Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
Where your views make the news
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Letters... Where your views make the news
Entertaining Violence Press freedom and people’s rights DEAR EDITOR, It would be difficult to determine which is the greater preference – the abhorrence of violence in the streets, or enjoyment of the entertainment it provides in our homes, on our TV screens, as a matter of course every day and night. It is as if TV would not be worth looking at without a measure of violent entertainment. This of course excludes religious programmes, too many of whom, on the other hand, are founded on an island isolated from the brutal challenges of daily life. In a wry sense, therefore, one cannot seek refuge from violence by recourse to religion – a contestable viewpoint understandably. So it is with some concern that those of us who may have crossed over the age of virile posturings, and forgone the indulgence of a purported masculinity, view the increasing bombardment of images of violence in other lands, that is apart from the unavoidable news stories, and interpret the mimicry inherent in
the behaviour of local perpetrators, including those who are employed to serve (us) and protect (themselves). So adult (and young) viewers who live with the limited presentations of the domestic TV service are befuddled by the peremptory and unexplained deletion of programmes that contain analyses, commentaries (pro and con) reasoned and u n r e a s o n a b l e argumentations, about international issues which may have an impact on domestic perspectives of individuals and communities; and even politicians. Discourses from which lessons can be learnt, without the bias of party inputs. It was this sort of programming from which the writer and colleagues found totally deleted, with two minority presentations – in Rachel Maddow and the Rev. Sharpton from – MSNBC – unceremoniously excluded. In its place can be found programming that focuses on violence and police investigations – ID, on top of NCIS, Law and Order, Scorpion and many more regular
films repetitively emphasising that murder and intrigue are a staple diet in this deprived (if not depraved) community, as they are in say ‘developed’ USA, where there is greater selectivity, including those which can lead to more positive education. We therefore have perpetrators and victims programmed subconsciously to their roles in preparation for the eventual collision. And it is not as if those employed to investigate seemed to have benefitted from the mass of portrayals, despite the resort to unmatched technological intelligence. One wonders at the unrestrained embrace of shows of violence and insensitivity of the decisionmakers involved. This is an appeal for them to reflect on their corporate responsibility to entertain the population in general and more particularly the youths of this country with more positive images to emulate, and to remember that we already live daily in a real world of violence. E.B. John
DEAR EDITOR, I wish to commend the National Commission on Disability and the Guyana Elections Commission for discussing new modalities that will allow for persons with disabilities to cast their ballot in the upcoming national and regional elections. This is indeed a step in the right direction and will only serve to enhance our democracy. People with disabilities are no different from any other person insofar as their intellect and faculty of reason is concerned. They have an interest in what is going on in the country and do have an opinion and a preference as to which from among the competing political parties will best represent their interest. In fact the very term “persons with disability” has
now become somewhat of a misnomer and they are now referred to as “persons who are differently-able” since as we all know disability does not prevent anyone from making their contribution to society in positive and in their own unique ways. I know of several persons with disabilities of one type or the other who were denied the opportunity to exercise their franchise in previous elections because of logistical difficulties to get them into the polling booth. This is an area that needed to be given some more consideration by GECOM in addition to the highly commendable measure to allow persons who are visually impaired to vote. Exercising the right to vote is not only a fundamental human right but also a sacred duty. I encourage all Guyanese to exercise that
right, especially in today’s context when votes are counted and elections are not only free and fair but free from fear. Hydar Ally
A step in the right direction
are dwindling in Guyana
DEAR EDITOR, Deep in their hearts, the ruling cabal believes that they have perfected the art of political distraction by demonstrating how easy it is to change the national conversation from their scandals and corrupt practices to other issues. But they are truly mistaken because the vast majority of Guyanese know that they are corrupt, incompetent and lack the managerial skills to run the country efficiently. Not only has the PPP regime undermined democracy, violated the constitution and stifled freedom of the press, but they have harassed those who have criticized their corrupt practices, including the publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall, who has been threatened with violence by a government official. So for the PPP cabal to say that they condemned the murderous attacks at Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine in France, is repulsive and hypocritical. Days before the AFC announced that it would bring a no confidence motion against the corrupt PPP regime, the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal prorogued Parliament and in the process became a dictatorial regime. The ruling cabal is so
brazen that they believe that they are invincible and could do whatever they want and the people and opposition just have to accept it. Let the truth be told, the Jagdeo/Ramotar regime does not believe in freedom of the press and the people’s right to live in a free society and to express their opinions freely without fear of reprisals. There can be no dispute that for years they have harassed and threatened Kaieteur News, victimized and even killed those who have opposed their corrupt practices and exposed their thievery of the treasury and the country’s resources. The PPP is so antidemocratic that they have fired several of their critics. They have become so vindictive and evil that they have even written and demanded the dismissals of Carl Greenidge, Janette Bulkan and others from external organizations of which Guyana is a member. Yet, the PPP regime says it supports freedom of the press. Not even the deaf and the blind would believe a single word coming from the mouths of these charlatans. To put it mildly, the PPP cabal is un-diplomatic, antidemocratic and is an
embarrassment to the people of Guyana. For the president to condone the obnoxious, vulgar and violent threats by the Attorney General against the staff of Kaieteur News, the abusive cussing-down of the US Ambassador at his residence by Priya Manickchand and the president’s nasty and rude remarks against an Amerindian citizen at Aishalton is not only unbecoming of the president, but also makes him unsuita ble to be the Head of State. His condoning of vulgar behaviour and corrupt practices by ministers and senior PPP personnel in the government shows that he has no self-respect. Let’s call a spade a spade. The PPP fit the description of a ghetto regime when it instructed for confidential tax information of Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall to be released to private citizen Jagdeo and others, denied advertisements to Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, issued radio licences to family and friends of the regime, and used the state owned Chronicle, NCN-TV and radio stations to attack their opponents, spread propaganda and distort the Continued on page 23
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Kaieteur News
Guyanese third person extradited by TT in three days Trinidad - Ravindranauth Roopnarine, a fugitive wanted in the United States for financial and fraud-related crimes, is the latest criminal to be extradited from Trinidad and Tobago, according to a release from the Office of the Attorney General. Roopnarine, who was born in Guyana, is the third person to be extradited in three days. Trinidadian Shazam Meighoo and Surinamese Edmund Muntslag were both extradited under differing circumstances last week. “The Central Authority Unit in the Ministry of the Attorney General has succeeded in extraditing yet another criminal wanted by the US law enforcement agencies,” the release stated. “Ravindranauth Roopnarine, a fugitive on the run from US authorities for financial and fraud-related crimes, was arrested on Tuesday January 6, 2015. The
fugitive, who is 55 years old and is a Guyanese-born Canadian citizen, had various addresses in south Trinidad,” it said. In December 2010, the Federal Grand Jury of Florida issued an indictment charging Roopnarine and three other individuals with six counts of mail and wire fraud; four counts of money laundering; and one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud. “On November 12, 2014, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan SC signed the Authority to Proceed to commence the extradition proceedings and a warrant of arrest was obtained and handed over to the Interpol Bureau,” the release stated. “Around 6.45 p.m. on Tuesday, the fugitive was observed on the premises of a restaurant and bar along Manahambre Road, Ste Madeleine. Assistance was sought from the Senior Superintendent and police officers of the Southern
Division apprehended Roopnarine. “He appeared at the Port of Spain Eighth Magistrates Court before Magistrate Marcia Ayres-Caesar, who upheld submissions made by the head of the Central Authority to deny Roopnarine bail. He was remanded into custody and the matter was adjourned to February 4, 2015.” The release added that the extraditions show this country’s commitment to international judicial cooperation. “This case represents another noteworthy accomplishment, in light of the recent appointment of Attorney General Ramlogan as vice-chair of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force. “It exhibits our ongoing commitment to international judicial cooperation and our promise of swift action on crossborder money-laundering and financing of terrorism,” it stated.
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Six charged as cops bust Corentyne gang
Premchand Kallicharran
Delroy Parks Following the armed robbery that occurred last Wednesday on the Black Bush Polder Access Road where a couple was ambushed and robbed, the police have seemingly broken up a major crime gang on the Corentyne. Six persons including a woman have been charged with two separate
Antonio Morgan
Eon Gonsalves
Carlton Singh
Cindy De Vair
incidents and the hunt is on for others. Five have been charged with the robbery under arms that occurred on the Adventure access road. They are alleged master mind Antonio Orlando Morgan, called ‘Rasta’, 34, of Lot 427 No51 Corentyne; Delroy Park, 28, called ‘Sticky’, of
Cromarty Farm, Corentyne, Berbice; Premchand Kallicharran, called ‘Boysie’, 27 of Lot 81 Grant 1780 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice; Carlton Singh, 23, of Grant 1802 Crabwood Creek, Berbice and Cindy Veronica DeVair, 19, of Lot 44 Race Course, Springlands, Continued on page 24
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
France mobilizes 10,000 troops at home after PARIS shootings
A French soldier secures the access to a Jewish school in Paris as part of the highest level of ‘Vigipirate’ security plan after last week’s terrorist attacks. CREDIT: REUTERS/GONZALO FUENTES (Reuters) - France will deploy 10,000 soldiers on home soil by today and post almost 5,000 extra police officers to protect Jewish sites after the killing of 17 people by Islamist militants in Paris last week, officials said. Speaking a day after the biggest French public demonstration ever recorded, in honor of the victims, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the country remained at risk of further attacks. Soldiers would guard transport hubs, tourism sites and key buildings and mount general street patrols. “The threats remain and we have to protect ourselves from them. It is an internal operation that will mobilize almost as many men as we have in our overseas operations,” Le Drian told reporters after a cabinet meeting. The victims, including journalists and police, died in three days of violence that began on Wednesday with an attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, known for mocking Islam and other religions. Many at Sunday’s march wore badges and carried placards declaring “Je suis Charlie” (“I Am Charlie”). The Charlie Hebdo gunmen, two Frenchborn brothers of Algerian origin, singled out the weekly for its publication of cartoons depicting and ridiculing the Prophet Mohammad. Charlie Hebdo’s remaining members are working on an eight-page issue due to come out on Wednesday with a one-million copy print run. Its lawyer, Richard Malka, told France Info radio there would be caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad. “We will not give in. The spirit of ‘I am
Charlie’ means the right to blaspheme,” he said, adding that the front page would be released on Monday evening. The three days of bloodshed ended on Friday with a siege at a Jewish deli in Paris where four hostages and another gunman were killed. That gunman declared allegiance to Islamic State and said he was acting in response to French military deployments against militant Islamist groups overseas. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 4,700 police officers would be placed at all 717 Jewish schools across the country in addition to some 4,100 gendarmes already deployed. “Synagogues, Jewish schools, but also mosques will be protected because in the past few days there have been a number of attacks against mosques,” Prime Minister Manuel Valls told BFM TV. France has the European Union’s largest Muslim and Jewish communities. The first two attackers, brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi who traveled to Yemen in 2011 for training, were killed on Friday after a siege northeast of the capital. Police said all three men were part of the same Paris-based Islamist cell. The French Justice Ministry said Cherif Kouachi had made the journey to Yemen even though he had been banned from leaving France at the time. Kouachi was detained from May to October 2010 on suspicion of being part of a group that tried to help Smain Ali Belkacem, author of a 1995 attack on the Paris transport system that killed eight people and wounded 120, to break out of prison.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
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ETHNIC BALANCING OF THE GUYANA POLICE FORCE In 1964, East Indians comprised just over half of the population of Guyana, while Africans were just under one third of the population. Yet, more than seventy per cent of the Guyana Police Force was African and just under twenty per cent, East Indian. The situation has not got any better since Independence. It was therefore not surprising to read recently that the Guyana Police Force has been unable to meet the recommendations of the Disciplined Services Commission in relation to ethnic balancing of the Guyana Police Force. But the Guyana Police Force cannot be held responsible for this serious failure. This is a question of policy and specifically national policy and it is therefore for the government to answer as to why close to fifty years after the
International Commission of Jurists recommended a more concerted effort to attract East Indians into the Guyana Police Force this has not happened. And years after the Disciplined Services C o m m i s s i o n recommendations concerning ethnic balancing it has not been fulfilled. The victims must also not be blamed. The usual suspects have in the past attempted to do this by inferring that East Indians are not interested in joining the security services. But no one has asked why. And no one has gone specifically to those East Indians who were once members of the security services and asked them about their own impressions and the degree to which the internal culture of these organizations have acted as a discouragement and a
disincentive to attract greater East Indians recruits. And just how exactly are persons recruited? The International Commission of Jurists had made specific recommendations on this question, arguing for the need for a balanced panel to consider the issue of recruits? If a group feels that the process of recruitment is likely to be biased against it, the members may be disinclined to even apply. How are promotions decided at the lower levels? Are these decided by the police hierarchy and then sent to the Police Service Commission for endorsement? If certain groups feel that there is likely to be discrimination in awarding promotions especially the lower levels this too can act as a disincentive for persons from those groups to apply.
