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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
NO MORE PRETENCE
By now, everyone is well aware that life in Guyana will only be different in 2016 than it was in 2015 if the government acts swiftly, condignly and makes meaningful changes. If, for instance, the government does not get off its high end and deal with the crumbling economy, there will not be a better life for all as promised. Those who are dependent on the government to give them something or to effect some change in their personal circumstances will certainly be disappointed. There will be no cloud with a silver lining; it is likely that life will continue to be difficult and harsh for the masses this year. Hopefully, many will realize that what they make of life is largely their own responsibility. Others who were successful in the past, will more than likely continue to be in the future, despite the potential obstacles. Those who have mastered the art of how to succeed in life will survive. More importantly, those who think and act in the interest of the national good will affect the greatest change for all in the country. The fact that GuySuCo depends on government subsidies to keep it afloat, and with falling commodity prices, most can expect a bumpy ride in 2016. No one in the government (probably in the entire world) can honestly say that they know how to fix GuySuCo, neither can they deny that there is internal wrangling and tensions in the administration over policy making. It is not clear who speaks for the government, whether it is the Prime Minister or a certain Minister. This is not only disconcerting, but has become somewhat of an embarrassment. Today, much of the primary focus has shifted from the PPP failures and corrupt practices to questions about the forensic audits’ reports and if the government will properly and lawfully execute them. Too many Ministers are incapable of defending their portfolios in Parliament in that, they have allowed the leader of the opposition and his Chief Whip to overshadow them. The creation of certain fringe Ministries and the appointment of 32 Ministerial Advisers in the diaspora are totally ridiculous. And last but not least, Guyana is too small both in size and population and too poor to have 27 ministers compared to Canada with a population of 36 million people and 3.8 million square miles, but only 30 ministers. The time has come for the government to rethink some of its strategies and develop policies that would lead to sustainable economic and human growth. May 2016 will be one year since it has assumed office, and as a milestone, it represents a period in which the administration will have to accept responsibility for all the ills of the country. It cannot ignore the ongoing concerns about rampant crime, joblessness and the problems facing the youths, nor can it continue to blame the PPP administration for them. It should not assume that the public acquiescence of its victory is tantamount to change. Eight months after the elections, the future of the economy and the country as a whole remain unknown. There are large swathes of a disappointed public, mostly supporters of the AFC, whose patience have grown thin and have vocalized their anger against their leaders who have abandoned them. The Government is also aware of the growing restiveness among the youths, which may rear its ugly head in some form, as life continues to get harder. At some point, the government has to realize that its appointment of mostly pensioners and former military personnel to state boards and government departments is illadvised and could result in a loss of support, particularly among the progressive youths. The coalition government can no longer pretend that it cares about the well-being of the youths. Nothing will change in the new year and beyond unless the economy improves and jobs are made available to the people. There can be no more pretence.
Friday January 08, 2016
Letters... Where your views make the news
Sugar’s future is bleak, privatize Guysuco DEAR EDITOR, In a KN article of Jan 5, it was reported that Bharrat Jagdeo, former President of Guyana and now leader of the opposition has warned that his Party (PPP) will oppose any move to privatize the sugar industry (GuySuCo). An APNU+AFC Commission of Inquiry (CoI) has reported on the future development of GuySuCo and its contents have been laid in Parliament for consideration and deliberation. There are grave doubts given the global production and pricing outlook for sugar that GuySuCo can return to profitability in the foreseeable future and its sustainability and survival will be dependent on continued Government’s subsidies which will be difficult to maintain without causing severe damage to the country’s economy. Loans and grants for the Guyana’s development will dry-up since no one will provide funding to plug a sink hole. Therefore the Government would have to bite the bullet and make the tough decision to privatize GuySuCo - the sooner the better. For a start the Government should appoint a reputable qualified Real Estate Agency from abroad to provide a detail inventory of GuySuCo’s assets with their estimated current market
values. Guyanese should not be involved with this assignment as their penchant for graft, reward for special favors, cronyism and pay-back for the politically well connected can easily corrupt the disposal process. Pradoville 2 is a stark reminder of how the Jagdeo administration abused its power to develop and disposed of Government’s property for which the present APNU+AFC Government is still to bring the perpetrators to justice. Therefore disposal of Guyana’s most valuable assets has to be competitively priced, open, fair and transparent so that the country and its people could benefit from the sale. Further, the Government should be advised how the assets should be bundled to attract maximum closed bidding prices and not thru’ NICIL’s method of negotiations with shady buyers looking for deals. Experience elsewhere has shown that rehabilitating the fields, factories and infrastructures of GuySuCo to make the assets more attractive to investors and with the expectation to command a higher sale price would be a retrograde step as the cost such expenditures would never be fully recouped and therefore the assets should be sold as is. After all only the buyers will know
how their acquired assets will be deployed for maximum profits. GuySuCo’s sale will have many other hurdles to overcome such as compensation for the workers who will be laid off, debts to be paid off and legal agreements made with others satisfactorily resolved before any sale could be finalized. These are not insurmountable matters and with a competently formed team they could be readily resolved. Finally, Mr. Jagdeo is under the false notion that GuySuCo is responsible for the drainage system along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and Guyana generally. Fortunately drainage of most of the populated low lying areas on the ECD and elsewhere along coastal Guyana has been the responsibility of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), a division of the Ministry of Agriculture and not GuySuCo. NDIA has also been providing all the irrigation needs for GuySuCo at zero cost. Further, given the facts, it is not clear how Dr. Clive Thomas, Chairman of GuySuCo could claim that commercialization of GuySuCo’s drainage and irrigation facilities could provide much needed revenue for a deeply indebted corporation. Charles Sohan
Denunciation of massive fee increase DEAR EDITOR, With much reluctance, I respond to one Ed Singh since I am unsure as to his identity. As someone who observed the last ten (10) years of PPP misrule, I have never seen one letter of protest from Ed Singh regarding the period of PPP misrule. But since this Ed Singh took the liberty to cast some wild and spurious aspersions against me, I had no choice but to correct the record. Every single statement in the Voice of the Liberal Democrats Column of January 6th, 2016 can be verified and fact checked. How dare Ed Singh attempt to dislodge the truth? Did the media not visit Hope Estate? Did the farmers not protest this imposition of this illegal fee? (come out of your bubble Ed and watch this video of the farmers protesting. This illegal and steep increase in the land rentals has nothing to do with the PPP. I would be the first to say that the PPP under Ramotar and Jagdeo did many acts that oppressed the poor and the working class. I can vividly remember that case where they bequeathed the Sanata Textiles lands in
deals that were enticed by an arrangement that retroactively legalizing an illegal tax concession. But that is irrelevant to this matter. Wake up Ed! When the PPP was in power, they always regressed to those 28 years to excuse their public failures. Are we now starting a new series of – “they did that for 23 years” to excuse public misbehavior? That line of defense was disgraceful then and it is disgraceful now. As someone who claimed that have “no jobs, no lands and who is surviving day to day” (Ed’s words not mine), I am shocked that he is “not against the yearly rent” increases (again his words not mine). This is where I realize he is just a front for the wicked forces hell bent on sucking the bones of the poor cash crop farmers to pay themselves a super-salary. This is nothing but nasty class oppression and must be confronted head on and smashed in its infancy so that the fat cats cannot milk the poor man. Let me make it clear for Ed and all those forces who think they can ride
roughshod over the working and peasant class, I hold no brief for the Management or the Board; my concern remains to advocate for the farmers. I would urge the farmers to injunctive relief from the courts against this illegal fee increase. Any smart young lawyer will jump on this case in a flash. This illegality will never be legal until the Minister issues the official regulations certifying it. Do you think the Chairman of Guyoil can wake up tomorrow and say he will increase gas prices to G$2,000 a gallon? No sir – the Minister of Finance has to certify it in writing. So why does the Board at Hope Coconut Estate think they are different from Guyoil as a 100 percent State Owned Entity? I understand that there is a need to revise the rates, but I have to advise it is not the “what”, but the “how”. When dealing with official business, there is a process – this is not a bush “dakta” outfit where one man thinks he is god and lord and the new “massa” over the peasant class. Sase Singh
This is misrepresentation by the media DEAR EDITOR, The media on 6 and 7 January 2016, reported on the case of a 20 or 21 year old man and 14 year old girl who were found dead in East Berbice. There has been speculation. Many sections of the media though, had no problems using the word ‘lover’ to describe the
relationship of the man to the girl child who might have been pregnant. Guyana has an ugly history of child sexual abuse being condoned, and there is a pervasive culture of condoning the rape of children. The man was not the ‘lover’ of the child. If he had sex with her, he raped her.
It does not matter whether or not he parents approve of any relationship between their child and an adult. Messed up as we are in Guyana when it comes to the enforcement of laws, we moved the laws to put the age of consent at 16 years, while advocating for education for all children up to 15 years.
Rape and statutory rape, should be named when it occurs. The media has a role to play in changing the culture which condones the abuse of children. As a society, we have a lot of work to do on understanding ‘love’ as nurturing rather than destroying. Rape is not love. Vidyaratha Kissoon
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
This Commission of Inquiry Sam Hinds puts conditions on has credibility problems cooperation with government DEAR EDITOR, The recent public disclosures by the union GAWU as to the authenticity of data pertaining to sugar workers’ earnings, as contained in the released findings of the GuySuCo Commission of Inquiry (COI), raises many doubts about the credibility and objectivity of the COI. While I personally have no reason to doubt the general outcome and recommendations of the inquiry, we may want to review the content of the report before proceeding, putting to rest any niggling doubts that the public may have. To begin with, the stated earnings for sugar workers indeed look supernormal. That brings me to question how such dubious information made it into the COI’s report, and went all the way to parliament, without anyone raising an eyebrow during a process that lasted six (6) months. I, like many others, have some serious questions for the stakeholders and individuals who were procedurally involved in the COI and these are as follows: 1. Why did GAWU wait until after the COI report had reached parliament to make its claim of inflated / falsified information? Now, all will recall that from the moment the COI team was assembled, the union was involved. An inquiry as important as this was to GAWU, and knowing that the outcome will have an impact on its
membership, should have demanded utmost and objective participation by the union. At each stage of the inquiry GAWU should have reviewed the information collected and made its objections within the process of participatory consultation. Even after the report was given to the government, and up to the time it went to parliament, some ten weeks had elapsed, enough time to detect and address such errors. In the final analysis of GAWU’s involvement in the COI, one has to question exactly what role did the union’s representative(s) play in this process, and whose interest was it representing throughout and after the process? 2. Given claims of c o mm i s s io n e r s h a v in g different views on the findings, and in arriving at the team’s recommendations, this raises questions as to the objectivity and functionality of the team itself. We need to know exactly how they approached the task, the difficulties experienced, how internal disputes / conflicts were resolved, and how the materiality and validity of the data collected were assessed. 3. What / who were the sources of the data collected? How credible
were these sources? Did the union and the commissioners use different data sources? Now, if the source of the data for workers’ earnings in both the union’s case and the COI process was the same, that is, GuySuCo’s management, one now has to question whether or not the company’s management cooperated fully and in an objectively neutral manner. Did someone, or a group of persons, deliberately conspire to mislead the COI by presenting it with false information, and with the aim of ultimately discrediting the process? 4. If we were to deliberate on a ‘conspiracy theory’ being played out on the COI, what exactly could have been the objectives? Who were to benefit from this ulterior motive, if something like this indeed happened? 5. How thorough was the COI’s processes of data collection and analysis? I have heard that in many cases instructions were given to put together ‘tons’ of information for the COI, and which ultimately never reached the commission. Outside of that, the formal hearings at which members of the public appeared, and others who made written submissions, would also have offered up (Continued on page 31)
DEAR EDITOR, In its second paragraph of its editorial on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 Kaieteur News puts explicitly a belief that is untrue but which seems to prevail amongst members and supporters of the Coalition Government:“The current forensic audit reports which revealed that billions of dollars were either embezzled or cannot be accounted for are proof of this.” This is a totally inaccurate and malicious summary of the forensic audit reports. The forensic audit reports make charges against the purposes for which and the manner in which money was spent. For example, there has been the charge of selling out state properties to complete the construction of the Marriot. These funds were neither embezzled nor unaccounted for. For the record we of the PPP/C maintain that what we did was within the law and the purpose, in our judgment, for the benefit of people and country. Recall the early
charges of moneys in private accounts, private banks – they proved to be spurious charges. The private accounts were held in the names of their respective agencies and recorded in the agencies books – no problems whatsoever. The belief put explicitly in that second paragraph is inaccurate, untrue and is a great and painful injustice to us citizens of Guyana who constitute and support the PPP/C, and as well the Officers and other employees of the various agencies concerned. I cannot believe that no one else, not even one of our fellow citizens, cares. But it is not only we of the PPP/C who should be urging accuracy – the coalition in office should also see the need to urge an accurate representation of what the forensic audits report. We of the PPP/C with such grave unfounded and unjust charges on our backs would be hard to put to cooperate with this governing coalition without
sacrificing our pride and that is too much to ask of us. And the Coalition itself runs the dangers that any accommodation acceptable to us of the PPP/C would be seen to their supporters as a sellout. One may already perceive some indication of this in sentiments that were expressed in the media in early December which was succeeded by the aggressive, humiliating treatment of the heads of PU/NICIL and GRA, which has already generated excess with sad consequences. Substance would be given to the offers of olive branches and our P r e s i d e n t ’s c a l l f o r “togetherness” in this year of our fiftieth anniversary of Independence, once such false and unjust charges about us of the PPP/C, were jettisoned. Samuel A.A Hinds
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
No winner emerges in first round of Central African election Reuters - Central African Republic looks set for a run-off vote to elect a new president to try to end a cycle of Muslim-Christian violence after former prime minister Anicet Georges Dologuele topped the poll but fell short of a majority. Dologuele won 23.78 percent of votes, followed by another former prime minister, Faustin Archange Touadera, with 19.42 percent, National Election Au-
thority (ANE) president Marie-Madeleine Nkouet said yesterday, quoting provisional results. In the absence of an absolute majority, the constitutional court is set to announce a second round runoff. The provisional date for this is Jan. 31. Thirty contenders were vying to lead the former French colony where a three-year sectarian conflict has killed thousands of people and driven a million
others from their homes despite efforts by U.N. and French peacekeepers to restore order. Violence intensified when mainly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in early 2013, prompting reprisals from anti-balaka militias drawn from the Christian majority. Twenty of the candidates had previously voiced objections to the vote and urged for counting to halt but most of them have since changed their position.
Cameron believes his demands for EU reform can be dealt with WILDBAD KREUTH, Germany (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron said yesterday discussions on reforming the European Union are going well and he is confident that issues including competitiveness and migration can be dealt with successfully. “We believe that all these issues can be dealt with. The discussions are going well. They’re hard, they’re tough. These are difficult issues,” Cameron told reporters after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Bavaria late on Wednesday. “But I’m confident with goodwill - and there is goodwill I think on all sides - we can bring these negotia-
David Cameron
tions to a conclusion and then hold the referendum,” he added. An ORB opinion poll published early yesterday showed a majority of
Britons who have made up their minds would vote to leave the European Union, making Britain by far the most Eurosceptic country in the 28-member bloc.
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 08, 2016
Iran stops doing business with Saudi Kerry urges China to end ‘business Arabia as Nimr execution rankles as usual’ with North Korea
Supporters of the Houthi movement protest against the execution of Shi’ite Muslim cleric Nimr alNimr in Saudi Arabia, during a demonstration outside the Saudi embassy in Sanaa, Yemen yesterday. REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH Reuters - Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia deteriorated even further yesterday as Tehran severed all commercial ties with Riyadh and accused Saudi jets of attacking its embassy in Yemen’s capital. A row has been raging for days between Shi’ite Muslim power Iran and the conservative Sunni kingdom since Saudi Arabia executed cleric Nimr al-Nimr, an opponent of the ruling dynasty who demanded greater rights for the Shi’ite minority. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia have all broken off diplomatic
ties with Iran this week, the United Arab Emirates downgraded its relations and Kuwait, Qatar and Comoros recalled their envoys after the Saudi embassy in Tehran was stormed by protesters following the execution of Nimr and 46 other men. In a cabinet meeting chaired by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani yesterd a y, Te h r a n b a n n e d a l l imports from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia had announced on Monday that Riyadh was halting trade links and air traffic with the Islamic Republic. Iran also said yesterday
that Saudi warplanes had attacked its embassy in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, an accusation that Riyadh said it would investigate. “Saudi Arabia is responsible for the damage to the embassy building and the injury to some of its staff,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari was quoted as saying by the state news agency, IRNA. Residents and witnesses in Sanaa said there was no damage to the embassy building in Hadda district. They said an air strike had hit a public square about 700 meters (yards) away from the embassy and that some stones and shrapnel had landed in the embassy’s yard. Iran will deliver its official report on the attack to the United Nations yesterday, Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was quoted by ISNA news agency as saying. A coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been fighting the Shi’ite, Iran-allied Houthi movement in Yemen since March 2015. Saudi coalition spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri said their jets carried out heavy strikes in Sanaa on Wednesday night, targeting missile launchers used by the Houthi militia against Saudi Arabia.
