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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
A remedy for the criminal The year dawned horribly for some people. Within the first two days there were four murders, all of them brutal. By the fourth day there were two more, all of them the result of disorderly behaviour. In one case a group of men ran down a young man with a vehicle then stabbed and beat him to death. Another, while under the influence of alcohol, stabbed his cousin to death. Then there was the case of the man who in a confrontation with his brother-in-law, stabbed the younger man in the neck and killed him. When these killings are concentrated in a given area the wider society tends to focus attention on that area. The first bit of attention is paid to the extent of police presence. Toward the end of last year, robberies had become commonplace in Berbice. The victims were largely the poor whose financial status meant nothing to the perpetrators. It has now come to the fore that the perpetrators were largely drug addicts who turned to a life of crime to fuel their habit. And as if to support their activities, the community was largely silent, some out of fear and others because the perpetrators did not match the profile, and to change the perception would have attracted some political attention. For their part, the police, using the limited resources at their disposal, have done remarkably well. Earlier this week the Divisional Commander resorted to using recruits from the Police Training College. What is clear is that when there is an increased police presence a lid descends on criminal activities. We therefore appreciate the efforts by the police to recruit at least one thousand more men and women. Having boosted the ranks, the police may wish to pay even greater attention to drug use in the society. It is no secret that the drug addicts are becoming more than a nightmare. They are the young men who left school with no skill to help them in the world of work. The result is that they have no moral compunction to behave as any normal citizen would. The age of the young men who carved out the first set of murders in Berbice tells the story. They were 18 years old, drug addicts, and obviously beyond the control of their parents. They ventured out to rob and then killed as though the human life was incidental to nothing. And to think that they actually celebrated while they killed their victims must be the most alarming thing. So it is that a large section of the society wants to see a return of the death penalty. They point to the use of the death penalty when a certain type of crime threatened the very fabric of the society. That type of crime that involved home invasions, disappeared, but given that the last execution occurred in 1997, almost two decades ago, one could not help but notice that it has reemerged. There is the argument that even with the best intentions, some countries send innocent people to the gallows; and this may be the same in some countries. In Guyana the authorities examine every aspect of the case before taking the ultimate action. We are unaware that there would be anyone who would oppose the death penalty for the drug-crazed teenagers who brutally killed three people at the start of this year. There is the argument that they would suffer more if they are incarcerated for a long time; that they would get up each morning knowing that they have no freedom. But that does not seem to be penalty enough for taking a life—one through a fiery death and the others by systematically chopping the victims until they bled to death. One case in the courts currently testifies to the savagery of some other young people. Only those who must live in the shadow of the attacks on them know what vengeance really is.
Saturday January 16, 2016
Letters... Where your views make the news
Ten points on saving Guysuco DEAR EDITOR, With so many daunting challenges facing GuySuCo, particularly a foreseeable lengthy period of low sugar prices, increasing labour costs, difficulties in mechanization, and negative impacts of climate change, it is very unlikely that GuySuCo in its present configuration can attain the level of production and profitability needed to give it a stable and sustainable future. Added to this, is the high level of subsidization that is required to ‘keep things going’ at this time. The GuySuCo Commission of Inquiry (COI) made a recommendation for the privatisation of the sugar company, preferably over a period not exceeding three (3) years. Unless there are specific opportunities that have arisen and which are actively being pursued at this time, the suggested period of three years for ‘privatisation’ is a little ambitious. However, as I pointed out in a previous correspondence, a wide range of options under the banner of ‘privatisation’ may be possible, including limited divestment of just some aspects of the company’s activities. Whether or not the government will take the recommendation seriously, is yet to be seen. However, in any agricultural operation, time is of essence and the longer we are satisfied to ‘just tag along’ the more difficult and expensive it will become in the long run to make the changes that are required. In the interim, and whether we choose to ‘privatise’ or retain full state ownership and control, some amount of industry restructuring must still be
undertaken to make it more competitive, and less of a drain on the economy. If restructuring and limited divestment are accepted as the better options, only some of the current roles of GuySuCo will be retained, while new but not unfamiliar activities will become part of the new arrangement. What roles should be fully retained under a restructured GuySuCo, and possibly expanded are the factory operations; infrastructural development and maintenance; agricultural research; process engineering; and new product development and marketing operations. In a previous correspondence, I looked at how private sugarcane farmers, particularly in the West Demerara and Upper Corentyne regions, are selling cane to the estates at a profit. This is one viable area, the expansion of which should be supported as part of an overall strategy of limited divestment. A new, restructured GuySuCo should focus its limited resources on a few critical areas, such as: 1. Agricultural research and development, particularly the breeding of more productive and resilient varieties of sugarcane, and the introduction of enhanced mechanized operations; 2. Improving factory operations, with a view towards installing dual systems for receiving canes (punts and cane-carts); increasing throughput (grinding rates) and sugar-recovery (reducing cane-to-sugar ratios); 3. Exploiting industry-wide opportunities for new streams of revenue, particularly by investing in
electricity co-generation; 4. Provision of technical services to farmers, such as in the areas of soil, water and tissue analyses, and cropextension education, with particular emphasis on the transfer of best practices; 5. Developing and leasing to private farmers, lands that are suitable for sugarcane farming; 6. Development and maintenance of agricultural infrastructure which can enable timely and efficient drainage, irrigation, cane transport and access to all parts of sugarcane cultivations, including farming areas; 7. Expanding the sugar product line, and the range of value-added sugarbased products offered locally and abroad; 8. Leasing of agricultural machinery and equipment to sugarcane farmers, more particularly to facilitate new entrants to the industry; 9. Procuring and reselling of agricultural inputs to sugarcane farmers, particularly agrochemicals (pesticides, fertilizers and ameliorants). Though this is already being done on a limited scale, it is an area that needs to be thoroughly examined before being taken on as a full-fledged service to farmers, since there can emerge many loopholes, with the potential for collusion, something that GuySuCo is not unknown for. 10. Last but not least, environmental management, with specific emphasis on the use of agricultural resources, safe disposal of agricultural and processing wastes so as to prevent environmental contamination, and use of such wastes / (Continued on page 23)
Should this man be elected? DEAR EDITOR, “Judge not lest ye be judged; leave all judgment, unto God”! In as much as I hold most religious leaders in “high esteem” and do enjoy almost on a daily basis, the religious Christian programmes on local radio of my favourites Pastor: Calvin Haywood- Central Baptist Church leads the way, followed by Pastor John Smith- Central Assemblies and Pastor Joel Osteen. Since the topics vary on various aspects of life, at the end of the day, it provides me with a great source of inspiration and spiritual enlightenment/upliftment through Jesus the Christ. However, I still support the notion of Pope Francis “One can be spiritual, but not religious” Editor, while I do not consider myself to be religious, as it relates to “church going” yet still, I strive for spirituality, through doing a good deed daily in service to humanity. As a consequence, I find it extremely reprehensible and distasteful the utterances of Pastor Wendell P Jeffrey,
in the publication of a letter captioned “Murder rate should give those pushing for marijuana legalization pause for thought”( S.N: 12.01.16.). By the way is this the same individual, who intends to contest the local government poll? (K.N. 12.01.16). In dealing with the latter Pastor, would it be prudent for me to highlight your inefficiencies, towards ensuring you are not elected
as a councilor, within the constituency? Do you have a manifesto towards better serving humanity, if elected? Meanwhile, in offering no scientific data, biblical excerpts/quotations to substantiate your claims, can it be construed, you are “clutching at straws”? As it’s written in the scriptures “lust, greed, envy and covetousness” which have a stranglehold in our society
today, the works of Satan and Ungodliness are the primary reasons for the upsurge in crime. Is Pastor Jeffrey realistic? Surely, this man of cloth and purported holiness, at best is misleading, since the issues on hand as they relate to marijuana is legislation and not legalization - “Repealing the draconian 3 years mandatory jail sentence for a mere (Continued on page 23)
Concerned about democracy being lost DEAR EDITOR, I refer to the Stabroek News article of January 14, with the headline “NICIL’s Deputy Head complaints to cops of being shadowed by unknown persons.” I am appalled and concerned that this is the state of my beloved Guyana. Is Mrs. Nadir- Sharma a risk to national security or a criminal whose activities needs close monitoring? Guyana is a signatory to the international Declaration on Human rights which prescribes to the belief that a person is innocent until proven guilty. As a citizen of Guyana, I join the call of the Guyana Bar Association and civil society for government to offer an explanation for
these recent activities: why is Mrs. NadirS h a r m a b e i n g s h a d o w e d a n d M r. Brassington’s family being surveyed? The days for secret police and the use of the army to conduct sinister activities can no longer be condoned. Too many have died fighting for democracy for Guyana. Let us not allow a few blinded by power and malice to take it from us under the cloak of “security”. All law abiding citizens who believe in the spirit of democracy and the development of our beloved Guyana must demand that our government explain its actions NOW, should they seek our support again in 2020. Carol Green
Saturday January 16, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
21 years are enough for Brief analysis of where Patricia Chase-Green and why Guyana failed DEAR EDITOR, I learnt through the local media recently that the Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Ms. Patricia Chase-Green has signaled her intention to run for the position of Mayor at the upcoming Municipal Elections in 2016. I was stunned to say the very least. I cannot imagine how someone from a group who has spent seven terms rather that one to which they elected to serve, twenty one long years rather than three, could even entertain the thought of hanging around City Hall for even more time. This is just simply outrageous. Do some people not know when to move on? Or have the decency to step aside to allow younger brighter minds to take over. Why do some politicians believe that the political they hold should be theirs until their death? I ask the question, what as a Councillor this lady done to improve the lives of the citizenry of Georgetown for the last 21 years during which she has held several positions? What special qualifications or skills other than being a re-