The diligent and persuasive work of the Police in Berbice led to them reimpounding a car from a car rental service at Chesney, Corentyne on Monday. The car PPP 1505 was stopped on December 23, last, with four suspects inside. They included a former policeman, two ex soldiers and a man who has been fingered in a number of robberies during the past week. After a thorough search of the vehicle a .32 revolver and five live rounds were found concealed in the roof of the vehicle. Around 23:00 hrs on the day in question, the police were on patrol along the Whim Public Road,
Corentyne, when they spotted motor car PPP 1505 which at the time was being driven by Antonio Morgan and had been rented from a car rental service on the Corentyne. The four men were inside the slow-moving vehicle along the Whim Public Road. The vehicle was stopped and the men were asked to disembark. Checks of the vehicle revealed a chopper hidden among some clothing. The clothing included numerous long sleeve shirts, socks and kerchiefs. The three ex-military men are all from Georgetown. During interrogation the men all gave conflicting reports. The men stated that they
hired the taxi in Georgetown. Morgan had stated that he did not know the men and had picked them up as passengers from Georgetown. The car rental service confirmed that the car was rented since December 2, by Morgan and his rental was in default for over two weeks when the car was intercepted. The men were released and the car returned to its owner after nothing incriminating was found. However the cops working on intelligence reports retook possession of the car and found the gun and ammunition. Investigations are continuing.
Gun, ammo found in roof of car
Dem boys seh...
Brassington fall and Jagdeo get cut Time longer than twine; that is an old saying but plenty people don’t believe it. What that mean in simple terms is that, whatever you do, good, bad or indifferent, gun ketch up wid you. When dem announce that dem building Marriott dem didn’t believe that dem boys woulda see through de scam. When dem give Fip, that scamp like dem, de road contract dem didn’t bargain fuh de falling out because Donald shy he out like when dem farmer does shy paddy. But time is a good thing. If you get a cut pun you foot or like some people, pun dem belly or pun dem mouth, time does heal that cut. Brassington did run and fall down pun he belly and bounce. When dem check instead of Brassington getting a bruise or a cut, Jagdeo get a cut pun he behind from de fall. How that happen? Only de Creatah knows. De two of dem did deh like batty and poe
so when one of dem do something de other one does feel it. But is only time wid plenty of dem. Dem boys ain’t calling name and dem want dem fuh know. Time is free but it is priceless. You can’t own it but you can use it You can’t keep it but you can spend it Once you have lost it you can never get it back Suh when dem end up in de pumpkin jumpsuit dem gun have enough time to remember de evil, wicked, nasty and dutty things dem do to de people of this country, including dem boys. People may not remember what you say or do, but they will always remember how you made dem feel. Tek note. Old people got another saying. Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance. Talk half and enjoy de wining before people wine pun you.
Given the accepted need for ethnic balancing of the security services what is needed is a three prong approach to this issue. The first is for those East Indians who have been in the security services to share their own experience as to how they felt while in the service and why some of them left before retirement. This is an important dialogue that can shed light on the possible causes for the ethnic imbalance in the security services. The second prong has to be a deliberate policy and deliberate measures to encourage ethnic balancing of the security forces. In other words there has to be some form of affirmative action taken as a means of redressing the ethnic imbalance in the security services. The problem here is that one gets the distinct impression that the PPP is not really interested in ethnic balance in the security services. One gets the impression that the party sees the issue of ethnic balance as fueling ethnic insecurity
within the security sector as well as in the wider society and they are quite prepared to allow for the present situation to continue indefinitely. In other words, the PPP of 1964 which was pressing for ethnic balance in the security services has now adopted a different approach. It is afraid that if it moves too earnestly on this issue of ethnic balance that the security services may topple them. The PPP therefore seems more interested in a political trade off than in pursuing the just cause of ethnic balancing of the security sector. They will not pursue a deliberate policy of ethnic balancing of the security services. In return, they will avoid having to raise ethnic tensions amongst members of the security services, thus mitigating any possible extraconstitutional toppling of the government. The problem with this approach is that it is the citizenry who pay a high price because ironically the very failure of the government to deliberately pursue ethnic balancing of the security
services triggers ethnic insecurity amongst East Indians and that cannot be good for any multi-ethnic society. Since however it is recognized that ethnic balancing of the security services is an issue that bears heavily on ethnic security in the society, the third prong therefore is to address this issue in the wider context of creating greater ethnic security for all. This unfortunately is a task that has evaded all of our leaders since Independence. And there is nothing to suggest that anything, notwithstanding the platitudes and promises in election season, will change any time soon.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 13, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Boom and boomerang in 2015 The holiday season is over and people have settled into the routine of life. On the agenda of every Guyanese as January gets older will be the results of the forthcoming General Elections. For most Guyanese it will be the most decisive election since the first National Election in the early fifties. If the opposition wins Guyana’s history will unfold in a remarkable way that maybe has no parallel. The 1992 poll took its place in history and it was a phenomenal moment. Guyanese just wanted to see another government other than one run by the PNC. But the importance of the 2015 poll will overshadow the importance of the 1992 event in ways that words may not be adequate to describe. Short of nasty racist conspiracies by the PPP, the PPP is likely to lose power and that includes even a return of a PPP plurality. If the PPP doesn’t win a majority but clinch the highest number of votes, it will not be able to govern because the opposition will demand that the exercise of power be inclusive because
after all, the electorate did not give any party a majority. Either way the PPP domination will be over. The historical importance of the 2015 election is that it will mark the most profound turning point in postIndependent Guyana. An opposition victory will bring about the end of the PPP as a political unit. If anything is inevitable about the opposition in government it is a judicial enquiry into the PPP’s stewardship. There is absolutely no way the leadership of the PPP can escape criminal charges. The tenure of the Jagdeo/ Ramotar governments has been characterized by the descent into the deeper recesses of appalling misuse of power, rendezvous with the world of narco-trafficking and money laundering, murder, violence and unimaginable corruption. If there is anything that is predictable after the 2015 election is criminal investigation into the conduct of Guyana’s affairs under Messrs Jagdeo and Ramotar. Even the might of the US and the power of the United
Nations will not be able to stop such an enquiry if they so request of the new government. I predict that the most worried politicians anywhere in the world in 2015 will be found in Guyana. Just put yourself in the place of people who have committed abominable crimes against a country and they are about to lose power. So what are my predictions? It is hard to be precise with an electorate like what Guyana has, but I honestly think the PNC will try in colossal ways to collect a huge percentage of that 130, 000 number that did not vote in 2011. The PNC believes a huge chunk is their people. I agree. Moses Nagamootoo is going to be an enormous headache for the PPP. There is simply no leader in the PPP that can damage him. The PPP will self-destruct trying to tarnish his image because it does not have competent spin doctors. With all the money the PPP shared out in 2011, its spin doctors were hopelessly incompetent. Rickey Singh, the Guyanese journalist in
Barbados, was the PPP election consultant in 2011. But he advised them from Barbados. He will do so again this year. Singh is in his midseventies. One does not know what Singh can do for the PPP’s election campaign. The AFC will pick up more votes this time around because it had no serious campaign in Region Three and in the whole of Essequibo in 2011. It is not going to repeat that mistake in 2015. The dimension of the 2015 elections that anyone can predict is the PPP’s selfdestruction. It will take three forms. First, the PPP feels that it
has sufficient media power to win back a majority. The asininity of this needs not detain us here. Suffice it to say it had the same media influence in 2011, plus Jagdeo’s Day of Appreciation, yet it lost its majority. In 2015 it will have BOOM FM, the radio station of Jagdeo’s boys, Hits and Jams. Boom FM may boomerang against the PPP and BOOM FM may likely see Jelly’s last jam in 2015 (you know who is Jelly?). Any jamming and any hitting in the campaign won’t be coming from Ramotar which brings us to the second factor. If the PPP goes back with
Frederick Kissoon Ramotar the opposition will jump so high with joy that they might get stuck and a crane will have to pull them out. Ramotar is not a winning candidate. Thirdly, the PPP will enter the campaign abusing its power right up to polling day.
Mother of one gets 3 years, fine on drug trafficking charge
Althea Candace Timmerman, a 21-year- old mother of one, has been jailed for trafficking cocaine. Receptionist of a West Coast Demerara hotel, Timmerman yesterday confessed to Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry that she attempted to smuggle the drug to Barbados last Saturday. She was handed a three year jail term. She was also ordered to pay a $30,000 fine, the minimum imposable on a drug trafficking charge. Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) brought Timmerman before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on allegations that she had 1.134 kilograms of cocaine in her possession for trafficking purposes at the Ogle International Airport on January 10, last. CANU’s Prosecutor, Oswald Massiah told the court that Timmerman hails from Bartica but up to the time she was busted at the airport, she lived at 1255 Cane View Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Massiah claimed that one day while Timmerman was at Demico House; she became acquainted with a male and later developed a relationship with him. He described the man as a “mystery” since the anti-drug unit has no address
Althea Candace Timmerman for him. According to Massiah, the man later asked the young woman if she would be willing to transport the drug to Barbados and she consented. On January 9, the Prosecutor said that the man met her and gave her a suitcase. Massiah emphasised that although the drug was hidden in the false bottom and she had not seen it, Timmerman knew that it was concealed there. Massiah went on to say that the 21-year-old packed the suitcase with her personal
belongings and the next day she ventured to the airport with intentions of boarding a LIAT flight to Barbados. The Prosecutor related that as Timmerman’s suitcase was being scanned, a CANU Officer noticed something was amiss and decided to check it. It was then that the illicit substance was unearthed. The 21-year-old was arrested and charged. During mitigation, the 21year-old, who represented herself, told the Chief Magistrate that she is a mother of one and had decided to participate in the drug trade because of her fiveyear-old daughter. Timmerman added that this was her first offence and asked the court to be lenient in sentencing her. Additionally, the Prosecutor reported that she had been cooperating with the antidrug unit during the investigations. She was thereafter given the minimum imposable sentence.
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
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GGMC workers intensify strike action
GGMC workers down tools and resume protest exercise outside the Ministry of Natural Resources, Brickdam yesterday.
Given the procrastination on the part of management to reach an agreement for increases in wages and salaries, workers of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, (GGMC) have intensified strike action amidst calls for an end to the prolonged negotiations. Yesterday, GGMC workers downed tools and resumed protest exercise in front Minister of Natural Resources, Robert Persaud’s Brickdam Office, voicing their dissatisfaction a t t h e manner in which they are being compensated for their labour. The workers called on t h e management of the commission to pay up or face continuous industrial action. Representatives of Guyana Public Service Union, (GPSU) led the way as an estimated 60 per cent of GGMC staff and field workers joined in the demonstration exercise. “We fed up ah de same thing over and over …no money no wuk,” workers shouted as they stood in the scorching mid morning sun yesterday. Last year, employees of GGMC began strike action for increased wages and salaries, in the wake of failures by their management to reach an agreement on the issue. In December, the union managed to acquire an eight per cent interim increase for
workers but negotiations between representatives of the union and the management of GGMC for 2013 and 2014 are yet to be finalised. GPSU has been pressing for workers to receive as much as a 35 per cent increase in their wages and salaries but the Commission has been prolonging the negotiations to come to an agreement on the matter. In the wake of the strike, GGMC had issued a statement claiming that the Ministry of Labour had recommended that the Union and workers should cease their strike action and resume work to allow for the continuation of the negotiating process. However, members of the union dismissed this notion as rubbish. Yesterday, Senior Industrial Relations Officer of GPSU, Dennis English, noted that the management of GGMC has been dragging its feet on the issue, presumably without reason. “The question remains, why are the payments taking so long? Nobody seems to be specifically answering that… We are open to any reasonable engagements we can have to have the situation return to normalcy because workers are out here for a purpose and unless they’re satisfied that their objective has been achieved
the struggle will continue,” English The GPSU official said that he especially disappointed that added to the delays the Commission had issued a statement labeling the strike as an illegal act. English held that GPSU has always ensured that it is within ambits of law and appropriate procedures before taking action. “It is good that good sense seems to have prevailed on the part of those in authority to refrain from the road they were going down to try to create a distraction to real issue or try to mislead the public as to the status of our action,” he added. English said that the Union has warned the commission that such acts will not harvest well for a good industrial relations climate and a cordial Union/ Management relationship. “We are out here for a specific purpose. Workers were taken for granted and they decided that they do not want to be taken for granted any longer.” Jermaine Hermanstein, another Industrial Relations Officer attached to the Union related that the GGMC’s management and representatives of GPSU had met at Ministry of Labour, last Friday for further discussions on the matter.