South Korea seeks U.S. strategic weapons after North’s nuclear test SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea is in talks with the United States to deploy U.S. strategic weapons on the Korean peninsula, a South Korean military official said yesterday, a day after North Korea said it successfully tested a hydrogen nuclear device. South Korea also said it would resume propaganda broadcasts by loudspeaker into North Korea from today, which is likely to infuriate its isolated rival, in response to its fourth nuclear test. The United States and weapons experts voiced doubts the device North Korea tested on Wednesday was a hydrogen bomb, but calls mounted for more sanctions against it for its rogue nuclear program. The underground explosion angered China, which was not given prior notice although it is North Korea’s main ally, pointing to a strain in their ties. The test also alarmed Japan. Its prime minister, Shinzo Abe, agreed with U.S. President Barack Obama in a tele-
Protestors hold a sit-in protest at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo yesterday, a day after North Korea announced it successfully tested a miniaturized hydrogen nuclear bomb. REUTERS/Kyodo Reuters - The United States called on China on Thursday to end “business as usual” with its ally North Korea after Pyongyang defied world powers by announcing it had tested a hydrogen bomb. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he made clear in a phone call with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that China’s approach to North Korea had failed. “China had a particular approach that it wanted to make, that we agreed and respected to give them space to implement that,” Kerry told reporters. “Today in my conversation with the Chinese I made it very clear that has not worked and we cannot continue business as usual.”
China is the North’s main economic and diplomatic backer although relations between the two Cold War allies have cooled in recent years. The vast majority of North Korea’s business dealings are with China, which bought 90 percent of the isolated country’s exports in 2013, according to data compiled by South Korea’s International Trade Association. North Korea carried out a nuclear test on Wednesday, although the U.S. government and weapons experts doubt Pyongyang’s assertion that the device it exploded was a powerful hydrogen bomb. The test angered China, which was not given prior no-
tice. U.S. Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives could join forces in a rare display of unity to further tighten sanctions on North Korea. Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, told reporters that Democrats would support a North Korea bill likely to be brought for a vote by Republicans next week. A congressional source said it was expected as soon as Monday. The legislation was passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee last February but it was stalled until this week when Pyongyang jolted the world by setting off an underground nuclear bomb test.
Trump threatens to pull $1 billion investment if he is banned from UK Shinzo Abe
Park Geun-hye
phone call that a firm global response was needed, the White House said. Obama also spoke to President Park Geun-hye of South Korea to discuss options. A South Korean military official told Reuters the two countries had discussed the deployment of U.S. strategic assets on the divided Korean peninsula, but declined to give further details. After North Korea last tested a nuclear device, in 2013, Washington sent a pair of nuclear-capable B-2 stealth
bombers on a sortie over South Korea in a show of force. At the time, North Korea responded by threatening a nuclear strike on the United States. South Korea, technically in a state of war against the North, said it was not considering a nuclear deterrent of its own, despite calls from ruling party leaders. The United States is highly unlikely to restore the tactical nuclear missiles it removed from South Korea in 1991, experts said.
Reuters - U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has threatened to cancel over 700 million pounds ($1 billion) of planned investments in golf courses in Scotland if Britain slaps him with a travel ban. The threat from Trump, owner of two golf courses in his mother’s homeland of Scotland, comes as British lawmakers prepare to hold a debate on a petition signed by over half a million people calling for him to be barred from the country after his proposal to stop Muslims entering the United States. The debate will be held on Jan. 18 but will not be fol-
lowed by a vote. Only Home Secretary Theresa May can issue an order banning entry into Britain and Prime Minister David Cameron has said he does not favour barring Trump. The Trump Organisation said in a statement that a ban would result in him pulling developments worth 500 million pounds at a golf complex in northeastern Scotland, and a 200 million pound revamp at a resort in the country’s southwest. “Any action to restrict travel would force The Trump Organization to immediately end these and all future investments we are currently
contemplating in the United Kingdom,” the group said in a statement. Trump’s comments on banning Muslims from entering the United States in December prompted international outrage and led to him being stripped of two Scottish honorary positions. The proud, half-Scottish billionaire’s once-harmonious relationship with Scotland was soured further when he was blocked by a top court in his bid to stop a wind farm being built near his Trump International Golf Links course in Aberdeen.
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
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SOMEBODY IS WATCHING! Reports have begun to filter in about persons connected or believed to be connected to the former administration feeling nervous that they too, their homes and their families, may be subject to surveillance from the State. These reports need to be confirmed, but given recent incidents, it would not be unusual to discover that the military intelligence unit of the Guyana Defence Force has begun to spy on private citizens who are at odds with the government. The military undertakes its own intelligence gathering. This information is strictly for national security purposes. It is concerned with gathering intelligence about insurrections, civil disturbances, border movements and illegal aliens. This is the scope of military intelligence. Military intelligence is not concerned with white collar crime. The military has always been concerned with the gathering of political intelligence to guard against internal disturbances. It is therefore surprising for the media to be told that the military was lending support to the police, and this is how one of its soldiers was staking out the home of a civilian who lived next door to
the former head of NICIL, Winston Brassington. When it comes to the intelligence services, it is not likely that the police or any of its arms is going to ask military intelligence for assistance. Intelligence agencies do not have operational coordination and cooperation. They rarely exchange information and they are not going to be involved in joint intelligence-gathering information. That is highly unusual, not just in Guyana, but anywhere in the world. Intelligence agencies do not have joint operations to gather information. The police and the army do undertake joint operations. Operation Dragnet was one such operation, but in that operation the military was confined to operations against illegal aliens and border patrols, while it was the police that were undertaking patrols and road blocks against criminals. Historically, there has been an undercurrent of mistrust between the army and the police. It does not manifest itself in major spats, but the tensions are there. The police feel that the army believes that it is a superior agency. The police feel
that the army is pampered and treated better than the police. Burnham did in fact place greater trust in the army than in the police, and he relied more on the army to do his political misdeeds than he did in the police. After the incident in which the Ministry of National Development was burnt down in the late 1970s, Burnham fired the then head of the army for failing to prevent the attack. In so doing, he felt that the army had an obligation to protect the office of the General Secretary of the PNC which was housed in that Ministry. The head of the police intelligence service was not fired. The head of the army was fired, because Burnham felt that the army should have always had his back. Afterwards, he made his changes in personnel, and began to favour the army to do his dirty work, even though the then riot squad of the Guyana Police Force did assist in breaking up political meetings of opposition parties. This favouring of the army led to problems between the two main joint services organizations. This suspicion be-
tween the two agencies still exists. If anyone wishes to confirm this fact, speak to any member of the police force and ask them about the support the police got from the army during the Buxton upheavals. Then you will get a better idea of the undercurrents that exist between the two agencies of the joint services. The recent incident involving the death by accident of an army sergeant attached to the army’s intelligence unit has raised serious questions about the role of the army intelligence services, and whether they are once again coming under political direction and dictation.
This is why there needs to be an investigation into the death of Sergeant Pyle and his wife. There needs to be a full investigation. This matter cannot be swept under the carpet. Lives have been lost and people are fearful that Big Brother is watching, listening to their phone conversations, and tapping into their emails. The American, British and Canadian diplomatic missions that were up in arms when the PPP prorogued parliament
have said nothing about this recent tragedy, and its implications for the freedom of Guyanese. They surely by now must recognize the dangers that this country faces if Guyana reverts back to being a police state.
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 08, 2016
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Would Ram and Hinds care to define authoritarianism? This is a continuation of my reaction to the letter of Christopher Ram denouncing the State’s attitude to Khurshid Sattaur and Nigel Hinds’s missive advocating State appreciation of the work done by Winston Brassington. In my analysis yesterday, I did not examine the perspective of Hinds, and there was little space to devote to the question on the raid on Sattaur’s home. I did offer to contextualize the circumstances of the State’s action against both men. The elongation follows. The context is the oligarchic landscape on which both state employees functioned. Ram and Hinds achieve theoretical efficacy once the authoritarian framework is absent. Ram and Hinds fall short because both Sattaur
and Brassington were operating inside an authoritarian system. In the unfolding of the dictatorial system under which they worked one took illegal latitude, the other ventured in political victimization. For this there has to be accountability. To argue against this is to advance the theory of special status in the exercise of power. I know of no such situation. Even Hobbes posited that there were special circumstances under which the maximum leader could be removed. Aristotle took exception to the invincibility of Plato’s philosophy-king class. Under which theory then are Ram and Hinds submitting the concept of the untouchable and the forgiving? A caveat is in order before I proceed. I would not engage
in any polemic in which a debater insists that a legally elected administration cannot become a dictatorship. There is no such theory. Fareed Zakaria has the best elaboration of how legal elections and democracy are not physiologically intertwined. Ravi Dev has constantly denied that the Jagdeo regime was dictatorial and his naïve defence was based on the insistence that if a governing party can be voted out of office then how can it be describe as a dictatorship. Such an approach is a complete misunderstanding of the nature of power. This reply to Ram and Hinds is frameworked in the theory of elected dictatorship. I would classify the Jagdeo regime as having shades of fascitization. Three elements of that fascitization were - the
arrogant pursuit of the destruction of the African political economy as best outlined by Lincoln Lewis; the criminalized state as best adumbrated by Clive Thomas and the horrendous decline in the moral standards of the state. It is within this context one has to examine the administration of Sattaur and Brassington. Khurshid Sattaur’s record as head of GRA would reveal some serious obliviousness to tax evasion and that realm encompasses some very wealthy people. I firmly believe that Christopher Ram is aware of this. Secondly, Mr. Sattaur used his office to witch-hunt critics of the PPP Government. Three such victims were Glenn Lall, Nigel Hughes and me. Thirdly, there were vast areas of unprofessional con-
duct. Mr. Ram may want to cite other examples from around the world where the tax chief has five relatives working with him including three of his children, two of whom occupied crucial positions. Against this background is there validity for the State to seize documents from the GRA if it suspects that legal inquiries into the operations of the GRA during the tenure of dictatorship will be vitiated by Mr. Sattaur’s conduct? On the surface of both politics and law, I would answer yes. In relation to Mr. Hinds’s advocacy of state recognition of Brassington’s work and the cessation of any attempt to prosecute him, one has to say that such an advocacy is extremely dangerous and invites social collapse. Unless there is a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, then the State is legally and morally bound to investigate and prosecute citizens who abused power, engaged in financial illegalities or participated in criminal activities against state institutions. If Mr. Hinds’s plea for Brassington is accepted then how can the State retain vi-
Frederick Kissoon ability and credibility? How does it treat a policeman who after forty years of service has been detected as stealing money from the force? How does it deal with a nurse who after forty years on the job was complicit in organ-selling? How does the cricket board of a country deal with one of its superstars if it finds out he is a rapist? But there is an equally compelling question – what signal does it send to ruling politicians. Previous rulers committed grievous violations and were pardoned, then why shouldn’t they do the same and argue for similar clemency. My honest belief is that both Ram and Hinds did not consider the context in which both Sattaur and Hinds served the Government of Guyana. This is where I think their main point of the State’s mistreatment of Sattaur and Brassington falls down.
Dem boys seh...
Brassington buy hydro seed Dem boys hear a story yesterday and for a moment dem couldn’t believe. One of Soulja Bai security tell dem boys that he was downstairs when he hear Soulja Bai ask Sandra, de Princess, “Since when you learn to bake? I know that you can’t bake and I can’t believe me eyes what I am seeing on dis breakfast table.” Dem boys learn was a freshly baked pie still sitting in de pan pun de table. Dem hear when Sandra tell him, “Bai, is we neighbour mek it fuh we. I did lend she de pan just before Christmas and she tell me how she feel bad bringing it back, empty. Suh she decide to bake de pie and bring it over.” Soulja Bai immediately seh, “Gyal Sandra, must lend she we bank book.” When dem boys hear that dem couldn’t hold back de laugh. That is when dem boys realize that he bruck. Dem boys hope he don’t send it to NICIL because he wouldn’t get it back, much less get something inside. Everybody know dem people inside deh and wha dem was doing wid de taxpayers’ dollars. NICIL was de place dem use to stash money here, there and everywhere plus full dem bank book plus bank account. NICIL is de place that give dem money to build de Barriatt, de Skeldon Plant, de hydro road and mek Brassington get hydro seed. Dem boys ain’t too certain how much more of dem get hydro. Dem don’t even know wha Marcie get. De other day a sitting government minister cause so much trouble wid he bank book that a bank and a poo poo lawyer seh dem gun sue dem boys. Dem boys merely talk how a govt agency investigating an issue wid a man and he account in de bank. Now dem want sue we, suh dem boys done talk bout bank, lawyers and liars. Talk half and careful wid yuh bank book.
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 11
President convenes emergency Fate of GGMC’s Commissioner suicide prevention meeting still in limbo
L-R: Minister of Social Cohesion, Ms. Amna Ally; Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Ms. Dawn Hastings; President David Granger; Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings; Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton, and Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe at the meeting. “We are above average and that is disturbing,” said President David Granger of the state of suicide in Guyana. The Head of State’s utterance was made yesterday even as he convened an emergency meeting to plot the way forward to address suicide, which has been described as a “scourge”. The outcome of the meeting, moreover, which saw the attendance of key Ministers, was a Plan of Action that will see Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Religious Organisations and other Civil Society Organisations being engaged to work together with Government on a centralised approach to suicide prevention. The meeting yesterday followed on the heels of a double suicide which occurred Wednesday at East Bank Berbice. The victims of that tragedy were a pregnant 14-yearold and a 20-year-old man. Among those deliberating with President Granger yesterday on the issue of suicide were Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton; Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Volda Lawrence; Minister of Social Cohesion, Ms. Amna Ally; Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings; Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe and Minister within the Ministry
of Communities, Ms. Dawn Hastings, at the Ministry of the Presidency. President Granger at the meeting made it clear that he intends to have a hands-on approach to addressing the issue of suicide and will be looking to implement a national programme that has measurable outcomes. During the meeting, too, he spoke of the implementation of Guyana’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy which was launched by the Ministry of Public Health, last September, with a view to ramping up Government’s response to the ongoing problem. In addition, the President was provided with updates on work being done within the other subject Ministries. Earlier in the day, the President told local journalists, during his weekly recording of the television programme, ‘The Public Interest’, that much more needs to be done and he intends to bring together international organisations and civil society organisations to ensure that all of the factors related to suicide are identified and addressed. “I am concerned as President that Guyana has a higher
rate of suicide than other countries. It is not as though there is an average around the world and we are just average…” President Granger moreover issued a call to parents, guardians, teachers and church leaders to be more sensitive and understanding of the emotional matters that affect young people. He said that, “the church needs to be more careful, the home needs to be more careful, peers need to be more careful. It is a delicate period, but the state cannot bear the full burden of counselling, the home is where these matters should be resolved.” The President affirmed that his Administration intends to do all that is possible, especially since many
of the victims of this scourge are young people, in whose hands the country’s future lies. He explained too, that the circumstances and conditions under which people live need to be examined to understand the underlying factors responsible for the high suicide rate. “I intend to find out why we have so many suicides and once we identify those factors, try to use Governmental action and try to get the efforts of civil society and households to put this scourge to an end. We are above normal and I want to find out if it’s social, if it’s cultural, or if it’s economic and bring an end to it… we know what the disease is, let’s find out what the cures are.” the Head of State said.
The fate of Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Rickford Vieira, will remain hanging for a while longer with a key report on his performance still to be submitted. Vieira was sent on administrative leave early last month after the then Board of Directors, wrote Government, indicating that they had lost confidence in him. GGMC is the state’s regulatory body that oversees the mining and extractive sectors, with the exception of forestry. Questioned on Wednesday about the status of Vieira, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, disclosed that he is still to receive a performance evaluation report that was requested on the Commissioner. Based on the report, Trotman will be making a recommendation of Vieira’s future to the Cabinet of Ministers. The report could be handed to the Minister by this month-end. The life of the GGMC Board came to an end on December 31,with Government set to approve a new one next week, Trotman confirmed. A few board members will remain to provide continuity, Trotman disclosed. GGMC has been making the news in recent months after disclosures that all is not well in the mining and extractive sectors. A key report had slammed the entity, with miners complaining incessantly of problems not being ad-
GGMC Commissioner Rickford Vieira dressing, especially regarding gold production. The awarding of land, monitoring, landlordism, road conditions and concessions were among some of the major problems raised. The stormy relationship between the previous board and Vieira became known with reports indicating that he clashed with them over several issues. He had reportedly objected to a $3B loan to Central Housing and Planning Authority, a transaction that raised legal questions. Last month, Minister Trotman said the regulation of mining in Guyana is in a terrible state. “There is no denying that and steps have to be taken to clean it up if we are to move forward on a healthy footing.”
