Wednesday January 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
Escaped prisoner claims cop was accidentally shot - expresses remorse The 24-year-old prisoner, who stole a policeman’s gun which he used to shoot and kill a Detective Corporal on Monday night, has expressed remorse, claiming that it was an accident. This he told investigators yesterday. A source close to the investigations told this newspaper that the suspect ,Delon Abrams, said that he panicked and accidentally pulled the trigger of the .38 revolver while he was handing it over to the now dead Corporal Silburn Elias, 45, while other ranks were aiming their rifles at him and threatening to kill him. Minutes before the shooting, Abrams had stolen the weapon from a young Constable, who was guarding him at the Georgetown Hospital where he had been taken for medical attention after he was apprehended on a break and enter allegation in Sophia. Abrams’s story, however, has not gone down too well with the dead cop’s colleagues, who are claiming that “he will say anything to save himself.” Kaieteur News understands that Abrams gave his account of what transpired from the time he was arrested and taken to the hospital to when he was apprehended after shooting Elias. He claimed that while at the hospital, he had become impatient after not receiving any medical attention for hours. “He say he lose patience and feel he could tek a chance and get away because he tell he self that he ain’t going to jail,” the source related. Abrams, he said, claimed that he pulled the gun from the Constable’s pocket before pushing him into the toilet at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit and then running away. He claimed that he took the firearm to make sure that he was not shot while he was running away. The escaped prisoner then ran into the yard on Fourth Street, Alberttown, where he hid under a stairway. Minutes later an unarmed Corporal Elias and another rank went into the yard after being tipped off that the suspect was still hiding there. This was after a few other armed ranks, who had responded to the report of the prisoner’s escape, combed the yard and said it was safe, thinking that the suspect had already made good his escape. “He (Elias) observed the man under a step and he
grabbed him. It all happen so fast… like about five seconds. I don’t think he expected to walk into the man like that,” one of the dead cop’s colleagues told this newspaper. The suspect, meanwhile, told detectives that when he was spotted by Elias, he begged the detective not to shoot him, while assuring that he would give himself up. It was at this time that Elias demanded that Abrams hand over the firearm and he subsequently grabbed it, even as the suspect was still holding onto the butt. A scuffle ensued and according to Abrams, he accidentally pulled the trigger twice. He said that after he realized that Elias was wounded and was lying on the ground, he dropped the gun and the injured cop picked it up. Abrams said that he tried to tell Elias that he was sorry, but several other police ranks who hurried to their injured colleague’s assistance started beating him with their guns. Abrams said that he lost consciousness and woke up about 15 minutes later in the Alberttown Police Station. Despite his confession and remorse, Abrams will face the capital charge for the death of the detective. The apology is also not likely to be taken seriously by the dead cop’s wife, Alana. During a telephone interview hours after his death, the woman said that hearing the news that her husband had passed away was the most difficult time for her. “It is very difficult for me. How do I get my children to believe that their father is not coming home anymore? I told them that their dad is dead and they don’t believe. The eight-year-old boy is named after his dad and when I told him that his father passed away, he’s just refusing to sleep. He said he is waiting until his daddy comes home before he goes and sleeps.” The woman lamented, “I don’t understand how this could happen. He was an excellent father, a loving husband, a truly good person
Dead: Detective Corporal Silburn Elias at heart. I could not ask for more.” A police officer who was with Elias an hour before he died recalled how cheerful he was. “We were all making jokes and he was laughing. I could have never imagined that my ‘squaddie’ would have died after I left him.” Several residents of the Buxton Community who were acquainted with the now dead cop described him as a fair officer and one who was always willing to help anyone in need. A police officer who was at the hospital on Monday night said, “Elias was an excellent officer. He was a clean cop. He didn’t give problems. He was a good man at heart too. It is real sad what happen to him yuh know, because I didn’t know him personally, but I use to see how disciplined he was. He was a real cool guy. I am so sorry these things happen to good people.” Meanwhile, the Force’s internal investigators are probing possible breaches of standard operating procedures as it relates to the handling of prisoners at the hospital as well as the apprehension of armed suspects. Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell had told reporters shortly after he arrived at the hospital on Monday night that a thorough internal investigation will be carried out. “I believe that there was some level of negligence involved in this situation and it will be investigated. The cop (whose weapon was snatched) is a young officer who just came out of training school,” the Commissioner stressed.
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Health Ministry looks to tackle drugs shortage “Treatment leads to cure and cure leads to better health outcomes,” was the assertion of Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, even as he commented on a reported shortage of some medications within the public health sector. Reports reaching this publication are that several public health institutions during the course of last year were without various medications, a trend that has reportedly continued this year. Dr Persaud in acknowledging the state of affairs, during an interview with this publication yesterday, said that the situation can be deemed rather ad hoc and sporadic in nature at health facilities Region-wide. However, he noted that “it is very disturbing to me, because it could be that this vital item (medication) when needed is not there and that’s worrying and we would really like to correct that.” According to him the Health Ministry in recognition of the daunting dilemma has been seeking to reverse the trend plaguing the public health sector. “We would like to know that the medicines that the Government and taxpayers invest in are available when each and every one of us and our visitors need them.” This is particularly important, Dr Persaud said, since there cannot be a good outcome if the health sector is not able to provide the proper health care, which
includes the availability of medication. And according to him, the non-availability of medication at some health facilities can in fact translate to a real shortage. “We do have stock outs from time to time of some very essential medicines and this may be due to a number of reasons,” said the Chief Medical Officer. He explained that one of the primary reasons is in fact linked to the tendering process which sometimes sees the supplier(s) failing to comply with the recommended delivery schedules. However, Dr Persaud noted that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry has been working in collaboration with the Deputy Permanent Secretary to address this situation that has the potential of greatly affecting the proper delivery of health care. Persaud in his deliberation disclosed that while in previous times the Health Ministry hadn’t the capacity to store its own medication, such a challenge no longer exists. However, he did mention that there yet remains caution in procurement since there are some medications that have a relatively short shelf life. Moreover, he explained that although the Ministry would tender for medication for an entire year some are delivered in tranches to cover the need for three to six months. And since the utilisation of these medications are likely to vary at various health
Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud facilities there is a possibility that the limited supply may not span the entire period it was estimated for. This could therefore result in the shortage situation, Dr Persaud expounded. “So some of that shortage do exist I think all of us – myself, Minister, everyone – have already said that we know there are times when we just don’t have the items,” he said. Another way in which the shortage situation can occur, he explained, is through the process of distribution even though the medication may be in stock. According to him, “sometimes the items maybe present but it is not getting to the peripheral levels, especially at the health centres and some of our hospitals and so on. It might be held in a bond or somewhere, but we are working to see how best we can strengthen those (regional) distributions with (Continued on page 12)
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Kaieteur News
KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
Editorial
Worrying contradictions and decision-making This must be the most frustrating police force in the world, where an unarmed police rank attempts to capture an armed escapee. On one hand we are told that no less a figure than the deputy commissioner had been informed that it was friendly fire which killed Detective Corporal Silburn Elias. Then the police commissioner tells us that Elias was shot by the escaped prisoner who had disarmed the escorting rank and fled to Alberttown. Just who is to be believed? Again we come full circle needing to know what level of training is provided to the sons and daughters of Guyanese citizens to prepare them for these situations. How on earth can an unarmed policeman with twenty-five years’ service and a father and husband be so reckless as to entertain the belief that he could physically subdue an armed felon? Our sympathies go out to the relatives of this fallen rank, but from initial indications this was a totally unnecessary adventure if the second police explanation is accurate. Recently we read of the spat between the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation officials and the Guyana Police Force on the question of prisoners taken for treatment at that institution. Leaving aside the merits and demerits of the respective arguments, it seems that nothing has been learned to cause any significant shifting of entrenched positions. But more importantly is the need to get immediate answers to the following questions. By what means were the duo transported to the hospital? The escorting rank, according to the commissioner, was just out of recruit training. Why send a greenhorn to escort a prisoner who was considered dangerous enough to be escorted under arms? Was the rank sufficiently proficient in the handling, care and custody of firearms to be issued with a service revolver? Was there available backup at the hospital? An eyewitness is reported to have seen the prisoner tear off the policeman’s shirt but probably in the heat of the moment, did not see him run out with the officer’s weapon. It would be a disservice to the slain man’s family’s expectations of justice if the first version, reportedly given by the Crime Chief, is more in keeping with the actual events. The cynicism which currently prevails in reaction to police explanations are doing the police image immense harm. It bespeaks a troubling breakdown in the relations between the citizenry and the body established to stand as the bulwark against a total destruction of all that right-thinking persons hold dear. It is nonsense to have a prisoner mingling with other patients and having to wait an inordinate length of time for treatment. We are not saying that prisoners must be treated in front of critical cases, but to expect that detainees who are being deprived of their freedom will meekly sit and wait to be taken to the lockups is really asking too much. Knowing what obtains at certain public institutions like the GPHC, a hardboiled prisoner will be planning and scheming from the moment of capture and will decamp at the earliest opportunity that is presented. We can be thankful that the situation did not require SWAT intervention, in light of the fact that many persons would have been present awaiting medical attention. Imagine a hostage scenario with screaming, hysterical, helpless people and an armed but determined terminally ill prisoner. Definitely the stuff of nightmares for law enforcement and correctional agencies. More serious thinking needs to be reflected in the way the police conduct business. It is not enough to give bland assurances that they are on top of things when the available evidence points to the contrary. The top brass in the GPF must be seen to have their act together when speaking on issues and not continue giving the perception of one person giving out half-baked information which is contradicted later in fundamental ways. Attitude transformation is the order of the day and must be demonstrated if the force is to move any distance along its reform trajectory.
Wednesday January 08, 2014
Letters... Where your views make the news
Ethnic conflict in other societies does have relevance in Guyana DEAR EDITOR, In ‘America is an immigrant society but is not tribalized’ (SN, Dec 17), Mr. Mike Persaud makes statements that are not factual. In addition, he incorrectly paraphrases my arguments making suppositions, conjectures and assumptions that are not supported by facts or theories in academic literature on ethnicity. A lengthy piece I penned in response on the subject of ethnicity that provides clarifications on issues was not published. Mr.Persaud contends that ethnic conflict in other societies has no relevance to Guyana. If that were the case, why would the UN commission studies on ethnic conflict and why would so many scholars study the paradigm? Policymakers and scholars are seeking solutions to ethnic conflict and theorize whether solutions to conflict in one society can be applied to another. Hence the comparison. Mr.Persaud claims the New York Times (NYT) labels the Bharatya Janata Party in India as “fundamentalist”. That is not correct. The latest article on the BJP in NYT (Dec 8) describes the BJP as “… a pro-business, Hindu nationalist party.” This is different from being “fundamentalist.” The BJP is not advocating that India be governed by Hindu religious scriptures. Mr.Persaud argues that people don’t vote according to ethnicity in America and instead are influenced by class and cultural interests with the poor voting Democrat and the wealthy voting Republican. How then does he explain wealthy Blacks, including prominent
members of the Republican Party, voting Democrat in 2008 and 2012? How does he explain poor Southern Whites consistently voting Republican. Obama gave poor Whites medical care. Yet they are still opposed to him, according to surveys published in the NYT. Mr.Persaud should read a recent piece in the NYT on ethnic voting and his description of the Republicans as a white Christian party. The NYT carried articles showing how some Southern Whites, poorer than some Blacks, voted against Obama when it was Obama and the Democrats who championed their interests. How does Mr.Persaud explain this anomaly? Mr.Persaud challenges me to provide a list of literature on ethnicity and voting in America. It is too large. There are literally millions of references in the literature on ethnicity. One can also Google the subject and find an infinite number of articles on the subject documenting how Americans vote ethnically. In addition, the LA Times, NYT, Washington Post, Times, Newsweek, US News and World Report, Economist, etc, have carried analyses of ethnic voting in America after every election. One of the foremost publications on the subject, is the Journal of Race and Ethnicity in American Politics published by the American Political Science Association. There is also Jennifer Hochschild’s American Racial and Ethnic Politics in the 21st century. There are other prominent works by Gunnar Myrdal, Stanley Cox, the distinguished Black scholar Marable Manning, among
others, on American ethnicity. The Brookings Institute has some excellent studies on ethnic voting. There is Valerie MartinezEbers Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Religion: Identity Politics in America, Rodolfo O de la Garza’s Ethnic Ironies that analyzes Latino politics in America. There is the Journal of Political Commentary that has carried numerous studies on ethnic and racial politics in America, as well as on ethnic divisions and conflict. There are published volumes analysing every national election for the last 60 years examining voting patterns among ethnic, gender and income groups. The Washington Post in 2012 published an article titled ‘The Deepest Racial Split in America’ regarding the election. Analyses of the 2008 and 2012 elections (as published in the NYT and Post) showed a majority of Whites voted Republican while the majority of nonWhites voted Democrat. The NYT and Post also had geographical and ethnic voting for both elections. Can Mr. Persaud explain why Hispanics don’t vote for Blacks in the Bronx and viceversa or why Blacks and Jews have distinct local seats in Brooklyn and why certain seats in Queens are unofficially labeled as Jewish or Irish or Italian? If there is no ethnic voting, why then did the groups lobby for ethnic seats to Congress, City Council and the NY State legislature? Asians sought an increase of two City Council seats (one more in Brooklyn and Queens) in redistricting earlier but did not get them. I was with a group that sought a seat for South Asians (IndoCaribbeans) in greater
Richmond Hill for the City Council and the Assembly (Senate) and Congress but got none, with Helen Marshall saying she fought for the Council seat for African Americans two decades ago and they should not give it up. Just going by his simplistic reading of American ethnic politics, Mr.Persaud misreads ethnic voting in Guyana and the socialpsychology of ethnic identity, and it is for this reason he believes merely appointing someone from another ethnic group to lead an ethnic party will end conflict in Guyana. Ethnic tokenism was tried since the 1950s and has failed in Guyana. No one disagrees with Ambassador Brent Hardt’s (or President Carter’s) appeal for inclusive governance. Every Ambassador and the UN Interlocutor made the same appeal that fell on deaf ears. The issue is how do we resolve ethnic conflict? Ethnicity is a complex issue that has defied solution for millennia. Virtually no society has resolved its ethnic conflict although some (in the developed world in particular) have managed ethnic crisis better than others. Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky, etc, grappled with the intractable problem and failed to find a solution. Ethnic tokenism cannot be a solution. We need a permanent institutionalized solution that respects the distinctiveness of the groups and grants them equitable participation in governance and the distribution of resources. Theoretical constructs must be evidence based or else they become what Prof Stanley Aronowitz calls “kaka or looney talk.” My pointing Continued on page 5
Who gives a swat about it? DEAR EDITOR, “Forty ranks shortlisted for SWAT training’ is reassuring news as reported by the KN of 7-1-14. Congratulations on your scoop. Let’s hope the PPP/C government does right by ensuring racial balance as they did in the original creation of the Special Service Unit (SSU) in the early 1960s. Headed by Sandhurst trained Major Abdul Sattur he was fired by the PNC but that is not important anymore… or is it? Last October, the director of the US- based security and justice reform consultancy firm, TEG responsible for
SWAT training, Mr. Dennis Hays , had said the SWAT unit will be fully operational by August this year. The Government and police are responsible for selecting the trainees so there can be no excuses for racial imbalance this time. Confidence in TEG’s professionalism is well placed, mindful that they are operating in a third world country unlike their previous experiences. Has that crack unit been earmarked for a top up by the Finance Minister? They should, even if the opposition’s long knives are being sharpened. Despite SWAT only
coming a little more than a decade after former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had ordered the establishment of a similar unit to tackle crime during the unforgettable crime wave of the early to mid 2000s. It can only be good for all Guyana. That previous British trained unit of some 300 ranks from the Tactical Services Unit, using specially recommended firearms was abandoned because then Police Commissioner Winston Felix, now a PNC MP opposed it. No surprise when the cat is guarding the milk. It made no difference whatsoever with PPP loyalist Ms Gail
Teixeira heading the Home Affairs Ministry. APNU’s shadow Minister of Home Affairs and former Police Commissioner, Mr. Winston Felix, still does not give a SWAT for it to affect Guyana’s crime situation. KN reported that “Mr. Felix is convinced that Guyana has not reached a state where a SWAT team is necessary and …. It could become wayward”. Why he has been selected by APNU to manage crime in a future government can only be instructional with him in the lead. Sultan Mohamed
Wednesday January 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news
Where is the Comprehensive Dr. Ramayya and Other Crime Fighting Strategy? Humanitarians Deserve Kudos EDITOR, I don’t know Dr. Ramayya or organizations has ulterior Rohee’s rhetoric does not add up! DEAR I endorse Abel Seetaram’s personally but I learnt about motives for giving DEAR EDITOR, Guyanese, for more than a decade, have been calling for a comprehensive crime fighting strategy, and we have also called for the comprehensive reform of the disciplined services. In fact, the Discipline Services Report submitted at the conclusion of the inquiry into the Gajraj affair, recommends an overhaul of institutions such as the Guyana Police Force. The recent KN article dated 1/06/2014 and captioned “Rohee stresses training for police ranks” reminds us why there still remains an urgent need for such a strategy. In the news article, Mr. Rohee is reported to have stated a number of things which he claims will be done for the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), in 2014. However, Rohee fails to outline a clear vision or strategic plan for the disciplined services. He talks about the US$796,987.000 contract the Guyana government signed with the U.S government to train and establish a special SWAT team in the GPF but fails to intimate how this unit will effectively improve the security situation for the people. He also went on to talk about budgeting for the training of 14 police officers at the aeronautical engineering school at Ogle. While these pronouncements may sound or seem like lofty ideas, they are doomed to fail if these approaches remain detached from a holistic or comprehension crime fighting strategy. In this era of strategic interagency cooperation, multitasking, strategic planning and coordination across sectors, Rohee fails to outline a plan of how the Guyana Police Force will work with other sectors, agencies and the Guyanese community to improve the crime and security situation in the country. Simply saying that the government has
proposed a name change for the Guyana Prison Service to the ‘Guyana Prison and Correctional Service’ means nothing if the name change is not connected to or associated with some stated or articulated change of direction for the prison system. Mr. Rohee refuses to highlight the strategic reason for the name change and fails to propose sound rational for that change. I am quite sure that if the mere name change will improve the prison system we will all refrain from pressing Mr. Rohee on this issue, but we know that there is no magic in this. I must admit that instituting the word ‘correctional’ in the name sounds appetizing but that alone does not cut it. The people need to be sold on the name, and they must see how this name change will positively impact on their own lives. The Guyanese people are the major stakeholders in this situation and they must be consulted on anything that will have the minutest impact on their lives. It is an insult for Rohee and the PPP/C to continue to disrespect and take us for granted! I recalled that the PNCR had proposed and strongly advocated for the name of the Guyana Police Force to be changed to the Guyana Police Service. The party engaged many stakeholders, including ordinary Guyanese citizens, to explain its position and rational for the name change. This name change was being promoted within a larger strategy which was focused on initiating a comprehensive reform of the Guyana Police
Force. Chief among the reasons, for the change, was to attract renewed respect for the police and to restore confidence on the part of the citizenry in the force. It was explained that the word ‘service’ may serve to diffuse the notion that the work of the police is to mainly confront and react. In the PNCR’s views the intention, of the name change, was to create a more harmonious relationship between the police and citizen, where each is ready and willing to cooperate with each other. The hope was to help to change the negative image of the Guyana Police Force and to help in improving the crime and security situation in the country. It is clear that, since Mr. Rohee has indicated that he has already instructed the Attorney General to have the Bill for the name change of the prison service tabled at the next sitting of Parliament, the PPP/C did not think it necessary to consult with stakeholders and the ordinary Guyanese people on the matter. For me, this is another example of how the PPP/C blatantly disregards the Guyanese people. Will Dr. Luncheon see the disrespect in this move? I bet not; as he seem only to be preoccupied with the actions of the American Ambassador. I however hope that when the Bill gets to Parliament, proper scrutiny is done and the question of a comprehensive crime fighting strategy is once again raised. The Guyanese people deserve better! Lurlene Nestor
Ethnic conflict in... From page 4 out facts and presenting supporting data to reject Mr.Persaud’s proposal does not mean I support ethnic politics. Academia does not operate that way. The purpose of queries is to make a theory or model better. Mr. Persaud’s conclusion that the PPP and PNC’s “ethnic pretensions” are much preferred over my rejection of tokenism is hypocrisy. He needs to rethink his tokenism position in the light of overwhelming evidence stacked against it. Vishnu Bisram
description of Dr. Veerasammy Ramayya (KN Jan 3) as a humanitarian for his work among the poor, dispossessed and working class. Let me also note that are several organizations and individuals (Vishnu Bandhu, Swami Akshananda, Dave Thakordeen, Dharamshala, Tain Youth Hindu Organization, Hindu Orphanage of West Coast, Islamic Orphanage, MYO, United Arya Samaj Humanitarian Foundation, to name only a few) of all religious suasions involved in helping poor kids and orphans throughout Guyana. They also deserve kudos. I also gave financial donations and materials for distributions to several organizations whenever possible, during visits to Guyana and they always extended gracious hospitality to me. I applaud the work of Dr. Ramayya in charitable activities, satsanghs, etc. and others noted above and encourage more to emulate his lifestyle of seeking to help lift lives out of doldrums.
