Thursday January 05, 2017
Reclaim Red House but retain the legacy of Cheddi Jagan DEAR EDITOR, Rather than debate the legality of the Red House lease, I wish to focus on a most simple yet profound issue related to yet another Granger Administration blunder. It is simply this: smashing that “Cheddi Jagan signboard” has conveyed to a large portion of Guyanese that the repossession of the property is more political than legal. Honourable Minister Amna might as well stick to emphasising the President’s facilitating the five “Bs” for school-going youths, rather than thinking that “consultations” with Hindu and Muslim reps will engender any national inter-ethnic “cohesion.” When you assault or delegitimise people’s heroes, no Ethnic Relations Commission or constitution can legislate harmony, much more love. My position is also as follows: I agree that the PPP’s Jagdeo/Ramotar element of possessive greed was the motive for all the PPP administration /PPP- as Party manoeuvring to acquire the Red House State Property/ Heritage Site for themselves exclusively. President Granger’s decision to rectify that should not be faulted. But it is my position too
that, whether National Trust or some other entity, the works of Cheddi Jagan should be allowed to remain in Red House. Multiple “Presidential Libraries” cannot be adequately accommodated in that one edifice. As a matter of historical fact, Forbes Burnham’s life and works deserve an equally-imposing sanctuary to be aptly named. Instead of smashing the image/symbol of Cheddi’s contributions, some team should be assembled to write an objective professional biography of Linden FS Burnham. Respectfully I suggest that historian Granger himself seemingly a proud PanAfricanist and one who reveres Forbes- should head that biographers’ group in his spare time (I’m re-starting a little assignment to highlight President Granger’s recorded views and assessment of Forbes and his pieces on the “marginalisation/alienation of African Guyanese.”) Already the PPP has scored solid political points in politicising the saga of the Red House lease. That was easily handed to them by the sign-board wreckers. So as the legalities attend, I say reclaim the building, but retain Cheddi’s legacy. Allan A Fenty
Sasenarine Singh is a person that has no redemptive quality DEAR EDITOR, This is my final response to Mr. Sasenarine Singh in our polemics, which began after his dishonest commentary on the 2017 National Budget. In his letter that was published on Thursday, December 29, 2016 in Kaieteur News under the caption: “The role of Ogunseye in Walter Rodney’s death”, he again demonstrated the shallowness of his arguments and his desperation to get himself accepted as a person of worth. More so in his recent letter on Sunday, January 01,2017 in KN, captioned “APNU+AFC should not trust Tacuma Ogunseye” Singh has sank more deeply into his cesspit of lies and deception. It is clear that on each occasion he has written in response to me. All Singh has done is to confirm that he is without integrity. It has become very clear that this man lacks selfrespect. In his attempt to prove his obsession with his “gold coins” arguments directed at me, he has erroneously cred-
ited me with an annual income at SARU of G$8 million. What a thing. If this income is at all true it would place me on a level that is nearly equal to that of a junior minister in the coalition government and higher than many of the specialist advisers to the government. Sase Singh has demonstrated that he is such an idiot he does not even know how to lie convincingly. It is clear that he has no respect for truth. As I said at the commencement of my letter this is my final response to Singh. I am therefore taking this opportunity to offer Mr. Singh a last chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the public. Since he did not object to my reference to him as an anti- corruption advocate, I now ask him if his sense of corruption extends beyond economics and into the social domain? If his answer is yes, I call on him to tell the nation what is his position on domestic violence? Is he prepared to give us an assurance that he is not a wife beater? Tacuma Ogunseye
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Ownership of Red House should reside within the National Trust DEAR EDITOR, I thank Mr. Ralph Ramkarran for his letter in KN of January 4. . The former Speaker knows the high esteem in which I hold him as the last great intellectual, already precious few as they were, previously attached to the People’s Progressive Party. His intervention has clarified for me why it is that the PPP has so confidently challenged the claim of the invalidity of the ‘Red House lease’ and why they simultaneously so studiously avoid reference to the National Trust Act. I can perhaps begin with a parable. Let us imagine there is a bridegroom of high standing, a king perhaps, who gets married to a beautiful, blushing bride. After a decade of marriage, he enters a civil union with a well-known, powerful concubine, one which the courtiers denounce as illegitimate. The king confidently says it is not and when the courtiers eventually produce the original marriage
certificate, they find that he is technically right since while there was the pomp and ceremony and while the bride’s signature is clear, they discover that he has conveniently omitted his. In wake of Red House’s controversial new relationship with Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, Inc, and the rights of the presumptive original legitimate spouse, the National Trust, I rather suspect that a similar omission may be at play.Let us reexamine Section 15 of the National Trust Act: “(1) Where it appears to the National Trust that it is in the public interest that any monument should be preserved on account of the historic, architectural or archaeological interest attaching to it or its national importance the Trust may, by notice published simultaneously in the Gazette and one newspaper circulating in Guyana, declare the monument to be a national monument. (2) Upon publication of a
notice under subsection (1) relating to a monument such monument, without further assurance, becomes the property of, and vests in, the National Trust, and where immovable property has, by virtue of this section, vested in the National Trust the Registrar of Deeds shall take due notice thereof and shall make such annotations on the records as may be necessary.” Properly executed, Red House and the lands upon which it stands (Lots 65, 66 & 67 High Street, Kingston) should have passed into the ownership of the National Trust and subject to the Section 3 (1) of the Act requiring explicit ministerial consent before lease. The only scenario in which indefeasible ownership via transport had not been passed to the Trust is if the Registrar of Deeds failed to take due notice, under Section 15 (2), of the vesting of ownership “without further assurance” of immovable property in the Trust and hence failed also to “make such annotations on the
records as may be necessary”, or if such annotation cannot be found. If one were to examine the relevant Deeds Registry documents concerning the gazetting of Red House as a national monument, I suspect that there will either be an omission of requisite annotations or an absence of proof thereof. Indeed, Mr. Ramkarran more than hints as much when he says “It may well be that an Order transferring ownership of the property to the National Trust is required to perfect the National Trust’s title and that until such time, the property remains in the transported owner.” In that scenario, the status quo remains unchanged for Lots 65, 66 & 67 by virtue of the transport remaining the property of, by procedural omission, the Lands and Surveys Commission (instead of passing to the National Trust) therefore clearing the way for the ‘lease’ under the Commission – in brief, the bridegroom neglected his duty to sign his original marriage contract and hence effectively remained legitimately available until his Continued on page 6
DEAR EDITOR, The recent flooding of Georgetown and much of the coastal areas is indicative of how very little the PNC+APNU (coalition) government has done to plan, develop and execute strategies necessary in a coordinated way to prevent the yearly recurring flooding of coastal Guyana which is causing serious economic losses to the country. There have been several reports advising the government what should be done to prevent flooding of the coastland due to heavy rainfall. Recently the Dutch Risk Reduction (DRR) Team provided a report with recommendations to tackle the drainage of Georgetown and its environs. There is also a report by a committee headed by Major General Joe Singh which submitted recommendations for the drainage of Georgetown, its suburbs and other coastal areas. According to the Deputy Mayor of Georgetown, Sherod Duncan, the reports have been archived awaiting consideration by the M&CC as its members are too busy with the holidays as well as getting the city’s parking meters installed for the start of the new year. The Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder is responsible under statute for drainage and irrigation (D&I)
through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) in the Declared D&I areas. Unfortunately he appears to be oblivious to the plight of the people living in those areas as they suffer from regular flooding without much being done to address the causes of the problems, and it seems they cannot take the NDIA to task for their losses as is done elsewhere. Brigadier David Granger, President of Guyana stated in his New Year message to the Guyanese people that, “the Green State [Guyana] this year will become an engine of economic diversification and enhance competitiveness”. He failed, however, to state what his coalition has done since taking office nearly two years ago to grow the economy and create jobs for the many waiting in the corridors. He spoke of the development of renewable sources of electric generation from hydro, solar and wind, but
nothing on D&I or proposals to improve the existing countrywide diesel power generation of electricity to prevent the regular black-outs which are hurting economic development. In any case, he should be aware that electricity from renewable sources will take about 5-10 years for financing and development to feed the national grid. President Granger cannot have the Ministry of Agriculture through its division NDIA, Ministry of Public Infrastructure and the M&CC all dabbling in the drainage problems of coastal areas in one way or another, with no one responsible for anything but lots of blame to throw around. The President has to set up a ministry totally re-
sponsible for drainage and irrigation matters in Guyana, as the current hodge-podge system now in place is just not working. National and regional plans have to be prepared, strategies developed and executed on a priority basis to achieve set objectives to prevent coastal areas from the flooding of homesteads and farmlands on a recurrent basis, and not to lay blame on El Niño for failed policies. There should be no broken pumps lying around, inoperable sluice doors, blocked outfall channels or employees sleeping on the job, since the D&I system has to be in readiness at all times to deal with the eventualities relating thereto. Charles Sohan
Faulting the Government on recurring flooding
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Thursday January 05, 2017
I always maintained that the Amaila Project was useful to Guyana DEAR EDITOR, On December 28, the Ministry of the Presidency issued a statement asserting that it “proposes to utilize a mix of energy options, starting with less risky options such as solar and wind, as outlined in Budget 2017”. The reason gives for this position from the Granger administration was that The Report from the Norwegian Consultants “provides supporting evidence that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) would not be optimal in its current model and presents an unbalanced risk to the Government and People of Guyana.” So was this the final conclusion
from the Consultants? After examining the Report I found on Page 37 the following statement attributed to these same consultants, “From a financial and economic point of view, development of Amaila Falls seems to be the optimal solution for meeting the electricity demand in Guyana. The project should be financially restructured in order to make it more attractive for GOG and potential investors.” On that same page, we also find more telling advice from the Expert Energy Consultants, “The financing challenge as a result of the perceived risk of investing in
Ownership of Red House... From page 5 betrothal to another. However, there is one critical factor that would impact the validity of the ‘lease of Red House’, and where t h e central metaphor of my humble parable falls. Section 15 (1) – once effected – put Red House, the monument, automatically in the hands o f the National Trust “without further assurance”. The principals of CJRC Inc. may have imagined, clev-
erly, that they could have leased the monument by virtue of leasing the land from under the monument, which would explain why what was originally prepared as a lease application properly involving the National Trust in 2000, became a lease application to the Lands and Surveys Commission in 2006, again in 2010, and then ‘successfully’ in 2012. Ruel Johnson Cultural Policy Advisor Government of Guyana
Sports journalist, Edison Jefford... From page 4 the sports shooting association for Archery to become a member when Baseball, which has question marks lingering over its Olympic status in Guyana, contested the Vice Presidency of the G.O.A. What Singh didn’t tell us is why all of a sudden at the end of the year 2016, Yassin goes to the airport to receive a sport team when we have teams travelling year-round and tournaments being held that don’t even see the shadow of Yassin. For stating these facts in several investigative articles and following his unopposed re-election because no one else was interested in contesting the post, Yassin told sport asso-
ciations and the media that we were disrespectful. At that same forum he also promised a post-election press conference. To-date there has been no press conference, which continues to underline the general secrecy that surrounds the operations at the Olympic body. Singh mentions criminality ad hominem Cricket and Football. I will leave those officials from those disciplines to respond to that, but suffice it to say, we know how much the FIFA Grant to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is and how much the WICB gives to the Guyana Cricket Board. What we do not know is anyone’s guess! Edison Jefford
Guyana would be the same for all projects of a similar size, and substituting AFHP with another hydropower project of a similar size would not make any difference.” But to reemphasize why AFHP is the best option for Guyana green energy needs, the Consultants said on Page 35 of the Report that, “from a system point of view, solar power is not sufficiently stable and can therefore not be recommended as the main source of power in the main grid. Solar may be used in offgrid areas with battery backup and or in the main grid for generation during day-time, but it cannot function as a source for base load power.” After reading this Report, I personally feel vindicated because when I opposed this project, my reasons were arrived at purely on financial grounds, my forte and not on the engineering reasons which I am no expert. So I will leave the engineering side to the Charles Sohans of the world. I said then that US$858 million project was too expensive and that the cost of equity for the sponsor was too high and the distribution of the risks were misaligned. But the then PPP government would have none of it and
pressed on with the flawed financial model to the nation’s detriment. The financial analysis that I personally constructed with some colleagues proved that the Jagdeo option was over priced (see -http:// www.stabroeknews.com/ 2011/opinion/letters/12/16/ there-should-be%E2%80%98tripartiteleadership%E2%80%99-onthe-amaila-project/). However I have always maintained that AFHP was important to Guyana. Therefore, I am deeply saddened by the actions today of Minister Patterson since he is not driving an agenda that can mold this nation on the energy front. Guyana is about to lose even more now, because of the Granger cabinet. The Norwegian suggesting some financial and engineering restructuring of the project, not abandonment as Minister Patterson is pushing. What is now absolutely clear is that Minister Patterson does not understand this project and it would be advisable to assemble a tripartite team of the Government/Opposition/Civil Society to advance the recommendations of these Experts.