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Kaieteur News
Govt. seeks proposals for Lethem hydro-power development
Govt. wants the Moco-Moco Falls in Region Nine to be developed for hydro power that will help Lethem, Region Nine. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure is currently seeking proposals from appropriate firms to rehabilitate and operate the Moco Moco Hydropower plant in Region Nine. This is being done in line with the government’s plan to develop a ‘Green Economy’. The Moco Moco hydropower plant will be operated under the Build, Own, Operate, Transfer (BOOT) arrangement. This aims to supply power to Lethem Power Plant under a negotiated and agreed Power Purchase Agreement, Government said yesterday. Lethem is popular border area that has a bridge linkage across the Takutu River to Brazil. This move forms part of the administration’s overall effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuels for energy. In so doing, the country can save significant sums
being expended on the purchase and importation of such fuels. In 1995, the previous administration, with assistance from the Government of China, sought to develop the hydropower project. However, in 2003, the plant was significantly affected by a landslide. Since then the project has remained at a standstill. “The coaliti`on government intends to have hydropower generation facilities located all around Guyana. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is currently in the process of assessing five of 69 possible sites, which are proposed to house these hydropower amenities. The five sites under scrutiny are Tiger Hill, Kamira, Tumatumari, Amaila and Kumu. It is expected that their assessment will be (Continued on page 31)
Friday January 08, 2016
Stemming smuggling…
Govt. not reducing gold royalties anytime soon Government is not immediately contemplating lowering royalties and taxes on gold to stem the country’s huge smuggling problem. With Guyana boasting a high rate compared to neighbouring Suriname, Brazil and other places, smugglers have been capitalizing, raking in millions in profits. Last year, the country’s losses from gold smuggling was an estimated US$40M (G$8B). In 2015, the country earned approximately that amount. Observers have been recommending that Guyana lower the seemingly high seven percent charged on every ounce of gold declared - royalty (five percent) and tax (two percent). It was argued that critical resources used to tackle smuggling would be significantly reduced with the lowering. Asked about it on Wednesday, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, who is charged with responsibilities for the gold sector, hinted that lowering the royalty and tax may not be the route that the administration is taking anytime soon. He explained that there is no empirical evidence to show that if the taxes are lowered, it will automatically lead to a rise in declaration. “We have to examine the
Minister Raphael Trotman
reasons why people are smuggling gold. Some of it has not only to do with a better price which can be obtained in Suriname, some of it has to do with hiding income to avoid taxes altogether.” He said that it is believed that smuggling may be used as a means of laundering illicit or illegally obtained money. He added that from research, lowering of the royalties may only lead “marginally” to higher declarations. The issue of gold smuggling is a major one being tackled by the David Grangerled administration which took office in May last year after early general elections.
Gold declarations faltered about 20 percent, falling behind during the first half. However, miners rallied and together with large scale producers like Guyana Goldfields Inc., the industry flew past its target, by almost 60,000 ounces, to 451,000 ounces. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security have been helping Guyana tackle gold smuggling, sharing information on persons of interest. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Trotman, in introducing Simona Broomes as the Junior Minister, disclosed that he is looking to place more staffers from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in the fields. The minister was responding to questions from Kaieteur News about capacity of GGMC, especially with regards to plans to increase monitoring of the gold and logging operations. Addressing the media at the Ministry’s first press conference for this year, Trotman explained that GGMC’s administrative staff is larger than its field and operational workers “and I think we may want to put more people in the field to do more monitoring and evaluation, and enforcement”. Minister Trotman likened this move to that of the Guyana Police Force which has also decided to “put more boots on the ground”, and have more ranks visible within communities, to increase effectiveness. The move by the GGMC will see more “in-house staff exposed in the field”, he added, as “there are no immediate plans to hire more staff.” The Ministry will be moving towards greater partnerships with the Ministries of Public Security, Public Infrastructure, Public Health, Communities, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and other agencies which are in contact with hinterland residents.
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 08, 2016
Missing British teen…
Cops conduct searches at Berbice, Sophia and Timehri Police, acting on a tip-off, launched a search that took them to Berbice, Sophia and Timehri, but thus far they have come up empty-handed in their search for Dominic Bernard, the missing British teen. Reports were that the teen, clothed in black, was last seen in the company of a man last Sunday evening in the vicinity of the Sophia minibus park, Stabroek. One vendor who asked that his name not be published seemed very sure that the teen was in the company of a dreadlocked man. In fact the vendor alleges that several purchases of beverage were made from his cart. “I recognize he from the papers photo. Sunday night he was with a Rastaman from Sophia, dressed in black from head to toe, and he hat turn back just like in the papers, but he had a li’l beard and he had a lot of England money.” The vendor recalled that the teen operated very nervously, while talking secretively on his phone at intervals, and was allegedly often looking over his shoulders. “He was also very serious when he spoke to one person on the phone.” The youth was allegedly last seen entering a Sophia minibus with the ‘Rastaman’ on Sunday evening. In the wee hours of yesterday several CID, Intelligence and uniformed police ranks from Georgetown and Berbice, acting on a tipoff, swooped down on a house in Kildonan, Corentyne, in pursuit of the missing teen. They were taken to the location by a man who alleged that he had seen the teen on Sunday night. There, at about 01:30hrs
- Man arrested, woman abandons young child
Missing: Dominic Bernard yesterday, the ranks discovered that the house was the home of the missing teen’s best friend and godbrother whose name was given as Aaron Hing. However, according to Hing’s girlfriend he (Hing) had not been home since leaving on Monday. Nonetheless, police searched several yards in proximity to the Kildonan address but came up empty handed. The ranks were then directed to a house in Sophia, where a man called ‘Shabba’ was taken into custody, as he was allegedly the last person seen with Aaron Hing. He is now assisting with investigations as are at least two others. Further information led the cops to a house in Timehri where a woman and a fiveyear-old child were at home. However, while the police searched the property and its immediate environs, the woman managed to slip away from the house leaving the child behind. Information received by this publication is that the teen’s godbrother managed to leave the location just before the police arrived yesterday. He allegedly received a phone call that the police were in Sophia.
When contacted, Police Commander of ‘A’ Division, Clifton Hicken, did not confirm or deny that Hing is on the run. He however assured that the matter is being vigorously investigated with a view to solving it at the soonest. It has been over two months since the Britain-born Dominic Bernard landed in Guyana via the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on his second solo trip out of England. But since then he has not been seen or heard from. On October 14, 2015, Bernard departed London, England, on Caribbean Airlines (CAL) Flight BW 903 destined for Port of Spain, Trinidad. From the twinisland republic, the 18-year-
old then boarded CAL BW 483 which arrived in Georgetown at 21:50 p.m. the same day. This was his maiden trip to Guyana. He was supposed to have been picked up from the airport by Aaron Hing. However, this arrangement never materialized since Hing was allegedly unaware that Bernard was travelling to Guyana. According to the missing teen’s father, Andrew Bernard, his son told him he was coming to Guyana to spend some time with Hing. He said that his son was scheduled to return home on November 5, 2015, but failed to do so. The father stated that after his son did not return home,
he contacted Hing, who told him that he did not see his son and did not even know that the teen had travelled to Guyana. He explained: “Because he [Hing] is family, we just assumed that Dominic was having a good time.” The older Bernard said that local Immigration authorities had confirmed his son landed in Guyana. He stated that CAL had also verified that his son did not use his return ticket to England. The father related that prior to his son’s arrival in this country; he was very active on his social media profiles. The distraught man added that his son has not posted anything on his Facebook, YouTube or Whatsapp since. When Kaieteur News checked Dominic Bernard’s Facebook page, it showed that he last posted a photo on September 17, 2015. Several of his friends have
shared posts about him being missing. The senior Bernard said that his son is a photographer/film-maker of reputable character. He said it was unusual for his son to go anywhere without informing loved ones. He recalled that the teen had travelled to Atlanta, Georgia, earlier last year and made contact with his family as soon as he touched down there. Dominic Bernard is the eldest of three siblings and was encountering no problems back at home, according to his father. He is six feet tall with brown eyes and he speaks with a British accent. Local and British law enforcement officials are now investigating the matter. The teenager’s family is offering a reward to anyone with credible information that could lead them to finding him.
Govt. invites proposals for “green” energy at Bartica
The Bartica power station Government is moving ahead with plans for an independent company to produce electricity for Bartica, a Region Seven community up the Essequibo River. According to a notice by the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc., published in
Kaieteur News yesterday, the government is proffering proposals that target renewable energy. Bartica’s power company has been suffering for some time now, leading to the previous government announcing plans for engines.
The community once considered the gateway to the interior and to the logging and mining camps, is set to become a town this year. According to the request for renewable proposals, Government’s plan is to “green” Bartica. To build the generation system, the search is on for an independent power producer to design one. The proposals will likely use renewable energy technology, like wind or hydro electric power, or even a combination.
The arrangements will have to be under a Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT), with a power purchase agreement to be negotiated and agreed on. The application information can be downloaded from the Hinterland Electricity website www.electricity.gov.gy. Guyana is looking to move away from the expensive, imported fossil fuel-based engines and more into renewable energy like wind, solar and hydroelectric.
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 27
Late arrival of medical supplies affects Leguan, Wakenaam hospitals
Region Three Regional Health Officer (ag) Dr. Shawn Bancroft briefing the Minister at Leguan Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings (left), meeting Dr. Amanda Tewari at the Leguan District Hospital The perennial untimely arrival of medical supplies is one of the challenges faced at both the Leguan and Wakenaam District Hospitals. But the Ministry of Public Health is aiming to have this challenge urgently addressed. The challenge is one that was observed recently by Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr. Karen Cummings, during visits to the hospitals on Tuesday last. The visits come as part of the Ministry continued efforts to provide the best quality public healthcare services available to all Guyanese. Minister Cummings was accompanied by a team of senior Ministry officials during while visiting the District Hospitals at Leguan and Wakenaam (Essequibo Island-West Demerara). At Leguan she was given a first-hand look at the facilities, and met with staff to listen to their concerns and to provide answers and solutions, where possible. While the visit to the Leguan District Hospital revealed a medical facility that is clean, patient-friendly and comfortable, with pleasant and friendly staff, there were a few issues that affect the proper functioning of the
hospital. In addition to a recurring delay in the availability of medical supplies, the hospital is also faced with a prevailing “beetle” problem and an overgrowth of grass throughout the compound. According to information released by the Ministry yesterday, these are some of the problems yet to be condignly addressed by both the Ministry and the Regional Administration. “Both entities have faithfully promised to work collaboratively to rectify the problems that currently trouble the Hospital,” a Ministry statement informed y e s t e r d a y. M i n i s t e r Cummings, during the recent visit, had stressed that improving the public healthcare system in Guyana is one of the Ministry’s national priorities. This, she underscored, focuses on strategic approaches to improving the safety, effectiveness, efficiency, equitability, and accessibility of best quality care and healthcare practices, and facilities across Guyana. “We want to narrow the inequities as it relates to the accessibility of best quality health care. Regardless of which part of the country a person resides, they will be
able to gain access to the best quality healthcare available,” the Minister said. She emphasized then, too, that excellent and superior service must be the norm in each sector of the Public Health care system, despite the location. Director of Regional Health Services, Dr. Kay Shako, also spoke about the paradigm shift that is currently taking place within the health sector, with emphasis being placed on the delivery of quality pubic healthcare. Dr. Shako urged the staff of the Leguan Hospital to work in close collaboration with the Ministry to ensure that they are seen as catalysts of change in advancing the new public healthcare agenda, which is aimed primarily at best quality services to all Guyanese. The Minister and team
while visiting the Wakenaam District Hospital observed that the facility there adequately caters to the residents of Wakenaam. They were also able to deduce that the hospital’s outpatient clinic efficiently accommodates the patients who seek medical attention on a daily basis. Other areas of healthcare provided include dentistry, a diagnostic centre, maternal and childcare facilities, as well as a dispensary. However, it was clear to the team that this hospital, too, was not without its own challenges. A need for significant improvements, especially in the area of human resources, was observed. “There is a paucity of trained personnel in some sections of the hospital. This shortage of human resources is inimical to the delivery of the quality of healthcare the Ministry is determined to provide,” the Ministry said in its statement.
Similar to what obtains at the Leguan Hospital it was recognized that “the untimely delivery of medical supplies and reagents continue to stymie the effective functioning of the hospital.” As such the Minister has related that “The Ministry of Public Health is aware that one of the keys to the delivering quality healthcare is the presence of quality healthcare providers in the form of qualified trained personnel. The Regional Health Services Division of the Ministry will be working
assiduously with the Personnel Department of the Ministry in partnership with the Regional Administration to ensure that these vacancies are filled with alacrity.” Accompanying the Minister during the visits were Dr. Shako; Assistant Regional Executive Officer of Region Three, Mr. Shameer Shahid; Regional Health Officer (ag), Mr. Shawn Bancroft and Coastland Coordinator within the Ministry of Public Health, Mr. Sewchan.
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Kaieteur News
15-yr-old undergoes successful kidney transplant after mom donates organ Fifteen-year-old Abigail Mars is recovering at home after undergoing a successful kidney transplant at the Georgetown Public Hospital, and she is proud that her mother was the donor that gave her a second chance at a normal life. In 2011, Abigail was diagnosed with Nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disorder that causes the body to excrete too much protein in a person’s urine. Since then she had undergone several dialysis treatments at the hospital, but her condition started deteriorating a year ago when her family was told that she would not make it unless she underwent a transplant. ‘I was scared, but I was hopeful, and then we heard that the hospital was doing free surgeries,” her mother Petal Grant said. She stated that the doctors told her that both of Abigail’s kidneys were failing and she would need the emergency surgery or else she would have to live on the dialysis. Grant stated that it was painful watching her daughter undergo dialysis for four years, so she opted for the surgery, but the major problem was finding a donor. She said it was easy to do the
Abigail Mars surgery but it was difficult to find the donor. “But I wasn’t about to get hopeless. I prayed and decided to donate one of my kidneys,” she said, smiling at her daughter. However, a few days before the surgery was scheduled to be performed, Abigail’s kidneys failed and she went into cardiac arrest. “I was afraid that we were going to lose her, but she pulled through and now we here,” she said. The surgery was performed on December 10, last. It was carried out by Dr Kishore Persaud. Last year, a team of local surgeons performed their first-ever kidney transplant surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Dr Persaud was the
surgeon spearheading that team. “I’m happy that I was able to give my daughter the best gift,” Grant stated, adding that it was painful watching her daughter suffer every day and it is her hope that other people would step out and donate their kidneys to a greater cause. “We need to move forward and help people who are in need. The organ donation legislation would be a good thing for this country, because it will help save a lot of lives like my daughter’s,” she said. Public Health Minister Dr George Norton had stated that the ministry was looking at developing organ donation legislation in order for patients to undergo lifesaving surgeries. He had indicated that there are a lot of potential donor tissues going to waste in the hospital’s mortuary. However, he stated that while some persons may want to donate their tissues and organs to science, many of their families would not approve of it. “We are still evaluating such a legislation even though it is not high on our agenda,” he added, stating that there are many capable surgeons in Guyana to carry out such transplants. Nephrotic syndrome is usually caused by damage to the clusters of small blood vessels to the kidneys that filter waste and excess water from the blood, which in turn causes swelling in the feet, ankles and increase risk of other health complications. (Jeanna Pearson)
Friday January 08, 2016
Robbery/home invasion on Land Court judge...
‘Terror Gang’ back in court next Tuesday
The five men accused of robbing and terrorizing land court judge, Nicola Pierre, and her husband are due back in court next Tuesday (January 12). Warren Mc Kenzie, 22, of Lot 18 Brutus Street, Agricola; Damien Millington, 22, of Lot 118 Caesar Street, Agricola; Nicholas Narine, 18, also of Caesar Street Agricola; Premnauth Samaroo and Anthony David, 28, of 63 Hadfield Street, Stabroek, are facing three charges in the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court. The men are accused of robbing Pierre’s husband, Mohamed Chand, at gunpoint of five wrist watches, a Samsung Galaxy S5 phone, US$8,000, a wedding ring, four Oakley sunglasses and one brown leather wallet on July 9, 2015 at Montrose, East Coast Demerara. The second charge alleges that they robbed the Commissioner of Titles of a quantity of gold rings, diamond jewellery, a clump of gold, a quantity of gem stones among other items, all totaling $1M while brandishing a gun. In addition, the men are also charged with discharging a loaded firearm at Roy Peters, with intent to maim,
disable, disfigure or cause him grievous bodily harm. Attorney Nigel Hughes is presenting the case for the prosecution before Magistrate Zamilla Ally. According to reports, heavily-armed bandits inflicted a brutal beating on the Land Court Judge and her husband after overpowering an on-duty Special Constable and storming the couple’s home located in a gated community at Felicity, East Coast Demerara, on July 9, last. The couple was attacked while they were asleep. They were gun-butted into unconsciousness after the
Warren McKenzie US$7,000, jewellery, and a suitcase containing other valuables. But they were forced to drop their loot after
Land Court Judge, Nicola Pierre and her husband Mohammed Chand men, gained entry to their home via a window. The robbers carted off a small safe containing
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coming under gunfire from a security guard who was stationed at a businessman’s home nearby. Pierre sustained a broken jaw and other injuries, while her husband received severe injuries to an eye. He has since lost the eye.