his communitarian lifestyle since around 1990 in regular visits to Guyana and interviewing people (for my NACTA polls) who uttered only positive attributes of the man. His is a class act that few have engaged – completely devoted to bettering lives, unlike the selfish political class in the greater Georgetown environs. His charitable activity was never restricted to any one community and thus opening up his home to other religious figures was no surprise. It is most sad that he lost his soul partner, his wonderful dharam patni Merle, in their charitable mission. Unlike the Georgetownbased politicians, Merle and Ramayya were/are truly grass roots persons who care for people and are not driven by self-enrichment. I also wish to applaud the other individuals and organizations that are offering humanitarian life saving assistance to the sick and meek. None of these individuals
humanitarian assistance or engaging in charitable activities. And for them, as well as others not named, their voluntary activities remain largely unknown. These individuals and organization have been giving kids a chance to escape poverty, neglect and hunger. Like Dr. Ramayya, they are performing yeoman service to help alleviate hunger as well as to help educate poor kids. In addition, they bring different ethnic groups together and seek to build a harmonious society. Like Ramayya, their aim is also to provide direct help and education to as many underprivileged children as possible and to inculcate in others the ethos of care giving. The political class and the wealthy should take note of the work of these individuals and offer them unlimited support. The wealthy needs to contribute more to help these organizations. I am not wealthy, but I contribute a Continued on page 23
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 08, 2014
POLICE RAID ORANGE WALK SHOPS OVER ILLEGAL ALCOHOL SALES
Patrons were asked by the police to leave the establishments once they had finished consuming what they had purchased. Police under the leadership of Superintendent Errol Watts yesterday conducted a raid on liquor establishments located on Orange Walk, Georgetown. When Kaieteur News arrived at the popular thoroughfare between Regent Street and South
Road, the police had already cordoned off the area preventing vehicles from passing, while ranks were confiscating the alcoholic beverages of the shops that were not in compliance with their liquor licence. All of the managers/ owners were asked by the senior police officers present to produce their liquor licences but upon inspection some were found to be expired, with one dating back to 2011. The liquor licences, one of the officers explained,
have to be renewed annually and since they were expired it was illegal for the owners to sell the alcoholic beverages that they had in their possession. Over three vehicles of items were confiscated by the law enforcement officials. One of the senior officers explained that the persons responsible will be charged and placed in Court. Also present at the scene during the raid were crews from the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL). They were there to ascertain whether any of the shops within the vicinity were powered illegally, however, no such connection was unearthed. A police officer on the
One of the police vehicles with the confiscated alcoholic beverages. scene said that residents who live in proximity to the establishments are relieved and happy about the action being taken, since according to them the shops, which are very popular drinking spots during the nights and weekends, have made living there very uncomfortable. They claimed that music is played very loudly throughout the nights. Some of the residents
complained that on many occasions Orange Walk would become impassable because the patrons of the establishments would park and even Parallel Park their vehicles, while blocking their driveway entrances and “would resort to profanity when asked to move their vehicles blocking our home entrances”. The residents also complained about the foul
scent of urine that permeates the atmosphere, and some even said that persons would openly urinate on the roads and the immediate environs. It was pointed out that several complaints were lodged with the police before with respect to noise nuisance, among other things, but nothing as substantial as the action taken by the police yesterday had taken place.
Inter-Ministerial Task Force to engage miners imminent President Donald Ramotar has announced that an Inter-Ministerial Task Force to engage with the officials of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), so that the concerns and issues affecting gold miners can be
addressed and dealt with. This comes in the wake of the miners voicing several concerns afflicting them. Some of which include not enough land being allocated to small miners, and miners in the Port Kaituma region not being able to mine among other concerns. According to Ramotar, a team will be established to work very closely with the GGDMA. He expressed enthusiasm that the GGDMA will raise its concerns so that government can find solutions to many of the issues raised by the miners. The administrative issues, he said, will be dealt with as fast as his administration can facilitate, while other personal issues that are affecting the mining communities will be dealt with in a more “profound” manner that will require more investigation and details. Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud explained in a recent meeting with the miners that many of the issues raised by the miners are “long standing” issues and have been addressed on different levels. Now that the
President has mandated the task force to focus on some of the issues, Persaud made assurances that along with the willingness of the GGDMA the matters will be “tackled.” According to the Minister, the Task Force will comprise persons from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Finance and Natural Resources. He is hopeful that within a week’s time it will be operational. He mentioned that with that body in place, written submissions of the issues and concerns of the miners will be provided by the GGDMA to the task force. President Ramotar in the meeting with the miners asserted that “these are issues I hope that we can take up. Some of them I realize we will not be able to take up, some of them I realize we will not be able to solve tomorrow, but we can sit down and brainstorm and see how we can come up with the solutions that will satisfy everyone”. The president said in the final analysis the aim is for everyone to go in one direction so that all will benefit as well as the country.
Wednesday January 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
Rouhani defends Iran nuclear deal against hardliners Tehran (AFP) - Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani defended yesterday a landmark nuclear deal with world powers that promises modest sanctions relief, saying his government did not fear “the few” domestic critics. Rouhani’s defence came after repeated criticism by hardliners in parliament and the powerful Revolutionary Guards of the deal clinched in November that also requires Iran to curb temporarily parts of its nuclear drive. “The initial agreement with the six major powers on the nuclear issue was not a simple task but very difficult and complicated,” Rouhani said in remarks broadcast live on state television. “It required brave decisionmaking ... We should not and do not fear the fuss made by the few people or a small percentage” criticising the deal, he said. The critics however have been united in questioning what Iran gains from the deal, under which the Islamic republic agreed to roll back parts of its nuclear drive for six months in exchange for modest sanctions relief and a promise by Western powers not to impose new sanctions. They say fewer concessions could have been
Hassan Rouhani made by the nuclear negotiating team, led by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. In recent weeks, hardliners in the conservativedominated parliament have sought to form a committee to supervise the negotiating process but to no avail. Government officials say the nuclear dossier will remain under direct control of the Supreme National Security Council and that final decisions still rest with Iran’s ultimate authority, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Rouhani yesterday insisted he has the full support of Khamenei. “In all important and sensitive steps along the way, the supreme leader has backed the government and its policies,” he said. “Iran is
in a special situation that needs to be replaced by normalcy.” Iran’s economy has been hard hit by international sanctions, while the vital oil exports have been more than halved by US and European embargoes. In Tehran, lawmakers meanwhile are readying a bill that would oblige the government to enrich uranium to 60 percent if Iran is hit by new sanctions. Under the nuclear deal in Geneva, Iran will limit its enrichment of uranium to 5.0 percent. Higher level purities of above 90 percent could provide fissile material for nuclear weapons. The deal — which is yet to come into force — is aimed at creating a window of diplomatic opportunity for Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers, comprising the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany. The sides are engaged in negotiations to find a lasting solution to the decade-long standoff over Iran’s nuclear activities, which Western powers suspect mask military objectives despite repeated denials by Tehran. Talks to remove remaining obstacles before the deal is implemented will resume in Geneva tomorrow.
Snowden has more U.S.Israel secrets to expose JERUSALEM (Reuters) Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden has more secrets to reveal. Among allegations aired by Snowden last year were that the U.S. National Security Agency and its British counterpart GCHQ had in 2009 targeted an email address listed as belonging to then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and monitored emails of senior defense officials. Israel played down the disclosures. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the matter examined and that “there are things that must not be done” between allies. Glenn Greenwald, who as a writer for Britain’s Guardian met face-to-face with the fugitive Snowden and has written or co-authored many of the newspaper’s stories based on his material, was asked in an Israeli television interview whether the excontractor had more secrets
Edward Snowden to tell that related to Israel. “Yes. I don’t want to preview any stories that aren’t yet published, but it is definitely the case that there are a huge number of very significant stories that are left to report,” said the Brazilbased Greenwald, speaking to Channel Ten TV by video link. “We have only had these documents for seven months, which, given their volume and complexity, is not a very long time. There definitely are
stories left that involve the Middle East, that involve Israel. The reporting is going to continue at roughly the same pace that has been happening.” hat relate to Israel, the journalist who first brought his leaks to the world’s attention said on Monday. Last month, several Israeli cabinet members and lawmakers said news of U.S. spying on Israel was an opportunity to press Washington to free jailed Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard. Pollard, a former U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, was sentenced to a life term in 1987 in the United States for spying for Israel. A succession of U.S. presidents have spurned Israeli calls for his pardon. In what appeared to be a bid to calm the clamor, Netanyahu said Israel constantly sought Pollard’s release and did not need a “special occasion” to discuss his case with Washington.
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Turks and Caicos Islands’ former premier extradited from Brazil PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands – CMC - Former premier Michael Misick arrived here yesterday from Brazil to face allegations of corruption, according to a statement from the Governor’s Office. “The UK Government welcomes the arrival of former Premier Michael Misick in Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) to face a number of serious charges relating to corruption and maladministration during his time in office. They are most grateful to the Brazilian authorities for their swift handling of TCI’s extradition request. “It is important for the people of TCI, a UK Overseas Territory that the rule of law is respected and due process is followed. It will now be down to the TCI Courts to consider Michael Misick’s case as well as that of 14 others charged with similar offences,” the statement said. Misick was arrested in Brazil last December under an Interpol provisional arrest warrant. He will be represented by attorney Oliver Smith who will be joined by a team of highpowered international lawyers. Last October, the Brazilian
Michael Misick Supreme Court ordered the extradition of Misick and last year, the head investigator in a British government’s probe of corruption in the TCI confirmed that Misick, will join 10 others, including four of his cabinet ministers, in defending allegations that they illegally sold government lands for profit and cut other sweetheart deals to enrich themselves during their tenure in office. Misick, who has been in a Brazilian jail since he was rearrested in Sao Paulo last April had denied reports that he was seeking a plea bargain with British and American law enforcement authorities in return for implicating United
States citizens and senior politicians in Jamaica, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. The allegations against the former premier stem from the findings of the 2008/2009 Sir Robin Auld’s Commission of Inquiry which found widespread misuse of government funds and property. Misick, who has maintained his innocence, had sought political asylum in Brazil, claiming that he was unfairly targeted by British authorities. The one-man Commission of Inquiry had found there was “a high probability of systemic corruption in government and the legislature and among public officers in the Turks & Caicos Islands”. In the wake of this Inquiry, London instructed the TCI Governor to suspend part of the Constitution and Misick’s then elected government was removed and replaced by an interim administration. The statement from the Governor’s Office said that to date 14 people have been charged, 10 of appeared in court this week for a plea and directions hearing with the trial planned for July this year.
19 murders in one week
Trinidad Express - A week into the new year, and 19 citizens have now been murdered. In Arouca yesterday morning, Hezekiah Mark, was shot dead. Police were told that at around 7.30a.m, gunshots were heard at Hillview Drive, and Mark, 38, was found in a drain opposite house in which he lived. In Cedros, a man found his parents dead at the family home and business. The bodies of Krishna Ramdeen, 63, and wife Radha, 57, were discovered at around
8 a.m. The couple operated the White Diamond bar and mini mart at Fullerton Village, Cedros, and would normally open at 5 a.m. However, when early morning customer found the placed locked, a son, Ravi Ramdeen was called to the place to unlock it. He found his parents dead on the ground floor. The woman had been suffocated with a plastic bag. It is uncertain how Krihsna Ramdeen died. Police said there was blood everywhere. The Ramdeens were parents
of four and grandparents of eight. The Express was told that about a month ago, the couple began burglar proofing the premises after a robbery. Residents said the couple was decent and law abiding and had no known enemies. Krishna Ramdeen was said to be enfeebled by a stroke. Outside the house, a daughter Rani Ramdeen screamed “hang them! Hang them when you all find them. That was my mother and father. They didn’t do nobody nothing!”.
Panama Canal, consortium closer to deal as each pitch plans (Reuters) - The Panama Canal and a Spanish-led building consortium expanding the major world cargo route moved nearer to a deal to keep work going amid a cost dispute on Tuesday, with each proposing a joint financing package. Halting work on the $5.25 billion project to widen and deepen the canal would be a setback for companies eager to push liquefied natural gas
(LNG) exports from the U.S. Gulf coast to Asian markets through the century-old waterway. While the two sides are at odds over who should pay for $1.6 billion in cost overruns, both have agreed to put up at least $100 million each to keep the project running. H o w e v e r, b u i l d i n g consortium Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC) - led by Spanish construction
company Sacyr, said in a statement it had asked the canal administrator for a $400 million advance. The Panama Canal Authority earlier proposed a $283 million joint financing package, which was less attractive for the building companies because it requires them to put up fresh cash while the authority would simply advance funds it would have paid anyway.
Wednesday January 08, 2014
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Why is APNU opposed to a swat unit at this time? It is mind-boggling that APNU would oppose the creation now of a SWAT Unit after what was experienced a few months ago when a miner went berserk in the city and killed four persons including two policemen who had gone to investigate the reports of a shooting on Middle Street. The police walked straight into gunfire and there was a three-hour-long standoff before the gunman was shot
and killed. That incident sparked debate about the need for a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit. No country should wait until incidents like this one reoccur before it decides to have such a unit. It is very much like a country awaiting an accident before implementing road safety measures. Preemptive steps always have to be taken, because when terrible acts of
violence take place, it is the very opposition parties who question why certain measures were not in place. It is abhorrent to have read that APNU is opposed to the establishment of a SWAT unit. Why would anyone question the need for such a unit considering the nature of crime in Guyana? APNU has railed against the levels of crime in Guyana. It has complained that
Dem boys seh
DE CREATOR supporting dem boys
Dem crook want dem boys to stop talking bout dem and to stop exposing dem but dem have to learn something. As dem boys was reading all dem Good Books dem come up wid this quote. “True peace can be experienced only when we stop giving and taking sorrow.” Now that is de message that dem boys sending to dem crook. Nobody can measure de amount of sorrow dem crook cause de people of dis country. Poor people sit down and watch how dem money mek dem crooks get rich. But de Creator watching all de time
and he got plans. He select dem boys. “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build…” That is wha dem boys been doing, destroying all de corruption in de country. And dem boys ain’t frighten because de Creator deh in dem corner. Dem boys already rooting out corruption but dem can’t get de crooks fuh put back wha dem tek. De fat crook does guh to church five times a day but de Creator know is a sham and
he don’t tek fooling. He tell dem boys that whatever dem seh is because He put de words in dem mouth. At one time dem boys believe that dem was wasting dem time till dem get a message. “You’re not working alone; God is with you. Whether it’s to pull down or build up, the One who called you will equip you, empower you and give you success. He didn’t make a mistake when He picked you.” Dem boys seh that this year all who still believe that dem can cause sorrow gun be really sorry. Talk half and know that dem boys got Big Support.
enough is not being done and that the Ministry of Home Affairs has failed. Yet, it is opposed to something that all modern police forces have SWAT units. The basis of APNU’s arguments is very confusing. It argues that that while a SWAT team may have been necessary in the past it is not needed now, since none of the incidents requiring a SWAT response escalated into armed interventions. That is very confusing rationale, because if the incidents required a SWAT response, then by implication that justifies having a SWAT unit. Whether or not armed intervention is required seems irrelevant to the need for a SWAT unit, unless implicit to the argument is that a SWAT unit is only required where an armed response is necessary. In this context, how accurate is it for APNU to contend that none of the incidents requiring SWAT intervention involved armed interventions? The incident in Middle Street, involving the miner, clearly involved armed intervention, unless of course APNU is suggesting that this miner who went berserk and began shooting at persons could have been subdued without the need for armed intervention. While APNU is contending that a SWAT unit is not necessary at this time, it goes on to contradict
another argument made by APNU which is that a SWAT unit is better prepared in times of inactivity. Since by APNU’s own argument, a SWAT unit is not needed because of the lack of incidents requiring armed interventions, now would therefore seem to be the most propitious time for a SWAT unit. Why then the opposition to having a SWAT unit in place? One reason given is that the Guyana Police Force should be concentrating on filling the shortage of manpower rather than having a SWAT unit. This is an argument akin to saying instead of having a forensic lab the Guyana Police Force would be better advised to fill all its vacancies. The filling of manpower shortages need not be done at the cost of creating a unit which is now seen as vital to any modern police force and especially given the sophistication of criminal activity including those that
require specially trained units. Perhaps the real fear of APNU is that the SWAT unit to be assembled will represent the rebirth of the muchmaligned Black Clothes Unit which has been accused of excesses against citizens but which also did some very good work in neutralizing threats to public safety. If the real fear of APNU is that the Guyana Police Force is reviving another Black Clothes Squad, then this is an issue on which the Force need to provide assurance to all concerned that the unit will not attract the same adverse publicity as the Black Clothes Squad but will instead report to a chain of command, be held accountable for operations, and will follow certain prescribed rules of conduct and engagement.
