Kaieteur News

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Kaieteur News

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

EDITORIAL

The police and perceived violence The movies always make things clear and pure. Detectives find the bad guys by merely walking the streets and collecting information. Sometimes they are so observant and quick of mind that they seem to be way ahead of the ordinary man. People who are arrested for crimes, break down under intense interrogation sometimes having been exposed to the good cop/bad cop routine. When the person fails to crack, the police let him go, but conducts surveillance until a break comes in the case. However this is only in the movies. In real life the policemen are not so patient; they resort to violence against the suspect many of whom have died. Some of the suspects have been so badly mutilated that the authorities have had to prosecute the arresting ranks. There was the case of some over exuberant policemen in New York who sodomised a Haitian immigrant with a broom handle. Of course when they took the victim to a hospital they claimed that the injury was inherited by means other than the true means. As fate would have it, a nurse at the hospital was also a Haitian immigrant in the United States and while the police who escorted the man to hospital couldn’t fathom what he was saying, the nurse could and she duly made a report. A trial ensued and the policemen were jailed. Fast forward to Guyana and we encounter a similar case. A young man is sodomised by the police, this time with a baton. The story is not reported until Kaieteur News happened upon it. By this time the victim’s mother had already taken her complaint to the Divisional Commander and to the head of the Brickdam Police Complaints Desk. Something like that would certainly be reported to the Police Commissioner. The policemen would have been removed from active duty and by now charges would have been laid. Instead, the Guyana Police Force does nothing more than report that it has transferred the policeman. The Police Complaints people at Brickdam appear to have done nothing other than try to suppress the incident. This is not surprising when we notice the police reaction to other incidents involving policemen. Not so long ago, the relatives of a victim protested what appeared to be preferential treatment of a policeman charged with killing a civilian. Before that incident, the police would place their own in hospital to avoid having him incarcerated. This incident was no different. The victim was sodomised late last year; the newspapers get wind of the story a month ago and published it. However, it is not until the lawyer announced that he is suing the police force and this gains widespread publicity that the public becomes aware. And it is only then that the police take some action. We now hear that the abuser is under close arrest. There will now be protests, one of them in London outside the Guyana High Commissioner. In a democracy the police ensure that everyone gets justice; in Guyana it would seem that only the police are on the side of the law, everyone else is a criminal. It matters not that some of the most heinous crimes are committed by policemen. Serious questions arise. Should the victim, Colwyn Harding die, would the policeman, a corporal, be charged with murder? The shooting death of a young basketball player, Yohance Douglas, saw how the police reacted when it dawned that two of their own would be charged. They protected the criminals. Despite criminal convictions, both ranks were back on the force. A check revealed that they were never interdicted. This is the same police force that wants the wider public to trust the police, to form alliances in the fight against crime. The public is not going to take kindly to the manner in which the police behave. Surely the brutality would not go down well. And to make matters worse, the very police charge the victim, place him before the courts and a magistrate sends the victim to prison with his injuries that now threaten his very life.

Thursday January 16, 2014

Letters... Where your views make the news

The USAID Project: The PPP/C Govt’s latest political football DEAR EDITOR, Sadly, the USAID democracy project has now become just another political tool for the PPP/C regime. It is clear that the government intends to use all its energy to make this issue the chief symbol of its diversionary tactic. Like all its other political schemes, the PPP/C government has decided that it will make ordinary Guyanese the “pawns” in this USAID/PPP/C debacle. In its effort to make the people the hostages in this unwarranted situation, the government has again resorted to its usual psychological campaign against the people. The operatives at Office of the President and Freedom House hatched out their plan and carved out the government’s PR campaign to achieve

the following objectives; 1. Drive sufficient fear into the minds of the people so that they subconsciously succumb to the thinking and actions of the regime 2. Project the PPP/C government as the victim of bullying, by the US government 3. Use the democracy project and actions of the US ambassador to force Guyanese into believing that they constitute serious and dangerous threats to Guyana’s sovereignty. In order to achieve its objectives, the PPP/C has unleashed its propagandists in the letter sections of the daily newspapers to pedal its gibberish. These messengers are instructed to inundate the papers with the regime’s message, in

an attempt to coerce the people. In the minds of Guyana’s dictators, the people must be made to support them in all their oppressive actions, even if those actions are detrimental to the people and inimical to the national socio-political and economic agenda. The PPP/C’s attack on the people has always been brutal, impertinent and unconscionable. This government has been shameless in demonstrating its indifference for the people. Interestingly, the US government is getting a firsthand glimpse of the kind of treatment that the Guyanese people experience daily. The regime’s attitude is reflective of a culture which thrives on a belief of (Continued on page 24)

Tell the US to stay out of Guyana politics DEAR EDITOR, In December your paper carried an article: “Is there a rekindling of the Cold War?” and I would like to reply to it. In October 1962 I arrived in, what was then, British Guiana, as a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) attached to the Coldstream Guards and during this time I was in Georgetown, Atkinson Field and New Amsterdam. Unlike most of the guardsmen, I and my colleagues of the RAMC along with members of the Royal Signals, sought out the reasons for our being in British Guiana, apart from the obvious one ‘We were told to go’ which, in the case of the RAMC lads was not quite correct, because we volunteered. We were very concerned about 13 days in October now known as the Cuban Missile crisis, otherwise known as “13 days to save the world” which the US would like us to believe. We were able to see the US hand in labour relations at that time and the absence of truth in reports that were circulated among the guardsmen that told that D r C h e d d i J a g a n ’s administration had received a grant of about £500,000 ($2,400,000BG at that time) and that, when security forces had stopped his car, and that of his wife, they found thousands of Communist pamphlets and that PPP had funded travel and study in Cuba for a large number of young people. We h a d a g o o d relationship with members of the US forces at that time based at Atkinson Field and some of them would tell us things that they were told to tell people but they added,

“there is no point in reporting them because our bosses will simply deny them and put the blame on the Brits instead. More recently, here in the UK we have had problems with the US. Certain political groups have expressed their intention to pull Britain out of the European Union. Other groups that are PRO-Europe were quickly and quietly, provided with extra funds in order to fight the AntiEurope groups and this money came from the US. There have been several reports from the US that tried to insist that Britain stays as part of the European Union and some of these have even

hinted that if they don’t, then Britain will lose a lot of US trade business and US funding for various projects and companies. We had George W. Bush dragging British troops into war in Iraq and the Afghanistan with the interesting phrase “Those who are not with us are against us!” And Prime Minister Tony Blair immediately said “Yes. Yes .Yes” He was seen here as Bush’s poodle and some even referred to him as the Deputy Vice President of the US. Even President Obama has been trying to influence UK politics by calling for all UK political

parties to unite in supporting the EU and also a united Europe with its own Defence Forces overruling those of individual countries. This has not gone down at all well with many of the older population who can still remember having to fight the Germans in two World Wars and several football matches, and most of these would cheerfully go on the streets in protest against any political party trying to bring this about. Some of our political parties have written to Obama to tell him to pull his neck in and stay out of UK and out of UK (Continued on page 5)

Everything linked to this report is offensive DEAR EDITOR, On Tuesday afternoon, I read a GINA report captioned “BV/Triumph NDC gets concrete bridge – courtesy of the Ali family”. As a resident of the BV/Triumph community and a citizen of Guyana, I see everything linked to this report as offensive. First off, the pretence that the gift of a bridge was given to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) is clearly debunked in the same report. The bridge was given to the Muslim community between Success to Mon Repos. It was a facilitating endeavor for the members of that religious community so that they can have easier access to their burial ground. In addition, I see this assumed gift to our NDC as an attempt to create additional burdens for a cash-strapped NDC, which would now have to budget for the maintenance of what almost everyone living in Beterverwagting and Triumph knows is a poorly constructed bridge. Evidence of the lack of support the NDC experiences is very visible, among which are: • The piles of garbage left on the roadsides because the Government-appointed contractor is not adequately paid to remove the garbage produced in the community.

• The Triumph Middle Walk canal once used for irrigation and transportation to the backlands is clogged • The bridge from Republic Drive to Jardin Street in Triumph can best be classified as a Cassandra Crossing Thus to add another structure in the form of this bridge, to be maintained by the NDC, is surely adding insult to injury. I believe the Muslim community needed the bridge; I also believe they should claim it as theirs and ensure that it is maintained. I view the report with distaste as a citizen of Guyana. Even as I try to understand how the Government Information Agency can justify the shameless promotion of an activity linked to family members of a serving Minister of Government. On the other hand, GINA has been neglecting to report on developments or nondevelopments within the BV/Triumph community, and even the nation as a whole, when developments are not sponsored by Government or persons associated with it, or when non-action of the part of Government leads to suffering. Elton McRae Resident of Triumph Village

Thursday January 16, 2014

Kaieteur News

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

Freddie misunderstands sovereignty, state and government DEAR EDITOR, Freddie Kissoon misunderstands, misinterprets, and misanalyzes the concept of sovereignty (related terms of state and government) in chastising Drs. Henry Jeffrey and Roger Luncheon (KN Feb 12). The gentlemen invoked “sovereignty” in expressing concern over the US LEAD project. The PPP has expressed opposition to it because it claims that the US did not consult it about the project – a violation of its sovereignty. Jeffrey, like me, supports compromise and acceptance of the program. The Speaker also urged a compromise. I feel we need the program, but not at the expense of compromising sovereignty or accepted international precedents and standards or a violation of international law. Freddie said he did not study International Relations. So he is excused for his limited knowledge in

understanding how the IR system works. Sovereignty, state and nation are used coterminous; depending on the context they could mean the same thing. Guyana is a sovereign country, equal with the other 189 states in the system. In international law, there can only be agreements between sovereign states. Governments act on behalf of states and respect the sovereignty of other countries. But in the IR system, some countries are more equal than others and sovereignty had never limited American intervention in other countries – Guatemala, Dominican Republic , Chile , Nicaragua , Panama , etc. to remove unfriendly governments. As Freddie pointed out, Guyana had sovereignty (British sovereignty too under colonial rule) since the 1960s. But that did not prevent the US from intervening and toppling a democratically elected government – a

violation of international law. International law revolves around the concept of the state which is based upon the foundation of sovereignty free from external control. This idea of state sovereignty dates back as far as the notion of the state itself, going back to the Treaty of Westphalia of 1648. The norms of sovereignty were enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the “supranational organisation” that gives equality to all members. Attacks on the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity are prohibited. Contrary to what Freddie writes, government could also mean state, depending on the context – like US government (state) negotiating with the Guyana government (state). The government acts on behalf of the state. The government, in this sense, is the state. Contrary to what Freddie believes, the government is the legitimate authority of the

TELL THE US TO STAY OUT OF GUYANA POLITICS From page 4 politics, and some of the workers who discovered that their companies had been bought out by the US, as several have been, promptly left that work and went to other companies. Something not very easy, since, in the last fifteen years, some of Britain’s biggest companies have been bought out by the US. Let us not forget the US involvement in Caribbean agriculture, such as their company Chiquita going around Central America and the Caribbean and offering contracts to take a producer’s entire crop of bananas, and some

other fruits, but at a price far lower than the grower could usually get on the open market but, there we have Chiquita buying at low prices then selling on the world market at highly inflated prices that were also subsidised by the US government, making a very nice profit for Chiccita. If the Guyana Government is working on behalf of the people of Guyana then the best thing they can do is to tell the US to stay out of Guyana politics and business unless they are asked for help. Don Johnson Wallasey, UK

state. Freddie feels the US government can make an agreement to implement LEAD with parliament and bypass the government. No! The international system does not function that way. The parliament is not the state. The US government cannot bypass the government and make an agreement with the parliament unless the government acquiesces. Governments don’t make pacts with opposition parties; they make agreements with governments acting on behalf of the state. In the mid-1960s, UN member states agreed to two covenants that legally bound them to respecting the human rights of their people. When

they violated human rights, there has been some movement towards intervening in the domestic affairs of states. But this was done under the imprimatur of the UN’s Security Council; there were times when the US acted unilaterally as in the Iraq invasion. Interventions were approved for Somalia, Chad, Sudan, Timor, Central African Republic, Malawi, Bosnia, Serbia, etc. There were markedly different situations during the PNC dictatorship that necessitated intervention and now. The PNC took away the franchise through rigged elections. Now, the country is a functioning democracy giving people unprecedented

freedoms. Freddie would not have been able to publish any of the offensive stuff he pens. Foreign intervention was necessary under the PNC in order to protect peoples’ rights that were egregiously violated. The UN charter stipulates that other powers may violate the sovereignty of a member only when a state perpetrates massive injustice or cannot protect its own citizens. Can Freddie point to massive human rights violations in Guyana? I feel the grant should go ahead, but not under the conditions prescribed by Freddie and others seeking to remove the government through undemocratic means. Vishnu Bisram

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Alleged police brutality, sodomy… First tri-engine propeller aircraft awaits permit to fly Mother of victim wants Govt.

to foot overseas medical bill

A Trislander

A local company is to break new ground and will be the first to introduce tri -engine propeller aircraft for domestic use in Guyana. The company has introduced to internal air travelers the late 1970, early 1980, BrittenNorman Trislander. The two 18-seat, three-engine pistonpowered civilian utility planes are scheduled to make internal trips to interior locations once authorization from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has been approved. Kaieteur News was told that the planes will be the first of its kind to operate in Guyana. While the aircraft on other occasions, only passed through Guyana, it was never used for commercial purposes. Retired Director of Aviation Safety Regulation, Paula Mc Adam remembered that several years ago the Trislanders were in Guyana, but on display. Head of the Civil Aviations Authority Zulfikar Mohamed told Kaieteur News yesterday that the company was in the process of acquiring its Air Operator Certificate and

all documents relating to this has been submitted. Kaieteur News was told that the company is seeking to bring competition to the domestic skies and the Trislanders are expected to bring a difference to the market. The idea was to move away from the usual single engine flights to accommodate various levels of passengers. It was explained that in some cases, executive passengers such as managers are not covered by issuance when using the single engine airliners. Flights are however, expected to travel to all ports accessible to the well-known single turboprop engine Cessna Caravan. Operators are expecting to operate chartered flights and may be looking to offer tourist trips to destinations such as Kaieteur Falls. Guyana has traditionally used the twin engine, 10 -seater British Normandy Islander and the eight -seat Cessan Caravan. Aviation stalwarts have long noted the continued rise in domestic air travel and the continued growth in local air services provision.

Colwyn Harding

The mother of the 23-yearold man who allegedly sustained serious bodily injuries as a result of a brutal attack by a Constable is out to have the Government pay for the overseas medical attention for her son. The young man, Colwyn Harding, claims that on November 15, 2013 while staying at a home in Timehri North, East Bank Demerara, he was beaten by the Constable and other officers into a state of unconsciousness twice, and was sodomised by a condomcovered baton resulting in a ruptured intestine. He is currently hospitalised in the Male Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The distraught woman, Sharon Harding, is adamant that after two surgeries and weeks of hospitalisation, her son shows little sign of recuperation, even though she is being told otherwise by Dr. Sheik Amir, the medical practitioner who has been attending to him. She referred particularly to the wound located immediately below the passages that were created for him to pass waste, noting that it has become septic.

“The pus just coming up all the time… Today (Thursday) I saw the nurse take off the dressing, she open it out and she took gauze and sapped up all the inflammation and by time she turn around this thing just keep pouring out and it is very smelly. My son said it is very painful,” she related. “He is just lying there. He is helpless and he’s in a lot of pain.” On the lighter side of things, the woman expressed gratitude to those who have donated colostomy bags, including Dr. Amir. She explained that her son requires at least six bags per day. The bags cost $3,000 each. Still, she expressed that over the past days his condition seems to have taken a turn for the worst. “Yesterday (Wednesday) he was able to get up and sit for a while. He had his hair combed by my niece. But today he was not able to get up, and he said that he’s feeling weak,” she said. According to the woman, this is in total contrast to the news that she has been given by Dr. Amir, who had been attending to the young man. “Dr. Amir is telling me that he is progressing, he’s coming through and he is prepared to discharge him soon. And everybody that saw him yesterday (Wednesday) said that he is in a worse shape.” She related that she has even taken the step to seek permission from the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Khan, to consult with another surgeon so as to get a second opinion on his condition. In a letter addressed to Khan, the woman stated that she is confused by the conflicting reports on her son’s condition received from different doctors, and requests to have an opinion

from an outside specialist. Additionally, she stated that over the past days, her son had indicated “that he wasn’t getting any feeling in his left leg”. She said that on Tuesday, the numbness spread “throughout his entire left side.” Apart from pain caused to the young man as a result of the injuries sustained from the brutal attack, the woman is perturbed that her son remains cuffed to his hospital bed although on Monday last, he was granted bail on his own recognizance. According to his mother, officers from the Prison Service who are sent to Harding’s bed side to keep guard are not sent with keys to the cuffs. “That thing supposed to come off since Monday (last). Since Monday he was bailed.” Asked what she is prepared to do if her son is discharged from the hospital, the woman said, “I will take him home until I can get him out of the country.” Meanwhile, represented by the Hughes, Fields and Stoby Law Firm, Harding has gone about the legal process of suing the Guyana Police Force for the assault and injury caused to her son as well as its inaction to complaints lodged immediately after the attack. She is demanding from the institution, compensation in the sum of $100Million. According to the suit filed, “the Guyana Police Force has infringed the guaranteed constitutional rights of our client to protection from inhumane treatment and protection of his right to personal liberty.” The document was sent out to the Commissioner of Police, Leroy Brumell, on Tuesday last and he is expected to respond today.