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
Man tells court his penis can work like a stove A man confessed, yesterday, to taking out his penis and making lewd gestures to a female. He also admitted to damaging a door at a City Constabulary outpost. As a result he was jailed for a total of five months by Magistrate Alex Moore, when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Balram ‘Dog Mouth’ Singh (no address given) was slapped with three charges— damage to property, indecent exposure and indecent assault. He pleaded guilty to all the charges. Singh told the court that he exposed his penis because he wanted to “heat up” a tennis roll. The magistrate frowned and whispered to the clerk whether the man’s penis was a microwave or a gas stove. Particulars of the first charge stated that on January 4, last, at Stabroek Access Road, Singh exposed his penis to Gail McAlmont. He also admitted to indecently assaulting the woman the same day. Singh explained that on the day in question, he had a tennis roll but wanted to “heat it up” before eating it. It was more like he wanted to make love to it before eating it. The man said that he had nothing to warm up the tennis roll and decided to take his
Merriman Mall vendors did not comply with specifications - M&CC
Jailed: Balram Singh penis and rub it vigorously against the bread to generate sufficient heat. The court was told that McAlmont was walking in the area at the time, when the man moved his naked lower body in a back and forth motion at her. Singh was subsequently arrested by police in the area and taken to the Bourda Outpost, where he damaged a door valued $10,000 belonging to the Mayor and City Council. He was charged and pleaded guilty to destroying the door. Singh was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. As it relates to the indecent exposure charge he was jailed for one month and two months for the indecent assault. As he was being led away, a policeman told Singh that in prison, he would have a lot of tennis roll to “hot up”.
Machinery cleaning the area east of Cummings Street as a vendor (right) displays his products The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) yesterday stated that its move to bar vending at a section of the Merriman Mall, was due to the vendors’ inability to comply with Council’s specifications in their aim to spruce up the area for Guyana’s 50th Anniversary celebration. On Wednesday last, several vendors who normally operate at the Bourda location, were denied access to vend in a section of the Mall which resulted in protest, the alleged arrest of one vendor, and outcries from several Social Activists. Speaking with this publication yesterday, Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis revealed that the Council, having met with the Vendors’
Nine persons perished... (From page 6) new housing areas of Parfait Harmonie and Dairy on the West Bank of Demerara, will be up and running soon. According to the Fire Chief, the Fire Service is awaiting the arrival of a fire truck for that station. “The truck has been shipped already and should reach here by month end and at least by midyear, the La Grange Station should be operational,” Gentle told Kaieteur News. Apart from fires, the Department was also called upon for other rescue missions such as accidents where persons were trapped in vehicles. There were more than 30 such interventions countrywide
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“Sometimes when we do get there, the victims are already dead, but we still have to use special equipment to free their bodies from the wreck. We even got people out of a burning house,” the
Fire Chief said. Additionally, the Fire Department has also been assisting some special circumstances such as supplying water in its tanks to hospitals and other institutions.
Committee, had set forward specifications with respect to the size, colour and the overall presentation of stalls and the maintenance of the vending environment, all in the aim to upgrade and spruce up the area in celebrating Guyana’s 50th Anniversary. Lewis said that due to the failure to meet with these requirements, the vendors were asked to give the Council two weeks to enhance the area and to make stalls, which would in turn, be rented to vendors. At the end of the two-week period, the vendors would be allowed to operate, but only in a specific area of the Mall, since the M&CC will aim to also provide spaces to accommodate parking and recreational activities such as skating, Lewis revealed. Vendors with perishable items - fruits, vegetables etc. - were given time to sell out
their products east of Cummings Street. When Kaieteur News visited the area yesterday, barricades were still seen preventing vendors from entering the area between
Orange Walk and Cummings Street. Some vendors displaying mostly fruits and vegetables, were seen vending east of Cummings Street as City Police were in proximity, on alert.
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Kaieteur News
WANTED OFFICE CLERK WITH EXPERIENCED, CXC, C O M P U T E R S KNOWLEDGE AND GENERAL OFFICE WORK, POLICE CLEARANCE. RUIMVELDT. TEL: 2318529 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building. visadocumentsgy@ y a h o o . c o m . Call: 2256496, 662-6045 Building construction, house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 Custom Made: Kitchen cabinets, chest of drawers, beds, wardrobe, TV stand (strictly wood) @ Chung’s Craft Ent. Call: 592-627-3670 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158 Desmond Repair Services Fridge, AC, gas stove, microwave, washer, etc on the spot repairs –Call: (592)6788683; 687-9709 Building or renovating for quality construction services from foundation to fine finished. Call Carlos: 592-6829935; 592-223-2695
WANTED Damage batteries in any quantity, best price offeredCall: 696-5728, 656-2783, 6225941, 648-9395, 223-1111 Contract cars, dispatchers and hire cars (paid salary)Call:219-4086; 219-4087 Attractive waitress-Call: 6702323 1 Experienced male to look after layer birds in the Interior. Call: 678-0565 1 Experienced cook for a family in the Interior. Call:6780565 One domestic to work at Lusignan, 2 to 3 half days a week –Call: 220-0302 One graphics artiste & junior technician- Call: 223-4555; 695-2199 One live in maid-Call: 6683985; 264-2563 Landscape maintenance team seeks hardworking, reliable workers, ages 17-35; on the job training. Call: 219-0468 One tailor or seamstress- Call: 673-0373 One nail technician: apply in person with written application to Zytech Building Regent Street. Call: 225-0563
Wanted land to buy at Parfaite, Tuschen, Providence, Diamond, Eccles, Uitvlugt, best price pay-call: 604-6724 Computer literate person, CXC passes in Mathematics & English, apply with written application @ Trophy Stall (Bourda Market). Live in waitress to work in a bar- Call: 604-6606 Urgently needed on Tibetan Terrier, Male 6/12wks old, light brown – Call: 626-5445 Wanted to rent one lumber yard anywhere on the E.C.D, E.B.D and W.C.D-Call Cris: 663-7692 Live in couple: husbanddriving & mechanical skill & wife: domestic. Excellent rates. Call: 227-1830 Experienced salesgirls @ Christine’s Variety Store, Lombard Street. Call: 6268003; 227-8529 Experienced general domestic maid @ DiamondCall: 626-8003; 227-8529
3 Private cars/bus for rental on a long term basis for business place @ E.B.D $70,000 monthly. Call: 6842119
Security to work in the Interior, must have past military/police experienced, ages 40-50. Call: 226-9768; 615-6172
Buying non working BMW vehicles, Mercedes etc-Call: 684-2119
1 Personal assistant to work, must be 25 years & older with prior experienced. email detailed CV: humresdes@gmail.com
Live in domestic, must know to cook Indian dishes & also baking. Salary $80,000 monthly-Call: 610-3974 Maid and receptionist at Hilton Crest, Lot 12 Henry Street. Call: 225-9211
TAXI SERVICES
Bar attendant at Cotton Club, Lot 44 Public Road Kitty. Call: 231-1908; 231-1912
GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)
One housekeeper, one babysitter, age 30-45 years. Call: 621-4999 1 Female cleaner apply Technical Services, Lot 18-23 Eccles Industrial Site E.B.D
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
BOND WORKERS FOR WAREHOUSE, STRONG, FASTANDALERT. POLICE CLEARANCE A MUST. RUIMVELDT. TEL: 2318529
EXPERIENCED WRITERS, FREELANCERS OR GHOST WRITERS FOR SHORT FICTION EBOOK- GOOD PAY! TEXT ONLY: 603-0758
One receptionist ages 25yrs and older with working experienced. Contact us for more information: 223-0090 Female & male factory workers ages 19yrs & older with working experienced. Contact: 223-0090 Porters age 16 to 24 years, kindly call: 225-8066 Experienced security officers, age 30yrs to 45yrs, kindly call: 225-8066 Wash bay workers –Contact: 697-9540 One live in domestic or couple to work Mahaicony River, well paid-Call: 6446905; 225-6571
Friday January 08, 2016
SALON -Make Up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals, Black Opal, Mabelline. -Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257
VACANCY Night Security- send application to: P.O. Box 10109, Georgetown, by 8th January, 2016.
Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461.
Immediate vacancies exist for at least 12 workers to work @ Ice Factory, MeadowbankCall: 231-1408/ 642-9191
Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244
Driver and porter for water truck-Call: 680-3863. One Cook/cleaner and one Cashier –Call: 624-0033. FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 3 Storey business property on South Road, near the High Court. Call: 691-8420serious buyers Stalls 64-72: 47 feet long & 7 feet wide, section 1 LaPenitence Market, Albouystown-Call: 663-1597; 218-4837 Diving Suits-Call: 265-3449/ 613-5158 AMERICAN BULLY DOGS, REMYLINE & GOTTILINECONTACT HARRY: 6100068/220-7933, WHATSAPP: 667-4845 Wholesale & Retail quantity of all types of belts –Call: 6702343 Crazy Deals: Dell/HP desktop & laptop computers from -$49,000, free games & educational programs @ FutureTech: 231-2206 33.6 Acres farm land @ Kuru Kuru Linden Soesdyke H/ way, 1 garden tiller. Call: 2257794; 679-1151 One used ATV 4 wheel motor bike, colour: yellow, 450 model, at Parfaite Harmonie, asking price -$1.5M. Call:6623350
Person to work at body work shop-Call: 649-2569 or 6701637 1 Experienced barman & chief cook –Contact Sheik on: 6219759 or Donald: 673-4628
Experienced Bar/Shop worker for Ekeruku Bottom (Interior), ages 17-30yrs. Call: 231-0363 Able bodied male to work in a Hardware store-Call: 2194533; 231-2029; 616-5954 Male security, male desk staff, 25-45 years- Lot 233 South Road LacytownCall: 225-0198 One manager to work at a Hotel/Club on the Essequibo Coast, must have experienced in said field –Call:225-6610; 615-6172
One 15 Cu.Ft Frigidaire Chest Freezer, like new, great for home or business –Call: 6222899 One Power mate 3000 watt portable generator, like new $80,000 negotiable- Call: 6222899, 666-6592 MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heavens touch, visit us today! –Call: 690-6079
Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street Bourda-Call: 227-6817; 6247341
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 1-3 Bedrooms concrete bottom flat (new) and “grilled secure” at Lot 1560 Block XDiamond- Contact: 686-6379 D’Aguiar’s Park: original house in gated community, unfurnished -$120,000 negotiable. Call: 600-2031 1-3 Bedrooms upper flat @ Section ‘A’ Diamond, H/ Scheme E.B.D, fully grilled & concrete fence with parking space- Call: 662-9335; 6123244
DRESSMAKING Turn your flair for fashion into an exciting career or hobby. Clas s e s s t a r t i n g January –Call: 626-2629; 6766312
Apartments for rent @ Nandy Park, 2 Bedrooms, recently renovated, free WiFi, $80,000-$90,000 negotiable. Call:227-5194 1- Barber Station to rent at Bourda Post Office upstairsCall: 686-6379 3 Storey building for rent on Durban & Smyth Street, Werk-en-Rust- Call: 697-9540
ADORABLE PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 6004212
AE100 Corolla 7A Engine manual -$600,000 negotiable. Call: 602-6024
Two house & land for sale, excellent condition, one located at Tuschen & one at Goed-Fortuin. Call: 668-3985; 660-3235
Experienced cook, waitress, bartenders & bouncers needed @ Eden’s Bar, East Bank-Call for appointment: 652-0074
1290 MF tractor in good work order. Call: 614-9262
One Toyota Corolla 192 Gold-Call: 694-3113
PROPERTY FOR SALE
CAR RENTAL PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
Self-contained rooms in Prashad Nagar. Tel:6593865; 227-2993 Spacious 2 bedrooms apartment in Festival City. Asking $80,000- Call: 6192141
1-3 Bedrooms top flat, front & back verandah & parking DOLLY’S CAR RENTAL- space at Austin Street. Call: CALL: 225-7126/226-3693 - 628-7953 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ ACCOMMODATION YA H O O . C O M / W W W. Harmony Inn Apartments: DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM accommodation, internet, Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick hot & cold water, 24hrs tea/ up, cheapest rate, low coffee, $5,000-$10,000 –Call: 668-0306; 218-1400; 694security- Call: 698-7807 7817 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick Continued on page 31 up rental- Call: 690-6494
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Kaieteur News
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Prolonged dry spell affects GWI intervention in hinterland
Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) continues to assist Hinterland communities affected by the current prolonged dry weather. The GWI Hinterland Team is currently conducting remedial works and other interventions in Central Lethem, Aishalton, and Achiwib, in Region Nine, and Kamwatta and Koko, in Region One. According to Hinterland Manager, GWI, Osei Manifold, “Due to the prolonged dry season, the static water level of the wells in the communities we are currently monitoring, has decreased.” The static water level is the distance from the land surface (or the measuring point) to the water in the well. “The current climatic conditions have significantly affected these wells. However, while the levels have decreased, the wells are still producing water, though at reduced levels”. In addition, the well station serving the community of Aishalton is currently experiencing technical difficulties due to a defective control box which has caused the electrical pump, which supplies power to the station to malfunction. The well station at Achiwib is also experiencing challenges due to a damaged electrical pump. “The replacement parts necessary for these repairs have been delivered to Central Lethem,” stated Manifold, “and the GWI team will be travelling to each community by Friday, January 8 to assist the Regional Authorities with these urgent repairs”. The Hinterland Manager concluded that all repairs should be completed by Sunday, January 10. In addition, GWI has commenced a programme to provide the Hinterland communities of Kamwatta and Koko, Region 1 with improved access to potable water through
EDUCATIONAL RISING STAR DAYCARE, KINDERGARTEN & AFTERSCHOOL CARE. Small class size: Phonics, Reading, Numeracy–Call: 690-9378s the construction of new well stations and the installation of stand-pipes for both communities at a cost of over G$10 Million. Following a reconnaissance visit to both communities by the Hinterland Manager, the company is prepared to commence the drilling of new well stations at Kamwatta and Koko, Region One by midmonth. According to Mr Maifold, “both communities have significant water supply challenges. In fact, the residents of Koko depend on rain water harvesting for their water supply. Hence, the construction of these new wells is vital to improving the standard of living in both hinterland communities”. In addition to the construction of the well stations, the programme will involve erecting overhead storage tanks capable of storing in excess of 1800 gallons of water for more efficient water service. The programme will also encompass the installation of stand-pipes at key locations which are easily accessible and convenient for residents to access the service within Kamwatta and Koko. “In excess of 400 residents will benefit from improved access to safe water upon completion of both wells,” stated Manifold, in particular,
Govt. seeks proposals... From page 12 completed in May of this year.” To promote additional financial aid for the hydro power and renewable plan, Government said that it is partnering with the Brazilian government. Also, to carry through with this plan of a Green Economy, the government will be using US$80M from the Norway fund. This money was allocated to renewable
From page 30
GWI CEO Dr. Richard Van West-Charles during a tour of several Hinterland Communities
energy development. “…We will look to use the $80M in the most acceptable means of renewable energy… but it could be any form of the large scale renewable energy- which is the understanding that we have,” Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson recently said. Guyana is heavily dependent on imported fuel to meet its energy and transportation needs.
residents of Koko will be relieved following the construction of the new well station since the community has no water supply system. “In the past, residents utilized hand dug wells, but due to the prolonged dry season this is no longer an option. Every effort is being made to install the new systems in the swiftest manner possible.” Emphasis will be placed
on schools and health facilities to ensure these institutions receive consistent water supply. The installation of the water supply systems at Kamwatta and Koko forms part of GWI’s overall Hinterland Water Supply Improvement Programme which has received an investment by the Government of Guyana in excess of G$130 Million for 2015.