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THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
2013: The year of Donald Medvedev Last year marked two years since Mr. Jagdeo’s reign came to an end. Mr. Jagdeo’s leadership style has replaced the endless debate about the rights and wrongs of President Forbes Burnham. Unless you are an avaricious beneficiary of Mr. Jagdeo’s largesse or a rabid racist, the conclusion has to be that Mr. Jagdeo’s excesses, his barefaced lack of nationalism and his immense flaws make him the worst leader this country produced since Independence and probably the most callous of all Heads of Government/State in the history of the Caricom region. It is certain that if any opposition party wins the government in an election or through some unprecedented intervention of nature, there will be a judicial inquiry into Jagdeo’s twelve-year rule with the intention of prosecuting him for legal and constitutional abuse of power. I don’t think any non-
PPP government could retain popular support if it does not investigate the tyranny of Mr. Jagdeo. However strong that desire may be inside the minds of opposition leaders, they have to contend with the brutal reality that once the PPP is in power, Mr. Jagdeo will remain the man behind the throne. Last year showed that the Ramotar regime is under the realpolitik designs of Mr. Jagdeo. In other words, Mr. Ramotar is not his own man. It is time the press and Guyana’s stand up comedians start to refer to Donald Ramotar as Donald Medvedev, in reference to then President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev. He was a virtual puppet of former President Vladimir Putin. No one in the world believed that Medvedev was his own man. Everyone in the world knew that Putin was the de facto president. It is exactly the same in Guyana with Jagdeo
and Ramotar. Nothing in 2013 indicated that Mr. Ramotar is possessed of leadership qualities, vision, creative thinking or even selfconfidence. To mask his subordination to Mr. Jagdeo, Mr. Ramotar has decided to use rhetoric to advance his personality to the nation. His first attempt at that was in October last year when he put on a histrionic show at the 50th anniversary of UG’s birth. Raising his voice, he exclaimed in front of his audience that both opposition and the PPP want to see Guyana develop and the differences should not set us apart, instead, opposition critics should put forward their ideas along with the PPP’s and the Government will test them. In a raised voice he emotionally sprouted out the words, “But for Christ’s Sake don’t let the different ideas paralyze us, let’s try them one at a time.”
It didn’t work for Ramotar because rhetoric, if not backed up by policy implementation, will end up making a President or Prime Minister look foolish. This is what happened to Ramotar in the months of November and December. He did not try any idea by the opposition or critical sections of civil society. In fact, he rejected any idea that came from these quarters. Mr. Ramotar could not test any suggestion from his critics because Mr. Jagdeo would not have allowed it. One such situation is the budget preparation. In 2013, Mr. Ramotar went about his budget creation for 2014 without any input from the opposition. Once again when we come to the budget presentation this year, there will be the
thing that Ramotar is so afraid of – the paralyzing of Guyanese society. But such a process will come from his rejection of any idea that is not from the PPP. Ramotar’s failure in 2013 to accept any opposition suggestion will not stop his use of rhetoric, because it is his only strategy for showing that he can say bold things and that he doesn’t live in the shadows of the Champion of the streets of Georgetown where garbage threatens the earth, of which Mr. Jagdeo is a champion. So predictably, Mr. Ramotar sung his predictable hymn on the last day of 2013. He urged all Guyanese to work together and exclaimed as he did in October last year at UG that bitter politics will not be a good example for the nation’s youth. The very
Frederick Kissoon youth of which according to the World Bank, 82 percent of them leave Guyana permanently when they acquire a tertiary education. Ramotar will continue with this kind of talk because that is all he can do. He has no space to manoeuvre to become his own man. In fact after Mr. Jagdeo, the next person in charge of Guyana is Roger Luncheon. Next is Gail Teixeira with Ashni Singh and Irfaan Ally close behind. Where is Ramotar? Far behind! People without creativity are never in front. They will never be.
Guyanese captain gets 35yrs in Ghana for cocaine The vessel, Atiyah
Ghana (GhanaWeb) - An Accra High Court has sentenced two persons including a Ghanaian, to a total of 35 years imprisonment for their roles in importing cocaine into the country late last year. Miller Ronald O’Neil, a Guyanese and Captain of the Guyanese ship as well as Seth Grant, a Ghanaian, were convicted on their own plea and sentenced to 20 and 15 years respectively, on each of the three counts leveled against them. The sentences are to run concurrently. The court handed down the sentence on the convicts looking at the gravity of the offence and the reputation of the country. However, three others, Percival Curt, Samuel Mornty and Saint Praimchad, all Guyanese, who were also allegedly involved in the
crime and who pleaded not guilty, are expected to appear in court on January 10, to stand trial on the alleged offences leveled against them. They were all accused of engaging in a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence by engaging in a business relating to narcotic drugs, importation of narcotic drugs without lawful authority and possessing narcotic drugs without lawful authority. JoyNews’ Anny Osabutey, who was in court, reported that the sentence was handed down on the two convicts after a test conducted on the 414 slaps of exhibits suspected to be cocaine by Mark Ablakwa Williams, an official from the Ghana Standard Authority, turned out to be positive for narcotic drug.
The court presided over by Justice C.J. Hoenyenugah, an Appeal court judge, sitting as an additional High Court judge, ordered for the destruction of 413 slaps by officials from the narcotic control board, and the remaining slap left as exhibit for the trial of the remaining three accused persons. The five were arrested in the Western region aboard a Guyanese ship, “Atiyah, George-Town”, containing 21 bags of substances with a street value of 50 million dollars. The ship was intercepted following a tip-off from Ghana’s international security partners. The ship was travelling from Guyana when it was arrested and escorted by Ghana Naval Ship, Yaa Asantewaa, to the Sekondi Naval Base.
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Housing Ministry tenders for countrywide road works Bids were opened yesterday by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) for the upgrading of roads countrywide, under the Ministry of Housing and Water. For the upgrading of roads in Region Two:
There were seven lots for upgrading of roads in Region Three.
In addition, there were seven lots for upgrading of roads in Region Four.
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5% wage increase… By Zena Henry The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) says it has not given up the fight against Central Government and the annual arbitrary imposition of wage and salary increases on public servants; hence it is today starting its countrywide member “fan out” in pursuit of redress. While the union had stated recently that protest action against the arbitrary imposition would have commenced this week, union officials say that they have now decided to meet with its members across the country to ascertain their position on the issue. GPSU’s First Vice President, Mortimer Livan, told this publication yesterday that the union felt that discussions should be held with its members in order to move forward strategically.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 08, 2014
GPSU STARTS COUNTRYWIDE “FAN OUT” IN PURSUIT OF REDRESS He said representatives in places such as Georgetown, Berbice, Essequibo, Linden etc. will be updated as to the developments involving the union, and the union will in turn be looking for feedback. The union was expected to hold mass city protest towards the end of last year, but the action which was expected to last for some two weeks attracted a poor turnout. Livan explained that given the festive season, the protest action did not play out as expected. The union thus aborted the holiday protest and is now looking for its members to come out in full support. Livan opined that expectations are that more attention will be placed on the situation in hopes that in the next two weeks, demonstrations will reconvene. The union executive
explained further that the union and government remain at loggerheads over the arbitrary wage increases. He noted that despite the growing dispute, there has been no discourse or correspondence with the central authority. Livan said that the union is chanting one thing; “the adherence of the constitution and the consideration of collective bargaining agreements.” He asserted that according to the law, the union and the government are supposed to engage in collective bargaining so as to come up with an increase agreed upon by both sides. The GPSU has indicated that legal action is on the list of various strategies that the body intends to employ to fight the annual impositions. Chairman and Shadow Labour Minister of A
2013 closed with weeks of protest as a result of the imposed five percent increase. Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Basil Williams has noted, however, that the public service labour issue
needs to be addressed on a wider scope. In his capacity as an attorney-at-law, Williams opined that a
challenge exists in the union taking legal action since there is no Industrial Continued on page 21
(From page 3) the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development.” In explaining the process whereby the distribution delays could result in the shortage of medication, Dr Persaud described a scenario where such a situation could develop. He noted that even if the Ministry’s Bond efficiently dispatches supplies to perhaps the Mabaruma Hospital in Region One, there are instances when they will still have to be taken to other facilities that really need supplies such as Port Kaituma. And according to Dr Persaud, “there could be delays along that chain of delivery.” Also the Ministry is also closely looking at the reordering time of medication by health facilities, intimated the Chief Medical Officer. But
re-ordering, according to him, could be hampered by the absence of certain levels of health personnel which could result in orders not being made in a timely manner. “Sometimes the doctors are rotating and this might not be under their guidance...so a set of drugs may be ordered for a particular facility based on the presence of a medex or a nurse but when a doctor goes to work there, there has to be an order for additional items that goes beyond the (mandate of the) medex (or nurse),” said Dr Persaud. He noted that a Medex, for example, though often in a supervisory capacity, can only order and prescribe some medication. However, once a doctor is charged with that same health facility additional medication can be procured, and according to Dr Persaud,
“we will then have to fasttrack the mechanism for them to get all the drugs needed there.” But while there are instances when the medication is unavoidably unavailable to patients, Dr Persaud noted that the most disturbing situation that he has encountered is when patients are asked to purchase their own medication when they are very much available at the health facilities. “I was horrified myself to see a prescription being written for an item for the patient to go and buy it (medication) and the item was, according to records, at the institution’s bond but maybe it was locked up and the person with the keys wasn’t there. Reasons like that do spring up at times too,” Dr Persaud lamented.
Teens ‘went on joyride’ Health Ministry looks to... with slain man’s car - cops seek link to other carjackings After killing taxi driver Raphael Campbell, six youths reportedly went on a long joyride in the city and out-oftown with their victim’s car. This is what police have reportedly gleaned from five of the youths, who have been detained since Friday in connection with Campbell’s murder. “They went to Timehri and Linden (in the car),” a source said yesterday. “They did not bother to change the number plates.” The joyride came to an end on Friday when the youths, driving the stolen black Toyota Premio, were stopped at a police roadblock on Soesdyke/Linden highway while heading back to Georgetown. The driver managed to escape after crashing the vehicle, but the five passengers, aged between 14 and 17, were captured. At the time, police were unaware that the car was linked to Campbell’s murder, since he was still unidentified at the time.
DEAD: Raphael Campbell Yesterday, the High Court granted police permission to keep the suspects in custody for another 72 hours. Meanwhile, investigators will be seeking legal advice with a view of having them charged. Investigators are checking fingerprints taken from other recent carjackings to see if they match those of the detained youths. Police say that the
suspects are from two neighbouring communities with a high incidence of crime. The teens have reportedly told detectives that they stopped Campbell on Thursday night in Camp Street and hired him to go to Bel Air Gardens. They alleged that on arrival at their destination, an argument ensued between them and Campbell over the fare and Campbell was fatally stabbed. According to a source, the teens are all claiming that an associate, who is still at large, inflicted the wound. They have also denied shooting Campbell, although a post mortem confirmed that he died from a gunshot injury, rather than from the stab wound. The 20-year-old Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara taxi driver was shot behind the left ear, with the bullet exiting his right jaw. Rochelle Campbell, the slain man’s sister, told Kaieteur News that she last saw her brother alive on January 1, 2014. The woman said that her brother had dropped her home around 23:00hrs that day. According to the sister, relatives became worried when numerous calls to the man’s mobile phone went unanswered. After learning that a body had been found at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, the sister went to the GPHC mortuary on Monday and positively identified the victim as her brother.
Housing Ministry tenders for... From page 11 Region Five also received bids for upgrading of roads.
Finally, bids were also opened for upgrading of roads in Region Six.
Wednesday January 08, 2014
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Soldier charged with stealing army weapon A serving rank of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was yesterday arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for allegedly swiping one of the force’s guns from the Arms Store at Camp Stephenson, Timehri. Lance Corporal 19553 Devon Harris, 34, pleaded not guilty to the charges of Larceny by Public Officer and Possession of Firearm which were read to him by the Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry. The police claimed that the between December 27, 2013 and January 4, 2014 at Base Camp Stephenson, Timehri while being employed with the Force he stole one Fabric National Pistol #75C61408 which costs $35,000. The prosecution alleged too that during the same period of time, at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, the rank had in his possession the said gun whilst he was not the owner of a firearm licence. However, Harris refuted both claims and submitted an application for reasonable or conditional bail through his lawyer, Patrice Henry. The Attorney related that his client has been a serving rank for over 12 years and at the time of the alleged crime, he was one of the Arms store employees. He explained that from the time he had been working at the Arms store, the
Devon Harris weapon has always been in his possession and added that there are records which could validate his claim. In furthering his bail application, the lawyer said that Harris would have no difficulty in attending court. Meanwhile, the prosecution team led by Corporal Bharat Mangru stated that on the day in question, a check was conducted on the Arms store which unearthed that the firearm was missing. Mangru related that investigations were conducted and Lance Corporal Harris was found with the firearm at his premises. He emphasised that the accused was not authorized to have a firearm since he was off duty at the time of its discovery.
The prosecution challenged Henry’s bail application and urged the court to note that while the Defence Attorney had offered the court reasons, those were not special reasons with regards to the offence. He said too that even though there are other ranks attached to the Arms store, it was at the home of Lance Corporal Harris, in Friendship, that the firearm was uncovered. Mangru continued his objections with regards to the charge of Larceny by Officer, claiming that the prevalence of these kinds of offences and the penalty attached to same are substantial grounds for Harris to be ordered held. The prosecution also opined that should he be granted pre-trial liberty, he would flee the jurisdiction so as to avoid facing the charges pressed against him. However, Henry interjected with further requests of his own. He claimed that it was pertinent for the court to understand that that was the culture of the Arms store and the Guyana Defence Force. The lawyer thereby made a request for the file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further advice. The Chief Magistrate indicated that the court would
Teen for High Court trial for corpse in Princes Street canal After five months, Delon Glasgow who was indicted for the August 2013 murder of Jules Walker was committed to stand trial in the High Court by the Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry as the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the court case concluded yesterday. The charge which was laid against him claims that between August 10 and 11, 2013 Glasgow murdered Walker, 33, of Lot 7 Ogle Front, East Coast Demerara. Reports are that Walker was last seen in the company of the accused on August 10, 2013. The following day, Walker’s body was seen floating near the koker at Princes and High Streets, Georgetown. The corpse bore several marks of violence and as a result of investigations conducted, Glasgow, 18, of Lot East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, was taken into police custody after the body was fished out of the koker. S u b s e q u e n t investigations led to him being charged with the offence. Walker was missing a few days before residents of
Charlestown, first spotted a corpse floating in the Princes Street canal. Heavy rainfall and strong currents pushed the body further to a koker that facilitates drainage into the Demerara River. Yesterday, at Glasgow’s final hearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, the Chief Magistrate ruled that the Prosecution had established a prima facie case of murder against the accused. She instructed that it is now the prosecution’s responsibility to prove their case against Glasgow. When presented with the chance to testify in the witness’ box, provide an unsworn statement from the prisoner’s docks or remain silent, the accused opted for the latter. Attorney at Law Patrice Henry whom the court had asked to appear amicus, informed the court that Walcott will reserve his
Murdered: Jules Walker witnesses for the proceedings at the High Court. The Chief Magistrate instructed that his trial is set to commence in April and further advised that when the matter is listed, the Court Registrar will contact Glasgow.
not heed to the bail application and remanded the Lance Corporal to jail until January 13. The matter was transferred and is set to be
called before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Providence Magistrate’s Court. She advised Henry that he is free to appeal to the Supreme Court of Judicature
for bail if he is not content with her ruling. Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry also approved of the lawyer’s request for the file to be sent for the perusal of the DPP.
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Contractor blamed for delays Mother of puma attack victim in GPL system upgrade fears for children’s safety - Seeks assistance to clear “bushes” around home The Good Hope sub-station
The Good Hope sub-station
The Guyana Power and Light Company Inc (GPL) is currently behind schedule when it comes to the substation construction that it had rolled out in order to improve its transmission and distribution services and has now pushed back its completion date to the end of the first quarter of 2014. This was confirmed by Chief Executive Officer of the Power Company, Bharrat Dindyal who, while not delving into much detail, said that the delays stemmed from issues with the contractor. In an invited comment, he said that the issues with the contractor had to do with their coordination among others.
The GPL, CEO did commit to holding a media briefing at a future date where the matter will be fully ventilated. Substations are being built to serve areas including Vreed-en-Hoop and Edinburgh on the West Coast of Demerara, North Ruimveldt, Sophia/Liliendaal, Good Hope, ECD, Columbia, Mahaicony ECD and Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara. The project is a collaborative effort between the Government of Guyana, GPL and China, through a concessionary loan of US$38.96M from the China Export-Import Bank (Eximbank). This amount is
supplemented by US$3.9M for preparatory works, including route clearing, site preparation and backfilling to above 2005 flood levels. The programme entails the construction of seven new substations; expansion/ upgrade of three existing substations; construction of approximately 96 km of 69 kV transmission lines, including a link between the Demerara and Berbice Interconnected Systems; 2.1 km of submarine cable; the construction of a new central control centre with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) capabilities, and installation of 251 km of fibre optic cable. The power company said these developments will result in improve quality of supply, system stability, improved voltage regulation, and reduction of technical losses. The new 69 Kva Sophia substation, built under the Infrastructure Development Programme (IDP) is considered to be the nerve centre for the Guyana Power and Light (GPL.) This was successfully connected in July last year to the national grid.