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Prominent doctor stabbed Children on trial for in botched robbery attempt stepfather’s murder A Prominent doctor is currently nursing stab wounds at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) which he sustained during a botched robbery attempt by two bandits at his clinic located at lot B, Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara last evening. Dr. Leslie Carter 58, a former Regional Health Officer for Region four was in a stable condition up to press time. A family member related to Kaieteur News that around 7:40 pm, Dr. Carter was about to close his clinic when two bandits entered the premises under the pretext of being very ill. The men reportedly said that they were from the Interior and had contracted malaria. One of the men was reportedly shivering as he made his way into the doctor’s office. Upon gaining entry, one of the bandits

took a haversack from his back and gave it to his accomplice who then attempted to pull out a gun. Upon seeing this, Dr. Carter quickly raised an alarm resulting in one of the men fleeing the scene. The other bandit reportedly remained in the room with the doctor who continued to shout “thief! thief!” while scuffling with him During the fracas the doctor was stabled thrice, twice on his hand and once to the side of his abdomen, after which the bandit made good his escape. A plain clothes policeman who was the doctor’s last patient before the incident occurred, was in his vehicle outside the clinic and witnessed the bandit running away. It was he who rendered assistance to Dr Carter, taking him to the GPHC.

Robbery accused vows to commit suicide if imprisoned Yesterday, resounding wails were the common factor between 21-year-old Trevor Barrow, and Charles Rawlins, 28, as they were being escorted to the courtroom of Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where they were later read separate Robbery Under Arms charges. As the robbery accused sat in the prisoners’ docks of a full courtroom, Rawlins and Barrow wailed that they were innocent and further stated that they would kill themselves if they are convicted for a crime they “had not committed.” Before the Magistrate appeared in the courtroom, ranks tried to quiet them but Rawlins was adamant in his pleas. He moaned “Right now this thing hutting me, I would jump out the window and kill meself.” “It hutting me bad, I ain’t gonna snatch two Blackberry to survive, I doan deh pun them things. I got four children, who gon look after me children?” a tearful Rawlins questioned. Both men got down on their knees and continued their cries, and even attempted to reach out to the

woman the police say they had robbed. When Magistrate Latchman addressed the duo, they started crying loudly even before the charge was read to them. It is alleged that on January 12, at Agricola, while armed with a handgun they robbed Althea Bailey of two cell phones which cost $45,000. When the charge was first read to them, the Magistrate informed them that they would not be required to plead since at that point the charge was still deemed indictable. When asked whether they would like to have their matter tried in the Magistrates’ Court as opposed to the High Court, the duo was seen shaking their heads “in defeat.” In response, Barrow said “Magistrate anything could happen” whilst Rawlins stammered “right here ma worship.” The two men then sniffed and sobbed as the charge was re-read to them. The two men pleaded not guilty to the charge and told the court that they both are residents of Agricola, East Bank Demerara. Barrow identified himself as a diver in the “bush” who has no

previous charges or convictions. Rawlins stated that he is a Stabroek Market vendor who is currently facing an assault charge in Court 10. Rawlin’s tale however did not end there, he explained to the court that he had been a “bad boy” but had changed his ways. He said that he knew who the robbers were and added that he was denied an opportunity to identify the robbers when he informed the police of such. The Prosecution offered objections to the duo being granted bail, stating that the serious nature and prevalence of the offence are substantial grounds for them to be held. The Prosecution added that a weapon was used in the commission of the offence and informed the Magistrate that the two defendants were trying to speak to the witness whilst in court. He opined that if granted their pre-trial l i b e r t y, they would interfere with the victim. Bail was refused to the duo and the matter was adjourned until January 22 for statements

- Judge to sum up evidence today Today, Justice Navindra Singh is expected to sum up the evidence of the trial in which four persons are accused of unlawfully killing US-based Guyanese, Motielall Singh. Bibi Farida Khan, called ‘Pum’, Shamiza Khan called ‘Sham,’ and Hoosman Khan, called ‘Strongman’- (Singh’s stepchildren) as well as Bissoondial Mahadeo, called ‘Weed Man’, are all on trial for the murder, which occurred in September of 2009. A fifth person, Ayube Hamid, called ‘Little’ was also charged for Singh’s murder but he subsequently died in prison. Both the Prosecution and Defense presented their final arguments before the Judge and Jury at the High Court yesterday. Defence Attorneys, Glenn Hanoman and Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos are representing the four accused persons, while Prosecutor Judith Mursalin Gildharie is representing the State. In an effort to highlight the discrepancies in the evidence of the prosecution ‘s witnesses, Mr. Hanoman questioned the consistency of the testimony given by the police, in relation to the time the alleged murder weapon was recovered. According to Hanoman, police evidence presented to the court suggests that the murder weapon had been analyzed before it was even found. In his presentation, Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos also questioned the authenticity of the evidence presented in the case. De Santos argued that there is hardly any proof that the three accused persons had shared a grievous relationship with their stepfather before his death. Referring to the alleged

police brutality committed on two of the accused, De Santos said that police literally beat the s**t out of Hoosman Khan. However, Prosecutor Gildharie disputed that the accused had never alleged police brutality before. This piece of evidence, Gildharie said, is not consistent with the evidence presented in the Magistrates’ Court. “This is the first time, more than four years after the evidence was presented in the Magistrate’s Court that detailed allegations of police brutality are being made…” “Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, don’t be sidetracked… look at the last image of Motielall Singh, lying in the grass with twenty wounds about his body…. Bibi Farida Khan, Shamiza Khan and Hoosman Khan used the good relationship they claimed to have with their stepfather to commit the ultimate betrayal….Motielall Singh was a sitting duck, an unsuspecting man staying with people he called his family… he came to Guyana to bury his brother but he was stabbed mercilessly…” Gildharie continued “After the attack, Hoosman Khan told police that he ran all the way from First Street Windsor Forest to Sixth Street, where he lived, and cried… He left his beloved stepfather to die…He never raised an alarm or even stopped at his sister’s residence which was closer to where the attack occurred to get help…. Several hours afterwards the police became aware.” The Prosecutor explained that the plot to kill Singh was conjured up after he expressed his desire to divorce the mother of the three accused, leaving them with nothing. In her opening statement to the court, the Prosecutor

Motielall Singh revealed that the post mortem report stated that Singh died of shock and haemorrhage due to multiple stab wounds. He had been stabbed 20 times about his body. The number three accused, Hoosman Khan, told investigators that he was at First Street Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, with his stepfather when three masked men attacked them from behind. Khan told police that the men told him to “run for his life,” which he did. He subsequently took the police officers to the scene, where the lifeless body of a man was seen, lying in a pool of blood. The man was later discovered to be Motielall Singh, a resident of Lot 290 Hemlock Street, Brooklyn New York. Police Investigators later recovered the ‘black knob’ of a knife from the crime scene. On Tuesday while giving an unsworn statement to the court, Khan claimed “I was walking at the back when three masked men attack we… they come from behind and throw down Motielall Singh… one of them pull out a knife pun me and I get frighten and I run away.” The matter is adjourned until 9:30 today.

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REVISITING BURNHAM’S CODE OF CONDUCT Guyana is a small society. In such societies it is always difficult to avoid certain relationships, including conflicts of interest. When you live in a small society, it is more likely that you will have to ask someone to do something for you and that person may either then or in the future have some professional relationship with you or the entity you represent. There are cases where the resource base is at times so limited that you are forced to call on certain persons to do work for you and this could place you in a conflict of interest if you are also in a position whereby you have to decide whether those who do work for you also have to do work for the company that you represent. Many times it is hard to avoid this because the required skills may simply be

limited to a small number of persons, restricting your choices. A number of government officials have built large structures, some for business and some as their homes. And in a number of cases, it has been said that persons who tender for public contracts undertook private work for some government officials. For example, there have been reports that major contractors in Guyana were hired to construct the homes and business places of some government officials. This clearly raises serious questions about conflicts of interest and it is time that the government outline policies which their top officials should follow so as to avoid the perception of them benefitting personally from those who undertake public works. In the 1970’s when

Dem boys seh...

Sam Hinds lead dead back to parlour Old people got a saying that rain don’t fall at one man door. Well de rain that fall de other day and flood de city affect even dem who help block up de drains and cause de whole place to flood. Well dem boys see something that mek dem believe that de situation can’t change. Sam de PM been to a funeral and when de service done dem organize a procession. Dem boys know that after a funeral service de procession does lead to de cemetery. But Sam lead this one back to de funeral parlour. De man walk wid pride. Dem boys seh that he step more than dem police who does march when dem got special occasion. De cemetery did flood suh nobody coulda bury. And Sam proud to lead this one back to de parlour. Well is nuff people just waiting fuh get dem final rest. People cry out. Dem cry and dress up dem dead fuh burial only fuh carry it back to de parlour. Dem, boys seh that fuh avoid all de embarrassment, people should carry dem dead to Pradoville 2. In fact, when dem see Sam leading Terry funeral procession, dem think that is wheh he did going. And fuh dem who couldn’t get buried de day before dem got nuff other place. Dem got Irfaat poolside, Rob de Earth palace, and de Rat mansion. It ain’t nice fuh wish bad thing pun people and it even wuss to wish death pun people but is times like this that some of dem should go through wha de poor people going through. Of course some of dem done decide that since dem boys talk dem gun be cremated—get an early taste of de fire and brimstone that dem got to face. Dem boys believe that pretty soon people gun have to build five storey tomb to counter de flood. Truck gun be travelling to de cemetery wid steel and dem things that contractors does use to build hotels. When de cemetery flood dem gun use de top shelf and when it dry dem gun use de bottom. Brumell got to do something or face he share. Donald and Irfaat talking bout tourism. Dem does mek it dem duty to count how much tourist come. But dem ain’t know that de police chasing way nuff other tourists. De other day dem brackle some people from Suriname. And now dem boys hear that this is not de fuss time. One group get stop five times by five police patrols and had to pay $5,000 at every stop. De police seh that dem got to collect Brumell pension. De police doing wha dem shouldn’t do. Every time dem see a foreign plate dem think is a goldmine. But dem boys pointing to de fact that de police in Suriname does help Guyanese rather than rob dem. Guyana is de exact opposite. Guyana only getting shame and is this same group Rohee gun tek and tun squat and if dem corrupt he gun cross that bridge when he come to it. Talk half and watch how de dead learning to swim.

corruption intensified under the Forbes Burnham administration, there were key persons who resigned from the party because they were deeply concerned about the unchecked corruption. Declassified documents have since revealed that Burnham himself was receiving kickbacks from an American company operating in Guyana. It is not clear however whether this money was used for his party or for himself but other declassified documents did confirm that he had asked for and was granted support from the Central Intelligence Agency for his party. As the charges of corruption increased, the idea of a Code of Conduct for the Ministers of the government was proposed. This seemed to be a good plan but it turned

out to be a public relations gimmick on the part of Burnham because no code of conduct was ever implemented. The PPP is now facing widespread perception of massive corruption concerning its membership. The PPP needs to address these perceptions especially in the context of reports that major contractors- companies that enjoy multimillion dollar contracts- who undertake public works have been involved in building of homes and business for government officials. This is something that should be avoided because apart from the perceptions that it will create, there is the possibility of a major conflict of interest if at any time a government official is required to approve a contract for a contractor that

undertook works at the official’s home or business. In other jurisdictions, reports of possible conflicts of interest of this sort would have been handed over to the Integrity Commission for investigation. However, in Guyana the legislation that provides for integrity legislation is weak and in any event the Integrity Commission has no Chairman and is not recognized by the opposition because of this fact. The government, however, should take the lead and establish for itself a code of conduct indicating how top government functionaries with businesses interests should deal with those interests when they sit in positions of authority within the government. The government should also establish rules to deter

government officials from having major contractors undertake construction work at the homes and businesses of these officials. The government should require its ministers and other senior officials to not invest in any sector of the economy so long as they hold public office. They should invest directly and they should not invest through front men. Burnham’s Code of Conduct was never implemented. The PPPC should not make the same mistake.

Guyana still working to become CVQ ready - Manickchand Guyana through the Ministry of Education is fervently working towards becoming ready to offer the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ). And according to Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, “we have to specifically check off what is needed to bring us to that level so that we can offer the CVQs, at least, at Level One in the SCCP (Secondary Competency Certificate Programme).” Director for the Council of Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Mr. Sydney Walters, had during the past year, informed this publication that one of the major requirements for recognition, and therefore the award of the CVQs, is that all the occupational programmes that are being offered be competency based. Therefore the Education Ministry is looking to offer CVQs at the level of the Technical Institutions and Secondary schools with the latter offering competency programmes through the SCCP. Through the SCCP, students are able to choose inclusive of Mathematics and English, programmes that could allow them to be competent and thereby certified in particular skills area such as plumbing, masonry and welding. Such training programmes are also offered at the country’s technical vocational institutions that exist in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and 10 where the CVQs will also be offered when the way is made clear for them to come on board. According to the

Education Minister, “CVQ is a Caribbean region-wide certification and so must have certain standards; so what we are in the process of doing is holding up a list of what is needed to bring us up to standard in every SCCP institution – schools as well as Tech Voc Institution.” However, she noted that “some of the things I have discerned is that we might not be CVQ ready in some areas such as plumbing, masonry, electrical installation, heavy duty equipment but we might be CVQ ready in one or two areas...So we are checking to see where we are as opposed to where we should be and then strategically trying to, with a list on the wall, meet those needs that would make us CVQ ready.” In recognition of the fact that technical subject areas are imperative in the education system, the TVET Council in collaboration with UNESCO spearheaded a training programme with a view of having persons adequately trained to properly deliver and assess such programmes. By October of last year a total of 268 persons were trained in the methodology that is employed in the delivery of a competency based modularised curriculum, while150 persons were trained as assessors. This, according to the TVET Director, was in keeping with the TVET Act of July 2004 which clearly defines not only the functions, but how competency based modularised training is to be dealt with. Moreover, the Act states that “to develop a national system of competency based

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand modularised training and to initiate its implementation,” is a major role of the Council for TVET. According to UNESCO’s Secretary General, Ms Ingee Nathoo, globalisation, technological advances, demographic pressures, social inequalities and the quest for sustainable development are in fact creating rising demands for TVET policies and programmes. Once in place, these will respond to labour market demands, support youth transition between education and the world of work thereby promoting poverty reduction, social inclusion and gender equality, Nathoo disclosed.

As such she noted that “this calls for holistic transformation of TVET based on policy, evidence and experience, with a focus on lifelong learning through horizontal and vertical articulation with an education, and between education and the world of work.” In this regard she spoke of the need for the TVET Council to seek to lobby with partners in the private sector, Non-Governmental Organisations, and donor agencies even as she noted that UNESCO’s strategy for TVET integrates policy experiences, monitoring and evaluation, research, international dialogue and partnership.

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Kaieteur News

Thursday January 16, 2014

=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===

A disgraceful government I do plan to write a short memoir but I know you are fed up with me because I keep saying that. But it will happen one day. If I do write that account of the interesting impacts on my life in my struggle for a free Guyana one of the experiences that will definitely be included; and I mean most definitely is the time I spent at the University of Toronto. My experience there has led to me being very pessimistic about Guyana.

During my time as a doctoral student at University of Toronto, I found the place be to be boring, as someone who came from a turbulent Third World county. University of Toronto has about ten times the number of students and staff combined than the University of Guyana, yet University of Toronto was a trouble free university. There were no quarrels between staff and students and between staff/students against the administration.