Hermanstein disclosed that although the meeting did not end in an agreement for an increase in workers’ salaries, the management undertook to have the issue resolved in the shortest possible time. Asked when the strike action will end, the GPSU official said, “It is not up to the Union to end the strike but GGMC’s management since workers are adamant that they will not seize industrial action until that their demands are favourly met. “I can assure you that every day that the strike continues the management is
losing millions of dollars. The management has made it clear that the decision to pay lies with the Minister. We are hoping that the Minister will sign off on the documents to make way for workers to receive the payments.” M e a n w h i l e , Administrative Coordinator of Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, (GGDMA) Colin Sparman said that the GGMC strike action will have a severe impact on the industry should it continue. He noted that all business transactions relative to mining are conducted via the
Commission. Sparman said that the strike will have a serve impact on small and large scale miners especially at this time of year since all rental fees, claims, license fees and other transactions are done via the Commission. The GGDMA official said, too, that miners have always depended on GGMC Mines Officers to police and monitor operations in the fields, a service which will be affected by the strike. However, when contacted yesterday, officials of the Guyana Gold Board declined to comment on the matter.
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Tuesday January 13, 2015
Chinese logging company takes over Guyana’s forests By John C. Cannon ( m o n g a b a y . c o m correspondent) Foreign companies investing in Guyana’s substantial forests are supposed to adhere to national laws and international agreements. But civil society leaders and activists inside and outside the South American country are crying foul, saying foreign corporations and government officials are paying lip service to the accords while quietly building a timber-harvesting empire in the country with few benefits for the average Guyanese. In 2009 Guyana and Norway signed a landmark pact promising Guyana $250 million over a five-year period to preserve the country’s intact tropical forests and the 1.6 million tons of carbon contained within, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Globally, this was seen as a major stepping stone for REDD, which stands for “reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation,” and it helped Guyana’s leaders flesh out a bold Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). “The LCDS really is one of a kind, and it really has been established to set a global model for the world to follow,” said David Singh, vice president of Conservation International Guyana. “It was
path finding, and it was meant to contribute significantly to the whole global debate in respect to how can developing countries with intact ecosystems, with intact forests, participate more effectively in the global fight against climate change, while at the same time, ensuring that it develops sustainably.” He said the move toward carbon-limited development is reflective of Guyanese attitudes: “People do feel quite strongly about environmental protection.” In size, Guyana is roughly comparable to Ghana, but at 735,000 inhabitants has less than three percent of that country’s population. What Guyana does have a lot of is forest. Trees covered 91 percent of the country in 2000, according to data from Global Forest Watch. Half of its citizens live abroad, where they’ve sought better opportunities in employment and education outside the small country. That trend has meant little population growth for decades, leaving much of the country undeveloped, including a swath of forest in southern Guyana that is largely contiguous with the Brazilian Amazon. Further protecting the forest is its dearth of marketable tree species – until now. WAMARA Rising incomes in India and China have precipitated a spike in the price of
rosewood, a type of timber prized for its beauty that is used to make expensive furniture in Asia. As rosewood supplies in Malaysia and Indonesia have become depleted, suppliers have looked elsewhere – increasingly, the tropical forests of Africa and South America, said Janette Bulkan, a Guyanese-born professor in the forestry department at the University of British Columbia. The Chinese company Bai Shan Lin now controls about 1.4 million hectares in Guyana, said Bulkan’s collaborator, John Palmer, a senior associate at the Forest Management Trust based in Gainesville, Florida, who has worked in forestry for more than 50 years. (Guyana’s Commissioner of Forests disputed that figure, saying in a letter to a Guyanese newspaper that the figure is closer to 627,000 hectares.) Palmer and Bulkan said that Bai Shan Lin doesn’t seem to be concerned with following Guyanese laws, nor do Guyanese officials appear eager to enforce them. “If you implemented these policies, if you implemented the mining law, the state land law, the [Guyanese] Environmental Protection Act, the country would be in enormously better shape,” Palmer said. In reality, however, he said, “It doesn’t happen.” Rather, he suggests that companies like
Felled timber in Guyana. Photo by Jeremy Hance. Bai Shan Lin likely pay bribes to key members of the country’s government to turn a blind eye to violations. For example, Palmer said that Bai Shan Lin has “dubiously” acquired permits or rights to harvest timber in Guyana on more than a million hectares of forest. In some cases, it appears as though Bai Shan Lin has harvested timber by leasing land from other parties through what the forestry commission calls “ venture agreements” – incongruous with Guyana’s anti”landlording” law. And native title stemming from their
centuries-long relationship with the customary lands of native Amerindians should protect where they farm, hunt and fish. When it comes to logging those areas, the law “should prevent issuance of permits without consultation,” said Palmer, “but consultation does not happen.” DEFENDING BAI SHAN LIN In defense of Bai Shan Lin’s activity in Guyana, the Guyana Forestry Commission published statements and placed editorials in the Guyanese press arguing that the company provides people who live in the forest with the tools to harvest the timber themselves and then sell it to Bai Shan Lin, thereby providing a source of income for forest communities. For some in Guyana, just the ministry’s defense of a foreign-owned company has been disconcerting. The Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) published a statement, saying that it “finds it particularly troubling that both the Ministry of National Resources and the Guyana Forestry Commission have chosen to defend the operations of these companies with information that appears incomplete and
misleading rather than to seek to protect the patrimony of the country.” TIGI has called for more transparency with the issuance of forest concessions in Guyana. And the benefits to forest communities as a result of a market for timber, especially Guyanese rosewood known as wamara, are marginal at best, Palmer said. “They make very little money,” he said, adding that sellers are paid “just about break-even price.” He said suppliers like Bai Shan Lin stand to make substantially more by getting the unprocessed logs to mills in Asia. In fact, many are concerned that Bai Shan Lin is exporting the whole, round logs directly to China, instead of following through on a promise to build a jobcreating processing mill in Guyana. The Kwakwani Natural Resources Organization, an NGO that works in the region where Bai Shan Lin is operating in Guyana, published a statement that struck a hopeful tone about the economic benefits that foreign investment could bring. But they also acknowledged in the same statement that, “Like most other foreign investors, very Continued on page 24
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Teachers who request furniture from parents will be disciplined - says Armogan ...$14M spent on furniture in 2014 The Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, has stated that teachers, who request furniture from parents for school children, will be disciplined. The warning came at the Region Six Administration annual Press Conference held recently at the Boardroom of the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA), Fort Canje. He and Region Six Education Officer, Volika Jaikishun, were addressing allegations of some teachers asking parents to bring furniture to schools. But the Chairman stated that one would mostly find such cases only in the Form One classes, during the September school term. This marks the beginning of the new school year whereby, new intake of students would see parents of those students normally taking benches and chairs for their children. The Region Six Administration, he stated, cannot stop those parents from doing so, however, he made it very clear that all of the furniture needs in the Region’s schools have been fulfilled. Additionally, schools were furnished with file cabinets, cupboards, teachers’ tables and chairs, stools, etc. “People voluntarily take furniture to schools, which is customary…we don’t stop people from doing that, but it’s not compulsory,” he stated. Last year, his administration spent $14.9M on procuring furniture for schools, with an additional $3M to supplement the need. Region Six has 17 secondary schools with 9671 students; two practical centres with 465 students; 53 primary schools
with 11,760 students and 69 nursery schools with 3,789 students. The Region spent over $2.2B on education last year, its largest area of expenditure. Armogan said that members of the public should report to either him or Ms. Jaikishun whenever schools ask parents for furniture, and those persons will be dealt with. “We can discipline those people (the teachers)”, he added. He did note, though, that the Region has to frequently replenish the furniture supply in schools since these items are destroyed very quickly. “We are steady getting releases from the Ministry of Education (MoE) for those that are damaged because they are damaged very quickly,” he posited. “More care should be taken to ensure that the furniture is not damaged as quickly as we are experiencing.” Armogan added that 79 nursery schools, 12 secondary schools and 29 primary schools were repaired in 2014. The student-population at the Amerindian Reservation of Orealla/ Siparuta, located along the Corentyne River, has outgrown the building, thus a new $11M building had to be erected at Springlands to house approximately 30-40 students, Armogan said. Additionally, repairs to a dormitory were effected at Orealla to house students from Siparuta who are studying there. The Albion Front Nursery school, which attracted numerous protests in 2014, due to the fact that parents refused to allow their children to occupy the school because of
Armogan with officials of the Region Six Administration building defects, is now being occupied. Works were done too to the Black Bush Polder Secondary; Savannah Park Nursery; Berbice High; Central Corentyne Secondary; Fyrish Nursery and Canje Secondary. He lauded Regional Education Officer, Ms. Volika Jaikishun, for the hard work she has put in over the past two years since assuming the position of Senior Education Officer of Region Six. This is given the fact that several of the national top CXC performers in Guyana hailed from Region Six. To celebrate further, they hailed from non-traditional schools of high performance, such as JC Chandisingh Secondary and Berbice High. ABANDONED MOLESON CREEK PRIMARY Speaking about the abandoned Moleson Creek Primary School which made the news a year ago, Armogan said that while the school is still closed, the Region Six Administration has been transporting all students coming out from the area to attend school in the Crabwood Creek/ Skeldon areas, with a bus. This situation obtains on a daily basis. After school, the students are transported back
to Moleson Creek. The Moleson Creek Primary School currently sits in the middle of a virtual jungle and access to the learning institution at this time is almost impossible. Moleson Creek is one of the nearest points between Guyana and neighbouring Suriname.
Apart from the jungle, access to the school was deemed treacherous, due to the state of the road, thus a decision was made to close the institution. Migration in 2012 had hit the area thus the school had to be abandoned. The school is surrounded by big bushes. Armogan is
optimistic that the school can be reopened in the future, provided the road towards the proposed bridge across the Corentyne River is built. “Hopefully if the road is built to connect to the (Corentyne River) Bridge, we can probably look at reopening the school.”
Rice farmer accused of burgling mother-in-law’s house granted bail A rice farmer accused of breaking into his mother-inlaw’s house and swiping over $5M in jewellery was granted bail to the tune of $200,000 yesterday. Khemraj Ramcharran of Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to two counts of break and enter and larceny. The court heard that on January 8, at Cotton Field Village, Essequibo Coast he broke and entered the dwelling house of his motherin-law Lynette Naipaul and stole 11 gold bands, two gold finger rings, four gold chains and pendants as well as six gold earrings.
The items which totaled $2,500,000 belonged were Naipaul. It was also alleged that on the same day at the same place he stole four gold rings, one gold chain, one flat gold chain, a small gold band and a small pair of gold earrings. Those items which amounted to $2,922,000 were the property of Seerojanie Seekumarie. Inspector Michael Grant, who prosecuted the case, said that around 23:00 hours the night of January 7, Ramcharran visited his mother-in-law’s house and later left. Grant told the Court, however, that around 03:00 hours the following morning the woman was awakened by a strange sound in her house.
Upon checking, she saw her son-in-law jumping into the house through a window. The Prosecutor said that Naipaul raised an alarm and the matter was reported to the police. Ramcharran was arrested. According to the Prosecution, while he admitted to being in the house he denied stealing. None of the items were recovered, Grant said. The rice farmer was granted bail on the condition that he reports to the Subordinate Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) at the Anna Regina Police Station every Friday at 09:00 hours. The case was transferred and will be called again on January 20 at the Anna Regina Magistrates’ Court.