The mother of the threeyear-old girl who was mauled by a large feline, suspected to be a puma, is scared that another wild animal might attack her daughter. The mother, Desiree Joseph is pleading with the relevant authorities to assist in the clearing of the thick bushes around her home as soon as possible to prevent any future tragedy. “I have six children and I would like the authorities to do something about those bushes around the house,” Joseph stressed. Jasmine Joseph of Isseneru, Region Seven was playing in her yard on December 27, last when she was attacked and dragged into the nearby bushes by the wild animal which “let go” of the child only after residents intervened with a cutlass. The animal was killed and the little girl was air-dashed to the city and placed on a life support machine for several days. She suffered from a fractured left jaw and a fractured skull. She underwent a plate implantation for a fractured skull. The attack on the child which resulted in her being hospitalized was the second within one month. Her grandmother, Agatha Joseph had told this newspaper that “Last month (late November last) the animal jumped on her and scraped her on her
On the road to recovery.
foot but I hit it and it get away.” Yesterday, a medical source said that the little girl is a “fighter. She survived that attack like a ‘champ’. She is eating as per normal and she is now in a healing process. “ When Kaieteur News visited the little girl at the hospital yesterday, she was
on her hospital bed eating, with her grandmother, Agatha, by her side. The little girl would only say, “he jump pon me and I fall down.” The mother said that her daughter will be discharged from the hospital very soon but she is scared to return home with the child.
Essequibian missing over a month Relatives of Adlai Edson Reynolds are at their wits’ end as even after a month they still cannot locate him and fear the worst. The 52-yearold man, of Sisters Village, East Bank Essequibo, was reportedly last seen at Success, East Coast Demerara. While it is not the first time that the man disappeared without a trace, it is certainly the longest period that he has been unaccounted for. Oswald Sampson, the missing man’s brother, related to Kaieteur News that his brother had been detained by police about two months ago after a scuffle between him and a friend. He said that following his release, Reynolds disappeared for four days.
According to him, villagers saw the man “in the backdam”, brought him out and carried him to seek medical attention at the New Amsterdam hospital. Sampson said that at this instance, he was reached with news that his brother had escaped from the hospital. He had returned home shortly after. Following those episodes, Sampson said that the last he heard of his brother was late November after he had expressed that he wanted to spend some time in Georgetown. He said that Reynolds was physically unwell and had been hospitalised on several occasions and as such he thought it best for him to reside close by.
Missing: Adlai Edson Reynolds Sampson said that all arrangements were made for the man to travel but he never arrived at his destination. Searches were made to the public hospitals and the Lyken Funeral Parlour, but to no avail. A missing report was also lodged at the Police Station in Sisters Village. Mr. Sampson is asking anyone who has information of the whereabouts of his brother to contact the family on telephone numbers 6695522, 698-5085, 692-9963, 6711375 or the nearest Police Station.
Wednesday January 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
$$M in municipal fines not benefitting City Hall While the increased violation of the municipal system by taxpayers has been a common occurrence, City Hall has been unable to benefit from the millions of dollars paid by defaulters to the court, as the money is automatically diverted to the consolidated fund. This issue is being highlighted as the lack of a standardised Municipal Court takes centre stage. Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green had told reporters that the establishment a Municipal Court would go a long way in aiding the Council to rake in outstanding monies owed by private persons and entities. Green further believes that with the prosecution of those offenders, tax collection may become an easier task for the Council with this implementation. In a recent interview with Kaieteur News, Mayor Green briefly explained how the cash-strapped Municipal authority is unable to benefit from the present court system even after frequent calls were made to the administration for the implementation of a Municipal Court. “The Mayor and City Council is quite conscious that there has been an increase in violation of Municipal Laws in the city, particularly with regard to the constabulary, public health and engineering department. But the city does not benefit from the monies collected by the present court system because we lack the legal framework to do so…We had desired a Municipal Court, which would require action by the cabinet and the government. The Municipal Court would deal exclusively with our matters, and will allow for incentive to be
- Mayor Green
Georgetown Mayor Hamilton Green directly deposited towards the development of the City. “This will allow us to go after more violators. It will also assist in avoiding time spent by our prosecuting team in the courts, even as it is today. Beyond that we had asked that a ticket system be introduced, hence, for example, a man found littering would be issued a ticket and the money will be paid directly to us. But that also was not agreed to by Government,” Green added. According to the Mayor, in 1997, the council made appeals to then Chancellor Desiree Bernard and Chief Justice Carl Singh to have the issue suitably rectified. “Mr. Singh was quite sympathetic and cooperative and today what we have is a court that deals with these matters but it falls short of our initial request for a special Municipal Court. The other issue is that the municipality benefitting from the fines imposed remains unresolved; our effort to have this remedied has not met with the success we desire. The money collected by the court, over the years goes into the consolidated fund.”
An average of fifteen matters directly related to the municipality engage the attention of a City Magistrate every week. While custodial sentences are the standard penalty for burglary offenders, court fines imposed upon offenders of similar crimes against the city range from $5000 to $50,000. Crimes against the municipality include unlawful disposal of garbage, break and enter and larceny, unlawful obstruction of the public way, and forbidden soliciting of passengers ‘touting’. Judicial Officers have confirmed that as a result of court action taken against such offenders, a minimum of $100,000 is collected on behalf of the municipality every week. This amount accumulated over a five-year period is quite significant. It has been 20 years since City Hall has benefitted from the money paid by defaulters through the court system.
Page 19
Granger’s proposed “social contract” is a contradiction General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Civic, Clement Rohee says that the idea of a social contract which was proposed by Opposition Leader David Granger is a contradiction to the actions which were shown by the party. Granger, at A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s last press conference, had said that the proposed social contract would promote national unity, ensure human safety and foster economic development. According to Rohee this “new notion” coming out from APNU is in contradiction, because the party seems against every major economic project in Guyana. Rohee said that the proposal “appeared somewhat an apparent contradiction and the question that contradicts it: is how can you be proposing a social contract in respect of the body politics of our country when you have basically shot down a number of investment projects in this country”. He said that the projects which were “shut down” by APNU “would have brought meaningful and purposeful
- Rohee development to Guyana, and would have seen an improvement of livelihoods for thousands of people across the country”. “So right away I see an apparent contradiction when on the one hand these antiprogressive, anti -national, anti-business, anti-foreign investor positions have been taken within recent times…that should be explained by the callers of this social contract,” Rohee said. On Friday, Granger had said that the “economic crisis had lowered workers’ standard of living…protests by two of the country’s largest trade unions, the Guyana Public Service Union and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union have demonstrated how labour relations between the state and its workers have degenerated”. He had stressed that the ranks of the unemployed young people are increasing. Granger noted that with poverty in the country being rampant, the World Bank in its 2014 World Development
General Secretary Clement Rohee Report has rated Guyana as the second poorest country in CARICOM. According to Granger, the report has revealed that with a gross national income (GNI) of US$3,410 per capita, Guyana compared unfavourably with The Bahamas at US$21,280 per capita, Suriname at US$8,480 per capita and, indeed, with all other Caricom states except Haiti. He said that the security crisis is also another unfavorable issue with the government. According to Granger, security has disproportionately hurt the poor.
One of West Demerara’s more popular grounds, Joe Vieira Park, is currently undergoing a major change under a government programme to improve its parks. A pond has been dug and a fence to protect that facility, located at the western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, is being erected. Already, similar projects are underway at the Botanical Gardens and the National Park.
Page 20
Kaieteur News
Health Vision 20/20… MOH to focus on implementation of legislative framework This year, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will place increased emphasis on creating and enabling the implementation of the legislative framework for integrated delivery of quality effective and responsive health care services. This was outlined at the recent launch of health vision 20/20 - a National Health Strategy for Guyana 2013- 2020. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Shamdeo Persaud listed better implementation of the health legislation as a key area of focus for the health sector in 2014. Persaud said that Health Vision 20/20 will address good governance in the health sector through encouraging increased compliance of strengthened rules and regulations. According to information provided in the 133-page document, key strategic actions include the establishment of a new governance and strategic oversight structure for the health sector led by the national Health Policy Committee, the updating of policy and legislative framework for health and the rollout of the Regional Health Act (RHA) Act of 2005, which is to establish regional health authorities with responsibility for providing and administering quality health services at hospitals and health centres countrywide. The document describes the new strategy as being supported by values of human rights, equity and solidarity in health, as well as principles and approaches that emphasize individual empowerment and social participation, evidencebased planning for primary health care and sustainable development. At the launch of the strategy, President Donald Ramotar had highlighted the need for accountability and efficiency in the health sector with regards to the procurement of drugs and the provision of maternal health care. The President noted his disappointment with the apparent lack of accountability in light of reports coming from public hospitals and health centres about significant amounts of shortage and wastage of pharmaceuticals. The document states that Health Vision 20/20 is aimed at (Continued on page 21)
Wednesday January 08, 2014
GRA introduces new system examination of goods GRA’s Headquarters
In a bid to be more transparent, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is introducing a Random Selection of Imported Goods for Examination with effect from January 2014. The Tax Agency noted that the main feature of this system will on a daily basis,
involve the selection of imported goods (commercial quantity) for examination by members of the public. This selection will be done at the Guyana Revenue Authority’s Headquarters, 200 – 201 Camp Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, while the examination of the goods will be done at the respective Wharf/Transit Shed in the
presence of the stakeholders and the Importer. Commissioner-General of the GRA Khurshid Sattaur noted that “The primary objective of the selection of imported goods for examination and having the public and stakeholders witness same, is in keeping with the Agency’s commitment to achieving
greater transparency. This process will increase the public confidence in the examination process and protect the integrity of Officers.” It was stressed that any irregularities found during the examination process will be addressed immediately in accordance with the Customs Laws and Regulations.
18 maternal deaths recorded in 2013 Even as moves are desperately being made by the Ministry of Health to bring the instances of maternal death to zero, the past year saw the health sector recording a total of 18 such deaths, a figure that Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud is calling “way too high.” He, during an interview with this publication yesterday, said that of the recorded cases, 11 were directly linked to pregnancy complications while seven were triggered by indirect circumstances ranging from malaria to even a heart condition. But according to Dr Persaud, it is usually only the direct causes that are used in the calculation of the maternal mortality rate. Moreover, he disclosed that the Health Ministry, based on the estimated number of births for last year, recorded a maternal death rate of 79.7 per every 100,000 live births. “This is just about where we should be in terms of our Millennium Development Goal...we should be 80 or less in terms of our indicator; so this means that we can absolutely have no more than 11 direct maternal deaths,” said Dr Persaud. The main direct causes
recorded last year were mostly due to haemorrhagic conditions, hypertension in pregnancy, eclampsia and adverse effects relating to bleeding. There was also a case related to an ectopic pregnancy and two related to termination of pregnancies where some complications were encountered. Two of the indirect cases were linked to malarial complications and there were three cases with patients who had various types of chronic diseases – with at least one being an HIV related complication. One case entailed a patient who had an underlying heart condition as well which led to the unfortunate outcome of death, Dr Persaud disclosed. Ten of the 18 deaths occurred at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), of which six were related to direct pregnancy complications. Other institutions that recorded deaths were the Suddie, Diamond, New Amsterdam and West Demerara Regional Hospitals and the privately operated Balwant Singh Hospital, each of which recorded one death during the past year. However, at least five of the women who succumbed
to the various pregnancy complications were from Region Four; three each were from Regions One and Two; two each were from Regions Three and Five and one each was recorded in Regions Six, Seven and Eight. Several of these cases – both direct and indirect – warranted disciplinary action, Dr Persaud said. He disclosed that disciplinary action would have been required in the case of the malaria associated death since the Ministry had some time ago instituted emergency re-examination of the guidelines for the management of malaria in pregnancy. Moreover, he said that it is now mandated that for all malarias areas, every pregnant mother have her malaria smear done at each clinic visit. But according to Dr Persaud, “a lot of times it is only done when she complains of a fever...not even a symptom. So mothers come and they have headaches, they have joint pains, they have other symptoms and they may not have reported fever and a smear is not done and you miss a subtle malaria infection.” This development, according to (Continued on page 21)
Wednesday January 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
MOH to focus on implementation of... (From page 20) addressing the need to establish good governance in the public and private health sector in Guyana, thereby ensuring accountability efficiency and effectiveness participation transparency responsiveness, consensus orientation and equity through compliance with rules and regulations established. To make this a reality last year, emphasis was placed on reconstituting and sustaining the National Health Policy
Committee (NHPC) by key players of the MOH. Membership comprising of senior management of the MOH, representatives of other sector ministries, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), select regional hospital, civil society and Private Sector Organizations assisted in forming a management directorate, to review rationalize and amend health policy and legislative reform agenda. This year, the Health Ministry will focus on the implementation of reforms to
deliver key agenda items such as the revised Health Facility Licencing Act, the new Guyana National Medicine Policy and strengthened National Import Control System to meet international requirements. During this year the Ministry will also seek to clarify, amend and communicate as necessary, roles and responsibility of actors in the delivery of regional health services, especially those in key positions that will impact
mechanisms that ensure accountability. By 2015, implementation of a detailed road map for the establishing RHAs is set to be in operation. An evaluation into the strengthened PublicPrivate Sector Partnership compliance with the health sector regulatory framework will be underway. The framework will contain the coherence between policies and practice, powers and responsibilities and enforcement of the rules, procedures, codes of conduct and standards.
GPSU STARTS COUNTRYWIDE... From page 12 Court to address its matter. Williams expressed the need for the revitalization of the Public Service Appellate tribunal and suggested that the body be reconstituted so that appeals by public servants could be fast-tracked. The workers’ union has reiterated that for more than 10 years, against the collective bargaining agreement, government has been imposing wage increases on workers. Livan noted that firm steps will be taken to address this recurring breach. Williams, along with several other opposition members, who voted for public servant funds in last year’s budget, are adamant that public servants could have been paid more than five percent. Some say that public staffers
could have received more than a nine percent wage increase. It is in this light that both opposition parties have expressed the need for deeper scrutiny when signing off on budget sums. In the meantime, Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul told Kaieteur News yesterday that the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary is expected to meet with the executives of the workers’ union. He said that he is aware of a correspondence from the Permanent Secretary to the union, but he is unaware as to whether the letter speaks specifically to the issue of wage increases. The Minister did say that to the best of his knowledge, a meeting is supposed to be held with the union and depending on the outcome the matter will further engage the attention of his office.
18 maternal deaths recorded in 2013 (From page 20) the Chief Medical Officer, could result in complications that have the potential of causing a pregnant woman to die. But according to Dr Persaud “I hope that we don’t have any more deaths of women relating to malaria.” Additionally, Dr Persaud said that although high-risk pregnancies are seen as an indirect cause of maternal death, there is also need to ensure that persons with HIV infections, for example, are properly managed and therefore need not die during pregnancy. “They need not die because there is HIV treatment available that can ensure that a pregnant mother survives her pregnancy and is also able to care for her newborn baby, who should be
HIV negative once everything is done correctly,” Dr Persaud insisted. At times, he noted that high risk cases are defined by pregnant women above the age of 35 years-old and even those who are deemed to be too young as well. But according to Dr Persaud it has been observed that more women are in fact delaying their birthing experience in order to achieve professional goals. “This is typically what we are seeing in more and more developed societies, they delay that part of their life,” he noted. But according to Dr Persaud, the health sector now has in place under its family health manual, a recommendation that each pregnant woman be evaluated, at least once,
during the initial phase of her pregnancy by a clinician. And if she is found to be a high risk case such a patient, he said, should be evaluated by an obstetrician. “So regardless of where they are around Guyana, we need to get them evaluated either by referring them or by us providing an obstetrician on a roving basis.” Recently, the public health sector added to its range of professionals an obstetrician who is expected to soon fill the roving capacity tasked with catering particularly to the far-flung regions. The efforts of this doctor, Dr Persaud said, will be complemented by primary
health care doctors, including a number of young doctors who have returned and are still returning from their studies in Cuba. These doctors, according to him, were strategically trained in the Advanced Labour and Risk Management (ALARM) course. “When they go out there they can also see the mothers at the high risk clinics...so even though we do value our nurses and midwives who have done a good job we want to institute these measures so that we also avoid the in-direct deaths...” said Dr Persaud, who insisted that his vision is to see zero in the both the areas of direct and indirect maternal deaths.
Page 21
Man charged in Ogle Airport drug bust Sherlock ‘Blacka’ Reid of Shirley Field-Ridley Square, Georgetown on Monday made his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where a charge for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking was read to him by the Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. The prosecution claimed that on December 16, 2013 at the Ogle International Airport, Ogle, East Coast Demerara, Reid had in his possession 1.044 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. However, Reid pleaded not guilty and submitted an application for bail through his lawyer George Thomas. Special Prosecutor attached to the Customs Anti Narcotics Branch (CANU) Oswald Massiah stated that on the aforementioned day, Reid had sought the assistance of someone to send a package to Antigua. Massiah said that he then called his regular taxi driver claiming that he required his services. The driver en route to Reid had picked up some of his relatives who had business transactions which required the use of his National Identification Card (ID). According to the prosecution, Reid then charged the man with the task of delivering the box to a New Market Street, Georgetown shipping agent. The driver who was in the company of
another reportedly told Reid that he did not have his ID. Reid then allegedly suggested that the other man in the car could assist him. His request was not met with objections but rather a request for him to display the contents of the box. Massiah said that Reid then showed the “good Samaritan” the contents of the box which included Compact Discs (CD) and a photo album. The duo who believed that the box was intended for his aunt, as the box also contained pictures of the woman’s wedding, then journeyed to the shipping agent who in turn checked, and a staff member ventured to the airport with the box. The Prosecutor related that the journey was cut short when a CANU officer conducted what was described as a 100% check on the box. He described that the illicit substance was discovered in the roof of the CD case. According to Massiah the “good Samaritan” was arrested and taken to CANU where the substance was subsequently weighed. He said that the investigation which was launched led to Reid’s arrest. The matter was transferred to Magistrate Ann McLennan who then granted bail to the tune of $500,000. Reid will make his next court appearance on January 29 for report and fixtures.