University of Toronto was a peaceful place where boredom was the order of the day if you were a radical looking for human rights causes. When I became a staff member at the University of Guyana (UG), it was a culture shock. Nothing worked. Mischief, quarrels, victimization, endless complaints, high levels of human flaws and misery were the order of the day at UG. I spent twenty-six years at UG

until my contract was terminated without a hearing and the tragedy continues. The question I asked myself is why at the University of Toronto, with ten times the population of UG was that place a sea of tranquility and a tiny populated institution like UG was full of human nastiness? There is an answer. It lies in the effects of colonialism on Third World people. I am not an admirer of VS Naipaul but I could understand the way he felt when he disparaged the Caribbean as a place without creativity. How in a small population like ours, could the state bureaucracy be so slow that it takes months for honest, decent humans to get what they deserve from the bureaucracy? What is most incomprehensible is that after twenty one years in power, Guyanese see this type of performance and will return these very incompetents to power. How can humans be so stupid? When you look at our population of 800,000 and you take into consideration that sixty percent of that is under thirty years old, and you throw in the thousands and thousands of children, then we have a small number of citizens that the state bureaucracy serves. We

don’t have twelve public companies in Guyana. We have a stock exchange that is the smallest in the world. We have a level of NIS contributors, taxpayers, vehicle owners, university students that are very small in comparison with our own neighbours like Jamaica, much less lands with millions and millions. Yet the citizens of this country have to wait for years for the State to serve them. Do you know that hardworking citizens that served CARIFESTA are yet to be paid? Do you know that the CARIFESTA secretariat owes the Theatre Guild over a million dollars for services rendered? It takes ages to get a document of any kind from the court system. It takes ages to get any document at all from the public bureaucracy. I read a letter in Tuesday’s paper by Mrs. Gem Madhoo-Nascimento that was shocking at the way the Government treat artists that want to use the National Cultural Centre (NCC). This lady is not known for any type of political observation. But maybe she has had enough of Guyana’s disgraceful Government. Her letter paints a terrible picture of how the Government administers the NCC. As a lifelong human rights activist,

Frederick Kissoon I had no idea of this mistreatment. I would suggest every citizen read her complaints. Just before Mrs. MadhooNascimento published her letter, there was another one the day before written by thirty artists who performed in the recent National Drama Festival. These signatories complained bitterly at the very late payment for the performers who failed to get their incomes in time for the Christmas holiday. Up to now, according to the letter, monies are owed and some payments were short. What would the PPP Government do if it had to deal with two million citizens? Obviously, it would have collapsed long ago. It still boggles the mind why a citizen that goes to work in Georgetown and have to walk in filth to get to the steps of their workplace, or a citizen that has to wait a million years for a land title document vote for such a political party to continue in power?

Thursday January 16, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 11

Omai gold mines move Two schools remain nearer to operations again closed as rains continue - Thunderstorms predicted for today

An aerial view of the Omai pit The reopening of the Omai site for large scale mining operations has moved a step closer to reality with critical equipment already in the country. According to Canadianowned, Mahdia Gold Corporation, its joint venture partner began moving mining equipment from Georgetown to Omai shortly after the beginning of 2014. “The equipment is currently being assembled and is scheduled to be operational this month. There is expected to be a short period wherein the machinery goes through its initial breakin period and operators familiarize themselves with the operating methods and new equipment.” The company said that Mahdia is finally beginning its journey to becoming a major mining operation. The Omai gold mine was most recently operated by Iamgold after acquisition from Cambior Resources. At the time it was built, in the early nineties, Omai was the largest gold mine in South America.

In a period spanning 13 years, Omai produced over 3.7 million ounces of gold during a period when the price of gold was approximately US$300 an ounce. Mahdia Gold has indicated that historical data suggests that Omai still contains significant gold deposits. In 2006-2007, after the 3.7 million ounces of gold was produced, the previous owners drilled the floor of only the Fennell pit with a total of 46 diamond drill holes (27,359 metres) up to a maximum length of 967 m. Additionally, other work was done that consisted of SG measurements, and significant geotechnical work. Iamgold had also created a 3D Gemcom model of the Sill, Fennell Stock and mineralized zones, and used it to calculate the resource. The second nearby pit, the Wenot pit was never drilled but it shares a similar geology which demands that Mahdia Gold undertake a full and comprehensive investigation including diamond drilling to establish

the potential under the Wenot pit. Since Omai closed operations, Guyana has been without a large-scale mining operation. Guyana Goldfield, another Canadian company is set to begin operations next year. Despite the absence of large scale operations, gold declarations have been breaking records in recent years amidst a surge in the prices on the world market.

Both the Albouystown and Headstart Nursery Schools will remain closed today, as heavy rains and cloudy skies continue to dominate the weather patterns. In a brief statement yesterday, the Ministry of Education said that further information on the reopening of the schools will be made public as ongoing assessments continue. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry is still advising residents in low-lying areas to take all precautionary measures, since thunderstorms are expected to continue today. In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture said that rainfall is expected at a range of 30mm in Regions One to Four. “While water has been receding well in most parts of the city, some areas in Georgetown, Upper and Lower Pomeroon, Charity Housing Scheme and North and South of Canals No. 2 are still under water,” the press release read. However, two main pumps in the city are still non-functional. The Ministry said that had these been working, coupled with the main drainage structures along the city, the water receding process would have been more rapid. In addition, the sluices along the Demerara River which are stationed in the city were not working at 100 percent, with at least one being non-functional. Meanwhile, the Ministry noted that “the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), has been working round the clock to ensure that all structures remain operable to ensure that the water recedes at optimal levels.” The Agriculture Ministry explained too that while all pumps, especially those at emergency drainage structures are functioning at optimal levels, an emergency

drainage and irrigation team has been put in place to deal with any possible breach, which might have occurred last evening. As of Tuesday, several parts of the city and a few villages along the East Coast of Demerara were under water as the rain continued to come down in torrents. In late November, a few days of flooding due to heavy rains, brought the city to a standstill, with more than 42 schools being closed, and several businesses having to cease operations. Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy had described that period of rainfall as being the most intense the country has ever recorded during a six-hour period. Shortly after, the Government, via Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon, blamed the Guyana Hydrometeorological Office for failing to provide timely warning. During the time of the last flood, several water pumps in and around the city were not in working condition. This was despite the government expending billions of dollars on drainage and irrigation systems. In the 2013 budget, a total of $6.5 billion was budgeted for the final payments towards the acquisition of irrigation pumps and the construction and rehabilitation of pumps and pump stations in Regions Three, Four, Five, and Six. Meanwhile, some twelve city schools were closed yesterday (Wednesday) due to the flood conditions. These are the Tutorial High, Comenius and St. Gabriel’s Primaries, Queenstown Secondary, St. Ambrose Primary, The Bishops’ High, St. Rose’s High, St. Agnes Primary, East R/veldt Secondary, St. Sidwell’s Primary and South Road and Happy Hearts Nursery schools.

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Thursday January 16, 2014

Americans must halt LEAD Project, Full court decision resume talks with Govt. - GCCI erroneous - APNU Budget Cuts case...

- We are confident that we will get satisfaction when we move to appeal the court’s decision-Basil Williams The recent decision by the Full Court in the Budget Cuts Case does come as a “disappointing turn in the proceedings of the matter,” but it has not daunted the spirit of the political opposition Party, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). In fact, Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams of the APNU has emphatically stated that the Party will appeal the decision by the Full Court will be appealed. The Full Court had ruled that it had no power to hear the appeal; that the Chief Justice’s use of the word “dismissed’’ meant that the issues between the Attorney General, Mr. Anil Nandlall and Brig. David Granger who stands as the Leader of the political collation, APNU had been determined. The Full Court of the Supreme Court after months of hearing arguments from lawyers on both sides took less than five minutes to render their ruling in the controversial Budget Cut Case on Monday last. Justice James BovellDrakes and Rishi Persaud had refused to rule on whether Chief Justice Ian Chang breached Brig. David Granger’s constitutional right to be heard in that case even though he had waived his immunity to defend the cuts made to the budget when it was laid before the National Assembly. Further, Williams told members of the media corps that he is confident that the appeal would be granted. “We are very confident about this appeal. The issue is a simple one. It is not the first time we have this case. In fact the Attorney General and I had a case and he won that one and I appealed that case at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and won…we have to get leave to appeal. When we get this leave, we have 14 days to file the appeal…The decision by the

Basil Williams, Attorney at Law Full Court was erroneous in the point of law because that was in fact the proper forum for such a matter. If the decision remains unchanged we will go to the CCJ.” Moreover, Williams explained that APNU will stand by its position which is; the Opposition has the right to cut the budget in spite of the fact that Nandlall believes otherwise. Williams however during a press briefing yesterday held at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition on Hadfield Street expressed that an appeal lies with either the Full Court or the Court of Appeal depending on if the High Court’s decision is final or interlocutory (not finished). The Opposition faction, the Attorney asserted will therefore have to appeal the Full Court’s ruling. It is convinced that the continuation of the issue of whether the Opposition can cut the budget before the Chief Justice despite the exclusion of Brig. Granger means that it is still interlocutory. Williams said that the decision by the Full Court will not have any effect on their approach to the 2014 budget when it is laid before the National Assembly.

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) have come out in support of the USAID Leadership and Democracy Program (LEAD) that was rejected by Government but has urged that the two sides resume discussions. GCCI, in a public missive yesterday, says it supports Government in its call for the project to be halted by the Americans until talks can be concluded. “The Chamber believes this is a reasonable request that the US Embassy should consider.” The body said that it is urging the Guyana Government and US embassy officials to resume the discussion concerning the project with the objective of identifying what is the mutually feasible, pragmatic common ground so that the project can be implemented effectively. The public stance came after meetings with representatives from both sides, and according to the public missive, the Chamber said it learned that all parties were ready to officially engage on the issue. However, the Government has one precondition that must be satisfied before the dialogue can proceed, and that is the US government should halt the current implementation of the project until the points of concern are resolved. Additionally, GCCI said it fully supports and endorses

GCCI President, Clinton Urling

the objectives of the LEAD project. “The Chamber believes that its implementation will strengthen political institutions and enhance citizens’ understanding of how individuals can engage in the larger civic and political discourse in their communities and throughout the country.” The body, which is headed by Clinton Urling, said that the project aims to bolster the operations of the National Assembly by giving parliamentarians the essential tools for delivering effective representation and policy formulation that represents the most ideal, mutually productive interests of Guyana, as a whole. According to Urling’s statement, “this is a most timely and welcomed project, considering the current

parliamentary makeup and circumstances…In summary, the Chamber sees the LEAD project as instrumental in meeting the need to foster an environment where compromise and cooperation in the country’s interests comprise the cornerstone of good policy making.” It said furthermore, that the GCCI recognizes the importance of strong political and governance institutions in ensuring a stable political environment that leads to social and economic prosperity. It was Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon who had publicized the fact that the US Embassy was proceeding with the LEAD project, despite Cabinet’s rejection. He had called on the US State Department to explain its position in the face of the

Guyana Government’s rejection to which the US had replied, urging talks. Dr Luncheon however said that there will be no talks about the implementation of the project while it is being implemented. He told media operatives that it was disrespectful of the Americans to proceed with the project despite the no objection by Cabinet. Dr Luncheon told media operatives that “The US Government has in essence said to the Government of Guyana, we have no respect for what you said and what you direct and what conclusion you came to… we are going ahead with what we want.” He had said too, “I for one feel that this is not an insurmountable matter to be resolved but they are principled ways to address this issue. We ain’t negotiating under duress, we are not going to discuss a project and its implementation while it is being implemented.” Dr. Luncheon is of the opinion that while much has been said and written about the merits of the project, at this point in time, that is of lesser significance. “What is most significant,” according to Dr. Luncheon, is the fact that the Guyana Government, which is a sovereign authority, had declared its position on the project but despite its rejection, a foreign power has decided to ignore this and go ahead with its implementation.

MPs need to tighten Procurement Act - Former AG As parliamentarians are reviewing the Procurement Act to make amendments, former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran suggests they take the opportunity to tighten the current Act to ensure loopholes are eliminated. But Government has always maintained it has one of the most progressive procurement processes. According to Goolsarran, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) reports to the Minister of Finance, who is a member of Cabinet. Cabinet is responsible for giving “no objection” to contracts valued at $15 million and over. The Minister appoints all seven members of the NPTAB: not more than five persons from the Public Service; and not more than three from the private sector after consultation with their respective organizations. It is

not publicly known who the members are and how long they have been in place. The NPTAB and its evaluation committees are the ones that determine who gets a contract, subject to the “no objection” from Cabinet. Again, it is not publicly known if there were instances where Cabinet objected to the award of a contract. Given the significant involvement of the Minister as it relates to the NPTAB, it would not be surprising that there were no such instances. Another weakness of the Act is the absence of the provision for the rotation of members of the various tender boards. It does not provide for ineligibility of members who would have served, say two terms, in keeping with international best practice. In addition, the Act lacks the involvement of the NTPAB in the prequalification of

Anand Goolsarran contractors, and it is left to the Ministry or Department to do so. This is a significant risk. He noted that the Act does not apply to procurement involving national defence or national security cases. “Over the years, the Guyana Defence Force has been one of the worst violators of the tendering

process, and it is not clear what alternative procedures the Army uses in relation to the procurement of goods/ services and the execution of works.” The Auditor General’s report for 2012 sheds no light on this, and there has been no commentary in relation to the award of contracts.

Thursday January 16, 2014

Kaieteur News

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West Bank Demerara minibuses, hire cars hike fares by $20 - HOPES GOVT. APPROVES The minibus and hire car operators at Patentia, West Bank Demerara, during a small exercise to press home demands for a $20 fare hike.

Ronald Hilliman, spokesperson for the West Bank Demerara Minibus Association.

Scores of minibuses and hire cars operating on the West Bank of Demerara are set to raise fares by $20 with effect from today. Citing rising costs of spare parts and fuel, the drivers claimed that it is nearly a decade since any meaningful increases were instituted. However, there has not been any official word from the Ministry of Trade and Commerce on the legality of the increases. Several of the buses and cars yesterday congregated at the Patentia Public Road, a

village south of Wales, on the West Bank of Demerara, where the operators spoke with the media. According to Ronald Hilliman, a spokesperson for the West Bank Demerara Minibus Association, costs on almost everything have risen by 50% in recent years. “We are just asking for $20 more. Even the cost for air per wheel has risen from $20 to $40. Further, no gas station between Georgetown and Wales is selling at Government price. We have to risk driving out of zone and be charged by police

to buy cheaper gas.” Asked whether the Association should not have consulted with the Ministry before implementing the raise, operators were adamant that the fares are not fully controlled by Government. “What we are asking for is for the Ministry to approve this raise which we are implementing on Thursday (today). It is a fact that since last year the minibuses along the Number 40 and 45 routes in Georgetown have raised their rates. We can’t wait anymore.” According to the Minibus

Association, passengers don’t have a problem with the $20 increase. “Our vehicles are servicing La Parfaite Harmonie, Dairy, Number Two Canal and Wales. We have about 50 buses in operation. The parts for the new buses like the Toyota ‘Pitbulls’ are very expensive. Soon, unless we have the raise, it will no longer make financial sense for us to operate. It is not just about fuel and tyres. There are other factors involved too.” Meanwhile, it is estimated that there are

a b o u t 2 0 0 h i r e cars operating on the West Bank. A spokesperson for the hire car operators, Steve Dey, disclosed that they too will be adding $20 to the fare. The hire cars operate mainly from Vreed-en-Hoop, located at the junction of the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara. Fares for minibuses from the city to Patentia will now be $160 while Belle West and Canal Number Two will attract a $200 fare. La Parfaite Harmonie will now be $160 while La Grange will be $120.