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Kaieteur News
SALON
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Tuesday January 13, 2015
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EDUCATIONAL Practical Electronic Course; Starting 12th January 2015Call Abdul Electronics: 2266551; 225-0391 Balloon Decorating Classes. January 31st – Call: 225-3133 or 613-7513 for more information & registration (Continued on page 23)
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
It’s frustrating when a potential technical solution in Guyana is met with derision and then made-up facts DEAR EDITOR, Your kind permission to respond to Mr. Tony Vieira’s latest missive in the Stabroek News (SN 12 January, 2012) is again sought. Whilst it is tiring to keep reminding your readers of simple points already articulated, I respond to ensure that technical solutions do not acquire political baggage or encumbrances due to anyone’s need to posture or save face. It is my hope that the effort to reiterate myself helps make pellucid the justification for this technology to be employed. Briquetting technology is certainly not new, and IAST has never claimed that it is – but it has never been used in Guyana. It took us two demonstrations to convince GuySuCo to utilize this “old” technology. This “old” technology is still not utilized to consume the waste wood and rice hulls that abound in Guyana. I am loathe to contemplate how long it would take to
convince Mr. Vieira, the general public and existing companies to utilize truly “new” technologies and approaches, if the application of this “old” technology presents such significant hurdles and creates as much entropy in the letter columns of the dailies. Simply because some technology exists, does not mean that it is facile to employ them in Guyana. Think of the multitude of technologies that are used elsewhere and are not employed here and one begins to appreciate that there are many hurdles – cultural, capital availability, energy costs, policy, taxation, availability of highly qualified personnel, etc., and perhaps most importantly – the absolute conviction by some that anything done here cannot work and should attract the most vitriolic of criticism on that basis. My job does not entail functioning as a tour guide for Mr. Vieira, so I shall not be accompanying him anywhere. I am making a
factual statement here: Mr. Vieira is wrong to say that excess bagasse does not exist at some sugar estates. I will not allow him to make this statement without comment, as he is misinformed and misleading, and I have the photographic and video proof of this – but since Mr. Vieira seems to want to comment rather than verifying his facts, then I encourage the newspapers to take a picture of the giant pile of unused, wasted bagasse that exists at Albion estate. It is strange that without availing himself of any of the reports we freely offered to share, or the details of the financial plan, and on the basis of his erroneous assumption that there is no excess bagasse, Mr. Vieira feels it is acceptable to criticize. I have agreed with his assertion that GuySuCo does not produce enough cane, and that with an adequate production, it would not need firewood (and therefore briquettes) to power its
furnaces. But I have also pointed out that if briquetting is used now to alleviate the obvious issues with cane supply, leading to savings in operational costs to purchase firewood, that it can then be used to co-generate electricity when GuySuCo hopefully addresses its cane supply problem. This clearly would increase its revenues. Mr. Vieira is also disingenuous when he claims that it will take a capital investment of Guyana $50M to establish the briquetting plant, when I clearly pointed out that the capital investment is less than US$100,000, which at today’s exchange rates amounts to G$21 Million. Interesting, since Mr. Vieira in the same letter complains that the IAST saves Guyana $35 Million annually in fuel costs by converting waste oil into biodiesel. Strange logic – to criticize a process which saves $35M annually in costs, but create a mountain of a molehill to criticize a $21M
investment which GuySuCo’s business plan suggests will generate multiple tens of millions in savings. Editor, I am completely frustrated that every time someone puts forward a potential technical solution in Guyana, it is first met with derision and then with madeup facts. Employment of any process attracts risks. I am certainly open to discussion of risk management on points that we have not considered. But I grow weary of our national pastime of criticizing all and sundry from the comfort of our soapboxes. I cannot tell your readers when and how efficiently GuySuCo will employ this technical solution. That is up to GuySuCo, and it is not within my jurisdiction to dictate that schedule. I have done my job – present detailed technological solutions and demonstrated its suitability to the problem at hand. Professor Suresh S. Narine, Director, IAST
Those statements attributed to AFC’s Vice Chairman are...
From page 4 another vital project which provides the lifeline transport link to Amerindian communities as occurred with the opposition refusals for Budget 2014 where Hinterland Aerodromes and the Amerindian Development Fund amongst others fell victim to the combined opposition’s hatchets. We need to remind, again, that funding from the BRICS grouping (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are on typically very advantageous and concessional terms, and that these projects by their very nature in transiting the funding and project cycles, require feasibility and engineering design studies all of which involve consultation. Perhaps Mr. Nagamootoo may wish to intimate: - why – after having been consulted and provided with all the feasibility and engineering studies for the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion
Project and having benefitted from the debates and interventions in the National Assembly, - the combined opposition, of which the AFC is a very vocal member, refused further funding for the project in 2014, after having approved the project via a mobilization of US 2013? What discovery propelled the attempt to hold up or kill a vital national project that would see cheaper airfares, efficient travel and an opportunity to enhance our tourism and transport networking attractiveness! All things considered, the answer should specifically identify the real denizens who “fly by night” and are the main actors in the tragicomedy we in government have been striving to have our country avoid. We can all recall the visceral negative criticisms from sections of the media and opposition circles when Guyana undertook, with Indian Gov-
ernment Funding, to build a new cricket stadium, at Providence, to International Cricket Council Standards. The undeniable fact that the Providence Stadium fulfilled its intended mission for Cricket World Cup, combined with the reality of an exemplary facility that is enjoyed by all, for a variety of cultural and social events, is a testimony to the fact that what Nagamootoo deems as “fly by night” PPP/C Government projects result in solid, viable, enduring projects, on solid ground, benefitting all Guyanese. On the question of the seeming uptake of additional public debt, Mr. Nagamootoo should recall when, as a Minister of the first PPP/C government in 1992, he was amongst those in the Cheddi Jagan Cabinet who wrestled with the seemingly hopeless problem of having to spend 93 percent plus of all revenues to service debts for which he
Press freedom and people’s rights are... From page 5 truth. Furthermore, the dictatorial PPP regime has violated the journalistic code of ethics by filing over 50 law suits against Kaieteur News, banned certain reporters from the office of the president, and continued its victimization and threats against Kaieteur News and the independent media in general. It violated the democratic
process when it prorogued Parliament, refused to hold local government for almost two decades, and continues to award contracts to friends and relatives without the Procurement Commission. What the people have is an anti-democratic government that is corrupt, vindictive, selfish and greedy, and has no integrity or morality. It should be booted
out of office at the next election. Derrick Arjune Asha Balbachan Rohit Misir Allison Rutherford Chandra Deolall Asquith Rose Vincent Nauth Dr. Reginald Watkins Donna Mathoo Noel Moses Dr. Merle Spenser-Marks
even argued there was little to show for. Finance Minister Ashni Singh, is the expert on these matters – on which he may wish to further elucidate - but I would be bold to venture that there is no unsustainable taking on of debt by the Ramotar administration. The initiatives
of the kind being undertaken are designed to energize the national economy! Nagamootoo should not turn his back on the only certifiable successes he has had in politics – the period when he was a PPP/C stalwart. Robeson Benn Minister of Public Works
Nepalese fined for ‘back track’ entry A Nepalese man, who claims he came to these shores for a vacation, was fined $30,000 on an illegal entry charge when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Twenty sevenyear-old Keshab Prashad Bastola of Nepal pleaded guilty before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and was ordered to Nepalese Keshab pay the fine or face Prashad Bastola one month in jail. The charge instituted against Bastola when he arrived, he did not see any Immigration Officer. detailed that on January 7 at Springlands, Corentyne, Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant Berbice, he entered Guyana by sea and disembarked said, however, that the Nepalese man disembarked without the consent of an Immigration Officer. at the back track area, but Immigration Officers are Bastola told the court that he came to Guyana from stationed at the Ferry Stelling at Moleson Creek. Suriname for a vacation but
(From page 22) VACANCY Admin Assistant, within the vicinity of E.B.D & W.B.D. Must be well spoken & have 5 CXC subjects including: Maths & English. Email: snow198390@hotmail.com
EDUCATIONAL Child care, care for elderly, body massage, dressmaking, cakes & pastries, cake decoration – Contact: 264-1052; 663-7930 Alliance Francaise Of Guyana: French Classes Commencing January 12, 2015 beginners conversation - Telephone: 226-0854; 682-7943; 6147165; 226-1897 Computerized Accounting Quick Books; Peach Tree; Excel 2013 @ Micrographics , Vreed-EnHoop: 264-3057 9 Courses Diploma In computers: offices 2013, IT - $30,000 @ Micrographics , Vreed-en-Hoop: 264-3057
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 13, 2015
New study shows positive link between female leadership, business performance - ILO While women are still under-represented in top management, the number of women in senior and middle management positions has increased over the last 20 years, a new study by the ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities finds. According to Women in Business and Management: Gaining Momentum in 80 of the 108 countries for which ILO data is available, the proportion of women managers has increased during this period. “Our research is showing that women’s ever increasing participation in the labour market has been the biggest engine of global growth and competitiveness,” says Deborah France-Massin, Director of the ILO Bureau for Employers’ Activities. “An increasing number of studies are also demonstrating positive links between women’s participation in top decision making teams and structures and business performance. But there is a long way to go before we achieve true gender equality in the workplace, especially when it comes to top management positions.”
Only five per cent or less of the CEOs of the world’s largest corporations are women. The larger the company, the less likely the head will be a woman. MORE WOMEN ON COMPANY BOARDS All-male company boards are still common but are decreasing in number, with women attaining 20 per cent or more of all board seats in a handful of countries. A global survey quoted in the study shows that Norway has the highest global proportion of companies (13.3 per cent) with a woman as company board chairperson, followed by Turkey (11.1 per cent). “It is critical for more women to reach senior management positions in strategic areas to build a pool of potential candidates for top jobs such as CEO or company presidents,” explained France-Massin. “However, ‘glass walls’ still exist with the concentration of women in certain types of management functions like HR, communications and administration,” she added. Today, women own and manage over 30 per cent of all businesses, but they are more
likely to be found in micro and small enterprises. Getting more women to grow their businesses is not only critical for equality but also for national development, underlines the report. The report provides statistics on women in management and in business for most countries from all regions and at all levels of development. It also contains data on the gender pay gap at management and lower levels, as well as statistics on women’s achievements in education. It identifies the growing momentum building around the world to advance women to higher levels of management and lists a selection of the numerous initiatives from various sectors. The authors underline that women and girls receive almost half of all educational resources, thus representing a significant proportion of the available talent pool. Therefore, companies’ investment in attracting, retaining and promoting skilled women is likely to be good for business. Finally, the report says
Three persons have already lost their lives so far in the first 12 days of the year and the police traffic department is hoping that there won’t be a repeat of last year when the carnage on the country’s roads claimed the lives of 146 persons. Last year, road deaths were 34 more than for the previous year, representing a whopping 30 per cent increase. Pedestrians were the main road users affected with 60 such persons losing their lives up to the end of December 2014. In addition, 26 motorcyclists, 20 pedal cyclists, 16 drivers, 23 persons travelling in motor vehicles and one person being towed on a bicycle lost their lives. August saw the most road deaths with 22, while November, which was designated Road Safety Month, had 17 fatalities. February, March, April
and May were the only months that saw single digit road deaths. Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to fatal accidents and was the cause of 87 of the 135 fatal accidents recorded at the end of December 2014. Private cars were involved in most of the fatal accidents, accounting for 70, while mini buses were associated with 14. “The general indiscriminate use of the roads by all categories of road users was a factor that contributed significantly to the spiraling number of fatal accidents last year and the Guyana Police Force is therefore urging that all persons use the roadways in a manner that is cognisant of the five Cs – Care, Consideration, Caution, Common Sense, and Courtesy,” the police said in a statement yesterday. To stem the carnage, the Traffic Department is embarking on a robust
campaign which has already borne some fruit. According to the police, traffic enforcement last year resulted in a total of 65,475 cases being made against errant motorists of which, 19,075 cases were for speeding. During this year, the Police Traffic Department will be intensifying its enforcement activities with special focus on speeding and driving under the influence, in addition to other offences such as using motor cycles without safety helmets and using cell phones while driving. At the same time the Traffic Department plans to enhance its traffic education programme through the Road Safety Talk and other media programmes as well as symposiums and visits to schools and bus/car parks for interactive sessions. The police said that a number of initiatives that were adopted in 2014 will continue this year, inclusive of the ‘Name and Shame’ campaign in relation to persons driving under the influence of alcohol and the use of the tow truck in situations where motor vehicles are parked in contravention of the laws, as the Force strives to ensure road safety.
Police employing strategies to halt road carnage
national employers’ organizations can play a major role in increasing awareness of the business case for appointing women in leadership roles.