tired industrial nurse does she possess to lead Guyana’s capital for the next three years? What will and can this lady do over the next three years that she did not and could not do for the last 21 years. And I can predict what her answer will be. It will be the popular refrain and that is that her Council was stifled by the previous government. Poppycock! Any decent, self respecting, proud and honest person who recognizes that they were being prevented from serving the citizens as they were elected to do, would have done the respectable thing and left rather than just hanging around for 21 years to merely enjoy the benefits. Does she have a strategic plan of how to make Georgetown a modern city? Of how she will weed out corruption and nepotism at the Council rather than contributing to it as she is currently doing by having a her blood connection (very close) engaged as a contractor and another relative as a supervisor of the Community works projects? As Mayor will she continue to behave in a de-
plorable manner as she is well known for? Engaging in loud offensive verbal exchanges with other Councilors and a previous Town Clerk? Or will she carry herself with deference and stateliness as the Office of Chief Citizen requires? Does she have the aptitude and perspicacity to make such a sweeping transition? Will she be able to command the respect of civil society, the business community, academia, the international community, the youths, the trade unions, her fellow Councilors and the workers of the Georgetown Municipality all of whom are critical stakeholders to making Georgetown great again? Come on Deputy Mayor, you have had your time and chance, and you blew it! Give the young, bright, forward thinking leaders of tomorrow a chance to prove themselves as worthy at this second tier of governance. As they say, it is time for change, not going back down the same old road that we did for the last 21 years. We need to get out of this mess that you and your colleagues made of our beloved capital. Mark Roopan
DEAR EDITOR, The vexed matter of suicide has plagued our society for long time. Presently, there is plenty of talk about this life and death issue. Hopefully as a society we can make efforts to understand why persons take their own lives. I wish to take you back a number of years; the early eighties in Guyana, when it seems the suicide epidemic started. That was the time that the then Guyana Consumers’ Association, began to make calls for Coroner’s Inquest into suicides. Such official inquiry into the “untimely death” would in the way of thinking get answers as to why a healthy young person would ingest poison, and other forms of taking their own lives. Evidently the Consumers’ Association thinking failed to attract the attention of the judicial or legal authorities, or other organizations. I do believe that the matter was properly ventilated by the Association. This matter
of inquest was raised with one of the past Commissioners of Police. At a Consumers’ Association / Police Commissioner meeting that Commissioner said that there should be more control to young people’s access to pesticides. I recall being at a farmer leadership conference in Trinidad; one of the presenters to the conference talked about pesticide manufacturers placing obnoxious substance in pesticide, with the view that the would be drinker will be deterred from ingesting the substance. Motions for the holding of inquests for suicides were approved at annual general meetings of the Association. It cannot be said that the Association did not reneged in its duty to society. Just like many other issues of the day, nobody cared, and so Guyana got the honour it deserved, of being the suicide capital of the world in the 21st century. The Association believed that every human being is of infinite and, incalculable
value, each a unique intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual, creative force. Every human is born free and equal in dignity and rights; each is endowed with reason and conscience, and thus deserves a sense of solidarity, brotherhood, sisterhood, recognition and respect. We collectively let these people down; is it late to dedicate action in their memory that will cause the suicide rate to be zero in the near future. Has our society accorded all the young people, who for their own known reasons choose to end their lives, a modicum of respect? Did they all leave suicide notes? Did their relatives know their causes of death? If not, we the members of society in mourning their loss need to prevent more of our (Continued on page 23)
The need to understand why people commit suicide
DEAR EDITOR, All of Guyana’s most critical development trajectories are heading downwards including population, consumer base and economically functional workforce; modernisation of economy and market; scientific and technological capabilities; socio-cultural constructions of a nation state; and political process and governance. Political and national consensus is essential. Limited space means that discussion and comment are restricted to some elements. First, a state enterprise economy in a small market like Guyana is unsustainable and could never succeed. Political leaders compounded this problem because of failure to make mature political deals, across the aisle, on how to proceed. If one is faced with restructuring 80% of a state enterprise economy (virtually the entire economy) then strategically the implications are obvious; private sector expansion; democratisation of market power prevents concentration of wealth and inequality, but increases citizens equity ownership; building a new investor class; and modernization of market institutions including, critically, removing institutional voids created by a state enterprise system. We have witnessed the negative effects of failure in the effort to transform 80 % of the economy. You just cannot, in a multi - ethnic society privatise such a massive undertaking, leave the entire process in the hands of one ethnic group that is not even 50% of the population. This is not only wrong in principle it is wrong in essence, and doomed. The results are there for all to see - a democratically elected PPP could have transformed Guyana after 1992. Instead however, obsessed and blinded by ethno- political vendetta, it wasted 23 years chasing after destruction of the PNC. Former PM Sam Hinds hinted at this in his letter (Chronicle, 2/1 /2016). In the process, PPP wasted time and taxpayer’s money by destroy-
ing assets created by the PNC. Destroying value created with taxpayer’s money is foolish and wasteful and the electorate should punish political parties who do this. Further, imprisoned by its communist ideologies the PPP misunderstood that changing a state enterprise economy must be accompanied by deep market reforms and, entangled by corruption, cronyism and nepotism it managed to negatively accelerate the development trajectories. Modernisationof the market and economy have therefore remained largely untouched. Second, Guyana stagnates at the lowest round of the technological ladder. More than 25 years ago some of us held the view (see Ceramic Industry Studies: CARICOM –Commonwealth Secretariats) that the entire English Speaking Caribbean with a consumer base of less than 6 million and small labour force could not succeed economically with labour intensive industries. Nothing has changed. Guyana’s population stagnation compounds this problem. Technological capabilities do not grow overnight since this involves intellectual property, private sector and market activity; education, training and state investment and mobilization; scientific and innovation culture. It will take enormous lifting and investment over several decades to catch up. We have carped on this simply because policy declarations about diversification will change precious little without progressively building technological capabilities and the ambition aimed at the next two higher levels, that is, ‘the efficiency society and the technological society’. While Guyana muddled along for 50 years, Singapore built its capabilities. By 2013 the World Bank’s World Development Report was that Singapore boasted some 6,000 active scientists per mil-
lion of its population. The results are stunning; its exports alone are about 2.5 times the real GDP of the entire English Speaking Caribbean, (population roughly the same size). Third, Guyana’s sociocultural environment exhibits the most destructive effects of failed leadership, the most difficult to repair, and most of the blame falls on the PPP which managed to take Guyana to a place it has never been. Guyana has fallen apart as a socio-cultural entity, in part because of a false thesis (not necessarily by PPP governments) that each ethnic group should forge its own identity. The results are obvious; no nation building, erosion of national identity, no direction as a nation and no community and commonality of purpose. PPP stepped up race baiting; dumbed down the population, monopolising the political and social space with backward politics and sociology; facilitated a corrupt culture; state directed violence replaced discussion and reason; and apparently, the idea that the less people know the easier to rule them. The reason why America has the best military in the world is not only because it is the best equipped technologically, it is the best trained and educated as well. A dumb population lacks discriminating judgment. Finally, progress is unsustainable without political consensus on some core areas; the character of the Republic, Constitution and rule of law are taken as given. The other cornerstones are education and training focusing on the sciences, and an economically functional labour force; technological ambition; and the organising philosophy and core principles for the economy and market. These cannot change from one administration to the next since uncertainty is the devil of economic progress. Ivor Carryl
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Saturday January 16, 2016
Govt. should announce end to raw bulk sugar production for export From an economic standpoint, Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Dr Clive Thomas, has said that the financial prospects of the sector would remain depressing if certain critical changes aren’t made and soon at that. He said that given the daunting conditions of the sugar industry, Government should start making the announcement of firm decisions at least by this year. He said that for 2016, Government should make known the end of the production of raw bulk sugar for export. Outlining the daunting conditions of the sector, Dr Thomas said that with regard to the financial environment, GuySuCo can be easily described as a “low grade, poor quality, high risk, commercial borrower.” The economist said that from the perspective of the geo-physical environment, the sector is one which sits significantly below sea-level and below low-tide level “risks”. He said that it is also prone to weather variability; and climate change and this puts enormous pressure on hydraulic capabilities. The GuySuCo Chairman said that when one considers the infrastructural deficits facing the sugar industry, it is found that a 30-year continuous infrastructure deterioration has been taking place especially as it pertains to sea defences; water conservancies; outlets to sea and river; supplementary canals-