Public education, among tactics being used to prevent gastro outbreak In the continued quest to stave off another potential gastroenteritis outbreak in Region One, the Ministry of Health has forged strategic partnerships to facilitate a continuing public education programme. The sensitisation move, though focused mainly on proper garbage disposal and other sanitary precautions, is also one intended to ensure that other adequate environmental measures are in place. The start of 2013 saw the Health Ministry reporting on a gastro outbreak which sickened more than 200 residents and claimed the lives of at least three children in various communities in Region One. According to Dr. Persaud, although to date most of the efforts have been towards public education, there have been systemic

developments whereby allocations were made through the regional system, together with the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), to examine the water distribution systems. “This is a work in progress...it is always very costly to refurbish and re-tool some of those systems and most of them are basically distribution facilities and not treatment facilities; so that is another stage and I think GWI is looking at that in its master plan as to how to improve water quality that goes out to the general public,” said the CMO. However, in light of the fact that the outbreak was linked to the water situation in the Region, Dr. Persaud said that the Health Ministry will continue its focus on highlighting the importance of safe water and ensuring that the water ways are protected and that sanitary

disposal of sewage and garbage is done appropriately. But this is certainly no small task, as according to the CMO, a recent report from the Environmental Health Unit, as it relates to the situation in Region One, is that there are several new communities that are “springing up” around mining sites. The residents of these new communities, he said, have even been guilty of setting up pit latrines in areas that could in fact contaminate the existing water ways. “Because they are mining too they are actually disrupting the soil, so if previous disposal sites were in their mining zones those might contaminate water sources,” said the CMO. According to him through the Central Board of Health, which he chairs, moves have been made to expand the efforts. “We have been

working with the NDCs (Neighbourhood Democratic Council) and municipalities to designate sanitary landfill sites in each region and in each area...sometimes more than one is needed for larger regions,” Dr. Persaud observed. In working towards putting such measures in place, he disclosed that moves have been made to collaborate with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development since significant amounts of investments are required to ensure these designated sites are maintained and managed. This also sees efforts being made to ensure that residents are aware of “how to dump and how it is covered daily...added to this there is also a need for guidelines to be in place,” said Dr. Persaud, who disclosed that “the Ministry has already

established those guidelines; it is just to get them implemented.” But achieving proper waste management regionwide is often stymied by a shortage of personnel. This, the CMO said, has resulted in several NDCs having to resort to “contracting out” the service for collection and disposal but noted that the sites will have to remain under some sort of authority so that they are not misused. Meanwhile, Dr. Persaud said that the Ministry has been working towards ensuring the proper disposal of medical waste especially sharps, needles and other instruments. According to him, the Ministry has been working in this regard with the Pan American Health Organisation, the United States Agency for

Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer International Development along with Government to develop the model for incinerators at most hospitals. “The few that might remain we will do them this year,” said Dr. Persaud, who noted that the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation has already put in place a hydroclave system which is already being used by both public and private facilities to sterilise contaminated waste before they are disposed.

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Kaieteur News

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Thursday January 16, 2014

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Experienced Drivers. Apply in person with written application @ Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce Street.

Bicycle Frames, wheels, accessories, parts, etc - Tel: 642-1141

Dell computers complete with 20" LCD $69,000, 6 months warranty @ Futuretech- Call:231-2206 New arrival: 1 Toyota Tacoma, aluminum boats (12ft & 14ft)- Call:2201981,685-8282,690-1945 Two plot of land ¼ Acre or 3X25 Rod each @ Lot 15 & 16 Doctor Dam, LaGrange WBD - Tel:697-5009; 665-7022 1- 320 C.L Caterpillar Excavator. Excellent Condition with 2 complete 6" & 8" Dredge - Tel: 648-5371

Attractive live in waitress Call: 604-8277; 228-5129 Porters & Salesgirls. Apply with written application at Best Buy Food Supplies, Lot 1 Middleton & Dennis St, Campbellville. Gardener / Handyman Available - Tel: 679-1608 ONE SHOP KEEPER FOR THE INTERIOR (MALE) CONTACT: 223-5273/4 One male & one female live in domestic – Tel:613-6613 Responsible hire car drivers Tel: 231-7475

Greenheart Piles - Tel: 6393450

Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665

1 smoothie machine,2 ice machine- Contact: 231-0655 ,683-8734

Experienced general domestic, must know to prepare Indian dishes - Tel: 656-6388

1 Stall @ Stabroek Market Tel: 658-0115; 718-757-8031 Original Games- Call:6722566 4 Flat Screen monitors 4 computers – need memory, bathroom set, bathroom/ kitchen sink, used windows/ wood. Tel:223-0726; 622-4170 1 – Leyland Crane truck, 1 – Even rude outboard engine 115HP – Tel:614-2759 iPhones - $30,000 - Tel: 6262771 1- 500 Ton Cargo ship - Tel: 676-6933 1 IPod Touch 64Gb - Tel: 6913812 Gold and Diamond mining lands already prospected Tel:699-3992

1 CAT standby 3306, 194 KVA 3 phase 60 cycleCall:641-8472

One male shop attendant age 17-22 years – Tel:6791151 (7am-5pm) Mason skilled in laying blocks and plastering, carpenter skilled in home interior finishing - Tel:2271830 One experienced excavator operator to work in interiorContact:681-6044 One experienced female shop attendant to work in interior - Contact: 681-6044 One experienced male shop attendant to work in interior, contact:6816044 One cook for family in interior - Contact: 681-6044

Hairdresser must be able to work with nails & handyman. Apply @ West Shore Plaza, 15 Public Road Ruimzeigt W.C.D - Tel: 269-1524

One Nissan 2005 Bus unregistered & one Toyota Prado – Tel:642-1141 Pluck chicken - Call:676-0931

PEN PAL

1 5Pc Chair Set, good condition - $60,000 & 1 overedge sewing machine, 4 threader - Tel: 619-8788

Overseas based Indian seeks female 25 years & up. No Text Call: 661-3299

One RX-8 Mazda fully air conditioned, stick gear, wheel lights, fog lamps, power windows - Tel: 6532477

Ice Loaders & General Workers @ B.M. Enterprise Inc. GFL Wharf Houston Tel:592-227-8176/7

VACANCY

ONE COOK FOR XENON HOTEL [CHARITY] CONTACT: 771-4989/ 6706559 One maid - Tel: 614-6675 Cashiers ( with 5 subject CXC) for Jog Jog’s Frozen Yogurt @ 79 Albert & Laluni Sts Queenstown “Nimbus Building” Call:231-7002 General Janitor, age 35-40, preferably from Triumph – Mon- Repos – Tel:623-1387 Urgently need live in waitresses to work in bar, reasonable salary offer - Tel: 259-0574

One live-in maid between age 30-45 - Contact:681-6044 Waiter & waitresses for 704 Sport Bar – Tel:223-5273/4 1 Plaine operator, 1 portable miller operator, labourers Tel: 619-9143 Couple (Husband & wife) to work on a Farm -Tel:601-5500

EDUCATIONAL

Writer needed. Web and article copywriting. US$1,000/month. www.capitaltyping.com/ gypro for details.

Balloon Décor Training. Classes on 28th January 2014. Call 225-3133; 613-7513 to register and more info.

24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant - Call: 6910894/684-2838

Courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration - Tel:670-2653; 618-1706

Two Printery Assistants. Requirements: Mathematics & English Grades 1-3, Two references, police clearance. P.O Box 10501 1 Live in maid must be from the country & Know to cook, age 35-50 - Tel:6110200; 662-1124 Sales person to work in store. Police Clearance and 2 references – Tel:226-5473 Two joiners to work in workshop - Tel:610-7005; 219-1342 One Trainee Refrigeration & AC technician - Tel:231-0655; 683-8734

Female worker needed, 3 CXC subject or sound secondary school education - Call: 612-1607

Experienced Taxi and bus driver and dispatcher at Princess Hotel - Tel:2657076; 616-8419

Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call:672-2566

Cashiers/ salesperson/ Delivery Clerks to work in supermarket/general store on East Coast Demerara Call: 220-2128,642-1141

VACANCY

FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 One steel building 5000 square ft, 3000 PSI floor. Just outside of Georgetown, East Bank Demerara - Contact: 619-2475 1/2/3 Bedrooms @ Lot 2 Anna Catherina, WCD - Tel: 276-0818 1- Two bedrooms apartment at Better Hope, ECD - Call: 617-3001 between 8:00am4:00pm Space to rent as Sports Bar and restaurant - Call:6573274

One Handyman. Requirements: Secondary Education, two references, police clearance - PO Box 10501

Princeton College: From 15, CXC adults classes, lesson for school children: Business & Science subjects - Tel: 231-5678, 6905008, Albertown Private School, Grove/ Diamond: Nursery, Primary, Secondary full time and lessons @ Acres Academy Tel:216-4557; 216-2723; 2161409. Day and evening CXC Business classes for students & adults. S.B.A and Third Paper Tuitions Tel: 602-0700 Private homeschooling teacher for all levels: Reading, English ‘A’ and ‘B’ Call: 649-4247

Driver and Salesman for Gas Trucks on E.C.D, W.C.D and E.B.D, Security Guards, Part Time Gardener. 266 4427 Security & I.T Technician. 5 CXC & Cabling Experience Tel: 627-8786 Existing Vacancies For: Western Union CSR, Office Assistants & Cleaners. Apply @ Survival Shopping Complex 173 Sheriff St Georgetown - Telephone # 227-5286-9 One Female Clerk – Tel:2315171 1 Receptionist/ Typist: Mathematics & English Grades 1-2, Microsoft word & Excel, excellent Telephone Personality, 2 references – P.O Box 10501

Two bedroom concrete apartments, self contained toilet & baths; security steel bars & grills @ Unity ECD-Tel:680-4447; 228-2497

LAND FOR SALE 10 Acres Farm land next to Creek @ Splashmins, Linden Highway – Tel:687-1392 1 Farm @ Yarrowkabra – Tel:265-3586 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968 Durban Squatting Land $600,000 & C. Sophia $2.7M Tel: 231-2199; 6187483 Parafaite Harmonie $800,000 - $1.2M, $2M (100FTX50FT) - Tel:6757292 Land at suitable location in Parika, near road, with water and light utilities available - Call: 697-9137

Vacant one house upstairs and downstairs with toilet and bath, big space for parking @ Prospect EBD Tel: 673-1872

DRESSMAKING

One two bedroom house to rent in La Parfaite Harmonie WCD - $28,000 per month Tel: 668-8799

Designing and sewing classes in your district. Sharmela (Canadian- trained) - Contact: 626-2629, 676-6312

Parika - $4M & Herstelling (110FTX57FT) -$4M - Tel: 675-7292 Land @ Diamond New Scheme – Tel: 604-8369 (Continued on page 23)

Thursday January 16, 2014

Port Mourant canecutter... From page 17 sentenced thanked the judge. He was seen smiling and mumbling to himself. He hugged his family. Outside of the court room his elderly mother broke down in tears and was comforted by other family members. In the Magistrate Court the accused had wept bitterly and had mentioned that his wife used to beat him but claimed he was ashamed to tell anyone. Singh was accused of stabbing Samaroo to death in front of their nine year- old daughter in front of a grocery store, not too far from her home at John, Port Mourant, after she and the child had left to go to the shop.

Kaieteur News

Page 23

(From page 22)

TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 347933-9790, 639-4452. Newly built apartment - Tel: 698-6496 Aracari Hotel. West Bank Demerara Rates from $30 Tel: 264-2946-8 Fully furnished apartments $5,000 per night @ Harmony Inn - Tel: 694-7817; 602-8769 Executive Property Everything Paid For. US$1200-US$1000 – Tel:2185591; 675-7292 Fully furnished top flat apartment with all amenities, long term only Tel:651-5382 Apartments & Houses from $50,000 – $160,000- Tel:6757292 Fully furnished apartments for rent: TV, air-conditioned, hot and cold water @ South Ruimveldt Park- Tel:689-5877 Rooms - Tel: 225-9223; 2253234

PROPERTY FOR SALE

VEHICLE FOR SALE

VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community - Call: 592-6248704/ 592-684-9203

One 800 Ford Tractor and one 450 Ford Towing Truck – Contact Floyd:694-5599 or Gurro: 689-1864

Transported property : House + property for sale by owner @ Lot 153 Sparendaam Scheme - Call: 592-220-8573; 592-672-2348 3 Storey 17 rooms hotel @ Broad St - Tel: 654-4939; 6984700 House and land @ De’ Edward W.C.B – Tel:6892973 2 Business Property on Whim Public Road Berbice – Tel:619-7134; 225-6481 One three storey business property @ Middle Street Georgetown – Tel:619-7134; 225-6481 1 Property for sale @ Covent Garden Island, includes all furniture and electrical appliances - $15M - Contact: 265-3586; 617-8369 Supply: 1 House, 1 gas station (3 tanks: 1000 & 1500 gallon capacity) wharfing facility. Land size: 87’X250’ - $70M negotiable - Tel:231-5876

CAR RENTAL Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131 Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www. dolly sautorental.com Premio, Vitz call:347-9339790, 639-4452. Aidan’s Car Rental & Pickup - Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807

Friendship: 1 house, 2 sheds with saw milling equipment, 2 overhead gantries & river access. Land Size:37’X55’ - US$800,000 negotiable - Tel: 231-5876 Nandy Park: Three Storey house with automatic backup generator, semifurnished. $85M negotiable Tel: 231-5876 Business Property on two plots of land @ La Grange Public Road West Bank Demerara - $25M - Contact: 265-4007

Latest model vehicles @ unbeatable Prices – Tel:6855011; 692-1051 Joshua’s Car Rental Call:6656485; 679-8400

Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964 Ultraviolet Driving School – Contact:231-2372; 226-0765; 602-2583 FOR SALE / FOR RENT American pool table - Tel: 277-0578

1 Black Titan 4 wheel drive, fully loaded - $3.5M – Tel: 699-2322 or 678-2814

Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773 Earn a Certificate in Cosmetology, wig designs or nails alone, beginning February 3rd Limited Spaces Tel: 666-5241/ 6197603 Beautopia School of C o s m e t o l o g y : Cosmetology, nails, facial / make-up courses - Tel: 604-3002; 629-3497

VEHICLE FOR SALE New ATVs: Introductory price $1,199,000 (Duty Free)Call:691-0234 One RZ Mini-bus BHH series –Tel:615-5784

SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620

One Tacoma Pick up 4 wheel drive, fully loaded. Asking price: - $3,750,000 – Contact Sady:628-9524

2005 Nissan Skyline with TV, DVD alloy rims, navigation – Tel:679-9672

Cactus Auto Sales: Instock - Spacio, Fielder, Raum, Premio, Allion, Etc – Tel:6814208; 220-6262

1 Toyota NZE corolla, AT192, AT212, AT170, IST, Funcargo, Rav-4, Hilux pickup 4x4 – Tel:644-5096; 697-1453

Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick)

Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered Premio, IST, Runx & Spacio - Tel:6523820; 665-4529

We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar

Mazda RX-8 Blue, 6 speed manual, Type S, Mint condition, PNN Series – Tel:681-4208; 220-6262 1 2L Diesel Toyota Hilux Extra Cabs 4X4. Looks and runs good, never driven off road - $2M - Tel:686-4020 1-55 Leyland Daf Excellent working condition. Price $2.8M Negotiable - Tel:6568346 1 Noah BRR Series – $2.2M negotiable & 1 Allion PPP Series -$2.2M negotiable Tel: 692-2291; 602-6333 Toyota Ceres PGG Series, immaculate condition, lady driven - Tel:664-7525; 225-7131 One new model L.F/DAF dumping truck in very good working condition - Tel: 6815988; 675-5448 2002 Rav 4 PNN series, fully loaded - Tel: 694-6537; 6507875 AA60 Carina PNN 2852 $550,000 negotiable. Excellent Condition - Tel: 666-9719 1 -1RZ, 15 seater, automatic mini-bus, BNN 3760 - $2.1M Negotiable. Good condition, never used for public transportation - Tel:628-0310 ; 672-5429 First Class Auto: Premio, Spacio, Passo, IST, 212, Raum Cold & New Modles Tel: 609-8188; 602-6307

SALON

LEARN TO DRIVE

2008 Honda CRV imported from England 17" Rim Antitheft stereo system 2000 CC fully loaded $6.8M – Tel:642-7295; 220-2345

Nissan Pathfinder (Left Hand Drive) - $1.7M & Nissan Laurel - $700,000 Telephone: 644-1144

One Toyota 2RZ minibus, GPP 7051, Excellent Condition – Tel:614-5168 Must See!!! – Unregistered 2002 Premio $2.5M & 2001 AT 212 - $2M – Tel:226-5473 Nissan Laurel Car – Price: $350, 000 - Tel: 223-9677 New 2014 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabs - Call: 691-0234 2008 Fielder, latest Model $2.7M – Tel:617-2891 Saturn Jeep American made Tel: 223-9677 2 - 2007 Toyota Avensis - Tel: 698-0674 Toyota Noah newly registered - $2.4M, AE100 Corolla Wagon - $1M - Tel: 611-6632; 664-3488 1 Grey Toyota Premio in excellent condition, fully powered, 80,000 miles – Tel:643-9772; 223-6279 One Honda CRV fully equipped with running bars & other accessories, PNN Series. Excellent Condition! Price Negotiable – Tel:6606763 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / termsCall:680-3154

Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032,647-2943

Instant Blackberry unlocking - Call: 675-2239; BBM 25C58FEO Need and experienced excavator operator? - Call: 673-5467 House plan, estimates & construction. Contact T. Boodhoo:625-9883 Appliances Technician: Specialized in repairing and servicing of refrigerators, dryers, washers, stove ovens, etc - Tel: 661-5099 For all your prefab building works & welding fabricating etc. 5 Brickery EBD -Tel:6582567; 660-3466 Brains Construction & Rental Services: Excavator, Bobcat, Truck, Tools - Tel:6015024/ 227-4536 (Bobcat & Excavator Operator needed) Masons seeking daily or job work - Tel: 678-9043 GT Tools Rental: Call this month, specials on ransom & steel rod cutter, etc - Tel: 675-0767; 627-5098 For professional Visa & Passport Applications: K&P Project Management Co. Tel: 231-5876 School bus from GroveGeorgetown – Tel: 646-5147

1 - G Touring wagon with Ac, mags, music & alarm - Tel: 618-8040

We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154

Unregistered Toyota Sienta (2004) 1500cc & 7 seater - Tel: 617-5536

1 RZ Bus EFI series BMM – Price:$1.5M negotiable – Contact:685-6415

Cheapest: Manaul VVTI Buses, Spacio, CRV - Tel: 616-7635

1 New Model 212; Excellent Condition, Price negotiable. Tel: 609-4680

The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call:657-5979

1.5 & 2 Ton Canter with power gate – Tel:617-2891

Hilux Surf, PKK Series. Tel: 617-3001

Massage Therapy Service Tel: 674-8147

MASSAGE

Page 24

Kaieteur News

Thursday January 16, 2014

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

The USAID Project: The PPP/C Govt’s latest... From page 4 total disrespect, dominance, subjection and mass oppression. Why else would this government feel that it can simply brainwash Guyanese into believing that a project intended for their own empowerment should be rejected merely because the government feels that the Guyanese people should not be so empowered? It is not coincident that Dr. Luncheon and those who speak for the government are using certain terms and phrases to describe the democracy project, and the actions of the US ambassador. Those of us who understand how tyrannical regimes operate will recognize why terms and expressions like; US intervention, intrusion into Guyanese politics, threat of Guyana’s sovereignty, disrespectful to the PPP/C government, and the like, are used by the government’s messengers to describe the actions of the ambassador and the USAID project. These are very strong words which the PPP/C has deliberately decided to use as key verbiage in its message. The regime believes that these words are supposed to evoke sufficient anti-US sentiments, tug at the “fear strings” of the people and coerce the Guyanese population to submit only to the thinking of the PPP/C. The paid brainwashers employed by the government to execute the PPP/C’s plot against the democracy project are reminded that swift and clear repetition must be the hallmark of their involvement.

I have been paying attention to the letter sections of the daily newspapers since this USAID/ PPP/C catastrophe started. My observation is that, the “PPP/C bandwagonaires” loyalists and “propagandists” are forcefully executing their duties. They are making their rounds in the press and the planned strategy is being unreservedly unleashed on the Guyanese people. I do not have time to refer to actions of all the mischief makers but I will take the time to refer to two to them, Faruk Mohamed and David deGroot. On 1/4/2014 a letter appeared in KN under the name Faruk Mohamed and captioned “Is Guyana about to repeat its tragic past?” In this dispatch Mohamed, if he exists, begins his piece by breeding scorn at the opposition parties for their apparent support for the USAID democracy project. The propagandist then boldly states that the US ambassador is knowingly engaging in acts which blatantly disregard Guyana’s sovereignty [note the use of the word sovereignty]. In fact, Mohamed shamelessly asserts that the ambassador’s action “is simply the beginning of a replay of the US intervention into Guyana’s internal politics in the 1960s.” He continued that, “The difference may lie only in the purpose of the intervention.” It is clear that this particular line was specifically injected to affect the “hardcore” PPP/C supporters, if there are any left. In the minds of the PPP/C rulers, this tactic is supposed to fuel

wrath in minds of a few who harbours anti-US sentiments. It is clear that the PPP/C government’s vileness knows no boundary. Again, the decision of the government to brazenly peddle this line demonstrates the simplistic manner in which they view the people. To further play on the minds of the PPP/C sympathizers, Mohamed went on to claim that the US$300 million USAID project is an attempt by the US government to team up with the PNCR/ APNU to overthrow the PPP/ C from office. What claptrap! The government is aware that Guyanese are generally, nationalistic and would be ready to defend any aggression towards the nation; hence the word sovereignty becomes a main ingredient in its missive. However, it forgets that the people have become accustomed to its tricks and will not be fooled. In the letter, Mohamed also subtly calls on the Guyanese people to support the PPP/c regime in its effort to adopt a more, according to him, “Chavez/Venezuelan approach” to the US. The PPP/C letter writer went on to assert that “The American Government has converted stable and prosperous societies into war zones and living hell…” he then infers that the US has now turned to Guyana to do the same. Let me pause here to say that without the United States’ assistance the PPP/C has been drastically taking Guyana down the path of that “living hell” - one only has to check the state of corruption,

the crime and security situation, the overwhelming examples of bad governance, discrimination, victimization and utter lawlessness that prevails in the highest offices in the land. Faruk Mohamed, pointedly intimates that the US has used certain strategies to transform stable countries into war zones, and that these methods, he states, “are similar to those currently being used by the US Ambassador to Guyana.” Mohamed contends that Ambassador Brent Hardt is executing a US policy that is “supporting and building the capacity of reactionary opposition forces which cannot gain power through the ballot box.” Again, this obsession with power is noted. Authoritarian and dictatorial regimes are always consumed with the fear of losing power hence they do everything in their “power” to suppress the masses. Shutting down the democracy project is a good example of an attempt to suppress and control the people. The PPP/C regime has, time and again, unleashed this kind of fearful and outlandish tactic on Guyanese in order to promote racial strife, cause political fear and panic, and keep a section of their supporters (mainly IndoGuyanese) in a perpetual state of fear and intimidation. This idea of people wanting to take away the power of the government is used as a “trump card excuse” in every situation where the government is asked to account and exercise good governance. For instance, when public servants protest for better wages the government claims that it is the PNCR working to grab power through the back door, when criminals terrorize the people and create mayhem the PPP/C again shouts “PNC/R trying to take the government’s power”, the rain falls too much is “PNCR trying to grab power”. This government is so caught up in its repressive policies that it does not care how ignorant and danger-

ously wicked it projects itself. Its members are so consumed with power that they are threatened by their own shadows. Guyanese people have demonstrated that they are much smarter and more responsible than their own government credits them for, hence will not be bullied into adopting a PPP/C posture on this issue of the USAID democracy project. It is time the PPP/C government understands who the true government is. It is time that it recognizes that the power truly rests with the people. Mohamed ended his letter by intimating to us that the US ambassador and the US government are attempting to make Guyana, in his words, “the Tunisia, Egypt, Libya or Syria of South America.” This line is intended to conjure up so much fear that we should abandon independent thinking and probably run the ambassador out of Guyana. In the psyche of the PPP/ C rulers, to liken the atrocity in these countries to some specific action or policy of the US government would be more than enough to provoke Guyanese into unthinkable outrage and animosity towards the US government. Their hope is to also to have us vividly recall images of these atrocities in order to make the idea of a “living hell” real and symbolic of the democracy project. This is another strategy used to heighten the fear. I deem this as a wicked, distasteful and dangerous attack on the people. Why make such sensational statements, Luncheon has laid the groundwork for this type of claim and the messengers are advancing the plan. The PPP/C believes in swift and constant repetition, so two days after the Mohamed letter a known PPP/C gate keeper, David deGroot, penned a letter in SN titled “The US LEAD project has alerted suspicions.” In this letter, deGroot states that Ambassador Brent Hardt’s action is “an audacious assault on the authority of the cabinet of this country.” Rehashing the fundamental positions of the larger PPP/C strategy, deGroot boldly commented that “Our sovereignty is not for sale.” He then attempted to hoodwink the readers with his bunkum when he posed this question; “what about undermining of the legitimacy of the PPP government, and US interference in the politics of this country during the early 1960s?” Again the idea of the PPP/ C losing power is the main concern. No effort is made to deal with the objective and the content of the project.

Soon after this line, deGroot concludes with this statement “The $300M US project has alerted grave suspicions”. The only suspicion the government should have is that the people will become more involved in the politics of the country, so why is the PPP/C afraid? Breaking it down, the two letters were intended to serve the same purpose and make the same points, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Roger Luncheon, made. It is clear that there is a letter-writing campaign orchestrated by the PPP/C regime on this USAID debacle. It is, however, unthinkable that at a time when countries across the globe are trying to reform their practices to adopt more forwardthinking approaches to governance, the PPP/C is attempting to rob the Guyanese people of an opportunity to learn from, and participate in discussions which centre on cogent democratic ideals and practices. Why is the PPP/C so suspicious and afraid of the people becoming enlightened and empowered on principles which promote democratic values? Is the PPP/C government really democratic? Clearly, the actions of the regime are consistent with the thinking of those repressive regimes, which strive on a policy grounded in that archaic oppressive belief which supports the idea of “suppression of the masses in order to control them.” The Guyanese people need to know how the USAID democracy project can enhance their own development and improve the political, economic and social situation in the country. It is time that we know more about the project. I ask the government to stop playing politics with the future of the country and tell us how this project will help us to be more informed citizens and become active participants in the democratic process. We are at stage where local government elections will soon be held and it is only fitting that the people know how they can become involved in the process in order to help advance the state of local politics. How can a government, which claims to support democratic ideals, openly denounce a program intended to enhance democracy? Can Luncheon provide a logical explanation to this incongruity? We the people need to be educated on how we can be meaningful participants in the democracy we hope to foster. We are indeed the true government; let us decide on the USAID project. Lurlene Nestor

Thursday January 16, 2014

Kaieteur News

Page 25

Business leaders urge Govt. to CARPHA on the offensive against chikungunya disease apply radical economic strategies BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - CMC – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says it is working closely with the French and Dutch authorities after the region recorded its first ever case of chikungunya. Late last month, CARPHA said it had received notification of 10 confirmed cases of locally acquired chikungunya virus infection on the French side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. CARPHA executive director Dr James Hospedales told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) Wednesday that three cases have now been detected in the British Virgin Islands. “We have prepared ourselves by building the capacity of our staff to do the testing and our staff has been visiting and advising the countries including St Martin even before this was on the horizon about the mosquito control programmes in the countries. “We are working closely with the French and Dutch authorities to have a coordinated approach to dealing with the problem by sharing numbers, sharing strategies to mosquito control and so on.” “My advice would be to stay inform and stay alert to the news and any updated information, secondly we would strongly advised that you go to our web and download the chart which is a checklist of all the breeding places in the yard where mosquitoes can breed.” Chikungunya is a viral disease, carried mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and causes a dengue-like sickness. Symptoms include a sudden high fever, severe pain in the wrists, ankles or knuckles, muscle pain, headache, nausea, and rash. Joint pain and stiffness are more common with chikungunya than with

dengue. The symptoms appear between four to seven days after the bite of an infected mosquito. The majority of clinical signs and symptoms last three to 10 days, but joint pain may persist longer. Severe cases requiring hospitalisation are rare. “The Caribbean is at risk, exactly what will happen in the weeks and months ahead we don’t know because it has not been here before but we are at risk,” Dr Hospedales told CMC. He said a few reasons, this is a new virus to the region and therefore the vast majority of people are susceptible. “They have no resistance to it so that increase the chance of spread. Secondly, the mosquito that transmits the Chikungunya virus, the Aedes mosquito, is the same one that transmits dengue fever and it is common in most of our countries.” “In fact the Chikungunya is a wakeup call I think that we need to get more serious about mosquito control so that’s another reason why there is risk for spread in the region and the amount of travel in between islands. So for those reasons yes we are at risk for a lot of spread but exactly what will happen we don’t know because it has not been here before”. Dr Hospedales said that the regional health agency is concerned about any new virus or infection that emerges in the region. “We are concerned based on the pattern if behaviour of

this disease in Asia and Africa were everybody was susceptible you could have a lot of spread in a short time, with a lot of people being ill temporarily and that not good”. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned of further increased cases of the disease, noting that as of Thursday last week, there were 201 “probable or confirmed cases” in French St Martin and two confirmed cases on the Dutch side of the island. ECDC also said there were 48 “probable or confirmed cases” in Martinique; 25 “probable or confirmed cases” in St Barthélemy; 10 “probable or confirmed cases, including one imported case from St Martin in Guadeloupe”; and one “confirmed case imported from Martinique in French Guiana. Dr. Hospedales said that since last year CARPHA has conducted seminars with all the countries, the laboratories and the chief medical officers and epidemiologist to prepare for disease “and to set up…the testing sequence that we will follow if we suspect Chikugunya and capacity is also there in terms of the ability to deal with the vector population and that varies by country.

Butch Stewart (left) and Glen Christian exchange thoughts before the luncheon. (PHOTOS: JOSEPH WELLINGTON) Jamaica Observer - A number of the island’s top business leaders Tuesdayday agreed with a call by Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart for the Government to show courage in the face of the current economic crisis and implement strategies that will stimulate the economy. At the same time, the business leaders concurred that they need to play a proactive role in bridging a trust deficit between the private and public sectors that, they believe, is affecting growth. Stewart, chairman of the ATL Group, which includes the Jamaica Observer, made his call at a luncheon he hosted at the newspaper’s Beechwood Avenue headquarters in Kingston. “I would say that we need a Government right now that’s bold,” said Stewart, whose group also includes the Sandals and Beaches resorts chain that operates hotels across the Caribbean. “If you’re not bold, not willing to take some chances,

we’re going to be back here in another 10 years talking about missed opportunities,” he said. Stewart framed his comments against the backdrop of the economic recession that is still affecting Jamaica six years after world markets crumbled under its impact. The lingering effects of the recession have forced Jamaica to ink a financing deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has demanded austere measures in order for loan funds to be made available to the Government. But Stewart is urging the Government to look beyond the IMF. “Roll the dice, think big,” he suggested. “If you don’t do that, then you have nowhere going, because the IMF is only bailing you out to pay some money; they’re not going to help the economy to make money. “There’s not one country that has come out of the economic problem since 2008

that did not put in stimulus packages. So if you want to come out of the hole, you have to do something to get out of the hole,” Stewart argued. He recommended the implementation of incentives to attract investments and, to make his point, pointed to the case in the USA where nearly 24 states battled fiercely for Boeing’s 777X aircraft assembly plant after the aircraft manufacturer opened the contest during a dispute with a machinists’ union in Washington state. Washington, which was eventually successful in keeping the plant, is reported to have approved nearly US$9 billion in tax breaks for Boeing to assemble the 777X there. State officials have also been reported as saying that keeping the 777X plant there would result in US$21.3 billion in tax revenue for 15 years, based on a total of approximately 57,000 jobs.

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US urges C. Africa to pick leaders with ‘integrity’

Civilians walk by French soldiers patrolling the streets of Bangui during ‘Operation Sangaris’, yesterday (AFP Photo/Eric Feferberg) Washington (AFP) - The United States yesterday called for Central African Republic to hold a transparent vote to choose a new interim president, who could usher in a new period of stability. The country’s lawmakers were struggling yesterday to agree on rules for the Saturday vote to replace Michel Djotodia, who resigned under international pressure last week, amid fears the poll may be delayed. Djotodia quit last week after failing to rein in his exSeleka rebels leading to sectarian bloodshed, with his fighters embarking on a spree

of looting and rape, which in turn sparked revenge attacks from Christian militias. “The United States is closely following the ongoing deliberations of the Central African Republic’s Transitional National Council as it works to select a new president and prime minister,” deputy State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said. “We urge that the selection process be transparent, include a full range of political, religious, and civil society representatives.” The council should also abide by agreements under

which the new prime minister should come from the democratic opposition, she added in a statement. “The council has an historic opportunity to put the country on a path toward stability, democracy, and development, and we encourage the council to seize this opportunity by selecting leaders of integrity who can restore stability to the Central African Republic,” Harf said. The new leadership should also prepare for “credible elections” to be held no later than February 2015 and seek to “earn the confidence of the international community.”