This Commission... From page 5 another, and probably even larger cache of information. What exactly did the commissioners ask for, what were they given and what did they consider for inclusion? Against the backdrop of incredible information being included in the COI’s report, I cannot help but reflect back on Mr. Christopher Ram’s assertion that the COI was unlikely to address the sugar industry’s real problems (KN, July 29, 2015). At the time, few knew what the terms of references were for the COI – what really was it supposed to examine and deliver recommendations on. Now, Mr. Ram may want to review the outcome of the COI against his original assertions. As an astute accountant, he may also want to comment on the integrity of the whole process, including the possible overreliance on data, the credibility and reliability of which now comes into question. I would lastly like to suggest that the commissioners seek approval, and an opportunity to engage the public in frank discussions on the work of the COI. Their silence in
the face of accusations / claims by GAWU, and outpourings of public dissatisfaction, is deafening. Many of the persons, who participated as commissioners, are former high-ranking officials of GuySuCo, who would have served the company and country with distinction. The least they may want to do at this time, is to exonerate themselves of any wrongdoings in the COI processes. In so doing, they will lay to rest any doubts about the COI, and if indeed errors were made, or unverified or even invalidated information was used, they can point to the sources of such errors or providers of wrong information. Similarly, many would not like to know that such persons who were held in high regard by both the government and the public, were actually the victims of a nasty game played out on them. Khemraj Tulsie
Enroll Now: classes starting 1st FebruaryCake decoration, cakes & pastries, floral arrangement. Contact: 223-3303; 612-4193 Practical Electronic Course beginning 26 th January. Register early! Call: 226-6551; 225-0391
VEHICLE FOR SALE One Axela Mazda -$1.550 negotiable, one Nissan Titan, one Audi A4; all vehicles in excellent condition-Call: 665-3038; 226-4356 Noah & Voxy in ‘G’ series, fully loaded, never registered -$1.7M –Call: 617-2891 Toyota Fortuner 2012 yearCall: 624-6702 New model RAV 4 4X4 $2.5M, Mazda Axela -$1.5M, good for bank purchase (both excellent condition) –Call: 220-6380; 639-2490
Private customs brokerage, training certificate course from 2nd Feb 2016, register now & save –Call: 694-8322; We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 223-1506 30 seater buses; Extra Cab Lessons Classes: Phonics, pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: Reading, Composition & 680-3154 Mathematics- ages 4-12 212, Allion, years old @ Roxanne AT192, Burnham Gardens –Call: 218- unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 2076; 619-4355 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 Fantasy Auto Sales: X-trail 2008, Mitsubishi RVR 2010, Audi A4, pre-ordered vehicles & get $100,000 discount. Call: 611-1833
LAND FOR SALE
1 Toyota Hilux Pickup single cabs; GGG $1.3M negotiable, excellent condition, long base- Call: 675-2650
Land for sale with structure at 407 Great Diamond, 8th One Toyota Mark 2 Grande Street front half. Call: 653- f o r s a l e . P K K s e r i e s , 3381; 609-3692 excellent condition, price $1.5M negotiable. Call: Parfaite Harmonie -$ 1.6M, 601-4163 1.8M, $1.5M, 1.3M, Tuschen 11 street -$3M with Toyota Raum with press start foundation, Phase 2 – alarm system -$900,000 $1.4M, Uitvlugt -$3M, negotiable-Call: 693-8192 Terms available – Call: 6046724 2-Unregistered new model Toyota Tacoma: step, alarm, Land with building crash bar, bed covering, dark foundation @ Second Bridge & light blue colour. Call: 695Diamond/Grove, price $2.9M. 6461; 639-7758 Call: 624-2857 1 Jailing Motorcycle 70HP $40,000 –Call: 648-2356
TO LET One bottom flat 3 bedrooms to rent at Eccles. Call: 6727756 or 694-3421 Apartments in Eccles & rooms in Alberttown. Call: 225-3234 Unfurnished building to rent with 3 bedrooms @ D’Aguiar Park –Call: 660-4481
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 08, 2016
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
Battle lines drawn in Venezuela political crisis
Supporters of Venezuela’s late President Hugo Chavez and current President Nicolas Maduro protest yesterday, at Bolivar Square, near the National Assembly in Caracas, where employees on the eve removed the pictures of the former. CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) – Venezuela’s political crisis deepened yesterday as the government vowed to stop the center-right opposition using its new legislative powers to try and oust President Nicolas Maduro. The opposition laid claim to a big majority in the National Assembly state legislature which could empower it to force out Maduro. He rejected the assembly as illegal and formed a new hardline leftist cabinet to fight it. Analysts have warned of the risk of unrest in the streets in the South American oil-producing country, stricken by recession and shortages. Political uncertainty reigned yesterday as
Maduro’s side vowed to sue the opposition for contempt of court for swearing in a twothirds supermajority in the assembly, in defiance of a government legal challenge. “We are going to bring a case against the flagrant violation of the constitution,” said pro-government deputy Ricardo Molina at a street rally of Maduro supporters. The new speaker of the congress, Henry Ramos Allup, rejected the charge. He has vowed the assembly will push ahead with legislation even though the Supreme Court has ordered three opposition lawmakers to be suspended over alleged electoral fraud. “We are not in contempt
of court,” he said. “The ones who are in contempt are the ones who have disregarded the public will after the elections.” The opposition MUD coalition won a majority in the assembly for the first time in nearly 17 years at elections on December 6. The MUD has vowed to find a way within six months to get rid of Maduro by constitutional means. But Maduro’s side has vowed to block it by suing, withholding funding and refusing to publish its legislation. “They give us six months to survive. You need balls to carry out a coup d’etat. We’ll see if they have any,” said Diosdado Cabello, the number two in Maduro’s leadership. As the battles lines formed, Maduro promptly reshuffled his cabinet, filling key posts with defenders of the socialist “revolution” launched by his late predecessor Hugo Chavez. Facing a “new stage of the Revolution” and a “bourgeois legislature,” Maduro said his new cabinet team would work on the “grave economic situation” and retool his party’s policies. Allup said that within six months his side would propose a way “to change the government by constitutional means.” Maduro responded: “I will be there to defend democracy with an iron hand. They will not make me give ground or waver.”
Slowdown In Chinese Economy Unlikely To Affect Investments In Jamaica …Financial Analyst The Gleaner - Financial Analyst, Ralston Hyman, says he does not foresee any scaling down of economic activity by Chinese investors in Jamaica as a result of a slowdown in the Chinese economy. Hyman says the Chinese economy has been decelerating in the last few months as the country’s economy has been growing slower than expected. The financial analyst says this has continued despite interventions by the government. However, he says despite the slowdown, he does not expect that Chinese investors in Jamaica and in other countries will cut back on investing and growing their business interests. Hyman says the Chinese government and Chinese investors will seek to do all they can to put that country’s
Ralston Hyman
economy back on a positive growth path. Hyman says, from a wider perspective, it is expected that the slowdown in the Chinese economy will affect the global economy. Noting that China is the world’s second largest economy and that it is a major purchaser of commodities, the financial analyst says the issues affecting China is
likely to affect countries that do heavy business with that economy. He says it is important that Jamaica seeks to redouble its effort to expand economic activities with the United States, which Hyman says is in a more stable position economically. He says Jamaica should be moving to boost exports to the US.
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Barbados kicks off year of golden Independence anniversary celebrations BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Barbados Wednesday launched a year of celebrations for its 50th Anniversary of Independence with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart urging Barbadians at home and abroad to recommit themselves to the development of the country. He told the large crowd converged on Independence Square, in the country’s capital: “We are going to make mistakes along the way, we are not perfect. We are going to falter from time to time . . . but let us . . . lay aside every weight and the distractions that so easily beset us, and let us continue to run with patience, the race that is set before us.” “We want to make Barbados the best country on earth and it is within our capacity to do so,” he added. Stuart was adamant that the country’s small size did not have to determine the kind of impact it could make on the global stage. The prime minister acknowledged that the island had experienced traumatic dislocation from the four major global recessions in its 50
Flying the flag high during yesterday’s celebrations. (Photo: Barbados Today) years of Independence, but stressed that because of the strength of Barbados’ character and the resilience of its people, cool heads had prevailed and the society was kept calm through these crises. “You are citizens of a great country. We don’t claim to be better than anybody else, but we claim to be as good as the best in the world,” he said to applause from those gathered for the event that featured a parade on land and sea, fireworks and a multimedia concert that displayed the best of local talent. “There will always be
those who demand perfection from us, while themselves being incapable in their own lives and their own spaces to be examples of perfection of any kind. Perfection is the exclusive preserve of the Almighty, none of us . . . is expected to be perfect. But we are expected to be faithful, faithful to the causes we consider to be important to the development of this country and that I am able to claim Barbados has always been.” Barbados will celebrate its 50th Anniversary of Independence on November 30 this year.
St. Vincent PM says too many not paying taxes KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent - CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says too many taxpayers, including large and mediumsized taxpayers, “simply do not pay their taxes as required under the law”. He said the situation exists even as the rate of compliance for Value Added Tax (VAT) is falling. Gonsalves, in a national address earlier this week to mark the beginning of the New Year said EC$200 million (One EC dollar =US$0.37 cents) is owed in all categories in addition to interest and penalties. “Some big businesses, including a few with significant cross-border trading, do not pay all of their due taxes,” said Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Finance. “Own-account businesses, including professionals, are notorious in not paying their fair share of taxes. In all of this, too, it is to be noted that the compliance rate for VAT is falling; a significant number of propertyowners, including in certain geographical areas, are not paying property taxes; and many owners of motor vehicles are not paying their
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves motor vehicle licences; these are also driving their vehicles uninsured,” Gonsalves said. He urged the offending citizens and residents to make satisfactory arrangements with the Tax authorities to pay up their arrears in taxes and to keep current with their tax obligations. “I am also demanding of the Tax Authorities to administer the tax laws with fairness and firmness. It is simply unfair that some persons get away from paying their due taxes while others have to carry the burden.” He told the nation that the government cannot properly execute its “necessary and desirable programmes” if taxes are not being paid by so many persons.
The Prime Minister said a similar complaint is being made about employers who do not pay over to the National Insurance Services (NIS) their own NIS contributions and those that they have deducted from their employees’ earnings. “The NIS ought to get tough on such recalcitrant employers,” Gonsalves said. “There are enough challenges and difficulties facing our small country for us to be making our lives more problematic with unproductive labour and management, mayhem on the roads, violent crimes, burglaries, theft of farmers’ commodities, and non-payment of due taxes and NIS contributions. “The challenges from the global economy, the fall-out from international terrorism, and destructive natural disasters are added to the existing limitations of a small-island, developing country with its scarcity of material resources, and its abundant vulnerabilities. These external challenges we must meet successfully; but we make things more difficult for ourselves when we pile on internally-induced problems which we can easily avoid,” he said.
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WASA employees feel fire no accident …records recovery woes as 2nd floor wiped out Trinidad Guardian - The official cause of the fire that destroyed the second floor of the Water and Sewerage Authority’s (WASA) main building at its St Joseph administrative complex is yet to be determined. Wednesday, fire officials began investigative work at the site while workers were ordered to stay home until further notice. But while the official cause of the fire has not yet been found, workers on the compound said they strongly suspect it may have something to do with important documents relating to contracts, minutes of board meetings and other development projects which were kept in “Blue Files” on that particular floor and a coming audit. The T&T Guardian spoke to a senior WASA official on the condition of anonymity who said contrary to an initial
claim, he was not sure the authority had backup files. WASA’s communications manager Daniel Plenty said on Tuesday they did have backup files as he sought to dispel speculation the fire was related to records kept on the second floor and the impending audit. He said not all of the authority’s records were kept at St Joseph. But Wednesday, the WASA source, recalling the scene when the fire broke out, said: “WASA’s alarm is always going off. We always have bomb scares here. “When the alarm went off Tuesday evening, a few of the workers who were still in the building did not take it on. People expected a false alarm and never thought a real fire could have broken out. This is the first time this ever happened at WASA.” Public Services Association president Watson Duke, meanwhile, dismissed suggestions WASA employees could have had a hand in the fire. “I will not think that people will do that here,” he said at a press conference. He admitted that the blaze took place on
the eastern side of the building, which housed “a whole range of offices ... (including) the CEO’s office, the Information Systems, the purchasing and supply (office), so it is a very important area.” On Tuesday, Plenty said in his 25 years at the company he had never experienced something like that. He said his own office, the Communications Department, was also housed on the second floor and the fire would also affect operations in other departments but could not say to what extent. Plenty assured that dislocated staff would be relocated and said no one would lose their jobs. While some seven fire tenders sought to extinguish the blaze with highpowered water hoses, workers stood around the building quietly watching on Tuesday. One female employee said she was in shock. Outside, on Farm Road, residents gathered on the sidewalk also sadly watching the building burn. “This is a landmark,” a woman said. A group of women felt “politics” was behind the fire.
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
Parliament to debate new taxes
Trinidad Express - Parliament meets on Monday to debate the Finance Bill, 2016, after a month long break. The Finance Bill is the legislative measure designed to bring the changes to the VAT regime and to personal and business taxes, and the end to the moratorium on Property Tax, all of which were announced in the 2016 Budget, into effect. These measures were originally to take effect from January 1, 2016 but this has been delayed to February, 1, 2016. Imbert had announced a reduction in VAT from 15 per cent to 12 and a half per cent and the changes to the range of items that are subject to VAT, as well as the increase in the Personal Allowance for individual taxpayers, the increase in the Green Fund Levy and the Business Levy, and the reinstatement of Property Tax. On Monday the Government would also table the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Selection Process) Order 2015 and the Appointment of the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Qualification and Selection Criteria) Order 2015. Both o r d e r s w e r e gazetted on December 16, 2015. The Qualification and Selection Criteria Order states that the candidate for
the COP “shall be a national of Trinidad and Tobago�. The candidate must also have a degree from a recognised University in either law, criminal justice, criminology, police service management, or any other relevant degree and no less than 15 years experience of increasing responsibility in law enforcement. The Deputy COP must also be a Trinidad and Tobago national and must have some academic qualifications cited above but no less than 10 years experience of increasing responsibility in law enforcement. The candidate for either COP or deputy COP must not be bankrupt and must not have a conviction for a criminal offence. The Selection Process Order states that the Police Service Commission, on the request of the Minister of National Security shall contract an appropriate local firm to conduct the recruitment process, including inviting applications for the
positions. The local firm shall select from the applications received the most suitable candidates for the assessment process, before submitting to the Commission a report, on the its assessment of the entire assessment process, the resume or biography of the candidate, medical examination report, security and professional vetting report. The Commission must establish an Order of Merit List and select the highest graded candidate, whose name is submitted to the President. Where the House of Representatives does not approve the highest graded candidate on the Order of Merit List, subsequent nominations may be submitted to the House from the Order of Merit List. Where the Order of Merit List is exhausted, the process set out in the Order shall be recommenced. The Order of Merit List will be valid for one year, the Order stated.
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 08, 2016
Chintamani retained as 2015 described as most successful... chairman of Leguan CC Viren Chintamani was reelected unopposed as Chairman of the Leguan Cricket Committee when the body held its Annual General Meeting recently at Leguan Secondary School. Phillip Assign was elected Vice Chairman while Harvey
Gobin will serve as the Secretary. Mustapha Zaman was retained as the Treasurer; Seenarine Oudit is the Assistant Secretary and Yuvindra Ojha the Assistant Treasurer. The Public Relations Officer is Sharon Stephen.
Chintamani thanked the clubs for their support and urged his fellow executive to work assiduously towards the development of the game on the island adding that the sport needs the backing of the business community.
GTA 2015 Awards ceremony ushers... (From page 36) Psychology and play college tennis at the Coppin State University in Maryland. He uttered words of gratefulness for his tennis life which started with Coach Debbie Bunbury in 2004 through tennis camps and ended with Coach Shelly Daly in 2014 in the National Team. His first year was extremely successful both in academics and tennis. President of GTA, Grace McCalman, expressed her optimism about tennis in Guyana even as she winds down her tenure and sees the latter half of 2015 as a historic juncture that signals a new dawn for tennis in the nation. The association is spending much effort to foster better relations by developing policies and procedures to allevi-
ate the inconsistencies of information transferred among members, clubs, parents and coaches. An enhanced ranking system which is easier to understand was established and used to determine the overall winners. She revealed that there were discussions with Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Department of Sport to tackle the two critical and basic factors of tennis development which are proper infrastructure and development programmes that expand tennis beyond Georgetown. She lamented the overwhelming task of finding resources to push tennis nationwide but that the GTU has now committed to providing assistance in this regard. She also reminded all
present that the effort to develop tennis cannot only come from the GTA but rather all affiliate resources such as clubs, coaches, parents and the business community. She urged partner organisations to work with the GTA to incorporate sustainable tennis activity into the school curriculum for schools outside of Georgetown. High on the Association’s agenda this year is working to implement the strategic plan for tennis in primary schools, refurbishment of the National Park courts and embarking on the development of the National Racquet Centre as a proper multi complex facility that incorporates lawn tennis, table tennis, squash and badminton, while making optimal use of the space available. This would have the potential to serve as an international hub for the Caribbean region. She appealed to all coaches to put egos aside and work together and learn from each other as to make coaches workshops work and be productive. President of the Guyana Olympic Association, Mr. K. A. Juman-Yassin advised that sporting associations must get on board with Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine’s vision for sport in Guyana. He explained that this should be an opportunity to work along with him to ensure sport in school is reestablished at a young age. He specifically made mention of the hard work that Coach Shelly Daly has dedicated through the years, but urged that the GTA continue to seek input from more coaches who can similarly commit to the job at hand to achieve even greater success. Trevor Williams, who represented the Department of Sport, received applause from the audience as he proposed that sports persons should not pay airport tax, are recognized for the hard work that goes into preparation and upon return these persons should be welcomed by the media no matter the results posted. He reiterated the Government’s position to use lawn tennis and table tennis as pilots and to give full support to their undertakings.