- GuySuCo Chairman system (due to village incursions, roads, scrubland); and other crops water usage. Dr. Thomas said, however, that the social-political environment carries enormous weight in planning a way forward. He added, “GuySuCo and the sugar industry have been treated separately by the recently concluded Commission of Inquiry. These two however, should not be placed in watertight compartments. The industry is wide. It includes peasant operators, service providers, and the communities. GuySuCo is a “state corporation”, only as a legal construct. “But it represents much more in the socio-political environment. Rightfully or wrongly, sugar workers, their families, and the communities in which GuySuCo operates see it as the main provider of their livelihoods and a life-line support for their communities. Therefore, all recommendations for the way forward should embrace this reality.” “In these circumstances what GuySuCo “gives and takes” from the communities will have to be synchronized with what the community “gives and expects to get back” from GuySuCo. One must understand that GuySuCo faces a severe price-cost squeeze at the heart of its financial collapse. For several years, it has been costing more (both in total and unit terms), even as it produces less sugar. And, more worryingly… several producing estates exceed unit sales price. In effect losses increase with increased sugar output, and Guyana is subsidizing European Union con-
sumers.” Dr. Thomas said that this position was also presented to Cabinet during his economic presentation on the sector. He said that calamitously, in recent years, revenue earned by GuySuCo just covered the cost of labour. Meanwhile, the economist said that recent data cast a sharper image on GuySuCo’s indebtedness. He explained that the total indebtedness of the corporation stands at G$82.4 billion, of which three-quarters is longterm debt and loans and the remainder, is short-term debt. He noted too that losses for 2014 were $17.4B and $11.7B in 2013. Based on the financial and economic analyses he conducted, Dr. Thomas said that the rational conclusion to be drawn is that the Government needs to decide whether it can afford to continue funding GuySuCo from the National Budget, repeatedly while it remains a producer/ exporter of raw bulk sugar beyond 2018. He said that repeating such “bailouts”, expecting improved results is not recommended. By latest, early this year, the GuySuCo Chairman said that the Government should announce its ending of the production of raw bulk sugar for export. He said that simultaneously, the Government should announce related strategic decisions to be in effect starting this year. Dr. Thomas said, too, that the establishment of a Holding Company, to “hold” shares of Subsidiaries/Business Units/Other Revenue Streams, created out of GuySuCo operations is also recommended. Given the impressive production achievements of the sugar industry, Dr. Thomas had said that he is hoping to raise the bar a little higher for 2016. The economist said that
GuySuCo is hoping to increase its production target by five percent over the 2015 figure. For last year GuySuCo achieved 231,145 tonnes. This was 3,702 more than its projected target of 227,443. The Chairman said, “I am really happy about this. I am not here for more than six months and this has happened but I could not have done it without the effort that was put in by all. It is proof that the removal of political interference has tremendous benefits. I know that we can do better than this come next year.” Dr. Thomas said that while the recommendations for the industry are “extreme”, he cautioned that those working in the sector should not be worried for one bit whether the sector would be closing shop. “Indeed the changes that are coming will be radical but it is necessary because you cannot expect to be doing the same thing every year and getting different results. But we aren’t closing shop. We are concerned about the survival of this industry but more importantly bringing it to good health. We are trying to move towards value added products coming out of the sugar assets…we are trying to use the assets of the industry in a more creative way.” The GuySuCo Chairman explained that high on the entity’s list of priorities is moving towards the diversification of the sugar industry especially as it regards refined sugar. He noted that GuySuCo is still working to achieve a breakthrough with a new upgraded sugar called, “Enmore Crystals.” “This product will help to give us some leverage to sell our sugar for more. This packaged sugar is only being done in small quantities for the markets in Canada, USA and Britain.” The GuySuCo Chairman said that the Board and Management believe that the packaged sugar will do better than “the ordinary sugar sold in the
transparent plastic bag.” He noted that samples are already being taken to the three markets he outlined, among other places where contacts are made. Dr. Thomas said, “We are trying to penetrate the market with small quantities and build up as time goes. We are basically doing this to see how we can get a higher price for our sugar. And so far, it has been receiving favourable reviews from our international contacts, so we are looking to see how this works out but there are other plans in the pipeline for the
GuySuCo Chairman, Dr. Clive Thomas diversification of this product and bringing the industry back to good health.”
NDIA conducts draft assessment of El Nino conditions - as irrigation water quality deteriorates The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has announced that it is conducting a draft assessment of the El Nino conditions being experienced countrywide. Along coastal Guyana efforts are ongoing to pump water from the Maduni River into the Lama conservancy. An NDIA official has stated that the East Coast Demerara Water Conservancy (ECDWC) is not so critical and that the structure is holding up. It is understood that the authority has also sent engineers to the Essequibo Coast in order to assess the situation. The drop in the level of the conservancy has interrupted the critical irrigation process, and has forced some farmers, who can afford, to take on the responsibility of pumping water from the canals to their fields. Sugrim Sarju, a rice farmer located at Grass Hook, Mahaica, noted that while water is being pumped into the ECDWC from Lama and Maduni River, the dry weather and the pumps have caused the water from Grass Hook to Baiabu to be extremely salty and muddy. As a result, he stated that the situation is untenable for crop cultivation. Sarju also revealed that the pumping efforts have been ongoing for weeks. He said that some ways the government can help farmers, depending on the Mahaica River, for irrigation water would be to provide excavators that can clean the trenches. General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers’ Association (GRPA),
Dharamkumar Seeraj, recently confirmed that while there are demands for water during the current rice-planting season, the conservancy level is low. As a consequence, he said, the conservancy has to be supplemented by farmers pumping water into their fields. According to Seeraj, this is a cost they will have to bear. It is understood that while some farmers have taken on this additional cost, others are waiting in the hope that there will be rainfall. “There is apprehension among the farmers,” Seeraj had said, describing the mood on the ground in Crane, on the West Coast of Demerara. “Rice will be lost and cost will go up (because they are spending to pump water).” One rice farmer situated in Anna Regina noted that the problem is also as widespread at Suddie, Essequibo to Charity. He noted that at the moment farmers are forced to pump water into their fields to cultivate their crops or to sow. He stated that if they cannot get water throughout to the bearing stage, their crop will be lost. It is understood that while a pumping station is currently under construction at Stewartville, the Dawa pumping station located at Tapacuma has not been functioning. This pump usually pumps water from the Pomeroon River, to be discharged into the Tapacuma Lake, so that rice farmers can get water to irrigate their lands. In addition, the level in the main conservancy would be maintained until harvest. The dreaded dry weather spell known as ‘El Niño’ has (Continued on page 11)
Saturday January 16, 2016
Kaieteur News
UWI Student Leaders Call For Caribbean Governments To Revisit ‘Archaic’ Anti-Gay Laws
UWI Mona representative Davianne Tucker (centre) addresses the media yesterday at a press conference at the institution’s campus in St Andrew. Cave Hill representative, Dalano deSouza (second left), argued that the anti-gay laws across the region should be revisited. The Gleaner - The body that represents the more than 50,000 students at the University of the West Indies (UWI) is urging Caribbean governments to revisit what it calls archaic anti-gay laws. The call was issued yesterday morning at a press conference hosted by the InterCampus Guild Council that includes student leaders from the Cave Hill, Mona, St Augustine and Open campuses. It’s one of the strongest calls against anti-gay laws from a group in the region which is not a human rights lobby. Cave Hill representative, Dalano deSouza, argued that the anti-gay laws across the
region should be revisited. He pointed to the need to ensure rights against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation are upheld. Meanwhile, UWI Mona representative Davianne Tucker stressed that they are not calling for the wholesale repeal of laws, but for an undertaking that potentially offensive laws will be revisited. Several regional countries still have in place anti-gay laws which human rights campaigners argue are discriminatory and restrict gay people’s access to healthcare. Meanwhile, the regional student leaders from the UWI are condemning reports in Jamaica that guidance coun-
sellors are shunning students who identify as gay or lesbian. The Cave Hill representative from Barbados, deSouza said the reported behaviour of some Jamaican guidance counsellors is unacceptable. He argued that students seek counsellors for help and it is critical that their needs are given attention. He noted that students tend to have sexual identity issues at an important stage in their lives when they need sound advice. There has been public outrage since Monday following a Gleaner report that counsellors are shunning gay students.
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Saturday January 16, 2016
St Kitts-Nevis government Oil plummets to $29, wants to discuss CCJ accession dragging world stocks lower
Sir Dennis Byron BASSETERRE, St Kitts (WINN) — While not exactly on the front burner, accession to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) appellate jurisdiction is under discussion by the St Kitts and Nevis government. CCJ president, Sir Dennis Byron, said that’s the view he came away with following a recent courtesy call on Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris. Byron has been giving an update on the various efforts being undertaken by countries that have not yet made the CCJ their final court of appeal to do so. “Grenada has tabled legislation which led to its refer-
endum taking place on April 26, so that is very specific. As far as I understand Antigua is in the process of taking the same step. With regard to the other OECS countries, the governments of all made statements that indicate that they’re moving toward taking that step, we’ve had nothing very specific, but that they’re moving in that direction. When I met with the prime minister in St Kitts he indicated an interest in having me address his cabinet colleagues and I indicated my willingness to respond to any invitation favourably,” he said.
WINN FM asked Byron whether the popularity of the Privy Council ruling on the St Kitts and Nevis constituency boundaries changes that saw the general elections being held on the old boundaries would be a deterrent for St Kitts to fully accept the CCJ. “Of course not, the Privy Council has been the final court of appeal for St Kitts for over 300 years and it is just doing its duty when it adjudicates on a case. Whoever is the final court would have to respond to cases of that nature and they would be doing their duty so I don’t see it as being a deterrent at all,” he said Byron also insisted that the CCJ is an international court and not a local one, when reference was made to criticism of the decisions taken by the High Court in Basseterre and the OECS Supreme Court on the boundaries case. “The CCJ is not a local court, the CCJ is an international court affecting the entire Caribbean and it is the apex court of the country. It has the same status of the Privy Council and in fact that is exactly what we do, we assess appeals from courts of appeals in the region and give our judgement in that capacity. Our function would be identical to what the Privy Council exercised,” he noted.