Vatican facing UN showdown on sex abuse record VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican is gearing up for a bruising showdown over the global priest sex abuse scandal, forced for the first time to defend itself at length and in public against allegations it enabled the rape of thousands of children by protecting pedophile priests and its own reputation at the expense of victims. The Holy See today will be grilled by a U.N. committee in Geneva on its implementation of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child. Among other things, the treaty calls for signatories to take all appropriate measures to protect children from harm and to put children’s interests above all else. The Holy See ratified the convention in 1990 and submitted a first implementation report in 1994.

But it didn’t provide progress reports for nearly a decade, and only submitted one in 2012 after coming under criticism following the 2010 explosion of child sex abuse cases in Europe and beyond. Vi c t i m s g r o u p s a n d human rights organizations teamed up to press the U.N. committee to challenge the Holy See on its abuse record, providing written testimony from victims and evidence outlining the global scale of the problem. Their reports cite case studies in Mexico and Britain, grand jury investigations in the U.S., and government fact-finding inquiries from Canada to Ireland to Australia that detail how the Vatican’s policies, its culture of secrecy and fear of scandal contributed to the problem. Their submissions

reference Vatican documents that show its officials knew about a notorious Mexican molester decades before taking action. They cite correspondence from a Vatican cardinal praising a French bishop’s decision to protect his abusive priest, and another Vatican directive to Irish bishops to strike any mandatory reporting of abusers to police from their policies. The submissions even quote the former Vatican No. 2 as saying bishops shouldn’t be expected to turn their priests in. “For too many years, survivors were the only ones speaking out about this and bearing the brunt of a lot of criticism,” said Pam Spees, an attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights, which provided a key report to the committee. “And so this is a

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‘QUEEN PENNY NEXT PM’ Western, Arab states pledge Trinidad Express - The regular monthly meeting of the People’s National Movement’s (PNM) Women’s League took a dramatic turn last Saturday when a “spiritual healer” addressed members and predicted Pennelope Beckles-Robinson would become the next prime minister. Marva Todd, a guest speaker who was introduced as a “spiritual heal-er”, had been brought by BecklesRobinson to address the league on the issue of domestic violence. Sources said Todd spoke a little on the subject she was brought to deal with but then launched into a spiritual discussion. She looked at the wall at Balisier House, which has pictures of all the party’s leaders—Dr Eric Williams, George Chambers, Patrick Manning and Keith Rowley— and stated: “The men must come down. The men must come down. And the women in the par-ty should stand firm behind Pen-ny.” One of the attendees from the Die-go Martin West constituency remarked at the meeting: “I hope it is not my political leader she is talking down (when she said the men must come down).” Todd stated further: “I am (fore)seeing that queen Penny would become the next Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago”. Her statements were not

Pennelope Beckles-Robinson well received. “Many of the women got up-set. Some, including members from the Diego Martin Central constituency, walked out while others from the Diego Martin West constituency launched an objection,” a member of the league told the Express. Sources said BecklesRobinson stopped Todd, saying : “No, no, no. In case you don’t know, that (Keith Rowley) is our political leader.” One source said she was “proud” of Beckles-Robinson when she interrupted Todd and made that statement. Sour-ces said Todd then apologised and said the Holy Spirit came over her. One member of the Women League said yesterday : “I love Penny. But

the whole thing just put Penny in a bad light. Because to an observer, it would look as though Penny set her up to do that when Penny was pro-bably innocent to the fact that she (Todd) was going to say what she said.” Pointing out members were told they were going to hear a presentation on domestic violence, another member said the address was at the wrong time and place. “I have a problem with someone who is not a member of the PNM getting into the PNM business to cause ruction,” said a party member. Todd is not a member of the party. Notwithstanding what seemed like Todd’s obvious campaigning for BecklesRobinson, to date, BecklesRobinson has not indicated she would be contesting the leadership. She had stated previously she would consider contesting the leadership if she had enough support within the party and if she felt her chances of success were good. Party sources also recalled how much flak Manning got for his association with spiritual adviser Juliana Pena, who many believe contribu-ted significantly to his political down-fall. Beckles-Robinson, whose appointment as a senator was revoked recently on the advice of Rowley, could not be reached for comment.

Government warns visas still required to visit European countries PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government yesterday warned nationals that they would still need visas to visit certain European countries amid reports that the European Union had agreed to a waiver for 19 countries. A brief statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that it had been aware of “incorrect reports circulating among social media that Trinidad and Tobago’s application for a Schengen visa waiver has been approved. “The process is ongoing and still requires a decision by the European Parliament and the European Council. As such, nationals of Trinidad and Tobago still require a Schengen visa for travel to those European countries that require one,” the statement said. Last week, the European media reported

that t he Permanent Representatives (COREPER) had agreed to add 19 countries to the EU visa-free travel list. It said that the final adoption of the text is expected early this year. Last month, Lithuanian ambassador Raimundas Karoblis, the chai r o f COREPER II spoke about the efforts for the EU to grant a visa waiver to the 19 countries that include St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago. He said the agreement was a significant step towards the future visafree travel between the European Union and the 19 third countries. “The Presidency strongly believe in the benefits of the visa-free travels and is very glad to have achieved the agreement among the Member States,” he added.

Apart from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries, the other nations seeking visa waiver status include Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu as well as United Arab Emirates, Peru and Colombia. However the Lithuanian Presidency said in order to benefit from the visa-free travels, each of the 19 countries will still have to conclude a bilateral Visa Waiver Agreement with the EU. The EU said that the visa-free access to the Schengen Area is based on the progress made by the countries concerned in implementing major reforms in areas such as the strengthening of the rule o f l a w, c o m b a t i n g o f organised crime, corruption and illegal migration and improving of administrative capacity in border control and security of documents.

$2.4 billion in Syria aid

KUWAIT (Reuters) Western and Gulf Arab nations pledged more than $2.4 billion yesterday for U.N. aid efforts in Syria, where a near three-year civil war has left millions of people hungry, ailing or displaced. The pledge arose from a U.N. appeal for $6.5 billion in 2014, which was launched last month and is the largest i n t h e o rg a n i z a t i o n ’s history. The world body estimates the conflict has reversed development gains in Syria by 35 years, with half its people now living in poverty. But only around 70 p e r c e n t o f $1.5 billion pledged at a similar meeting last year has reached U.N. coffers, hinting at donor fatigue with no end to the bloodshed on the horizon. U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said all sides in the conflict had shown “total disregard for their responsibilities under international humanitarian

Valerie Amos and human rights law”. “Children, women, men are trapped, hungry, ill, losing hope,” Amos told the 69 countries attending a donor conference held in Kuwait. The Gulf state’s ruling e m i r, S h e i k h S a b a h a l Ahmed al-Sabah, promised $500 million in new aid, while the United States announced a contribution of $380 millionQatar and Saudi Arabia pledged $60

million each. The European Union pledged $225 million and Britain $165 million. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the total was more than $2.4 billion. Money raised last year in Kuwait was used by the United Nations to provide food rations, medicine, drinking water and shelters for people in Syria and surrounding countries. The largest donations at that conference came from Gulf Arab governments, which have mainly backed Syrian rebels trying to oust President Bashar al-Assad. Kuwait has avoided showing support for either side and has voiced concern about the sectarian nature of the conflict. “Even under the best circumstances, the fighting has set back Syria years, even decades,” said Ban, who chaired the conference. “I am especially concerned that the sides are using violence against women and girls to denigrate and dehumanize their opponents.

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Taiwan provides funding for projects in St. Lucia CASTRIES, St. Lucia CMC – Taiwan is providing an EC$13.1 million (One EC dollar = US$0.37 cents) grant to St. Lucia to fund three projects identified by the Kenny Anthony administration. A government statement said that EC$8.3 million will be used for the Constituency Development Programme (CDP); EC$$4.2 m for the St. Judes Hospital Reconstruction project and just over half a million dollars to upgrade the island’s fishing industry. “It is my firm belief that through our joint effort and cooperation programme, the existing close relations between St .Lucia and the Republic of China (Taiwan) will be further strengthened and continue to bring benefits to our two peoples,” said Taiwanese Ambassador James Chang. Prime Minister Anthony

Kenny Anthony said given the tough economic situation facing St. Lucia he was thankful for the funding. “I hope that these grant funds are seen as good news for our country especially at this time. Our friends matter at all times but they are even more precious in these stern and challenging

times. With their help we continue to begin planning for reconstruction and rebuilding a stronger, more prosperous, more resilient nation, “he said. Anthony said the EC$24 million allocated to the CDP during the 2013/2014 financial year had now been fully received and assured the Taiwanese diplomat that 17 constituencies had benefited from the programme. “By the end of March 2014 the programme should also be in a position to provide a comprehensive annual report of all works done and the overall impact in terms of employment generation,” he said. Earlier this year, Ambassador Chang presented a US$200,000 cheque towards the rehabilitation of the island following the passage of a low level trough that killed six people and left millions of dollars in damage.

CARICOM warns of negative impact of climate change on SIDS UNITED NATIONS CMC – As the world increasingly faces the effects of climate change, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has warned of the negative impact of the changing weather pattern on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Speaking on Tuesday on behalf of CARICOM, at a meeting here of the Group of 77 (G77) developing countries and China, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ UN Ambassador, I. Rhonda King, lamented that many UN-member states are “still not aware” of the “devastating effects of the worst flash floods in recent history caused by unprecedented and torrential rain” on the three Windward Islands of Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. King said the December 24 freak storm killed six people in St. Lucia and nine on mainland St. Vincent, which was hit the hardest. She said early estimates of the resulting infrastructural damage to St. Vincent and the Grenadines alone are expected to exceed US$160 million. The envoy said it is “important to note that in 2010 and 2011 unseasonal weather systems wreaked havoc in St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines and caused millions in damage. “It is difficult for us to ignore the realities of climate change and its impact on Small

Island States,” said King, noting that CARICOM has been an “important voice” on climate change matters and an “active participant” in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and, by extension, the G77. She expressed hope that, under the leadership of Bolivia, which has taken over the chair of the G77 from Fiji, “we will continue to shine a bright light on this issue, which threatens the viability of some of our small island states.” For its part, Bolivia drew attention to the upcoming Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, scheduled for Japan in March next. Bolivia said negotiations on the issue would begin during its chairmanship. UN General Assembly President John Ashe, who is also Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the UN, said Bolivia’s tenure comes at a time when multilateralism is needed at the international level. “2014 is an important year for the United Nations, and it is an important year for the G77 and, indeed, for all member States of our United Nations,” he said. “For this year, we need to work collectively to lay the groundwork for what it is to come in 2015. “In short, the next twelve months will determine whether or not we are able to deliver on the promises of 2015,” Ashe

added. “Under Bolivia’s watch, the G77 will have an important role to play in the activities and processes that will – as the saying goes – make or break our collective success.” In the interim, UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon has also called on the international community to provide “more political attention, more resources, more support” in addressing climate change. He noted that this year is the run-up to reaching the UN’s antipoverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and achieving a global accord to counter climate change. The year 2015 is the deadline for attaining both targets. “And if we are to adopt a new global agreement on climate change in 2015, we need to arrive in Lima (Peru) in December of this year with a solid draft for negotiation,” he said. “The climate summit I will host (in New York) in September aims to advance bold action on the ground and mobilize political will for an ambitious agreement,” he added. With the deleterious effects climate change is having on the socioeconomic future of the 15member CARICOM bloc, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said he would use his six-month term as chairman to deal with the issue.

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Djokovic, Serena keep it quick to beat the heat MELBOURNE (Reuters) Tournament favorites Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams raced into the third round of the Australian Open and out of the heat on Wednesday as controversy over play continuing in scorching temperatures rumbled on for a second day. Cloud cover and a gusty wind helped keep temperatures just below the

peak of 42.2 degrees Celsius they reached on Tuesday, when Canadian Frank Dancevic passed out and accused organizers of forcing players to play in “inhumane” conditions. Ivan Dodig became the 10th player to retire in the first three days of the tournament, though, when he was unable to complete his match against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur on

one of the exposed outer courts at Melbourne Park. “Today, 30 minutes after the match I could not walk,” Croatian Dodig told reporters. “There were 10 people around me. I was thinking I could maybe even die here. “I think we deserve that somebody listens to the voice of the players.” Djokovic needed 107

Thursday January 16, 2014 ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19): There's no question, this has been a long time coming. But today the change you have been hoping for so long is likely to occur, Aries. The enormity of the change may not be obvious, at least at first. *************************** TAURUS (APR 20 - MAY 20): This is a time to take care of yourself in the truest sense of the word, Taurus. This doesn't mean indulging in excesses, but rather just the opposite. *************************** GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUN 20): It's another potentially anxious day ahead, Gemini. But you have the power to soothe your ruffled feathers. *************************** CANCER (JUN 21 - JUL 22): Hobbies and diversions are wonderful; no one will argue this with you, Cancer. But there comes a time when you use your hobbies as a way to avoid other responsibilities. Your intuitive levels are at an all-time high right now. Perhaps you can use them to your own benefit. *************************** LEO (JUL 23 - AUG 22): There is no question about it, Leo, change is in the air! Perhaps you can't feel it because you have allowed yourself to become bogged down in disappointment. You can't help but wonder if you will ever attain your goals. Well, take heart. The times they are a'changing, as Bob Dylan says. ************************ VIRGO (AUG 23 - SEP 22): All living things benefit from your gifts, Virgo. Nurturing has always been part of your nature, and is especially so today. But sometimes you lavish more attention on others than you do on yourself, and this benefits no one.

LIBRA (SEP 23 - OCT 22): At some point, popularity becomes a burden rather than a blessing. Your bulletin board is cluttered with invitations to lectures and parties, Libra, but your eyes begin to glaze over at the thought of attending all these events. *************************** SCORPIO (OCT 23 NOV 21): It's another fortuitous day for finances, Scorpio, so be sure to take advantage of any opportunities that come your way. *************************** SAGITTARIUS (NOV 22 - DEC 21): You are seeing a new side of yourself today, Sagittarius, and what a lovely side it is! *************************** CAPRICORN (DEC 22 JAN 19): We are all gullible to a certain extent. And you are no exception. You can expect to receive some financial offers today. *************************** AQUARIUS (JAN 20 FEB 18): You have heightened sensitivity right now, Aquarius, and you know just how to use it. While it can be difficult to be so needed by others, right now it is your place to give help where it's needed. You are uniquely suited to the task at hand, so why not give of yourself wholeheartedly? *************************** PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20): Your warmth and good nature draw people to you like a magnet today, Pisces. Of course, you're used to this occurring, but today these aspects of your character are especially enhanced. You will find that encounters with other people leave you feeling full and satisfied. After all, it is our loved ones who truly make life worth living.

minutes to take the second step on the path he hopes will take him to a fourth successive title by thrashing Argentine Leonardo Mayer 60 6-4 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena. Williams also hot-footed it into the third round with a one-sided 6-1 6-2 demolition of Vesna Dolonc before revealing her own particular visualization technique for keeping cool. “I just pretend I’m in Hawaii riding a wave, that’s all I can do,” she said after setting up an encounter with Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova who survived a grueling battle against Karolina Pliskova, winning 12-10 in the deciding set. MENTALLY PREPARED Djokovic retired from a match against Andy Roddick in another Melbourne heatwave five years ago but proved against Mayer that he is an altogether stronger player than in 2009. “You don’t want to spend too much time in the heat. You want to try to win as quick as possible,” the second seed, who next faces Denis Istomin, told reporters. “I prepared myself mentally for that. It’s not just physically. Mentally you need to be tough enough to not give up and not think about what conditions can do to you.” World number one Williams was her usual mix of elegance in her dress and brutality in her play as she dismissed Dolonc in just over an hour on the same court. Though no one could ever doubt the mental strength of a player who has won 17 grand slam titles, Williams admitted to a sleepless night worrying about the impact the heat might have on her bid for a sixth Melbourne title. “I kept waking up in the middle of the night last night, just paranoid,” Williams told reporters. “I just wanted to stay hydrated. The last thing I want to do is to cramp in this weather. It can happen so easy. I was just drinking a tremendous amount of water.” Williams has seen off at least a couple of generations of younger women looking to knock her off the top of the game and 16-year-old Swiss Belinda Bencic is tipped to be in the vanguard of the next wave. The qualifier, coached by the mother of Martina Hingis, started poorly in her match against Chinese fourth seed Li Na but after losing the first seven games, rallied to force the second set into a tiebreak before losing 6-0 7-6 (5). Two former grand slam

champions who have dropped out of the top 10, Ana Ivanovic and Samantha Stosur, had straightforward two-set victories to set up a third round meeting on Friday, when temperatures could hit 44 degrees Celsius. “I think there’s got to be some common sense,” Australian Stosur said. “Because you don’t want it to get dangerous and have somebody getting hurt because of it.” EARLY BERDYCH Seventh seeded Czech Tomas Berdych, dressed in what looked like a blue and white striped Argentina soccer shirt was the first man into the third round when he hammered Frenchman Kenny

De Schepper 6-4 6-1 6-3. Berdych said conditions were the hottest he had played in and suggested that if the threshold for stopping matches had not been reached, it was probably set too high. France’s Richard Gasquet soon joined Berdych by beating Russian Nikolay Davydenko 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-4 in match that featured a candidate for point of the tournament. Davydenko looked to have clinched it with a nolook underarm shot from behind the baseline only for ninth seed Gasquet to hit an outrageous winner over his shoulder running back into the court away from the net.