“Unless action is taken, it could take 100 to 200 years to achieve parity at the top. It is time to smash the glass ceiling for good to avoid controversial mandatory
quotas that are not always necessary or effective. Having women in top positions is simply good for business,” concluded FranceMassin.
Chinese logging company takes over... From page 12 little (if anything) is given back to the community from which all their wealth is derived.” Bai Shan Lin rebutted attacks that the company was hiring only Chinese labor to harvest the timber in a press release, showing that the majority of its workers in Guyana are Guyanese. Anecdotal reports indicate the opposite. Most of the workers seen along a 130kilometer, Bai Shan Linconstructed road – itself a point of contention as sources say the company did not carry out a proper environmental and social impact survey – were Chinese. Mongabay.com made repeated requests to speak with a representative of Bai Shan Lin that were not answered. The road also threatens to open up large areas of intact forest in Guyana to
destructive activities in areas that, by most accounts, are bastions of biodiversity and unspoiled wilderness. Hunting is a big concern, and easier access may tempt miners to alter forest and river ecosystems. Already, deforestation along river ways has been linked to gold and bauxite mining in northern Guyana. Permits for mining are readily available from the government, seen as a route to rapid economic development, Palmer and Bulkan confirmed. Guyana has seen a steady increase in the amount of forest loss between 2001 and 2012, according to data from Global Forest Watch. Sources said that deforestation often follows the global price for gold: as gold prices rise, mining becomes more profitable and miners cut down more trees to get at a share of Guyana’s cache of
alluvial gold tucked in the loose soils around waterways. FORMA alerts, which show areas of likely forest loss in near-real time, have also tracked upward. Bulkan argues that the deal with Norway in 2009 actually enables transgressions of foreign companies in Guyana, because, in search of expediency, Norway’s Ministry of the Environment has found it easier to deal with a few key figures in Guyana rather than the representative group of citizenry. “The parliament of Guyana, however flawed, represents the key constituency groups in the country, and to have this parliament marginalized by Norway is simply really bad,” Bulkan said. “If you can’t do good, you should at least do no harm.” http:// news.mongabay.com
From page 6 Corentyne. The men are accused of robbing greens vendor, Hemraj Singh, 54, and his wife, of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara of $180,000 and a cell phone. The couple was going into the Polder to purchase vegetables when their path was blocked by a Premio Motor car PSS 8296 allegedly driven by Morgan, with five occupants including one female. Two men armed with shot guns emerged and held them up. The thieves robbed the couple of $180,000 and a cell phone, re-entered the car and sped away in the Upper Corentyne direction. Police allegedly intercepted the getaway vehicle at Scottsburg Public
road. At the time two occupants were in the vehicle including the female. Further investigation led to the men being fingered in another robbery which occurred on January 3, at Cromarty, Corentyne, Berbice. In that incident Morgan, Kallicharran, Parks along with Eon Mark Gonsalves, 28 of Grant 1803 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne Berbice, were subsequently charged with attempting to rob a family at their Cromarty, home. It is alleged that the man and his wife were at home when they were accosted by Gonsalves and Kallicharran. Gonsalves had entered the house and ended up in a scuffle with the home owner. He was eventually burnt with
hot water. He and Kallicharran allegedly managed to escape in the car which was being reportedly driven by Morgan. Morgan was said to be the driver of a car that was intercepted a few weeks ago with two ex-soldiers and an interdicted police man. The men had a chopper among their clothing. The six appeared on Monday before Magistrate Carlyne Artiga at the Whim Magistrate Court. Morgan, Kallicharran, Parks, Singh and DeVair on the robbery under arms charge while Morgan, Kallicharran, Parks and Gonsalves are charged with attempted robbery. They were placed on $250,000 bail on the respective charges. They are expected to return to court on January 29th.
Six charged as cops bust...
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
At least seven dead in St Vincent after bus plunges into sea KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) – At least seven people, mainly students, died after a minibus plunged into the sea in Rockguter, an area between Owia and Fancy on the northeastern tip of St Vincent early yesterday. Police and government officials say that five bodies have so far been recovered from the sea, and one person died in hospital. Another person died on the way to the medical institution. Police are still trying to verify how many persons were in the minibus when it plunged into the sea sometime between 7:00 am and 8:00 am. Initial reports said that as many as 20 people, including 14 students from the North Union and Georgetown Secondary Schools respectively. One police source has said that officials were told that the minibus, which is licensed to carry 18 passengers, was “full” when it left Fancy, the northernmost community in St Vincent. Residents say that minibus was packed with students from the two communities further south in this North Windward constituency. They said that the conductor was standing, suggesting that the minibus was carrying more people than it was licensed to carry, a common practice in St Vincent and the Grenadines. A large crowd has gathered at the scene where
This photo posted to Facebook yesterday morning by journalist Rochelle Baptiste gives an aerial perspective on the wreckage of the bus that plunged off a cliff into the sea in St Vincent. two Coast Guard patrol boats have been searching for bodies or survivors. The efforts are being affected by especially large waves characteristic of the Atlantic side of St. Vincent, where the terrain is an alternation of steep inclines and deep gorges and winding roads. Among the bodies recovered from the water is
that of a female student. Health authorities said the body showed signed of trauma, presumable inflicted as it knocked against the large rocks that line the shore. It is not yet clear what caused the incident, but police say that villagers were notified by persons who jumped out of the vehicle before impact.
China Harbour employees demand pay, block highway Workers employed to China Harbour Engineering Company Limited protesting anomalies in the payment of their salaries yesterday. - (Jamaica Gleaner Photo by Paul Clarke)
(Jamaica Gleaner) A section of the NorthSouth link of Highway 2000 was blocked yesterday by angry workers employed to China Harbour Engineering Company Limited who are protesting anomalies in the payment of their salaries. The approximately 200 workers began protesting from about 6:30 in the morning, blocking the thoroughfare with bamboo trees and other objects in the vicinity of Treadways district. One of the workers, Norman Taylor,
told The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre that on several occasions there have been discrepancies on the time sheets showing the hours worked and based on that their salaries have been less than the expected amount. They are calling for their Member of Parliament, Robert Pickersgill, to intervene and resolve the issues. The workers also say they need union representation and are calling for the Labour Ministry to step in.
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Tuesday January 13, 2015
Cuba has freed all 53 prisoners as agreed in U.S. deal: U.S. officials (Reuters) - Cuba has completed the release of all 53 prisoners it had promised to free, the Obama administration said yesterday, a major step toward détente with Washington. The release of the remaining detainees overcomes a big hurdle for historic talks next week aimed at normalizing ties after decades of hostility. The list of 53 is part of last month’s breakthrough U.S.-Cuba agreement and includes many known to international human rights groups as “prisoners of conscience.” The United States welcomed Cuba’s action as a milestone, but senior U.S. officials said Washington would keep pressing Havana to free more people they consider political prisoners. Lifting the secrecy around the freed dissidents, the Obama administration provided the full list to congressional leaders. According to a copy obtained by Reuters, they include members of prominent Cuba protest groups including the Ladies in White. There had been questions whether Havana would release all those it had pledged to free as part of the deal that Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro announced on Dec. 17 to restore diplomatic ties, which Washington severed more than 50 years ago. The mystery that surrounded the 53 had played to Obama’s critics who say he has not pressured Havana enough on human rights in return for normalizing ties. The United States exchanged three convicted Cuban spies for an agent who had spied for the Americans. Washington also received Alan Gross, a U.S. aid worker jailed in Cuba. Cuba informed the Obama administration over the weekend that the last of those
Recently released dissidents Aide Gallardo (L) and Sonia Garro hold the Cuban national flag during a march in Havana on Sunday. CREDIT: REUTERS/STRINGER on the list had been released, according to the officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. But one of the officials said: “We’re going to be wanting to raise the cases of different individuals who may be detained in Cuba for exercising their universal rights.” Cuba denies that it holds political prisoners. LIST INCLUDES KNOWN DISSIDENTS Jose Daniel Ferrer, leader of the peaceful opposition group Patriotic Union of Cuba, thanked the United States for helping to secure freedom for some of its members but said “we regret there are some political prisoners - about 10 - who remain in prison.”Among those on the release list were people designated by Amnesty International as “prisoners of conscience” such as brothers Bianco Vargas Martín and Diango Vargas Martín, members of the Patriotic Union arrested in 2012 and sentenced on public disorder charges to four years in prison. Also listed were Haydee Gallardo, a member of Ladies in White, and her husband, Angel Figueredo, who were arrested last year.
The U.S. officials said as many as eight people on the list had been released even before the December announcement, some because they were already scheduled to get out. But a Cuban dissident leader said 17 of the 53 had been freed by that time. Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a leading critic of Obama’s policy, told CBS the release was great news for the prisoners but that Cuba was getting much of what it wanted from the administration in return for “these minimal changes.” Speaking in detail on the prisoner release for the first time since last month’s dramatic shift in Cuba policy, the U.S. officials said the idea grew out of secret talks on how to release Gross and how to structure the spy swap. As both sides began seeing prospects for a broader rapprochement, U.S. negotiators sought proof of Cuba’s readiness to improve its human rights record and last spring presented a list of prisoners they wanted released, the officials said. The Cubans agreed to almost everyone on the list with the exception of a handful. In July, they told Obama’s aides that Havana was prepared to release 53 prisoners, the officials said. A final meeting was held at the Vatican and then the broader deal was rolled out in December after 18 months of negotiations. One U.S. official also said Obama could exercise executive powers “in a matter of days and weeks” to begin easing some business and travel restrictions The officials said the first of those changes could be announced around the time of the Jan. 2122 talks in Havana, when U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson begins high-level negotiations.
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
Lady Secret wins feature... (From page 26) As the animals left the starting gates with a level break there was jostling for position as they hit the far turn and into the back stretch. Lady Secret with Ross on the perch was among the back bunch as the race got deeper. However as the horses hit the far turn for home, Lady Secret began to take orders with Ross spurring her on. The racehorse then picked up pace as it came through with a burst of speed ahead of the rest of the field as front runners Little, Red Jet and Sunny Silence wilted under the pressure. The winners took away the $120,000 top money and
Budhan Memorial Trophy. It’s MY Time of the Mahase Narine stable made sure that it was definitely its time winning two races. Ridden by Motilall the racehorse was in winner’s row in the two K class events, claiming the $70,000 and trophy on each occasion, beating Red Region and Cart Man in the first encounter and then returning to defeat Red Region and Magnum in the other race. Magnum with Wills on the perch was in winner’s row in the L1 race as it won the $40,000 and trophy from Map Head and Sudden Star. Sophia’s Choice of the Stewart Stable of Corentyne
and ridden by Takurdyal won the L2 event ahead of Brown Boy, This Day and Forgiven Kid. The win was worth $30,000 a trophy. The event for non winners was taken by Turn About ridden by Prem ‘Light Weight’ Chandra with Sudden Star and Go Zapper rounding out the money. All the events were run over six furlongs. The Narine stable copped top honours with trainer Mahase Narine taking the top trainer award. Jockey Brian Wills was the top rider on show. The day’s event was by and large incident free and a good crowd was on hand. Organisers Neville and Andrew Budhan were happy with how the day unfolded and would like to thank all their supporters and fans for their support.
Tuesday January 13, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You're a logical person, Aries. When insights come to you through ESP, you tend to doubt their validity. Don't do this. If a feeling is particularly strong, go with it. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Doubts about a friend's motives could plague you today, Taurus. This person seems to be acting strangely and isn't communicating. This probably has little if anything to do with you. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) A friend or family member might act strangely and seem distracted. You may wonder if he or she is upset with you. This probably isn't the case. This person has issues that need attention. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You should be back to your normal self tomorrow. Stay home tonight, listen to music, and take it easy.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) It might take a while to locate it, but it should turn up eventually. There might be some strange messages for you, and you may not be sure whether or not you should return the calls. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you could doubt the amount of money you might get from a business transaction. If you can, verify this before starting anything. You aren't being told something. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Business transactions that could take place in your home or perhaps involve the home might seem a bit unclear today, Sagittarius. CAPRI (Dec.22–Jan.19) New businesses could open in your neighborhood that you might want to check out. Take a look - especially if it's a new bookstore.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Your situation is probably better than it seems on the surface. Lack of information clouds the issue. Check the facts and judge them for yourself before making yourself crazy.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Today you might not feel secure about your financial situation, and get a little nervous. Disconcerting information in the news about the general state of the world economy might have planted some unsettling seeds in your mind.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) A scheduling conflict may come up today. A business engagement could interfere with a social event. You might doubt whether you can attend both, but if you plan carefully, it should be OK.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Some unsettling news about your work situation might reach you today and make you worried, Pisces. You might question your future in this field and possibly consider a change.
