four months. With the exception of the reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT), the APNU+AFC government delivered on the remainder of all of its economic promises to the Guyanese populace and then some. Salaries and old age pensions were significantly increased, the Berbice Bridge toll was reduced and gold miners finally got their promised tax relief in some regard. Eager to unveil what the government has been planning since it assumed office, Jordan arrived at the National Assembly at 1:30 pm way before the scheduled time – to prepare mentally it seemed, for the main event of the day. Though the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) continues to leave its seats on the western side of the House vacant, House Speaker Dr. Barton Scotland noted that the opposition party submitted its names for its parliamentary candidates. Before revealing the goodies of what was described by many as one of the most comprehensive and detailed budgets in recent times, Jordan chronicled the (Continued on page 41)

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan (left) being congratulated by Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge after unveiling a $221B Budget

Friday January 01, 2016

Operations, clashed with him at the GPL's Loss Reduction Office on Sheriff Street. Welch had reportedly gone there with police to send home two senior managers, amidst an investigation of possible wrongdoing. Staffers called the CEO who arrived and clashed with Welch. Dindyal insisted that Welch was unauthorized to send home staffers. Rather this fell on the Human Resources Department or the CEO. Dindyal told the staffers to stay put. An embarrassing video of the clash between the two was recorded and uploaded in the social media, in which

Regan Rodrigues called 'Grey Boy' From page 40 events which led to the historic occasion for the fledgling government. As he addressed the Members of Parliament and the Speaker of the House, he said, “As will be recalled, the Guyanese people came out in their thousands; they were determined to bring an end to the morass, hopelessness and helplessness that had enveloped our country. They were determined to bring an end to a Government that had wreaked havoc on our society - sapping it of its energy and stripping it of its dignity and dynamism.” SVN produces top CSEC performer Sixteen-year-old Victoria Najab of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) Secondary School will undoubtedly go down in the annals of history having secured 20 grade one passes at one sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination. She is arguably the first CSEC candidate to accomplish such a feat. The first local student who wrote 20 subjects at one sitting was Zimeena Rasheed of Anna Regina Secondary in 2013. She secured 18 grade one passes and 2 grade two passes. The following year Queen's College (QC) student Elisa Hamilton repeated the feat of sitting 20 subjects and secured 19 grade one passes and 1 grade two pass. It would however

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appear that Najab was determined to demonstrate that achieving 20 grade one passes was possible. She was named the best performing 2015 CSEC candidate by Chief Education Officer (CEO), Olato Sam. In announcing the results during a televised forum held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development, Sam disclosed that of the 12,606 candidates who participated in the examination this year, 47 secured grade one passes or more. GPL boss axed - Govt. contemplates foreign management The head of the Stateowned power company has been asked to leave as a major shakeup of that entity continues. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bharrat Dindyal, was handed a letter telling him that he could leave. His contract had reportedly expired. Dindyal, a trained electrical engineer who had been with the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) for almost 26 years, had signaled his intentions since January to former Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, that he wanted to leave at the end of June. H o w e v e r, t h e n e w Government did not take a decision with no one named to take over the helm of the power company. The situation changed after an incident last week in which Dindyal's deputy, Colin Welch, who heads up

cursing was heard. DAX axed on Brazil fibre optic cable contract The new administration ordered Dax Construction Company to halt works on the Brazil fibre optic cable, amidst an investigation to determine how much money was spent, as well as the way forward. The fibre optic cable, which was to bring another source of internet connectivity to Guyana, was a major embarrassment for the previous administration, after it faced delays and other technical issues. It was part of a bigger initiative to advance

Guyana's e-governance drive and equip 90,000 poor families with laptops and link state agencies into a network. Dax was contracted earlier this year by the former Government to repair the damaged cable and bring it into operation, in exchange for a number of concessions and partial use of the internet connectivity. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, met with Faizal Mohamed, the Principal of Dax Construction Company to discuss the cable project. Also there was EGovernance Advisor, Floyd Levi. “The meeting was called to inform Mohamed that government has

commissioned a team of telecommunications experts to review the fibre optic cable laying project that was overseen by former project manager, Alexei Ramotar,” a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency said. Ramotar is the son of former President Donald Ramotar. He was sent home. During the meeting with Mohamed, Harmon informed the contractor that all works by Dax were to be halted while the assessment team does its work. Marriott racks up $60M loss in three months Three months after (Continued on page 42)

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From page 41 Guyana's flagship hotel opened its doors; it appears that business at the 197-room facility is not doing so well. In fact, Marriott has racked up a $60M loss up to the end of June, Government officials confirmed. The hotel was officially commissioned onApril 15, last. The state-owned hotel's biggest expense is its electricity consumption. Its monthly bill to Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is in excess of $25M. This has been a major factor why construction of a critical component of the hotel- the adjoining entertainment complex- has not started. Marriott's electricity tab would contrast starkly with that of its nearby competitor, the Pegasus Hotel, whose electricity consumption averages $15M monthly. Marriott also has a fivemegawatt generator with the capacity to power the Kingston area. It has been using this from time to time. Montrose Granny's killer captured - tells police relative paid $700k to kill her The cat and mouse game between detectives and a ruthless killer finally ended with the capture of Colin Alleyne, the man caught on camera beating 77-year-old Danrasie 'Carmen' Ganesh to death in her home almost a month ago. Alleyne was arrested at Guyhoc Park. Detectives had him under surveillance for about two weeks, and were aware that he was moving between Guyhoc Park and Timehri. A police official said that

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detectives were optimistic that they would have nabbed Alleyne before the week was up, and they were cautious about moving in too soon. When police took him into custody, Alleyne was wearing the identical garb the individual who killed Mrs. Ganesh was wearing: a pair of three-quarter camouflage pants, burgundy jersey and 'Cayenne belt'. Alleyne, who has previous arrests for breakand enter, is said to have readily admitted to killing Mrs. Ganesh. Sources said that he then gave detectives a detailed account of how a male relative of Mrs. Ganesh paid him $700,000 to kill the old woman and steal documents pertaining to her property. Acting on this information, police detained the relative, as well as another man to whom the documents were reportedly given. The relative was detained at CID Headquarters, Eve Leary, and several relatives turned up there, expressing shock at the man's arrest, and insisting that he was innocent. They opined that the killer is framing their relative. According to them, the detained man is a painter and is not wealthy enough to raise the $700,000 that the killer claimed he was paid to kill Mrs. Ganesh. SEPTEMBER Guyana has been dodging corruption for a long time US urges patience over forensic audits – Charge d'Affaires Bryan Hunt The US urged Guyanese to be patient as a number of

Charge d'Affaires of the US Embassy, Bryan Hunt Government-ordered forensic audits continued. Charge d'Affaires of the US Embassy, Bryan Hunt, made the comments during an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, in which he also urged for interim measures to safeguard the country's procurement system. Hunt was clear that Guyana has a corruption issue. “I think we need to be honest about the fact that Guyana has a corruption problem. I think a lot of energy was spent trying to dodge that fact for a long time.” Hunt was critical about past attacks on watchdog bodies like Transparency International whose reports have confirmed perception of corruption in the country. The David Granger-led administration took office in May, following general elections, and immediately ordered a number of forensic audits into state entities and

projects. These include at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA); Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC); Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); Guyana Gold Board (GGB); Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), among others. But there has been impatience expressed in segments of society that no one is being held accountable or taken to court, although there are strong indications that corruption existed under consecutive administrations of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C). The PPP/C, while in power, had accused the US of meddling in the affairs of Guyana. BaiShanLin ordered to stop selling logs on local market In a bid to stop Chinese

logging company BaiShanLin's encroachment on the local market, the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) entered into an agreement with the company to prohibit them from direct competition with local loggers. The agreement was inked on 20th April, 2015 and was meant to cover a sixmonth period, but the Government mandate was reportedly not enough to deter the Chinese company from continuing its sale of logs on the local market. In the document, seen by Kaieteur News, the “numerous complaints from various stakeholders within the forestry sector” was cited as the principal reason for the agreement. The contract also noted that BaiShanLin was selling logs at reduced prices, t h e r e b y a ff e c t i n g t h e “livelihood of various companies, communities and associations in Guyana”. BaiShanLin came under much fire in recent times with the company being accused of expanding out of

the logging sector by diverting funds and equipment originally intended for logging purposes to gain footholds in industries such as mining, housing and commercial river transportation. There have also been protestations from local loggers who have found it impossible to compete with BaiShanLin, since the tax breaks and duty free concessions granted to the Chinese company for their logging operations, gave them a distinct advantage and allowed them to charge prices far below what the locals could offer. Final Local Govt. Bill gets stormy passage There was much hullabaloo in the National Assembly over the Local Authorities (Elections) Amendment Bill but it was nonetheless passed. This Bill paved the way for the holding of Local Government Elections after two decades. The business of the House saw the Government's moving a motion for the Bill to be laid, debated and passed in a single session. The opposition, however, opposed the motion. It argued at length that Government was acting in a whimsical manner. It contended that the Bill which came with 22 amendments should be sent to a special select committee where each amendment can be properly scrutinized and perhaps strengthened. Specifically, Opposition m e m b e r, B i s h o p J u a n Edghill spoke for almost 30 minutes on this matter. Edghill emphasized that due process must be given to such an important Bill in the House. The amendments are not negligible but of a significant nature, he said. He said that his members in the opposition's camp had a very short time to consider the Bill. He contended that according to the norms and practices of the House, there is supposed to be at least six days notice when Bills are going to be brought to the House. He said that the Government went against the spirit of parliamentary practice. The politician said that time must be given to examine the amendments to see if they complement existing laws or contradict them. Man waves to neighbour after hammering block-maker to death For the past 16 years since its establishment, the (Continued on page 43)

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From page 42 small community of Herstelling New Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), existed in relative peace and tranquility. That was all changed in a few minutes with the brutal murder of one of its residents. The bloodied body of 42year-old Nathan Persaud, a father of four, was found lying face down in the living room of his Lot 66 Herstelling home around 09:45 hrs. The back of Persaud's head was bashed in and detectives recovered a hammer, two knives and a piece of rock, all of which had blood stains, from the immediate crime scene. Persaud, a block-maker, who only moved to the area a few months back, appeared to have been bludgeoned to death in what is being described as a brazen daylight attack in the normally peaceful community. The shocking discovery was made by neighbours, minutes after they reportedly heard Persaud screaming in his two bedroom apartment. They later observed a “strange” man walking calmly out of the block maker's yard while waving at a neighbour with a smile. Persaud, who shared the single flat house with his stepfather and three sons, was alone at home when the attack occurred, and judging from the look of the interior of the building, he put up a fierce fight for his life. Detectives are trying to establish a clear motive for the block-maker's murder, since they have almost ruled out robbery. Berbice Water Taxi service a success after first day …bus drivers feel the squeeze The Government provided 'smooth' rides and after years of neglect the New Amsterdam Stelling saw a 'burst of life' again. At the centre is the recently implemented Water Taxi Service introduced to cushion the cost of travelling across the Berbice River. There were smiles from students, nurses, pensioners and other persons who chose to utilize the service. Service began from 6:00 hours; there were eight trips by each boat within a period of two hours. The two contracted boats for the day namely 'Nicolas' and 'Shanti', can both seat 35. The boats were all

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equipped with safety gear to make the rides safe. A Second Year Student of the New Amsterdam Technical Institute stated that the service is extremely fast, “I didn't expect to reach over here so early, it was better than the one before. It's faster, it's a better way; you can catch your rest and you don't have to worry about waking up early. If you will miss the boat, it got two boats. As one go over the other one is there.” Other commuters gave 'thumbs up' as they exited the boats one by one. Most, if not all said that they were happy with the service provided. One of the Engineers attached to the Transport and Harbours Department noted that the service ran smooth from the first trip “Everything seems to be going okay. At least, when we asked some passengers just now they said they were happy about it. “You will find that there will be a rush during the morning hours from Rosignol and then you will find another rush later in the afternoon around three. I am happy with the service and I am hoping that it will continue even after the month is up.” Venezuela sends troops, anti-aircraft missiles to border – “illegally” launches gunboats in Cuyuni River Action offensive, provocative and aggressive – Pres. Granger Less than a week before Head of State, David Granger, makes his maiden presentation to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, neighbouring Venezuela has sent army personnel and anti-aircraft guns to the border area of Guyana. The Government of Guyana has since described the actions as one of aggression, warning that its citizens in the border areas to be on the alert. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, disclosed that there is confirmation that Venezuela has also illegally positioned gunboats in the Cuyuni River - considered as a waterway belonging to Guyana. These latest moves by the neighbouring country would follow a number of actions, including the recent refusal to approve a new

ambassador to that country. Top army officials in Venezuela claimed that the troop buildup was for “operational exercises”. Speaking to reporters at his Vlissengen Road offices, President Granger disclosed that he recently received reports that Venezuela has b e e n m a k i n g “extraordinary” military deployment in eastern Venezuela. That area is immediately west of Guyana. The president was convinced that the deployment was linked to Venezuela's claims on a large section of Essequibo and on parts of the Atlantic Ocean which belong to Guyana. “…very provocative and we feel that Venezuela is

treading on a dangerous course at this point in time. But rather than making a peaceful resolution of the matter, Venezuela seems to be pursuing a very offensive and aggressive course,” the president told reporters. Cops take $6M to let cocaine pass Assistant Superintendent of Police, Terrence Browne, was transferred with immediate effect from the Division to Police Headquarters, as the force's Police Office of Professional Responsibility investigated an alleged corrupt transaction. The transaction involved a number of police ranks and it followed the seizure of a quantity of cocaine from a minibus

travelling along the Corentyne, Highway. Information reaching this newspaper indicates that one officer and four junior ranks accepted a large sum of money to forego prosecuting the cocaine traffickers. The other ranks, a Subordinate Officer and three Constables, including one female are under close arrest as the investigations continue. A c c o r d i n g t o information the police had been tipped off about the vehicle, which would usually ferry large quantities of cocaine, guns and cash along the Corentyne highway. Three persons were in the bus at the time and they

were detained. But instead of taking them into the police station, the ranks began negotiating with the suspects. Initially a sum of $2M was offered on the spot, but this was refused by the ranks. A source in Berbice told Kaieteur News that after intercepting the cocaine, the ranks drove to the nearby police station where they dropped off a female colleague who was with them. Following further negotiations a deal of $6M was agreed. Once the money was handed over, the ranks allowed the occupants of the bus to go with their drugs onwards to neighbouring Suriname.