(From page 35) hosting of a Rose Hall Night and Berbice Fashion Designers Competition. Thanks is being extended by the club to all media houses in Guyana who assisted in the promotion of its work including NCN, Kaieteur News, Gem Magazine, Guyana Chronicle, Guyana Times, TVG, DTV-8, LRTVS Ch10. Recognition was also extended to the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of the Presidency, Ministry of Education, Gizmos and Gadgets, Farfan and Mendes, Bakewell, Metro Office Supplies, Sterling Products, Guyana Beverage Inc., DDL/ Pepsi, Republic Bank, GBTI, New GPC Inc., Ansa McAl, Goodwood Racing Service, TCL, Sentinel Security, National Sports Commission, DeSinco Trading, Edward B. Beharry & Co. Ltd, GTM Insurance, Assuria Insurance, John Fernandes Ltd., Mings Products & Services, West-
ern Union, Fitness Express, P&P Insurance Brokers, Bank of Nova Scotia, Demerara Bank, HA Snacks Co. Ltd, NAMILCO, DTV-8, Trophy Stall, Tiger Sports, Food for the Poor, Len’s Craft Optical, Modern Optical Service, CCI, GTT, Sueria, Southland International, Bounty Farm Ltd., Ricks & Sari Ltd, Khanai’s Electrical, The Gift Centre, GCB, BCB, Mortimer George, Leslaine Lambert, Calcutta C.C. of Trinidad and Mr. Prem of Canada, among others. For 2016, the club would be headed by Keith Foster as President, Hilbert Foster (Secretary/CEO), Shemaine Campbelle (Treasurer), Franklyn Ross (Assistant Secretary/Treasurer), Keith Hicks (Organising Secretary), Ravindranauth Kissoonlall (Assistant Organising Secretary), Collis Butts (Cricket Coordinator/ Coach) and Julian Pike (Office Manager). The Committee Members are Mark Papannah, Terry
Pike, Sohan Harry, Elizabeth Brusch and Neville Beaton in his capacity as Chairman of the club’s Over-35 section. Shawn Perriera remains Club Captain for the first division; James Fraser heads the Bakewell second division team, Chanderpaul Govinda leads the Farfan and Mendes Under-15s, Kevlon Anderson is at the helm of the Bakewell Under-17s; Brandon Prashad leads the Pepsi Under-19 and Gizmos and Gadgets Under-21 sides while Shazam Khan will guide the Under-13 team. West Indies player Shemaine Campbelle will captain the Metro Female team. A special Cricket Development Committee headed by Foster will spearhead the club’s cricket programmes. Other members of this committee include Collis Butts, Keith Hicks, Ravin Kissoonlall, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Shawn Perriera and Mark Papannah.
Friday January 08, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) This is one of those days in which you may ask for five minutes to complete a certain task and an hour later finally finish whatever you set out to do.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Things may come to you more easily than usual today, Libra. This is a sign that you're on the right path and doing things correctly.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Don't be afraid of the fire today, Taurus. Instead, embrace it and incorporate more of it into your life. Certain people may intimidate you at first, but that doesn't mean you should run away from the scene.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Check your messages often, Scorpio. Someone is trying to contact you and you may keep missing each other by minutes.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Tackle things that require high energy today, Gemini. This is your day to make short work of chores, errands, or any sort of physical activity. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Even though you feel most comfortable when things are organized and meticulous, Cancer, you're going to need to be flexible. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Finding balance in your world will be no sweat once you get into the groove, Leo. Waking up is likely to be the most difficult part of the day, but once you conquer that incredible feat, you should be fine. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You may feel like the smallest issue is suddenly a life or death situation, Virgo. Depending on your mood, you may think you're on the brink of complete disaster, but the next minute be soaring high in the clouds.
SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) You will get much farther than you think today, even with minimal effort, Sagittarius. There are plenty of avenues to take now, so even if one is jammed, there's always another that you can reach easily. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Don't get too caught up in the emotional side of life today, Capricorn. Keep things light and keep them moving. A rolling stone gathers no moss. Unfortunately, you may have quite a bit of that green stuff growing on you now. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Try not to be overwhelmed by the frenzied activity around you, Aquarius. Unexpected variables are popping up everywhere, and your first reaction may be to flip out. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) It's time to bring more fire into your life, Pisces. Consider calling up an old flame or friend from the past who stirs the passion within you.
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Life bans for three athletics figures over alleged doping cover-up The son of ex-world athletics chief Lamine Diack is one of three senior figures given life bans from the sport. Former IAAF consultant Papa Massata Diack and Russian officials Valentin Balakhnichev and Alexei Melnikov were last month charged with multiple breaches of anti-doping rules relating to Russian athlete Liliya Shobukhova. Ex-IAAF anti-doping director Gabriel Dolle has been banned for five years. IAAF president Lord Coe said the bans “could not send a stronger message”. Diack and Balakhnichev, a former presi-
dent of the Russian athletics federation and IAAF treasurer, face fines of £17,000 while Russian coach Melnikov could be fined £10,000. The independent IAAF ethics commission panel’s 170-page report claims Diack, Balakhnichev and Melnikov conspired to “blackmail” Shobukhova to cover up her doping violations by her paying them “bribes” of about £435,000. Last month, Diack told the BBC he “totally rejects” the blackmail allegations, saying: “There was no extortion of funds from any athlete.”
The panel said: “The head of a national federation, the senior coach of a major national team and a marketing consultant for the IAAF conspired together (and, it may yet be proven with others too) to conceal for more than three years’ anti-doping violations by an athlete at what appeared to be the highest pinnacle of her sport. ”They acted dishonestly and corruptly and did unprecedented damage to the sport of track and field which, by their actions, they have brought into serious disrepute.” Shobukhova’s 38month ban from track and field
CFU Club Championship groups, schedule unveiled KINGSTON, Jamaica – A meeting between Montego Bay United (Jamaica) and holder Central FC (Trinidad & Tobago) will highlight preliminary-round play in the 2016 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship after the groups and schedule were announced. The sides participated in the 2015/16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, but one or both of them will be eliminated from
potential involvement in the 2016/17 edition, following their Group 3 encounter on February 28. The CFU revealed that 14 clubs from eight member associations entered the competition that will open with a preliminary round consisting of two four-team groups and two three-team groups. The four group winners will advance to the final round, which will be contested at a single location
April 29 – May 1, utilizing a semifinal, third-place match and final format. The two finalists and third-place match winner will earn berths to the 2016/17 SCCL. DirecTV W Connection (Trinidad & Tobago) is the only other team in the field to have qualified for the SCCL, participating on four previous occasions (2009/10, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2015/16). In the 2015 final, Central FC topped W Connection, 21, for its first international title.
Papa Diack was reduced by seven months after she turned whistleblower for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Russia have been banned from international athletics competition after a report by WADA’s independent commission alleged the country was guilty of “state-sponsored doping”. A n a l y s i s There is an old rule of journalism that you should always get the name of the dog in any story about a domestic tragedy or natural disaster - the idea being it is the pet with a cute name that really
Valentin Balakhnichev grabs your audience. There should be an amendment to that rule for this golden age of sporting scandal: get the name of the dodgy bank account. In the case of the scam to suppress positive drug tests by Russian athletes in return for cash, it is called ‘Black Tidings’. How apt for a grim tale that involves drugs, mysterious meetings, blackmail, a cosmopolitan cast of pantomime villains and the Olympics. The weirdest thing about reading the 170-page into how the IAAF president’s son and two leading Russian
officials colluded to extract huge sums of money from a drugs cheat - while Dolle, the IAAF’s anti-doping boss, looked at his finger nails and whistled - is you almost feel sorry for the cheat. Almost. The most alarming thing for athletics is this report - into one scam, involving one athlete - will be the mildest indictment of the moral malaise at the sport’s heart in the coming weeks and months. There is far worse to come, which the report hints at with references to other athletes, other officials and other countries. Black tidings indeed. (BBCSport)
Platini withdraws candidacy for FIFA presidency Banned European soccer boss president Michel Platini has withdrawn his candidacy from the race for the presidency of soccer’s scandalplagued governing body FIFA, he told French sports daily L’Equipe yesterday. Platini, the head of European soccer body UEFA, was handed an eight-year ban from the game by along with outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter by the federation’s independent Ethics Committee on Dec. 21. The former French international has insisted he has done nothing wrong and was still hoping to win an appeal in time to have been allowed back in time for the election on Feb. 26., but said he had changed his mind. ”I withdraw my candidacy. I can no longer (go through with it). I have neither the time, nor the means to go and see the voters, to meet people, and to fight with others,” he said in an interview which L’Equipe published on its website. ”By withdrawing, I chose to fully focus on my defence on a case where there’s no
Michel Platini talk of corruption, falsification anymore, in which there’s nothing left,” added Platini, who was widely seen as the favourite until he was banned. ”It’s a matter of schedule, but it’s not just that. How do you win an election when you’re prevented from campaigning?” Blatter and Platini were both banned over a payment of 2 million Swiss francs
($2 million) made to the Frenchman by FIFA with Blatter’s approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier. The committee said the payment, made at a time when Blatter was seeking re-election, lacked transparency and presented conflicts of interest, though both men denied wrongdoing. (Reuters)
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Friday January 08, 2016
FIFA Ethics Committee opens Demerara names softball proceedings against Mr Valcke teams for Unity cricket The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee chaired by Mr HansJoachim Eckert has opened for m a l a d j u d i c a t o r y p r o c e e d i n gs against Mr Jérôme Valcke based on the final report submitted by the investigatory chamber. The adjudicatory chamber has studied the report carefully and decided to institute formal adjudicatory proceedings against Mr Valcke. For reasons linked to privacy rights and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, the adjudicatory chamber will not publish further details at the present time. In the course of the proceedings, the party will be in-
Jerome Valcke vited to submit his position including any evidence with regard to the final report of the investigatory chamber (art. 70 par. 2 of
the FIFA Code of Ethics) and may request a hearing (art. 74 par. 2 of the FIFA Code of Ethics). (FIFA)
Holder rejected Smith’s run chase offer
The West Indies captain Jason Holder declined an offer to make a game of the rainruined third Test against Australia in Sydney because he did not think his side was ready to try to go for the win. In a scenario that the Caribbean side would have struggled to create over a full five-day match against Australia, the hosts’ captain Steven Smith offered Holder the chance to defend 370 runs off 70 overs on the final day, with Australia declaring their first innings at 0 for 0 then offering scoring opportunities to the visitors. Smith’s disappointment at the offer being refused was plain. ”We want to try and win every game we play and today was a perfect opportunity to set the game up for a good chase and for the fans that stayed out this afternoon,” Smith said. “For us that would have potentially been me bowling with three slips and two gullies and leaving every man up for them to try and hit as many as they can to try and make sure they left 370 off 70 as promised to them. ”Whatever you have to do to get that on the board was going to happen. No-one really wants to see a draw, they want to see a good, exciting cricket and teams winning. We were willing to give them 70 overs on a day-five wicket and we were going to go after the runs. 370 off 70 overs is quite a lot of runs, I
think that is fair game for both teams, as I said it was just disappointing that they weren’t willing to come to the party.” A crowd of 6865 took advantage of free admission to come to the SCG on the final day, and Smith’s intention overnight had been to give them a spectacle. The game is more cynical about contrived results after the days of the former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje, who once made a similar offer to the England captain Nasser Hussain on the final day of a Test at Centurion in 1999-2000 on behalf of bookmakers. However, Smith said the coach Darren Lehmann had checked the ICC playing conditions and code of conduct before making the offer. “I spoke to a few of the senior guys, but that was the number I was looking at over night and this morning if the sun was going to come out and we could play,” Smith said of the 370 target. ”I spoke to Boof who read through the rules, which said you’re allowed to do that kind of thing. That was on our cards today (yesterday) and as I said unfortunately they didn’t come to the party.” For Holder’s part, his team has made subtle improvements this summer, but their bowling has been a major weakness throughout, as evidenced by how D a v i d Warner rattled to a century from only 82 balls on the
final afternoon. Like Allan Border leading a similarly weakened Australia in the mid-1980s, Holder felt that his team must learn how better to avoid defeat before victory can be pursued. ”He [Smith] came to us and made an offer, I just went back to the team and we thought at this stage of our development it wasn’t the best thing for us,” Holder said. “We had [Denesh] Ramdin who was scoring well and looking well, so just give him the encouragement to go out there and build an innings and build some confidence. ”We set out at the beginning of the series to bat 90 overs each time we batted and get past the 300 mark. That was one of the things that we wanted to achieve today and we achieved that. It was a team vote, team decision. At that stage of our development and the phase we’re at we thought it was the best thing for the team. ”We started in Hobart and we didn’t play well at all there, we showed improvement in Melbourne and we just had to come here to improve as well. I think we just need to take it step by step, it’s not a case where you can just jump from losing Test matches to winning in one transition, especially against good opposition like Australia.” The West Indies tour ended on a note of personal loss for opening batsman Rajendra Chandrika, whose father Baljit died suddenly overnight in the Caribbean. Both sides wore black armbands out of respect. (ESPNcricinfo)
With the time fast approaching for the Legacy and 007 Promotions Unity Cricket at the Providence Stadium on January 30, Demerara has named their softball teams to participate. Five softball matches will be played with the ‘Open’ 10/ 10 Final set to be played under lights before the main event which features the top T20 players in the West Indies commences at 19:30hrs. Karibee Boyz Berbice, Essequibo and two teams from Demerara (Regal and Wolf Warriors) are the teams vying for the $500,000 first prize and a trophy. The masters 15/15 game between Demerara and Berbice carries a winner’s prize of $200,000 while the winner of the 10/10 female game between Berbice and Demerara will collect $150,000. Demerara will fancy their chances in the female game since three of Berbice’s top players Tremayne Smartt, Shamaine Campbell and Erva Giddings would be unavailable due to West Indies female team commitments. Richard Persaud will lead the Demerara Masters team which will include Wayne Jones and former Guyana First-Class batsman David
Richard Persaud
Latoya Smith
Harper while the Demerara lasses will be captained by National female player Latoya Smith and will Kavita Yadram and Haseena Mohamed who have both represented Guyana at the Regional level. Demerara Masters: Richard Persaud Capt. Ramo Malone, Yunis Yusuf, Lloyd Rooplall, David Harper, Eric Thomas, Mahendra Hardyal V/Capt, Fazil Baksh, Davanand Kannon, Tony Singh, Jagdesh Persaud, Wayne Jones, Mohamed Rafeek Manager: Dharam Persaud. Demerara Female team: Latoya Smith Capt., Kavita
Yadram V/Capt, Zola Telford, Matanna Cambridge, Roxanne Demonick, Haseena Mohamed, Tamika Wilson, Jinelle Nero, Amanda Bobsemple, Kaysia Shultz, Sangetta Sawh, Alicia Allen, Odessa Oneil. Coach is Linden Wilson. The organisers have collaborated with corporate sponsors and have received support from the Guyana Cricket Board and Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) for this huge event. An exciting day is planned from 10:00hrs when the gates will be opened.
GFF must request early submission of yearend tournaments audit reports -Vital for transparency, accountability By Rawle Welch Now that the frenzy surrounding the annual yearend football tournaments has dissipated, the focus now should be on accountability and transparency within the respective associations that hosted competitions. While it is early days in relation to each association submitting their respective audited accounts, it is incumbent on the local governing body, among whose mandate it is to ensure that all related affiliates are compliant with its statutes, to urge members to make early submissions of their audited reports. The importance of this is that it will serve as notice to all that a new dispensation has arrived where good governance, accountability and transparency will be strictly adhered to and lip service a thing of the past. The absence of those tenets was what severely hindered the sport’s development in the past and if the
Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is serious about taking the sport on a new path (one that it has not ventured on for close to three decades) then every affiliate must be held accountable. The decision to grant its member associations permission to host their respective yearend tournaments is commendable since it allows them the opportunity to generate monies to assist in the further development of their member clubs, while at the same time contributing to their viability and alleviating some of the burden that the GFF faces as the entity chiefly responsible for the sport’s development. The cost of hosting yearend tournaments is quite substantial, but a large percentage of it is borne by title sponsors with some assistance from a few minor sponsors thereby allowing the associations the luxury of concentrating on gate receipts as their primary avenue for profit.