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Manning uncertain about future after loss to Colts (Reuters) - Peyton Manning slumped off the field towards an uncertain future following Denver’s divisional playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, with many wondering if they had seen the last of one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time. If Sunday’s game was his last it would mark a humble departure for the five-time league most valuable player, who gave himself a failing grade in a 24-13 loss to the Colts. As the final seconds ticked off the clock at a subdued Sport Authority Field, television commentators were already wondering if a weary looking 38-year-old Manning would return for an 18th season. At the post-game news conference it was one of the first questions put to Manning, who side-stepped the query far better than he evaded the Indianapolis pass rush on Sunday. “My mindset right now is just disappointment after today’s game,” said Manning. “I kind of need to process this game and we’ll meet tomorrow, kind of need to process this game, so I’m disappointed right now. “I guess I just can’t give that simple answer. I’m processing it.” Manning built a Hall of Fame career in Indianapolis, rewriting the record books and taking the Colts to a Super Bowl before moving onto Denver in 2012 when the Colts decided their future lay with the Andrew Luck, who they took with the number one overall pick in that year’s draft. During the regular season Manning set the career record for most touchdown passes and his 69,691 career passing yards are second only to Brett Favre. If there is one cloud hanging over Manning’s brilliant career it is that despite all the individual honors and awards his Hall of Fame resume includes just one Super Bowl win in three trips to the championship game. In 24 playoff games his record is a pedestrian 11-13 and Sunday’s loss to the Colts may go down as one of his worst. Trying to get back to the Super Bowl and atone for last season’s humiliating loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Broncos fans had little to cheer after Manning engineered a touchdown drive on Denver’s opening possession. Manning completed 26 of 46 passes for 211 yards and one touchdown but uncharacteristically missed open receivers and fumbled once, which the Colts converted into a touchdown.
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) warms up before the game between the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. (Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports) While many refused to lay the blame at the quarterback’s feet, the 13-time Pro Bowler was not as forgiving when it came to assessing his own performance. “I’ve always taken a pretty accurate look and fair
evaluation of myself,” said Manning. “I’m probably as critical of myself as anyone else and didn’t play well enough today.” The Colts move onto the AFC championship next Sunday against the New England Patriots.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 13, 2015
SHABAZZ appointed Head Coach for Barbados friendly -26 local players shortlisted; Nurse, Smith & Emery Welshman are foreign based By Franklin Wilson Determined to see Guyana’s football return to a stable platform in every regard, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Normalisation Committee (NC) yesterday appointed Trinidadian Jamaal Shabazz as the Head Coach for the upcoming friendly international against Barbados on February 1, 2015. NC Chairman, Clinton Urling yesterday presented Shabazz to the Media and Nation stating that the move to bring back the successful Coach was necessary given the short timeframe they had to act after receiving the invitation to play from the Barbados Football Association (BFA). This is the fourth coming of Shabazz to Guyana, a nation that he took to its highest ever FIFA World Cup performance, the third stage of qualifying playing against the likes of Mexico, El Salvador and Costa Rica. In his initial remarks, Shabazz stated that it was a pleasure to be back in Guyana and among friends with absolutely no enemies. He noted that the successful achieve-
ments of the past were as a result of collective efforts. ”I find the unity that I found in working in football here in Guyana with Coach Dover and others, the relationships we’ve built as a staff transcends what one person would have brought to the table. I want to say this again publicly, the achievements we made were always a collective one and every time we got a result for Guyana it was based on a collective effort.” Shabazz, while stating that football here is at a very difficult period reminded all that going forward in a successful manner would need the positive contributions of all the stakeholders on and off the field of play. Being his usual philosophical self, Shabazz invited the NC, his Technical Staff as well as GFF staff to hold the Golden Arrowhead with a football placed on it to symbolize that a collective effort is need to ensure Guyana’s success. ”I appeal to all the factions in Guyana’s football that this is about players and the game has got to move on without the fighting and the animos-
ity and the warring. FIFA has come in and made a decision and they have brought a leader to settle and place Guyana’s football in the rightful place.” Urling in response reminded that the “Mantra” of the NC is one of a united Guyana Football Federation, “That’s the only way the sport can grow and move forward and we talk about not just the employees but everybody in this room including you the media. Hopefully we can lay a firm foundation as we move forward”, Urling underscored. Shabazz in announcing the 27 local players that would have been called up for trails informed that former Captain and midfielder Chris Nurse has made himself available to play against Barbados as well as defender Jamaal Smith and newcomer, Canadian forward Emery Welshman whose parents are Guyanese. Welshman, who currently plays with Sigma FC in the Ontario League 1, played for Major League Soccer side Toronto FC and the Portland Timbers FC. He is coming on a try out
Lady Secret wins feature event at Budhan’s Memorial Horserace meet It’s My Time is top horse with two wins Connections of Lady Secret after winning the feature event. Jockey Colin Ross is perched on the animal.
By Samuel Whyte Lady Secret of the D. McKenzie Stable out of the Kiltern area, Corentyne definitely has a secret for the Budhan Memorial Sports
Complex by winning yet another feature event. The animal owned by Tandica Richmond and ridden by Colin Ross showed that it is the boss as it once again dusted
the field to win the feature event when the entity held their grand one day horserace meet at the Club’s No 66 Corentyne, venue. (Continued on page 25)
and once he is up to the level required would be called to the national team. The local based players called are: O’Neil Carter, Oswald Cornett, Omallo Williams, Travis Henry, Solomon Austin, Kris Camacho, Quincy Madramootoo, Trevon Lythcott, Dwain Jacobs, Amos Ramsey, Daniel Wilson, Keron Solomon, Sheldon Holder, Clive Nobrega, Colin Nelson, Dwight Peters, Tishard Joseph, Dwayne Lawrence, Domini Garnett, Travis Hillman, Rawle Gittens, Denver Dennis, Calvin Sheppard, Joshua Brown, Eusi P h i l l i p s , Vurlon M i l l s . Technical staff: Jamaal Shabazz (Head Coach) Wayne Dover (Assistant Coach), Trevor Burnette (Equipment Manager), Faizal Khan (Manager of Administration/Commercial), Mark Xavier (Manager of Operations), Anson Ambrose (Trainer), Andrew Hazel (Goalkeeper Coach), Debita Harripersaud (Physio). Based on performances, the local based players will have the first opportunity to make
Chris Nurse
Emery Welshman
the team according to Shabazz who has never lost touch with the game locally. ”It makes more sense because they are available and we are seeing them every day and know what they are doing. But we can’t discount what the players bring who play at a higher level because we know a lot of football is not going on in Guyana now.” The focus for now the Head Coach and Chairman of the NC informed would be on the Letter to the Sports Editor
Barbados game. Also present at yesterday’s presser was Technical Director Claude Bolton, who welcomed Shabazz’ appointment, pledging that they will all work together for the good of Guyana’s football. Encampment and training will commence on January 22 with the team expected to be trimmed to the travelling 18 a few days before for the Land of the Flying Fish.
Phantom Cricket Clubs voted at BCB Elections, the Ombudsman must investigate Dear Editor, Please allow me a space in your sports column to share with the public some malpractice that took place during the recent so-called Berbice Cricket Board elections whereby a new executive body was installed. Like every cricketing nation, club and administration we all look forward towards lifting the standard of the game in the most decent and legal manner. But this was not the case in the BCB elections. During that election a decision had to be made to have the Berbice River Cricket representatives voted although their names differ from that which was submitted to the BCB. Those that were present at the election and took that awkward decision in allowing for the reps from the Berbice River to vote should have asked themselves, Are those persons really the true representatives of the Cricket Clubs in that area?. If they really were then why is it that their names were not submitted to the BCB or why is it their names differ from that which was submitted to attend and vote? Some serious questions needs to be
asked and some very good answers must be given by those that allowed those people to vote on behalf of the cricket clubs in the Berbice River. Much concern must also be given that the Berbice River area is having problems with its cricket administration because it was reported at that election that there are two factions in the area that run cricket. This means that no one can determine whether those reps were sent and more over we cannot determine which faction is the legal faction. Therefore both factions had to be illegal. This now brings me to the point where it was decided by the BCB that the two factions will be given the opportunity to vote. How can the BCB\reps present give permission for the illegal factions to vote? How can those votes be legally counted when we do not know which faction is the illegal one (if any)? At this point I would also like for the Ombudsman and the public to note that nonexistent clubs were also represented at the BCB elections and were given the opportunity of voting. The
present secretary elected, voted on behalf of the Mount Sinai Cricket Club, which did not participate in cricket for the past two decades or so. Some of the other non existing clubs that voted are Mental Hospital and Kildonan. Another club was given the opportunity to vote although it does not have voting rights since it is a second division club. (Chesney Cricket Club). More over Mr. Malcolm Peters was never appointed as a life member. Therefore, I will conclude in saying that the BCB election was fraud and can be deemed illegal. I am now calling on the cricket clubs and subassociations in Berbice that were entitled to vote to condemn the election and demand that a new election held. I am also calling on the newly appointed Cricket Ombudsman to investigate the BCB administration put cricket in the hands of legally elected officials. Yours Truly, Abel Seetaram Marketing and Public Relations Officer West Berbice Cricket Association.
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d’Or Rodgers rallies Packers past Cowboys over Lionel Messi & Manuel Neuer GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Aaron Rodgers battled through pain to rally the Green Bay Packers to a thrilling 26-21 playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, sending them to the NFC title game to face defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks. Rodgers, despite struggling with a calf injury, threw two touchdown passes in a row as Green Bay fought back from a 21-13 third-quarter deficit. He passed for three touchdowns and 317 yards for the game. “His performance in the second half was as good as it gets,” said Packers coach Mike McCarthy. “What he has done in this stadium in the last two games with the conditions of his calf has been spectacular.” The Cowboys though were left fuming about a controversial incompletion ruling late in the fourth quarter where instead of being at the Packers one-yard line after a brilliant Dez Bryant leap for a Tony Romo pass, they were forced to give Green Bay the ball back on downs. Rodgers had struggled in
the final two games of the regular season and the first signs that a two-week break had not allowed for a complete recovery of the calf came when the Packers took the lead on their first drive. Rodgers looked to run with the ball but hobbling slightly, he spotted Andrew Quarless in the end zone with a four-yard pass. “I feel like with my normal mobility I would have been able to just run that in,” said Rodgers. “The pain in my calf helped me make that decision very easily.” Dallas struck back quickly with a pass interference penalty giving the Cowboys the ball at the one-yard line and Romo found fullback Tyler Clutts for his first career score. The Cowboys scored again when Romo connected with Terrance Williams and the receiver raced into the end zone. The Packers reduced the deficit to a point thanks to field goals on either side of halftime from Mason Crosby. But with Rodgers lacking mobility, Dallas extended their advantage on a one-yard touchdown run from
DeMarco Murray who had shown his electrifying speed with a 26-yard rush earlier in the drive. Curiously, as time went on, Rodgers began to move better and he looked like his usual self when he moved out of the pocket, connecting with Davante Adams for a 46yard touchdown pass to pull within one point. When the Packers quarterback then found Richard Rodgers with a 13yard go-ahead touchdown pass, the Lambeau Field crowd sensed victory. Dallas, though, will lament that crucial fourth-quarter decision by officials when, on fourth and two, Bryant rose spectacularly to catch a 31yard pass and move the Cowboys to the one-yard line. After a challenge flag from McCarthy, the officials ruled the pass incomplete, handing the ball back to the Packers on their 33-yard line and Green Bay never gave the ball back to close out the win. Now they face the toughest of tasks in Seattle, where they lost 36-16 to open in the regular season in September.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws a pass against the Dallas Cowboys in the first quarter in the 2014 NFC Divisional playoff football game at Lambeau Field. (Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports)
BBC Sport - Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or world footballer of the year award for the second year in a row. The Portugal captain beat Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to the award. Wolfsburg and Germany midfielder Nadine Kessler was named women’s player of the year, while Colombia’s James Rodriguez won goal of the year. Germany’s World Cup winner Joachim Low won men’s coach of the year. Wolfsburg boss Ralf Kellermann was named women’s football coach of the year after a successful defence of the Champions League. The three candidates for the Ballon d’Or were all picked in the team of the year, along with defenders Philipp Lahm, David Luiz, Thiago Silva and Sergio Ramos, midfielders Andres Iniesta, Toni Kroos and Angel Di Maria and forward Arjen Robben. Ballon d’Or Cristiano Ronaldo successfully defended his world player of the year status convincingly with 37.66% of all votes, winning for a third time. Barcelona and Argentina counterpart Lionel Messi who won four years in a row until Ronaldo beat him last year, was second on 15.76%. He was narrowly ahead of Bayern Munich and Germany keeper Manuel Neuer, who had 15.72%. Ronaldo, who scored 52 goals in 43 games during 2014, looked emotional when collecting the award from former France, Barcelona and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. The 29-year-old said: “I would like to thank all of those
Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d’Or who voted for me, my president, my coach and Real Madrid. It has been an unforgettable year. To win this trophy at the end of it is something incredibly unique.” Women’s World Player of the Year Wolfsburg and Germany midfielder Nadine Kessler was named women’s player of the year. The 26-year-old beat Brazil’s Marta and United States international Abby Wambach. Kessler said: “My heart is beating madly at the moment. I don’t think I ever thought in my life I would achieve this moment. “Without my team-mates and my coach, this would never have been possible. I have a great degree of gratitude that I must give to my
family. They have seen me through all the difficult times.” Puskas Award (goal of the year) Colombia’s James Rodriguez , 23, won the Fifa goal of the year award for his World Cup strike against Uruguay, beating Irishwoman Stephanie Roche. Roche, who scored a stunner for Peamount against Wexford in the Irish top flight, had hoped to be the first female winner of the Puskas Award. She landed 33% of the public vote to Rodriguez’s 42%. Manchester United striker Robin van Persie - the third nominee - earned just 11% for his diving header against Spain in the World Cup.