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OCTOBER Juridical settlement on border claims will favour Guyana – Granger President David Granger is confident that a resort to the court to settle the Guyana-Venezuela border claims will yield a ruling in Guyana's favour. He was at the time speaking at a press briefing subsequent to his United Nations (UN)-facilitated meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, at the UN Headquarters in New York. “I am confident that the basis of the Venezuelan claim is that the 1899 award was invalid and I am confident that there is no evidence whatsoever to indicate the invalidity or the nullity of that award. “That is why we feel we should go to court because Venezuela is trying to avoid going to court; Venezuela wants to embark on another round of bilateral talks, but we have talked for 50 years and gotten nowhere,” the President said. During the meeting, President Granger informed UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon that from the time of Forbes Burnham to the term of Donald Ramotar, all past Presidents of Guyana have been engaging with Venezuela at the bilateral level, but those talks have all been fruitless and as such, it is time for the matter to be taken to court. “I am not confident that a settlement could exist outside of the court. It is a legal problem that has to have a legal solution; it is not a political matter that we can negotiate. I cannot overturn the award of an international tribunal… I am obliged under the Constitution to protect the full territorial space of Guyana,” the President emphasised. No apologies, Government justifies salary increases - Harmon Following news of over 50 per cent salary increases for Ministers of Government, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has stated that these increases are justifiable considering the quality of Cabinet members and thus the Government has no apologies to make. During an interview with the media on October 6, Harmon, himself a Minister, noted that the $560,000 paid to a Government Minister

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previously was on par with what he, as a lawyer, paid his lawyers in private practice. The Minister also stated that there could not be a situation such as in the past administration, when Ministers were prepared to

Vice-President was listed as $11,135,064 per annum. For the Cabinet Ministers, their salary was listed as $10,439,124 per annum while the Junior Ministers were listed as receiving $8,346,492 per

Te l e g r a p h C o m p a n y (GT&T) and which was managed by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). Those shares were sold by NICIL to Datang Telecom

Datang had come in for scrutiny after it was discovered that the company actually featured in a US intelligence report as a company with links to the Chinese Military and was accused of spying.

Secretary General of the United Nations, His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon being greeted by Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

accept “lowly” salaries, but would engage in corrupt practices. “We are not going to do that. Our ministers will have to sign to a code of service which requires them to act at a different level. And so we have to pay people well if we want them to perform,” he said, adding that he has no apologies to make in this regard. “And if you look at the Cabinet, you will find people of quality working there. I believe the increases are justifiable,” he said. The Official Gazette of September 25 announced the increases subject to the Ministers, Member of the National Assembly and Special Offices (Emoluments) Act. It also went on to state that the amendments were retroactive to July 1, 2015. The gazette report listed the Prime Minister's salary as $20,580,000 per annum, while the salary of every

annum. The Attorney General is listed as having the same salary as the Chancellor and the Speaker of the National Assembly is listed as receiving $10,439,124 per annum. The Leader of the Opposition will receive $10,439,124 per annum while the Parliamentary Secretary is listed as receiving $3,753,984. The Deputy Speaker will be getting $2,702,880 while the Chief Whip is getting 2,682,360. Every other member of the National Assembly, according to the gazette, will be getting $2,402,532 per annum. Govt. still to be paid in full for GT&T shares …Hong Kong buyer still to pay US$5M T h e G u y a n a Government is still to be paid in full for the 20 per cent shares it once owned in the Guyana Telephone and

Technology and Industry Group, a Hong Kong-based company with a sale price of US$30M. That was three years ago. Of that amount the company had paid over US$25M. The remaining US$5M was supposed to have been paid over within a two-year period but this did not happen. Available records do not reflect a payment from Datang that constitutes a final payment for the shares government had owned in the telephone company. This publication was reliably informed that as at December 31, last, the final tranche of payment was not made to NICIL. The name Datang had previously remained obscured as a result of the confidentiality agreement which was entered to in early 2011 with the Guyana Government and only came to light following the finalization of the sale.

The Pentagon had reported that “Information technology companies in p a r t i c u l a r, i n c l u d i n g Huawei, Datang and Zhongxing, maintain close ties to the PLA [People's Liberation Army],” the report says. UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon visits Guyana Secretary General of the United Nations, His Excellency Ban Ki-Moon made a brief stop-over in Guyana en route to New York, USA after attending t h e P e o p l e s Wo r l d Conference on Climate Change and Defence of Life in Cochabamba, Bolivia on October 10. That Conference was hosted by President Evo Morales. The Secretary General was met on arrival by Vice President and Minister of F o r e i g n A ff a i r s , C a r l Greenidge. They took the

opportunity to discuss issues arising out of the Bolivia meeting and related matters on climate change. They also discussed the upcoming Summit to be held in Paris in December. The UN Resident Coordinator Ms. Khadija Musa was also present to greet the Secretary General. The Foreign Minister took the opportunity to express the appreciation of the Government for the valuable contribution of the UN Agencies based in Guyana to the national development agenda. The follow up process outlined by the Secretary General at his meeting with the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly on September 28, was reiterated. Finance Minister justifies salary increases - Govt. will not reverse decision F i n a n c e M i n i s t e r, Winston Jordan, said that the salary increases for Members of Parliament were necessary for three reasons; to outline an income for Vice Presidents which did not exist before, to correct anomalies in the payment structure and finally, because the work load has increased. Jordan said, “We inherited a system where the President was receiving a salary of about $2M non-taxable. The Prime Minister was receiving a taxable salary of some $1.5M while the Attorney General, the Chancellor and the Chief Justice were receiving $1.6M. “There was no allocation for Vice Presidents; this position did not exist under the PPP. But the senior and junior ministers were receiving the same pay of about $579, 000. What do you notice?” He continued, “It is clear that there are huge anomalies there. The President, Prime Minister and AG are receiving massive salaries and your seniors and juniors are at the same level. Nowhere in the Caribbean does such a system exist.” The Finance Minister explained that for junior ministers, the $579, 000 was increased by 12 ½ percent while for senior ministers it was increased by 50 percent. As for the Vice Presidents, (Continued on page 45)

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From page 44 he said, they received a 60 percent increase on the $579,000. He noted that the $1.6M salary for the Attorney General was increased by five percent while the Prime Minister's salary was increased by 10.7 percent. He confirmed that President David Granger stands to benefit from the increase as his salary will be raised by five percent. The salary increases were published in the Official Gazette of September 25. Time's up! Gun amnesty comes to an end Time's up! We're now coming after you! That was how Minister of Public S e c u r i t y, K h e m r a j Ramjattan, summed up the end of the one and a half month amnesty for persons with illegal firearms and ammunition to turn them in. With 175 weapons and more than a thousand rounds of ammunition turned in since September 1, when the amnesty started, the minister as well as the Guyana police force has described it as very successful. The police in the final week received three sniper air rifles and a .38 revolver as well as fifty-five .38, twenty nine 9mm and thirty one .30 carbine ammunition. According to the police figures, approximately 80 percent of the weapons received are shotguns. Now that the amnesty period is over, the law enforcement agencies will be relentlessly pursuing illegal weapons, which is one of the major strategies to halt a crime rate that was threatening to get out of control.

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Pradoville 2 expose…Jagdeo, Fmr. Ministers purchased land at 2000% below market value The Pradoville 2 lands, sold to former President Bharrat Jagdeo and several Ministers of the previous administration were undervalued by almost 2,000 per cent. They were sold at $114 per square foot. Independent appraisals have pegged the price closer to $2,250 per square feet. The State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) has completed a report into the conversion of some 15 acres of land at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The probe found that key members of the past administration were involved in transferring state lands to their names and that of their acquaintances for undervalued market prices. The independent appraisal was conducted against 10 acres of land on which the Georgetown Marriott was built. While that land was actually sold to Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI) for $200M, an audit into that transaction had valued that tract of land to be worth some $980M. This converts to $2,250 per square feet of the prime ocean front lands. The Pradoville 2 land is located along the same strip of Guyana's coastland, a few miles eastward. At a rate of $114 this would mean that Government would only earn a meager $74.5M for the entire 15 acres of land set aside at Pradoville 2. Had government sold the land at the market value—as

appraised by independent evaluators—it could have earned a $1.4B. This figure also excludes the almost $300M which was plugged into developing the project, monies expended by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). According to the report prepared by SARU, the land at Sparendaam, ECD, was once deemed Communal Lands and was thereafter owned by Demerara Sugar Estates prior to independence. The report states further that after independence in 1966 the land was owned by the state until 2010 when the

Central Planning and Housing Authority (CHPA) privatized the land which was then sold to a number of former ministers and associates of the Jagdeo/ Ramotar regime. Man violates restraining order … Kills lover's grand baby, shoots daughter Several hours after one of the most gruesome attacks in recent times at Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD), relatives as well as residents of the area were still trying to grapple with the fact that an innocent baby was shot dead by her grandmother's estranged partner.

The man, Marc Angoy, who reportedly left the scene in a blue car, also shot the woman's 12-year-old daughter, Ashley Wellington, twice in her left leg. The baby was identified as one-year-old Arian Gill of L o t 3 8 E a s t Vi l l e , Annandale. She sustained three gunshot wounds, to her chest and both arms. The toddler was pronounced dead at the GPHC. The shooting occurred at the aforementioned address. Kaieteur News was told that police recovered a sunshades believed to belong to the suspect, at the scene. According to information received, Shelly

Norton, who is the toddler's grandmother and Wellington's mother, ended an abusive three-year-old relationship with the suspect about five weeks prior. Since then, the suspect reportedly started to harass her and at times he even threatened to kill her. This forced her to file a restraining order to keep him away from her family. However, the 54-yearold suspect allegedly showed up at her home and pushed his hand through a window and opened fire on Norton's daughter and grand baby while they were watching television in the living room.

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He said that the suspect identified one of the killers as Paul Bascom, who was among two bandits slain by police in December 2013, allegedly during a bungled robbery in Grove, East Bank Demerara.

NOVEMBER Murder accused riddled with bullets friend shot in leg A lone gunman in the early hours of October 24, allegedly walked up to former murder accused, 30year-old Stanley 'Steve' Lovell and pumped about a dozen bullets into him, wounding one of his friends in the process. By the time the shooter's clip was empty, the Prashad Nagar, Georgetown resident lay sprawled and lifeless on the bonnet of his motor car, bearing registration number, PMM 3825. The shooting occurred at Regent and Bourda Streets, Georgetown at around 03:00 hours. The injured man was identified as 21-year-old Anthony Lall, a welder of Bent Street, Wortmanville. He was shot in the left leg and is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). According to reports, Lovell and Lall had just left a popular night spot in the city and were about to purchase breakfast at the Bourda Market when the gunman struck. Police said that investigations have so far revealed that Lovell, a car rental agent was sitting on the bonnet of his motor car when he was confronted by a male who was armed with a handgun. The duo had an exchange of words after which the shooter opened fire on Lovell, hitting him to his chest, head, arm, foot and abdomen. The gunman then escaped in a waiting motorcar. Detectives recovered 14 9mm spent shells at the scene of the shooting. It is believed that Lovell's friend was struck by a stray bullet. From all indications, the 30year-old car rental agent was the sole target. Hijacked 'Red House' land has to be returned – AG …you cannot use Public Office to rob the State - AG Williams The 99-year lease that governs the use of land on which sits the heritage building known as Red House will be quashed. Government is also looking to have the building used to commemorate not just one former President, the late Cheddi Jagan. This is the position of the

Woman perishes after husband reverses off Demerara Harbour Bridge The lifeless body of a 22year-old woman was pulled from a submerged canter truck in the Demerara River several hours after it plunged off the Demerara Harbour Bridge. The body of 22-year old Gangadai Persaud was recovered around 10:00 hours after painstaking efforts by divers who had to brave high tides and strong current to get to it after it got stuck between the two front seats. Persaud, a mother of a 10-month-old baby resided a t L o t 4 2 1 0 Tu s c h e n Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara (WCD). Her husband, whose name has been given as Dhanram Ramdeo Ramlall, 26, managed to free himself while under the water. The tragic incident reportedly occurred when Ramlall attempted to turn the truck around on the Harbour Bridge but apparently made a big misjudgement instead and reversed off the open side of the structure.

A Partnership for National Unity plus Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government, according to Attorney General, Basil Williams. He did say that government was looking to have the matter between the People's Progressive Party (PPP) and the new government resolved. He spoke of a meeting between the PPP and himself on the matter. Williams was adamant that the land on which Red House sits, has to be returned to the State. On the matter of the actual building, Williams said it ought not to be used only for the late President Dr. Jagan. “We have other past Presidents.” Not wanting to speak specifically on whether criminal charges would be

laid, Williams suggested a settlement of some sort, but is adamant that what transpired in relation to leasing Red House lands to the PPP was in fact unlawful. Asked if no one will be held responsible, Williams denied that this was his position but repeatedly referenced a possible use of Guyana's plea bargaining legislation in order to have the matter resolved. He decried the lease, saying that it was in fact a device used to “hide from the eyes of equity, the true nature of the transaction.” Williams posited that it was in fact a de facto giveaway of the land, since a 99-year lease is akin to transport. “If you had to do a transport for a 99-year lease for that kind of property you are talking about tens of

millions of dollars,” said Williams. The Attorney General told media operatives that the previous administration used the guise of a lease, “and charged a peppercorn rent.” Cops crack two-year-old Diamond murder case…Neighbour confesses to killing businesswoman - claims victim had recruited him, others to murder police boyfriend Two years of tireless investigation have finally led detectives from the police force's Major Crimes Unit to the killers of businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress. The woman was clubbed to death in her Diamond, East Bank Demerara home in 2013. The man they have

in custody is the victim's 32year-old next door neighbour, who has told police that the businesswoman had asked him and others to kill her reputed husband, Police Sergeant Colin Bailey, but the gang opted to kill and rob her instead. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said that the suspect gave the bizarre confession after detectives arrested him on November 6 and recovered items that the killers had stolen from the murdered woman's home. Blanhum said that the recovered items included a laptop computer and a diamond ring, which were identified as belonging to Ramnaress. The Crime Chief said that detectives are trying to locate two other suspects who were part of the plot.