What is clear is that Minister Patterson is not seeing that the “the annual payments from GPL may be reduced by 20% compared to the original proposal” as calculated by the consultants. But the bigger picture remains that having AFHP in place can significantly lower the current operating cost of GPL compared to this company using these gas guzzling generators. These savings can directly feed through to the ordinary people by reducing their light bills. It is now a clearly established fact as documented by this report, that AFHP is the most feasible and bankable alternative green options to bring reliable and low-cost green energy to Guyana; not solar or any other forms of energy. While all sorts of green energy especially that from the Hope Beach Wind Farm must be welcomed and are necessary, none of them can provide 164 MW of energy for 10 months in every year for 100 years at US$0.11 per Kwh in a reliable and dependable manner. I am shocked therefore by this position attributed as the recommendations of Minister Patterson to the cabinet that the AFHP presents an “unbal-
ance risk to the people of Guyana”. I am convinced this position is patently erroneous and weak. I cannot stand by and allow people who clearly are putting the future of the children of Guyana at risk because of their petty vindictiveness, inability to think big and ignorance at molding such a big deal. Minister Patterson’s actions reveal that he clearly cannot feel the pulse of the nation. People are fed up with black out and even if we successfully implement all the solar energy initiatives in the 2017 Budget, it will only sort out the energy needs of Mabaruma, Bartica, Mahdia and Lethem and a few other hinterland areas. That is less than 2% of the population. Who in their right mind would develop an energy agenda to progress the energy needs of 2% of the people and leave 98% of the nation in abeyance? Please permit me now to invite the Minister to examine more closely the accuracy of his positions and take the necessary actions to address the needs of the people and stop playing political games with such an important matter as the nation’s energy security. Sasenarine Singh
Award yourself the Gift of Presence DEAR EDITOR, Yes, 2017 is here already I am experiencing great difficulty in determining whether I will make a resolution or have a revolution. A resolution is a tricky business, and all of us have things that we could be doing better. There are ways we could improve ourselves, habits we know we should kick, steps we could take towards a happier, healthier life, such as eating healthy, more exercise, earlier bedtimes etc. However, everyone knows that despite its obvious attractiveness New Year resolutions are hard to keep, and very rarely achieve what they promise. A resolution focuses primarily on external behavior, and a revolution on internal beliefs, so while we externally declare that we are going to change, there is an internal discovery of why we won’t change. Perhaps we lack the willpower to keep up new routines over the long haul, or the resistance proves to be too great. On the other hand, maybe we push ourselves hard enough to reach our goals, only to find the gratification is short lived, it turns into selfrighteousness or is replaced immediately with another more difficult goal. Anyway,
whatever the revolution, most attempts to take control of our lives, New Year resolutions tend not to work. Plainly put I am looking to internal beliefs rather than forcing external behaviours, and I have no intention of mixing with humans who ask me about my New Year resolutions. So for 2017 I am not focusing on resolutions but on revolutions based on a single, simple duosyllabic word that will give focus and meaning to the entire year for most of us who dwell on this planet. My revolutionary word for 2017 is presence. Most of us can clearly recall our school years when during attendance call, “present”’ was the usual response to the inquirer indicating your being in class. In the upcoming year we must strive to be present in all we do, because living in the 21st century means that we are constantly connected to something or other, be it cell phone, laptop, I phone, earphones, smart phones, email, she mail all tending to make us more absent than present. Despite the fact that our mind and bodies are in one place, yet our hearts and minds are somewhere else. We are perpetually distracted and our presence is constantly absent. It is blatantly
apparent that the more connected we are with and within the digital world, the less present we are with ourselves and those around us even loved ones. While in the mall during the recent X –mass season, a young child darted out frantically from behind a display shelf, almost T- boning me, while calling out to her mother who was not yet in my immediate view. I watched with startled curiosity as the young child tried to reach her mother’s hand, then in a childish tone said, “Mommy, put the phone down”. She was frantically trying her childish best to get her mother’s attention, as she tried to show her a package clutched in her tiny hands. She could easily have said “Mom be present”. Taken for granted we fail to recognize the brevity and beauty of life, and that every breath we take is an opportunity to be fully present. It is somewhat regrettable that we allowed ourselves to be sucked into the ongoing commercialization of Christmas, when we can give more lasting, fundamental, and endurable gifts to each other, to our loved ones and dear friends— our presence — face-to-face presence. Presence demands that we inhabit
the moment, and most of all presence is a gift that cannot be imitated, replicated, or replaced by anyone else in the world. Let 2017 be the start of the internal revolution, when we are mindful and wholly present when in the presence of those we love and care for. Parents, and I mean both Mom and Dad, can start by being in the home and present with their school age child/ children. Allow her to complete her homework in your presence, read with him or be present to answer questions when asked, be present at the supper table to hear about the day’s happenings at school in the playground, the locker room or even what took place on the bus. Parents look into your children’s eyes and assure yourself that there is nothing else in the world that you need to be doing besides being present. Allow nothing to vie for your attention. The old cliché states that it is in giving that we receive. So for 2017, here’s the solution to the revolution— give the present that would last way beyond the season, presence and in doing be rewarded with the gift of wholeness. Yvonne Sam
Thursday January 05, 2017
GPL worker falls to his death from damaged utility pole A Guyana Power and Light employee lost his life yesterday after he came crashing down from a utility pole he was working on at Belvedere Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Dead is Brian David Clifford, 47, of Bush Lot Village. When this publication
ping himself, the post was leaning already”. The traumatized woman related that after a short while, she was sewing in her chair when she saw the post cracking from the bottom. “I saw the post was coming down and I start scream; I start to scream right away and
was at home when she received the dreadful news, “I was at home and my cousin that lives opposite came and told me that someone saw him going into the hospital.” She stated that she left her home immediately to go to the hospital. “When I reached there, they were trying to pump his
Dead: Brian Clifford (inset) the broken pole being removed. visited the area, GPL workers were seen erecting a new utility pole and removing the broken one. From information gathered by this publication, Clifford, who was scheduled to work the 3:00PM-11:00PM shift, was responding to a call that an excavator while working in the area damaged one of the wires running from the utility pole. According to Ulin Khempadoo who was at home when the incident took place, the excavator was clearing the trench just in front of her home when the front of the vehicle hit the pole and damaged an electric wire in the process. “I saw the thing was digging the trench and the thing hit the pole and the boys came from the electric company.” She stated, “The guy climb up and I saw him strap-
after that he came crashing down”. Another neighbour stressed that the pole should have been tested to determine whether it was strong enough to hold his weight, but this did not happen. Another eyewitness, Chan Khempadoo, stated that “the post fell first and he landed on the post and he face slam into a pot hole in front my yard on the street”. His colleagues who were with him at the time rushed to his assistance immediately and took him to the Anamayah Memorial Hospital where he was admitted in the emergency unit. Meanwhile during a visit to his home at Lot 414 Bush Lot Village, the dead man’s wife was seen sobbing uncontrollably as she was being comforted by relatives and friends. Mohanie Clifford told media operatives that she
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heart to get it to work”. According to her, it was too late. Through her tears she mustered the strength to praise her husband for the individual he was while alive. “He was everything to me” she cried out. “Yesterday me lie down with you today meh mourn fa you, Yuh bin suh good to meh; you were the rose of my life.” His daughter Lisa Clifford also spoke highly of her father as she emphasized the dedication he had towards his job. Brian Clifford was employed at the Guyana Power and Light as a Linesman for over 15 years. He recently received an award for his years of service to the power company. He leaves to mourn his two children aged 19 and 16, wife, parents other relatives and friends.
$27M fraud at GPL…
Magistrate recuses self from Carvil Duncan trial Magistrate Leron Daly has recused herself from the trial in which Carvil Duncan is accused of stealing $27,757,500 from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL). A trial in the matter was scheduled to commence yesterday in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. However, when the matter was called Magistrate Leron Daly announced that she would step down from the high profile case due to the fact that she presided over the trial for which Duncan was charged with stealing $984,900 from GPL. In that case, Magistrate Daly found Duncan, the former Director of GPL, not guilty as a result of insufficient prosecution evidence. It was alleged that Duncan stole the monies on March 31, 2015 at Georgetown. Duncan, 73, of Lot 1977 Williamstaad Road, Festival City, Georgetown will return to court today, when the matter will be called before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for reassignment. Duncan is out on $1M bail. Duncan and former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GPL Aeshwar Deonarine are accused of being part of a multi-million-dollar fraud at the company. They are alleged to have illegally transferred almost $28M to their personal bank accounts from GPL. The government had asked the police to investigate the two senior officials last year July. It was reported that the men paid themselves without authorization. In light of investigations, Deonarine was sent on administrative leave. The discoveries of the suspicious transfers were made by independent auditors who were probing the PetroCaribe Fund, which hold proceeds of oil shipments taken from
Carvil Duncan neighbouring Venezuela. It was while tracking payments to GPL that auditors unearthed the strange transactions. Deonarine, who had been responsible for administration, had reportedly wanted to receive the same level of pay as the then Deputy CEO (Technical), Colin Welch, but his approaches to the Board of Directors were rebuffed. He had reportedly offered to repay the money but GPL was supposed to have waited until it was transferred from his US bank account. In light of the revelations, joint charges were instituted against Duncan and Deonarine last year January for the theft of $984,900 and $27,757,500, respectively from the power company. However, Duncan was the only one present to answer to the charges since
Deonarine fled the country. The Chief Magistrate had issued a warrant for his arrest. A few months after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) withdrew the charges against Deonarine and the prosecution made a request to the court to have Deonarine’s names amended from the joint charges to proceed with the trial of Duncan. This request was granted. In light of the court proceeding, President David Granger ordered that Duncan be suspended from constitutional bodies. A President-appointed tribunal comprising Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire, Justice (retd.) Winston Patterson, and Attorney Robert Ramcharran, was set up to determine whether the criminal charge he is facing is enough to have him removed as Chairman of the Public Service Commission. However, Duncan and his attorney, Anil Nandlall, moved to the High Court and had the tribunal halted by Justice Franklin Holder. This prohibits the tribunal from investigating and pronouncing on whether Duncan should remain a Member of the Public Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission and Police Service Commission.
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Pradoville Two scheme is king of all stolen asset cases -Govt. should have moved against this first instead of Red House –Dr. Hinds According to Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds, the issue of stolen assets is one that is central to the legacy of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). He said that there are a number of instances which can prove this; two being the infamous Pradoville Two scandal and the Red House issue. Of the two, however, Dr. Hinds believes that the Red House matter in terms of recovery is “easy pickings” and perhaps even way down in the pecking order. He insists that the Pradoville matter which involves the sale of prime lands to those closely connected to the Jagdeo regime at pepper corn rates is not only conniving to say the least but perhaps the king of all stolen assets cases in Guyana’s under the PPP. The WPA Executive Member said, “The issue of stolen state assets is one that is central to the PPP’s legacy, but because of the present government’s weak-kneed approach to the issue, the PPP has been behaving as if it has been vindicated. But having said that, the government should not have chosen the Red House as its point of entry; on the scale of things, Red House is low down on the pecking order.” Dr. Hinds questioned, “Why go after Red House
Thursday January 05, 2017
Kaieteur News
WPA Executive Member, Dr. David Hinds when you have the bigger house in the form of Pradoville? What about all the easy targets unearthed by the audits? The Red House is easy pickings for the PPP; they will make it about Jagan, as they are doing.” The political activist said that the other important factor is that Red House is used to house the papers of one o f t h e n a t i o n ’s r e v e r e d leaders. He opined that when one moves against an institution like that, the case of recovering state assets gets lost in political and ethnic outrage from the other side. He said that the appearance of evicting the late Dr. Jagan from the building, however justified, is bound to
work against the APNU+AFC party politically. The columnist said that this is political ABC. Dr. Hinds insisted that while the Red House represents the misappropriation of State Resources for private use, it is not as blatant as other instances of graft. He opined that it is not the kind of ugly transfer of resources into private hands as many would have seen coming out of the forensic audits. He said, “If you are going after political corruption, go where the perpetrators are most vulnerable. Where are the political brains in the government are available to them?” Dr. Hinds said he was most displeased when he learnt that Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence, and company, recently held a vigil at the Red House in protest against the one that was also being observed by PPP affiliates. He would rather see a government minister holding a vigil outside the Georgetown Hospital where maternal deaths are prevalent. He said, too, that he would rather see a vigil at Pradoville, which is the real monument of stolen assets. “Maybe, the Madam Minister (Volda Lawrence) and her team should hold a vigil in front of the Attorney General’s Office urging the speeding up of passage of the legislation for the State Asset Recovery Agency, which would open the way for proper, lawful prosecution of those who are accused of misappropriating state assets,” expressed Dr. Hinds.
New company replaces Wartsila for GPL engines
It is official now. Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has ended its management contract with Finnish-owned Wartsila. A new company, Power Producer and Distribution
ing that housed Wartsila in Kingston with better terms and enhanced maintenance, services and trading mechanisms expected under the new arrangements. GPL Chairman, Robert
old transformers and aging equipment. GPL had denied that the hiring of Canadian-owned Manitoba Hydro International Ltd. (MHI) late last year, to assist with its management
Wartsila has been replaced by another company, Power Producer and Distribution Inc. (PPDI) Inc. (PPDI), was established in early December and from January 1, has taken over the operations of Wartsila, which during its two- decade-long relations, maintained engines which now total almost 20. Over that period, Wartsila trained locals and collected hundreds of millions of dollars in fees. Wartsila will remain in Guyana as it will still have to supply parts and provide other services to GPL. According to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, during 2016 review of his ministry, all of the local staffers have been retained by PPDI. They will be assisted by a number of Guyanese who have returned from overseas. According to Patterson, the new company is headquartered in the same build-
Badal, in October had assured that it is not the plan for Wärtsilä to be out of the picture completely. Rather, Wärtsilä will remain a longterm partner as a supplier, among other things. The company, which has been retained to manage and maintain generating sets since the 1990s, has built up a staffing complement of around 100. From its two engines at Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara, at the beginning there are now 18 generators across the Demerara and Berbice areas for GPL. The power company, with a new management and Board since 2015, wants to reduce its costs, About a third of its power is being lost to technical issues and electricity theft. It is facing increasing pressure to reduce outages from faulty transmission lines,
strengthening, had anything to do with the decision not to renew the Wärtsilä contract. The Finnish company came here in the early 1990s when Guyana was struggling with widespread power outages because of a number of aging engines. It established the first Government-owned plant at Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara and since then has installed more than 18 generators. The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) also has Wärtsilä engines at the Skeldon factory and there are more at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast. Under the arrangements, GPL would provide the fuel for the engines, while Wärtsilä through its local subsidiary, Demerara Power Limited, conducts the maintenance.