Page 22
VACANCY Writer needed. Web and article copywriting. US$1,000/month. www.capitaltyping.com/ gypro for details. 24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant - Call: 6910894/684-2838 1 Lorry driver apply @ Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling. Salesgirls and porters apply @ D. Singh & Sons - Tel:2260881 Receptionist, Cleaners, Security & Manager within the vicinity of Parika - Vreeden-Hoop. Tel:638-1627 1 Live in maid must be from the country & Know to cook, age 35-50 - Tel:6110200; 662-1124
Kaieteur News
WANTED 1 Cook with atleast 2 years experience. Must have a valid food handlers certificate – Tel:604-0392; 616-2902 between 10am-4pm Experienced roti/puri cooks, curry cooks, pastry makers, counter servers, handyboys & cleaners - Apply @ Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce St. Live-in waitress, bartender and going and coming cooks - Tel:643-9007; 664-1804 1 Female Cleaner for office, twice weekly @ Eccles Industrial Site – Tel:614-4358 1 Domestic for East Bank Area- Tel:614-4358 Girls to work as waitress in bar. Age 18-25yrs – Tel:2564096 One male & one female live in domestic – Tel:613-6613
Sales person to work in store. Police Clearance and 2 references – Tel:226-5473
One dragline operator – Tel:613-6613
Two joiners to work in workshop - Tel: 610-7005; 219-1342
Salesgirls & Kitchen Assistants, come into Dian’s Deli opposite Kitty Market
1 Computer Legal Clerk – Tel:226-4283; 624-7087 Cosmetologist: Certified in facials, manicures, pedicures & waxing - Tel: 231-0321 One Trainee Refrigeration & AC technician - Tel:2310655; 683-8734 Experienced Cleaners Call:225-8572 (Between 7am9am) One maid – Tel:227-0557 Driver and Salesman for Gas Trucks on E.C.D, W.C.D and E.B.D, Security Guards, Part Time Gardener. 266 4427 Ice Loaders & General Workers @ B.M. Enterprise Inc. GFL Wharf Houston Tel: 592-227-8176/7 Welders & fabricators (Must Have (3) Years’ Experience) - Apply Technical Services @ Eccles Industrial Site. General Machinists (Must know about Line &Engine Block Boring).- Apply Technical Services @ Eccles Industrial Site. Skilled Machinists(Knowledge to re-grind Crankshaft, Engine Head & Block ) Apply Technical Services @ Eccles Industrial Site. Cleaners, (1) Industrial Electrician- (Must have Experience) Apply Technical Services @ Eccles Industrial Site. Mechanical Engineer- 3 Years experience & hold a diploma/degree in this field Apply Technical Services @ Eccles Industrial Site
WANTED
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Cashiers, waitresses & Handyman – Tel:223-4778; 601-5802
Unregistered Toyota Sienta (2004) 1500cc and 7 seater – Tel: 617-5536
Skilled grill workers, fabricators & labourers - Tel: 227-1830 Attractive live in waitressCall:327-0252/674-4665
New ATVs: Introductory price $1,199,000 (Duty Free)Call:691-0234
General Domestic. Good Salary, must be able to cook and clean house – Tel:6247436 Experienced general domestic, must know to prepare Indian dishes – Tel:656-6388 Experienced female bartender & waitresses. Apply in person @ Sheriff Night Club on Sheriff St Between 2-4Pm
Toyota Raum with TV, Rims & music - PRR series - Tel: 662-2569
Land to buy in Parafaite Harmonie – Tel:675-7292 CANTER DRIVER WITH E X P E R I E N C E , REFFERENCES & POLICE CLEARANCE ALSO SALESMAN WITH CAR FOR WHOLESALE FOOD COMPANY – TEL:231-8529
VACANCY Primary Teacher needed from 3:30pm – Call:654-8650
One cook for family in interior – Contact:681-6044 Experienced Taxi and bus driver and dispatcher at Princess Hotel – Tel:2657076; 616-8419 Hairdresser must be able to work with nails & handyman. Apply @ West Shore Plaza, 15 Public Road Ruimzeigt W.C.D - Tel: 269-1524
1 Plaine operator, 1 portable miller operator, labourers – Tel: 619-9143
Nissan Laurel Car – Price: $350, 000 - Tel: 223-9677
1995 Toyota Tacoma stick gear 4 wheel drive 3 RZ engine price negotiable - Tel: 625-2516
Mercedes Benz CLK 200 Kompressor 2005; PRR Series. Flawless Condition! Price Negotiable! - Tel:6235492 VEHICLE FOR SALE Unregistered Toyota Raum (2004) - $2.150M – Tel:6917475; 657-1796 One used RZ mini-bus – Tel:694-7906 One enclosed canter in immaculate condition, GPP series Call:628-8777 Cheapest: Manaul VVTI Buses, Spacio, CRV – Tel:6167635 FOR SALE / FOR RENT American pool table - Tel: 277-0578
One live-in maid between age 30-45 - Contact:681-6044 Porters on W.C.D - $20,000 weekly – Tel:684-8231
Must See!!! – Unregistered 2002 Premio $2.5M & 2001 AT 212 - $2M – Tel:226-5473
One Allion Selling Cheap $1.7M, fully loaded PNN Series – Tel:672-0470
Attractive live in waitress Call: 604-8277; 228-5129
One experienced male shop attendant to work in interior, contact:6816044
1- LN 170 Hilux pick-up. Excellent condition! - Tel: 663-3537
2 - 2007 Toyota Avensis - Tel: 698-0674
Empty 20" & 40" shipping container to buy. Must be in good working condition – Tel:623-1615
One experienced female shop attendant to work in interior – Contact: 681-6044
Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered Premio, IST, Runx & Spacio - Tel:6523820; 665-4529
Saturn Jeep American made Tel: 223-9677
Handyman to work 9am-8pm. Apply @ Fortune House Restaurant, 98 Sheriff Street.
One experienced excavator operator to work in interiorContact:681-6044
1 Toyota NZE corolla, AT192, AT212, AT170, IST, Funcargo, Rav-4, Hilux pickup 4x4 – Tel:644-5096; 697-1453
2002 Rav 4 PNN series, fully loaded – Tel:694-6537
Experienced Cashier, willing to work shift. Reference from previous employer. Apply @ Fortune House Restaurant, 98 Sheriff St.
1 experienced cook for interior, male or female, also jet man, marack man. Call 8am-5pm – Deo: 655-7991
New 2014 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabs - Call: 691-0234
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
2008 Toyota Premio for sale (unregistered) – Tel:665-4480 One Honda CRV fully equipped with running bars & other accessories, PNN Series. Excellent Condition! Price Negotiable – Tel:6606763 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / termsCall:680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 1-55 Leyland Daf Excellent working condition. Price $2.8M Negotiable – Tel:6568346 1- 5L Dielsel Toyota Hilux Extra Cab, ready for the interior – Price: $3.5M negotiable – Tel:667-2703 or 662-5570
Wednesday January 08, 2014
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. Live and pluck chicken - Tel: 220-9203; 650-4421
Promising Diamond and Gold one Block in the Ekeruku area, serious enquiries only - Tel:673-8217
Diving Suites - Tel: 265-3449; 613-5158 One 210 Hyundai Excavator with one complete 6" Dredge and also 4" Dredge Contact: 650-2391 1 Fishing boat: Length: 38ft, width 7ft & Depth 4½ft with 400lb Nylon 5" Seine &1- 40 HP Yamaha Engine Tel:220-9891; 679-3457 Large plucked chickens, wholesale only $300 per lb Contact: 266-2711, 609-4594 Dell computers complete with 20" LCD $69,000, 6 months warranty @ Futuretech- Call:231-2206 New arrival: 1 Toyota Tacoma, aluminum boats (12ft & 14ft)- Call:2201981,685-8282,690-1945 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032,647-2943
Pluck chicken - Call:6760931 L- Touring Wagon in excellent condition – 15’ Rims, DVD, Tv, Remote Start Alarm & HID lights $1,300,000 Negotiable – Tel: 667-9013 Stall at Bourda Market 25FT Long & 7FT wide. Good for Pharmacy, Grocery Store or Boutique - Tel:621-7451; 231-7677 Salon. Turnkey Business @ 6 Goed Fortuin Public Road. Phone:600-3927 1 Toyota Surf 3Y Engines 4x4 Pick-up – Tel:680-4631; 6393948 Two plot of land ¼ Acre or 3X25 Rod each @ Lot 15 & 16 Doctor Dam, La-Grange WBD – Tel:697-5009; 6657022 One Kindle Fire HD Tablet 16GB - $80,000, two Nintendo DSI - $35,000 each, PSP games, PSZ Games – Call Reyaz:652-3652
1- 320 C.L Caterpillar Excavator. Excellent Condition with 2 complete 6" & 8" Dredge - Tel: 648-5371 Greenheart Piles - Tel: 6393450 1 Toyota Chaser, 2000 CC GX100, PHH series - $2.5M, 1- Toyota Celica 3 SGTE, PGG Series - $1M – Tel:616-2902 1 smoothie machine,2 ice machine- Contact:2310655,683-8734 1 Stall @ Stabroek Market Tel: 658-0115; 718-757-8031
TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 347933-9790, 639-4452. Newly built apartment - Tel: 698-6496 Aracari Hotel. West Bank Demerara Rates from $30 – Tel:264-2946-8
1-500 Ton Cargo Ship - Tel: 676-6933 Tibitean Terrier- Pups for sale: (Fluffy) - Tel:655-0054; 226-4166 New 1- 16/14 Bore Trailer, driven pump. Reduced Price! Tel: 227-1830 One fishing boat 350lb Catguts seine (5 Inch) 40 Yamaha Engine – Tel:2207655; 220-0410; 667-8921 1 RZ longbase mini-bus. Excellent Condition – Price: $1.2M. First Owner!! - Tel: 666-4999 or 698-6898
EDUCATIONAL IAE @ 194 Camp St – CXC 2014. Full-time, morning, lessons & adults classes: Mathematics, English A, Business & Science Subjects Tel: 683-5742; 223-0604 Learn any Language Fast: Tel:662-0001 (Continued on page 23)
Wednesday January 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
Dr. Ramayya and Other.... From page 5 significant share of my American income to help charitable organizations of all religious and ethnic persuasions in Guyana. As Bandhu, Swami Akshananda, and others can attest, whenever I visited Guyana, I took educational supplies, clothing, toys, etc. for children which are distributed through registered organizations and I frequently offered financial assistance to help them with their work. I appeal to the wealthy class and the Parliament to support various poverty alleviation initiatives of non government organizations that provide essential services to ensure that life-changing education, nutrition and health care projects continue for the poor. Small amounts of assistance help to bring big changes in kids’ lives as I found from experience. My distribution of crayons, pens, pencils, booklets, snacks, etc. in Vietnam, Cambodia, India, South Africa, Guyana, etc. brought smiles on faces. And as educators told me, such supplies go a long way to help to keep kids in school. In recent visits to India, I sponsored a bhoj (feeding the poor) in my ancestral villages feeding hundreds. And I could see and feel the gratitude of the people in getting a special meal and kids getting educational supplies and a ‘fine change’ for snacks at school. Ashok Ramsaran, of GOPIO, another Whim villager like Ramayya, also adopts villages in India, like me, and funds NGOs and reported similar experiences whenever he visited. As I have found from my travels to many nations, children are the same everywhere. They love a party and gifts whether it is for Christmas, Eid, Diwali, Buddha’s Birthday,
Guru Nanak’s birthday, or some other festival. Children everywhere enjoy a bonhomie squealing with delight on receiving gifts or getting new clothing, toys, etc. And so I salute Dr. Ramayya, a devout Hindu, for his generous sponsorship of a holiday treat for kids and their families. There are those who donate money to a charity – they give and are finished with that. But getting involved in actually executing programs with direct contacts to people on the ground is another matter and few dare to engage in grass roots work. And this is where Dr. Ramayya stands tall among others, especially those born in the countryside but now settled in town; they forget where they came from. I don’t know the good doctor. But others spoke glowingly of him whenever I visited Berbice to conduct opinion polls. They wished, however, he had not gotten involved in politics. Politics has not been a nice sport in Guyana. But sometimes, one has to become political in order to expand one’s goal of helping an entire nation, rather than a small region. As I penned two years ago, it was a mistake for opponents to maliciously attack the doctor for his entrance into politics. He has always been a decent person and is loved by everyone whose lives he touched; that was evident by the large crowd at the funeral of his wife. Thank you Dr. Ramayya for your work! I also use this opportunity to cheer and applaud the activities of all who have volunteered their time and or have offered funds that have been used to help better lives throughout our nation. Name and address supplied
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 08, 2014
Two couples charged for ganja trafficking Old Year’s Night Two couples were brought before the courts on Monday to face separate possession of narcotic for the purpose of trafficking charges. The matter of Carl Ashley and Christina Camacho of James Street Albouystown, was called before that of Alicia
Gilkes and Alair Hendricks who reside at Bent Street. Both Couples, accused of possession of the narcotic for trafficking purposes, were allegedly discovered with the illicit drug on Saturday last (January 4) at their separate residences. The prosecution’s claim
was that Ashley and Camacho had 93 grams of cannabis in their possession while Giles and Hendricks had 109 grams. In the case of Ashley and Camacho, the Prosecution explained that the bust was made when a party of police ranks went to James Street, Albouystown and contacted the two. The couple’s apartment was checked where the police discovered leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. The couple was then arrested and taken to the Narcotics Branch, Criminal Investigation Division, Eve Leary where the substance was weighed and amounted to 93 grams. The two had pleaded not guilty to the charge and the matter was transferred to Magistrate Fabayo Azore who sits in the said court. Despite Defence Attorney Gordon Gilhuys’ bail application, the couple was ordered held until January 17. Gilhuys had pleaded with the court to offer Camacho bail since according to him she is one month pregnant. However, his application was met with objections by Police Prosecutor Renetta Bentham who claimed that the
lawyer failed to provide the court with special reasons for bail. Meanwhile, the matter of Gilkes and Hendricks was handed to Magistrate Ann McLennan who also sits in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Corporal Mangru, prosecuting, described how the substance was discovered. He claimed that on the day in question, the police had received information and as such journeyed to Bent Street. In the presence of the accused a search was conducted on the premises which allegedly led to the discovery of 86 small Ziploc bags in the kitchen which contained the illicit drug. Mangru added that Hendricks admitted to owning the drug. However, their lawyer claimed that the police arrested Hendricks on the street and then led him into his house. The attorney argued that his clients are tenants who share the yard with other occupants. Magistrate McLennan thereafter allowed bail for Gilkes in the sum of $200,000. However, Hendricks was remanded to prison. The matter stands adjourned to January 29.
murder accused appears in court
Minutes before the end of 2013, a 20-year-old woman was shot dead outside the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) outlet in Water Street on Old Year’s Night. The man police say is responsible for her death was on Monday brought before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry to face the related charge. Just four days after being nabbed in an escape attempt, 42-year-old Jermaine Maynard, of Leopold and Cross Streets, Werk-en-Rust, with his hand in a sling strolled casually into the courtroom at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Maynard stood accused of murdering Carlissa Matthews at Croal Street, Georgetown between December 31, 2013 and January 1, 2014. He was not required to plead since the matter was deemed indictable. The Prosecution, which was led by Corporal Bharat Mangru, informed the court that the two had shared a relation for some time but it was terminated several months ago. Mangru said that on the night in question around 23:30 hours, Matthews was standing in proximity to KFC in the Stabroek area when the
accused approached her with a handgun and shot her to her head. According to Mangru, the woman was soon taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to receive medical treatment. Matthews was pronounced dead at about 02:15 hours on New Year’s Day. The Prosecution related that the accused had fled the scene, but was captured at Springlands on January 2, the day after the commission of the crime. According to newspaper reports, Maynard was nabbed at the ‘back track’ crossing, and was about to board a boat when he was held. Mangru said that the investigations were conducted hence the charge for the capital offence was instituted against the man. He also told the court that the prosecution has nine witnesses to date while three more statements are outstanding. Defence attorney George Thomas, representing the accused, requested a short date adjournment since murder is not a bailable offence and the matter stood adjourned to February 10 for the commencement of the Preliminary Inquiry.
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Iraqi army clashes with Turkey purges police militants near Fallujah amid graft scandal
BAGHDAD (AP) — Fierce clashes erupted yesterday between Iraqi special forces and al-Qaedalinked militants outside the city of Fallujah, a flare-up in a days-long standoff in the Sunni-dominated western province of Anbar, Iraqi officials said. The fighting broke out about 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of Fallujah, following the capture of an army officer and four soldiers in the area a day earlier, Anbar provincial spokesman Dhari al-Rishawi told The Associated Press. There was no immediate word on casualties. The clashes began just hours after deadly bomb attacks killed at least four people elsewhere in the country. Iraqi security forces and allies from Sunni tribes have been battling militants to recapture two key cities in Iraq’s western Anbar province, Fallujah and Ramadi, the provincial capital. Fighters from an al-Qaedalinked group, known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the
Levant, control the center of Fallujah, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad, and part of the nearby Ramadi. The al-Qaeda fighters’ seizure of the two cities — once bloody battlegrounds for U.S. troops — poses the most serious challenge to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Shiite-led government since the departure of American forces in late 2011. The immediate trigger for the unrest was the Dec. 28 arrest of a Sunni lawmaker sought on terrorism charges, followed by the government’s dismantling of a months-old anti-government Sunni protest camp in Ramadi. Sectarian tensions in Iraq have been rising for much longer. Violence spiked after the government staged a deadly crackdown on a Sunni protest camp last April. Militants have also targeted civilians, particularly in Shiite areas of Baghdad, with waves of coordinated car bombings and other deadly attacks. The attacks continued
yesterday when a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden truck into a police station in the northern city of Kirkuk, killing two people there and wounding 55, some critically, according to Maj. Raid Emad Rasheed. A roadside bomb struck an army patrol southeast of Baghdad, in the Madain area, killing one soldier and wounding another, a police official said. Another bomb hit a patrol of pro-government, Sunni militiamen in Baghdad’s southeastern suburb of Jisr Diyala, killing one fighter and wounding four, he added. A medical official confirmed the casualty figures. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to talk to the media. The death toll in 2013 was the highest in Iraq since the worst of the sectarian bloodletting began to subside in 2007, according to United Nations figures. The U.N. said violence killed 8,868 last year.