Govt prepared to sell Marriott Hotel - Finance Minister If the price is right, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said, Government would be willing to rid itself of the controversial Marriott Hotel located in Kingston, Georgetown. Jordan was asked to provide an update on what Government has decided to do with the Hotel it inherited from the previous regime. He recalled that the government has made it clear on several occasions that it has no intentions of being competitively involved in the hotel industry. When asked about the possibility of Government selling the hotel, Jordan responded, “Let me put it this way, if Government gets a credible offer or buyer, it will divest itself of the hotel.” The Finance Minister said that Cabinet has established a subcommittee (Continued on page 47)

Friday January 01, 2016

From page 46 that is looking at the issue and the best way of relieving the government of any responsibility in owning the hotel. He noted that the Committee includes members such as Business Minster, Dominic Gaskin and Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma. Bandits invade former Crime Chief's home …Assistant Commissioner relieved of personal jewellery worth $400,000 Less than six months after being replaced as Crime-Chief, Assistant Commissioner of Police Leslie James and his family were made to endure several minutes of terror when guntoting bandits stormed his home making off with almost $400,000 in jewellery. The ordeal that has left his two children traumatized, took place at James' lot 453 Hendy Street, Block X, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara home, and lasted for 12 minutes. The jewellery was taken from the former Crime Chief and his wife Jacqueline James, the Retail Sales Manager for Guyoil. Local Government Elections set for March 18, 2016. After 21 years, the long overdue Local Government Elections has finally been set for March 18, 2016, Minster of Communities Ronald Bulkan announced at a press conference. The elections were last held in 1994, even though the constitution clearly stipulated that that they should be held every three years. The extensive delay was caused by reforms agreed to by the then People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government and the People's National Congress. The last bits of legislation were passed this year. Over the years, there were many calls and protest actions for the then PPP government to hold the elections. The PPP had even vowed that once it was reelected in the 2011 General and Regional Elections, the elections would be held within a year. However, after their victory, there were no further talks on the side of the government for the holding of the polls. Declaring a date for the polls was one of the

Kaieteur News

promises of the coalition government. Speaking at the media briefing, Bulkan said that it was the former government that showed reluctance for the holding of the elections while the APNU+AFC coalition fervently pursued its occurrence. The elections will be held in nine towns and 62 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs). Bulkan bemoaned that for too long the people were denied their right to elect their own local leaders. Robb St. Granny killers get 81 years each Wails echoed through the hallowed halls of the Georgetown High Court, shortly after four men were convicted for the executionstyle murder of 72-year-old Clementine Fiedtkou-Parris. Fiedtkou-Parris of Lot 42 Robb Street, Georgetown, was killed in her home on June 30, 2011, as part of a conspiracy for money, and was related to a property dispute. On the day of the fatal shooting, two men entered the woman's yard and requested an audience with her. Upon hearing the persons' request, she moved to the door. A gunman opened fire on her, hitting her several times about the body. After the shooting, the assailants made their escape in a waiting car. Four men, who were on trial for the vicious attack, were given a combined sentence of 324 years for the murder. The sentences were imposed by Justice Navindra Singh Orwin Hinds, called “Red Man,” of Burnham Boulevard, Mocha, East Bank Demerara; Kevin October called, “Troy,” of Second Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara; Cleon Hinds and Roy Jacobs called “Chippie” or “Black Boy” of Evans Street, Charlestown, were each sentenced to serve 81 years in prison. The sentences comprised a base of 60 years, 10 years for premeditation, another 10 years because the murder was for pay and five years for the use of a firearm. Four years was deducted for the time the men served in prison pending trial, bringing the judgment to 81 years each. The men must serve at least 45 years in jail before they are eligible for parole. Road Safety Month

is deadliest for 2015 November turned out to be the deadliest month in terms of road fatalities for 2015. The Police Traffic Department recorded 17 deaths resulting from 13 road accidents for the month alone. Ironically, November was designated Road Safety Month and if one were to take 2014 road deaths into account, it would seem that this particular month has claimed the most lives for the past two years. November 2014 also recorded a high number of road fatalities, 17. July 2015 recorded 12 fatalities while May accounted for 11. Speeding is responsible for most of the deaths.

The Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, also known as Red House

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DECEMBER Mystery man paid $11M to print GINA newspaper in NY Sentiments expressed by new Director of the Government Information Agency (GINA), Beverley Alert give reason as to why her predecessor, Neaz Subhan refused to let out information relating to the financing of “The Guyanese”. “The Guyanese” was a newspaper produced by GINA, but was printed and circulated in the United States of America. Alert told Kaieteur News that she inherited GINA in serious debt. She pointed to the fact that the entity owes the Guyana Chronicle just about $70M and said that instead of incurring additional expenses, she decided to discontinue publication of the newspaper. Alert said that there was a shortage of adequate checks and balances for the venture which has proved costly. That, she said, was another factor that influenced her decision to shut things down on that end. Alert said that while records show the amount of money paid for the newspaper to be printed, there is no system to verify product for expenditure. “There was nothing in place to show that you were paying X and got Y. As it is, we cannot do that sort of verification.” Alert said that there is record to show that US$3,060 (G$612,000) was wired fortnightly – for a total of 18 editions – to an individual (name given) for the newspaper. The full amount was US$55,080 (G$11,016,000) That individual is not attached to any entity. The Director explained that there is no GINA representative in New York who was conducting business for the agency. “The money was transferred to an individual, not a company or a consulate.” This Alert found to be “quite strange”. She said that she viewed the procedure for the publication to be unofficial in this regard. Jagdeo, Ramotar sue govt. to reclaim unlimited benefits Former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar remain vexed with the government over its move to cap their benefits.

NICIL CEO, Winston Brassington and his Deputy, Marcia Nadir-Sharma So upset are the former Presidents they have moved to the courts to get what they view as their “fundamental rights.” The former Presidents have caused the writs to be filed in the High Court since November 11. But there was silence over this act. Neither of them made an announcement as they are

wont to do ever since they became the opposition. Jagdeo failed to inform the media about this during his conferences where he talked about the “greed” of the current government. The media only found out about this move when the Attorney General, Basil Williams announced that the former Presidents are

seeking to “in effect receive the large sums of money” in benefits and other facilities that were capped on the coming into operation of the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Act of 2015. Despite the fact that Jagdeo and Ramotar are using the same Attorney-atLaw, Murseline Bacchus, the

applications were filed separately. Yonette CummingsEdwards sworn in as Acting Chief Justice Although judicial backlogging is not unique to Guyana's newly sworn in Acting Chief Justice, Yonette Cummings-Edwards plans to invite all hands on deck to

tackle the issue. She gave the assurance after she was sworn in by President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency. Justice CummingsEdwards told media operatives that her plan is to focus on the state of the local justice system. “I intend to look at the state of affairs right now and I intend to deal with backlog cases. I intend to deal with matters affecting the smooth functioning of the judiciary and I intend to have all hands on board for us to work together towards having a system that will ensure that justice is done.” On the issue of addressing the ever present backlog of cases, the acting Chief Justice said that the situation is not unique to Guyana and that team effort will be needed. “It's a problem that affects all judiciaries; it's nothing that is unique, but it's something that has to be handled consistently and I intend for all the judges and myself to tackle the issue. At the end of the day it is my view that it's a team effort (Continued on page 49)

A proud family moment: Acting Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards in the presence of President David Granger shares a joyous moment with her daughter Dr. Yana-Marisa Edwards and husband Dr. Morris Edwards

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Kaieteur News

From page 48 and we can do it.” Justice Cummings, who began her law career in 1988, expressed elation while noting that to her it's a humbling experience. Before God and man, in her oath of office, Justice Cummings-Edwards swore to remain truthful to the people of Guyana, as she faithfully performs the functions of Chief Justice without fear or favour, a ff e c t i o n o r i l l w i l l , honouring and upholding the constitution of Guyana. Justice Cummings-Edwards is the second woman in Guyana's history to be elevated to the office of Chief Justice.

subsection (6A) to provide that a Judge when granting the freezing order, the standard of proof required shall be on the balance of probabilities. The Minister of Legal Affairs went on to state that Clause Four also seeks to insert a new subsection (6B) that requires the Director of Public Prosecutions to immediately serve on the reporting entity a copy of the freezing order. Meanwhile, Clause Six of the Bill seeks to amend section 71(1) of the Principal Act to enable the Director of Public Prosecutions to make an ex parte application to the High Court for a freezing order.

Anti Money Laundering Bill passed The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill of 2015 was passed in a tranquil environment in the National Assembly. Bringing the Bill before the Members of Parliament was Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams. The crucial Bill went through all its stages and was passed in the absence of the opposition. The opposition had walked out. They were to walk out again when the government presented the Local Government Amendment Bill. The Attorney General said that Clause two of the anti-money laundering Bill seeks to amend section 2(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, Cap. 10:11, so as to redefine the term 'beneficial ownership'. Clause three of the Bill, he said, seeks to amend section 15(4) (c) of the Act to require a reporting entity to identify and verify the identity of a customer when establishing a business relationship. He asserted that Clause Four of the Bill seeks to amend section 68A (6) to reduce the period from not later than seven days to not later than five days for the Director of Public Prosecutions to apply for a freezing order. He said that the amendment also provides that an application for a freezing order may be made ex parte to a Judge in Chambers. The said amendment, Williams noted, also seeks to insert into section 68A a new

Brassington, Deputy sent on leave pending SARU, Police probe Cabinet orders After deliberating on the forensic audit report on the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Cabinet finally instructed that the report be forwarded to the Guyana Police Force and the State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU). While this is being done, Cabinet also gave clear instructions for NICIL's Chief Executive Officer, Winston Brassington, and his Deputy, Marcia NadirSharma, to be sent immediately on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigations. Making this statement was Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during a press conference at the Ministry of the Presidency. Harmon said that the Cabinet meeting could be described as an “historic one.” He said that Cabinet discussed critical matters which could have farreaching effects. The Government Minister noted one of those topics to be the damning NICIL report which was conducted by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran. In the company of Junior Finance Minister, Jaipaul Sharma, Harmon explained that Cabinet deliberated on various issues relating to the NICIL report and took into a c c o u n t t h e recommendations submitted by Goolsarran. He noted that recommendations were also submitted by Minister Sharma and those were also up for consideration. Harmon said, too, that

Cabinet was advised that the NICIL Board of Directors had not yet deliberated on the report. Be that as it may, Cabinet instructed that the reports and accompanying notes of Goolsarran and Sharma, be handed over to the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud and SARU for investigations. He said that the probe is intended to determine whether any acts of criminality were committed and to take the process forward. Very unlikely Brassington will have future career in

public sector - says Foreign Affairs Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, said that it is very unlikely that Chief Executive Officer of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, will have a future career in the public sector. The Minister's comment was based on his assessment of a NICIL forensic audit report. The document was prepared by Chartered Accountant, Anand Goolsarran.

“What is clear is that the report is part of a process to ensure that justice is had in the right way. And a number of agencies will be involved in this process, namely the Ministries of Finance, Legal Affairs and Public Security,” Greenidge asserted. “A lot of what was said in the report is in conformity with most of our findings even when we were in opposition. Goolsarran's report however hammers home the point that Brassington has compromised his integrity. The report shows, too, how

he threw ethics, corporate r e s p o n s i b i l i t y, a n d professionalism and even respect for the citizenry out of the window only to enrich his cohorts.” “Given the blatant disregard Brassington has shown for this country, his office and the laws, it is very unlikely that under this administration, he would have a future career in the public sector. It is going to be difficult for him to return. People have been fired for a lot less and there was no chance of them being rehired.”

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Acting GRA boss, team make yearGreater access to financing end spot checks at shipping ports With passage of Credit Reporting Bill…

can be expected - CreditInfo CEO Consumers and businesses can look forward to greater access to financing in 2016 as the Parliament is making moves to actively consider amendments to the Credit Reporting Act of 2010. The amendments will allow for mandatory participation in Guyana’s Credit Bureau. On December 17, last, Finance Minister Winston Jordan presented, for the first reading, the Credit Reporting (Amendment) Bill No. 13 of 2015. The Bill did not go through the remaining stages for it to be passed on Wednesday, the last sitting of the House for 2015. However, when it is passed, it will create a more enabling legal framework to support the delivery of credit reporting services in Guyana. According to the World Bank /International Finance Corporation, credit reporting systems are vital to strengthening financial infrastructure and ultimately access to finance. As such, more countries are increasing their efforts to create an optimal legal and regulatory environment for these activities. Head of Guyana’s only credit bureau, CreditInfo, Judy Semple-Joseph, said that Guyana in the aforementioned case is not an

CEO of Creditinfo Guyana, Judy Semple-Joseph exception. She said that in the circumstances, the proposed amendments to the Credit Reporting Act No. 9 of 2010 are necessary to create a legal framework which enables a credit bureau to operate effectively in the market, ensures that lenders, borrowers and the economy as a whole benefit from efficient credit reporting industry and improves Guyana’s rating in World Bank’s Doing Business Report. Semple-Joseph noted that the amendments will therefore ensure that the Guyanese market benefits from the bureau’s operations as it aims to reach various

goals. She outlined some of these to be a decrease in default rates by at least 25 percent, increased access to credit - which will raise the ratio of private credit to the Gross Domestic Product by seven to eight percent - and a decrease in interest rates. Semple-Joseph further explained, “The Credit Reporting Act of 2010, which governs the operations of the credit bureau in Guyana, designates all individuals and businesses as potential data subjects, which means that the credit bureau can maintain credit records of these entities in its database, which in turn will form the basis on which these subjects can prove their creditworthiness.” “In a situation where there is no credit bureau, lenders often lack the necessary information to assess the creditworthiness of potential borrowers. This results in relatively high rates of decline of loan applications particularly among those self - employed in the informal sector. “These persons include farmers, small scale retailers, home-based entrepreneurs and service providers, since they would have no salary slips or other traditional income statements for lenders (Continued on page 57)

17 maternal deaths... (From page 6) hospitalized for a month until her death. It was her third CSection. Allen’s womb was removed after it became infected and she started bleeding profusely. The bleeding never stopped after the surgery. Her mother had related that a contraceptive coil was inserted in her daughter following her second pregnancy but it was removed after she began bleeding frequently. The most recent case was at a private institution, where Liloutie Ramlall was delivering her first baby; neither she nor her baby boy survived. An autopsy report revealed that Ramlall died from Hypovolemic shock and rupture of the spleen due to a C-Section. The baby died of a neonatal respiratory distress, a condition which made it difficult for him to breathe. Persaud said that the ministry is looking to establish high risk clinics for pregnant women. He stated that there was a need for early identification of mothers who were high risks in order for

medical practitioners to monitor their situation. He said that it was very important for these mothers to be under close observation along with every medical institutions have an adequate supply of blood for emergency situation. He said further that the ministry was working assiduously to reduce teenage pregnancy since it is one of the causes for high risk pregnancy. The CMO also insisted that an acute shortage of Obstetricians was another reason for the high mortality rate. He stated that they were looking to increase the number of Obstetricians through training programmes. He indicated that they were collaborating with their UN partners to have foreign practitioners visit Guyana to train Obstetricians. “We are also advising pregnant mothers to register early at clinics so that we will better able to evaluate their situation. They also need to attend their clinics regularly...we recommend the minimum of four visits in the

first eight months of their pregnancy,” he implored, adding that the mothers need to work along with the medical facilities. According to Global Causes of Maternal Death: A WHO Systematic Analysis, more than one in four maternal deaths are caused by pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes, HIV, malaria and obesity, whose health impacts can all be aggravated by pregnancy. The Pan American Health Organisation had stated that based on current trends, many low- and middle-income countries, including countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, will not achieve the goal. “Despite advances in the last 20 years, there has been too little progress in preventing adolescent pregnancies, abortions, maternal deaths, sexuallytransmitted infections and HIV, and there are significant gaps in availability, quality and access to comprehensive sexuality education and services for young people, especially in low-income countries,” PAHO said.