Deportee charged for stomping relative A man who recently got deported from the US was yesterday placed on $30,000 bail after he appeared before Magistrate Brendon Glasford in the Georgetown Magistrates’s Court. The charge read that on December 28 at Georgetown, Michael Pitt unlawfully assaulted, Corwin Baksh, so as to cause him actual bodily harm. The man pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him by the Magistrate at a sitting of the Night Court at the Georgetown
Magistrate Court. Pitt told the court that he was recently deported from the US and he wanted his property because he had nowhere else to go. When he told Baksh to remove from his property an argument arose between the two which resulted into a scuffle. Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Preston John stated that on the day in question the defendant asked Baksh to remove from his premises because he wanted to live alone. Baksh requested from the
defendant, a few weeks to get his belonging out of the house because he did not know that the defendant was returning to Guyana. The defendant who refused to give Baksh extra time got into an argument with him which resulted in him being stomped several times to the chest. The matter was reported to the Station and the defendant was arrested and charged. The father of nine will make his next court appearance on January 12.
Thursday January 05, 2017
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Kaieteur News
TOO MANY MOUTHPIECES MAKE FOR MUCH NOISE AND LITTLE SENSE The poor public relations of the government make for an amusing spectacle. The government is tripping over its own excuses; it is stumbling over its own reasons and failing to convince anyone about the real reasons why certain actions are being taken. The state-owned Guyana Chronicle has not changed from being the mouthpiece of the government. It invariably parrots official positions. The problem with the government is that there are so many other mouthpieces and spokespersons that the inevitable contradictions appear on issues. In the Tuesday January 2 edition of the Guyana
Chronicle quoted an unnamed source as saying that the President deemed it necessary to remove Dr. George Norton as Minister of Health because the Minister was spending too much time having to deflect attacks from the opposition and the media. In other words, what the source was saying was that the controversies raging around the Minister were affecting his work. This was not a very convincing explanation but it may have had a modicum of truth in it. There have been calls within the media and in the opposition for the Minister to be relieved of his portfolio. The President has given
a different explanation. And this is the source of the confusion within the government. The President was reported as saying that “adjustments” that had to be made was because of management problems at the Ministry. It shows the public relations debacle that faces the government. Too many persons are speaking to the same issue; not just in relation to this incident but in relation to all other controversies and it exposing the government to criticism. The President’s explanation was equally unconvincing. If there is a management problem at the Ministry, then why remove the Minister. The
Dem boys seh...
Jagdeo try a thing pun Soulja Bai People does always try a thing when dem want to get dem own way. Dem got people who does go pun de road and beg because dem want a raise to buy likker. Everybody know how de junkie does behave. He want a smoke and he does come up to tell you that he want bus fare or that he hungry and he ain’t eat in couple days. Is years now people know that Jagdeo and de Pee Pee Pee never like Steve as de Chairman of de Elections Commission. When Donald lose de elections Jagdeo and de whole party claim, how Steve rig de elections. This was de same Steve who give dem two elections. He even give dem a seat when dem didn’t win it. Dem boys seh that is de first time that dem see Jagdeo and he people cry. De treasury was out of dem reach and dem had to be satisfied wid de money dem have. But dem want more and dem believe that
if dem control de Elections Commission dem gun get back in power. That is how Jagdeo decide to try a thing pun Soulja Bai. He know that Soulja Bai was in de army so de first name he suggest to replace Steve was another Soulja—Norman. He think that Soulja Bai gun see de soulja name and pick him right away. Dem boys seh that he got another think coming. Jagdeo really think he smart. He and Norman never use to agree but this time he didn’t hesitate to use Norman. He decide to use some other people too. He pick Chris de Ram Goat because he expect Soulja Bai to know that de two of dem don’t agree. And he had a plan to mek money flow to these people because he know dem. Dem boys seh that he got to try another thing because Soulja Bai peep he card. Talk half and wait fuh Jagdeo try another thing.
Minister is not responsible for managing the Ministry. This is the work of the Permanent Secretary. The Minister is responsible for policy direction. So why shuffle the Minister if there is a problem with management? It makes no sense. All of this could have been avoided if the government would make use of the public relations professionals within the country. There is no need for two more persons to be addressing the same issue. There is no need at all for a President to be coming to the defence of his Ministers every time there is a controversy. This is why you have press secretaries. Their job is to provide the answers where necessary. They are supposed to
shield the Executive from adverse publicity. They are also necessary to promote the popularity of the President, the government and the Ministers. They are usually in the forefront deflecting difficult issues. The problem with most Governments in Guyana is that when the party in power is campaigning for office, it finds it necessary to employ public relations firms and experts to do its work. The stakes are high and therefore the best is recruited and paid. But when the party gets into office, there are persons within the government, including Ministers, who suddenly behave as if they know what needs to be done and do not need the assistance of the experts. They suddenly become
too cheap to pay these experts. They have power and they believe that they know it all. It is a political disease that is not unique to any particular political party. It would save the government a great deal of embarrassment if it hires professionals to do its public relations work rather than untried and untested persons. It would save a lot of money and problems if the Ministers, instead of deluding themselves into believing that they do not need professional help, would resort to such help rather than employing those with limited expertise in PR work.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday January 05, 2017
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Red House and the redness of the PPP’s insane rule If you ask Americans what they think will happen under Trump there is fear and trepidation. The signs are taking shape – the introduction of Senate legislation to abolish Obamacare, the removal of an Ethics Committee to sanction erring legislators, the pressure on a major car manufacturer to pull a plant in Mexico, the imminent transfer of the US Embassy to Tel Aviv. The Canadian Prime Minister is concerned about the dismantling of NAFTA that he made a video address to US lawmakers. Back here in Guyana, we have the “angels” versus David Granger. Some of the supporters of the “angels” had barbwired their mouths and hands when Mr. Jagdeo and his surrogate president, Donald Ramotar
transformed Guyana into a totalitarian state for 15 years. In those fifteen years, I probably was living in Timbuktu so I didn’t see the corruption, naked power, incestuousness, uncivilized conduct of government and racist politics of that oligarch, Bharrat Jagdeo. I wasn’t living in Timbuktu. I was in Guyana where I spent 26 years at UG and watched Jagdeo weaken the University of Guyana. Today, God knows where the supporters of the “angels” have emerged from, but you let the Granger Administration dismiss a UG lecturer, and the President becomes the Devil Incarnate. You let The APNU+AFC Coalition give a citizen a concession to build a boatyard, and David Granger becomes
the worst dictator in the world. The real dictator that ran Guyana for 15 years is now in front of Red House with his supporters protesting the halt to what he has done for fifteen years – give the country away to relatives and friends. The protest outside RED HOUSE is logical though it may sound strange. I watched Jagdeo and “Bruk Up” Benn wading through the high waters during the recent flood meeting citizens. The Freudian expressions on their face told the story of men who believe they are still in power. That Freudian psychology is on show on High Street outside the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre. The oligarch and his band of troglodytes cannot believe
they have lost power so who dare reverse their policies of incestuousness and nepotism. As they look at Red House, they tell themselves that it belongs to them. And to make it their own, they bought it over. They bought over a heritage building. But that is only one aspect of the depravity. They didn’t call in a Wall Street advisor to determine the real estate value. They decided how much they will pay for Red House; they paid less than what a cheap Chinese fried rice costs. But let’s return to the supporters of the angels. We are going into 19 months of the Granger Administration, and one of Jagdeo’s pick to become
GECOM’s Chair told us about the “conceits and corruption” of the David Granger Administration. Here is the reason why I use the word “angels,” If in 18 months the Granger Government is conceited and corrupt then by any aspect of logical thinking, Bharat Jagdeo had to be an angel because he held power for 15 years (unless 15 years are 15 months). It is for this reason, I ask; where have these supporters emerged from? Where were these people when every conceivable public and national institution in this country successive PPP Governments beginning in 1992 with Cheddi Jagan assaulted? It was Bonita Bone-Harris, someone who is not involved in any kind of politics the past 25 years who said the Jagan Government sold out what was then Republic Bank and hid the negotiations from the Board of which she was a member. From Jagan to Ramotar, Guyana became a tragic land. The protégés of the “great” Cheddi Jagan destroyed it. Now look what these people are fighting for. A private group took ownership of a heritage building located in an area of prime real estate and did not have the decency
Frederick Kissoon to set up a quasi- government committee or a committee of national stakeholders to administer it. No! It was administered by that private group only the People’s Progressive Party. After 18 months in office the supporters of the “angels” tell us that the Granger Administration must leave public property in the hands of a private party that bought it for a song. One can become morbidly facetious and ask that St. Stanislaus Sports Ground on Carifesta Avenue become leased to me and my siblings. That is where my father spent a lifetime working as a groundsman. That is where I played for years as a child. The possession of a heritage building by the PPP is an indecent act that can only be supported by an equally indecent mind.
Thursday January 05, 2017
Kaieteur News
Canawaima Ferry operations affected by yellow fever restrictions, mechanical problems
The Canawaima Ferry operations were badly affected by mechanical and other issues last year. Major problems last year affected operations of the Canawaima Ferry Service Inc. that operates between Guyana and Suriname at the Moleson Creek crossing. Yesterday, during the annual review of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, it was disclosed that the M.V Canawaima experienced numerous mechanical challenges throughout the year. This resulted in extensive delays and ultimately closure of operations for four working days. The vessel provides a critical link between the two countries, taking vehicles, people and goods back and forth. Among other things, the
vessel experienced down time from broken propellers; burnt engine heads; damages to pistons and rings; broken drive shaft and gears; damaged gear box and electrical malfunction resulting in loss of steering. Last year, works were done to completely overhaul the starboard engine. The operations negatively affected passenger traffic by 5.4% in 2016 over that of 2015. Similarly, vehicular traffic decreased by 4.3%. “Multiple sailings outside of peak periods continue to drive up operational costs thus inspiring the decision to operate as traffic warrants. We continue to offer rebates to groups that satisfy the
stipulated requirements. The official implementation of the yellow fever requirement on December 5, 2016 adversely affected the volume of traffic during our known busy period during the Christmas Holidays.” This year, to correct the situation, M.V Canawaima is to be docked and the two engines and auxiliaries to be replaced with new ones. Management is targeting traffic to increase by two percent with the planned installation of a body and baggage scanners and perimeter lights. In addition to the construction of a website, the renovation to office spaces, washrooms and replacement
floating ramp is also planned. Last year, total passengers using the vessel were 116,079 compared to 122,746 of 2015. Vehicles were 12,487 compared to 13,044 for the year before. Income from passengers last year fell from $138M to $128M with vehicles paying $30.5M, about $2M less. Income for freight also fell. Expenses also rose from $96M to $111M last year. This year, to improve conditions, management of the state-run o p e r a t i o n s said that it is planning to a l s o install new barrier controls, a generator and wall fans in the Passengers Arrival and Departure areas.
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Vagrant begs to go on streets to raise bail money A man who walks the streets of Georgetown daily and begs for money was yesterday placed on $10,000 bail after he appeared before Magistrate Brendon Glasford in the Georgetown Magistrate Court. It is alleged that on January 2, at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Lakeram Gopaul, threatened Aneil Sookhram. The 67-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to him by the Magistrate. The defendant told the Court, “I am pleading not guilty to the charge because I can’t remember when it happened. It’s a lot of people I does beg so I don’t remember everybody face. So I don’t know.” According to facts Sookhram was on his way to work when the defendant approached him and asked him for money. When he refused the defendant started to point his finger in his face and threaten him. The Magistrate told the defendant that he should not be going around threatening persons who refuse to give him money. The man on hearing the amount of bail told the Magistrate, “I don’t have no family to pay my bail so you will have to tell them Police release me so that I can go and beg for the money and bring it back. Furthermore the year just start and January is a hard month so I can’t get that amount of money in a hurry. Let me go nah.” Gopaul will make his next Court appearance on January 12.
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Kaieteur News
Thursday January 05, 2017
Nominees for new GPHC Board 900 companies prequalified for Public Infrastructure contracts being considered – Minister Norton With the 2017 Budget Debates completed, now is the time when “the tyres will be hitting the road” said the Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson. His Ministry was holding its 2016 Yearin-Review media engagement yesterday at the Transport and Harbours Sports Complex, Thomas Lands, Georgetown. The Minister said that Government’s commitment to allow 20 percent of government procurement to go to small contractors has been realised. He said that when the Ministry closed its pre-qualification on December 29, last year, which saw the shortlisting of contractors eligible to bid for Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) projects, the highest number of applicants was recorded. “I’m pleased to announce that we had over 900 applications – the largest number ever. Applications came from small, medium and large contractors and (this) indicates to me that there is a high interest. The contractors now feel that they have a genuine chance of being successful in 2017.” Patterson said that this is coupled with ‘the fact’ that in Budget 2017, there is a pro-
- but careful consideration to be given to choice for chairmanship
Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson
Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin
vision for contractors to gain their compliance and will be given three months to correct indentified deficiencies. This, he explained, is opposed to what existed before, where persons were required to correct their deficiencies before applying. Readers would recall that prior to the presentation of the $250B National Budget, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, had stated that a provision in the Small Business Act allows for small businesses to get 20 percent of Government contracts. He had also stated that the Small
Business Bureau’s appointed Council is on stream. This Council was appointed more than five months ago and comprises the Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau; representatives of the Ministry of Business; Ministry of Finance; the Linden Chamber of Commerce; Berbice Chamber of Commerce; Guyana Small Business Association; Guyana Craft Producers Association; Institute of Private Enterprise Development; Guyana Banker’s Association; and two Small Business owners.