Oil prices plummeted to $29 a barrel yesterday on the likely resumption soon of Iranian oil exports into an already flooded market as international sanctions against Iran are lifted, dragging equity indices around the world sharply lower. Unsettled investors snapped up gold and other safe-haven assets amid fears of a global economic slowdown, coupled with concerns about a potential credit default as lower commodity prices make payments by creditors in emerging markets difficult. Major stock indices in Europe closed down more than 2 percent, while Wall Street stock indexes tumbled between 2 and 3 percent as global crude benchmark Brent lost 6 percent to below $29 a barrel at one point, capping a decline of almost 14 percent for the week. “We’re seeing the final capitulation,” said Tina Byles Williams, chief investment officer at FIS Group in Philadelphia, which oversees about $4.4 billion in assets under management. Williams said crude prices could hit $20 a barrel, a price analysts at Goldman Sachs have said may be necessary to accelerate a slow-down in drilling and return global oil inventories to a more even
supply-demand balance. The risk is that a creditor faced with declining revenues and higher payment costs because of a stronger dollar on its dollar-denominated debt sparks a default, Williams said. “If that dollar-denominated debt went to finance commodity projects, then that’s obviously quite a toxic brew,” she said. Yields on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note were poised to fall below 2 percent and gold rose as retreating oil prices and equity markets underpinned demand for assets perceived as safer. The December futures contract on the federal funds rate surged to its highest since October, implying the Federal Reserve will raise rates only one more time this year. The Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars all sank against the U.S. dollar on the back of another slide in Chinese stock markets and the slide in oil. But the dollar fell against both the euro and yen. World stock markets were set for a third week of losses. European shares fell to their lowest since December 2014, hit by losses in commodityrelated stocks after BHP Billiton announced a $7.2 billion write-down on its U.S.
shale assets. BHP shed 6.4 percent, one of the biggest decliners on the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 index, which closed down 2.79 percent. MSCI’s all-country world stock index fell 2.3 percent to levels last seen in July 2013. BROAD SELLOFF On Wall Street, the selloff was broad, with all 10 major S&P 500 sectors in the red and all 30 components of the Dow industrials lower. A 3.8 percent slide in the beatendown energy sector led the decline among sectors on the benchmark S&P 500. “Investors are scared to death,” said Phil Orlando, chief equity strategist at Federated Investors in New York. Topping investor concerns is a possible hard landing in world No. 2 economy China that drags the rest of the world into recession, Orlando said. Other concerns include the dollar ’s strength, the pace of rate increases planned this year by the Federal Reserve and a manufacturing recession, besides plunging oil prices, he said. “It’s not giving anyone any confidence because to me at least it resembles a bad reality show on television,” he said.
Report paving way for Iran NIS Scandal: Govt. Issues Statement sanctions relief likely today - source On Auditor General Report An IAEA report verifying that Iran has kept its promises under a nuclear deal it reached with world powers last year is likely to be issued today, paving the way for sanctions on Tehran to be lifted, a diplomatic source said yesterday. Iranian and other officials had previously said they expected the report to come out yesterday. “Almost all details are ironed out,” said another diplomatic source, based in the Austrian capital. Vienna is home to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog in charge of moni-
toring Iran’s implementation of the measures required in the deal Iran reached with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany last July. The July deal calls on the agency to release its report once it has verified Iran has implemented all nuclear-related measures. The IAEA had no comment on Friday on the timing of the report. Iranian officials have said Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the European Union’s Federica Mogherini would issue a statement on Saturday or Sunday on the “Implementation Day” of the nuclear
deal and the lifting of sanctions. Under the July agreement, Iran agreed to shrink its atomic programme in exchange for the lifting of some EU, U.S. and U.N sanctions, which would allow billions of dollars of investment to flow into the country. Since July, Iran has drastically reduced the number of centrifuges installed at its enrichment sites, shipped tonnes of low-enriched uranium materials to Russia and dismantled the core of its Arak nuclear reactor. Some officials said a meeting in relation to Iran might take place on Saturday in Vienna, where the deal was reached. “There may be some sort of a meeting tomorrow in Vienna, after which, if everything goes well, we will issue a statement from the Secretary-General,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters.
The Gleaner - The government has issued a statement on the multimillion-dollar scandal involving the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) that did not indicate whether millions in overpayments have been recovered. An Auditor General report has disclosed that the NIS is at risk of failing because of poor governance, which has contributed to the disbursement of billions in payments without checks to see if the right people were getting their pensions. There are also cases in which the NIS issued millions in overpayments. Late Thursday, the Labour and Social Security Ministry, which manages the NIS, issued a statement saying it has examined the report and has been addressing some of the findings. However, the statement did not make any mention on the status of the millions unaccounted for and whether
anyone has been held accountable for the irregularities. The ministry said it is far advanced in implementing various measures including the modernisation of client services, the strengthening of business and operational procedures. It has pointed to the implementation of alternative methods of paying pensioners. Meanwhile, the ministry says it has accepted the four key recommendations of the Auditor General’s report. The Auditor General’s report noted that for the fiveyear period, 2010-2015, the Labour and Social Security ministry, paid $32.5 billion to the Post and Telecommunications Department to facilitate the encashment of pension cheques, without checking to see if the right people were getting the money. Because of alleged poor due diligence, the Ministry
Derrick Kellier overpaid 152 pensioners by more than $10 million, half of which went to people who were not eligible for a pension benefit. The ministry is also being accused of failing to account for 334 pension vouchers valued at $1.3 million. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security pays pension benefits of over $14 billion to over 109,000 persons annually.
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WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON? APNU+AFC is not keeping its promises. Not the ones it made before the elections, but rather, the ones it made after the elections. The coalition promised greater transparency. Instead the public is being subjected to a regular dose of ‘duck and the drake’. Sometimes you see, sometimes you don’t. It has not released the names of the prisoners who were released under Presidential pardons. All over the world this is done. When Donald Ramotar, the former PPP President, released a prisoner just before he demitted office, the proPNC media dug it up and got the story out in the open. They are not interested in doing the same when their government is in power. And who can blame them for being one-sided? The proPPP media is in a state of comatose, with very few investigative skills and merely wanting to report on press releases and press conferences from Freedom House. The coalition promised that things would be different. Well, things are different, but not in the way people expected. There is a fear of sur-
veillance of persons associated with the PPP. The Deputy Head of NICIL claims that she is being shadowed. There is a report coming from a senior leader of the United Republican Party indicating that surveillance and phone interceptions may be taking place. There are suspicions that the movement of other persons connected with the PPP is being monitored. Persons in West Demerara suspect that intelligence gathering is being undertaken in that area. What is the purpose? What is the threat? The coalition is behaving like the PNC of old, when there were spies all around. After the 1985 elections, the police had a motor cycle that was assigned to the traffic department at Brickdam, following the every movement of Cheddi Jagan. Hoyte even went as far as relieving Jagan’s security of his weapon, leaving the Leader of the Opposition unprotected. When persons left political meetings, the Death Squad would be following them. PNC operatives would inflict beatings of opposition supporters. At one time, a vehicle dispatched from the
D’Urban Street party office carried individuals who inflicted a ‘licking’ on a leader of an opposition party. Those were the days when Guyana operated like a police state. Why have those old fears been resurrected? Why are persons’ homes being staked out? Why are the vehicles of persons being searched? This is harassment. The government had seven long months to be ensuring the security of documents from NICIL. They were not searching homes and cars then? So why are they doing so now? What are they searching for? Was there any complaint in the forensic audit that documentation was withheld? Why launch searches now? Is this the pre-
text that is being used to harass people? This is worse than the PPP. The government has refused to undertake an investigation into the incident involving the late Guyana Defence Force Sergeant Pyle. He may have been on a private mission, and not on government’s business, as is claimed. His actions may have had nothing to do with the Special Organised Crime Unit. The public needs to know whether this was a stakeout or an attempted kidnapping. The public needs to know whether Sergeant Pyle was an intelligence operative or after a bounty. It is hard to understand how anyone could have been staking out the home of Win-
ston Brassington and mixed that up with his next door neighbour. The two houses are strikingly different. Winston Brassington’s house is made of wood and does not have a verandah. Any person mistaking Mr. Ramson’s house for Brassington’s house was not properly briefed. Or was not really interested in Brassington’s home It is hard to understand how someone takes his wife on a stakeout. It is perplexing that Sergeant Pyle tried to make an arrest. The soldiers of the Guyana Defence Force do not have powers of arrest. So why did a chase ensue? And how if he managed to get the car to stop would he have effected an arrest, and for what purposes? Who
PM receives Bar Association’s feedback on Code of Conduct
Dem boys seh...