GRA Commissioner-General (ag) Ingrid Griffith (right) during discussions with Customs officers at Muneshwer’s Wharf There is a greater chance of improving revenue collection from trade if there is greater scrutiny and inspections of goods and heavier fines placed on defaulters. This is the conclusion following discussions with the Examining Officers following year-end spot checks at several shipping ports by CommissionerGeneral (ag) senior managers and team. Last Tuesday, GRA Commissioner General (ag) Ingrid Griffith; along with Fitzroy Corlette, Head Project Coordination; Jameel Baksh, Deputy Commissioner,

Customs Excise and Trade Operations; and Simone Beckles, Senior Manager, Wharves, Boathouse and CJIA Operation; visited the GRA Goods Examination Unit (GEU) on Lombard Street, La Penitence, where the stationary container scanner is housed. Griffith led impromptu visits to several wharves around the city for spot checks and discussions with customs officers tasked with administering the country’s Tax, Trade and Border Laws and Regulations year-round. Smuggling, under declared imports and other clandestine activities in trade

are challenges which the GRA is forced to tackle in its daily efforts to collect and protect revenue owed to the state. During the course of the visits the CommissionerGeneral (ag) also took note of some of the resource constraints at the ports and suggested possible solutions. Among them was the backlog of Want of Entry (unclaimed) cargo which should be disposed of within a certain time frame in accordance with the laws of Guyana and the Authority’s standard operating procedures. The additional locations (Continued on page 57)

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Kaieteur News

VEHICLE FOR SALE Smart Choice Auto: Premio, Allion, Bluebird, 212, IST, Fielder, Spacio- Call: 6523820/ 665-4529

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@ y a h o o . c o m . Call: 2256496, 662-6045 REPAIRS & SPARE, FRIDGE, FREEZER, A/C, WASHERS, STOVES – CONTACT NICK: 6831312, 627-3206 INNOVATIVE MARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, business cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included. We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar

WANTED Damage batteries in any quantity, best price offeredCall: 696-5728, 656-2783, 6225941, 648-9395, 223-1111 Experienced Pastry Maker/ Cake Decorator, Driver, Counter Server, Roti Cook. Apply Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. Jet & Marack men to work in the Interior, 1 male cook $120,000 monthly- Call: 6942310 One live in domestic maid – Call: 675-5256/ 666-4153/ 6563241 1 Female 18-25yrs living in / around G/Town to work in Snackette 3pm-9pm @ 193 Charlotte St. G/Town-Call: 226-2320 One domestic to work at Lusignan, 2 to 3 half days a week –Call: 220-0302 Two experienced waitressesCall: 627-5607 1 General Domestic- living near Schoon-Ord, West Bank Demerara-Call: 629-2629; 6766312 One experienced domestic cook to work on E.C.D-Call: 621-8478 One live in maid-Call: 6683985; 264-2563

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 2 Storey @ Robb Street Building, top flat furnished, 3 bedrooms apartment for living/office/ storage, bottom flat for business-Call: 227-2454 Spacious 2 bedrooms apartment in Festival CityAsking $80,000- Call: 619-2141 Two bedrooms house “A” Field Sophia, fully grilled off Road Parking, CCTV, $50,000 monthly with 2 months security-Call: 693-2237; 2190211 One exclusive three bedrooms apartment @ Lot 92 Diamond E.B.D & one – two bedrooms apartment@ Llot 128 Middle Rd. La Penitence. Call: 225-5533 DRESSMAKING Turn your flair for fashion into an exciting career or hobby. Classes starting January – Call: 626-2629; 676-6312

One live in Domestic- Must know to cook, $55,000 monthly-Call: 661-8673; 6615992 One nail technician: apply in person with written application to Zytech Building Regent Street. Call: 225-0563 1 Experienced diesel/ gasoline mechanic to work in the Interior- must also know to drive & weld –Call:6802702/661-4265 We buy land in Eccles, Herstelling, Farm, Parfaite Harmonie, Uitlugt, East Coast area –Call: 611-7223; 604-2207 Looking for shop to rent for grocery in a busy font spot in Georgetown -$35,000-$50,000Call: 683-3161 Female housekeeper/cook, must be between 40-55, valid police clearance/ reference –Call: 656-3429 SALON -Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline. -Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257

One Axela Mazda -$1.550 negotiable, one Nissan Titan, one Audi A4; all vehicles in excellent condition-Call: 665-3038; 226-4356 Noah & Voxy in ‘G’ series, fully loaded, never registered -$1.7M –Call: 617-2891 Holiday Discounts!! Get a gift with the purchase of unregistered: Allion, Bluebird, Axela Fielder, Etc @ City Motors-Call: 6267478 Toyota Fortuner 2012 yearCall: 624-6702 New model RAV 4 4X4 $2.5M, Mazda Axela -$1.5M, good for bank purchase (both excellent condition) –Call: 220-6380; 639-2490 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 2013 Mercedes C250 turbo AMG coupe, retractable glasstop, mileage 15K, alcantara leather interior, brush aluminum acc- Call: 650-5136 Tractor Massey Ferguson from Canada : MF165 -$1.7M, MF -$135M -$1.1M, MF265$2.2M, Tundra -$1.9M, Tacoma 2005-$2.3M- Call: 682-5230, 628-9596 1 New model Raum, PPP series, 1 Toyota Spacio, PPP Series –Call: 649-2354 Selling Cheap: 2003 white Fielder, fully loaded, pioneer deck, AC, alarm, VVTI engine, PRR -$1.3M –Call: 672-0470 2-Unregistered new model Toyota Tacoma: step, alarm, crash bar, bed covering, dark & light blue colour. Call: 6956461; 639-7758

Friday January 01, 2016

FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 3 Storey business property on South Road, near the High Court. Call: 691-8420serious buyers CAT 930- Front End Loader, CAT D4H bulldozer, 9wheeled Pneumatic, Roller – Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 Leyland DAF 55 Dump Truck, CAT 320 BL excavator. Call: 275-0538; 683-7225 Diving Suits-Call: 265-3449/ 613-5158 2 Mining Claims, Omai Ouratz Hill, 1 Aurora Along the 6KM Road, 1 IBM bottomside. Contact A. Thompson, telephone: 600-6057 Wholesale & Retail quantity of all types of belts –Call: 670-2343 Crazy Deals: Dell/HP desktop & laptop computers from -$49,000, free games & educational programs @ FutureTech: 231-2206 One Toyota Corolla 192 Gold – Call: 694-3113 One I-phone 4s, Unlocked to any network and country, charger included, price$35,000 –Contact: 664-5746

LAND FOR SALE

Full & Part time & Seasonal, local & international work available, training provided $5,000 plus daily – Call: 6221957/ 233-6517, www.jobfairworldwide.com

Providence house lots, size 50ftX100ft -$7M –Call: 6002031; 233-5535 Parfaite Harmonie -$1M, $1.5M, Dairy – (100ftX50ft fenced)-$2.8M, Zeelugt (High Income) -$1.8M –Call: 604-2207; 611-7223

Qualified Accounts, bond clerks, drivers @ Rosignol, Bond clerks & drivers @ Melanie- Call: 330-2399; 3302772; 623-5920 1 Security guard to work nightly, apply in person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling. Night Security- send application to: P.O. Box 10109, Georgetown, by 8th January, 2016. Immediate vacancies exist for at least 12 workers to work @ Ice Factory, MeadowbankCall: 231-1408/ 642-9191 Salesman with his own transportation-Call: 610-1111 Mature live in housekeeper, serious enquiries only –Call: 697-8797 One computer technicianemail application to roytechgt@gmail.com Accounts /Bond Clerk, apply at Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling Carpenters to work in Coverden, E.B.D apply at Alabama Trading Georgetown, Ferry Stelling. Caterpillar and Perkins mechanic, Excavator Operators. Contact 2235273

CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM 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 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494

Gardener / handyman contact 223-5273-4 Welder/Fabricator, senior machinist, mechanic & cleaners- apply in person: Technical Services, 18-23 Eccles Industrial Site. 1 Experienced barman & chief cook –Contact Sheik on: 6219759 or Donald: 673-4628 Experienced cook, waitress, bartenders & bouncers needed @ Eden’s Bar, East Bank-Call for appointment: 652-0074 Experienced Bar/Shop worker for Ekeruku Bottom (Interior), ages 17-30yrs. Call: 231-0363 Able bodied male to work in a Hardware store-Call: 2194533; 231-2029; 616-5954

EDUCATIONAL RISING STAR DAYCARE, KINDERGARTEN & AFTERSCHOOL CARE. Lessons for Grades 1-11: Phonics, reading, Nursery – Call: 690-9378 Private customs brokerage, training certificate course from 2nd Feb 2016, register now & save –Call: 694-8322; 223-1506

VACANCY

TO LET Newly constructed 2 bedrooms apartment in a healthy and safe environment –Call: 698-6496; 677-6638 Rooms in Albertown and apartment in Eccles–Call:225-3234

Male security, male desk staff, 25-45 years- Lot 233 South Road LacytownCall: 225-0198 LAND FOR SALE Transported land with fruit trees, fenced, fill high -$4.3M @ Richmond Essequibo Coast, next to School–Call: 682-5230; 628-9696

Residential house lot at Kuru Kururu (First Hill on Highway from Junction) 100X100-Call: 680-6136

PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461. 2 storied transported concrete property- upstairs: 2 bedrooms apartment, downstairs: 2 bedroom apartment, block ‘8’ MonRepos, E.C.D -$19M neg. Call: 625-1514; 231-7255 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 Two house & land for sale, excellent condition, one located at Tuschen & one at Goed-Fortuin. Call: 668-3985; 660-3235

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Kaieteur News

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Another year has dawned, and we at Kaieteur News extend warmest wishes for a prosperous and fulfilling 2016. Along this very vein a number of other organisations and individuals have issued New Year’s Day Messages.

A PARTNERSHIP FOR PPP NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE NATIONAL UNITY AND ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE (APNU+AFC) Guyana stands at the dawn of a new year, 2016. This marks Guyana’s Golden Jubilee, a monumental landmark celebrating 50 years as an independent state. 2016 follows a year of political change in Guyana. That change in government is the second in 50 years. It rejuvenated hope. It brought an end to minority authoritarian governance. But it also came with new challenges, of threats from external forces aimed at compromising our national patrimony. We thank the international community for its unwavering support of our country in defence of our territorial integrity and our sovereignty. As in the past, so shall it be in this New Year and forever more: We will not yield, not even a blade of grass. As we embark on this historic year of reflection and celebration, as a people, it is incumbent upon us to rally together to make 2016 a year of meaningful change and progress. Over the past seven months the work to transform Guyana started. We can see a new landscape, of a clean and green Guyana, emerging. However, 2016 must be the year of fundamental reorganization of the manner in which our nation’s business is administered. There are major priority items which must be advanced – a reorganization of our productive sectors including sugar, rice and mining; constitutional reform; telecommunications liberalization; creating a green economy; expansion of national radio and television to all corners of Guyana; attracting major investment; revitalization and strengthening of our agriculture sector; creating a business friendly environment and repositioning our tourism product. The issues of constitutional reform and telecommunications liberalization are especially critical priority items for 2016. We need to remove all traces of authoritarian powers in our principal law, and to open up Guyana to the new wave of making telecommunications a viable industry. We

need to end one-company monopoly in the telecommunications sector. The archaic telecommunications framework needs to be demolished and replaced with a forwardthinking system which will allow for low cost connectivity in all forms and across all geographic spaces without the constraints of limited bandwidth, weak signal and slow access. We need e-governance and e-commerce to be our new mode of doing business. We need to transform Guyana’s ICT sector. We want our young people, those in the formal education system and those who would have graduated from it, to master new technologies to access jobs and develop careers. Our spectrum is a national asset, and it must be used and protected. Your Coalition Government is committed to pursuing an agenda which puts Guyana first and which pursues a good life for all in a green economy. Our Coalition Government has re-established and reinforced the fundamentals of our democracy: observance of the doctrine of separation of powers among the executive and legislature and the judiciary; respect for the rule of law and the rights of citizens; support for a plural, free and open media; and care for our elderly and children and our working people. This is also the year in which Local Government Elections will return after 18 years. All citizens are encouraged to participate fully in these elections as you exercise your right to elect the community leaders of your choice and reactivate participatory, grassroots democracy in Guyana. Our Government urges all citizens to help make our environment better. We all need to join the clean -up campaign. We all need to adopt the fresh approach. We need to reclaim our status as both proud and hospitable Guyanese. The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana extends to all Guyanese here and in the Diaspora, best wishes for a successful, transformative and peaceful 2016.

PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM (PNCR) Happy New Year! May Prosperity come to every home, family and community across the far-flung regions of our country. The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) extends greetings for a Happy New Year to all Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora. As the Year 2015 fades into history we welcome in 2016, our Jubilee Year: Guyana’s 50th Year as an independent nation. As the New Year dawns, the PNCR calls on all Guyanese, regardless of race, ethnicity, political affiliation or religion, to participate in bringing about the transformation of our country so that Guyana’s vast resources may, at last, be made to serve the imperative for development and social advancement of all the

people of Guyana. On this the first day of the New Year, it is our hope that all of us will realize a measure of prosperity in our personal lives and that each of us, wherever we may be, will endeavour to make some contribution, however small, to the development of our country. The PNCR, therefore, looks forward to participating, as it has successfully done in the past, in the continuing drive for the peaceful development of this dear land of ours. The Party wishes all Guyanese a very Happy New Year and looks forward to the New Year with optimism and hope. May God Bless our Nation as we strive to provide a Good life for all Guyanese!

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year to all Guyanese at home and abroad. 2015 has brought significant changes to the political landscape of our country. Those changes took place at a time when our country was pregnant with transformative changes at the economic and social levels with the PPP/C at the helm. Hundreds of thousands who had already benefitted from the people -centered social programmes and the economic opportunities initiated by the PPP/C administration looked forward to more opportunities but these are yet to come. The change in government brought in its wake many disappointments for many but opportunities only for a few. It is the hope and expectation of all Guyanese that 2016 will

bring opportunities for all. In 2016, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our country’s independence. The PPP is proud of its significant contribution to the struggle for our country’s independence. History has recorded Cheddi Jagan as the architect of Guyana’s independence struggle. We in the PPP will be celebrating our country’s independence anniversary at various levels and by different means. 2016 will also be a year of challenges, however, the Party will view every challenge as an opportunity to advance the just struggle of the Guyanese people for free and fair election in future. The PPP will exert every effort to ensure that the Guyanese working people are rightfully and justly rewarded with the fruits of their labour. Happy New Year to all Guyanese!

THE GUYANA PUBLIC SERVICE UNION (GPSU)

The New Year is with us and we must be ready to return to our longer term responsibilities with a renewed sense of commitment to our goals. The wish of the Guyana Public Service Union is that all of us, Public Servants and others, return to the discharge of those responsibilities re-energized and eagerly. That wish, we daresay, is extended to His Excellency the President and the Government of Guyana. It is our wish that our country is governed wisely in the year ahead and that the outcomes of wise governance rebound to benefit the country as a whole. It was, of course, never our expectation, that the new administration would have gotten off to a perfect start; we were realistic about that. There were instances of displeasure and disappointment. We expect, however, that what has been loosely described as its ‘honeymoon period’ drifts further away, with the understanding that there will be more rigorous expectations regarding the quality of its governance.

Our Union and its Members anticipate much in the year ahead. We believe that it is for the Government, in the year 2016, to give real meaning to its expressed desire for a transformed Public Service. The convening of a Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service was a significant step, though very much a preliminary one in the envisaged transformation of the Public Service. We expect that the outcomes of the Commission’s deliberations will bring early and far-reaching action by the government to create a Public Service that will take Guyana forward. Naturally, we expect that the deliberations that will precipitate change will include other relevant stakeholders including, of course, the Guyana Public Service Union. We believe that 2016, our Golden Independence Anniversary year, will be one of the most important years in our history. Today we celebrate the dawn of that New Year. We wait, we watch and we ready ourselves as the year unfolds.

MAYOR OF GEORGETOWN, HAMILTON GREEN It is customary that at the beginning of a New Year that many persons would have made their New Year’s Resolution, for change, growth and positive development in different aspects of their lives and that of their families. However, without the resultant determination and will to actually effect the necessary changes, change would be a mere figment of our imagination or a wishful thinking. The New Year’s resolution of this Council is to continue the various restoration projects in every facet of Municipal affairs and to provide a more efficient service in critical areas. Many of you would have observed a radical change in the City’s aesthetics. This is a result of meaningful co-operation, synergies of resources, and effective public private partnerships’. I am cognizant that change is not easily embraced by all, especially when persons have to alter or change old habits and activities that they have inculcated and which has become a way of life. The restoration programme we observe

includes every sector of society; the Council, the private sector and civil society. Already, some private enterprises have joined the vanguard and have made significant contributions to the cleanup exercise in the City. To those citizens who have co-operated with the Municipality we say heartfelt thank you. The Georgetown City Council is on a mission, a mission that must and will be accomplished. A mission to make Georgetown the cleanest greenest City in the Caribbean. It is time that the dignity and pride returns to the Capital City. This would only be possible with the co-operation of all. Also, there is a need to foster a culture of co-operative governance. This would constitute effective communication and meaningful interaction between sectors. This would foster optimum use of resources both human and natural. As the New Year commences we need to confront the challenges with optimism, wisdom, co-operation and strength and work assiduously to restore, order, beauty and majesty of Georgetown.

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Unit to solicit funds in pipeline for Social Protection Ministry Government, through its Ministry of Social Protection, will be looking to solicit the support of “willing” donors to help fund a number of initiatives aimed at helping to improve the lives of citizens. According to Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Volda Lawrence, plans are already apace for the creation of a Special Projects Unit to help find the donors. Minister Lawrence’s disclosure was made on Wednesday during her Ministry’s end-of-year press conference at the Millennium Manor Hotel, Hadfield Street, Georgetown. She revealed that the Ministry is currently pursuing a number of initiatives and a multitude of others are in the making for the New Year. But according to her, “since our economy cannot currently fund all the development schemes we envisage, this (Special Projects) Unit is part of our strategy to ensure there is provision for our vision.” Added to this, the Social Protection Ministry has moved to create its own Public Relations department which, according to the Minister, is intended to ensure that through the media, the public remains au fait with its ongoing plans, policies and programmes. The Ministry is also gearing to launch yet another Unit – the Gender Affairs Bureau – early this year, Lawrence disclosed. This Unit will in fact be a merger of the Ministry’s Men’s Affairs Bureau and Women’s Affairs Bureau, and this, the Minister asserted, is in keeping with Government’s vision and global trends.

Social Protection Minister, Volda Lawrence In keeping with Government’s vision too, Lawrence said “we have also delinked the Probation Department from the broader Social Services programme to have a more focused approach and to help in resolving some of the ongoing challenges and struggles faced by individuals and families.” This focused approach, she noted, is part of the reason for the Ministry’s name change from the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security to the Ministry of Social Protection under the coalesced A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government. “We believe that all Guyanese deserve ‘the good life’. The government believes that it must support all Guyanese through improved service delivery, greater efficiency, cutting the response time in meeting public needs, and creating new and innovative ways in helping improve the quality of

their lives and the generations to come,” the Social Protection Minister asserted. As such, she assured that Guyanese will continue to benefit from improved safety nets, including significant increases in the Old Age Pension; a stronger focus on gender mainstreaming, including crafting a national policy; stricter enforcement of the nation’s labour laws; greater child protection policies; increased and more timely responses to social ills; and more frequent consultations with stakeholders on the way forward. Lawrence assumed the portfolio of Social Protection Minister about seven months ago and, according to her, although undertaking her new role was extremely energysapping at times, it was also exciting and enlightening. She was also able to observe that the challenges of the Ministry which she now heads are many. In fact she disclosed that “finding a permanent solution for the ongoing war against our children is nightmarish; the brutal, bloody and every so often, life-ending assaults against our women must end; the callous disregard for our elderly is alarming; and those who are temporarily, or permanently, homeless must not be left to the vagaries of Mother Nature or the unnatural tendencies of the heartless among us”. She stated too that “among the challenges we also face is removing our Amerindian population from the periphery of national development”. But according to her, “with assistance from the Canadian government we

are training a number of these Guyanese to be ‘ambassadors’ who will help bridge existing gaps as we pursue development of their communities to help them beat the pinch of poverty”. Even as the Ministry aims to achieve a great deal in the interest of the citizens, it is simultaneously confronting operational, administrative and infrastructural challenges, according to the Minister. “The Ministry of Social Protection wants to run with its programmes, but we are hamstrung by staff shortage in the Labour Department, staff shortage in the Accounts Department and staff shortage in the Child Care and Protection Agency,” she disclosed. And this, according to her, is compounded by “the perennial shortage of funding to monetise the initiatives we have been conceiving.” She however declared that “as I see it, we will beat

the odds; against all odds we triumphed at the May 11 polls. Against the odds we hiked salaries for public servants and provided those earning less than $500,000 per month a $50,000 to help brighten their Christmas festivities. Against the odds we have also increased Old Age pension payments. We are finding ways to overcome the existing challenges we confront, and we plan doing so in the future.” Moreover, Minister Lawrence noted that in 2016 the nation can look forward to a number of initiatives, including priority placement on Early Childhood Development; the opening of the Family Court; the critical Counter Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) Unit to be enhanced with additional staff to combat existing and emerging challenges, and pensioners receiving a book to cover the calendar year instead of the traditional six

months. By 2017, the Minister added, pensioners will have their ID cards replace their pension books. Another interesting development at the Social Protection Ministry is that the existing Women of Worth (WOW) programme will become gender-neutral. Minister Lawrence disclosed plans that will see her Ministry improving its relationship with NonGovernmental Organisations. And there will be improved programmes, she added, at the Night Shelter, the Palms Geriatric Home, the Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration, the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute, the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), the Coops and Friendly Society Department, and the Statistical Department, Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), which will be delinked from industrial relations.

First PC Principal is new Board Chairman A new Board of Governors has been appointed to govern the operations of President’s College. Sitting at the helm as Chairman of the Board is Retired Chief Education Officer, Mr. Oswald Kendall. Mr. Kendall was in fact the first Principal of the school when it opened its doors in 1985. The immediate past Chairman of President’s College is Mahendra Sharma, who holds the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency. According to the Official Gazette, the Minister of Education, acting under Section 3 (6) of the PC Act of 1990, considered a list of names of persons submitted to him, from which he identified and eventually

appointed the Board members. The life of the Board which became effective on October 27, 2015, is intended to span two years. Also sitting on the Board are Dr. Marlon Price, Veterinarian, Guyana Livestock Development Authority; Mr. Donald Ainsworth; Dr. Robin Austin, Agriculturist; Ms. Cloyett Sumner, Information Technology Specialist; Mr. Kiran Nauth, Businessman; Mr. Kempton France, Engineer at the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated; Dr. Davanand Tika, Medical Doctor and Pastor; Ms. Sumaiyah Natasha-Lewis; Mr. Ernest Elliot, Assistant National Director at the Civil Defence Commission; Mr. Allan Munroe, Deputy

2015 was challenging... From page 14 a village located in proximity and south west of Kaikan on the Venezuelan side of the border The men reportedly then boarded the craft which immediately flew in a southerly direction before any GDF rank could have intervened. IMPROVEMENTS FOR 2016 Brigadier Phillips also recalled that President David Granger had earlier in the year unveiled his National Defence Policy, which was aimed at the recapitalization of the Guyana Defence Force. “Focus areas will be on improving the Engineer Corps to play a major role in infrastructural development in the hinterland and for the recapitalization of the Air Corps, to not only provide aerial transport for the army, but also for search and rescue and quick deployment to any area in support of the Guyana Police Force and other Government agencies. Speaking of plans for the Coast Guard, Phillips noted that the army had purchased some in-shore vessels and plans to acquire off-shore vessels between 2016 and 2020.

President College’s Board Chairman Mr. Oswald Kendall Chairman at the Teaching Service Commission; Mr Lumumba Angoy, Accountant/former student; Ms. Ingrid Fung, Retired Principal of St. Joseph High School; Mr. Marlon Daniels, Engineer at th e G u y a n a Water Incorporated; Mr. Errol Luke, Agriculturist and University of Guyana Lecturer; Mr. Loren Park, Representative Regional Education Officer; Mr. Mortimer Livan, Representative Regional Education Officer; Ms. Lin Lewis, Teachers’ Representative; Ms. Claudia Garraway, Students’ Representative; Ms. Coretta McDonald, Representative, Guyana Teachers’ Union and Mr. Regan Baxter, Representative Parent Teacher Association. The Ex-officio members of the Board are PC Principal, Ms. Carlyn Canterbury and Deputy Principal, Ms. Yvonne Chichester.

Friday January 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

Three public hospitals for major upgrades

Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton along with the Chief Medical Officer, Shamdeo Persaud and the Permanent Secretary, Trevor Thomas Having recognized the daily pressure at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), to deal with the usually “out-ofcontrol” crowd, Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton has announced that three hospitals will be upgraded. This move, he said, will help with the “overcrowding problem” at the country’s main health facility in 2016, since these institutions will now have the necessary resources and advanced equipment to deal with health issues in various regions. The hospitals which will be upgraded are Suddie Hospital, Region Two, Bartica Hospital in Region Seven and the West Demerara Regional Hospital, Region Three. The upgrade will be funded by the Indian Government through the Modernization of Primary Health Care System project. This was disclosed yesterday at the Ministry’s end-of-year press conference at Brickdam, Georgetown. It was disclosed that this

project is in its final stage the tendering process. The Minister said that the ministry recently tendered for consultants to do a complete assessment on the three facilities. Apart from the physical construction, the grant from the Indian Government will also cater for medical equipment that would be needed to take the hospitals where the ministry wants it to be in 2016. “When this (upgrade) is done, those hospitals will be able to provide services to ease the burden at the GPHC,” Norton said. Trevor Thomas, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Public Health said, “Those hospitals are part of a comprehensive programme to strengthen primary health care. In order for this to be done, we must first determine what level of service we want to provide at these hospitals.” Kaieteur News understands that the upgrade includes restructuring and construction of theatres;

modernized medical equipment, additional beds and establishment of a station for nurses at the various hospitals among other upgrades. Earlier this year, the minister visited several hospitals and expressed his dissatisfaction with the way they were being operated, the state of their infrastructure and the non-availability of key medical equipment. Among the hospitals the minister visited were the Bartica, Suddie and West Demerara Regional Hospitals. The Minister had said that at the Suddie hospital, the operating theatre was not functioning due to sloppy work done by the contractor. Several parts of the hospital’s roof were leaking and the electrical work at the building was poorly done. Kaieteur News understands that maintenance will be completed on the West Demerara Regional Hospital’s outpatient facility, its laboratory and X-ray department and administrative building.