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is currently operating without a Board of Directors. As a Corporation, it is legally required that a Board be in place at the institution. Although it is customary for the Board to be dissolved at the end of November each year, contracts for each member are usually renewed thereafter. Installed Boards have been known to last for at least three years. However, under the recently ended tenure of (former) Senior Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, the Board was dissolved as expected on November 30, 2016 but the contracts of the members were not renewed. The hospital has been operating without a Board ever since. Allegations have been made that the decision to dissolve the Board and not renew the contracts of the members was taken by Minister Norton because of a strained relationship with the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Carl ‘Max’ Hanoman. Although the Minister has not substantiated such allegations, at the Ministry of Public Health’s end of year press conference last Friday he did note that “it is a policy that we evaluate very carefully, our choice of chairman for the different boards across
the different ministries (and) we are certainly following that policy.” When asked if efforts were being made to install a new Board, the Minister said, “We are in the process...We already have the nominees from the different entities that are supposed to supply their personnel and it is only that which the Minister has from that amount that the chairman will be chosen.” Although Dr. Noel Blackman was slated to be appointed Chairman of the Board, Dr. Hanoman, was instead appointed just under a year ago. This development was owing to the fact that Dr. Blackman was arrested and charged for some criminal indiscretion linked to his legal practice in the United States. Dr. Hanoman would moreover serve in the capacity of Chairman for approximately eight months before the Board was dissolved. Upon accepting his appointment last year, Dr. Hanoman revealed that before he was appointed the GPHC was faced with a predicament due to the fact that no Board was in place. The predicament, Dr. Hanoman said last year, included multiple lawsuits that were allowing for the wastage of taxpayers’ money. Without specifying the lawsuits in question, the Chairman in-
Former Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton formed, “There are more than one or two cases involving the Georgetown Hospital and we keep paying these members who are sidelined.” But this state of affairs could have been avoided altogether, had the hospital not broken Corporate laws, which he said occurs when there is no Board in place. Dr. Hanoman explained that the life of the previous Board ended in March 2015 and there was no Board from June 2015 to March 2016. He was asked to take up the chairmanship of the hospital in March 2016 after Dr. Blackman’s appointment was revoked. Continued on page 23
Thursday January 05, 2016
Kaieteur News
Two T&T firms sanctioned by IDB (Trinidad Guardian) Two T&T companies and two individuals operating in Guyana have received a fouryear sanctions from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) for fraudulent practices. Scientific and Medical Products Limited (SciMed) and Western Scientific Company Limited have both been declared ineligible to be awarded and participate in any IDB-financed contracts from March 31, 2016 to October 15, 2020. Mario Ricard Dell and Edwin K Mackoon, both of T&T, were also debarred over fraudulent practices for the same period. SciMed is a distributor of laboratory and process equipment and exclusively represents a number of leading manufacturers in the United Kingdom. Western Scientific Company is a marketing, sales and distribution firm specialising in the areas of scientific,
clinical/medical, furniture, audio-visual, education, technical service and consultancy. The address for all four sanctioned was stated as Ramsaran Park, Chaguanas According to information on the IDB’s website, the firms and individuals were sanctioned by the IDB Group’s Sanctions Committee because they were found to have engaged in “fraudulent practices”. The IDB defined “fraudulent practices” as “any act or omission, including a misrepresentation, that knowingly or recklessly misleads, or attempts to mislead, a party to obtain a financial or other benefit or to avoid an obligation.” The IDB said the findings against the two firms and the two individuals “were made through an administrative process that permitted the accused firms and/or individuals to respond to the
allegations pursuant to the Sanctions Procedures.” Sanctions are meant to prevent and deter fraud and corruption in IDB Groupfinanced activities. “The Sanctions Committee may impose any sanction that it deems to be appropriate under the circumstances, including but not limited to reprimand, conditions on future contracting and debarment. Debarred firms are declared ineligible to be awarded and participate in any IDBfinanced contract for the periods indicated,” the IDB said. “Ineligibility may extend to any firm or individual who directly or indirectly controls the debarred firm or any firm which the debarred firm directly or indirectly controls. In the case of a debarred individual, ineligibility may extend to any firm which the debarred individual directly or indirectly controls,” it said.
T&T Govt. calls emergency meeting as union serves strike notice PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The Trinidad and Tobago government has called an emergency meeting for today to discuss the impasse between the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) and the state-owned oil company, PETROTRIN, after the union served notice of industrial action over wage increase. The OWTU, which is seeking a 10 per cent wage hike for the workers, has rejected the company’s offer of a zero per cent hike over the period 2014-17. Negotiations for the previous period, 2011-2014 is currently before the Industrial Court. The two parties met late on Tuesday and early yesterday, and OWTU President General Ancel Roget told reporters that the union had served the strike notice on the company which goes into effect on Monday. PETROTRIN has four days to respond to the strike notice. In a brief statement, the Ministry of Labour said it would meet ‘as a matter of priority” in order to deal with the OWTU concerns. But Roget urged workers not to be taken aback by the comments from the private sector organisations criticising the decision to call the strike which they said would further cripple the ailing economy. “We have served successfully, strike notice on the President of the Petroleum Company of
Ancel Roget Trinidad and Tobago. We have effectively served them with strike notice for the next three months,” he said, adding “I want to advise comrades not to listen to the critics, not to listen to those bleeding hearts in the media, not to listen to those powerful influences in the national community, not to listen to the business community…. “All they want is foreign exchange. While you work they get foreign exchange, so you are not getting an increase but they want to continue to get foreign exchange…you have to take a position,” he said. Roget also issued a warning to casual and temporary workers, who may be called upon to pick up the slack during the strike. “We are advising you that one of the most important features of all of this (strike)
is for us to fill vacancies. So do not work against yourself,” he said. Meanwhile, the Energy Chamber has described as “reckless’ the ill-advised, cavalier, potentially costly strike by the OWTU and was appealing to the workers to ignore the call by their union. “The decision to strike by the OWTU can only be described as reckless and cavalier and inimical to the interest of the very workers that the OWTU represents. Such action only serves to imperil PETROTRIN’s survival and cause unnecessary hardship to the citizens of the country.” The Chamber said the majority of the employees at the oil company are hardworking, diligent and highly skilled “and, like everyone else, they would like to see improvement in their remuneration packages.
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VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Toyota Allion PVV series: TV Camera, HID, lights, alarm & remote start $2.2M negotiable Call: 649-0956 Leyland DAF 65 (sand truck). Call: 623-3895 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY,ETC.-CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 2161043; 677-6620
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, etc. - Cosmetology Courses: $120,000 - Technician Course: $45,000. Call: 6471773/660-5257
Visa Application: U.S.A, C a n a da & UK; Guyana p assport application. Graphics design, advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. PROPERTY FOR SALE Transported property @ Grove and Diamond $16M negotiable. Call: 625-5461
Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 6831312, 627-3206
2 Storey house 35X45 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained @ 5th Avenue Diamond, H/ Scheme.Call:677-0583/664-5052
Repairs to refrigerator, gas stove, A/C units, washing machines. Call Lindon: 6411086/ 694-2202
LANDSCAPING: We design, supply and implement residential and commercial indoor & outdoor landscaping. Call: 648-1821
LAND FOR SALE Land at Eccles and Diamond, Cheap. Call:609-7766 One transported house lot in Tuschen, WCD. Call: 6934667/ 277-3743
Nissan Duke in immaculate condition, lady driven, PTT series, low mileage, price negotiable. Call: 653-0018/6667748 (serious inquiries only)
DRESSMAKING Turn your flair for fashion in an exciting career or hobby, classes starts in January. Call: 626-2629/ 676-6312 Working suits and more, professionally made within 3 days. Call Sharmie: 626-2629/ 676-6312 (Canadian Trained)
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Three bedrooms bottom flat @ Lamaha Gardens. Call: 2258084/ 689-6001 Fully furnished apartment in South & 2 Bedrooms unfurnsihed apartment in Holmes Street Charlestown. Call: 689-5877
Room for working/single couple with bed, wardrobe $30,000 monthly+$30,000 security @ Aubrey Barker Road. Call: 623-0076 Two bedrooms apartment, recently renovated, free WiFi @ Nandy Park. Call: 6413318
Cargo trawler- Call: 682-8724, 616-5954 Dredge mining operation: excavator, dredge, camp, truck, ATV bike, welding set with gas bottle. Call: 676-7943
C. Persaud & N. Outar Driving School formerly Soman & Sons Driving School @ Maraj Building- Call: 644-5166; 6222872; 615-0964; 689-5997 (affordable packages).
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM
WING’S CAR & PICKUP RENTAL: LOW DOWN PAYMENT, CHEAP REATES,SPECIALOFFERFOR THESEASON.CALL:690-6494
AIDAN’S CAR RENTAL:PICKUP,9-11 SEAT MIN BUS, GOOD FOR AIRPOTR & FAMILY OUTING, CHEAPESTRATE . Call: 698-7807
FULL TIME WAITRESS/ WAITER TO WORK AT AAGMAN RESTURANT, SHERIFF STREET. CALL: 219-0158/ 219-0161 Need dry cow mold average 400bags –call: 643-7193
Popular East Coast Gas Station (Non-Pareil) Day/ Night: pump attendants, sales clerk & office assistant. Contact: 610-9182/ 695-9880 Articulated hauler/dump truck operator for interior location, applicants must be experienced with verifiable references. Call: 618-2020
Milking cow with calves and breeding bull for sale. Call Faizad: 265-4333/ 654-0507 German Shepherd pups for sale -$100,000 7 weeks old, fully vaccinated with clinic card. Call: 699-6006
1 Live in nanny/domestic to take care of children & home, must know to cook various dishes 38-48yrs. Call: 600-1898
Office Assistant/Customer Representative. Contact Pacific Development Inc, Lot 3 Church Street, G/Town.
PALMS: Any variety, all sizes, we deliver and plant anywhere. Call: 643-7193 Adult Rottweiler dogs, 1 male, 1 female, German Shepherd pups. Call: 2202277/629-1471/220-8904 One complete sawmill situated at Yarrowkabra Industrial Site Soesdyke/ Linden Highway. Call: 6441190/ 609-8041 Design & Make Aluminum windows, doors, stainless rails, showcases, rolling shutters, make & install automatic doors. Call: 2336818/677-5599/659-9999 Nintendo DS Lite -$8,000, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 $45,000, Dell Mini Desktop$40,000, Apple Ipad1 $15,000. Call: 694-1748/ 6219604
EDUCATIONAL
Lessons. Grades 1-6, Queenstown. Call: 695-9625 PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL: CARS& SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
Live in waitress to work in a bar- Call: 604-6606;692-4646
VACANCY
Cook/Baker and Kitchen Assistant for interior location. Applicants must be experienced, for details call: 618-2020
Private Custom Brokerage, certificate training course in Jan 2017, Register & get 50% discount for Christmas. Call: 694-8322/671-9603
CAR RENTAL
WANTED Live in waitress. Call: 643-9007
One Floor Manager, must have at least five (5) years, experience in Hardware Store. Contact # 650-0402
LEARN TO DRIVE
TO LET Three bedrooms bottom flat @ South Ruimveldt Park. Call: 628-7496/ 617-0560 Rooms in Alberttown. Call: 225-3234
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Great Deals on video games & all gaming consoles. PC, video games & repairs – Call: 672-2566; 265-3231
House to rent @ La Parfaite Harmonie, W.B.D. Call: 6223197
Passport, permanent & visitor visa application, Professional Immigrant Consultant – Sabita Immigration Services. Call: 225-6496; 662-6045 Hello the doctor is back! Have your gas stove service and repair. Call: 601-0595
Toyota Vigo pick-up and Nissan Pathfinder, cheap. Call: 609-7766
Oswin J’s Auto Imports: New Arrivals: Premio, Allion, Fielder, Axio, Rush, X-Trail. Free full coverage insurance. Call: 609-2815
INNOVATIVEMARKETING & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/ works, logos, busi ness cards, posters, etc, placements of ads included.
Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
Thursday January 05, 2017
Kaieteur News
Carpenter, must have 1 Male janitor to clean and knowledge of plumbing. Call: take care of dogs. Apply in 225-3234 person at Alabama Trading, Georgetown, Ferry Stelling. 1 Female cleaner for office in Eccles. Call: 233-2745 1 Nanny to look after a one year old boy, must be able to Lorry Drivers. Requirements: feed, teach & care for a baby. Driver’s License and ID. Call: Call: 641-8144 682-1048/602-0001 Female Accounts clerk, 4 Security Guards. Call: 218- years experience, apply in 1156 person with written application @ Alabama Urgently: Handyman to work Trading Georgetown Ferry 7 days per week ½ day in Stelling Campbellville, ages 35-45yrs. Call: 641-3687 Able body workers for Ice Factory, age 18 & older. Call: Primary School teachers. 642-9191/ 231-1408 Apply to teacher @ OBSC, 8 Oronoque & Lamaha Street, 1 Canter Driver/Porter Queenstown. Call: 695-9625 preferably from Diamond/ Grove Area. Call: 216-1043/ Cleaners. Apply in person @ 677-6620 Shikhan Hotel, Princess Street, Wortmanville. Call: High school multi subject 227-7749 teacher needed with research, computer & Experienced salesperson organization skills, teaching needed in Stall ‘B’ Bourda certificate is not required. Market. Call: 227-3407 from Call: 690-9378 8:00am-4:00pm Skill experienced carpenter, Experienced Diesel machine apply in person at Alabama to work in the Interior must Trading, Georgetown Ferry have knowledge of Perkins Stelling, Stabroek. Engine & Doosan Excavator. Call: 661-5307/ 625-1413 Office clerk age 18-25, security guards, care taker to One live in couple or a work in Atlantic Garden, general domestic to work in E.C.D- Call: 638-5303/227Mahaicony River. Call: 655- 7380 9419/644-6905 Cashiers & Sales staff @ 1 Female Shop attendant to work Nirva Supermarket. Apply in intheInterior.Calll:678-0565 person with written application @ 49 Sheriff & 1 Male or female to look after Craig St. Tel: 227-5771 layer birds in the Interior. Call: Experienced bar/shop worker 678-0565 & handyman for Interior and Bahier to cook in the interior. G/Town. Call: 231-0363 from Call: 678-0565 9am-4:30pm 1 Porter to work on vehicle in the Interior. Call: 678-0565 Responsible hire car drivers and contract cars. Call: 231-7200
FOR SALE/RENT American Pool Table. Call: 277-0578
Experienced cleaners, waiters and counter servers. Apply with written application, Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. (Day Shift only).