Chinee product don’t last lang
When you down and out and gat nutten in life nobody don’t know you, not even a dawg. But as soon as you push you head up in life and people can see you smiling, people who never talk to you suddenly become you family. That happen plenty time to Uncle Glenn and Uncle Adam. Jagdeo seh when he was piss poor before he tun filthy rich he had a bicycle and one friend name Babbie. When he tun president he tell dem bai even Putagee Brazzie tun he family. He seh that three-quarter of Guyana even Ali Lall, Harris Baksh, Leonard Hinds, BaiShan Lin, and Moses Johnny introduce dem self to him as family when he was de president. When he lose de presidency and people find out that he scampish and was a scamp all he life, dem disown him. He own blood relative disown he. This same attitude don’t happen wid people alone. It does happen wid countries. Years ago when Guyana was nowhere on de map, people use to get tun back from Trinidad and Barbados, much less getting visas fuh de ABC countries. Now Guyana got gold, it got lumber, and it find oil. Today you don’t have to apply to dem fuh visa anymore. Dem boys hear dem got de GECOM list and dem sending de visa to you house. De Chinese giving you visa, ticket, plus spending money to visit dem country. When you land there dem treat you like king and queen. And if you wondering why de visa come to you house without applying, is because dem want everybody to go weh suh dem can come in and do wha dem want. De Chinese people already doing wha dem want wid Guyana. Dem ah sell from rope to soap in Guyana. Dem does carry out everything under de sun that cover Guyana. Bai Shan come from China and live wid a Guyanese gyal at Providence. She get a baby and de baby dead two months after. One old lady see dem crying fuh about a whole week. She couldn’t tek it no more. Dem boys hear she go up to baby mother and ask “Girl, why you crying so lang? You don’t know Chinese product don’t last lang?” Talk half and watch all who coming in you country.
owns the car that got into the accident? Was it Sergeant Pyle’s or was it owned by an arm of the State? How come the media is not interested in this fact which may hold clues as to whether the stakeout was an official operation? There are too many unanswered questions. Foreign agencies and countries should now refuse to assist the security and law enforcement agencies until such time as there is a full disclosure as to just what is taking place in Guyana at this time.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo receiving the Guyana Bar Association’s Report from President Christopher Ram The Guyana Bar Association (GBA) has presented its report to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo offering comments and suggestions of the proposed code of conduct for Government officials and Members of Parliament (MPs). The eight-page report was handed over at Public Buildings, Thursday, by the association’s president, Christopher Ram.
The GBA was one of the stakeholders given the Code of Conduct for government officials and MPs, to offer comments and feedback. The Code of Conduct is part of a menu of measures for accountability and proper demeanour by MPs and Government officials. “The bar association congratulates government on this initiative (Code of Conduct)
and stands ready to work with your office as it proceeds to finalise and implement the code,” Ram stated. The GBA hopes that Guyana can be one of the first countries in the region with a proper code of conduct with strong legislative teeth. Prime Minister
Nagamootoo in accepting the report promised to go through it thoroughly with a view of offering his comments and suggestions to the association. “We have put out a code of service to guide officials of the Government in the conduct of themselves in public life as distinct from their private engagements, and also we know that the Integrity Commission Act has a schedule which is called Code of Conduct for which, over many years, I am dismayed has in fact been honoured in the breach… no one has even been investigated for any violation of the code, declaration of their assets of those holding public offices, their spouses, their children of a certain age…” the Prime Minister explained. The coalition government has overtime committed to being scrutinised by all as it believes that it is accountable to the people. The government assures that it will continue to strive to live up to its promise of transparency and accountability in all of its endeavours.
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=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
Two amazing facts in the world in 2015 At the time of writing, there are different results from different polls as to who is in the lead for the Democratic nomination in the US. Senator Bernie Sanders has closed the gap with Hilary Clinton. In the opinion of this columnist, the candidate from the Democrats will win the presidential race. Could it be Bernie Sanders? If he wins, his victory will be as historic as Obama’s. Bernie Sanders is the most leftist oriented candidate to ever enter the American presidential race. Whereas schol-
ars describe Mr. Obama as pure liberal, they classify Mr. Sanders as left liberal, meaning he is closer to radical, ideological issues than Mr. Obama. Mr. Sanders has done the unthinkable in the presidential race – he says that there is a place for socialism in US politics. For someone with that ideological bent to come so close to being one of the two frontrunners for the American presidency tells you what changes the world went through in 2015. But wait! If you think Sanders is leftist, then exam-
ine the politics of the man who won the headship of the opposition party in one of the world’s leading capitalist states - the UK. Jeremy Corbin is the, UK‘s most socialist oriented leader in the British Labour Party’s hierarchy. No one in the Labour Party’s leadership comes close to the socialist thinking of Corbin. Why in two of the most powerful capitalist states, leftist leaders have emerged and are in the forefront of politics in their respective countries? It has to do with chang-
ing times. Maybe Sanders may lose next year. Maybe Corbin will not be the next British Prime Minister, but their rise to prominence shows that the people in advanced industrial societies are turning the backs of capitalist inequalities. It is of phenomenal significance that these two men come so far in countries that ten years ago, people would have rejected what they stood for. I doubt whether the people of the UK and the US want a radical socialist political economy in their homeland but they certainly want a more equitable distribution of their countries’ wealth. If ever the capitalist system stands in the US, Canada and the UK as an unfair system, it was in 2015. As advanced industrial societies get richer, the majority of their citizens are getting poorer and they want a redrafting of the rules governing the distribution of wealth. In Canada, a dye in the wool liberal, Justin Trudeau won the general elections a few months ago There can be no discussion of the world in 2015 without an examination of the Islamic State. The Islamic State
(ISIS) is a threat to the very foundation of civilization. Whereas I believe that slavery and the Third Reich were the two most dangerous evils civilization produced, it can be argued that at no time were these evils look set to topple civilization. ISIS has no explanation in political theory. Maybe in psychology. Who are these people? What genetic material are they made up of? My ideology precludes the acceptance of war but I would make an exception and argue for a global military attack on every ISIS outpost wherever each is located. I believe the major powers of the world, acting in unison and forgetting their differences, should invade Syria, Libya and Iraq and extirpate every cell of ISIS. The Islamic State is the emergence of an inexplicable evil The year 2015 will remain in the memory of countless people for the tremendous loss of lives of humans fleeing the pains of war. It is not the loss in itself but how they died. I saw some images of the recovered bodies and I wished I didn’t. 2015 told the story of mothers clinging to their ba-
Frederick Kissoon bies as the leaky boats took those helpless Syrians to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. Thousands of mothers and babies drowned trying only to find some peace and comfort like the rest of us in the world. When I saw the images of those dead souls on an Italian ship, I think how lucky some nations are in the world including my own country. It is not Syria alone. In Eritrea, Yemen and Somalia, people are fleeing horrendous violence many of whom never made it to safer shores. I don’t know if the world in 2015 was a better place to live in than in 2014 but this I know; once one life is lost because of the desire of that person to seek freedom, then that made the world a less nice place to live in.
Saturday January 16, 2016
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New Gold Board urged to tackle smuggling, boost declarations Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, yesterday inducted the new members of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) charging them to fulfil their mandate to the best of their abilities, for the good of the mining community and the nation. The Board members installed are Joycelyn Williams, an Economist, who will serve as the Chairperson; John Yates, former Banker, as Deputy Chairperson; Lisaveta Ramotar, General Manager, Guyana Gold Board; Joanna Homer, Legal Officer, Ministry of Natural Resources; Theresa Foster, representative from the Bank of Guyana; Michael Somersall, Attorney-at-Law; Andron Alphonso, representative from the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA) and Susan Bullen, Attorney-at-Law. A representative from the Guyana Geology and Mines’ Commission (GGMC) is expected to be added to the lineup. According to the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister Trotman briefed the Board on the activities and developments which have taken place since the new administration took office. The meeting took place in the Ministry’s boardroom. He also highlighted issues that would require immediate intervention, outlining his ex-
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, briefing the new members of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) at the Ministry’s boardroom. pectations for the agency. The Board, the statement said, was asked to focus on combating gold smuggling, increasing production and declarations. The Board was also asked to examine the possibilities of
establishing offices in the mining districts to fulfil this mandate. At the same time, he noted that the Board must work within Government’s policies and regulations. Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Board, Joycelyn Will-
NDIA conducts draft... From page 6 made a significant impact within the past few weeks. To address the issue, the Ministry of Agriculture had set up an El Niño task force October. Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, had pro-
jected that the dry spell would last until the second quarter of 2016. The Minister had stated that there would be a “collaborative effort” to address the issue and that there would be briefings on the situation by the task force.
iams, expressed gratitude to the Minister and Government of Guyana for the confidence reposed in the Board members. She pledged its commitment to ensuring that gold production and declarations are significantly increased. “The Board also pledged to ensure that a stronger relationship is built with the GGMC in order to foster a strong mining sector.” The new Board would
come as Guyana is facing challenges with the gold mining sector. High prices on the world market in the last seven years, which despite falling within the last few, have spurred increased activities. This pushed declarations to new levels with the country targeting around 600,000 ounces this year. However, renewed interest in the gold sector has seen smuggling on the increase. It
is estimated that much more than 400,000 ounces, is being smuggled annually, to Suriname, Brazil, US and Europe. Government has established a task force and the US’ FBI and Department of Homeland Security have been sharing information. Last year, despite a slow start, declarations picked up ending 2015 at 451,000 ounces, some 60,000 ounces more than the previous year.