This is to ensure that apart from compensating teams and by extension players at yearend, the other purpose should be to start the next year in a position of strength to execute their individual programmes. In order to guarantee that those two areas are met, the involvement of the GFF is crucial as the caretaker of football in Guyana. Many times in the past officials were accused of fraudulent activities and clear lack of accountability which created a lot of acrimony within the fraternity, a development that evidently affected good governance. In order to eradicate such suspicions, the governing body’s role must be to request audited accounts from every association at the earliest possible opportunity. The GFF could place itself in a strong position to exhibit the kind of leadership that was lacking for many years by requesting those audit reports are submitted at the earliest opportunity.
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
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2015 described as most successful year for Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club 302 programmes/activities achieved for Silver Jubilee
President David Granger being awarded the RHTY&SC Dolphin of Excellence. The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) has described 2015 as its most successful year, stating that it was able to make a positive difference in the lives of thousands of youths, the elderly and less fortunate, fulfilling its mandate. The club during the years completed a record 302 programmes/activities surpassing the projected 225 it had projected for its Silver Jubilee Anniversary during the year. Founded in 1990 by the St. Francis Community Developers, the club has over the years evolved into Guyana’s leading youth and sports organization with an unmatched list of achievements and activities. Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster informed that the activities/programmes were hosted under various subheadings including sports, charity, education, antidrugs, anti-suicide, youth development, community d e v e l o p m e n t , awards/honour, religious, coaching, social development and funding jobs for youths. He posited that the success of the club for 2015 was achieved as a result of hard work by the Club’s Management, the support of numerous official sponsors, the club’s remarkable ability to transform vision into reality and for coming up with visionary ideas to touch and change the lives of others. On the cricket field, a total of ten club members represented Guyana at the National level. Assad Fudadin and Royston Crandon represented Guyana at the Senior Level
while Fudadin also played for the Guyana Amazon Warriors T20 team. Kevon Anderson and Junior Sinclair played for the National Under-15 team w h i l e S y l u s Ty n d a l l represented the Under-17 side. At the female level, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Sheneeta Grimmond, Melaine Henry and Plaffinna Millington represented Guyana. A total of 18 players represented Berbice or played in the Guyana Cricket Board Premier League. Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Rajiv Ivan, Eon Hooper, Shawn Perriera, Clinton Pestana, Keon Sinclair and Jason Sinclair all played in the PCL 50overs national tournament. The club’s Metro Female team was also reformed under the captaincy of Shemaine Campbelle while Collis Butts was appointed Coach of the club’s cricket team. The club won the Berbice River Bridge 50overs first division tournament and has to date reached the finals of the 2015 Busta Champion of Champions, Tenelec 50overs first-division and the Te n e l e c U n d e r- 1 5 tournaments. They also won the club’s organised Farouk Kudrath Memorial Under-17 tournament, Bernadette King/Isabella Smart Memorial Female, Peter Trim Memorial Under-19 and the Assuria Insurance 5overs Second Division competitions. The club has also reached the semi-finals of the Raffik Second Division T20 tournament and to date the quarter-finals of the New
Medical Outreach Programme with New Amsterdam hospital.
Building Society 40-overs Second Division. During the year, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club also organized a total of 12 tournaments at different levels with sponsorship from the Guyana Beverage C o m p a n y, A s s u r i a Insurance, Bakewell and Ansa McAl among others. Hosting of the GBTI Inter Secondary School Male and Female tapeball tournament, GTT Inter Primary School Softball and Imran and Daughters Female Softball tournaments were also achieved. Foster proudly stated that they have organised more cricket tournaments than most cricket boards or associations in Guyana and also hosted numerous cricket development programmes including the TCL Annual Cricket Academy which attracted close to one hundred young players; personal developmental sessions for players and a role model programme which involved junior and senior cricketers of the club. T h e R H T Y & S C ’s involvement in other sports saw them co-sponsoring over 26 tournaments across Berbice in the disciplines of cycling, athletics, b a s k e t b a l l , volleyball,hardball and softball cricket, football and chess with donations of close to $1M worth of trophies, medals and prizes. A total of 32 clubs and NGO’s have also benefitted from the club which donated $1.5M worth of gear and equipment. The long serving Club Secretary/CEO noted that among the major activities brought off last year were the historic
Christmas Village, Annual Awards Ceremony, Mother and Father of the Year, Annual Youth Magazine, Ansa McAl Award of Excellence, Basil Butcher Cricket Trust Fund, Gregory Gaskin Memorial, Berbice Sports Award Scheme, Ansa McAl Tribute to Head Teachers, Demerara Spelling Bee, Bank of Nova Scotia Tribute to Teachers, Berbice River Bridge Tribute to R e t i r e d Te a c h e r s Programme, Leon Wiggins Tribute Football Tournament, Western Union Junior Cricket Programme, Medical Outreach Programme with the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and the distribution of $1M worth of schoolbags to less fortunate students. The club also joined hands with the Edward B. Beharry Co. Ltd, ‘B’ Division of the Guyana Police Force and the Region 6 Department of Education to host a successful Say No to Drugs, Suicide Crime and Say Yes to Sports and Education Programme. Under this outreach programme, a massive school march and rally was held for all secondary schools and selected primary schools in Berbice including a thousand students while schools received banners, posters for every classroom and a 40-page information booklet. Schools also received donations of educational materials; less fortunate students received school uniforms, footwear, schoolbags and materials to attend school, while cricket clubs and schools also received cricket balls and sport equipment.
Donations were also made to the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost as part of the Say No to Drugs Programme. The RHTY&SC during the month of September also played a major role in the 45th anniversary celebration of Rose Hall Town achieving the status of township. A total of fifteen major activities were organized including the construction of a billboard, public exhibition, medical outreach, publication of an anniversary brochure, evening of music with the Guyana Defence Force and several sporting tournaments for cricket, football and basketball for residents. October was specially named the Month of the Silver Jubilee and among the thirty major programmes hosted were the Tribute to Heroes and Tribute to Outstanding Cricketers events. His Excellency President Granger, Minister of Sports Nicolette Henry and Director of Sports Christopher Jones were also inducted as Honorary members while the club also unveiled its highest ever award – the Dolphin Award of Excellence which to date has been presented to Robert Selman, Ravi Mangar, President David Granger and Jennifer Cipriani. Under their charity programme, the club was able to distribute over $10M worth of clothing, footwear and food items to less fortunate families, while under the pro-education outreach programme a total of 23 educational competitions were hosted, including debates, essays,
posters, public speaking, etc. In December 2015, the RHTY&SC completed its Silver Jubilee year by hosting a multi-million Christmas Charity Programme. The club also donated $100,000 worth of score books to the Berbice Cricket Board and also played a major role in acquiring assistance from the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Sports. With such a remarkable year of success in 2015, the RHTY&SC is targeting a p r o j e c t e d 3 0 0 programmes/activities this year. President David Granger would be inducted as the club’s fifth Honorary Patron replacing Ms. Beverly Harper whose five year term ended on the 31st of December, last. Major plans includes the restoration of the club’s Area ‘H’ ground Head Office, the construction of an outdoor cricket practice facility, expansion of the junior cricketers coaching programme, hosting of at least 20 major cricket tournaments at the Under13, 15, 17, female, second division and first division levels and the construction of a recreational park for children. The club’s Say No to Drugs, Crime and Suicide Programme would also be expanded. The RHTYSC is also involved in major discussion with a CARICOM Government to have a former West Indies batting maestro visit Guyana for three days in February and will also focus energies on the Annual Children Mash Costume Parade, the (Continued on page 32)
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Friday January 08, 2016
GABBFF aiming to attract 50 athletes at every show in 2016 -preceding year was consistent on the + side – President Bess
Female athletes at Seniors 2015.
By Franklin Wilson President of the Guyana Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (GABBFF) Kevon Bess is satisfied that 2015 while not being an outstanding year saw the federation recording consistent encouraging performances locally and internationally. Recounting the year, Bess informed that last year they were able to accomplish significant improvements in the number of athletes on stage while at the same time achieving better quality bodies gracing the stage as well. ”We are pleased that more persons are expressing interest in competing and the level of competition continues to ascend.” The federation apart from granting permission to private promoters of shows runs off the Novice, Intermediate and Senior competitions. Bess noted that the Novice competition was very successful to the extent that the fans went away
pleased with the level of competition that was presented to them. T h e s e n i o r championships, the federation’s marquee event sponsored by Supligen was held at the Park View Hotel, Farm, East Bank Demerara where again, fans attended in their numbers. Mr. Guyana Kerwyn Clarke was able to retain his crown and bragging rights for another year by out muscling his opposition in a straight six-man battle. Wowing the crowd as Guest Poser was Huskin ‘Biscuits’ Worrell of Barbados who is a 16-time CAC gold medalist in the Under-176lb category. Junica Pluck was crowned Miss Bikini while Alisha Fortune took the Miss Body Fitness top spot. The year ended off in grand style with the federation granting permission for the hosting of Flex Night International which was eventually won by Surinamese Wendel Sedro. Flex Night is hosted by Flex Night Inc. headed by
The Overall finalists at the GABBFF’s Senior Championships 2015.
former GABBFF President Donald Sinclair who mission and motto is ‘Raising The Bar’. The show has been able to achieve this in every regard ever since the reemergence of the host gym, Fitness Paradise. On the international scene, Bees recounted that his athletes made the nation proud at the 43rd Central American and Caribbean Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships held in Nassau, Bahamas, in particular, Guyana Defense Force athlete, Devon Davis moved up to the Bantamweight class to secure a silver medal. Mr. Guyana Kerwyn Clarke was fourth in the Light Middleweight class while Emmerson Campbell was placed in a similar position in the Men’s Physique competition. Sylvester Andrews achieved fifth in the Welterweight division. The lone female athlete, Alisha Fortune did not place in the finals of the Miss Body Fitness competition.
The multi-talented Fortune has been outstanding on the local scene for many years now. At the Darcy Beckles competition in Barbados, Yannick Stephon Grimes placed a creditable fourth out of a total of 17 athletes which turned out to be the highest placing by a Guyanese at this show to date. ”Although we did not manage to secure as much medals in 2015 compared to recent years we are still proud of our four consecutive years of medal placing and the outstanding performances of our athlete both locally and regionally. The highlight of the year will have to be recorded as the CAC silver medal.” Looking ahead to 2016, Bess acknowledged that this will be a year when Guyana will celebrate her 50th Independence Anniversary as a Cooperative Republic and in keeping with the Government’s calendar of events to make the year a memorable one, the GABBFF will be striving to have at least 50 athletes on
Mr. Flex Night International Wendel Sedro of Suriname receiving his prize from GABBFF President, Kevon Bess.
stage at all of its shows. He pointed out that there will be a total of five 5 local mega competitions including the Hugh Ross Classic and Muscle E x p l o s i o n .
While financing remains an issue, Bess says he is hopeful that they will be able to garner much needed support from the Government and corporate Guyana.
GTA 2015 Awards ceremony ushers in a new dawn for tennis Affiliate partners of the Guyana Tennis Association (GLTA), sponsors and parents gathered for the announcement of the prestigious 2015 Player of the Year awards recently. All except Coach Leyland Leacock were not surprised that he would cop the top award of Senior Male player of the Year with 600 points, while dethroning Anthony Downes who won the award several times in succession in recent years. Leacock edged out Daniel Lopes who came in second with 560 points with Downes trailing in third with 540 points. Nicola Ramdyhan for the second time was awarded Senior Female of the Year
Awardees and officials at the recent GTA presentation. with 630 points. Aretta Dey came in second with 570 points and Afruica Gentle with 410 points. The awards are donated annually by Dr. Arthur Ingram Hazlewood,
an overseas Guyanese who is an avid tennis fan and prominent dental consultant who provides financial support to the Association each year.
Daniel Lopes claimed the award of Junior Male of the Year with 630 points but not without the close challenge of Keenan Persaud with 613 points. Hemraj
Resaul came in third with 504 points. The Junior F e m a l e o f t h e Ye a r Champion was once again captured by Nicola Ramdyhan who amassed a whopping 840 points, holding off Aretta Dey on her heels with 805 points. The young and potent Shivani Persaud also wrapped up an impressive 567 points. A special award for Most Improved Player was given to the promising 12yr old Joshua Kalekyezi, who only a year ago was playing Green Ball categories before being thrown into the Yellow Ball category where he immediately took on the challenges and made obvious commitments
towards excelling. This award was donated by Mr. Norris McLean, who is also an overseas Guyanese tennis player and enthusiast. The GTA presented an Appreciation Award to Bounty Farm Ltd for their unwavering commitment each year to the association to assist with fundraising. Chief Accountant Mr. Garfield Wiltshire received the award on behalf of the company. A short presentation titled ‘The Climb’ was made by the most recent tennis scholar Gavin Lewis who left Guyana’s shores in January 2015 to pursue studies in Criminal Law and (Continued on page 32)
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 41
AAG lacked innovation in modest 2015 performance By Edison Jefford Lack of innovation and the catastrophe that e n v e l o p e d G u y a n a ’s C A R I F TA G a m e s participation piloted the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) to a modest performance in 2015 when there was a reservoir of opportunities available to improve the work of the association. The year under review began with Guyanese distance athletes dominating the twelfth edition of the Bigi Broki Waka 10km and 5km races over the Jules Wi j d e n b o s c h B r i d g e . Cleveland Forde, Lionel D’Andrade, Andrea Foster and Alika Morgan were the athletes who did well in Suriname last January. The AAG began its programme early in February with a Development Meet at Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Ground where South A m e r i c a n Yo u t h g o l d medalist, Jason Yaw showed authority among the seniors with two impressive wins in the 80m and 600m. The following weekend the association hosted a Cross Country Race in Linden, which began and finished at the Bayrock Ground, Wismar. But the benchmark meet, and source of much controversy for the association, followed. After trials early in March, the AAG shortlisted nine athletes for the annual CARIFTA Games in St. Kitts & Nevis, April 4-6. Seven athletes in the U18 category made qualifying times while no athlete made the standards in the U-20 group. Those shortlisted were Compton Ceasar (U-18 Boys 100m, 200m); Matthew McKenzie (U-18 Boys 1500m, 3000m); Kenisha Phillips (U-18 Girls 200m); Cassie George (U-18 Girls 1500m); Claudrice McKoy (U-18 Girls 3000m); Chantoba Bright (U-18 Long and Triple Jumps) and Natricia Hooper (U-18 Girls Triple Jump) In addition to those U-18 athletes, middle distance U20 athlete, Ornesto Thomas was included on the team along with United Statesbased sprinter, Brenessa Thompson. Both Yaw and Tevin Garraway were left off of the shortlisted team. However, things went
Kenesha Phillips
Compton Ceasar
wrong when flight issues prevented Guyana’s locallybased athletes from competing at the Caribbean’s most prestigious Junior Track and Field Championships. President of the AAG, Aubrey Hutson, had said that locally-based athletes bound for the meet will have to remain at home unless the association sources US$20,000 to charter an aircraft. Asked why the AAG waited until the week of the Games to pursue flights, Hutson indicated that the association had an arrangement where 15 seats were secured since January on the Trinidadian charter to the Games, but those were not guaranteed. Hutson then tried a similar route on the Jamaican charter and that too failed. Fly Jamaica also fell through with procuring flights for the team. As a result of the travel imbroglio, US-based sprinter Thompson was G u y a n a ’ s l o n e representative at the 2015 CARIFTA Games, a first for the association in four years. The administrative blunder forced the nonparticipation of some of the athletes at the CARIFTA Games; some of whom were headed to the event for the first time. Meanwhile, others like George, were defending titles they won in 2014 in Martinique. George won 1500m gold and 800m silver as a 14-yearold U-17 athlete in 2013 in The Bahamas. George returned in 2014 to put in a double gold medal performance in the same age group when she landed medals in the 1500m and 3000m events. The travel issue last year prevented George, for instance, from establishing a legacy for Guyana. The AAG postponed a planned National High School Championship later in March where it was planning to host the best
Andrea Foster
Brenessa Thompson
Winston George athletes from nine districts, but all arrangements were not finalized in time to host the event, according to a press release. The competition would have b e e n t h e A A G ’s f i r s t innovation, but it never materialised. The death and burial of the Guyana Olympic Association and the AAG Administrative Secretary, Shanomae Blackmore capped a very dark March in t h e s p o r t l a s t y e a r. Blackmore passed away at her home following a brief illness. The following month, Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) sprint ace, Rupert Perry returned to form following an accidentrelated absence from the sport with a scintillating performance that ignited stories of his dominance on the local circuit prior to his hiatus. Perry blasted 10.1 seconds in the male 100m to mark the opening of the National Track and Field Centre at Leonora; an incomplete synthetic facility opened prior to the May 11 General Elections after approximately five years of construction, numerous delays and setbacks that landed some of the contractors reportedly before the Courts. The athletics association was wrapped up in another travel imbroglio when five athletes: George, Caesar, H o o p e r, S a m u e l s a n d
Cleveland Forde McKenzie, bound for South America Association of Pan American Youth Athletics Championships, were left in Guyana. The report emanating from the youth team was that an athlete forgot a passport at home, resulting in the setback. Perry continued his impressive return to the apex of local sprinting when he sprinted his way to a 200m title at the National Track and Field Centre in the National Senior Championships in June. Police Progressive Youth Club, and Running Braves Athletics Club, ran away with the lion share of the spoils at the Athletics Association of Guyana ( A A G ) R e l a y Championships at the National Track and Field Centre late in July. Meanwhile, Police’s Winston George represented G u y a n a a t t h e Wo r l d Championships in China last August. The AAG had also selected junior athlete, Andrea Foster to attend the World Games along with George. Also in August, Police Progressive Youth Club edged GDF to win the Sixth Edition of the Boyce & Jefford Track and Field C l a s s i c . H o w e v e r, i n October GDF exacted revenge when they flipped the script on the Police to win the third Inter-Services Annual Athletics Championships (ISAAC) title in four years.