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Shewdas not paying GAPF fine GFF releases pool of locally-based - Grandfather says positive test was “concocted” By Edison Jefford Gumendra Shewdas’s grandfather, Chanderpaul Shewdas, believes the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) tests that revealed banned substances, Methylhexaneamine and Oxilofrine in his grandson’s system was “concocted” and thus fallacious. The elder Shewdas was named as the individual who had given the powerlifter pills to treat nasal congestion that may have contained the banned substances that led to him being banned from the sport for two years and a $2000 Euros fine imposed on the local federation. The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) had indicated that Shewdas will be asked to pay the fine the federation incurred as a result of the positive test after this newspaper had reported that monies received during doping periods are usually returned. “We nah give back to the federation; the federation nah give him nothing; we would give back to the other (organisations) in Georgetown and the rest of people, but Gumendra nah pay no fine he is innocent,” the grandfather stated during an interview. He was at the time speaking at the Shewdas family home at Line Path, Skeldon, East Berbice on Tuesday during an interview with Capitol News and NCN, which facilitated questions from this writer. The elder Shewdas, who was named as the source of the Geranium 20, the pill

Shewdas ingested, took the federation to task for not protecting Shewdas enough and failing to communicate what’s definitely become a serious matter, sufficiently with the family. He said that Shewdas will return the monetary gifts he received as part of winning the world title once the various organisations ask him to do so. However, he made it clear that Shewdas will not be giving the local federation anything. “They should’ve first come out, reach people; reach out and tell us what is going on; they should have ensured a local scientist go to Germany to certify that it is Shewdas urine, then we would have accepted that he (Shewdas) had drugs in his urine,” the grandfather said While admitting to giving Shewdas pills to treat a cold, Chanderpaul is contending that his grand s o n w a s subjected to a test that had no local supervision. He said that the IPF alone was privy to the testing process and as such the results are invalid. “I feel this whole powerlifting test was concocted. I don’t believe that what they did in Germany is Gumendra Shewdas urine because there was no other witness in this world to witness that this is Gumendra Shewdas urine,” the grandfather said. Shewdas had won a gold medal in the 53kg class at the World Junior and sub-Junior Powerlifting Championships in Killeen, Texas in August last year.

H o w e v e r, an incompetition test confirmed the presence of the banned substances in his system. T h e Wo r l d A n t i Doping Agency (WADA) t e s t e d S h e w d a s ’s ( A ) sample urine at its accredited Lab in Cologne, Germany. Asked why he did not have Shewdas’s ‘B’ sample tested to vindicate h i s c l a i m , S h e w d a s ’s grandfather said they could not afford it. “Why do a B sample (test) when we know Gumendra Shewdas nah use drugs? He nah use drugs, he don’t drink alcohol, he don’t walk late in the night. What they come out with is hard for me to believe cause we know he don’t use drugs. I will not believe that until I die,” the grandfather told the media. Shewdas was offered to have his ‘B’ sample tested but refused, instead he opted to waive that right; IPF therefore concluded that he was in concurrence with the initial results. His grandfather believes it was a setup; “they concoct it,” he repeated when asked the question. Chanderpaul Shewdas informed that the controversy is not affecting the family because Shewdas m e d a l cannot put food on their table. “This (medal) is not something eternal, they come and they go and this world champion came and he gone; this is not affecting us; this don’t put food on the table or money in the bank; titles don’t full your belly,” he observed.

players to commence training The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) guided by its Technical Development Committee recently released the names of fifty (50) locallybased players to commence training for impending national duty.

The release added that the list of players does not include those who are residing abroad and who are eligible to represent Guyana on international duty. President of the Federation Christopher Matthias speaking with

Kaieteur Sport via telephone yesterday disclosed that the list of players will commence preparations for Guyana’s participation in the 2016 Olympic qualifiers, the 2018 World Cup and all other international engagements.

GCF President aiming to... From page 32 be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 3, 2014. The National Road Race Championships would be held towards the end of June and is expected to be very competitive. The new season has already pedaled off with a road race in the Ancient County of Berbice with the Benjamin Sports Open Cycle Raod Race and will commence in the city on Saturday January 25 with the 21st Ricks and Sari National Park 11-race Meet organised by National Coach, Hassan Mohamed. Another area that will be high priority for the GCF this year would be education and awareness of banned substances. This is a topical issue at the moment and Th-

ompson said that no stones will be left unturned in the federation’s quest to ensure that cyclists are fully aware of what they can and cannot use. One of Guyana’s Doping Control Officers, Dr. Karen Pilgrim, Thompson informed would be conducting a number of training sessions with cyclists, coaches and administrators to bring them up to date with the ever improving measures of the World Anti Doping Agency to combat the scourge of drugs use in sports. “It is very important for us at the GCF to become more proactive in this area, it is something that is very topical and we’ve seen many athletes getting caught so we are going to educate our athletes, coaches and ad-

ministrators to ensure that they are fully aware and understand the implications of using drugs.” Thompson also disclosed that a new club will soon be joining the ranks of the federation from Corentyne, Berbice which would increase the number from the Ancient County to three. Flying Ace Cycle Club and Trojan Cycle Club are the established clubs in Berbice. In the Bauxite Mining Town of Linden the flag is carried by the Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycle Club; East Bank has United Bike Shop, while in the City there are Roraima Bikers Club, Continental Cycle Club, Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club, Flying Stars Cycle Club, Kaieteur Cycle Club and Team Coco’s.

31st edition of Guyana Fight Night boxing card cancelled We e k s o f d i l i g e n t training will dwindle to naught for several boxers preparing for fistic duties in the 31st edition of Guyana Fight Night boxing card, dubbed ‘Berbice Showdown,’ and scheduled to have been staged at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Sunday January 26 next, after organizers of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) encountered the aged old sponsorship difficulties and opted to cancel the card. Referee and

matchmaker, Eon Jardine, confirmed this with the Kaieteur News in a telephone interview yesterday afternoon. He said that the organizers were desperately battling to stage the bout but failed after receiving negative responses from several corporate entities. Organizers are now evaluating, in order to assess the situation and possibly arrive at a tangible solution to the issue. Dereck Richmond was scheduled to clash with former European and National Middleweight

champion, Howard ‘Battersea Bomber’ Eastman in a non-title super/ middleweight affair, while Kelsey George and Gladwin Dorway were to have fought in a 6 rounds middleweight showdown in the main supporting bout. The other fights to have comprised the card are Jnr/lightweight David Thomas against Richard Williamson over 4 rounds and Cassius Matthews up against Laured Stewart in another 4 rounds welterweight shindig.

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Asafa reveals at anti-doping... Bolt to run again at Golden Spike in June From page 35 supplement that is said to have triggered his adverse analytical finding and although he took four capsules that morning of the National Championship, Powell said he didn’t remember taking that supplement. “These are new supplements to me, I couldn’t remember after that excitement at trials,” said Powell, who admitted to having done over 100 drug tests. The third JADCO committee member, Peter Prendergast, also chipped in on the doping control form, enquiring of Powell how long and how many tests he did in his career. He asked if all the doping control forms in all those tests that he did over the years had the same questions, and Powell answered in the affirmative, “yes”. “Do you always answer the questions,” asked Prendergast, a former FIFA referee. “Yes,” Powell replied. “But on this occasion, based on the euphoria at the trials you forgot some of these?” “Yes, I put what I remembered and I didn’t remember most of them.” Powell, along with Sherone Simpson, who also tested positive for oxilofrine, and had her hearing adjourned to February 4, noted that they experienced para-

noia after the positive finding. Just last week, Simpson revealed that upon her return to the island, she was so paranoid that she refused to accept anything from her family, including her mother. Powell said he is just as paranoid. “I was just paranoid over everything that had happened. I just don’t know who to trust, not even my own parents. When I got back to Jamaica my mother was offering me orange juice and I was like, ‘no, I don’t want it’,” said Powell. Meanwhile, a lab report from Informed Choice Lab in Kentucky, which is said to have proven that oxilofrine was found in the supplement Epiphany D1, might not be in evidence due to the cost associated to provide it. The Jamaica Observer could not ascertain the costs, but it is rumoured to be about US$2,000. Powell, who gave evidence Tuesday morning, said he researched the product for approximately six hours and in conjunction with his agent Paul Doyle, they were satisfied it was a legal supplement. Under cross-examination by Lackston Robinson, Powell admitted that he was not acquainted with the doping control rules, but he knew they existed. “Sir, in this sport there are persons who I have

to rely on like my coach and my agent,” said Powell. The sprinter, who turned professional in 2002, also admitted that he never attended a doping seminar and didn’t know of any in Jamaica. Robinson suggested that the athlete was negligent and that he executed improper procedure in researching the product prior to taking him through the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. “Do you agree by looking at the ingredients on the bottle and going on Google you may not be able to say whether or not the supplement had in any substance with similar chemical structure and biological effect, and you may not be able to tell?” “I am not a chemist, sir,” said Powell, softly. “I know, that’s why I said you may not be able to tell that,” reiterated Robinson. “Well, I checked all I could check,” added Powell. “Therefore, you would need some assistance,” asserted Robinson. “And I did seek assistance,” Powell quickly replied. Meanwhile, Simpson testified on behalf of Powell Tuesday and agent Paul Doyle is expected to take the stand yesterday morning on the second designated day of the hearing.

IJA only recognizes GJA says International Judo Coach According to second Dan Black Belt Judoka and International Coach, William Blackman, the International Judo Association (IJA) only recognizes the now defunct Guyana Judo Association (GJA) as ruling body for Judo in Guyana. Blackman informed that by virtue of his qualification in 2005 in Ecuador he could Coach any International Judo team adding that he along with Judo Sensei and 4th Dan Black Belt Judoka Andy Moore lodged a complaint in 2007 to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) about the manner the GJA was being run by then President Geoff Sankies. Blackman told Kaieteur Sport that GOA VicePresident Charles Corbin was sent to investigate the matter. According to Blackman, Corbin never addressed the issue and claimed that Personality clashes often caused disputes and recommended a change of the Constitution. Raoul Archer was elected President in March last year under the Association’s new

name the Judo Association of Guyana (JAG), something which Blackman deemed unconstitutional. Last year October, Blackman, who is also a former national Ruby player, revealed that Archer was informed at an International Conference in Brazil that the International body only recognizes the GJA in Guyana. According to Blackman, he was among those invited to meet with Archer just after he returned from Brazil. At that meeting Blackman recommended that Archer step down as President and an IMC installed until elections are held. “Archer and his entire executive should step down since the GJA is now defunct and the IJA does not recognize JAG. So to my mind the way forward is for JAG to change back its constitution, change back its name and hold fresh elections,” Blackman opined. There are three Judo clubs in Guyana but Blackman says only two of them are functioning clubs-

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) — Usain Bolt will compete again at the Golden Spike in Ostrava on June 17. Organisers say the Jamaican great has yet to decide whether to run the 100 or 200 metres. Bolt previously said his goal for this year was to break his own 200, world record of 19.19 seconds. Bolt says “Ostrava is a fast track when the weather is good. I look forward to good weather and good performances in 2014”. The six-time Olympic champion will race for the seventh time at the meet, which is part of the IAAF World Challenge Series.

BOLT… Ostrava is a fast track when the weather is good.

Honduras tops Cayman for first-ever CONCACAF Women’s Under Championship 20 win GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands – Linda Moncada scored two second-half goals to propel Honduras past the Cayman Islands 3-0 in the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship on Tuesday at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. The win was the Central Americans’ first-ever in the competition and enabled them to finish third in Group B following setbacks to firstplace Mexico and runner-up Trinidad & Tobago. The host Cayman Islands went winless in three matches without any points. Moncada, Honduras’ top

scorer in Central American qualifying with three goals, netted the first tally three minutes into the second half. Midfielder Rebecca Breve, who was an influential presence throughout the evening, superbly chipped a pass over the midfield line and the Cayman defense, releasing Moncada for a sprint into the right side of the Cayman box. As goalkeeper Kristina Seymour tried to cut down the angle, the Olimpia forward placed the ball into the far-side netting. Nine minutes later, Cayman’s Neesah Godet bounced a left-footed effort from 28-yards that goalkeeper

Kelin Palma gathered in without difficulty. After some commotion at the top of the home side’s box in the 81st minute, Honduras’ Yeimy Estrada emerged with the ball and squared a deflected pass to Moncada. The 18-year-old, without hesitation, ripped a shot past Seymour to make it 2-0. A bit of misfortune on Cayman’s part gave Honduras one last goal five minutes into second-half stoppage time. Seymour could not come up with the ball that was poked into the box. Johana Lopez was there, however, to knock it home.

CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship

Mexico defeat Trinidad & Tobago to win Group B Honduras top Cayman Islands to conclude first round

William Blackman Rising Sun and Kitty Jamaat, both in the city. Another contentious issue is the withdrawal of monies by the GJA from its account at Citizen’s Bank although the GJA was defunct at that time. The $5million earmarked by the IJA for the development of the sport in Guyana was reportedly not withdrawn for Judo development but to cover the cost of traveling according to Blackman.

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands –Mexico will meet Costa Rica in the semifinals of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship after defeating Trinidad & Tobago 3-0 in the Group B decider on Tuesday at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. The Mexicans made it five wins in five all-time encounters against Trinidad in the competition, concluding first-round play with maximum points from three games. The runner-up Soca Princesses, who lost for the first time in three outings, will meet the Group A champion United States in the second game of Friday’s knockout stage doubleheader. The opening half hour was played at a fairly even pace with little difference between the sides

evident. Mexico finally broke the stalemate, however, in the 33rd minute. Paloma Zermeño sent a speculative left-footed effort from 28-yards out towards the Trinidad goal that slipped underneath goalkeeper Tenesha Palmer and rolled across the line. The Tricolor kept its foot on the gas, looking to neta second goal before the break. Palmer made amends for her earlier misstep in the 42nd minute by leaping magnificently to save a looping header by Zermeño from the edge of the 18-yard box. In the second minute of first-half injury time, Trinidad went for an equalizer, but Shanisa Camejo’s long-range attempt was seized confidently by goalkeeper by Cecilia Santiago. Three minutes following

the break, Mexico would go ahead, 2-0. Zermeño popped a corner kick into the air and Paulina Solis was there to head it home. Seven minutes later, a right-sided cross by Trinidad’s Donika Murray found Brianna Ryce at the top of the box. The DePaul University midfielder immediately fired off a shot that Santiago bobbled, but gathered in before the arrival of a lurking Anique Walker. Solis completed her brace with 13 minutes left in normal time, converting on a penalty kick after Fabiola Ibarra was fouled in the box. The tournament finalists will earn tickets to the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, accompanied by the winner of the match for third place.