Greater access to financing... (From page 53) to ascertain whether they have a steady flow of income. In addition, low income households tend to lack collateral – or the right type of collateral and legal documentation – against which to secure credit.” She said that CreditInfo Guyana is therefore encouraging consumers and small business owners to pay attention to new or current developments within the financial sector, as these initiatives could impact their ability to obtain credit. CreditInfo Guyana Inc. is the second regional presence of the CreditInfo group of companies, a well-respected Icelandic conglomerate with credit bureaus and subsidiaries in over 16

countries worldwide. The bureau currently serves every commercial bank and lender licensed under the Financial Institutions Act in the country, as well as a wide cross-section of other stakeholders in various sectors. The company is actively engaged in bringing together lenders and providers of credit from all sectors to add transparency, efficiency and effectiveness to the business of credit across the board. Internationally, CreditInfo is regarded as a leading service provider for credit information and risk management solutions worldwide, and has developed numerous products and services from official and customer

information sources to facilitate best practice decision-making in credit risk management. The company brings to the table, over 20 years of solid experience and considerable expertise in the industry to the drive for improved access to credit in Guyana. C r e d i t I n f o ’ s comprehensive line of credit reports will be in widespread use throughout the credit and lending sectors of Guyana, and are expected to significantly increase access to credit, reduce interest rates, help to lower the overall costs of borrowing and significantly reduce processing times for loans to the Small and Medium Enterprise Sector, as well as for all Guyanese.

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Public Health Ministry gears toward reduced teenage pregnancy, maternal mortality The Public Health Ministry is gearing toward reducing the rate of teenage pregnancy in 2016 through the execution of a teenage pregnancy strategy, Public Health Minister, George Norton, said yesterday. Norton stated that there is a strong connection between teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality. He noted that the majority of these pregnancies are unplanned and as such there is an insistent need to address the issue. The goal of the ministry was to improve the quality of life for adolescents through access to health services and information, he said. The priority areas are sexual and reproductive health, school health, teenage pregnancy, nutrition and youth friendly health services, he added. For 2015, there were two

cases of teenage maternal mortality—one being a 16 year-old girl. Norton said that the Ministry had conducted a multi-stakeholder meeting on the teenage pregnancy strategy. Standards were discussed for adolescent health care. The participants, he said, were tasked with identifying areas in which they will work on the implementation of the strategy. The Ministry has also held antenatal clinics for pregnant teenagers at several villages, including Agricola, Sophia, Grove, East La Penitence and Industry. As part of the programme, the teens are visited after they would have given birth in an effort to provide psychological support. According to Norton, intern University of Guyana Social work students assisted

at Sophia and East La Penitence clinics. The ministry has also been collaborating with the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association to have satellite family planning clinics and SRH sensitization sessions. At present, Guyana has recorded 17 cases of maternal mortality for the year 2015, 11 of which occurred that the Georgetown Public Hospital. Last year, 18 cases of maternal deaths were recorded. The Pan American Health Organization stated that despite advances in the last 20 years, there has been too little progress in preventing adolescent pregnancies and maternal deaths, along with a little access to comprehensive sexual education and services for young people, especially in low-income countries.

Acting GRA boss, team make... (From page 53) visited were the John Fernandes Wharf and Terminal, the Guyana National Shipping Corporation (GNSC), the Guyana National Industrial Company (GNIC), the Demerara Shipping Company Limited (DSCL), Muneshwer’s Limited and QTrex International. Business at those locations have slowed down considerably when compared to the extremely high volume of traffic seen in the days and weeks leading up to the Christmas celebrations when

there was need for the optimization of the Authority’s services to clear personal and commercial cargo. Both Andrew Astwood, the Managing Director, GNSC and Clinton Williams, Chief Executive Officer, GNIC noted that the extended working hours for Customs Officials and other interventions supported the efforts needed for efficiency during the peak season. Since mid-November, systems were put in place at the level of the GRA’s Customs Excise and Trade

Operations to accommodate the anticipated heavy volume of cargo arriving from overseas. These initiatives included extended working hours at the Transit Sheds and the Entry Processing Unit (EPU) on weekdays and on Saturdays. The tours came mere days before 2015 ended and ambitious revenue targets were to be reached. At the conclusion of the day’s activities the team noted that additional visits are scheduled for other GRA locations in early January 2016.

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Kaieteur News

Obama may expand background checks on gun sales: news reports Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to announce executive actions expanding background checks on gun sales, media outlets reported yesterday, citing people familiar with White House proposals and planning. The changes, which could come as soon as next week, would include requiring more small-scale gun sellers to be licensed and to conduct a background check whenever selling a weapon, Politico reported. Additional measures would impose tighter rules for reporting guns that are lost or stolen on their way to a buyer, the political news website said. Planning for the action is not complete and the announcement could be delayed, CNN reported. But gun control advocates told the cable news channel they are expecting the actions to be announced ahead of Obama’s annual State of the Union address, scheduled for Jan. 12.A White House spokesman said Obama was aware that Con-

gress was unlikely to take legislative action to reform gun laws as he has demanded. “That is why he has asked his team to scrub existing legal authorities to see if there’s any additional action we can take administratively,” spokesman Eric Schultz said. “The president has made clear he’s not satisfied with where we are and expects that work to be completed soon,” he said. Obama has repeatedly urged Congress to tighten

gun laws, with his calls growing louder following the 2012 massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, and again this fall after mass shootings in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and San Bernardino, California. The day after the San Bernardino attacks, which killed 14 people and injured 21 in December, lawmakers in the U.S. Senate debated gun control but failed to advance any legislation addressing the violence.

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Arrests, security fears dampen New Year spirit in Europe

People attend New Year celebrations at the Brandenburger Tor gate in Berlin, Germany, yesterday. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke Reuters - Shaken by a year of militant attacks, Europeans will ring in 2016 in subdued fashion yesterday, with soldiers on the streets of Paris, a heightened police presence at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, and silence across the vast cobbled emptiness of Moscow’s Red Square. Bookended by deadly Islamist assaults on Paris, the departing year limped to a close with security forces on raised alert in many capitals and Belgian authorities announcing a series of terrorism-related arrests. Prosecutors said police had seized a 10th suspect in Belgium in connection with the Nov. 13 Paris attacks that killed 130 and were claimed by Islamic State. Six more were detained during house searches in Brussels in an investigation into a plot to carry out an attack in the city on New Year’s Eve. Two others were arrested earlier this week, prompting authorities to call off the city’s traditional Dec. 31 fireworks display, which last year drew a crowd of around 100,000. In Russia, officials said the closure of Red Square, usually the focal point of celebrations, was to allow the filming of a New Year concert. But that was denied by the television company concerned, prompting speculation that the real reason is fear of an attack. Russia began bombing Syrian rebel targets on Sept. 30 in support of its ally President Bashar alAssad; a month later, a Russian plane was downed over Egypt, with the loss of 224 lives, in an attack claimed by Islamic State. Seven weeks after the latest attacks and a

week before the first anniversary of the gunning-down of cartoonists and staff at satirical paper Charlie Hebdo, Paris is greeting the New Year in what Mayor Anne Hidalgo called “an atmosphere of sobriety and togetherness”. The city has shortened a New Year video light show at the Arc de Triomphe at midnight, and cancelled a firework display to keep down crowds. Soldiers are deployed at key tourist sites including Notre Dame cathedral, where tourist Mark Scarrott was visiting from Australia. “We do feel safe. Obviously, New Year’s Eve will be a little bit different for this city. I don’t think we will be heading out into the main attractions, just because of the things that have happened,” he said. Across Europe, the deadliest year of militant attacks since 2004 has compounded a mood of worry and uncertainty. Evidence that two of the Nov. 13 attackers had entered the continent under cover of a wave of Middle Eastern refugees has heightened anxieties over the migration crisis and emboldened right-wing nationalist parties across the European Union who want a halt to the influx. At the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, organisers expect more than one million people to gather to watch a fireworks display at midnight. Authorities in Madrid said they were fielding 15 percent more police and emergency staff than a year ago for year-end events, including the ‘Saint Silvester’ evening fun run through the Spanish capital.

Oil proceeds went into personal accounts, Nigerian president says Reuters - Nigerian authorities have seen documents suggesting the proceeds from past crude oil sales were diverted to personal accounts rather than reaching government coffers, President Muhammadu Buhari said Wednesday. Buhari, who took office in May after being elected on an anti-corruption ticket, said funds were “looted illegally”. He could not provide more details, since various cases were being taken to court, he told journalists in a televised interview. Nigeria’s former oil minister Diezani Alison-

Madueke is under investigation as part of a crackdown on corruption in the oil industry. She has denied any wrongdoing. Buhari’s latest comments suggested other officials might also be named. In the interview, the president also said the government was prepared to negotiate with the Islamist militant group Boko Haram to secure the release of around 200 schoolgirls kidnapped last year, if credible leaders were identified. “We are prepared to negotiate with them without any preconditions,” Buhari said.

Boko Haram seized the girls from their dormitories in the northeastern town of Chibok in April 2014, prompting international outrage. The militants have been waging a six-year campaign to create an Islamic state in northern Nigeria. In the latest flare-up, two suicide attacks in the area where Boko Haram operates killed at least 48 people on Monday, a day after a military attack on the group. Buhari said there was no firm intelligence on the whereabouts of the girls or whether they are still alive.

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Granger announces Ministerial shakeup President David Granger, after seven months in office, has had the opportunity to identify policy areas that need strengthened Ministerial attention. He has made some adjustments to match those national needs with some changes in Ministerial responsibility. The Head of State made it clear that these changes do not involve any changes to his Cabinet and does not mean that there is an increase in the size of the Cabinet or any reshuffling. It is, instead, a step towards developing capacity in certain policy areas. Making the official announcement that Minister of Tourism, Ca t h e r i n e Hughes will now be named Minister for Public Telecommunications, while maintaining Ministerial responsibility for To u r i s m , President Granger said, “The reas o n i s t h a t after seven months, we detected a gap that there is no single spokesperson in the National Assembly, a Ministerial spokesperson, dealing with the digital economy [and] dealing with information technology. So we decided that it was nec-

essary to have a Minister responsible for information and communication technology.” Additionally, the Ministry of Governance is being renamed the Ministry of Natural Resources. Minister Raphael Trotman will now be named Minister of Natural Resources. The President added that there will also be some nonCabinet movement. While applauding the work that Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Simona Broomes has done, President Granger said that her knowledge of the hinterland makes her a great asset to the Ministry of Natural Resources. “Minister Broomes has tremendous energy and skill and she is going to be functioning from the Ministry of Natural Resources. She has a very good knowledge of the hinterland and we are concerned with the enforcement of certain practices and regulations in that Ministry,” the President said. Minister Keith Scott will move to the Ministry of Social Protection and will be responsible for dealing with labour issues. A new Minister within the Ministry of Communities will be ap-

pointed. Member of Parliament and Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), Valerie Sharpe-Patterson has received the nod for that post because of her strong administrative experience. Below is a complete list of adjustments, effective January 1, 2016. 1. Ministry of Communities - Hon. Keith Scott, MP, Minister within the Ministry, moves to the Ministry of Social Protection; Mrs. Valerie SharpePatterson, MP, is appointed Minister within the Ministry. 2. Ministry of Governance This Ministry within the Ministry of the Presidency is re-designated Ministry of Natural Resources. 3. Ministry of Natural Resources Hon. Raphael Trotman, Minister of Governance within the Ministry of the Presidency, is appointed Minister of Natural Resources; Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Hon. Simona Broomes, MP, moves to the Ministry of Natural Resources;

Kamla slams Rowley recovery plans

Trinidad Guardian - The Government’s intention to split and utilise a portion of the multi-billion Heritage and Stabilsation Fund is a cause for concern to the Opposition. In a statement Wednesday Opposition leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar picked apart Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s Tuesday night address to the nation and said that it was evidence that the Government does not have an economic plan. “The use of the Heritage and Stabilisation Fund creates more anxiety and questions. If Dr Rowley intends to withdraw US$1.5 billion he must immediately explain how he will use this to achieve stabilisation and a balance in expenditure and revenue and how he will meet requirements for utmost transparency and scrutiny,” she said. She said Rowley needed to give the country the assurance that funds from savings will not be used for consumption, but for investment spending and creating value within the economy. The former prime minister said Rowley’s speech did nothing more than “exacerbate anxiety and

Kamla PersadBissessar

instability”as he failed to address how he intends to fix the ongoing shortage of foreign exchange. She said her government was operating in a time of low energy prices and had already outlined several plans to reduce government spending. Persad-Bissessar said that Rowley demonstrated that he “has no understanding or idea of how to manage the present economic challenges”. “We were clear and specific that budget adjustments would focus on maintaining a healthy level of investment and protecting jobs, incomes and the vulnerable,” she said. She said since taking office in September, Rowley and Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert used “every possible opportunity to complain and

misinform the public on the nation’s finances” adding that neither seemed “ready or able” to take the reigns. Persad-Bissessar sought to make political hay of Rowley’s trip to Miami to attend a private wedding, his fourth abroad since taking office four months ago. “The Prime Minister must stop the campaigning, and the joy-riding and take responsibility for Trinidad & Tobago... three of these four trips have been for personal business – a PNM fundraiser in London, a wedding and golf in Barbados, and now a wedding in Miami. By the time Dr Rowley returns on 4th January, he would have served 117 days in Government and spent almost an entire month (24 days) travelling abroad to secure his personal interests,” she said.