LUCK LEADS COLTS to surprising win over Broncos (Reuters) - Andrew Luck passed for two touchdowns to the lead the Indianapolis Colts to a 24-13 playoff win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday to step out of the shadow of Peyton Manning and into the AFC title game against the New England Patriots. Compared to Manning from the moment the Colts selected him with the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, Luck quieted the debate as he outdueled the five-time National Football League
most valuable player in front of a stunned crowd in the Mile High City. Manning built a Hall of Fame career in Indianapolis, rewriting the quarterbacking record book and taking the Colts to a Super Bowl before moving onto Denver in 2012 when the Colts decided their future belonged with the young Luck. Luck proved on Sunday the move was the right one, completing 27 passes for 265 yards including touchdowns to Dwayne Allen and Hakeem
Nicks. But he would not be drawn into renewing the debate over the two quarterbacks, refusing after the game to compare his performance to Manning’s in the divisional playoff and preferred to focus on the Colts own high expectations. “I’m not going to compare,” Luck told reporters. “There are high expectations, I remember the first day I walked into the building, it is a winning franchise, it seems to be in the DNA of the Colts you got to win.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) gestures before a snap against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter in the 2014 AFC Divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. (MARK J. REBILAS-USA TODAY SPORTS)
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Bacchus returned Crawford retained unopposed as ECB head as DCUSA President Shannon Crawford was re-elected unopposed as president of the Demerara Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (DCUSA) when the body held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday last at Wales Community Centre, West Bank Demerara. Nigel Duguid retained his post of vice president, while Nolan Hawke returned
as secretary. Edward Nicholls will continue to serve as the treasurer; Chatnarine Persaud replaced Arleigh Rutherford who did not seek re-election as the assistant secretary treasurer. The Public Relations Officer is Zaheer Mohamed while the committee members are Javed Persaud, Gyananand Sukhdeo, Tishana Douglas and Andrew
Singh. Speaking after the elections Crawford thanked the members for their confidence and urged his fellow executive to work diligently for the growth of the association. He thanked the West Demerara body for hosting the meeting. A minute silence was observed for in respect for the late umpire Roshan Moakan before the meeting.
Members of the Essequibo Cricket Board executive. President Fizul Bacchus is sitting second from right. Fizul Bacchus was reelected unopposed as president of the Essequibo Cricket Board when the body held its Bi-Annual General Meeting on Sunday last at its hostel in Anna Regina. The other executive members that were elected unchallenged to serve for 2015-2016 are Totaram Ramnarine vice president, Aotto Christiani secretary, Virendra Chintamani treasurer, Andy Ramnarine assistant secretary, Alvin Johnson assistant
treasurer, Nazeer Mohamed Public Relations Officer, Anthony Murray marketing manager and Verna D’Auigar competition committee chairperson. Additionally A. Khan and Harvey Gobin were elected as trustees and Travis Simon the auditor. In an invited comment, Bacchus thanked the members for their confidence and said their main aim is to make Essequibo more competitive at all levels. He stated that the board will do more
training programmes and said there is a need for more coaches in the county. Meanwhile, a release from the board indicated that the meeting was well attended by all area committees, but was interrupted on several occasions by a representative from the North Essequibo Cricket Committee. The release also stated that as the meeting went on both representatives from the said area committee verbally attacked Bacchus on several occasions.
Members of the newly elected executive of the DCUSA. President Shannon Crawford is sitting in the center.
GFA’s Stag Beer Futsal’s F/ball tourney
Champion Alpha United collect spoils Georgetown Football Association (GFA)/Stag Beer Futsal’s top team Alpha United collected their $250, 000 first prize and the beautiful trophy yesterday from Ansa McAl at the presentation of prizes at the Company’s East Coast Head Office, while Riddim Squad received $150,000 for finishing runner-up after they lost 5-4 in an exciting final. Western Tigers, who defeated Santos 5-1, finished third and collected $100,000 and the third place trophy, while Santos received $50,000 and a trophy. Alpha United’s Travis Grant was adjudged Most Valuable Player while Dorville Stewart of Riddim Squad received the best goalkeeper award, his team mate Amos Ramsay got an award for scoring the most goals in the tournament. Ansa McAl Public Relations Officer (PRO) Darshanie Yussuf thanked the GFA for giving the Company and the teams the opportunity to
make the tournament a huge success “While the company is known for its contributions to on field sporting events, we need to give the players different opportunities so they are well rounded,” Yussuf said. She congratulated Alpha, Riddim Squad, Western Tigers and Santos for their showing in the tournament, adding that “these are teams you often hear about and it was great to see them play in a different format which shows they have great potential”. Stag Beer brand representative John Maikoo, thanked the GFA for affording the company the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing tournament while stating that the company will continue to focus on this area of the sport. “We hope we are given the same opportunity in 2015 to make the event bigger and better and we look forward for your continued assistance”. He added. GFA Competitions Coordinator Otis James said it was a remarkable year for
Ansa McAl officials and top prize winners take time out for a photo after the presentation. the sport within the association and he hopes the relationship between the two entities can continue to prosper. James further thanked the participating teams for con-
tributing towards the staging of the tournament while declaring “It was a challenging tournament and we hope to do it again bigger and better in 2015”.
Women offer FIFA ‘goodfaith’ proposal in turf war (Reuters) - Players at this year’s women’s World Cup, trying to settle a lawsuit against FIFA, will play on artificial turf as long as the final matches are on natural grass, their lawyer said on Monday. The proposal is the latest twist in a rolling dispute that picked up steam in August when players said a proposal to play the June-6-July 5 tournament in Canada on artificial turf was discriminatory and violated human rights. “The battle over the use of plastic pitches at the women’s World Cup can easily and quickly come to a peaceful resolution,” attorney Hampton Dellinger said in a statement. “All FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association need to do is accept the players’ feasible, affordable, and more than fair deal.” FIFA has previously said there were no plans to change the decision to play the tournament on artificial surfaces. The players, who filed a lawsuit against soccer’s governing body and the Canadian Soccer Association last year, are now proposing playing all but the semi-final, third-place and final matches on artificial turf. The proposal lays out how top quality grass fields could be prepared for and installed in each of the three stadiums hosting the tournament’s final two rounds. According to the proposal, the plan is modeled on systems used successfully for previous men’s and women’s World Cups, and is approved by leading world experts on sports grass. The tournament’s final game will be played in Vancouver with Montreal and Edmonton hosting semi-finals. The thirdplace game will also be in Edmonton. “The players continue to believe a women’s World Cup should not be singled out for field conditions men’s World Cups have never been subjected to,” the proposal said. “But this settlement offer represents a good-faith attempt at compromise.”
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
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RHTY&SC Silver Jubilee 1990 – 2015
Cricket teams donate scorebooks to BCB The cricket teams of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) on Thursday last presented $100,000 worth of cricket scorebooks to the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) as part of the club’s year long Silver Jubilee celebrations. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster at the presentation said that the assistance to Berbice cricket would be one of the hallmarks of the Silver Jubilee celebrations. Foster, who has stepped down as chairman of the BCB Specials Events Committee to concentrate on his RHTYSC duties, disclosed that over the last ten years his organisation has donated close to $10 million worth of items to cricket clubs across the Ancient County. The club, he stated is committed to the development of cricket in Berbice and proudly stated that they are the only cricket club in Guyana that seeks to
assist others to develop themselves. The sad state of West Indies cricket requires every stakeholder to work hard to reverse the situation and Foster stated that some clubs were only interested in themselves with no concern over other clubs who were struggling to survive. Overseeing over 700 programmes and activities during his 7 years at the helm of the BCB Special Events Committee, Foster wished the new BCB administration every success in the future while urging them to serve with pride, dedication and never to put their personal interests above the welfare of the youths that were elected to serve. BCB President Anil Beharry expressed gratitude to the RHTY&SC and its cricket teams for the donation of the scorebooks stating that Berbice cricket has benefitted greatly from the outstanding work of the club. He praised Foster for his
Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster (left) handing over the scorebooks outstanding contribution to the sport in Berbice. Beharry disclosed that the scorebooks would be
distributed to clubs across the county for use at the senior and junior levels. The teams making the
Caribbean Super Station to broadcast NAGICO SUPER50 cricket Ten days, eight teams, two Islands, one Champion. The 2015 NAGICO Super50 Regional one-day Franchise Cricket bowls off in the twin Island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday and the Caribbean Super Station will bring the action live on Radio with ball-by-ball commentary on all of the matches. Two matches will be played each day in the two zones and two sets of Radio teams have been set up to broadcast each match every day. The Guyana Jaguars face the Windwards Islands Volcanoes on the opening day in one of two matches that day and the only day-night contest at the Queens Park Oval starting at 13:30 in the afternoon. They then face the Barbados Pride in another Day-Night game at the same venue on January 17 before playing the CCC at the Queens Park Oval in their final preliminary round clash on January 19 under-lights. The semi-finals are set for January 22 & 23, while the grand finale is fixed for January 25 at the Queens Park Oval culminating under lights. Guyana’s Sean Devers, who will also file reports on the Guyana games for the Kaieteur News, will be one of the commentators in all of the Guyana matches. Devers, who was out of action on the airwaves for the entire 2012 & 2013
donation were the RHT Farfan and Mendes Under15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi
Flying Ace Cycle Club to hold AGM and Election of Office Bearers today
T
Sean Devers Colin Croft due to a brain Surgery to remove a cancerous Tumor, will be joined by Grenadian Pastor Stephenson Worme and comments men former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler Colin Croft and ex T&T batsman Andre Lawrence for the first game. Devers, a former Guyana offspinner, will do the ball-by-ball commentary with lead Commentator Bajan Andrew Mason for the Jaguars/Barbados encounter with Croft and former Barbados and West Indies opener Philo Wallace doing the
Comments men. In the Jaguars final preliminary round match, Devers and former West Indies youth team Captain T&T’s Colin Murray will call the ball-by-ball play, while Croft & former First-Class player Hendy Wallace from Barbados do the Comments in the Jaguars against the Barbados based CCC. Trinidadian Vidia Ramphal is the other ball-by-ball Commentator and the semi-finalist and finalist will determine who are on the Radio team for that phase of the tournament. ESPN will also carry the matches at the Queens Park Oval live on Television. Barbados are the defending Champions.