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National Assembly clears way Nagamootoo to launch 50th Independence for comprehensive law reform The way has been cleared for the Laws of Guyana to be reviewed. This will be done through the work of a Law Reform Commission that is to be set up. At the last sitting of the National Assembly, the government passed the Law Reform Commission Bill 2015. The Bill, according to the explanatory memorandum, “Seeks to establish a Law Reform Commission to undertake the reform and development of all the laws applicable to Guyana.” The Bill which was piloted by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, attracted much debate. It did not receive support from the parliamentary opposition. Williams told the House that the Bill fulfills another promise made by his government, which is to ensure law reform. He described the piece of legislation as a simple one that should not be made controversial. The Attorney General said, however, that the Bill, while simple, is critical as it seeks to update laws and make them modern which is in keeping with international best practices. He said that this Bill is long overdue. In this regard, Williams pointed to the fact that his former colleague, the late Deborah Backer had taken a Motion to the National Assembly back in March 2008. Williams reminded the
celebration in NY today
Attorney General, Basil Williams
Opposition spokesman on Legal matters, Anil Nandlall
House that that Motion was thrown out then as the People’s Progressive Party Civic, which now occupies the benches on the opposition side, was in government enjoying a parliamentary majority. He said that the fact that the essence of that Motion has been reflected in the Bill at hand, shows a genuine and sustained interest in law reform. Williams told the House that there should be no opposition to the establishment of a law reform commission as it is what Guyana needs. Members of the Opposition, including Priya Manickchand and Anil Nandlall, commended Williams for taking the Bill to the National Assembly. However, they condemned the form in
which it was taken. The main concern reflected in the arguments of those who spoke on behalf of the opposition, was that the Bill does not allow for the independence of the commission. The opposition condemned the fact that the Bill directs the President, in consultation with the Attorney General, to appoint members of the commission. Instead of such appointments, the PPP through Nandlall recommended that nominees for commissioners should be made by the Association of Legal professionals, University of Guyana, Private Sector Commission, the religious community, the labour unions, Human Rights group (Continued on page 24)
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, will today launch Guyana’s 50th Independence celebration in New York. The elaborate ceremony will take place at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 15310 Jamaica Ave, Queens, New York 11432. Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport and Chairman of the 50th Independence Commemoration Commission is accompanying the Prime Minister. Queens is home to one of the largest Guyanese communities in the United States. The ceremony will be attended by United States elected officials, CARICOM and other diplomats, sponsors, corporate leaders and the Guyanese Diaspora, a statement from Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee (New York) said yesterday. The star-studded event will feature Guyana’s Miss World 2015 contestant and winner of the Miss World talent contest, singer Lisa Punch; Guyanese singer, Sasha Wintz - British Virgin Islands Miss World 2015 contestant; Vocalist Cherry-Ann Hislop; Soca Artists Adrian Dutchin and Jumo Primo, as well as Chutney singers Gopaul Mangalram and Joyce Urmila Harris. Guyanese-American hip hop Superstars Red Café and Ryan Leslie have also been invited to perform. There will also be performances from the Bethesda Healing Center Dance Ministry, God’s Battalion of Praise Youth Choir, Impressions Dance Theater and classical Indian dancers Nikita Persaud
PM Moses Nagamootoo and Nadia Persaud. Singer, Anthony Alleyne, is slated to sing the US National Anthem while Lenessa Alexander will sing the Guyana National Anthem. Chairman of Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary Committee (New York), Rickford Burke, explained that “the launch will be a harbinger that will set the tone for a spectacular Golden Jubilee Independence celebration from June 4 – 12, 2016 in New York City, to which Guyana’s President David Granger has been invited.” The New York celebration is expected to be the largest celebration outside of Guyana. Burke said that the commemorative events in June will synergistically depict Guyana’s rich and diverse cultures, as well as its journey from independence to contemporary society. “I’m confident that our celebration will capture the hearts and minds of not only Guyanese, but friends and well-wishers of Guyana, imbue Guyanese with an indelible sense of identity and rekindle national pride,” the Committee’s Chairman added.
The June 4 to June 12, 2016 celebration includes an Interfaith Prayer Service, Unity Concert, Symposium, Art Exhibition, Day of Volunteerism, Investment Conference, UN Reception, Flag Raising Ceremony, Cultural Extravaganza, President’s Soccer Tournament and Youth Fun Day, State Dinner and a grand finale Mashramani (Carnival) and parade at which President David Granger has been invited to address the Guyanese-American community. Today’s launch ceremony will be streamed live on the Committee’s website: www. celebrateguyana50thinnyc.comas well as on www. one guyanausa.com. Sponsors of the New York Celebration include Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Fly Jamaica Airways and Caribbean Airlines. Media professionals who wish accreditation to cover this event should register through the Guyana Consulate in New York at 212-9475115 or email: guyana consulate@hotmail.com.
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New USAID project offers Belize importer given option to ship out seized Guyana rice technical assistance to NGOs Belize: Jack Charles, the businessman who imported 75 tonnes of Guyanese Grade A white rice to retail for 69 cents per pound, must get the rice out of Belizean territory before January 26, or lose his investment. That is at least until he can get the phytosanitary certification he needs to import rice into the country. At another closed-door session on Tuesday, Charles, through legal representation, opted to ask for time to arrange for the rice to be shipped out of Belize - a process he had indicated would take a month to do. Charles sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to overrule a decision that Senior Magistrate Sharon Fraser had made last week, to grant the Customs Department permission to destroy the grain. Charles’s attorneys sought for and got the “stay” until Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin could hear his final application. Both sides came to an agreement in closed chambers and in an interview with reporters the following day, Prime Minster Dean Barrow, explained that he, as the Minister of Finance, had given Charles his assurance that there is an easier way to allow him to take the rice out of Belize without any further court proceeding. But Charles, being the one who needs time to prepare his shipment, had to put it in writing. “He was told that he needs to make a formal application to me as the Minister of Finance. Because there is the forfeiture order and unless the Supreme Court was to overturn that order, only the Minister of Finance can give you and opt out. He has agreed to do that…I’ve signaled that I am perfectly prepared to give him the forfeiture override so that he can get the rice out…it is a question of Mr. Charles having to go through the right procedure if he is to have any chance of being able to import rice,” Barrow said. Barrow explained there is no rice war between Belize and Guyana and that Belize’s Deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega, and his ministry’s CEO, Jose Alpuche, were in Guyana meeting with their counterparts. He continued that the Belizean government’s interests lie in the protection of the local rice farmers and the local rice industry. He continued, “Even if no progress is produced there (in Guyana), there are mechanisms under the Treaty [of Chaguaramas] for us to make certain applications in terms of our need to protect the local rice industry.” But under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy
Belize importer, Jack Charles (CSME) agreement, there is nothing to stop Charles from importing rice into Belize, once he goes about it following the proper procedure. CARICOM Secretary General, Irwin LaRocque, pointed out recently that sanitary and phytosanitary certificates cannot be used as a method to block or prevent the trade of goods among CARICOM countries. Charles has maintained all along that he had applied from the Belize Agricultural Health
Authorities (BAHA) for the requisite permit, but had not been granted one, nor was he offered a reason as to why it wasn’t granted. It is expected that Charles, who has racked up steep storage fees and accompanying reshipping fees now, will send the rice off to the Port of Honduras and await the necessary permits from BAHA for a new application he has placed, this time also for an additional shipment of rice from Guyana.
Post-mortem links man to wife’s murder A postmortem on the remains of a woman found last Sunday in a trench at Helena No. Two, Mahaica, showed that she was beaten, and the victim’s husband has now admitted to killing her. When the body of Hafeeza Rahaman, 28, of Supply, Mahaica, was pulled from the trench, even relatives had assumed that she had drowned. She was described as “a troubled woman who drank a lot.” But according to the results of a postmortem, Rahaman died from blunt trauma to the head and drowning. Police were unable to locate the woman’s 22-year-old husband. They were informed that
he had sustained injuries to the head and a woman had taken him to hospital. Police were preparing to issue a wanted bulletin for the husband when they received word that he was at an aunt’s house at Mahaica. He was subsequently arrested. According to the police, the husband alleged that he was towing his spouse on his bicycle when they got into an argument. He claimed that Rahaman jumped off the bicycle and struck him with the bar. He claimed that during a scuffle, he struck her twice on the head and she fell in a trench. He is to be charged shortly.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that have been working to curb the transmission of HIV, are now getting technical assistance through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The assistance and funding place them in a sustainable position, despite the reduction of HIV/AIDS awareness funding. In 2010 the US Embassy had announced the scaling back of the USAID office. The move according to the US government was part of its worldwide strategy, in a tight budgetary environment, to be more efficient in the management of its aid resources. As part of providing technical assistance to the NGOs, Volunteer Youth Corps Inc. (VYC), a non-profit NGO that has been in existence for 19 years, supporting the development of Guyana’s health and social sectors, is currently implementing a threeyear Cooperative agreement through USAID for the project titled ‘Guyana Civil Society Leadership’ (GCSL). The agreement, which commenced on June 12, last, falls under USAID development objective, “Public Health Response to HIV/ AIDS Strengthened”. In 1999, USAID began supporting a core of NGOs involved in HIV/AIDS activities in nine regions of Guyana. These NGOs formed the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) with responsibility for oversight and coordina-
tion, as well as monitoring project results. Over the years, USAID’s support focused on organizational strengthening and technical capacity building, but did not address issues of sustainability and advocacy. Under the funding agreement the GCSL project unit is now tasked with strengthening the NCC network, for greater impact and sustainability of the national HIV response, advocating effectively for critical issues and establishing formal partnerships with the Government of Guyana (GoG), private sector and other local and international agencies in order to promote an enabling environment for NGOs operation in Guyana. Though the NCC has been in existence for over a decade and a half it was never institutionalised. Recently, the NCC which has now been renamed, the National Coordinating Coalition Inc. was registered as a Not for Profit company. The mission of the umbrella civil society organization is to strengthen and sustain the NCC and NGOs responding to health and social issues in Guyana. While, traditionally its members have been working mostly on HIV/AIDS awareness, the NCC mandate has now been expanded to include Sexual Transmitted Infections (STIs), other health which is entail non-communicable diseases and social services. According to the
VYC’s Chief Executive Goldie Scott, the project unit provides technical assistance to the NCC on strengthening its capacities in sustainability, resource mobilisation and advocacy. Recently, the NCC held a Strategic Planning and Resource Mobilisation Workshop which was aimed at engaging its members in drafting the organisation’s first strategic plan. The unit has been engaging key stakeholders including meeting with the Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton and the Director of the National AIDS Programme Secretariat Dr. Shanti Singh. The GCSL project unit is looking to officially launch the project by the end of the first quarter of 2016. Pic saved as USAID group: GCSL Project staff members Leroy Adolphus Policy & Advocacy Officer Guyana Civil Society Leadership Project (USAID) Volunteer Youth Corps Inc., Brian Pertab Resource Mobalization officer, Goldie Scott CEO of VYC and Leeanna Allen the monitoring and evaluation officer during a meeting with Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton (standing second from right).