Thursday January 05, 2017
Guyanese mom begs to reunite with Trini-based children A 27-year-old Guyanese mother is begging to be reunited with her three Trinidadian children after she was refused entry into the country twice in 2016.
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Kaieteur News
was given custody of their two eldest children, aged seven and five, while she was given custody of their twoweek-old baby. Eventually, Sampson’s
to see her children and for her custody hearing, but all that changed in 2016 when she tried to re-enter the country twice but was told she couldn’t because she had
Man accused of killing mentally ill woman during sex act
REMANDED: Jaipaul Hitlall
A 31-year-old Sea View, Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara man was yesterday remanded to prison for the murder of Bibi Kaneece, who is believed to have been raped before she was killed. The charge against Jaipaul Hitlall, alleged that on October 2, 2016 at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, he murdered Kaneece, during the course of a rape. An unrepresented Hitlall was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. This matter was transferred to the Leonora Magistrate’s Court for
Nominees for new GPHC Board... Mom: Shaneza Sampson
The three children
Shaneza Sampson, of Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice moved to Trinidad when she was 18 years old in search of a better life, it was there that she met her husband and gave birth to their three children. However, the relationship came to an end after she alleges her husband had an affair. During the initial stage of their separation, her husband
husband gave her the other two children. However, she started encountering financial difficulties and decided to return home with her youngest child to get back on her feet in 2015. Her decision was also based on the fact that her husband stopped the processing of her residency papers. Later in 2015 she was allowed entry into the country
The body of Albert Anthony Harvey, 48, a labourer and father of one of Lot 57 No 50 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was on Tuesday found dead in his home. Harvey had shared a common law relationship with Nausea Barry, 36, for about seven years. The union reportedly produced one child. However their relationship was rocky and culminated about two weeks ago following another misunderstanding and upheaval. The woman moved out of the house and went to live with relatives at Black Bush Polder. She paid him a visit on December 31, last and left around 09:00 hrs on January 2, for Black Bush Polder. According to investigators, around 23:00 hrs that day the woman realized that she missed a call from Harvey. She subsequently tried contacting him by phone, but got no response. She continuously tried contacting him but his phone went dead. On Tuesday morning she tried again and after not getting through, sent her 17-yearold son Demacus Williams who lived opposite Harvey to check on him. The teen upon entering the house was horri-
fied to see the man lying on the floor with his face downwards and he appeared to be dead. The police were summoned and no marks of violence were seen on the body. A post mortem on Wednesday concluded that he died from a coronary occlusion, and suspected ingestion of Cocaine Investigations are continuing.
Man found dead in house at No 50 Village Corentyne
previously overstayed. Sampson contends that the reason given by the immigration officers made no sense since her children are in that country and she was never denied entry before. She believes her estranged husband who is a police officer in the country is behind her immigration woes. The court system in Trinidad is also in favour of her estranged husband who is a national of the country and he continues to wield his influence unfairly in the system there, she alleges. The distraught mother said she sought help from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was initially given advice but after a while she could not reach officials who became evasive. The young mother is worried about the well-being of her children who are all girls. She is calling on those in authority to help her gain access to her young children.
From page 12 According to Dr. Hanoman, while he is thankful to the Government for the confidence reposed in him to take on the role of Chairman, he expressed, in no uncertain terms, that it was absolutely wrong for the GPHC to have ever been without a Board since becoming a Corporation. ”Georgetown Hospital
being a Corporation must never be without a Board. Once there is not a Board all the rules and regulations are broken. Corporate laws are strange laws and so we have to be careful; we can end up in legal dilemmas because actions done without a Board, if no Board is in place, are brought to the court,” Dr. Hanoman asserted.
January 10. Police in a release said that the accused who is unemployed was apprehended on December 30, last, and confessed to the crime. According to reports, the 60-year-old woman believed to be mentally ill was found dead in her home in a hammock with multiple stab wounds to the chest. Police believed that the woman might have been raped before she was killed since her skirt was pulled up to her chest and she was without underwear. Her lifeless body was discovered by her son who went to the house to drop off food.
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Former Antigua PM, finance minister called on to explain roles in banking scandals ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – The ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) yesterday called on former prime minister Baldwin Spencer and the former finance minister, Harold Lovell, to explain their roles in at least two banking scandals it claimed occurred under their stewardship while in government between 2004 to 2014. The ALBP said that it had taken note of a New Year statement by Spencer talking about “banking scandals” and putting a “negative world spotlight” on Antigua and Barbuda. It recalled that Spencer was at the head of the government when the first international banking scandal occurred under R Allen Stanford and during the period of the Meinl Bank money laundering operations. The ruling party said it is now calling on both Spencer and Lovell, who now heads the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) to indicate what or any links they may have had “to the Brazil Oldebrecht saga now occupying international headlines, including the purchase of Meinl Bank in 2010”. Last month, Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced the dismissal of an honorary consul as his administration continues its investigations into claims linking it to corrupt activities related to the Brazilian multinational, Odebrecht S. A. and the energy company, Petrobras. Browne said he had dismissed Honorary Consul to Brazil, Luis Franca, and had asked the Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Casroy James, for an explanation. “We cannot escape the fact that certain allegations were made that funds were
Former Antigua PM Baldwin Spencer
Former finance minister, Harold Lovell
paid to an individual. That is a matter of some concern to my government,” Browne said then after his government had earlier issued a statement indicating that it was intent on getting “to the bottom of this story since it alleges involvement by persons claiming to be intermediaries for, or officials of, the government. “If these allegations are substantiated, I will act immediately and appropriately against any such persons”, Prime Minister Browne was quoted as saying in the statement. The ABLP said that it believes that Spencer, who is now the Opposition Leader, must have had discussions with Franca prior to appointing him as Honorary Consul. “Franca was one of three Brazilians who fronted the purchase of Meinl Bank in 2010. He continued as Managing Director during his appointment by Spencer as Honorary Consul in Brazil. He was also known to have a close relationship with Harold Lovell, having collaborated with him on several projects. ,” the party said. The ruling party said it was of the view that “Spen-
cer has a public duty to explain why he appointed Franca and the relationship between him, Franca and Harold Lovell, particularly as it been alleged that hundreds of billions of dollars were laundered through Meinl Bank while Spencer was Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Lovell was Finance Minister and Franca was, at one and the same time, their Honorary Consul to Brazil and the managing director of Meinl Bank.” Lovell has been quoted by the Observer Radio here as saying that he would be responding to the allegations made by the ruling party. The ABLP said it was also demanding “an explanation of Lovell’s role with the Brazilian firm, Andrade Gutierrez, and its executives who were arrested for their participation in the Odebrecht scandal. “The ABLP awaits the response of Spencer and Lovell about Meinl Bank, Kleinfeld and other associates of Oldebrecht and their activities which occurred while they held the highest offices in the land,” the ABLP said in its statement.
Jamaica looking for investors to run sugar company KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – The Jamaica government is seeking investors to take over the operations of the Monymusk sugar factory in Clarendon after the Pan-Caribbean Sugar Company Limited, a subsidiary of Chinesebased Hua Lien International Holding Co. Ltd, ceased operations after billions of dollars (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.008 cents) in losses. Last April, the company announced that it had recorded losses of J$7.3 billion for 2015 following upon the J$3.2 billion deficit it suffered the previous year.
The company sold 50,900 tonnes of raw sugar and 35,200 tonnes of molasses in 2015, compared with 54,900 tonnes of raw sugar and 31,400 tonnes of molasses in 2014 resulting in its revenue falling from J$4.6 billion to J$4.5 billion. Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Karl Samuda said the Andrew Holness government had received several offers from potential investors and talks are at the preliminary stage to find “not just somebody who knows how to handle money, but somebody
who knows about the (sugar) industry”. He said the aim is to ensure that Jamaica will never again “find ourselves in a position where our production is compromised by inadequate attention to the fields where all the money is made”. Samuda, who has appealed to persons to end the illegal practice of cane burning, said he is also optimistic of increased production this year. He said due to increased rainfall and overall good weather conditions over the past year, the industry is in a “much better place”. “We are going to have a much better crop this year.
Thursday January 05, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Israeli soldier convicted of manslaughter in killing of wounded Palestinian assailant (Reuters) - A young Israeli soldier who shot dead a Palestinian assailant lying wounded and motionless on the ground in the occupied West Bank was convicted of manslaughter yesterday in one of the most polarizing cases in Israel’s history. The decision to courtmartial Sergeant Elor Azaria, who shot the Palestinian after the assailant stabbed another Israeli soldier last March, stirred public controversy in Israel from the start, with right-wing politicians calling after the verdict on President Reuven Rivlin to pardon the 20-year-old defendant. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supported pardoning Azaria in a post on his Facebook page. A poll published last night by Israel’s Channel 2 television showed that 67 percent of respondents favouring a pardon. “This is a difficult and painful day - first and foremost for Elor, his family, Israel’s soldiers, many citizens and parents of soldiers, among them me ... I support granting a pardon to Elor Azaria,” Netanyahu said on his Facebook page. As the decision was being read at a heavily guarded military court in Tel Aviv, several hundred far-right backers of Azaria - one of them carrying a Donald Trump “Make America Great Again” banner - clashed with police outside the facility. Ten months ago, Azaria was an army medic serving in the Israeli-occupied city of Hebron when two Palestinians carried out the stabbing. Hebron has been a longtime flashpoint of violence, and
the incident occurred during a wave of Palestinian street attacks on Israelis. One of the two assailants was shot dead by troops. The other was shot and wounded. Eleven minutes later, as the wounded man, Abd Elfatah Ashareef, 21, lay on the ground incapacitated, Azaria shot him in the head with an assault rifle. At the trial, Azaria contended that he believed the Palestinian, though motionless, still posed a danger because his knife was nearby, and that he might have been carrying explosives. “He deserves to die,” Azaria was quoted in the verdict as telling another soldier after pulling the trigger. The three-judge panel rejected Azaria’s argument. “One cannot use this type of force, even if we’re talking about an enemy’s life,” the court said in its verdict. “We unanimously convict the accused of manslaughter and of conduct unbecoming (a soldier).” Azaria, who was smiling as he awaited the verdict with his parents beside him, sat emotionless as the chief judge read out the conviction. But his mother screamed “you should be ashamed of yourselves” as the panel left the bench. “Our hero!” relatives of Azaria chanted after the verdict was delivered. With the 50th anniversary of Israel’s wartime capture of the West Bank approaching, the trial generated debate about whether the military, long seen as a melting pot for Israelis from a multitude of backgrounds, was out of touch with a public that has
shifted to the right in its attitudes towards the Palestinians and ways of dealing with continuing violence. SHOOTING CAPTURED ON VIDEO Video footage of the shooting, taken by a Palestinian human rights activist, showed the knife was not within Ashareef’s reach, and no bomb was found. The video was distributed to news organizations, ensuring that the incident drew international attention amid allegations by Palestinians and rights groups that Israeli soldiers have been using excessive force against lightly armed assailants. Surveys detected significant popular support for Azaria. In one poll, nearly half of Israeli Jews said any Palestinian who carries out an attack should be killed on the spot. But despite a campaign by Azaria’s family and rightist politicians that described the conscript, 19 at the time of the incident, as “everyone’s child”, members of Israel’s military establishment argued that the shooting violated rules stating that soldiers can open fire only in life-threatening situations. “They didn’t give any weight to the evidence,” Sharon Gal, the Azaria family’s media adviser, said after the verdict. “It was like the court was detached from the fact that this was the area of an attack. I felt that the court picked up the knife from the ground and stabbed it in the back of all the soldiers.” Asa Kasher, co-author of the Israeli military’s Code of Ethics, said the judges were meticulous.
New York train crash injures more than 100 commuters (Reuters) - A New York City train derailed at a downtown Brooklyn terminal during Wednesday’s morning rush hour, injuring more than 100 commuters in the metropolitan area’s second major rail accident s i n c e l a t e S e p t e m b e r. Emergency crews swarmed Atlantic Terminal after the Long Island Rail Road train went off the tracks inside the busy transportation hub at 8:20 a.m. local time, the New York City Fire Department said. While none of the inju-
ries were life-threatening, at least 11 people were sent to the hospital, Deputy Assistant Chief Dan Donoghue said at a briefing at the crash site. Between 600 and 700 people were on the train, he said. The train, arriving from the Queens neighborhood of Far Rockaway, failed to stop on time. Traveling at a fairly slow speed, it derailed after striking a bumping block, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at the briefing. About 103 people were injured, the fire department
said in a Twitter message. The front two cars of the sixcarriage train were severely damaged. The station’s partitions and bumping block, which prevents railway vehicles from going past the end of a section of track, were also damaged. Passengers said the blood and chaos following the derailment was frightening. “There were people crying,” said Aaron Neufeld, a 26-year-old paralegal who commutes on the rail line daily. “I saw some bloody faces.”