Ohio police: Man stopped for speeding had 48 bombs LONDON, Ohio (AP) — A man stopped for speeding in central Ohio was charged with illegally making or possessing an explosive device after nearly 50 bombs and four guns were found in his vehicle. Andrew Scott Boguslawski, 43, was arrested late New Year’s Day on Interstate 70 west of Columbus. Investigators found two pistols, two rifles, 48 explosive devices and tools and materials to make additional explosives, according to The (London) Madison Press (http://bit.ly/ 1gBVvmT ). Also inside was
a remote detonating device, Assistant Madison County Prosecutor Nick Adkins said. Investigators are trying to determine why the man had the arsenal. He faces a court hearing Friday in Madison County. According to the state trooper who stopped him for going 85 mph in a 70-mph zone, Boguslawski said he had no weapons. However, the officer returned with a ticket and saw the handle of a gun between the man’s knees. “At that point, he drew his service weapon, held the man there and called for
backup,” said Adkins. Boguslawski told authorities he has an attorney, but none was listed on the court docket.
Ankara (AFP) - Turkey purged hundreds of police and launched an investigation into prosecutors yesterday in the latest twist in a vast corruption scandal that has rocked Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government. A government decree published at midnight announced the sacking of 350 police officers in Ankara, including chiefs of the financial crimes, antismuggling, cyber crime and organised crime units, media reports said. Turkey’s top judicial body, the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), also yesterday launched an investigation into the newly appointed Istanbul police chief and a number of the city’s top prosecutors. The moves came as the government battled to contain the fallout from the graft probe that has become the biggest threat to Erdogan’s 11-year rule ahead of local elections in March. Erdogan has branded the investigation a “dirty” plot to try to topple his government,
Recep Tayyip Erdogan blaming supporters of a powerful exiled Muslim cleric who wields considerable influence in the police and judiciary. Dozens of leading businessmen and political figures — including the sons of three ministers — were rounded up in a massive antigraft sweep in Ankara and Istanbul in December. The once-unassailable Turkish strongman responded by sacking hundreds of police officials across the country, including the powerful Istanbul police
chief. The political uncertainty has added to pressures on the already volatile economy, with the national currency plunging to all-time lows as investors become spooked. Erdogan’s critics accuse him of desperately trying to protect his cronies, and the appointment of Selami Altinok, a little-known governor with no background in police work, as Istanbul’s new police chief was further seen as an attempt to shut down the graft investigation.
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Wednesday January 08, 2014
Joint commission meets to discuss HaitiDominica Republic citizenship issue PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – CMC - A high level commission established to look into the citizenship issue of thousands of Haitian nationals rendered stateless by a Constitutional Court ruling in the Dominican Republic in September last year, met yesterday. Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, who is leading the local delegation to the talks with the Dominican Republic in the Haitian northern town of Ouanaminthe near the Haitian-Dominican border, said the issue should be solved through dialogue. “We want to engage in a constructive dialogue with the Dominican Republic to find a solution that protects the interests of all parties,” Lamothe told the Haitian website, HCNN. Last month, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, reporting on a meeting between President Michel Martelly and his Dominican Republic counterpart, Danilo Medina, said that the high-
level committee with representatives of both sides would address various issues. Maduro said the joint commission would comprise five representatives each from the two countries and that Venezuela, the United Nations, the European Union and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) had been invited as observers. Maduro said the proposed commission would address issues regarding trade, migration, environment, security and the border. The purpose of such an initiative is to find a just, proper and balanced solution through which the interests and rights of all parties are protected. On September 23, the Constitutional Court in Santo Domingo has ruled in favour of stripping citizenship from children of Haitian migrants. The decision applies to those born after 1929 — a category that overwhelmingly includes descendants of Haitians brought in to work on farms.
But in defending the ruling, Dominican Republic officials said it ends uncertainty for children of Haitian immigrants, allowing them to apply for residency and eventually for citizenship. The Geneva-based office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on authorities in Santo Domingo to ensure that the ruling did not leave persons of Haitian descent in “constitutional limbo”. A United Nationssupported study, released this year, estimated that there were around 210,000 Dominican-born people of Haitian descent and another 34,000 born to parents of other nationalities. However, the Government of the Dominican Republic estimates that around 500,000 people born in Haiti live in the Dominican Republic. St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who had
written two letters to Medina on the issue, had informed his Caribbean Community (CARICOM) colleagues that quiet diplomacy would not get the Dominican Republic to change its position. Last November, CARICOM said it would defer consideration of the application by the Dominican Republic to join the regional
integration grouping following the Constitutional Court ruling. Last week, President Martelly said his administration was committed to having dialogue with the Dominican Republic and denied that the two countries which share the Hispaniola island were engaged in any conflict.
“Now there is a dialogue which has been established between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, because there are a lot of problems to solve, among them, the denationalization issue,” said Martelly, adding “the Dominican Constitutional Tribunal took a decision that hampers humanity because it has to do with human rights”.
Government launches all out attack on criminals as murders increase PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - CMC – The coalition People’s Partnership government yesterday announced an all out attack on criminal elements in Trinidad and Tobago as the island recorded its 19th murder in just seven days. Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, speaking to reporters after a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) said that she was reaffirming her administration’s commitment to dealing with the crime situation. “As Prime Minister today I re-affirm my commitment to our citizens that whatever we have to do to defeat criminals within the law, wherever they hide we will do it. “I will not allow and evil and violent minority to continue to inflict harm, fear and tragedy on the lives of our citizens. Where ever you hide, whoever your accomplices are and whatever you believe you have done with impunity we will find you and you will be punished”. She said at the meeting it was decided with “immediate effect, the Commissioner (of Police Stephenson Williams) has advised that all leave has
Kamla Persad Bissessar
been restricted in Trinidad and the Tobago Police Service so we can have all hands on deck in the fight against crime. “This means all officers from the top to the bottom. There is to be a greater collaborative effort between the police and the Defence Force to maximize the use of all their resources in this matter.” Persad Bissessar said that she would no longer tolerate excuses for failure by the
protective and security forces, adding “violence by a very small minority is eating away at the freedoms and peace that the majority has a right to enjoy. “A murder is not simply a murder. Violence is not simply violence,” she said, adding that “at no time can crime be considered acceptable and the recent spike in violence and murders has made the situation completely intolerable”.
Wednesday January 08, 2014
Kaieteur News
Dutch break with EU to open political dialogue with Cuba HAVANA (Reuters) - The Dutch foreign minister signed an agreement yesterday with his Cuban counterpart to engage in political consultations, breaking ranks with the European Union which limits high-level visits and talks with the Communist-run Caribbean island. Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans, on the second of a two-day visit to Cuba, urged the European Union to adjust its relationship with Cuba, stating, “Havana through the centuries has been a meeting point between Europe and the Americas and I believe it still has an important role to play in this regard.” Timmermans, as he sat down for talks with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, praised Cuba’s efforts to “bring an end to the last violent conflict in the region,” referring to its hosting of peace talks between the Colombian government and local rebels.
Rodriguez said he welcomed the opportunity to hold discussions on issues of common interest and that changes underway on the island represented an opportunity for Dutch businesses. As part of market-oriented reforms under President Raul Castro, who took over from his ailing brother Fidel in 2008, Cuba recently opened a Chinese-style special economic zone and is preparing a new foreign investment law. A delegation of businessmen accompanied Timmermans on his visit, the first by a Dutch foreign minister since the 1959 Cuban Revolution. The Netherlands is a staunch advocate of human rights and democracy and actively supports dissident organizations in Cuba. It also has strong commercial ties with the island, with the Port of Rotterdam serving as an entry point for Cuban nickel and other goods headed for
various countries. Trade between the two countries was $791 million in 2012, almost exclusively Cuban exports. It was not clear if Timmermans would meet with dissidents before his departure later yesterday. The European Union adopted what is known as the “common position” in 1996, which conditions its relations with Cuba to progress towards a pluralistic political system and respect for human rights. Cuba has rejected the policy on the grounds that it interferes in the country’s internal affairs. “I think dialogue is a better way than turning our backs to each other,” Timmermans said on Monday. “I think it is time for Europe to revise its position on Cuba and see if we can negotiate a new position towards Cuba,” he said at the opening of a soccer training workshop in Havana, hosted by Dutch players.
Ex-Miss Venezuela slain in robbery CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A former Miss Venezuela and her exhusband were shot and killed and their 5-year-old daughter was wounded after they resisted robbers by locking the doors of their brokendown car, police said yesterday. The slaying of Monica Spear, 29, a popular soap opera actress, and Thomas Berry, a 39-year-old Irishman, was the latest high-profile crime in a country where people are regularly killed in armed robberies and where rampant kidnapping has ensnared even foreign ambassadors and professional baseball players. Spear and Berry were slain Monday late night near Puerto Cabello, the country’s main port, while headed to Caracas after their car hit “a sharp object that had been placed on the highway,” the director of the country’s investigative police, Jose Gregorio Sierralta, told reporters. He said the attack occurred after the car had been lifted onto a tow truck and, seeing the assailants coming, the family locked themselves in their car. Sierralta said the couple’s daughter was treated for a light leg wound and was with relatives in Caracas. He said police in Puerto Cabello had arrested five suspects, some under age 18. Local media reports said the pair had a good
Monica Spear
relationship despite being divorced and identified Berry as the owner of a travel agency. Venezuela has one of the world’s highest murder rates and violent crime is so rampant that Venezuelans tend to stay home after dark. Spear’s death triggered a wave of anger on social media directed at the populist government’s poor record on crime. President Nicolas Maduro commented on her death in remarks carried live by state TV, lamenting “the loss of a very spiritual young woman” actively involved in various charities. According to the nonprofit Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, the oil-rich South American country’s murder rate was 79 per 100,000 inhabitants last
year. Government statistics put the rate lower. Spear was crowned Miss Venezuela in 2004 and had acted in numerous soap operas for the U.S.-based Telemundo network, most recently “Pasion Prohibida.” She split her time between Venezuela and the United States and was on vacation when slain. Spear had more than 355,000 followers on Twitter and her feed over the last week included brief videos of vacation scenes sent on the popular Instagram service. In one video, posted two days ago and described as being taken on the plains of Apure state, Spear looks at the camera while riding a horse, turns away and then looks back, blowing a kiss.
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Despite a few hiccups the Berbice Volleyball ... From page 35 continues to be the National coach and he received a coach’s strategy board. Among some of the highlights of the Association were the many competitions successfully held, the introduction of Mini-Volley in Schools, the return of competitive Volleyball to Skeldon, the excellent performance of PMTC players in Beach Volleyball in Suriname and the good showing of Guyana’s top team (PMTC) at the International Invitational Festival hosted by the GVF in November were some standouts for the BVA. During the year, top player Quacy Matheson created his-
tory in May by being the first Guyanese to receive an ID Number from FIVB. He received a FIVB Id No142451 to play for a Trinidad Club team in an International Club Tournament organized by CAZOVA (Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association. Matheson was also awarded by the Berbice Chambers of Commerce and Development Association for being the Sports Personality of the Year 2012. Despite the success some disappoints were also highlighted, including the weather which caused the cancellation or postponement of some programmes. Others included the cancel-
lation of the U19 competition in May and the Caricom Fun Day, which was due to lack of communication between the association’s co-coordinator and the Department of Education, and the persons appointed to overlook the activity. Others that did not materialise include the “Teach them Young” Programme in collaboration with the Region six MCYS, the N/A Town Day Competition, the BVA Awards Ceremony. While the Region five MiniVolley Festival for Schools in the Ithaca to Bush Lot area and the Black Bush Outreach were postponed to early this year.
Wednesday January 08, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): You might be feeling especially adventurous today, Aries. The same old streets and buildings in the same old town might suddenly seem to be closing in on you. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): An intense dream or vision could result in a spiritual breakthrough of some kind, Taurus, and you might spend much of the day in a bit of a daze, trying to make sense of it. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You're apt to be in a very joyous mood today, Gemini, and it's going to show on your face. This isn't going to go unnoticed by the people you meet. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Today you might host a gathering of people interested in psychic or metaphysical matters, Cancer. A very special guest could give a talk or lead a discussion group. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Writing may be one of your main focuses for today, Leo. You have a lot of information to impart to anyone who might be interested in what you have to say. You could try your hand at a magazine article or perhaps fiction or poetry. very interesting. Go to it! ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): Professional interests continue to expand, Virgo, and you're managing to keep very busy. Your income is rising, and you could be achieving a certain prominence in your field.
LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Travel in the company of a close companion might be looming over the horizon, Libra. In fact, you might be leaving pretty soon, and you're probably growing excited. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): An unexpected lucky break could come your way today, Scorpio - something you would never have expected in a hundred years. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Don't box yourself into a corner and shut out everything around you except your immediate concerns. The more you isolate yourself and insist that you don't need anyone else's help, the more frustrated and sad you'll become. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): Some kind of unexpected shakeup could take place today, Capricorn, and you could find yourself suddenly being offered more money or responsibilities. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18):Today you might attend at least one festive social occasion, Aquarius, and therefore you may meet some very interesting people in unusual professions, such as film or TV. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Your level of health and physical well-being is likely to be very high, Pisces, and thus you're probably glowing. As a result, you might find that those around you pay more attention to what you're saying than they usually do.
Some other disappointments included –the holding of no fund raising activities, no progress with the Esplanade Park Beach Volleyball Court Project and not much was achieved with the school, female and referees/scorers developmental programmes. The call is still being made for persons to attend meetings more often. Clubs are also being encouraged to participate in a League Competition while players and clubs are encouraged to pay respect to punctuality. The executive plans to meet early during this year to - draft strategic long and short term plans for the sport in Berbice, draft a project proposal for the Beach Volleyball Court Project, Register the BVA as a Non-Profit Organization and secure a Bank Account at a reputable bank. The will also formulate a fines structure for clubs failing to attend meetings and other breaches, secure the services of a professional to do a plan for an indoor facility of international standard, plan at least 12 competitions and four fund raising events for the year. Establish BVA squads, both male and female at all the various age groups including U19, U20, U23 and veteran categories, make plans to fa-
cilitate outreaches to various outlying areas throughout Berbice and plan for a “Big Brother’ Outreach to Essequibo Coast and appoint coaches to assist Schools. The call is made for the construction of proper indoor facilities that confirm to FIVB’s International standards. It was noted that proper indoor facilities for Volleyball exist throughout all of the neighbouring countries. However in Guyana, it seems the government is not inclined to build such as they do not see Sport Halls as priorities for human development. Clubs are also to upgrade their grass or concrete courts to sand courts and promote 2 verses 2 beach volleyball competitions in an effort to develop individual skills and lift their standard of play. All those associated with the game are urged to “Keep the Ball Flying” and try to “Go beyond the Limits.”
The association took the opportunity to thank all those who assisted in helping with the success of the BVA during the year including both local and overseas. Special mention is made of the Management & Staff of DTV-8, Mr. Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, the Managers Executive and Members of Albion, Skeldon and Rose Hall Estates and Community Centers, the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Education and all the schools in Berbice, Ansa McAl Company, Mr. D. Balram of Balram Shane General Store, the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam, Guysuco Apprentice Training Centre, Members of the US Peace Corps, Members of the RHTY and SC, Mr. Alex Foster of the SFCD, FFP Guyana Incorporated, the Priest and Parishioners of All Saints Anglican Church, the various media houses in Guyana and the President of the GVF, Mr. Lenox Shuffler among others.
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Ronaldo gets 400th goal in Real win Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 400th career goal as Real Madrid laboured to victory over Celta Vigo and reduced the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona. Celta had wasted a number of chances before Karim Benzema capitalised on shoddy defending by prodding home. Ronaldo, who had been largely anonymous, made sure of victory by converting Daniel Carvajal’s cross. Then, in the dying seconds, Ronaldo added gloss to the scoreline following a cross from Gareth Bale. Bale, a 65th-minute substitute, found the former Manchester United man in space and he thumped the ball into the roof of the net. Ronaldo’s brace, which made him the fourth highest scorer for Real Madrid in La Liga history, masked what had been a pedestrian
performance by a Real side who are now five points adrift of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in third. The 28-yearold, who is on a three-man shortlist for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, has now scored 400 goals in 653 games for Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real and Portugal. A minute’s silence was held before kick-off in memory of Portuguese great Eusebio, who died aged 71 from a heart attack at the weekend. Ronaldo seemed to pay his own tribute to his much-loved compatriot by raising his arms to the sky after his second landmark goal. It was not Ronaldo’s most polished performance, but he still managed to help Real clinch a handsome win. Celta will look back and regret a number of missed opportunities, with Brazilian Charles the main culprit.
The striker hit the side netting early on and fluffed another chance after the break, shooting wide with just Diego Lopez to beat. Moments later, the visitors paid the price for their profligacy when Benzema took advantage of a defensive mix-up to stab the ball home. The goal lifted Real’s spirits, with Ronaldo dragging a shot across goal before he found the target moments later with a toe-poke at the far post. Celta’s threat diminished from there on and once again they failed to contain Ronaldo as he struck his 28th club goal this season and his 230th in total for Real. Bale, who returned to training last week after recovering from a calf injury, was the provider, with the Welshman making another telling contribution for his new club. (BBCsport)
Cavaliers acquire Deng from Bulls
Luol Deng
Reuters - The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired All Star forward Luol Deng in a trade with the Chicago Bulls, the team announced on Monday. Cleveland will receive Deng in exchange for center Andrew Bynum and three future draft picks sent to the Bulls. Chicago will also have the right to swap 2015 first-round picks with the Cavaliers. “We are very excited for Luol to join the Cavaliers organization,” Cavaliers
general manager Chris Grant said in a statement. “He’s a tremendous defensive player that can impact the game on both ends of the court with a team first mentality and is a high character leader.” The Bulls are expected to release Bynum in a move that will give them financial flexibility and help them build for the future once franchise player Derrick Rose returns from his lengthy injury absence.
Cleveland will add the 28year-old Deng to a young roster that is currently outside of the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Briton, who has missed time recently with a sore Achilles, has averaged 19 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Bulls this season. Deng has spent his entire career in Chicago, playing through many playoff battles while reaching the All Star Game the last two seasons.