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Kaieteur News

Director Sports lauds initiative as GBA 5 days, referees/judges seminar commences

Thursday January 16, 2014

ICC mulls two-tier Test cricket

GBA referee-judges seminar (2) - Mr Beckles (extreme left) pose with Mr Ninvalle (extreme right), Terrence Poole (2nd right) and Director of Sport Neil Kumar. Director of Youth and Sports, Neil Kumar is especially impressed and enthused by the efforts of local amateur boxing administrators in their bid to develop the sport and he expressed these sentiments when executives of the Guyana Boxing Association raised the curtains on a 5 days referees/judges seminar at the Olympic House, High Street Kingston, yesterday morning. Mr Kumar delivered brief remarks and heartily congratulated GBA President, Steve Ninvalle on his continued efforts to improve on the fortunes of local pugilists. He pointed out that the GBA President was among the only two officials that have submitted a four year plan for the sport as requested by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Frank Anthony. Mr Kumar then urged the participants to

take full advantage of the opportunities and then convert their newly acquired knowledge to practical sessions in and around the ring. Mr Ninvalle urged the training group to be like sponges, soaking up all the knowledge and information that they possibly can. He admitted that there are areas in the officiating field that need to be harnessed to dispel the many outcries by the supporters. He also said that the primary objective of the course is to broaden the knowledge base of the officials in order to minimise such uttering’s and generally improve the quality of the local officials. Mr Beckles said that he was delighted to be back in Guyana to work with the officials. He said that his schedule has been tight but he could not necessarily pass up the offer to once again

work with the officials. Mr Beckles also informed that Trinidad and Tobago will soon be hosting their national championships and plans are in train to invite all of the other Presidents of territorial associations to witness the action but more importantly, compare administrative notes and organizing techniques. Fourteen referees and judges started the course and Mr Ninvalle said that this number will increase since some of the officials had to first seek permission from their respective jobs to participate in the course. Theoretical aspects of the course will be conducted at Olympic House and will focus heavily on mastering the computer scoring system. The group moves over to the Andrew Lewis Boxing Gym tomorrow and Sunday morning to engage in practical sessions.

Senior chess champion, Wendell Meusa dominates field to take honours Reigning national senior chess champion, Wendell Drayton is top junior player Meusa shrugged aside an early defeat at the hands of former national champion, Kriskal Persaud, to eventually register 6 points and take top honours in the senior category when the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) staged the Trophy Stall one-day rapid chess tournament at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Carifesta Avenue, Sunday January 12 last. Former junior champion, Anthony Drayton surrendered a game to Ron Mootilall and drew another with Kriskal Persaud but still managed to secure the top spot among the juniors after amassing 5 ½ points. Kriskal Persaud

clinched the second place spot among the seniors, while Hemraj Sanichar closed off the podium spots. Alexander Duncan finished fourth while Glenford Corlette ended at fifth place. Omar Britton Grant secured the second place spot among the juniors while Ron Motilall sealed off the final podium spot. Saeed Ali, Davion Mars and Carlos Petterson occupied the 5th-6th positions respectively. Othneil Lewis of Queens College was adjudged he best U-16 player. Meanwhile, the win is somewhat memorable for Drayton since he will now

be rendered ineligible to participate at the level; he would have surpassed the stipulated age limit when the next junior tournament is contested. The final scores of the other seniors read: Kriskal Persaud (5 ½), Hemraj Sanichar (5), Alexander Duncan (4 ½) and Glenford Corlette (4). Final scores of the top junior players read: Omar Britton Grant, Ron Motilall, Saeed Ali and Davion Mars four apiece (4 apiece), Carlos Petterson (3 ½) and Othneil Lewis (2). The prizes were presented by Trophy Stall representative, Renuka Chattergoon.

The division of Test cricket into two tiers could put teams like Bangladesh on the precipice © AFP ESPNcricinfo - World cricket’s custodians are to consider a revolutionary proposal to bring relegation and promotion to Test matches as a partial sop to the imminent death of the World Test Championship (WTC). The ICC executive board is expected to consider the proposal at the next round of meetings later this month, the same gathering expected to end any hopes for the WTC due to the reluctance of broadcasters and the lack of certainty around the format of an event that was postponed from its original 2013 launch date and re-launched for 2017 last October. E S P N c r i c i n f o understands that the board will instead entertain the promotion/relegation plan, which will open up the possibility of nations like Ireland and Afghanistan earning their way into Test matches while at the same time placing the likes of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh on the precipice. It will be introduced on the “no disadvantage” condition that none of the current ICC Full Member nations would lose that status and its financial advantages. Instead, the Associate nations will have the chance to press for spots at the Test match table on the basis of performance against the

lower-ranked Full Members. This would provide a strong incentive for nations currently playing Test matches to improve themselves while also offering opportunities for Associates to compete at the highest level of the game. Precise details of how promotion and relegation from Test cricket would work in practice are yet to be revealed, but the concept of play-offs for Test status every four years is believed to be one of the options under consideration. The idea of dividing Test cricket up into two tiers has been debated for some time, with various noted voices on the game expressing opinions on its merits. In 2013, the former England captain Michael Vaughan suggested that the incentives provided by promotion and relegation would also add context and value to Test cricket, perhaps to the point of dissuading some players from fringe nations prioritising the IPL over representing their country at that time of year. “Just imagine if New Zealand have to come to England and win one out of three Tests to stay in the first division or win promotion,” Vaughan wrote in the Telegraph. “If there is a proper financial incentive to playing

in the first division, like there is in football’s Premier League, then players would be less likely to choose the IPL instead.” In addition to promotion and relegation, the ICC is expected to consider increasing the financial rewards on offer to teams earning the No. 1 spot on the Test rankings, for which the Test Championship Mace is currently awarded on an annual basis. It is also likely that regulations requiring all teams to play each other regularly will be relaxed - a state of affairs that has already begun to exist. There have been an increasing number of diversions from the Future Tours Programme, as nations make bilateral agreements that flout the authority of officially agreed schedule. India recently reduced their tour of South Africa to the minimum two Test matches while adding two unscheduled home fixtures against the West Indies, while this week it was confirmed that Pakistan’s series against Australia in October would be downsized from the earlier agreed three Tests to two. The ICC has previously flagged that promotion and relegation will become part of the landscape for ODIs, coming into effect following the 2019 World Cup.

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Kaieteur News

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Hundreds attend Holder’s funeral

Section of the gathering at the funeral service at St. Andrew’s Scot Kirk yesterday.

Hundreds of people including West Indies star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds attended the funeral service of former Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Cricket Board, Terence Ormonde Holder, yesterday at St. Andrew’s Scot Kirk, Avenue of the Republic, Stabroek.

The burial of the late Holder has been delayed due to the inclement weather which caused flooding to the LeRepentir Cemetery. O ff i c i a l s f r o m t h e Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and Private Sector Commission among others delivered addresses at the

service. President of the GCB Drubahadur said Holder was always willing to share his knowledge with anyone and was very instrumental in the establishment of the board’s Hall of Fame adding that his input will be missed. Pamela Briggs of GT&T stated that Holder served the company with

distinction for over twenty years and had a positive impact of the lives of many. She said that Holder, who was the company’s Deputy General Manager, built a good relationship between staff and managers. “He was approachable and staff sought his advice in difficult times,” she

added. Cricket commentator Brij Parasnath labeled him as one of the greatest sports ambassadors the Caribbean has produced. He informed that Holder played an important role in his career, had a passion for Guyana and West Indies cricket, and also played vital role when Carl Hooper returned as captain

of the Guyana team in 2001, which many felt was the resurrection of the game locally. Holder also served as head of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union and General Manager of the Guyana Broadcasting Union. The burial of the late Terence Holder will be announced shortly.

GCF President aiming to revive Inter-Club races Anti-Doping education on the cards for athletes, coaches, administrators President of the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) Cheryl Thompson has disclosed that the federation will be aiming to revive the once vibrant Inter-Club competition as a means of further development for cyclists. Speaking with Kaieteur Sport, Thompson, who has been at the helm of the sport for just over three years, noted that the GCF would like to take the sport a notch u p i n t e r m s o f

competitiveness and embrace the view that the revival of the Inter-Club contests would contribute towards this aim. It is being hoped that races can be held each quarter. Cycling has been gradually holding its own and is one of the most vibrant sports which have been attracting an encouraging level of sponsorship for events on the local landscape. A number of riders were selected for

overseas competition last year including the Caribbean Championships and the inaugural South American Youth Games among others. Thompson says she is aiming to maintain that level of vibrancy on the regional and international stages. To this end, junior and senior riders will be selected for the Caribbean Championships (date and venue to be decided) and the XX Commonwealth Games to (Continued on page 30)

Dr. Karen Pilgrim and Cheryl Thompson

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Thursday January 16, 2014

Ronchi fifty seals series win

This win gave New Zealand the series © Getty Images

ESPNcricinfo - Luke Ronchi played a second consecutive match-winning innings to not only win the Twenty20 series for New Zealand at the Westpac Stadium but also indicate that his flagging international career might have turned a corner. His 51 off 28 balls, a maiden T20 half-century scored at a similar pace to his blitz at Eden Park, and his 68-run partnership with Ross Taylor revived a stumbling chase, ensuring West Indies could not make a late comeback to level the series, like they had in the ODIs. Their efforts backed up clinical spells from Nathan McCullum and Adam Milne, who had conceded less than a run a ball and taken wickets

round the halfway stage of West Indies’ innings, to limit them to a par score on a ground with large boundaries. That the visitors got to 159 was only because Denesh Ramdin, who replaced Kieran Powell, also scored his maiden T20 fifty, in his 36th game. Ronchi had averaged only 15 in 13 ODI innings for New Zealand and it’s arguable that he lasted this long only because Brendon McCullum hasn’t been fit enough to keep wickets. He was Man of the Match in the first T20 and he began his innings today with New Zealand having slipped from 36 for 1 to 79 for 5, needing 81 off 57 deliveries. He was watchful for his

first few balls, before moving back into his crease to hoist Nikita Miller’s spin into the stands beyond midwicket. Ronchi then changed the game in the 15th over. With New Zealand needed 54 off 36, he carted Dwayne Bravo over deep midwicket and glanced to fine leg to take 16 runs off six balls. He continued to score boundaries off Sunil Narine and Jason Holder in the overs that followed, so when New Zealand’s anchor Ross Taylor fell, there was not much more to do. The equation had come down to 13 off 12 balls and Ti n o B e s t b e g a n t h e penultimate over with two dots. Jimmy Neesham then got an outside edge that

screamed to the third-man boundary and put the next into the midwicket crowd, before hooking to finish the chase with an over to spare. Had West Indies taken the numerous opportunities they created, however, they might have finished their tour on a high. Ryder was dropped by Johnson Charles off the third ball of the chase, and went on to make 23 off 9; Brendon McCullum scored 7 more after he was dropped by Chadwick Walton on 10; and Taylor was on 5 and yards out of his crease when Walton missed a direct hit from cover. Taylor went on to be the steadying hand New Zealand needed, shelving his penchant for leg-side lofts during his 39 off 41 balls.

Unlike West Indies, New Zealand were ace in the field. Martin Guptill set the standard when he ran to his left on the deep backward square leg boundary to catch Charles on the hook. And when Lendl Simmons’s was caught at point, West Indies were 37 for 2 after six overs with both Bravo and Andre Fletcher yet to score. Nathan McCullum bowled Bravo and did not concede a boundary in his spell, while Milne combined pace with accuracy to not concede more than six in any of his overs. They reduced West Indies to 67 for 4 in the 11th over, but the rest of New Zealand’s bowlers were expensive. Fletcher hit Corey

Anderson for two consecutive fours, and Ramdin took him for consecutive sixes in successive overs, and he finished with figures of 4-050-0. Ramdin and Fletcher also ran hard between the wickets - keeping the number of dots in the innings to 41 - and they were eventually separated by a run-out. West Indies had scored 58 off the last five overs, but their top order had scored too few before that and their fielders let them down. Scores: New Zealand 163 for 6 (Ronchi 51*, Taylor 39, Narine 2-18) beat West Indies 159 for 5 (Ramdin 55*, Fletcher 40, Milne 2-22, N McCullum 117) by four wickets.

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Wake up call for all Team Ramchand, Endurance race winners -associations/federations education of athletes on drugs use must be priority By Franklin Wilson The recent media blitz that has taken centre stage as a result of Gumendra Shewdas’ positive test for banned stimulants (Methylhexaneamine and Oxilofrine) following an incompetition urine test on August 26, 2013 must be a wake-up call not only for the powerlifting fraternity but for all sports associations and federations in Guyana. No sports entity will be exempted from the full force of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) if athletes fail to be honest when it comes to the supplements they use in order to have the cutting edge in competition. I came across a quote which says, “Doping is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport”, this is a profound statement which must hit home to all and sundry. Administrators, it is time for serious business, education is key; ignorance of the laws is no excuse. We need to save our athletes from further embarrassment by preparing them properly and holistically.

The victorious drivers from Team Ramchand Keith Evelyn (left) and Afraz Allie (2nd right) pose with Team owner Anand Ramchand along with the winning trophy last Sunday.

‘Trainer injected me’ Jamaica Observer FORMER world 100m record holder Asafa Powell raised eyebrows when he testified to being administered injections by physical trainer Chris Xuereb for a hamstring injury, even as his defence tried to plead a case of mitigating circumstances during his anti-doping hearing at the Jamaica Conference Centre Tuesday. “Is it the norm for a person who is not a medical doctor to be administering injections?” asked Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission panel chairman, attorney Lennox Gayle.

Investigation has revealed that the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has systems and personnel in place at the disposal of all associations and federations when it comes to educating athletes on the intricacies of doping and what is expected of our athletes.A few years

ago, female West Indies cricketer, Guyanese Tremayne Smartt, 26 yearyears-old then, was found guilty of committing an antidoping rule violation under Article 2.1 of the ICC AntiDoping Code (the “ICC Code”) and was suspended from all cricket and cricketrelated activities for a period of five months. Smartt was subjected to a similar procedure (s) like Shewdas including her sample being tested by the WA D A a c c r e d i t e d laboratory and was found to contain Furosemide; a classified ‘Specified Substance’ under the WADA Prohibited List and is prohibited both InCompetition and Out-ofCompetition. What is vital now is that associations and federations utilize the resources available to them at the level of the GOA to carry out a full scale education campaign. We must not allow another athlete from these shores to test positive for any banned substance. If they choose to go that route after being equipped with the relevant information, then they must face the full gamut of the law. For some strange reason (s) or it might very well be laziness, associations and federations have not been proactive in this regard. It is understood that only one of the affiliates of the GOA would have taken up the

Asafa reveals at anti-doping hearing “Sir, I have gotten the injection once before from the doctor in Germany and I never asked him for his credentials, so I wouldn’t know if it is the norm for every physio to do this,” said Powell. When quizzed by JADCO panellist Dr Jephathah Ford about the frequency of the injections and what were in them, Powell said he received about four injections. “It was the same injection that Dr MullerWo h l f a h r t u s e s i n Germany… these were antiinflammatory after I just got the hamstring injury,” said

Powell. “These injections were administered by Chris?” asked Dr Ford. “Yes,” Powell said. As to the nature of what was injected, Powell said he was satisfied with his checks after witnessing Xuereb take the drug from a sealed box before administering at his house. Powell, 31, who tested positive for oxilofrine at the National Championships last year, revealed he was given approximately nine supplements by Xuereb, but only submitted three names on the doping control form. Epiphany D1 is the (Continued on page 31)

Former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell in a pensive mood prior to the start of his drug hearing at the Jamaica Conference Centre Tuesday. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS)

offer to educate its athletes on the uses of drugs in sport. This must be reason for serious concern; there must be a radical turn around where the GOA must be inundated with requests for assistance in this regard. There are four Doping Control Officers who have been trained and all experienced individuals that are solely underutilized. This must no longer be so, if administrators really care about the future of our sportsmen and women, the time to arrest this situation is now. Let us see some vision being shown in the way we do business with the welfare and development of our athletes at the centre of what we do. J u s t r e m e m b e r, i f administrators continue to keep athletes unaware of what they must not put in their bodies, then the consequences for them (athletes) and Guyana are dire, because come January 2015, athletes found guilty of doping will be banned for a minimum of four years and forced to miss at least one Olympic Games, even as a first offender. The WADA passed that ruling last November at a Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, as they aim to get tougher on drug cheats. Although the new WADA code extends the ban for a first-time offence, it increases flexibility of sanctions for those who have been found to have taken banned substances unintentionally or with no significant fault, or who c o o p e r a t e w i t h investigations by antidoping authorities. Moreover, the new code provides anti-doping authorities with more power to punish athletes’ support personnel, such as coaches and trainers, who conspire in athletes’ doping. The revision also provides anti-doping agencies greater investigatory power, and it requires national governments for countries with participating athletic organizations to put in place laws or administrative practices that will permit the sharing of information and data with anti-doping organizations.

t r o Sp

Gumendra Shewdas not paying GAPF fine

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- Grandfather says positive test was “concocted”

SUPPORT! Gumendra Shewdas (centre, with medals) and his grandfather Chanderpaul Shewdas (on his right) pose with family members that also included Shewdas’ parents, at the Total Fitness Gym Tuesday at Line Path, Skeldon, East Berbice.

Ronchi fifty seals series win P.34

Luke Ronchi plays a slog sweep. (Getty Images)

Denesh Ramdin scored an unbeaten 55. (AFP)

Hundreds attend Holder’s funeral

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