Israeli soldier Elor Azaria, who is charged with manslaughter by the Israeli military, sits to hear his verdict in a military court in Tel Aviv, Israel, yesterday. REUTERS/Heidi Levine/Pool
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Thursday January 05, 2016
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Caribbean Cup Fifth-Place Playoff opens today Couva, Trinidad & Tobago – The 2016/17 Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup fifth-place playoff opens today, when hosts Trinidad & Tobago and Suriname meet at Ato Boldon Stadium. The match is part of a three-game, round-robin competition that pits the top three, second-place sides from the third round – including Haiti – against each other. The eventual first-place finisher will advance to a twolegged playoff against the fifth-place team from the Copa Centroamericana, which will be contested later this month, for the last berth in the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Scotiabank CFU Men’s
Trinidad & Tobago’s Soca Warriors. (Photo: TTFA Media) Caribbean Cup — Fifth-Place Playoff Ato Boldon Stadium – Couva, Trinidad & Tobago,
January 4-8, 2017. Wednesday — January 4, 2017
Thursday January 05, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) You will have to be sure not to burn the candle at both ends. Don't reveal any personal details. Back off if you want to keep the relationship intact.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You need to take some time out to decide what you want to do. You can pick up valuable information if you listen to those with more experience.
TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Discord could be unnerving. You will meet a person who may turn out to be more than just a friend.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You are best to concentrate on work. Finish off old projects before starting something new. You may find yourself in an emotional fix if you interfere in other people's problems.
GEMINI (May 22-June 21) If you haven't already, consider starting your own business. You need to control your temper and deal with the situation rationally. CANCER (June 22-July 22) You should get out and enjoy social events where you are likely to meet new potential mates; however, don't over spend. Take the whole family and make it an enjoyable outing. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You should not be concerned with coworkers who insist on spreading rumors. Use your better judgment before you sign up for a costly venture. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Work quietly behind the scenes for best results. Your outgoing, aggressive nature will attract someone you've been eager to meet.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Dead end projects could plague you. Try to understand their point of view. Limitation could set in if you've been spending too much. CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) It will do you some good. Your lover may be annoyed if you have been flirtatious or not attentive to their needs. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Observations will be far more productive. Social activity should be on your agenda today. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Business or pleasure trips will be knowledgeable as well as highly successful. You may need help with your financial situation. You need activity.
Trinidad & Tobago v Suriname, 7:00 p.m. Friday – January 6, 2017 Suriname v Haiti, 7:00 p.m. Sunday – January 8, 2017 Haiti v Trinidad & Tobago, 5:00 p.m. By virtue of topping their third-round groups, Jamaica, French Guiana, Curacao and Martinique have advanced to the Caribbean Cup finals (June 22-25, 2017) and earned Gold Cup places. Trinidad &Tobago is tied with Jamaica
Kawhi Leonard... From page 26 R a p t o r s : To r o n t o i s winless against the NBA’s top three teams, losing three games to Cleveland and two to Golden State before falling to San Antonio. . The Raptors scored a previous seasonlow 91 points in three games, with the most recent being Dec. 29 at Phoenix. . F Patrick Patterson missed his second straight game with a strained left knee. . Toronto last won in San Antonio on Dec. 28, 2007. Spurs: Leonard has scored in double figures in 67 straight games. Tim Duncan, who retired after last season, holds the franchise record with 75 in a row from 200506. Aldridge has 12 3pointers in 31 games this season, the second-highest total of his career. Aldridge had 37 in 2015, his final season in Portland. . San Antonio matched the third-best start after 35 games in franchise history at 28-7. The team’s best start was 29-6, set in 2011 and matched last season. UP NEXT Raptors: Host the Utah Jazz tonight. Spurs: At the Denver Nuggets tonight.
for the most Gold Cup appearances by a Caribbean nation with nine, while Haiti has
played in six and Suriname is looking to qualify for the first time. (CONCACAF)
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Thursday January 05, 2016
Motor Racing continued strong resurgence last year By Rawle Welch Riding high after a fantastic 2015 season, the sport of motor racing continued its strong resurgence after enjoying another productive year in 2016. For a sport whose lifeline is heavily reliant on the support offered from the business sector, it managed to survive a year that saw Guyana still in the throes of economic adjustment following the installment of a new Government. Albeit all the challenges that could have easily derailed the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) programmes, the entity stuck to its task and pulled off every planned event with irrefutable success. In the process, the Club accomplishments emitted explicit evidence of the sport’s lofty status on the sport calendar, while its growth in popularity continues to enjoy upward mobility. Last year saw the long awaited increase in activity in the sport, while the novel innovation of a floodlight Meet, though not hitting the mark of success, was endorsed by many. The administration led by President Raj Boodhoo did a wonderful job in sustaining the momentum gained in the previous year and the performance could be summed up as excellent. The support for non-traditional segments such as drag and endurance racing
grew alarmingly, while the traditional racing support stayed strong as well with new drivers entering the fray at every Meet. The Club also managed to improve the facility at the South Dakota Circuit by making it more comfortable through the construction of a Booth for time keepers and a Media Centre, while the Pit Area also benefitted from an overdue expansion to accommodate the increasing influx of newcomers and larger contingent from overseas whenever Guyana host the final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC). The need to improve the aesthetics of the Clubhouse also did not escape the attention of the club administration and collaboration was sought with some investors and the birth of an upgraded go-kart facility and Sports Bar were the attendant results. It is evident that the Club is becoming more broadbased in its thinking with the development of young drivers and by extension the sport placed as high priorities, while the need to have a family-oriented atmosphere was given similar consideration. The Club was also able to maintain strong relationships with regional counterparts and the CMRC overwhelming support during the final leg in November bore evidence of this. The keen rivalry that exists between Guyana and
American Bryce Prince leads for team Mohamed as the foreign riders’ added impetus.
Suriname enjoyed an elevated grade with record number of competitors exchanging visits throughout the year, making it a successful one. Honourable mention must be made of the admirable work that the small staff did and while they appeared tired and overworked, they operated with admirable efficiency, especially in preparation for the international Meet. In describing our performance at the regional level, Guyana failed to retain its crown, but competitors’ interest was what mattered and perhaps apart from Trinidad and Tobago, strong contingents were always present at every Meet. Another facet that made
Kawhi Leonard scores 25 as Spurs throttle Raptors, 110-82 SAN ANTONIO (AP) Kawhi Leonard had 25 points, LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 and the San Antonio Spurs beat Toronto 110-82 on Tuesday night, holding the Raptors to their lowest score of the season. San Antonio dominated a matchup of teams with the second-best record in each conference, leading by as many as 34 points. Leonard and Aldridge combined to shoot 19 for 28 from the field, but it was veteran point guard Tony Parker who set the tone for the Spurs. Parker finished with 15 points and eight assists in 23 minutes. After scoring the game’s opening basket on a floater, Parker drove the lane and tossed the ball out to Aldridge and Pau Gasol for mid-range jumpers and to Danny Green for a 3-pointer. The Spurs raced to a 2610 lead in the opening eight
Kawhi Leonard (Getty Images) minutes, and the Raptors never recovered. DeMar DeRozan led Toronto with 26 points, but backcourt mate Kyle Lowry was held to six on 2-for-9 shooting. San Antonio fizzled when Parker exited for rest, going scoreless for 5:13 bridging the
first and second quarters. Parker’s return helped set up three straight dynamic plays that put the Raptors on their heels and gave the Spurs their largest lead at 54-32 with 2:28 left in the first half. Green’s steal and halfcourt pass led to a onehanded, breakaway dunk for Leonard that revved up the sold-out crowd. Parker dribbled around his back on the run to lose Lowry at the top of the 3-point line, got DeRozan to leap in the paint and then whipped a pass to the left corner for a 3pointer from Leonard. Parker then passed under the basket to Aldridge, who tossed it out to Leonard. He faked a shot, dribbled, reset and made a 3 for a 22-point lead. The Raptors shot 37 percent from the field while failing to reach 90 points for the first time this season. TIP-INS (Continued on page 25)
the year memorable was the rivalries that evolved, especially the ones that featured young daredevils Matthew and Elliott Vieira, the two most exciting Superbike racers in the Caribbean. Then we had Guyana’s own Kristian Jeffrey against Jamaica’s Doug Gore and
Barbados’ Barry Mayers and Mark Maloney. Those rivalries provided the catalyst for year-round excitement in the sport and Guyanese had the opportunity to get a glimpse of them during the staging of the final leg of the Series. The stage is set for an-
other year of success in motor racing and the hope is that the GMR&SC use back-toback years of high performance to keep the momentum going. Ksaieteur Sport extends best wishes to the entity and look forward to another year of excitement.
F1 champions Mercedes to ‘unveil the beast’ on February 23 LONDON (Reuters) Mercedes, Formula One’s dominant team who have yet to announce a replacement for retired world champion Nico Rosberg, will present their 2017 car at Silverstone on Feb. 23. The Mercedes website (www.mercedesamgf1.com) said yesterday that the reigning champions would “unveil the beast to the world” at the British Grand Prix circuit down the road from their Brackley factory. Fans who register for a prize draw on Facebook will have the chance to win VIP access to witness the first laps of the W08 challenger. Mercedes won 19 of 21 races last season and started all but one from pole position. They will start the season in Australia in March as favourites for a fourth successive title, with Britain’s triple world champion Lewis Hamilton leading the campaign in the absence of former rival Rosberg. The German driver stunned Formula One by announcing his retirement five days after winning a first title in Abu Dhabi in late November, saying he had reached the peak and achieved his ambition. His decision left Mercedes in a difficult position, with other leading drivers all under contract with rivals at such a late point in the
Mercedes’ Formula One World Champion Nico Rosberg during the ‘’Ein Herz fuer Kinder’’ (A Heart for Children) TV charity telethon in Berlin, Germany December 3, 2016. (REUTERS/Britta Pedersen/Pool) year. It was also an admission of just how tough a team mate Hamilton, who won 10 grands prix to Rosberg’s nine, had been to beat over the course of a season. Rosberg’s replacement is expected to be announced imminently, with testing starting at the end of February in Spain. Finland’s Valtteri Bottas is seen as a safe bet, as well as a safe pair of hands, to land the seat. The motorsport.com website has reported that the Williams driver visited the Mercedes factory over the
Christmas break. The 2017 season will see wider tires, faster cars and revised aerodynamics with Mercedes likely to face a tougher test from rivals Red Bull — who have Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Dutch teenager Max Verstappen — and Ferrari. “I hope we can be as successful as we’ve been in 2016. It was not always an easy ride and I don’t expect it to be any easier in 2017 but certainly one thing, it’s going to be good fun again,” said team boss Toto Wolff in a New Year’s message.
Thursday January 05, 2016
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Region 8 REO intends to plug sports development Seeking to forge partnerships ”We have a number of very talented sportsmen and women in this region and I will do whatever I can to ensure that they garner the right opportunities to propel their development.” This is the commitment given by Regional Executive Officer of Region 8, Rafel Downes who is embarking on securing partnerships and collaborations in order to achieve this aim. Downes, who is credited for aiding and teaching his son Guyana’s number one lawn tennis player Anthony Downes the sport, said that sports is a perfect vehicle to bring about holistic development. He noted that while his workload as REO is challenging in terms of getting projects and programmes executed, he firmly believes that sports is the best avenue for further developing the youths in the Region. ”It’s already an established fact that opportunities are limited for the young people in Region 8 and as such, sports would be the best option of further enhancing the talent and skills of
several of the young men and women,” he said. Downes issued an appeal to the various sports associations in Guyana to invest in the youths who possess the talent and skills from outlying areas, noting that in many cases all they need is an opportunity to show what they can do. ”Sports is not cheap and frankly it’s very expensive if you are going to go the long haul. Therefore if you don’t have the finances you must have the sponsor (s) who are prepared to invest heavily in you,” he said. He continued, “When I was investing in my son Anthony it was challenging but I am very satisfied and proud of his achievements over the years as he has certainly proven that irrespective of which area or community you are from, once you have the right support base you can achieve anything. Today Anthony is a tennis champion beating everyone in his path in very convincing ways.” The REO noted that the formula used for his son’s success at lawn tennis can be replicated if both the business
Some of the Region 8 players assembled for a March Past at a recent tournament at the Kopinang ground. community and sporting associations coupled with the National Sports Commission takes a deep interest in producing new stars. ”What you are seeing a lot of is very raw talent in football, lawn tennis, volleyball, archery and cricket but the respective associations must be prepared to invest
105-year-old Frenchman cycles into history with hour-long ride
seriously in sports development and sports development must not only come in the coastline areas but throughout Guyana.” He expressed disappointment with the reluctance of several sports associations’ officials who have never visited several of these communities to review and examine the talent that exists, expressing the view that sports is not just talking about it but toiling both night and day for long hours seeking the best while seeking to produce the best. ”We have a lot of officials who unfortunately claims that they have passion for sports development but yet they ignore these regions for varying reasons. The common ex-
cuse that we hear is that it’s expensive to visit these regions or that time is limited… foolishness, they are many innovative ways that they can explore in visiting these regions. As a matter of fact, expanding the sport to the hinterland communities should be the top priority of every association and I am hoping that for this year a number of associations are seeking to do this,” he opined. Downes disclosed that for his region’s budget for 2017 there’s any money for sports but expressed the view that he will embark on a number of collaborations and partnerships as being from Region 8; he better understands the plight and cries of the youths. ”I have been passionate
about sports over the years and I will continue to build relationships which hopefully will evolve into partnerships and collaborations. We cannot allow our talented youths to sit by idly with broken or lost dreams thus seeing themselves as failures resulting in many of them turning to social ills. It’s time that we help in our own little ways in saving dreams and desires as when you listen to many of the youths in this region they have come to the realisation that they cannot get out unto the big scene because of their location and or situation so I will seek with the help of others to change this perception while renewing their desires and ability to dream big,” he declared.
Regional Super50 Preparation...