Wednesday January 08, 2014
Great Britain Shooting Coach Ian Shaw arrives for two week stint Described as a marksman of considerable pedigree and experience, Ian Shaw of Great Britain arrived in Guyana last evening to commence a twoweek stint aimed at improving the abilities of our local riflemen. Shaw, a good friend of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) and National Fullbore Captain Mahendra Persaud, was here last year with the Great Britain team that competed against Guyana last April ahead of the Caribbean C h a m p i onships and the Australia Match which were both held in Barbados. Shaw’s visit has made possible with the kind assistance of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and eth GNRA is expressing gratitude to President Juman Yassin and executive for their partnership which will see Guyana’s riflemen benefitting from the expertise of Shaw who began shooting at
- local marksmen commence training Epsom College and has toured extensively with Great Britain and Scotland. He has competed in the last four Commonwealth Games, made 43 ‘Big 5’ appearances including two Palma teams and two record breaking Kolapore teams. Individually, Shaw has won the Ballinger Belt and Grand Aggregate in New Zealand, the British Open Target Rifle Championship at Bisley and a few other competitions over the years. Meanwhile, shooting commenced on Sunday last for the local marksmen at the Timehri Rifle Ranges with the main aim of attaining physical and mental preparedness for this year’s shooting schedule. GNRA Secretary Ryan Sampson disclosed that the process involved trying to ascertain each shooter’s elevation at the 300, 500 and
600 yards ranges. Conditions were described as overcast for most of the day following a brief shower of rain that caught the first detail of shooters on the bank. Prior to the commencement of shooting, one minute’s silence was observed in memory fromer shooter, the late Charles ‘Swanka’ Dean who passed away November last following a brief period of illness. Dean’s death shocked the fullbore community not only in Guyana but throughout the Caribbean where he touched many with his affable personality. It was recalled that Dean was always the first to arrive at the ranges. GNRA members are asked to note that the Annual General Meeting is set for January 27 at the Police Officers Mess commencing at 18:30hrs.
Serena should surpass 20 grand slam titles: Navratilova Reuters - World number one Serena Williams shows no sign of slowing down with age and should win more than 20 grand slam singles titles, former great Martina Navratilova has said. The 57-year-old Navratilova who won 18 grand slam singles titles, and 41 in women’s and mixed doubles, is also confident the 32-year-old Williams will equal her singles haul at the Australian Open, which begins next week in Melbourne. “If she can stay healthy there is no doubt she can go into the 20s, the sky is the limit,” Navratilova told reporters in Adelaide where she played in the World Tennis Challenge exhibition yesterday. “I know how hard it is once you get to 30, all those little niggling injuries get worse and it’s much easier to have an off day. “But still, she is in her 30s ... she is eager and winning is very contagious - once you get really used to it, you don’t want to let go of it.” Australia’s Margaret Court holds the overall record of 24 grand slam singles titles, while Germany’s Steffi Graf won 22 titles in the Open era. Williams is widely considered the best player of her generation and has been virtually unchallenged in the modern era, with her powerful
Serena Williams
game proving difficult to defuse for many counterparts on the WTA tour. The American, however, has also been hampered by a number of serious injuries, including a knee injury in 2010 and cut foot that forced her to miss almost a year on the tennis circuit in 2010-2011. Paradoxically it was those injury-enforced layoffs that could be helpful in prolonging her career, Navratilova suggested. “At age 30, she had played about half the tournaments than I had played at 30, so she is fresh in tennis terms,” she said. “She seems to be playing her best tennis right now.” Former world number one Tracy Austin echoed Navratilova’s sentiments and said she felt Williams, who beat rivals Maria Sharapova
and Victoria Azarenka to win last week’s Brisbane International, was being motivated by the record books. Williams poignantly saluted compatriot Billie Jean King when she won her fifth, and latest, Australian Open title in 2010 to join King on 12 grand slam titles saying at the time that she had told King ‘I tied you’ after her victory over Justine Henin. “I love the fact that she’s 32 years old and still seems to be as hungry, if not hungrier, than she has ever been,” Austin said. “At 32, and realizing that she is towards possibly the end of her career, she is now playing for history. “Serena likes to be the best at everything and I think she wants to be the greatest player of all time on the women’s side.”
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Leave family in peace, Man United suffer third straight loss Schumacher’s wife tells media Reuters - Michael Schumacher’s wife appealed to the media yesterday to leave the French hospital they have staked out since the German was critically injured in a skiing accident nine days ago and to let the doctors do their job. Corinna Schumacher also asked the media to leave her family in peace after German reports said on Monday there had been a slight improvement in the former driver’s condition, hours after Grenoble hospital had issued a bulletin saying he was still stable but critical. “Please support us in our joint struggle with Michael,” Corinna said in a statement. “It is important to me that you relieve the doctors and the hospital so they can work in peace. “Please trust their statements and leave the hospital. Please also leave our family in peace.” They were Corinna’s first public comments since a December 30 statement in which she thanked the medical team for their efforts and expressed gratitude to fans around the world for their outpouring of support. Schumacher, a seventimes Formula One world champion, suffered brain injuries when his head hit a rock in France on December 27. He has been in an induced coma since then and has undergone two operations in Grenoble. The hospital and the German’s management have repeatedly asked the media to respect his privacy. The medical team have held news conferences and issued periodic bulletins on his condition including one on Monday that said: “The clinical state of Michael Schumacher is stable as he’s under permanent care and treatment. “However, the medical team in charge stresses that
Corinna Schumacher (L), wife of former Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher, and Professor Gerard Saillant (R), president of the Institute for Brain and Spinal Cord Disorders (ICM) it continues to assess his situation as critical.” BILD REPORT Bild, Germany’s bestselling newspaper, reported on Tuesday under the headline ‘First hopes for Schumi’ that the former driver nearly died twice last week. It added that doctors were now more optimistic he would survive. “Twice in the last week it looked like Schumi would lose the fight for his life,” Bild wrote. “The brain scan on Friday was ‘catastrophic’, Bild has learned fro m m e d i c a l sources. But after the readings stabilized towards the weekend the doctors are now confident he will make it.” Last week Schumacher’s agent Sabine Kehm urged journalists to stay away after security
guards said they intercepted a reporter disguised as a priest who was trying to get into his room. Schumacher, who turned 45 on Friday, is the most successful Formula One driver of all time with 91 race victories. He left the sport last year after a disappointing threeyear comeback with Mercedes following an earlier retirement from Ferrari at the end of 2006. French newspaper Le Dauphine Libere reported on Tuesday that the camera Schumacher had on his skiing helmet was recording when he crashed. The n e w s p a p e r s a i d investigators had footage that will be useful to understand the circumstances of the accident. The prosecutor in Annecy is due to hold a news conference today.
Williams, Joseph Memorial dominoes set to commence shortly - locals preparing for WCD tourney The Annual Robert Williams Memorial Dominoes competition is set to start this month end as local players commence their preparation for the World Council Dominoes (WCD) tournament which will be contested in Barbados in August. The winning team will take home a trophy and $200,000, the runner up
$75,000 and third place $45,000. Entrance fee is $6,000 with competition set to be run using the two in one out basis at Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt. President of the Georgetown Dominoes Association Faye Joseph told Kaieteur Sport that teams from Berbice, Linden, Wakenaam, Bartica and Essequibo Coast are expected to battle with their
Georgetown counterparts. This will be followed by the Orin Joseph Memorial tournament which will start in February and the president informed that it will be played nationwide. Meanwhile, Joseph is of the view that Guyana can go all the way in the WCD tournament. “Guyana won King and Queen in past tournaments, we have some capable players and I am confident that we can be victorious”, she added.
Fabio Borini celebrates after scoring the decisive penalty for Sunderland in the second half Manchester United lost a third game in a row for the first time since 2001 as Sunderland took a one-goal lead into the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg. Fabio Borini’s second-half penalty, after Tom Cleverley was controversially penalised for a challenge on Adam Johnson, was the decisive goal. Ryan Giggs’ own goal in first-half injury time had put Sunderland ahead. Nemanja Vidic levelled with a towering header soon after the restart. But Sunderland earned their first win over United since 2000, a run of 21 matches, when Liverpool loanee Borini kept his calm from the penalty spot after substitute Johnson went down under Cleverley’s challenge. United were furious with
the decision but Cleverley’s attempt to win the ball looked rash as Johnson cut across him, leaving United chasing the game ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford on January 22. The defeat deepens the woes of Manager David Moyes after United’s FA Cup hopes were ended by Swansea on Sunday, while the title appears to be disappearing out of sight with leaders Arsenal 11 points clear. United have won the League Cup three times in the past decade, in 2006, 2009 and 2010, but a premature exit this time around would leave them relying almost solely on the Champions League to rescue their campaign. Sunderland’s own cup form provides a welcome distraction to their perilous Premier League situation. Gus
Poyet’s men are bottom of the table but went into the tie looking for a sixth straight home win in knockout competitions this season. The hosts’ backline had a few familiar faces for United fans with Wes Brown and John O’Shea, who both made more than 300 appearances for the visitors, in the centre of defence and another former Red, Phil Bardsley, at rightback. And they looked relatively untroubled until, out of the blue, Giggs saw a 20-yard shot cannon of the crossbar via a slight deflection after a driving run from the 40-year-old through midfield. Adnan Januzaj, at 18 less than half the age of Giggs, scored both goals on his full debut in a 2-1 win at Sunderland in October. (BBCsport)
McLaren to present 2014 car online Reuters - McLaren will show off their 2014 Formula One car, the MP4-29, in an online-only digital launch on January 24, the team said yesterday. The decision follows a recent trend in the sport of virtual launches, partly to cut costs but also to minimize disruption at a time when all the factory is working flat out to be ready for the new season. This year sees major rule changes, with a new V6 turbocharged engine and energy recovery systems replacing the old V8, and teams have considerable technical challenges to overcome. The first of three preseason tests will start in Jerez, southern Spain, on January
The McLaren P1 car is pictured during the second media day of the 83rd Geneva Car Show 28 with the first race in Australia on March 16. McLaren marked the 50th anniversary of their founding by New Zealander Bruce McLaren last year but had little else to celebrate. The Woking-based team went through the entire championship without a single podium finish, their
worst performance since 1980. Since then, Mexican Sergio Perez has left and been replaced alongside 2009 world champion Jenson Button by 21-year-old Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen. McLaren are also due to announce a new title sponsor in place of mobile phone company Vodafone.
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Rage, Outsiders are latest winners Cuffy 250 Dominoes Rage and Outsiders have booked their places in the playoffs of the Cuffy 250 Dominoes tournament after recording victories in their respective preliminary round fixtures on Monday night at Dynasty Sports Bar. Rage chalked up 79 games to finish ahead of Specialist with 72 and R & R on 65. Mark
Welch marked 17 games for the winners while skipper Cargeil De Freitas supported with 16. Andrew Mendonca scored 17 and Paul Lewis 15 for Specialist while Orin Favorite made 17 for R & R. New York based Outsiders with 65 games got the better of Pacesetters who scored 63 and C 7 with 46. George Abrams and Valerie Fortune were Outsiders leading players with 17 and 15 games respectively; Colin Thomas made 16 for
Pacesetters and Clavis Whitehead 17 for C 7. The playoffs will commence on January 10 while the final will be played the following day at Channel Nine compound. Trophies for the tournament are being donated by the President o f the United States Dominoes Federation George Abrams. The wining team will take home a trophy and $150,000, the runner up $75,000 and third place $35,000.
2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals Schedule Set - Eight teams will battle for a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014
MIAMI – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced today the schedule for the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. The action will kick off with a Central American showdown on Monday, March 10, as Costa Rica’s Alajuelense will host Arabe Unido of Panama at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto Scotiabank. The San Jose Earthquakes will host the first leg of its series against Toluca from Mexico on Tuesday, March 11 at Buck Shaw Stadium. The first leg of the quarterfinal matches concludes on Wednesday, March 12, with two Mexican teams traveling to the United States. Sporting Park will be the venue for the Sporting Kansas City-Cruz Azul encounter. Later that evening,
Club Tijuana will meet the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center. “The newly released knockout-round schedule for this edition of the CONCACAF Champions League highlights the exciting matchups we can expect in the upcoming quarterfinals and beyond,” said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb. “We know that the atmosphere in all the venues will be intense as these eight fine teams seek to take another step towards becoming the top club in CONCACAF and representing the Confederation at the FIFA Club World Cup later this year.” Second-leg action begins on Tuesday, March 18, at the Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico, with Tijuana and the LA Galaxy looking for a spot in the semifinals. On Wednesday, March 19, Toluca will face the San Jose Earthquakes in Toluca,
followed by Cruz Azul taking on Sporting Kansas City in Mexico City. Quarterfinal play concludes on Thursday, March 20, when Arabe Unido welcomes Alajuelense to Panama City. The first and second legs of the semifinals will be played from April 1-3 and April 8-10, respectively. The semifinal pairings will pit the winner of Toluca-San Jose Earthquakes against the winner of Arabe UnidoAlajuelense, while the Cruz Azul-Sporting KC winner will play the side that emerges from the Club Tijuana-LA Galaxy match-up. The semifinal winners will meet in the two-leg CONCACAF Champion League Final, which will be played April 15-17 and April 22-24. The winner of the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League will earn a berth to the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014.
Wednesday January 08, 2014
Former national athlete turn businessman to contest for GABF Presidency Nigel Hinds believes he can change the fortunes of the sport Guyana was once a formidable force in the sport of basketball and well respected throughout the Caribbean. But for some reason (s) the sport which, in its glory days attracted hundreds of fans at the Mecca, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) has constantly been on a downward spiral. But as the saying goes, “Behind every dark cloud there’s a silver lining”. Well, former national basketball and hockey player Nigel Hinds who is now Managing Partner of Nigel Hinds Financial Services believes that he has what it takes to lift the sport and return to the glory days. The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) is set to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday January 11 at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Headquarters, High Street where a new president will be voted in. Current President David Patterson MP will not be seeking re-election and according to reports, President of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball association (GABA) Michael Singh is the other likely candidate for the GABF top spot. In his quest to win the presidency, Hinds, who represented Guyana at hockey from 1984 – 1991 and basketball from 1985 – 1992, has come up with a business plan which is being presented to the affiliates of the GABF in order to garner their support. The former Guyana Hockey Board Secretary (GHB), who is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and former, Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA), is of the view that basketball in Guyana has not kept pace with the growth of the sport in the other CARICOM nations positing that the lack of growth needs the collective planning and implementation by the federation’s executive. Quoting United States President Barack Obama who said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We a r e t h e o n e s w e ’ v e been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”, H i n d s notes that his candidacy for GAPF president is to say, “We can make the changes needed to uplift the sport of basketball in Guyana.”
Nigel Hinds
Using the slogan, “Determination and dedication accompanied by action”, Hinds believes that the keys to success are teamwork, planning and budgeting and regular communication and meetings within and between the executive of the federation, General Council, Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and the international organizations that the GABF is affiliated to. Among his key objectives are: adhering to the constitution of the federation and where necessary, amend with a view to strengthening the administration and development of the sport: work diligently and extensively for the growth and development of the sport with the sub-association across the ten regions whilst assisting with funding and administrative improvement; set up a mechanism to allocate funds to the members of the federation in a fair manner; maintain and strengthen the federations relationship with Federation International Basketball (FIBA), Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA). Hinds’ Action Plan also includes working with the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport to ensure adequate access to the CASH; participation of the men’s and women’s teams at the CBC championship, July 1-12 in the BVI; roofing of the Burnham Court, Middle street and Mackenzie Sports Club
Hard Courts for conversion to all-weather facilities with adequate lighting; rehabilitation of the Vrymen’s Erven Basketball Court with adequate lighting and eventual roofing; improvement of basketball facilities on the East Coast, Georgetown, East Bank, West Demerara, Essequibo, Bartica, Linden, West and East Berbice; employment of counselors to work with the sub-associations towards strengthening their constitutions bringing it in line with the federation and FIBA; maintain political and religious neutrality; zero tolerance for any form of discrimination; ensure audited financial statements are presented by members of the federation within one month of the AGM along with a list of serving officers. Hinds also said he will be working closely with the ministries of Education and Sports to promote schools basketball. Tapping into the overseas fraternity with a view to getting assistance with funding for developmental projects and exposure for local players is also on the cards. Encouraging and supporting masters and veterans in the sport and the Guyana Basketball Officials Council, Referees and Table Officials are also part of the Action Plan. Hinds, who is currently Treasurer of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) says he will not be seeking re-election this year.