Linden’s sprint ace, Compton Ceasar finished seventh in the finals of the 100m in Samoa, at the C o m m o n w e a l t h Yo u t h Games with a time of 10.7 seconds in September. Ceasar had entered the finals with a personal best time of 10.60 seconds in the first round. Ceasar also made the finals of the 200m. Hooper entered the 400m with a time of 55.04 seconds and placed 4th with a time of 57.04. She missed the finals. These events unfolded before Forde took preeminence in what can be now called ‘Road Race Season’. Forde raced to wins in the Ainlim and Courts 10km Road Races later in September. However, he was stunned in the second leg of
IAAF’s South American 10km Road Race, when two Peruvians and a Kenyan relegated him to fourth place for the first time in a decade. Meanwhile, Guyana’s distance-running duo, Kelvin Johnson and Lionel D’Andrade continued to enjoy overwhelming success in Trinidad where they are based. The duo consistently topped road races, placing first and second, in the Twin Island Republic. The 55th National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships was held in November where Upper Demerara/Kwakwani won their 14th overall title. Kenesha Phillips, and several other young athletes, put on a show over the course of one week at the National Stadium, Providence.
Page 42
Kaieteur News
Volcanoes beat Jaguars by one run on D/L system ; Red Force hammer Scorpions by 84 runs The Windwards Volcanoes, on the back of 91 from 34-year-old left-hander Devon Smith beat Guyana Jaguars by a run on the Duckworth/Lewis system in their rain hit NAGICO Super50 cricket match at the St Paul’s ground in the countryside of St Kitts & Nevis yesterday as the event opened with four matches. The Windwards, hunting third Regional 50-over title were bowled out for 214 in 50 overs with Smith falling nine short of his sixth regional one-day hundred. The Grenadian’s 21st fifty at this level was the mainstay of the Volcanoes innings and was supported by 22-yearold Vincentian Sunil Ambris who fell three short of his maiden fifty and his skipper Liam Sebastian who made 27. Twenty-year-old leftarm-spinner Gudakesh Motie captured 3-32 on debut and got back up from off-spinner Steven Jacobs, who had 3-40 from 10 impressive overs. Heavy rain during the lunch interval meant that 10 overs were lost and the Jaguars were set 196 to win before another shower left the
Gudakesh Motie Jag u a r s , c h a s i n g a revised target of 124 in 26 overs. The South Americans could only reach 122-4 in 26 overs despite a solid unbeaten 44 from West Indies Opener Assad Fudadin with the Guyanese Franchise needing 53 from 42 balls when a third shower ended the contest. Meanwhile, defending champions Trinidad and To b a g o R e d F o r c e demolished Jamaica Scorpions by 84 runs. Batting first T&T Red Force made 221 with Evin Lewis hitting a run a ball 74 while Rayad Rmrit made 43.
In response, Man-of-thematch Marlon Richards snared 5-36 to help rattle the Jamaicans for 137 in 42.5 overs as the defending champions also took a bonus point for their efforts. Yannick Ottley was the perfect foil for Richards with 2-16. At UWI ground in Trinidad in the other 09:00hrs game, Barbados Pride beat the ICC Americas by four wickets despite an attractive 73 from Guyana Alex Amsterdam who was last out as the students made 183 all out. Man-of-the-match leftarm spinner Sulieman Benn took 4-40 while Ashley Nurse had 3-23 for Barbados, who reached their target losing six wickets on the back of a half-century from Jonathon Carter. Match schedule for t o m o r ro w, S a t u r d a y, January 9: Scorpions vs Americas – UWI SPEC (9 am) Red Force vs Pride – Queen’s Park Oval (9 am, ESPN Caribbean) Hurricanes vs Jaguars – Warner Park (1:30 pm) Volcanoes vs Marooners – St. Paul’s (9 am)
Adverse Analytical Findings re Tour of Guyana Five-Stage Cycle Race Guyanese, Jamaican and Barbadian riders under the microscope The Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) conducted testing in Guyana on Sunday, November 1st, 2015. The lab results from the mission confirmed three (3) adverse analytical findings. Kaieteur Sport was able to ascertain that one Guyanese rider along with a Jamaican and Barbadian have been found wanting following the drugs tests that were administered by the relevant reps of the RADO in Guyana following the conclusion of the annual Tour of Guyana 5stage cycle road race. Young Guyanese rider Raul Leal of Team Gillette Evolution was eventually named the Overall winner after Team Coco’s Carlos Ospina based in the USA had won the final stage and Overall but was later disqualified after he was selected randomly to be drug
tested but refused to comply citing unhealthy conditions. Ospina had also won the first stage from Corriverton to New Amsterdam, Berbice, go 5th in the second stage from Rosignol Berbice to Georgetown; second (bunch) in the third stage from from Wales - West Bank Demerara to Bushy Park - East Bank Essequibo; and fourth in the 4th stage which pedaled off from Supenaam to Charity and back to Suddie in Essequibo. The random tests were requested of the Guyana Olympic Association by the RADO and a total of ten (10) riders were selected; Leal, Alanzo Greaves of Roraima Bikers Club, Team Coco’s Marloe Rodman, Hamzah Eastman, Raynauth Jeffrey, Ospina, Darren Matthews and Jaime Ramirez. Geron Williams of Continental Cycle Club and another
Bajan rider, Jamal Eastman. According to the RADO release, the cyclists have been notified by their respective Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) and these matters are currently being reviewed by the Results Management Committee of the athletes’ A D O s . To ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the results management process, and in order to respect Article 14.3.5 of the World AntiDoping Code, no further details can or will be provided at this time, the press statement informed. Guyana is one of fifteen member countries comprising the Caribbean RADO. For further information, please contact Tessa Chaderton-Shaw, Executive Director, Caribbean RADO at 1-246836-2715.
Friday January 08, 2016
Australia v West Indies
Warner blasts 82-ball ton in inevitable draw After two days of constant rain in Sydney, David Warner produced a torrent of runs on the fifth day to entertain the faithful with the quickest Test century ever recorded at the SCG. A draw was the inevitable result of a Test in which only 150.1 overs were bowled due to wet weather, b u t Wa r n e r ’s 8 2 - b a l l hundred at least ensured there was good reason to watch the final day’s play. Cricket Australia had thrown open the gates and declared free entry, and the local fans hoped they would see the Australians bat early in the day. Only 68 balls had been possible on day two, and days three and four had been completely washed out, meaning that the only chance of a result would have been if the captains agreed to double-declarations on the final day, but that was not to be. West Indies began the morning at 7 for 248 and batted on, Denesh Ramdin completing a second consecutive Test halfcentury before they were dismissed for 330 on the stroke of lunch. And so, Australia’s first innings of the Test began after lunch on day five, with Warner and Joe Burns hoping to get whatever they could out of the day’s batting; another century opening stand was a good result. Burns played the support role while Warner plundered boundaries; he took 16 off one Jomel Warrican over that featured the only two sixes of the innings. The first of those sixes, slapped over midwicket, brought Warner his halfcentury from 42 deliveries, and he kept his brisk run-rate up as the session wore on. The partnership ended at 100 when Burns lofted a catch to mid-on off Warrican on 26. Mitchell Marsh was bumped up to No.3 to give him some valuable time at the crease; he has spent hour upon hour in this series waiting in the dressing rooms with his pads on as the top-order batsmen have repeatedly built huge partnerships. But while he defended and tried to get his eye in, the
David Warner struck the fastest Test hundred ever recorded at the SCG © AFP runs kept flowing from Warner, who seemed to be on target to score a century in a session. However, more rain arrived ten minutes before the scheduled tea break and Warner left the ground unbeaten on 90, hoping the weather would clear and he would have the chance after tea to score his 16th Test hundred. It did, and he did; the milestone came up with an under-edged sweep for three off Warrican, and it was Warner’s first Test century against West Indies. It was also the fastest of all time at the SCG, his 82ball effort beating the 84-ball century scored by Matthew Hayden against Zimbabwe back in 2003-04. Warrican picked up a second wicket when Marsh edged to slip on 21 and Peter Nevill, who had not batted in the series, was promoted to No.4, finishing unbeaten on 7 alongside Warner on 122 from 103 deliveries when the captains agreed to call off play.
Earlier, Ramdin had started the day on 30 and brought up his fifty from his 139th delivery, but the chance to go on and score a Test hundred ended when he edged Steve O’Keefe and was sharply taken by Steven Smith at slip. In the next over, Nathan Lyon had Kemar Roach caught by Burns at short leg for 15 and West Indies were 9 for 300. However, a 30-run lastwicket stand frustrated the Australians, with Warrican finishing on 21 not out when Jerome Taylor slapped a catch to point off O’Keefe, who finished with 3 for 63 in his first Test on home soil. Such was the lack of play that O’Keefe and Lyon between them bowled nearly half the overs completed in the Test. (ESPNcricinfo) Australia 2 for 176 (Warner 122*) drew with West Indies 330 (K Brathwaite 85, C Brathwaite 69, Ramdin 62, O’Keefe 3-63, Lyon 3120). (BBCSport)
Friday January 08, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 43
At the crossroads, Clive Atwell needs the support of Guyanese government and people By Michael Benjamin In February last year, Clive ‘The Punisher’ Atwell squared off with Jamaican Welterweight Contender champion, Sakima Mullings, and after twelve rounds of fistic fury, Atwell was crowned CABOFE super/lightweight champion. Three months earlier, Atwell had travelled to Australia where he had engaged homeboy, Kye Mackenzie, for the interim PABA super/featherweight title and the Guyanese suffered a 10th round TKO loss. Even before this loss, Atwell had battled with the tough Mexican, Johnny Gonsalves, in his hometown, Mexico, for the coveted WBC World Featherweight title but failed in his bid after referee, Laurence Cole, waved the bout off in the 10th round to save the Guyanese from further punishment. It meant that Atwell had endured a tough encounter with Mullings and had suffered three brutal knockouts, all this within a nineteen month period (2014-05-24 to 2015-10-24). The Dexter Gonsalves bout was an impromptu one after Gonsalves’ initial opponent, Iwan Azore, was ruled out after incurring an injury while training in Trinidad and Tobago. Contacted to fill the void in less than a month, Atwell unwisely took the
bout and in an effort to enhance his chances, opened camp in the world famous Gleason’s gym, Brooklyn NY. Though reports seemed to suggest that he was doing well at Gleasons, later occurrences during the (Gonsalves) bout painted a different picture. It seems painfully obvious that Atwell’s activity was not being properly (and sensibly) supervised. This view was garnered by this writer after discussions with some key members of the Atwell training team. Further, Atwell later revealed that he had incurred a head injury while training at the Brooklyn NY institution. The (Dexter) Gonsalves bout was another brutal affair and though there is still uncertainty of what really transpired, what was clear was that ‘The Punisher’ crumbled to the canvass and was subsequently rushed to the Balwant Singh Hospital where he was diagnosed with massive intracranial hemorrhage and general swelling of the brain. Consequently, neurosurgeon, Amarnauth Dukhi, performed an emergency surgery during which, part of the skull was removed thus placing Atwell’s boxing future in doubt. Pundits have often advocated that boxing is sweet science and not as brutal as the naysayers may
Clive ‘The Punisher’ Atwell
want to propagate. Nevertheless, there have been instances where boxers were thrown into comas after brutal affairs. Though legislators have enacted numerous laws to make the sport safe, there have been many instances where boxers lost their lives after brutal encounters. Boxing pundits of the late seventies will remember the Patrick Forde/Cecil
Fernandes bout in December 1979 when the latter pugilist fell into a coma but died while being ‘Medievaced’ to Miami to deal with his injuries. Many boxers have often been dubbed ‘punch drunk,’ a term given to those pugilists suffering the ill effects of participation in the sport, years after they would have left the ring. The list is extensive and boxing
remains the sport tabbed as the most dangerous notwithstanding the many lives lost in other disciplines like motor racing and even cricket where Australian, Phil Hughes, died after he was struck with the ball during a recent match. Only recently, Puerto Rican boxer, Prichard ‘Digget’ Colon, defeated former Guyanese world champion, ‘Vicious’ Vivian Harris. In his next fight he became the victim of the ugly side of the sport when he was stopped in his bout with American pugilist, Terrel Williams, and had to be rushed to the hospital and u n d e r w e n t s u rg e r y t o relieve pressure on brain injuries suffered during the bout. There have also been instances where family members opted for euthanasia rather than seeing their loved ones suffer with little hopes of resuming a normal life. In an earlier interview moments after he was discharged from the hospital, Atwell had said that he is not yet done with the sport. He said that the doctors had ordered further tests and had hinted the need for another surgery to address his ailment. It seems that the fallen champion is still bent on reentering the ring despite the odds which seem to suggest that he calls it a day. Atwell’s career (and I
daresay his life) is now at the crossroads; his main source of income has been jeopardized and he is appealing for help from his government, from his people. The fallen champion is appealing for this help and one wonders whether he should not receive support from boxing administrators. If my memory serves me correct, boxing administrators have deducted a small percentage of the boxers’ purse to facilitate these eventualities. Yes, President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC), Peter Abdool, had dealt with the expenses associated with Atwell’s stint at the hospital. While this is commendable, it could hardly support the needed funds required for Atwell’s long road to recovery. Atwell said that he has written to government officials for assistance and revealed that he is still to hear from them. Maybe this missive can serve to generate the requisite interest and by extension, concomitant support, for someone who had been outstanding in his field while serving his country. Other aspirants are taking note and the end results could very well determine their stance in representation of this country in any (sports) discipline.
West Indies U19s depart for Bangladesh Barbados – The West Indies Under19 team departed the Caribbean yesterday afternoon for Bangladesh where they will participate in the ICC Under-19 World Cup from January 22 to February 14. The team will play two warm up matches before they open their account on January 28 against England. I C C U n d e r- 1 9 Wo r l d C u p Warm up game - Scotland vs West Indies January 21. Venue: Khan Shaheb Osamn Ali Stadium, Fatullah Warm up game - South Africa vs West Indies January 23. Venue: Khan Shaheb Osamn Ali Stadium, F a t u l l a h G r o u p C England vs West Indies January 28 Venue - Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury S t a d i u m Fiji vs West Indies January 30 - Venue: MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong West Indies vs Zimbabwe February 1 Venue: Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
Barbados Cricket Association President and WICB Director, Joel Garner, offers words of advice to the team at the Grantley Adams International Airport.
t r o Sp Volcanoes beat Jaguars by one run on D/L system; Red Force hammer Scorpions by 84 runs
Devon Smith. ©WICB Media Photo/Randy Brooks
Ashley Nurse takes a return catch.
Holder rejected Smith’s run chase offer
The victorious Australia side pose with the Frank Worrell Trophy, Australia v West Indies, 3rd Test, Sydney, 5th day, January 7, 2016 © Getty Images
Life bans for three athletics figures over alleged doping cover-up
Adverse Analytical Findings re Tour of Guyana Five-Stage Cycle Race Guyanese, Jamaican and Barbadian riders under the microscope
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