Mrs. Valerie Sharpe-Patterson

Hon. Keith Scott

Hon. Simona Broomes

Govt., cash-jet pilot battle over CJIA hangar By Leonard Gildarie Government is locked in a legal battle with the operators of a private hangar at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). According to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, on October 15 last, a three-year lease to Captain Khamraj Lall and his local air charter company expired. The Ministry subsequently wrote the jet company signaling intentions not to renew the lease. However, the company filed a lawsuit claiming it spent millions to construct the hangar and as such objected to the ending of the lease. Responding to questions from reporters yesterday, Patterson said that based on advice from the chambers of the Attorney General, the lease could be ended, and the company would have to “move”. Government is not looking for another private hangar arrangement in the current situation. Rather, the area may well

Captain Khamraj Lall be suited more for cargo handling, in light of increasing activities in this field, the official said. The hangar was thrown into spotlight late in 2014 after Captain Lall, a well known businessman in Guyana, was arrested in Puerto Rico with more than US$600,000 in cash he had stashed on his jet plane. He was placed before the courts for not declaring the cash. Under a deal with prosecutors, he has pleaded guilty to

one charge, It was one of two planes that Lall owned and operated out of that private hangar at CJIA. There had been allegations that Lall was given special privileges, being allowed easy access to the hangar, located in CJIA property, without proper security checksallegations that were refuted by former administration. Lall owns a limousine service and Kaylees Gas Station near the Soesdyke/Linden junction, East Bank Demerara. Following his arrest in Puerto Rico, the then PPP/C Government insisted that the hangar’s operations were above board. Earlier this year, Lall who has homes in Florida and New Jersey, was arrested for conspiracy to traffic drugs. The US has moved to seize the two planes of Lall, the US$600,000 cash and other properties. The matters are engaging courts spanning New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico, another US territory.

Lall’s private hangar at CJIA

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Kaieteur News

Friday January 01, 2016

Mobile Wizard 10/10 update:

Games resume with leading teams clashing Settle XI, Speedboat, Crossbreed Warriors, Wolf’s Warriors, and Omesh XI to feature The Mobile Wizard 10/10 organized by the Guyana Softball League and sponsored by Rohan Furniture Establishment, Miss Love Trading, Trophy Stall, Wolf’s Furniture Store and Imtiaz and Imran Hack continues this weekend with some very exciting match ups in the round robin rounds. The tournament’s leaders will find a hectic round this coming weekend with several teams challenging to become the difference. The fixtures are as follows: AT RUBY GROUND: WOLF’S WARRIORS VERSUS SETTLE XI Wolf’s Warriors coming off a lay off will be looking to rebound after their loss to Speedboat and to rectify the problems they had during that match. Settle XI will be hoping to unsettle their nemesis and the makeup of the team have some of Wolf’s Warriors former players. This match will be filled with exciting play. WOLF’S WARRIORS

VERSUS BRICKERY ALL STARS: Brickery will be hoping for a win here to enter the top six so as to qualify for the quarter finals. SETTLE XI VERSUS OMESH XI: The teams are evenly matched and a win here will enhance their points standing. This will provide some tussle and entertainment for the spectators. OMESH XI VERSUS ZEEBURG WARRIORS OMESH XI will be hoping to extend their lead in points as a very talented but inexperienced Zeeburg Warriors try to live up to expectations. BRICKERY ALL STAR VERSUS ZEEBURG WARRIORS Both teams will be looking for a win to enhance their chances of entering the top six. LEONORA PRIMARY SCHOOL GROUND: SPEEDBOAT SC VERSUS POWER XI

Speedboat XI will be going all out to maintain their unbeaten run so far in this tournament having already gotten past Wolf’s Warriors. Power XI will be hoping to break into the top six with a win. SPEEDBOAT SC VERSUS LEONORA YOUTHS Leonora youths will look to maintain their standing thus keeping the others at bay in points and will look to their skipper Imtiaz Hack to come good in the batting to offer a challenge to the opposition. CROSSBREED WARRIORS VERSUS MMZ XI Crossbreed Warriors will be looking to carry on and maintain their points standing as their bowling is coming on in the last round. MMZ XI will hope to upset their opponents and take a step up in the points table. SPEEDBOAT SC VERSUS VIPER XI An ever improving Viper XI will offer a stern test for

the Speedboat Boys and the spectators are in for a treat in this format. Both teams boast a very strong batting line up and the fireworks will erupt at some stage in the match. CROSSBREED WAR-

ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Don't waste time today, Aries. Act with courage. Tap your primal nature and throw caution to the wind. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) There's a powerful force urging you to act today, Taurus. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Put the pedal to the metal today and have confidence in all your actions, Gemini. There's a great deal of power in your words. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Something about silence doesn't seem right to you today, Cancer. Keep talking. Eventually someone will say something meaningful. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Despite all your rage, you're still just a rat in a cage. Get out of your box, Leo. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may be anxious to say what's on your mind today, Virgo. LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Your mind is extra clear today, Libra. Make sure you're helping yourself as well as others.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Do your thing today, Scorpio, and don't take garbage from others. Take control of the issue when you see that something needs to get done. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You will be able to think clearly today, Sagittarius. Do the best you can with what you have to work with. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Don't wait for an invitation to speak your mind, Capricorn. No one will ask what you think. Express yourself. You've given other people plenty of time to have their say. It's now time to chime in with your opinion. Don't be an observer. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your mind is sharp as a tack today, Aquarius. There's a great deal of power behind your thoughts, so use it wisely. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) What are you waiting for, Pisces? You aren't going to meet anyone new by staying inside all the time. You aren't going to become a rock star if you never pick up an instrument.

Meanwhile the one ball manto will enter the qualifying stage and winners will feature at the quarters onwards in the tournament for a grand prize, compliments of Miss Love Trading.

Stag Super XVI

Mahaica penalized for playing unregistered player; will now play 3rd place The Organisers of the second edition of the Stag Super XVI knockout football tournament have been forced to penalize Mahaica Determinators for fielding an unregistered player in the ongoing tournament which will climax this evening at the Golden Grove ground. Playing excellent football during the tournament, Mahaica had downed Ann’s Grove United 4-3 on penalty

LABA Christmas... Friday Jan 01, 2016

RIORS VERSUS IRFAAN XI Crossbreed Warriors and Irfaan XI will look to stamp their authority as they both are from Leonora, therefore they will fight to be the best team from these parts.

(From page 31) shooting forward Kevin Easton and a supporting cast that has done them proud this past season, they have a good chance of coming out victorious tomorrow night. At the same time in all fairness Raiders will be coming into this game confident that they have what it takes to stop the Bulls. With the four former national players in captain Neil Marks, Dwayne ‘Brown Sugar’ Roberts, Marvin Hartman and Abdulla Hamid, they may be a more than a handful along with the boost given by the efforts of current national Keon Cameron and the inclusion of Louis Webster and with Alexander Rose and Duel Garner, they can look to another good game. The championship is sponsored by beverage giants Banks DIH and several trophies, cash incentives and medals are at stake for the various winners. The third prize was awarded to the Victory Valley Royals, who were beaten in the semifinal by Half Mile Bulls, but the fourth prize has been scrapped due to the fact that Amelia’s Ward Jets failed to complete their semifinal game against Raiders and lost by forfeiture, hence their disqualification from the tournament.

kicks in the first semifinal on December 29th last at the Golden Grove ground to book a final place with defending champions, Grove Hi Tech. That will no longer be as Ann’s Grove have been awarded a place in the final as a result of Mahaica’s breach of the rules. Subsequent to the match, Ann’s Grove lodged a protest pointing out that Eion Abel was not a registered player with the Mahaica club. Investigations by the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) revealed that Mr. Abel is indeed a player still on the roster of Monedderlust Football Club. The Guyana

Football Federation subsequently confirmed that the information about Abel being a member of Monedderlust was accurate. The competition rules, clause 7, clearly states that no guest players would be allowed. The Guyana Football Federation had also informed its affiliates via letter that no guest players would be allowed in any of the year-end tournaments. As a result of this breach, Mahaica will now contest the third place match against Victoria Kings this evening from 19:00hrs with Ann’s Grove United facing Grove Hi Tech in the final.

Friday January 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

Page 63

Name Stadium Stands for Guyana’s 50th Anniversary By Sean Devers As we start the most significant year in our history I believe the Government should honour those who have given outstanding contributions to cricket in Guyana by having their names affixed to the Stands at the Providence Stadium as part of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations next May. The Media Center should be named the Reds Perrier Media Centre, while the RED Stand could be named after Rohan Kanhai & Alvin Kalicharran, the GREEN Stand after the late Roy Fredericks, the ORANGE Stand after Clive Lloyd and GRASS Mound or Party Stand after Shiv Chanderpaul. Colin Croft and Lance Gibbs’ names should at the Northern and Southern ends to inspire those bowling from those ends.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Roy Fredericks

Rohan Kanhai

Clive Lloyd

The Guyana National Stadium at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara was completed for the 2007 Cricket World Cup and it has been almost nine years since the Stadium hosted its first International game in the World Cup match on March 28, 2007

when South Africa battled Sri Lanka. Guyana is the only Country in the West Indies that has an International Cricket venue without names of past Players, Administrators or Journalists on its stands. In Jamaica there is the

George Headley stand, in Trinidad & Tobago there is the Brian Lara Pavilion, in Barbados there is the 3Ws stand, honouring Clyde Walcott, Everton Weeks and Sir Frank Worrell, arguable the best West Indies Captain of all time. Even in small Islands like Antigua, the entire venue is named after its most famous Cricketer; Sir Vivian Richards while in Dominica International Umpire Billy Doctrove’s name adorns one of the stands there. Guyana has produced 49 Test cricketers since Maurice Fernandes became the first in the inaugural Test match against England in 1928 in addition to several other persons who have made outstanding contributions to the development of Guyana’s

cricket over the years and it is time our cricketing stalwarts are honoured by naming the stands at Providence after the most illustrious of the lot. The last Government showed little interest in honouring our former Cricketers (or other sports personalities for that matter) in any meaningful way and the stands at Guyana’s only International Cricket venue are still being referred to as ‘Red Stand, Green Stand, Orange Stand and Grass Mound. When doing commentary in Barbados you would say “in comes ‘whoever’ from the Joel Garner end” or when in Jamaica ‘whoever’ moves in smoothly from the Michael Holding end” but at Provi-

5th Annual Banks Beer Knockout Cup

Mid-field mastery could determine today’s outcome -Bragging rights up for grabs in third place playoff With all the participating teams left out of the Elite status grouping, today’s final in the 5th Annual Banks Beer Knockout Cup will no doubt bear much significance since the two finalists will be aiming to prove that their absence from the privileged consortium was a major omission. Today at the National Stadium, West Ruimveldtbased Western Tigers will face Mocha-based Riddim Squad from 21:00hrs in what is anticipated to be a riveting contest between two teams that were clearly the best in the competition. In the playoff for third place, Georgetown’s Santos FC tackle Berbice’s New Amsterdam United in a battle for bragging rights that should produce fireworks from 19:00 hrs. The feature clash has all the hallmarks of a bruising affair with the Tigers form giving them the slight edge against a team that is no way short of determination. The Tigers were impressive winners over NA United in their semi-final clash, beating them 3-0, while Riddim Squad after being held 1-1, before prevailing 3-2 in the penalty shootout. The Georgetown unit has displayed ripping form to date, netting a fearsome

thirteen goals from three matches and should this goal-scoring rampage continue then their opponents might find the going too tough to survive. The lethal Randolph Wagner has been in terrific form, slamming in a tournament leading six goals, while the experienced trio of Dwayne Ali, Jamal Pedro and Darren Benjamin has contributed significantly. To add to their offensive proficiency, their backline has been sturdy like the rock of Gibraltar, with one goal conceded so far so both on paper and performance the Tigers seems set to cart off the top prize. However, Riddin Squad are no strangers to championship games, having made the final in 2012 when they lost so making amends will be the foremost on their minds.. They too are a potent team in offence, netting nine times from three matches with the Hope siblings Sceyon and Sheldon along with Teon Jones featuring significantly. Sceyon has three goals, while Sheldon and Jones have so far contributed two apiece. They too have been solid defensively, allowing a mere two goals to breach their

defence so the two teams appear strong on both ends of the field so it could come down to which team creates more chances to score. On the defensive end, the Mocha unit has the second best recorded record as they have shipped in two goals in their three matches. The Santos versus New Amsterdam United affair should be a good contest. Both teams have looked strong both defensively and in attack and it could come down to which one bury their chances. United Jamal Butts has scored three times along with two strikes from Delroy Ferdinand and Keon Williams and they have all shown impressive skill so Santos backline will have to be wary of their offensive abilities. For Santos, Dwayne McLean, Andy Parvantan and Travis Fitzpatrick have been the leading marksmen with two goals apiece and they are expected once again to lead the charge for the third spot. The winning team will take home $2 million and the championship trophy, while the second, third and fourth place finishers will collect $1million, $500,000 and $250,000 respectively along with trophies.

dence you are unable to attach any names to the two ends which could of course be used to promote Guyana in a positive light by letting the millions listening know that ‘so and so’ is from this Country. The stadium was built by the Government of Guyana with substantial financial assistance through a grant and a loan from the Government of India and can accommodate 15,000 people. Efforts should be made to install an electronic scoreboard which could also be used as a replay screen to upgrade the Stadium to a truly World Class venue. When asked about the naming of the Stands, Sports Minister Nicolette Henry stated that she did not want to spend the next five years defending the names. However, many of those names adorned the stands at Bourda for over two decades without any complaints. Minster Henry has an outstanding background in the Medical field but seems not too familiar with the dynamics of Sports. She would have been better served in the Ministry of Heath. Christopher Jones, who has done a lot since being appointed Director of Sports is more suited for the position of Sports Minister.