Jaguars commence training at indoor facility in LBI Guyana Jaguars commenced training yesterday in preparation for the Regional Super50 at the GCB indoor facility located in the Board’s hostel in LBI. The One Day Tournament is scheduled to bowl off on January 24 in Barbados and Antigua. The decision to use the indoor facility is
French cyclist Robert Marchand (L) prepares to start as he attempts to break his own world cycling record at the age of 105, taking part in a one-hour cycling event in the Masters + 100 category held at the Velodrome National in Montigny-les-Bretonneux, southwest of Paris, France. (REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen) (Reuters) Robert Marchand, a 105-yearold Frenchman, made cycling history yesterday by covering 22.528 km (14.08 miles) in one hour on a track near Paris. Marchand has a huge following in France and was cheered on by hundreds of fans as
he rode round the velodrome at Saint-Quentinen-Yvelines. However, he fell short of his own previous record of 26.927 km in the over-100s category, which he set in 2014 at the age of 102 years old.
due to the persistent rainfall which left the Guyana National Stadium in Providence in a condition not conducive for play. The GCB and national selectors had planned two trial matches for tomorrow and Saturday at the GNS but rain continues to pour. These matches would be played at later dates when the conditions are favourable.
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Kaieteur News
GAPF AGM and Elections fixed for January 14th Members of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) will convene on Saturday January 14th, 2017 for their Annual General Meeting. The meeting is slated to take place at the National Racquet Center which is located at Camp Street and Woolford Avenue, in the City, commencing at 09:00hrs. The agenda for the AGM is as follows: 1. Renewal of Affiliation, 2. Minutes of 2016 AGM, 3. President’s Report, 4. General Secretary’s Report, 5. Treasurer’s Report,
Thursday January 05, 2016
Morgan keeps Thunder alive with last-ball win
6. Election of 2017 Office Bearers, 7. Any Other Business. Members from across Guyana including Berbice, Linden, West Demerara and Georgetown are expected to attend. The current executive committee of the GAPF: Ed Caesar (President), Anis-Ade Thomas (Vice President), Melissa Tucker (Secretary), Tai Eusibo (Public Relations Officer), Andrew Austin (Treasurer), Martin Webster (Committee Member), Erwyn Smith (Committee Member), Andrea Smith (Committee Member).
CONCACAF aid fund kicks in ...Mulls 2017 increase of US$125,000 in assistance to member associations Jamaica Observer CONCACAF president, Canadian Victor Montagliani, says a fund to help member associations with specific development programmes in mind has kicked in. The One CONCACAF Development Fund, which targets development programmes for age group teams, women’s football and referees development, is the brainchild of Montagliani, who was voted in as CONCACAF president in May last year. The FIFA vice-president told the Jamaica Observer yesterday that the first payout of US$125,000 to each of the confederation’s 41 members for 2016 has been completed for the most part. “We had just given an update to our membership on the One CONCACAF manifesto in terms of the things that have been completed. For instance, the development fund has been done, and yes, the increased support has occurred and the funds have been distributed,” noted Montagliani. The Canadian businessman, who took over the reins of a corruption-riddled CONCACAF and in the wake of a US Department of Justice crackdown on top functionaries in 2015, said the funds will be monitored to ensure they are spent on areas for which they are earmarked. “I think accountability is important as an annual scorecard will be maintained (to keep track of projects and expenditure). We will make sure that the funds are allocated to the proper development areas that are required. “So funds are not able to go to (senior men’s teams), but they should be going to the youth teams, female football, and coaching development,” Montagliani stressed.
Victor Montagliani The Canadian businessman disclosed that, already, CONCACAF’s governing council is seriously thinking about increasing the current figure with a view to strengthening its members, but a decision will be made on the final figure after a budgetary review process and prudent sustainability factors. “Last year it was US$125,000 to each member association. We are looking to increase that for 2017, but we are just going through the budgetary process to see where that will be at. “Obviously, we are trying to make it sustainable because it would be good for our members to count on this money for their quadrennial planning, which they should be doing,” Montagliani said. In keeping with promises made on the campaign trail for the confederation’s top job, the outgoing president of the Canadian Soccer Association has started to oversee broadbased assistance, especially in its more needy jurisdictions.
“With respect to UNCAF (Central American Football Union) and the Caribbean, we have met with both unions and I have advised them from an operational perspective all event management of competitions will centrally be done by CONCACAF, and this will put into practice better fiscal management of these competitions and link them better with flagship events like the Gold Cup. “This will allow both areas — Central America and the Caribbean — to be involved in the technical and development sides of these events which should really be their priority,” Montagliani noted. Looking at the Caribbean specifically, the 51-year-old Montagliani has reiterated his views that the region remains critical to the future of CONCACAF, not only for its political value with 31 members, but its potential as a unifying force. “Yes, as I have said, the Caribbean is the future of CONCACAF as the potential is enormous. I think one of the things the Caribbean is starting to realise is that the past practices of just thinking about the Caribbean, which has brought stagnation, they are realising that they can only be strong if there is a strong CONCACAF, united as 41 members. I think the practice of regionalism in the past has led to mistrust amongst everyone. I think people have realised that only as one CONCACAF can we bring about change in football. So, I think as we move forward everyone will see that thinking globally is the most important thing,” Montagliani told the Observer. CONCACAF governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Eoin Morgan made amends for a slow start to deliver Sydney Thunder their first win of the tournament © Cricket Australia/Getty Images ESPNcricinfo - The defending champions are still alive - mathematically at least. Eoin Morgan crunched a lastball six straight down the ground to give the Sydney Thunder a famous six-wicket win - their first of the season in his last game for them before he flies to India with the England team. The Thunder required five to win from the final ball, and as the smite off a half-volley from Ben Hilfenhaus - flew into the sightscreen, Morgan dropped his bat and leapt. Pat Cummins, the bowler who reinvented himself as an allrounder at No. 6, and who had already hit a huge six earlier in the over (from which the Thunder had required 16), gave him a bearhug. Earlier, Morgan’s former England team-mate Kevin Pietersen had guided the Stars, who were invited to bat, to 8 for 166. But his dismissal sparked a dismal collapse in the final five overs, and it came back to haunt him. KP’s back Without the middle-order ballast of Peter Handscomb who should return for the latter half of the pool stage - the Stars’ batting line-up looks rather top-heavy. Over 70% of Stars’ runs this season have been scored by their top three - if they are to make the finals again, this needs addressing. And so it proved here. Glenn Maxwell and Luke Wright had given Pietersen a punchy platform in the Powerplay, but he got off to a slow start. There was the standard Red Bull run to get things going, but he could barely manage more than a single, moving to 28 from 27. From there, he flew, taking 32 from his next 10, with Chris Green reverse-swept, then tonked
over midwicket, for four and six, and Gurinder Sandhu ripped to shreds. Watson stalls the Stars After Sandhu leaked 21 from the 15th over, Stars looked set for a huge total. Pietersen was on 60 and had shared 55 with Faulkner for the fourth wicket. Shane Watson appeared to be running out of bowling options; Russell had pulled up lame, Sandhu and Cummins had been too costly, and he had just one over of spin - from Green - up his sleeve. So Watson turned to his own bowling, which had looked in fine fettle earlier on. Pietersen drilled one back to the left of Watson, who took a magnificent caught-andbowled in an over that cost just five. With the partnership broken, it was the perfect time to reintroduce the hitherto expensive Cummins. He sent down the 17th, which cost just seven, before Green bowled Faulkner and Sam Harper in consecutive balls with his skiddy offbreaks in the 18th over that went for just one. He nearly had Adam Zampa, too. Never mind, Watson brought himself back, dismissed Zampa and conceded two. With Cummins’ last yielding just five, the final five overs had been worth 20 runs for the loss of five wickets. With rain tumbling, the Thunder had hauled themselves back into the game. Morgan’s innings of two halves Thunder found themselves in a spot of bother early. Aiden Blizzard had played out eight dots in the 11 balls he had faced when he fell. Kurtis Patterson’s fast start fell to nothing. Watson was brilliantly caught by Harper. Morgan and Ben
Rohrer, realistically, were the last hope. Russell was carded to come in at No. 6, but his left hamstring injury ruled that out, so Cummins was promoted. Against the likes of Zampa, who bowled beautifully, Morgan looked horribly scratchy at first. He managed just 15 runs from his first 28 balls. But then, Michael Beer very tight until then - returned for the 15th over. Thunder needed 72 off 36. Beer’s first ball was whacked down the ground for four, before he was slogswept for six. Morgan was away, and he didn’t look back. On a pitch favouring spin, Morgan realised that seamers were to bowl each of the last five overs. When they dropped short, he pulled, and he flat-batted over long-on too. By the time his winning six had sailed into the night, he had taken 56 off his last 22 balls to finish with 71. Finally, Thunder had a win. Legspin it to win it As Morgan recognised, pace off was the order of the day, and two legspinners were to the fore. In the chase, Beer’s first two overs cost just seven, while Zampa’s four excellent overs cost just 19, with a wicket, 10 dot balls and one boundary. The blueprint had been set earlier, however: Thunder’s three best bowlers were the variations in pace of Watson, the darts of Green and particularly the dangerous leg-breaks of Ahmed, who wasn’t afraid to give the ball some flight and rip, notably when bowling David Hussey. The trio’s 12 overs cost 79 and resulted in seven of the eight wickets. Scores: Sydney Thunder 4 for 168 (Morgan 71*, Hilfenhaus 2-39) beat Melbourne Stars 8 for 166 (Pietersen 60, Maxwell 34, Watson 3-23) by six wickets.
Thursday January 05, 2016
Kaieteur News
NBA round-up Tuesday games The Sports Xchange Boston Celtics 115, Utah Jazz 104 BOSTON — Isaiah Thomas scored 29 points and dished out a career-high 15 assists to lead Boston to a 115-104 victory over Utah. Jae Crowder hit a careerhigh five 3-pointers and 21 points as Boston shot 17-of31 from 3-point range. Al Horford also added 21 points a n d Av e r y B r a d l e y contributed 14 points. The Celtics recorded their ninth straight home win over Utah and won for the first time in 10 games over a team with one of the top seven records in the NBA. Gordon Hayward led the Jazz with 23 points. Joe Johnson added 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter while Boris Diaw contributed 15 points. Philadelphia 76ers 93, Minnesota Timberwolves 91 PHILADELPHIA — Robert Covington scored on a lob from Dario Saric with 0.2 of a second left as Philadelphia edged Minnesota. The 76ers blew a 26point third quarter lead and Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left. Covington then rubbed Andrew Wiggins off Joel Embiid’s screen, took the long sideline inbounds pass from Saric near the rim and dropped the ball in. Embiid scored 25 points and Ersan Ilyasova added 19 for the 76ers. Zach LaVine scored 28 points and KarlAnthony Towns collected 23 points, 15 rebounds and five assists for Minnesota. Indiana Pacers 121, Detroit Pistons 116 DETROIT — Paul George scored 32 points and Indiana equaled a season high in points and beat Detroit. Myles Turner and
Jeff Teague added 17 points apiece for the Pacers, who also beat the Pistons in Detroit on Dec. 17. Reserve Tobias Harris scored 22 points for the Pistons. Reggie Jackson added 20 and 12 assists while Andre Drummond totaled 20 and 14 rebounds for his 24th double-double. San Antonio Spurs 110, Toronto Raptors 82 SAN ANTONIO — Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points as San Antonio rolled to a big lead in the opening quarter and coasted to a win over Toronto. LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 on 11 of 16 shooting for the Spurs, who held a 30-point lead through three quarters. Tony Parker added 15 points and eight assists as San Antonio shot 55.1 percent. DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points for the Raptors, who closed out a six-game road trip. Terrance Ross added 17 while Kyle Lowry was held to six points. Los Angeles Lakers 116, Memphis Grizzlies 102 LOS ANGELES — Julius Randle recorded a triple-double to help Los Angeles end a three-game skid. Randle earned his third career triple-double and second this season with 19 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists as the Lakers won for only the third time in 18 games. Nick Young led Los Angeles with 20 points, with all his field goals (6 of 11) coming from long distance. D’Angelo Russell also made six 3-pointers and scored 18 points. Marc Gasol, who was a game-time decision with a left ankle sprain, collected 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Memphis. Mike Conley contributed 21
points, Vince Carter added 12 and Zach Randolph had 11 points and nine rebounds for the Grizzlies. Dallas Mavericks 113, Washington Wizards 105 DALLAS — Harrison Barnes scored 26 points and Dallas knocked off Washington. Deron Williams added 21 for the Mavericks, who won for the fifth time in nine games. Wesley Matthews added 12 points and Dirk Nowitzki contributed 11 points and nine rebounds. John Wall collected 27 points and eight assists for Washington. Bradley Beal added 25 points and six assists. Sacramento Kings 120, Denver Nuggets 113 DENVER — DeMarcus Cousins scored 31 points and led Sacramento past Denver. Darren Collison had 26 points and seven assists for the Kings (15-19), who have won five of their last seven. Danilo Gallinari scored 24 points and Nikola Jokic added 18 for the Nuggets, who dropped their third straight. Phoenix Suns 99, Miami Heat 90 PHOENIX — Devin Booker scored 27 points and Phoenix handed shorthanded Miami its sixth straight loss. Rookie Marquese Chriss added a career-high 18 points and Eric Bledsoe contributed 16 points as Phoenix stopped a 12-game losing streak against the Heat. Tyson Chandler totaled 20 rebounds as Phoenix also stopped an eight-game home losing streak against Miami. Goran Dragic scored 24 points for the Heat, who dressed the league minimum of eight players thanks to an assortment of maladies ranging from injuries to food poisoning to a migraine headache.
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Wawrinka and Nishikori reach Brisbane quarter-finals
Stan Wawrinka in action. (Photo by Joe Robbins /Getty Images) ( R e u t e r s ) Wo r l d number four Stan Wawrinka began the new season with a straight-sets victory over Viktor Troicki in his Brisbane International debut yesterday. Second seed Wa w r i n k a e d g e d o u t Troicki 7-6(5), 6-4 to maintain his perfect record against the Serbian whose seventh attempt at beating the Swiss failed at the Pat Rafter Arena. “I’m quite happy with my level at the start the year,” Wawrinka said. “I think it was a good match, in general, for sure. A few up-and-downs with focus and my (shot) choice during the game, but it’s always tough to play against Troicki.” Troicki was serving for the first set at 5-4 when Wa w r i n k a s c r i p t e d a turnaround to claim it. The three-times grandslam champion took charge in the second when Troicki double-faulted at 4-4 and he clinched the contest to set up a quarter-final clash with Briton Kyle Edmund.