Under-19 and Intermediate, Gizmos and Gadgets Under21 and First Division and Metro Females.
he Flying Ace Cycle Club of Berbice is set to hold their Annual General Meeting today at the Club’s Office in New Amsterdam beginning at 16:00 hrs. High on the agenda is the reports of the President, Secretary and Treasurer. A review of the club performance for the past year will also be undertaken. While ways and means to have the club functioning better will also be undertaken. The main agenda item is expected to be the election of office bearers where persons will be elected to fill the position of President, first, second and third Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer and committee members. A number of appointments will also be made. Plans for the club’s upcoming cycling events and awards ceremony will also be undertaken. John Lewis, Businessman and long serving president, is expected to retain his post. The club was founded by long serving coach and coordinator Randolph Roberts. (Samuel Whyte)
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Britton brilliantly starts 2015 Season Malteenoes-bred, Shemar Britton, another product of National Coach, Idi Lewis, could not have asked for a better start to his 2015 Season on Sunday when he comfortably won Guyana’s Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Open Senior Championships. Entering as the second seed in the tournament, Britton brilliantly overcame his Malteenoes team-mate, Kyle Edghill 11-8, 8-11, 1412, 10-12, 11-3 and 11-4 to win the tournament as Paul Meusa and Joel Alleyne shared the third place position. In the semi finals, Britton defeated fourth seeded, Joel Alleyne 11-9, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 7-11 and 11-8 while Edghill defeated Meusa, the number three seed, 9-11, 11-9, 4-11, 12-10, 11-8, 9-11 and 14-12 in a pulsating encounter that went down to the wire. In the quarterfinals, Edghill had defeated the
GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe (left) poses with the various prize winners from their Open Table Tennis tournament Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. tournament’s number one seeded, Orin Hickerson 101 2 , 11 - 5 , 11 - 7 a n d 11 - 5 ; Meusa stopped Colin France 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 11-3 and 11-5; Alleyne beat Jonathan Sankar 11-6, 9-11, 11-7, 711, 11-7 and 11-5 as Britton defeated Elishaba Johnson
11-8, 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 9-11 and 11-6 to advance to the last four. Meanwhile, in Round-of-16, Hickerson got a bye into the quarter finals, while Edghill defeated Dwayne Gibson 11-7, 11-8, 4-11 and 11-8; France defeated Xenophon Goliah 11-
8, 2-11, 13-15, 13-11 and 11-6; Meusa and Alleyne got free passes while Sankar defeated Remy Taitt 11-5, 11-2 and 115; Devon Richmond lost to Johnson 8-11, 7-11 and 4-11 with Britton also receiving a bye into the final eight. The tournament featured
24 players from around the country, including two females, Kristie Lopes and Selenas Jackman. Britton collected a trophy and $12,000 while second place received a trophy and $8,000; joint third place collected a trophy
and $6,000 each. All quarterfinalists got $3000 each. All quarterfinalists got $3000 each. Jonathon Sankar, Orin Hickerson and GTTA President, Godfrey Munroe were the sponsors of the inaugural event for this new year.
Jaguars Coach confident despite loss of key batsmen By Sean Devers Head Coach of the Guyana Jaguars, Esuan Crandon, feels that some fans may identify the Jaguars as favorites, but said the Jaguars have got to back themselves if the team wants to win the 2015 NAGICO Super50 cricket Tournament scheduled for Trinidad & Tobago from Thursday. Guyana has not won a Regional 50-over title since 2005 and play their opening game against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Queens Park Oval in a Day/Night affair starting at 13:30hrs. “Some of the other teams around the region are very strong but we are optimistic about our chances. We are missing a few key players from our middle order – Leon Johnson, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin and Ramnaresh Sarwan. They are all capable of winning matches for us. We have a bit of a hole in the middle order, but there are a few young players that we have brought in to replace them. They have been around for a bit, but they have not played many matches at this level. We know they are capable of doing a good job for us,” the former Guyana pacer opined. At the end of four rounds in the WICB FourDay format, the Jaguars lead
with 57 points but the 33year-old Crandon, who played 38 First-Class and 28 fifty-over games for Guyana, admits that limited overs cricket is more unpredictable than the longer version. “We know it has been a long time since we have not won the title and it has been very disappointing the way we have been playing in recent times with the talent and combination of our team. We found a formula for winning towards the end of last year in the Four-Day tournament and we are happy with the work we have done to prepare for this tournament, so we want to continue in that vein. This however, is a different version of the game and it can go either way,” Crandon said. The Jaguars Coach, who has as its assistant Coach, another former Guyana quickie in Rayon Griffith, says the team has indentified specific areas they need to work on. “We were confident and felt we could win last year. We felt we had a strong team on paper, but we needed to perform. We did pretty well in the preliminary matches and reached the semi-finals, but the eventual champions Barbados got the better of us. We aren’t going to make any excuses, but for us to be successful we have to rotate the strike better when we are batting, particularly since we
Esuan Crandon will be without a number of key players, and our bowling “at the death” is something we are also monitoring closely,” the Berbician added. “We will need bowlers to be clear in their minds about what they have to execute and not be confused.” “Regaining focus following the holiday break was a bit challenging for us. We asked the players to continue working on their own and tried to get coaches around the country to work with them. We tried to put things in place during that period,” disclosed Crandon, the elder brother of Royston Crandon. He feels that these guys must understand that they are now being paid as professionals and there are certain expectations.
“It has been evident that they followed this advice when they returned from the break. We did an assessment and the results showed improvements and so things have been going pretty well so far. We have a pretty good staff and we have put in a lot of specific work. We have tried to make full use of whatever time and resources were available to us and so far it is going well,” Crandon said after two practice matches were played, the last one under lights at Providence. Forty-year old veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul has played 84 regional One-Day games for Guyana and has 11 centuries from 268 ODIs in which he averages 41.60 but no other player in the Jaguars squad has played more that
Royston Crandon’s 24. “ O b v i o u s l y , Chanderpaul is the most experienced guy in the group and will lead the batting, along with our captain Christopher Barnwell. Our openers – Trevon Griffith did well in the 50-over version last year and Rajendra Chandrika had a few good performances in the Four-Day at the end of last year,” said Crandon who has 90 First-Class wickets and 29 at List ‘A’ level. The South American based team’s bowling will be spearheaded by the genuinely quick West Indies ‘A’ team pacer Ronsford Beaton with medium pace support from Barbadian leftarmer Raymond Reifer, Captain Chris Barnwell and Paul Wintz, while Devendra
B i s h o o , Ve e r a s a m m y Permaul and Steven Jacobs are expected to provide spin support. “Ronsford Beaton will spearhead our bowling and Raymond Reifer is a good all-rounder and we will be depending a lot on him in this version of the game. I think he has a lot to offer in this version of the game. And we also expect the spin twins, Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo to make an impact. If I want, I could call every player’s name because I believe they are all capable of performing at any given time,” Crandon concluded The Jaguars depart for Trinidad at 09:55hrs this morning and are confident of clinching their 10th Regional 50-over title.
Windies fined for slow over-rate in second South Africa T20 Jamaica Observer - KINGSTON, Jamaica – West Indies has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during the second Twenty 20 International (T20I) against South Africa in Johannesburg yesterday. According to a release from the International Cricket Council (ICC), Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fine after the Darren Sammy-led cricket team was ruled to be one over short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration. In accordance with Article 2.5.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minor
over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount. Sammy pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. As such, Sammy was fined 20 per cent of his match fee, while his players received 10 per cent fines. If Sammy is found guilty of one more minor over-rate offence in T20I’s over the next 12 months while acting as captain, he will receive a one-match suspension as per the provisions of the Code.
Tuesday January 13, 2015
Kaieteur News
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National Ruggers should be the unanimous CHOICE FOR SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR
The national rugby team takes a break from a training session in Mexico late last year.
As Kaieteur Sport continues to highlight top performers in the 2014 sports landscape, the firm choice for Sports team of the year is the national rugby team. This bunch of incredible athletes despite the challenges they faced, achieved incredible results in capturing both the NACRA 15’s and 7’s titles to be crowned the best in the Region, while also bringing to an end a 43 year-old drought as undisputed kings
of the Caribbean. Capturing the double in the same year clearly underlined the long known fact that the sport has come a long way in the past decade with Guyana winning the NACRA 7’s title on six consecutive occasions, before claiming its seventh in Mexico last December. The year started with the ‘Green Machine’ without a regional title, relinquishing their 15’s title to nemesis Trinidad and Tobago in
2013, while being absent from the NACRA 7’s tournament in 2013 so there was every motivation as the rightful regional powerhouses to get back into dominant mode in 2014. They begun the year ranked at 62nd out of 155 Test playing nations and by the end of the year had moved to #49 in the world after dominating the Region in both formats. It started out with the team showing admirable
resilience in overcoming a first half deficit against USA South in Atlanta to win a second half battle and the crown and then applying the same toughness in once again clawing their way back from an opening period arrears to rebound and beat the Mexicans at home to capture their second regional title. The tenacity, always a notable trademark of the team, was evident on both occasions as they had to erase deficits each time
playing in their opponents’ backyard, a testimony to the resolve of the players. Their performances have allowed them the opportunity to get back on the international stage as they qualified for the Hong Kong Sevens a tournament that is highly regarded as one of the most competitive on the IRB Sevens calendar, while they also have a chance to showcase their skills at the Pan Am Games slated for Toronto, Canada
later this year. There should be no challengers to what this team has done and when the distinguished panel sits down to deliberate on the various choices, the unanimous verdict should be the national ruggers. Many of our teams and athletes did perform outstandingly last year and need mention, but none of them came close to rivaling the feat of the national men’s rugby team.
Harris set to miss West Indies tour
ESPN cricinfo Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris is set to miss the tour of the West Indies in June this year, as it will coincide with the birth of his first child. Harris told an Australian radio channel that coach Darren Lehmann had urged him to stay home with his family. “I spoke to (coach) Darren (Lehmann) about it. Before I did he spoke to me and told me I would stay at home,” Harris told SEN Radio. “The West Indies is the furthest place to get home from. Darren wants to make sure I am here and spending time with my wife.’’ Harris’ likely absence means that he will not play for Australia until the side travels to England to defend the Ashes in July. Harris missed out on a spot in Australia’s World
Cup squad as the selectors chose to focus on keeping him fit for the series in England, where Harris had finished as Australia’s Player of the Series during the 2013 tour. Harris, who played the last of his 21 ODIs in February 2012, said he was disappointed with the omission but admitted it would have been challenging for him to stay fit over the duration of the tournament. The bowler has struggled with a chronic knee problem in his career and underwent surgery last year, months after bowling through pain to steer Australia to a last-gasp win over South Africa in Cape Town. He played three Tests against India recently, missing out on the game in Brisbane due to a quadriceps strain. “I want to say it would’ve been able to, but I
have just come out of a Test series and could only manage three Tests because I had a bit of a niggle,” he said. “My knee’s really sore and it’s pulled up quite sore after each game. “I would have tried but when you’re in a World Cup and you have a small squad of 15 guys you can’t rely on 14 of them and see how I am feeling after every game, when every game is a big game. You pick 15 for a reason they have to be up and going every game. “Darren (Lehmann) and the selectors, and hopefully Michael (Clarke), can’t be relying on asking ‘how are you going this game and how you going that game’. It’s too much stress to worry about on one player and you shouldn’t have to worry about that in the World Cup.” Harris will return to the
Sheffield Shield where he will play a few matches for Queensland before beginning training for the Ashes. “Basically, my programme when we get through these Shield games, we will work back from the first tour game over in England and then work back to where I am and where I need to start and where I need to be at certain times and how many balls I’ve bowled,” he said. “The big thing for me will be my strength. My right knee is not great so I have to get a lot of strength in my right leg and both my legs. “I didn’t have a great build up going into this Test series and I felt that at times in third and fourth spells but If I have the build-up before I had going into the England (series) over in England I’ll be fit and strong.”
Ryan Harris admitted it would have been difficult for him to stay fit for the duration of the World Cup © Getty Images
t r o Sp
SHABAZZ appointed Head Coach for Barbados friendly P. 26
- 26 local players shortlisted; Nurse, Smith & Emery Welshman are foreign based
IN UNITY THERE IS STRENGTH! GFF Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz, NC Chairman Clinton Urling and other members as well as Technical Committee members pledging to work together.
Lady Secret wins feature event at Budhan’s Memorial Horserace meet It’s My Time is top horse with two wins P. 26
Jockey Colin Ross abode Lady Secret powers home in the feature J class race.
It’s My time with Motilall onboard wins one of the main events.
P. National Ruggers should 31 P. Britton brilliantly 30 be the unanimous choice for SPORTS TEAM OF THE YEAR starts 2015 Season Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210