One more event added to Rising Sun Horserce meet set for this Sunday Over 65 expected to participate prize money increased One new event has been added to the much anticipated, inaugural “Mohammed “Nankoo” Shariff Memorial one day horserace meet slated for this Sunday at the Rising Sun Turf Club, Arima Park West Coast Berbice. The event organised by the RSTC is being held in collaboration with Banks DIH Limited, Inshan Bacchus Trucking Service and The Trophy Stall of Bourda Market. Other main sponsors on board are the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, Rising Sun Cattle Ranch, Habla Meat Centre and the Chester fried Chicken, Bush Lot West Coast Berbice. The event, which will begin the 2016 racing season, will now be an eight event card with prize monies now reaching the $5M mark. The new event added to the days programme will see horses classified D3 maiden and E winners competing in

the 1100M even for a winning purse of $400,000 and trophy. Among those entered for that event are Precise Gold, Storm Bird, Storm Mark, Red and Lovely, Appealing Harvest and Big Man Boss among others. The featured event remains the Shariff Memorial 1400M classic for animals classified D and lower for a first prize of $700,000 and trophy. Horses entered so far include Just call me Boss, Princess she not, Good Will Boy and Lady Budapest. The other races are the E and lower 1400M event for a winning take of $500,000 and trophy. The G class event has a winners money of $300,000 and trophy over 1400M. There is an event for horses classified H2 and lower with the winner set to take home $220,000 and a trophy. The horses classified J and lower will be racing for a

winner’s cheque of $180,000 and trophy over 1100M. The final two events are for animals classified J and Lower and K and lower respectively. The distances are 1100M and the winner will take home $150,000 and $100,000 dollars and trophies respectively. Ramesh Sunich, Proprietor of Trophy Stall, will once again be providing awards for the top individual performers including the top jockey, trainer and stables. The Race will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority. For further information persons can contact Fazal Habibulla at Chester Fry, Bush Lot, West Coast, Berbice on Tel No 232-0232 or 6577010, Donald or Zaleena Lawrie on telephone no 2254530, 225-4565 and Dennis DeRoop on 609-9143. Race Time is 12:30 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)

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Kaieteur News

Hetmyer to lead West Indies at Under-19 World Cup

Shimron Hetmyer is set to play in his second Under-19 World Cup © WICB ESPNcricinfo - Shimron Hetmyer has been named captain of West Indies for the Under-19 World Cup to be held in Bangladesh in January-February 2016. Hetmyer, who was also featured in the 2014 edition of the tournament in the United Arab Emirates, is one of two players along with Alzarri Joseph, the pacer, to have firstclass experience. Hetmyer made his firstclass debut for Guyana in April 2014, and has played five matches since. Joseph, meanwhile, made his debut for

Leeward Islands and has picked up 17 wickets in five matches, with a best of 7 for 46. “We have put together a group of players we believe will perform for the West Indies,” said Clive Lloyd, the WICB chairman of selectors. “We see them as future Test cricketers for the West Indies and this tour is an opportunity for them to be exposed at the international level against strong opposition.” West Indies are placed in Group C alongside England, Fiji and Zimbabwe. They open their campaign on Janu-

ary 29 against Fiji in Chittagong. Prior to the tournament, West Indies will play Bangladesh Under-19 in a three-match series as part of their preparation for the World Cup. Squad: Shimron Hetmyer (capt), Keemo Paul, Kacey Carty, Shahid Crooks, Michael Frew, Jyd Goolie, Tevin Imlach, Ryan John, Alzarri Joseph, Kirstan Kallicharan, Obed McCoy, Gidron Pope, Odean Smith, Shamar Springer, Emmanuel Stewart.

Friday January 01, 2016

Stag Super XVI Final – Grove Hi Tech and Ann’s Grove collide for $1.5m Mahaica face Victoria in 3rd place match; RDX for live show The second edition of the Stag Super XVI knockout football tournament is set for a dream emphatic climax this evening at the Golden Grove ground, East Coast Demerara with the grand final between defending champion Grove Hi Tech (East Bank FA) and last year’s beaten finalists, Ann’s Grove United (East Demerara FA). The third place match features Victoria Kings and Mahaica Determinators; the final will be followed by a live show featuring Jamaican artiste RDX along with a number of local singers including Shelly G. With a total of two million dollars at stake in the championship match, $1.5M for the winner and $500,000 for the loser, fans, which turned out in their numbers on semifinal night, December 29th last at the same venue are in for a humdinger of a finish to this tournament. Grove, despite being without the services of last year’s joint leading goal scorer and tournament MVP Domini Garnett, have showed grit and fight in advancing to back to back finals and will have the opportunity to put their stamp on the three-association tournament which also involved teams from the West Demerara Football Association. Their {Grove Hi Tech} passage to the final was not a walk in the park as their first match was decided on penalty kicks after a 2-2 tie with Golden Stars. In their quarter final game they took care of Pouderoyen 2-0 and were

pushed all the way against Victoria Kings whom they eventually beat 3-1 in extra time in the second semi final. The leading East Bank side should be primed for tonight’s showdown with old rival Ann’s Grove who they trounced 5-0 in the inaugural final. The defending champions have scored a total of seven goals while conceding three. Teaming up with the hope of taking their side to championship glory once again would be Orson Francois, Denzil Crawford, Lloyd Matthews, Akeem Jones, Romel Matthews and Dexter Archer who have all scored once so far; underscoring the fact that it has been lots of team work. Their approach which has been businesslike is expected to be no different. But coming up against a side that has sneaked into the final by default will be no easy challenge since the Ann’s Grove side would have a beef to settle. Ann’s Grove defeated two West Demerara teams, Eagles (2-1) and Beavers (4-0) in easing to the semi-final when they were upset by Mahaica Determinators on penalty kicks 4-3 after a 0-0 stalemate. Mahaica orchestrated their own demise by playing an unregistered player. Ann’s Grove will have to pull out all the stops in order to halt the championships hungry Grove Hi Tech side. Playing at home will be a plus for Ann’s Grove but the East Bank side has proved twice that they are capable of spoiling the home party.

Shafeer Sanichar who has scored twice to date will certainly be one of the main players for Ann’s Grove tonight as will Jamain Rogers, Anil Hernandez, Kevon Barry and Andrew Murray who have all found the back of the nets. This final has all the ingredients for an explosive showdown and fans will no doubt be out in their numbers to absorb. The third place game between Victoria Kings and Mahaica has a total of $500,000 at stake with $300,000 going to the winner. Both teams played tough football throughout the tournament and in the semi final and will be aiming to end the competition on a high. Kings will turn to their experienced soldiers in the form of Calvin DeSouza, Winston Pompey and Aubrey Gibson to lead their victory bid which will also include Alden Lawrence who has a double to his credit so far. Quincy Holder, Samuel Charles, Eion Abel, Captain Shameer Nazir, Dillon Charles, Andrew Williams, Azumah and Kurt Roberts will all be fancying their chances of pulling off another big win with their win over Ann’s Grove still fresh in their memories. Following the end of the on field proceedings, fans will then turn their attention to the after show that has been organised by tournament sponsor, Ansa McAl. Jamaican artiste RDX will headline the show and will be supported by a number of local artistes’s including Shelly G among others.

The Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Foundation, named in honour of arguably one of Linden’s greatest footballers, has once again given out bursary awards to two of Linden’s brightest performers at this year’s National Grade Six Examinations. Benefitting this year are Ms. Nkechi Layne, who sat the examinations while attending the Regma Primary School and obtained 521 marks, while another Regma Primary School pupil Ms. Azzarreya Allicock gained 518 marks and they are currently students at Queen’s College. The yearly award once

again supports the United States-based Foundation’s aim to continue to give back to Linden, not necessarily in the football arena for which they have established themselves with their annual Inter Secondary School Under-18 football championship, but in other areas of interest and endeavours for the people of Linden. This Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond tournament has clearly aided in the development of the game at the school level, and more-so in promoting soccer where Linden now boasts the four-times Digicel National Secondary Schools

Football Champions the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School, who incidentally are also the Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Schools Champions. Resident representative for the Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Foundation, Mr. James Craig, handed over the bursary awards to the two top performers at the current Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) GT Beer championship which is being contested at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. Craig congratulated the two young lasses and encouraged them, to continue to make Linden proud.

Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Foundation once again gives back to Linden’s brightest stars

Friday January 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

UDFA GT Beer final tonight

Shattas stand in way of Winners Connection going for three-peat Rawle Gittens

Marmalaque Davidson

Rawlston Fraser

Colwyn David Drakes

The grand finale of the Upper Demerara Football Association GT Beer year end championship is set for tonight when the two-time champions Federal Winners Connection and surprise finalists Silver Shattas clash at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. In the history of this third annual championship, the Wi n n e r s C o n n e c t i o n seemingly owns it having never lost a game in this tournament, and seeking to build on that reputation against a side that hopes to clear a huge hurdle this time around. Following the semifinals played on Wednesday night, Winners Connection, aided by an ‘own goal’ which sliced off the boot of Topp XX defender Ruel Williams into the far corner giving his goalkeeper Tevin Crawford absolutely no chance of completing a save, one minute from the end of regulation play (89th minute), saw the defending champions win 1-0 and reach their third straight final; while two first half goals from strikers Colwyn Drakes in the 18th and Rawlston Fraser 43rd minutes were enough to eliminate Net Rockers 2-0. The losing semifinalist will be playing the first game tonight at 6.15pm and the championship game involving Winners Connection and Silver Shattas is set for 8.15pm. Going into this game

Shattas will have their forwards Rawlston Fraser and promising Colwyn David Drakes being their main seekers for goals, but they have the former Topp XX player Leon ‘Woody’ Clement in the middle and other players like Dillon Allicock, Rommel Matthews, Michael Wilson, Deon Benjamin, and Kellon Major, while in goal will be Kellon Adams. Their opponents, Wi n n e r s C o n n e c t i o n , seeking for a third straight win is hinged on their outstanding strikers in veteran Rawle ‘Boney’ Gittens, and 20 year old Marmalaque Davidson with their middle men being the efficient Gary Thompson, Keon Sears and Linden Nichols, while their defence will be taken care of by Marlon Maxius, Derrol Dainty and in goal is Shaquille Frank. The champions will cart off $800,000, second place gets $500,000, third collects $300,000 and fourth $100,000 along with several trophies, replicas, and other awards which are on offer.

Topp XX face Net Rockers for consolation third place

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Friday January 01, 2016

Maximum Sports Combat & Strength jumpstarts 2016 With prayers and inclusion of heads of facilitated sports disciplines Guyana’s most popular, most-watched sports show, aired every Friday on NCN from 2100hrs, is set for a special, spectacular New year’s night 90-minute presentation tonight from 20.30 hrs — 2200hrs, beginning with prayers from highly regarded representatives of Guyana’s Religious denominations, (Christian, Muslim, Hindu,

& Rastafari), a symbol of Nationwide inclusivity for the positive and continuous momentum of viewership growth, with its inspiring, informative, and entertaining content, a release from the organiser informed. The Producer, sports e n t h u s i a s t M r. M a x Massiah, noted that due to the overwhelming response

from sports personalities and the general public, comprising of all ages and ethnicities, and with the first programme for 2016 actually being on the first day of the year, the success of any and all endeavors begins with prayers, and in heralding in a new year, what a better way to do so than to give thanks and praises in all-inclusive

prayer sermons to the various individual religious sectors of treasured viewers, sponsors, operators, supporters, personalities and athletes who have graced the show as guests. The Producer added that other guests on tonight’s programme will be the representatives of Combat & Strength sports, (Boxing, Bodybuilding, Powerlifting,

Hwang Jang Lee (Silver Fox) and Max Massiah (left) and Martial Arts) such as the Guyana Amateur Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation, the Guyana Powerlifting Federation, Guyana Boxing Board of Control, Guyana Olympic Association, the Guyana Sports Commission, Senior Instructors of Martial Arts Schools, and President of the G u y a n a B o x i n g Association, Steve Ninvalle. MAXIMUM SPORTS COMBAT & STRENGTH has been notably receiving worldwide attention, with the ‘Legends of Martial Arts Committee” conferring a “Legends of Martial Arts Hall-of-Fame Award” on its producer for “Extraordinary Contributions to Martial Arts” on October 10th, 2015, in Pennsylvania, USA. “Max”, as he is popularly known, has received invitations to travel to countries such as Pakistan and Russia, to attend tournaments, for the purpose of acquiring valuable video footage for the programme, but unfortunately was unable to attend due to other pressing engagements and priorities, but stated that in 2016 he will ensure such

opportunities are accommodated for the highly beneficial value of the show’s viewers. Mr. Massiah holds a Certificate in Television Production presented by the University of Guyana’s Centre for Communication Studies, is a Certified GBA Boxing Coach, Referee, and Judge, a 2nd degree Black Belt Martial Artist, been involved in bodybuilding for over 35 years, and has an unquenchable passion for sports/fitness health development, which are assets for a quality programme. “General” Sponsors of the programme are Fitness Express, Guyana Karate College, Jermins Enterprise, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, Industrial Supply of Guyana, Nexgen Global Marketing, and Comfort Sleep. Giftland Mall is a “Special” Sponsor, while A. Ally & Sons are the “Main” sponsor. Support has also been given by the Ministry Of Education, Culture, Youth & Sports. The programme enters its 79th edition tonight. Be sure to watch.

Friday January 01, 2016

Kaieteur News

LABA Christmas Basketball final set for tomorrow night Unbeaten Raiders to face youthful Bulls in a scorcher

Terron Welch

Michael Turner

Dwayne Roberts

How well the Bulls have recovered from their narrow loss to the unbeaten Retrieve Raiders, will be the factor by which the end result will be had when the two sides collide at 9.00pm for the Malta Supreme Christmas basketball title, organized by the Linden Amateur Basketball Association, tomorrow night at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard

court. This clash is one being viewed by basketball fans as an East versus West of Linden feature and will be sparked by another such clash when the East meets the West in an Under-19 game at 7.00pm. The Bulls will seek to turn their fortunes around after looking unbeatable until they lost to the Raiders with their up tempo game.

Their crop of players will be led by the national trio of Terron Welch, Dennis Niles and Michael Turner who are all in good form. But the young brigade of future players in the Bulls team which also includes Keifer ‘Skipper’ Tappin, will be a tough opponent, and should they remain focused with inside man Shane Lewis, (Continued on page 25)

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t r o Sp

Stag Super XVI Final – Grove Hi Tech and Ann’s Grove collide for $1.5m Mahaica face Victoria in 3rd place match; RDX for live show

A Section of the crowd at the semi finals at the Golden Grove ground.

5th Annual Banks Beer Knockout Cup

Mid-field mastery could determine today’s outcome

Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond Foundation once again gives back to Linden’s brightest stars

-Bragging rights up for grabs in third place playoff

Edward ‘Screw’ Richmond winners (from left) Nkechi Layne, representative Jamie Craig and Azzarreya Allicock after receiving the awards. Randolph Wagner

Sceyon Hope

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