Whitmore to stay in charge of Jamaica for February matches Kingston, Jamaica – The same day it was announced that Jamaica will face the host United States in an international friendly on February 3, 2017, the Jamaica Football Federation confirmed Tuesday that Theodore Whitmore will continue in his capacity as head coach. Jamaica will also visit Honduras for another friendly on February 16. In September 2016, Whitmore
was put in charge of the Reggae Boyz ahead of their 2016/17 Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup thirdround matches against Suriname and Guyana. Jamaica won both games to reach the competition’s semifinals and secure a ticket to the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He was initially handed the reins due to matters surrounding manager Winfried Schafer’s status.
Whitmore is pleased to remain in the post and prepare Jamaica to continue the defense of its Caribbean title. ”The semifinals of the Caribbean Cup and the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup are our major tournaments this calendar year so these friendlies versus USA and Honduras are crucial for us as they are stern tests to help us prepare for these tournaments,” the 44-year-
old said. “USA is one of the strongest teams in the region, so we will have a great opportunity to test our squad.” In 23 previous meetings between them, the U.S. holds a 13-2 advantage in win over the Jamaicans. They last squared off in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals, with the Caribbean power earning a 2-1 victory. (CONCACAF)
Third seed Kei Nishikori had to work harder to secure his quarter-final berth with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over freeswinging American Jared Donaldson. Nishikori was 4-0 up and yet lost the first set as Donaldson reeled off six games on the trot. Nishikori let a 3-0 lead slip in the second as well but the 2014 U.S. Open finalist managed to arrest the slide to force the decider and was more assertive in the third set against the 105th-ranked qualifier. “I had a great start today until 4-0, and then I had one bad game,” Nishikori said. “He started playing more aggressive and his forehand was on fire –- he was hitting a lot of winners from that side.” Nishikori now meets Australian Jordan Thompson who upset eighth seed David Ferrer 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 for the biggest win of his career to reach his first ATP World Tour quarter-final.
In the women’s section, world number one Angelique Kerber survived a scare in her first competitive match of the year to beat Australian wild card Ashleigh Barty 6-3, 26, 6-3 and set up a quarterfinal clash with Ukrainian sixth seed Elina Svitolina. B a r t y ’s a g g r e s s i v e approach initially startled Kerber, who had a firstround bye. The German hit 14 of her 27 unforced errors in the second set but maintained her composure to close out the evenlycontested affair in an hour and 45 minutes. World number five Dominika Cibulkova will face France’s Alize Cornet in the quarter-finals after she defeated Zhang Shuai 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova recorded a 6-4, 6-3 win over local favourite Destanee Aiava who beat Bethanie MattekS a n d s o n Tu e s d a y t o become the first player born this century to win a WTA main-draw match.
Thursday January 05, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Coach Smith claims Erratic Serena stunned by the Cricket Board by Brengle in Auckland victimisation GCB’s TDO responds Madison Brengle in action on court. (GettyMadison Brengle)
Winston Smith
Serena Williams made 88 unforced errors against her fellow American (Getty) (Reuters) Serena Williams’ Australian Open preparation suffered a jolt with fellow American Madison Brengle stunning the world number two 6-4, 67(3), 6-4 in the second round of the Auckland Classic yesterday. Playing her first tournament since her semifinal loss at the U.S. Open last September, Serena was left to rue the 88 unforced errors she made in the contest against an opponent 70 rungs lower in the WTA rankings. “I really think I played - I’m trying to think of a word that’s not obscene but that’s how I played,” she said after the loss less than two weeks before the year’s first grand slam at Melbourne Park. “Eighty eight unforced errors is too much, just way too many. It’s a lot. I can’t expect to win hitting that many errors,” said the 35-year-old who had constant trouble with her ball toss in the swirling wind.
Brengle was trailing 1-4 before she staged a brilliant comeback to run away with the first set against the 22times grand slam singles champion who had triumphed 6-0, 6-1 in their only previous meeting in 2015. Serena was a set and 4-3 down when she made a comeback of her own to clinch the tie-breaker and force the decider. The third set went on serve until the 10th game when Brengle held two match points, only for Serena to fight off both and slump in relief when she hit a crosscourt forehand to get back to deuce. Brengle strode confidently across court, secured her third match point and stared in disbelief as Serena doublefaulted to hand her the biggest victory of her career. “I’ve never returned like that in my life. It’s a little frustrating, especially since I worked so hard in the offseason, but at least the conditions won’t be like this
in Melbourne,” Serena said. “She obviously did a much better job than I did. I really abhorred the conditions. I don’t think I’ve ever hit 88 errors in my career. I could google that and that’s probably accurate. So there’s no need to look back on such a crappy game.” Brengle meets seventh seed Jelena Ostapenko in the quarter-finals. “Honestly I don’t know (how I won),” the 26-yearold American said. “It’s so cool. It’s what you dream about, playing the best in the world.” Earlier, Serena’s sister Ve n u s d o w n e d l o c a l favourite Jade Lewis 7-6(2), 6-2 before withdrawing with a right arm injury. “I love this tournament and I’m really sad that I have to withdraw, but I’m happy to have had the opportunity to be here again this year,” Venus said in a statement ahead of her match against Japanese youngster Naomi Osaka.
By Sean Devers F o r t y - n i n e - y e a r- o l d Level Two Cricket Coach Winston Smith is convinced that victimisation played a role in him losing his position as Coach of defending GCB 50-over Franchise champions Lower Corentyne for the second edition of the tournament which was postponed from January 3, due to the adverse weather. Smith, who resides in number 74 Village Corentyne, Berbice, feels he was removed as Coach of the top side in both the 50-over and Three-Day Franchise, because he spoke out about
Colin Stuar injustices against him and his players. “Just because I spoke out in the last tournament that Vicram Suebarran collect the cheque and took out $25,000 from my money and the other players. I was replaced by a level One Coach,” Smith lamented. It is understood that Suebarran, who ran against former Berbice left-hander Anil Beharry in the last BCB elections, plays a huge role organising travelling to venues and other funding for the Lower Corentyne team. Smith informed that he was appointed Coach of the
West Berbice Franchise but that decision was rescinded and he was replaced by a Junior Coach. “I submitted traveling for every round but he (Suebarran) is always not around and I have not been paid as yet. Delbert Hicks has also been fired as Manager,” complained Smith. Repeated efforts to contact Suebarran proved futile. When asked why was Smith not retained after winning the title last year? Territorial Development Office (TDO) of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) former Test pacer Colin Stuart explained how a Franchise Coach is selected. “Where a Coach is assigned to a Franchise, a number of factors are taken in consideration, including Coaching qualification, their willingness and availability, recommendations from the Cricket Committee of the CGI (Cricket Guyana Inc) and area location,” Stuart informed. The 43-year-old Stuart, who played six Tests, added t h a t F r a n c h i s e representatives are tasked with the composition of the management team for their Franchise.
MS Dhoni gives up India’s ODI and T20 captaincy ESPNCRICINFO - MS Dhoni has stepped down as captain of India’s limitedovers teams ahead of the ODIs and T20Is against England in January. He will still be available for selection as a wicketkeeper-batsman for the series, though, the BCCI said last evening. The selectors are meeting to pick the ODI and T20I squads on January 6 in Mumbai. The BCCI did not immediately name a successor for the matches against England, though Virat Kohli, who leads India in Test cricket, is the frontrunner for the job. It is understood Dhoni, 35, communicated his decision to chairman of selectors MSK Prasad in Nagpur, where the Jharkhand side that is being mentored by Dhoni was playing Gujarat in the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy. Dhoni was seen having a long conversation with Prasad during the tea break. “We all know his sense of integrity and patriotism, and he has got high clarity in
thinking,” Prasad told ESPNcricinfo. “Probably he felt that is the best decision, so let us respect it.” Dhoni had given up the Test captaincy in December 2014, when he retired from the format after the Melbourne Test. However, he stayed on as ODI and T20 international captain after having taken on those roles in 2007. He was India’s most successful captain, leading the team to victory in the 2007 World T20 in South Africa, the 2011 World Cup in India, and the 2013 C h a m p i o n s Tr o p h y i n England. Dhoni captained India in 199 ODIs, of which he won 110 and lost 74. He was captain in 72 T20Is, of which India won 41 and lost 28. He was also India’s most successful Test captain, with 27 wins, 18 defeats and 15 draws. Dhoni is also the only captain to have led India to ODI and T20I series wins in Australia, and an ODI series win in New Zealand. He made 6633 ODI runs as captain at an average of 54
and a strike rate of 86. As captain in T20Is, Dhoni scored 1112 runs at a strike rate of 122.60. In Test cricket, he made 3454 runs at an average of 40.63.”On the behalf of every Indian cricket fan and the BCCI, I would like to thank MS Dhoni for his outstanding contribution as the captain of the Indian team across all formats,” BCCI chief executive Rahul Johri said. “Under his leadership, Indian team has touched new heights and his achievements will remain etched forever in the annals of Indian cricket.” Tendulkar pays tribute “Congratulations to MSD on a wonderful career as a captain, leading India to success in both T20 and ODI World Cups. Have seen him emerge from an aggressive player to a steady and decisive captain. It’s a day to celebrate his successful captaincy and respect his decision. Wish MSD the very best as he continues entertaining us on the field with his exploits.”
Kaieteur News
Thursday Janaury 05, 2016
Hamstring injury leaves Russell Big Bash campaign in doubt
Sydney Thunder’s West Indies all-rounder, Andre Russell. SYDNEY, Australia, CMC – All-rounder Andre Russell’s participation in the Big Bash was left in doubt after he suffered a hamstring injury in Sydney Thunder’s six-wicket victory over Melbourne Stars here yesterday. The 29-year-old chased a ball to third man during the Stars innings but pulled up metres before the boundary ropes, dropping to the ground and clutching his left hamstring. He was stretchered from the field and the Thunder franchise confirmed afterwards that the player had suffered a hamstring injury and would undergo scans today to determine the extent of the damage. Russell was already set
to undergo scans following the game, to deal with a troublesome knee injury which has plagued him in recent games. He is the third West Indies star to be struck down by injury during the tournament. Last week, w o m e n ’s a l l - r o u n d e r Deandra Dottin suffered multiple fractures of her cheekbone in an on-field collision with Brisbane Heat teammate Laura Harris and was forced to undergo surgery. A few days later, Dwayne Bravo sustained a serious hamstring injury while playing for Melbourne Renegades, attempting to pull off a save on the boundary. Jamaican Russell is the Thunder’s marquee player but is yet to produce a
meaningful performance in the tournament as the reigning champions have struggled. In fact, yesterday’s win was Thunder’s first of the new tournament, breaking a four-game losing streak. Russell was restricted to a single over which cost ten runs as Stars reached 166 for eight off 20 overs, with Englishman Kevin Pietersen top-scoring with 60 from 37 balls. England star Eoin Morgan then slammed an unbeaten 71 off 50 balls, to propel Thunder to victory off the last ball of the innings. Requiring 15 runs off the final over, Morgan carted the final delivery down the ground for six, with four needed for victory
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South Africa need six wickets for victory (Reuters) South Africa need six more wickets with two days still to play to win the second test against Sri Lanka, who closed the third day at Newlands yesterday on 130 for four, still 377 runs behind the mammoth target set them. Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada both took two wickets in the Sri Lankan second innings as the home team closed in on victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. South Africa have ample time to whittle away the rest of the Sri Lankan batting while the visitors, set 507 runs to win, must survive six more sessions if they are to force a most improbable outcome. Angelo Mathews (29 not out) and Dinesh Chandimal (28 not out) will resume today, having shown some resistance to the close of play with an unbeaten 61-run partnership. Philander made an early inroad before tea when he clean bowled Dimuth Karunaratne for six and then added the wicket of Kusal Mendis after the break as he edged a ball on a tempting length to Dean Elgar for only four. Kaushal Silva went for 29 runs when a rising Rabada delivery hit him on the glove and popped up for an easy catch for Stephen Cook. Dhananjaya de Silva was then given out leg before wicket off a Rabada delivery that was heading down leg side but surprisingly did not ask for a review. Had he done so, De Silva would have been able
Angelo Mathews works through the leg side, South Africa v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Cape Town, 3rd day, © AFP to add to his 22 runs. Sri Lanka were put into bat midway through the second session after the South African lead went past 500 runs. They declared on 224 for seven, having resumed at 35-0 overnight. Seamer Suranga Lakmal took four wickets in a rare highlight for Sri Lanka while Elgar top scored for the home side with 55, to add to his firstinnings century. Captain Faf du Plessis
made 41 while Stephen Cook was out for 30. South Africa scored 392 in their first innings to which Sri Lanka replied with a paltry 110. The hosts, who won the first test in Port Elizabeth last week, did not enforce the follow-on. Scores: Sri Lanka 110 and 130 for 4 (Mathews 29*, Chandimal 28*) require a further 377 runs to beat South Africa 392 and 224 for 7 dec (Elgar 55, Lakmal 4-69).
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Region 8 REO intends to plug sports development Seeking to forge partnerships
MS Dhoni gives up India’s ODI and T20 captaincy MS Dhoni led India to World Cup glory in 2011 Š AFP
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Erratic Serena stunned by Brengle in Auckland P.30
REO of Region 8 Rafel Downes (2nd right) greets officials at the Kopinang Airstrip during a sports visit in September 2016.
Motor Racing continued strong resurgence last year
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Hamstring injury leaves Russell Big Bash campaign P.31 in doubt
- Former WIBC Director Raphael and Ex-Test player Harper
Motor racing made its mark during 2016.
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