Wednesday January 08, 2014
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BCB enjoyed successful year The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has described 2013 as a highly successful one during which the board was able to organise cricket at all levels and also completed over 60 off the field programmes/activities in its ongoing effort to develop Berbice Cricket. Public Relations Officer of the BCB and Chairman of its Special Events Committee Hilbert Foster stated that despite not been able to fulfill all of its goals due to the rainy season and the nonfunctioning of the Special Events Committee for six months due to his ill health, the Board was proud of its numerous achievements on and off the cricket field. The BCB in the early part of 2013 was able to complete the 2012 edition of the Tenelec Inc 50-Overs tournament which was won by Albion Community Centre, the Neal & Massy Intermediate won by Rose Hall Town Pepsi, the Elizabeth Styles Under-19 Tournament which saw Albion Community Centre emerging as winners and the Carib Beer 20/20 First Division Tournament which was also won by Albion At the Inter-zone Second Division level Young Warriors defeated Tucber Park for the 2013 Bobcat of Guyana trophy that was played for teams in New Amsterdam/Canje area while D’Edward won the West Berbice version to take home the Norman Singh Memorial Trophy. Courtland All Stars defeated Albion to win the Raffik Construction Trophy for Second Division teams in the Lower Corentyne area. This was their first ever cricket title. A two day match was also played in West Berbice for the Jumbo Jet Trophy. At the youth Inter-zone level, Lower Corentyne defeated New Amsterdam/ Canje to clinch the National Communication Network Under-15 Tournament while at the Under-17 level they also won the Republic Bank title defeating the same opponents in the final. The Diamond Fire & General Insurance Under-19 Inter-zone final is still to be completed due to the rainy season and will be contested between Lower Corentyne and New Amsterdam/Canje. Albion defeated Young Warriors Universal DVD to lift the 2013 Berbice River Bridge 50-Overs Trophy after Jonathan Foo and Sewnarine Chattergoon blasted centuries in the final. A
- unveils programmes for Diamond Jubilee
Players that attened the cricket Accedemy at Bush Lot ground, West Berbice brilliant all-round performance from Test player Assad Fudadin piloted Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets to the Namilco/Bakewell 20/ 20 title over Albion while Bermine got pass West Berbice to take home the Universal DVD 20/20 trophy and their first division one title since Nolan McKenzie’s century led them to championship honours at Albion in 1991. The 2013 New Building Society 40-Overs tournament which attracted over 120 teams would be completed shortly with the finals to be contested between Young Warriors and No. 71. Albion and Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes will contest the 2013 Tenelec Inc Under-15 tournament final early this week while the 2013 Tenelec Inc Under-17 is currently at the quarterfinal stage. The 2013 Hand-in-Hand Second Division Tournament for teams in West Berbice has started but has been suspended due to the weather. At the Inter-county level, Berbice won the senior fourday tournament after crushing Demerara inside three days to register their first outright win against them since 2009. The following Berbice players played for Guyana during 2013 - Under-15: Adrian Sukhwa, Matthew Hardyal, Sylus Tyndall. Under-17: - Brandon Prashad, Daniel Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Parmanand Ramdhan and Grisean Grant. Under-19: - Shawn Pereira, Shimron Hetmyer, Askay Homraj and Romario Shepherd. At the Female level Phaffiana Millington,
Steffi Rodney and S. Ghannie and Erica Lashley represent Guyana at the Under-19 level while Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Subrina Munroe, Melanie Henry, Trishanie Cort, Phaffiana Millington and Tremayne Smartt for the senior female team. Assad Fudadin, Devendra Bishoo, Narsingh Deonarine and Veerasammy Permaul played for the West Indies “A” team while Permaul and Deonarine represented the West Indies at the ODI and Test levels. Gudakesh Motie and Shimron Hetmyer also represented the West Indies at the Under-19 level. The trio of Subrina Munroe, Shemaine Campbelle and Tremayne Smartt were also senior members of the West Indies Female ODI and 20/20 teams. The Board was also able to host numerous programmes during the period of January to June and that included the Berbice Educational Trust Fund, Annual Awards Ceremony, launch its Annual Review Magazine, Scotia Bank Annual Cricket Academy, Junior Elite Training Programme, Tribute to Heroes, Tribute to Retired Cricketers, Tribute to Coaches, Senior Elite Training Programme, Television programmes, Essay and Posters Competitions, Guyoil countywide coaching sessions, the unveiling of the Carib Beer Billboard of Berbice Test Players and several coaching clinics for Batsmen, Bowlers and Wicketkeepers. The Berbice Cricket Board also made several donations
of items to seventeen cricket teams and also made donations to numerous NGOs in Berbice while school bags and educational materials were also distributed to the less fortunate cricketers who are attending school. With the Special Events Committee being reformed in early December, the BCB also assisted the Berbice Cricket Umpires Association with Christmas hampers and donated toys to Children homes and visited the New Amsterdam hospital Children Ward to share toys. The Board, Foster stated is grateful to all of its sponsors for their continued confidence in the Board and for investing on Berbice Cricket. Special thanks were expressed to sponsors of tournaments and major programmes. The sponsors included the Office of the President, NCN, Tenelec Inc, Memorex (Amerally Sawmill), Ansa McAl, Universal DVD, Handin-Hand Group of Companies, GT&T, Feroze Barakat, Diamond Fire & General Insurance, Republic Bank, New GPC Inc, Ricks & Sari Ltd, Raffik Construction, Bobcat of Guyana, Elizabeth Styles, Guyoil, Neal & Massy, Norman Singh Memorial, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, New Building Society, Bissan’s Trading, Berbice River Bridge, Namilco and Bakewell. Meanwhile, the BCB, which was founded in 1939, will celebrate its 75th Anniversary (Diamond Jubilee) during this year and a special Committee headed by Hilbert Foster and Anil Beharry has been established
to plan for the occasion. The Committee has already started plans for the year-long celebrations. Among the plans disclosed so far is a n I n t e r - f a i t h Prayer session, anti-drugs cricketer ’s march, a 40page full coloured 75th Anniversary Magazine, television programmes, Essay and Quiz Competitions, launching of a Hall of Fame for Administrators, a Musical Evening with the Guyana Police Band, Special cricket match between Berbice and Georgetown, sharing out of 75 food hampers for senior citizens and a Cocktail
Reception. Plans are also on stream for a cricket discussion featuring West Indies great Clive Lloyd, Basil Butcher and another Test player and the printing of 75th Anniversary Souvenirs. The BCB intends to make the anniversary celebration an outstanding success especially the month of September and is encouraging all former test players, national players and former Administrators of Berbice Cricket who reside overseas to plan their next vacation during the month of September 2014 so that they can be part of the historic Diamond Jubilee.
Little DIVA Flames recommence training After a training break for the Christmas Holidays, the Little DIVA Flames Female Football Club will recommence training on Saturday 11th January 2014 at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground commencing at 06:30 hrs. The team was founded on 15th September 2013 and has a membership of 28 persons. The main objective of the formation of the club was/is to create a safe and friendly environment for young females who are interested in football and to harness their skills and develop them in becoming better players with the aim of representing Guyana in the future. Their first activity will be on Sunday 26th January 2014 when the team will be engaged in a friendly game
against the Monedderlust Football Club at the opening of the Clubs’ 2014 Football Season in #5 Village, West Coast Berbice. Also slated for early March is a proposed Uder19 tournament involving Berbice, Linden, Buxton, West Demerara, Eagles FC of Georgetown, Monedderlust FC and Little DIVA Flames FC. The participation of Bartica, Lethem and Kamarang is also being considered. Plans are also on stream to take the team to Lethem during the Easter period to participate in an Annual Football Tournament held during the Rodeo. The Club has already been invited and has accepted the invitation in principle.
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Wednesday January 08, 2014
Chanderpaul’s X1 beat Barnwell’s Busy year for Basketball in 2013 X1 in first practice match - Sport poised to take off
In sweltering heat at the Everest ground Shiv Chanderpaul’s X1 beat Chris Barnwell’s X1 by six wickets in the first practice match for the National cricket team which is preparing for this year ’s Regional Super50 tournament slated for Trinidad & Tobago. Barnwell led from the front with an attractive 54 but got no batting support as his team was restricted to 149-8 when their 45 overs expired on a track with variable bounce and a very heavy outfield. Off-spinner Royston Crandon took 3-28 from nine overs for Chanderpaul’s X1 who responded with 150-4 in 41.3 overs, Leon Johnson spearheaded the run chase with an elegant unbeaten 58. The 27 year-old Barnwell, with two half-centuries from 17 List ‘A’ matches to his name accelerated from a pedestrian-paced run scoring
by the top order and his halfcentury was decorated with four fours and three sixes. But only opener Robin Bacchus of the other batsmen reached double figures with 16 although Extras made a healthy 27. Barnwell, who played six T20 Internationals for the West Indies shared in useful partnerships with Vishal Singh with whom he added 43 for the seventh wicket and Chanderpaul Hemraj with whom he put together 32 for the fifth. This was after Trevon Griffith, who was run out for one, Tagenarine Chanderpaul (6), Bacchus and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who pulled an innocuous short ball from Crandon to deep mid-wicket, all fell cheaply. Barnwell then tried to repair the damage with his robust innings but a total of less than 150 was always
going to be difficult defending even on a ground which made scoring boundaries a struggle. But the 26-year-old Johnson who has a halfcentury in his three ODIs, played an array of elegant shots in a slight drizzle, hitting two fours and a six, adding 60 with Crandon (25) for the third wicket before Crandon departed. Test left-hander Assad Fudadin also chipped in with 24 before Skipper Chanderpaul was soon caught and bowled by leftarm spinner Hemraj (2-35) for six as Chanderpaul’s X1 slipped to 119-4. But the stylish Johnson ensured his team reached their target with 3.3 overs to be bowled. Guyana who play their opening game against 2015 World Cup Qualifiers Ireland on January 31, play their next practice game at the same venue. (Sean Devers)
Lionel Messi cleared to play after 2 months out BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Lionel Messi is set to return from a two-month injury layoff after being cleared by Barcelona team doctors and included in the squad for the Copa del Rey match against Getafe today. Messi hasn’t played since tearing his left hamstring on November 10, his fourth leg injury last year. He returned to training with Barcelona last week after recovering in Argentina. Barcelona Coach Gerardo Martino said Tuesday that Messi ‘’feels fine’’ but didn’t reveal if the club’s all-time leading scorer will start or stay on the bench. ‘’Messi rehabbed well and has trained like the rest
of the team,’’ Martino said. ‘’Maybe he lacks some playing time, but with Leo I don’t think that will be a problem. ‘’Messi gives us all a boost of confidence. With him at our side, we all feel more secure.’’ Martino said that if Messi plays he hopes he can repeat his remarkable goal against Getafe in 2007, when he dribbled from his own half, slaloming by a series of defenders, to net arguably his greatest goal. Barcelona lost its only two games of the season without Messi, but it has managed to hold onto a share of the Spanish league lead with Atletico Madrid. Barcelona hosts Getafe in the
first leg of the round of 16 before traveling to Atletico on Saturday in one of the most highly anticipated league matches of the season. In M e s s i ’s a b s e n c e , Pedro Rodriguez, Neymar and, most recently, Alexis Sanchez have picked up t h e s coring slack. Pedro leads the team with 15 goals in all competitions this season, one more than Messi. Martino left Xavi Hernandez, Dani Alves and Marc Bartra off his squad for the Getafe match. He also confirmed that backup goalkeeper Jose Pinto will continue to start in the Copa del Rey, as he had under prior coaches Pep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova.
Michael Singh
Michael Burnett
Basketball in its two main playing communities, Georgetown and Linden received the right fillip early last year when two young enthusiasts, Michael Singh and Haslyn Graham were elected to head the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) and Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) respectively. The two infused their youthfulness into both associations and brought to life some years of what can be called unnecessary dormancy; last year was an active year for both the GABA and LABA thanks to new, young and innovative administrations. Following their respective election and with two young officials now at the helm of basketball in Linden and Georgetown, the two most active sub-associations mulled early collaborative efforts that will continue to aid in development of the sport, and the establishment of mutually beneficial relationships. Singh invited Graham to participate in a planned 3-on3 Basketball Fun Day early in February as a means of exchange. It was the first sign of a three other exchange programmes between the two sub-associations and the activation of work for Singh and Graham. While Linden did not acquiescent to the Basketball Fun Day, which eventually included teams in Georgetown alone, as a means of bringing together clubs after a long divide within the previous administration, they agreed to a March 2 showdown against Georgetown select team at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The Linden vs Georgetown clash was impressively launched at the New Palm Court, which also served to launch an extensive GABA Division I and III League. Georgetown won the rivalry that took place at the
Sports Hall while Trinity Grid Holdings (TGH) Pacesetters gifted Coach Bobby Cadogan with both Leagues before his migration to the United States. March was not without its lows however, as it was the first sign of an ensuing battle between the national forward, Dwayne Roberts and the LABA over a six-year ban he received for throwing a ball during a game that injured a referee. Roberts had first appealed the decision in March, but it took months before an amicable decision finally came late year. The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) had reinstated Roberts to full playing rights late in 2013 after the intervention of GABF General Secretary, Michael Burnett. The LABA was unhappy with the decision and refused to uphold the GAPF ruling, which resulted in them being temporarily banned – a matter that was later resolved as well. The Sugar Roberts saga, however, in no way affected the programmes of the LABA, which had in August launched its Secondary Schools Basketball Championships. The competition followed Youth Basketball Guyana’s (YBG) National Schools’ Basketball Festival, which was played the month before in Georgetown at the Sports Hall. Marian Academy won its first Schools’ Under-20 national title while Kwakwani won the Under-17 title. However, Kwakwani returned later in the year at the YBG Titan Bowl to exact complete revenge on any team that dared to challenge them. The wins among the eight elite schools teams in the country further underscored Coach, Ann Gordon’s legacy. Following the completion of the GABA Leagues, the Georgetown sub-association hosted a four-team playoff among the top four teams from both Leagues. Colts won
Haslyn Graham the playoff title after they had beaten Ravens in the Final. It was the first real test of Colts’ ascendancy in Georgetown after Singh took over the club from the late Phillip George. Basketball continued it proliferation in Georgetown when Pacesetters continued the annual Inter-Ward Basketball Championships; Albouystown successfully defended its title for the community based competition that was aimed at reinvigorating grassroots support. In October, the GABA hosted Suriname’s Yellowbirds in an exchange programme to play Pepsi Sonics and Colts. The six-man Surinamese team defeated Sonics and received a beating against a surging Colts that had rescued the host country from embarrassment. In the Mining Town of Linden, also in October, the LABA continued its Season with the Trophy Stallsponsored regulation tournament where Kings defeated Jets in the final. The LABA hosted the Brusche’s Classic a month later that Georgetown’s Ravens won. LABA also started the Sunburst sponsored School’s Under-17 competition which is scheduled to be completed this month. Meanwhile, the GABF facilitated an International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Level II Clinic for Coaches in October, which saw a less than impressive turnout of a list of 40-plus local Level I Coaches to upgrade to the next level. The GABA closed the year with the annual Phillip George Memorial tournament, which resulted in another win for Ravens. All-in-all, it was a busy year for Basketball in two main communities. The mega crowd and fan support was visibly absent last year despite a busy year for the sport; it suggests that the sport is poised to take off following grassroots work last year. (Edison Jefford)
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 08, 2014
Endurance Meet to start off 2014 for GMR&SC
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Despite a few hiccups, Berbice Volleyball Association had a progressive year in 2013
Champions of the respective categories pose with their trophies at the last Meet.
Gregory Rambarran
Fresh off conducting its Annual General Meeting, the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) will get its 2014 calendar of events rolling on Sunday with the staging of an Endurance Race Meet, at South Dokota Circuit, commencing from 12.00 hrs. Brian Ten-Pow and Shawn Seejattan, a pair that has dominated the Endurance races for sometime are anticipated to receive stiff opposition from the likes Syed Hassan and
Afraz Ally, Shiraz and Shahab Roshandin, while the Ali brothers, Mark Vieira, Bethune, Anand Ramchand, Kevin Jeffrey, Andrew King and Adrian Fernandes are all experienced and formidable drivers. The teams confirmed so far to participate in this weekend’s Meet include: Full Works, Buy Me Auto Sales and E Racing and they’ve all vowed to give the fans an exciting display of endurance, dexterity and
reliability.Endurance racing has been steadily growing in popularity and an official close to the fraternity stated that the amount of teams to have participated last year increased and has shown an upward trend in terms of competitors’ participation. Among the sponsors on board to dater are: Banks DIH, Ready Mix Cement, Medi Car, Secure Innovations & Concepts, B.M. Soat, Ray’s Auto Sales and A & R Giwanram Printery Inc.
Christopher Barnwell looking to add ton to 5-wicket hauls at Regional first class level DCC All Rounder Christopher Barnwell Jr. will want to enhance his growing reputation as an allrounder by adding a Regional first class century to his two five wicket hauls at the Regional first class level. The West Indies T20 specialist is on a Mission to join compatriots the late Charlie Stayers, Winston English, Garfield Charles and William White; the above mention are Guyanese seamers with Regional first class centuries. Stayers and Charles also distinguished themselves with 5-wicket hauls at the Regional first class level with Charles’ best being 7 for 105 versus the Windward
Christopher Barnwell
Islands at Arnos Vale in St. Vincent 1985. \The million dollar question cricket fans is asking; is Barnwell capable of joining the honourable list mentioned
above, only time will tell if the pugnacious all rounder will be inspired by club mate William White’s 104 against Jamaica at Sabina Park in 1984. (Charwayne Walker)
By Samuel Whyte The Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) had a good year in 2013, and this is despite several constraints and challenges, the main humbug being the unpredictable weather. Despite the few setbacks the association whose motto is ”Committed to developing and promoting Volleyball in Berbice” was able to successfully complete seventy percent (70%) of its planned programme of activities. Their main spur was in response to the call made by the President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) Lenny Shuffler, to promote the development of the game through activity. A look at the year of activities will show that- in January the year began in earnest with the hosting of Annual General Meeting (AGM) of The Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) which was held at the Albion Sports Complex. In February the BVA held an Inter Secondary School Mashramani Volleyball Competition for Schools in the N/A-Canje, Lower Corentyne Area at the BHS Court. Also in February the New Amsterdam Rotary Club’s Fun Day Volleyball Competition was held at the Rose Hall Estate Community Centre. In March an open competition sponsored by Kris Jagdeo Construction was held at the Albion Community Centre. In April the Tropical Rhythms/Ansa McAl, 2 verses 2 Beach Volleyball Competition was played at the No63 Beach. While a “B” class competition for teams in Berbice was also held in the same month at the Eaglets Volleyball Court in Reliance,
Beach volleyball is being encouraged for individual development among players. East Canje. June month saw the playing off of the annual Trophy Stall Open Competition at the PMTC Court. In August, President Donald Ramotar was in attendance for the annual Rick Sakawat Memorial Vo l l e y b a l l T r o p h y Competition, which was played at the PMTC Court. The first Mini-Volleyball Festival for Primary and Secondary Schools in the Lower Corentyne Area was held in September at the Area H ground. October was the month for the playing off of the Dalip Budhram Memorial Competition at the PMTC Court. Two competitions were held in November - The first, Rollers Old Boys Lien Trophy Competition at the Skeldon Community Centre, followed by the Shamshad Bagan Chattergoon Memorial Trophy Competition at the PMTC Court. The year ended with the successful staging of the Third annual Balram Shane Memorial Competition at the Albion Sports Complex Court. Apart from the above mentioned activities. Participation was also seen in a number of associated activities including: - The GVF President’s Birthday Volleyball Festival held at
the National Gymnasium in February. The Dorsett Family Fun Day Volleyball Competition held at the No53 Sports Complex Corentyne in March. The Calypso Hut Volleyball Competition held at Friendship, Corentyne in April. The Grassroots Beach Volleyball Coaching Course, organized by the GVF in collaboration with the CSV and FIVB in June at Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown. September saw the participation of the Red Bull B e a c h Vo l l e y b a l l Tournament held in Torarica, Paramaribo in Suriname, while in November participation was at the International Invitational Volleyball Festival hosted by the GVF at the National Gymnasium in Georgetown. The association also received assistance during the year including Tachikara antennas, Mikasa Beach Volleyballs and Nets, Mikasa MVA 330 Balls and Mikasa Kids balls. The association also donated Mikasa volleyballs, FIVB Development nets, awards and other materials to several organizations and individuals including volunteers, schools, clubs including some new ones, the Moruca Primary School of Region one. Former national captain Levi Nedd (Continued on page 29)
t r o Sp
Chanderpaul’s X1 beat Barnwell’s X1 in first practice match Brandon Chanderpaul watches from the non striker's end as his father intercepts a ball from mid-on yesterday at Everest
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Rage, Outsiders are latest winners Cuffy 250 Dominoes Rage skipper Cargeil De Freitas in action
Great Britain Shooting Coach Ian Shaw arrives for two week stint P.30 - local marksmen commence training Ian Shaw
Ronaldo gets 400th goal in Real win P.30
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Cristiano Ronaldo
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