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Kaieteur News
PROPERTY FOR SALE Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461. Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. Building Construction, house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar Repairs at low cost: Fridges, air- conditioners, washing machines, TVs, microwaves, freezers- Call:629-4946 or 225-4822 Building or renovating for quality construction services from foundation to fine finished. Call Carlos: 592-6829935; 592-223-2695 Repairs & spare, fridge, freezer, A/C, washers, stoves – Contact Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206 Building contractor, drawing of house plan general, home maintenance, free estimateCall: 216-0671; 692-0267; 6928464 Repairs at affordable prices: fridge, air conditioner, washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezerCall: 610-5846 or 661-8158
WANTED Damage batteries in any quantity, best price offeredCall: 696-5728, 656-2783, 6225941, 648-9395, 223-1111 1 Experienced male to look after layer birds in the Interior. Call: 678-0565 1 Experienced cook for a family in the Interior. Call:6780565 One tutor to teach student ‘A’ Level Physics & Pure Maths. Call: 222-2475 or 6216006 We buy land in Parfaite Harmonie, Eccles, Herstelling, Prospect and Farm- Call: 6117223; 604-2207 One live in or live out maid, assistant salesgirl- Tel: 6035416, 644-9802 Security to work in the Interior, must have past military/police experienced, ages 40-50. Call: 226-9768; 615-6172 Job work to wash a residential property & trim trees in G-Town. Call: Neville Osman 624-1737 /613-7803 (9:00am - 4:00pm.)
Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street Bourda-Call: 227-6817; 6247341 House for sale with 3 bedrooms upper & bottom flat, @ Lot 153 Green Acres, Stadium Road- Call: 681-7366 Hutson Ville E.B.D Bungalow- 3 bedrooms (1 self contained) A/C, hot & cold water, secured-$16M negotiable .Call: 622-3736; 697-4131 2 Storey 45x35 concrete property, lower flat incomplete. Land 65x120 @ Diamond N/S 5th Avenue, E.B.D- Call: 664-5052
Urgently needed one complete house to rent in Parfaite Harmonie. Call: 6042207; 611-7223 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665
One experienced domestic to work at resident –Call: 6970157 Taxi drivers and contract car (dispatcher) salary paid for drivers. Call: 231-0316
SALON - Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals and Black Opal - Cosmetology Courses - Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257 Earn a Certificate in cosmetology, nails, wig designs & hair cutting etc. Classes commencing February! Register Now! Call: 666-5241; 619-7603
Harmony Inn Apartments: accommodation, internet, hot & cold water, 24hrs tea/ coffee, $5,000-$10,000 –Call: 668-0306; 218-1400; 694-7817
DRESSMAKING Turn your flair for fashion into an exciting career or hobby. Clas s e s s t a r t i n g January –Call: 626-2629; 676-6312
Cook/baker and truck driver for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020 Urgent: Cleaner & kitchen helper (dayshift) required at Aagman Indian Restaurant. Apply at aagmanrestaurant@gmail.com or call: 219-0158 Driver/Salesman- Five CXC and license for a lorry. Telephone 624-0092 email info@fernandesgy.com
LAND FOR SALE Land at La Grange –Call: 6619111 Parfaite Harmonie -$ 1.6M, 1.8M, $1.5M, 1.3M, Tuschen 11 street -$3M with foundation, Phase 2 – $1.4M, Uitvlugt $3M, Terms available – Call: 604-6724 We are buying lands –Call: 639-8474 or 604-4945 K&R Realty
BARTENDERS & WAITRESS, APPLY IN PERSON TO MIDTOWN HOTEL, RESTAURANT & BAR @ 176 MIDDLE STREET G/TOWN Maid, babysitter, salesgirls. Apply in person at R. Sookraj & Sons, Regent Street. 1 Experienced barman & chief cook –Call or text Sheik on: 621-9759 or Donald: 673462
2-Storey building for sale at Herstelling E.B.D –Call: 2271309; 665-6298
Labourers & Porters, apply in person to Alabama Trading, Georgetown Ferry Stelling.
Property @ 650 Section ‘A’ Block Great Diamond East Bank Demerara. Call: 2254792; 609-1114
22 Acres@ Silver Hill, 5 minutes from Highway, land cleared and planted, good for mix farming. Call: 689-0003
Network technician to install outdoor internet wireless antennas. Email CV to jobs@awngy.com
CAR RENTAL
House lot for sale, located at 246 Mon Repos, E.C.D. Foundation and columns completed-Call: 233-2486 House lot 50X100, for sale in Gated Community, Land of Canaan -$4M negotiable-Call: 694-7817; 668-0306
DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM
50X100 houselot at Uitvlugt, De Groot Housing Scheme W.C.D, price $3M negotiableCall: 698-8617 Residential: Ramsville Court, Cove and John 50’X100’ corner, quiet neighbourhood. Call: 2267585
Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494
TOURS Suriname tour (return): Mashramani weekend February 20 th -23 rd 2016. Shopping, site seeing and more. Call: 639-2663; 665-5171
1 HR Personnel: 3-4 years experienced in Human Resource & Project Management, age 26-35yrsCall: 668-7104 1 Male engineer: Vocabulary, Comprehension & Literacy, Grade 1-3 in CXC English age 26-36yrs. Call: 668-7104; 6149511 One Trainee A.C, Refrigerator, Technician – Call: 231-0655 1 Sales representative,3 office assistant & 2 bag packers. Send application & passport picture size to Survival, 173 St C/Ville Accounts clerk: experienced in QuickBooks, accounting software, VAT, NIS & PAYE, @ Technical Services, 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles.
Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 EDUCATIONAL Practical Electronic Course beginning 26 th January. Register early! Call: 226-6551; 225-0391
ACCOMMODATION
VACANCY Exist for supervisors, cashiers, counter staff, cleaners. Bring application to Hot & Spicy. Call: 226-9000
Prime corner lot @ Main Road (85ftX50ft) -$1.3M, Pafarfaite Harmonie - suitable for church-Call: 611-7223; 604-2207
Female domestic to work in Trinidad, must be educated & know to cook. Between 25-35 years. Call/ text 1868-6831528
CHICKEN FARM WORKER NEEDED IN TRINIDAD, FREE HOUSING, SALARY TT$1000 WEEKLY. CALL KELVIN: 868-287-4454 / 868-647-3785 / 718-6411252 FOR SALE/RENT Property for sale & 1 apartment to rent @ 1 Church Street Friendship, E.B.D-Cal: 661-8700
3 Bedrooms concrete house 22feetX48feet, land 50X90feet @ Vision Garden, Versailes, W.B.D – $11M negotiable. Call: 609-1367; 658-5803
Saturday January 16, 2016
Private customs brokerage, training certificate course from 2nd Feb 2016, register now & save –Call: 694-8322; 223-1506 TAXI SERVICES GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: 219-5000; 227-1982 & 2257878 (24HRS)
1 Female cleaner apply Technical Services, Lot 18-23 Eccles Industrial Site E.B.D Sales Assistant/Truck Porter Contact Fernandes Guyana Enterprise Inc. telephone 6240092 email info@fernandesgy.com LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 D’Aguiar’s Park: original house in gated community, unfurnished -$120,000 negotiable. Call: 600-2031 1-3 Bedrooms upper flat @ Section ‘A’ Diamond, H/ Scheme E.B.D, fully grilled & concrete fence with parking space- Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 One 3 bedrooms, bottom flat at Lot 28 Church Street Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara, with parking-Call: (592)698-5185; (592)672-2591 Self contained rooms in Prashad Nagar, Wi-Fi available. Call: 227-2993; 6593865 Office Space at Camp Street –Call Naz: 639-4499 House in Bel-Air Park: 3 bedrooms upstairs/ downstairs, all modern conveniences - $1600US monthly-Call: 231-7839 during working hours 4 Bedrooms house in Bel-Air Gardens; all modern conveniences; no agents!Call: 231-7839 during working hours Vehicles for rental, cars etc, long term only-Contact Ray’s Motor Spares & Auto Sales on: 231-7839 SD Real Estate: executive 2 bedrooms Apartment, in exclusive residential area with all modern amenities. Call for appointment Tele 653-2920 Fully furnished apartment with A/C, Wi-Fi @ Festival City North Ruimveldt, price $120,000 monthly-Call: 6680306; 694-7817 Upstairs: 2 bedroom apartment @ 306 BB Eccles $65,000, 2 Bedrooms apartment $35,000 @ 306 BB Eccles- Call: 233-2607; 6181225; 618-1557 One exclusive three bedrooms apartment @ First Bridge Diamond -$80,000Call: 225-5533 Lodge apartments (Vlisssengen/Durban): unfurnished $40,000-$90,000 monthly, furnished (for visitors) USD$600USD$1,000 monthly- Call: 677-9638 Lodge (Vlissengen/ Durban): Professional/Office/ Business space, (no food retailing). Call: 677-9638. TO LET 1- Two bedroom fully furnished apartment for overseas rental-Call: 682-9021 Continued on page 23
Saturday January 16, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
Should this man be elected? From page 4 spliff, or a seed from the plant”. Why can’t a faculty from U.G, in collaboration with I.A.S.T, conduct an extensive research for medicinal purposes? “Woe be unto the pastors that leads my sheep astray” That pastor Jeffrey, in his infinite wisdom and tunnel vision fails to offer a practicable solution to the affected victims, through counseling and prayers. Within his church, does it offer counseling to persons afflicted by trauma, shock, rape, torture and heinous crime? What of youth interaction, for the unfortunate in parental abuse, single parenthood and sexual molestation? Where is Pastor Jeffrey’s church located? Is it an affiliate of the Guyana Council of Churches, if the body is still active? Are his views expressed as expressed by him reflective of the church’s collective will or his personally? With no circumstantial or supportive evidence to substantiate his claims of the “murder rate” being interlocked in ganga usage (misconception), since there is a significant difference between God’s creation, “marijuanna” and manufactured cocaine, through chemicalization. Apart, from an apology forthcoming, a
timely reminder “open confession is good for the soul” With the two, marijuana and cocaine offering no similarity, or can they be equated. In the final analysis, Pastor Jeffrey’s letter, apart from being misguided, misinformed and riddled with inaccuracies, is a clear indication of suppression, albeit “contrite to the spirit, said the lord” in accordance with Pope Francis; “some of the worst deeds in the world were done in God’s name”. Is Pastor Jeffrey’s publication of his letter to be considered by Guyanese? Since the scourge of suicide, which makes our native land, as having one of the highest rates in the world, is Jeffrey overlooking this? Is Pastor Jeffrey a graduate in theology? In choosing the lesser of the two evils would the aspiring councilor, if approved endorse ‘repealing the draconian sentencing or same sex marriage? While for a spliff/joint, three years is meted out. In actuality, is the purported “man of God” suggesting an unjust and wicked system, defying godliness? So too is the unfairness, within the judicial system, that enables an individual to secure bail for possession of 150 kilograms of cocaine. Lester Sealey.
Ten points on saving Guysuco From page 4 by-products as base materials for producing other saleable commodities. The possible restructuring of GuySuCo should be a well-thought-out, consultative process that seeks to draw from successful international agro-industry models which feature a high level of public-private partnership. Developing a suitable industry model for such an approach can be informed by examining the practices of existing, state-operated agricultural entities such as the MahaicaMahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and its predecessors, and from reviewing how agricultural cooperatives such as those found in Maharashtra (India) and Florida operate. The local entities in the rice industry have worked well to facilitate increasing rice production over the past thirty-odd years, while not being direct players. These entities are largely service-providers that facilitated an ongoing interactive process by which ideas,
concerns and best practices emanating from entrepreneurs in the rice industry are fieldtested and if found feasible, extended to other parts of the industry. The outcome has mostly been one that allowed for a rapid, industrywide uptake of cost-cutting innovations, and improved productivity, production, profitability, and product range and quality. Growers’ cooperatives are not altogether new to Guyana, even though those that were formed have not had much success. Nevertheless, the fact that cooperatives have thrived in both developed and developing countries gives hope for a renewed attempt here in Guyana. It therefore means that the sugar industry model which can emerge will show a central entity that exercises a combination of production, oversight and service-oriented functions. The foregoing suggestions, in my opinion reinforce the notion that limited privatisation of the sugar industry can be more beneficial than either maintaining the status quo, or going fully privatised. Khemraj Tulsie
The need to understand...
From page 5 young people from joining their ranks. A Coroner is a special magistrate who inquires into unnatural death. The Coroner’s Court is like any other magisterial court, and all decisions of the Coroner could lead to criminal proceedings. The Government of the period was not interested in the requests of the Consumers’ Association, and repeated requests falling on deaf ears caused the Association to desist from further talk on the need for Coroner Inquests. Yet the suicides continued unabated. The statistics grant Guyana the privilege of being a country with the highest suicide rate per capita on the planet. Greenwich Park on the East Bank Essequibo (approx. 10 miles before the Parika stelling) has the blighted honour, except that I am misinformed, to be the place of
residence where at least one person dies by suicide each year. There is also evidence of double suicide occurring there. An effort has to be made by all and sundry to come to terms with the need for a Coroner’s Inquest into each and every death caused by
unnatural causes, so that the reason for the suicide may be honourably explained, with dignity. What the Inquest in a suicidal death will reveal, will astound society as to how little needed to be done to save a young person’s life. Hafiz Rahman
From page 22 FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754. 33.6 Acres farm land @ Kuru Kururu, Linden, Soedyke, Highway-Call: 679-1151; 2257794 Pressure washers 2800 6 inches bench grinders, plate joiners, tools kits, reciprocating saws, router angle grinder- Call: 655-3741 AMERICAN BULLY DOGS, REMYLINE & GOTTILINECONTACT HARRY: 6100068/220-7933, WHATSAPP: 667-4845 Wholesale & Retail quantity of all types of belts –Call: 670-2343
VEHICLE FOR SALE 1 Toyota IST, PLL series, alarm, rims, etc. Price $1.350M negotiable –Call: 666-2027, 673-7652 Toyota Fortuner 2012 yearCall: 624-6702 Venus Auto Sale New Year Sale! Unregistered 2004 Toyota Premio- $2.250MCall: 624-5617 One Toyota new model Avensis, fully loaded and in excellent condition. Call: 6153595; 264-2870
2 Complete 6" land dredge with 320 DL CAT excavator 2900hrs, everything needed for mining included. Call owner: 621-1404; 667-1967
STAR CARS AUTO SALE: 30-06 PREMIO, 03-07 FIELDER, NEWRAUM, IST, BLUEBIRD, AXELA, PITBULL. CALL: 679-3140; 268-3509
ADORABLE PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 6004212
One Accent Hyundai $225,000.Call: 695-1744
Crazy Deals: Dell/HP desktop & laptop computers from $49,000, free games & educational programs @ FutureTech: 231-2206
BMW 318i- $2.9M, BMW 320i- $4M, Audi A4- $4M, Suzuki Escudo- $4M, new model Premio- $3MContact# 650-0402/260-4988
1,500 lb snapper seine in excellent condition. Call: 6570044
Honda CRV, PJJ series GYD$1M –Call: 231-5080; 641-4704; 613-7091
Lots @ Blankenburg behind the gas station- $3.9M- Call Us Today: 650-0402 Chicago Multi- Function tool -$12,000,Dell Precision M60 laptop -$20,000 , e-machine desktop, PC -$40,000 –Call: 621-9604; 694-1748 Household items: wall dividers with wares, plus many more items, owner migrating-Call: 688-5446 ask for Allison. DJ Stereo equipment: power amps, juggler system, compressor, cross over, equalizer, woofers and hornsCall Anil: 698-4965 1-300 tons Japanese made cargo ship and reusable marine steel plates: ¼” 3/8"Call: 688-7256 Combines: 7300 John Deere (2000 hours), Fiatagri L413 (2500 hours), Laverda 132 & Tractors: Massey 399, Fiat 110/90, Ford 6610-Call: 6859878; 338-4354
TO LET Modernized 2 bedroom apartment on W.C.D (Vreeden-Hoop, safe and healthy environment – Call: 698-6496 Fully furnished luxury apartment: 3 bedrooms for rent- Call: 603-6351 3 Bedrooms upper flat for rent at Vreed-en- Hoop –Call: 6610162
Pit-bull pups for sale, 3 months old, already vaccinated, price reasonableCall: 625-0356
1 Honda CRV, PLL 9565, (female driven) excellent condition (replacement by goods vehicle) – price $1.590M negotiable – Call: 623-6854 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 Fantasy Auto Sales: Xtrail 2008, Mitsubishi RVR 2010, Audi A4, preordered vehicles & get $100,000 discount. Call: 611-1833 One Toyota Fielder in excellent condition, AC, Remote, start alarm, TV, deck-$1.6M. Call: 611-6632; 664-3488 O n e To y o t a M a r k 2 Grande for sale. PKK series, excellent condition, price $1.5M negotiable. Call: 601-4163 New model Premio 2007 model $3.1M negotiable. Pre-order Allion, Premio, Bluebird 2006 model- Call: 655-3400 2005 Silver Audi (A4) black leather interior, owner leaving country, great priceCall: 231-1762; 642-2713 2008 Fielder- fully loaded vehicle, never registered $2.5M- Call: 617-2891 Manual and automatic super GL pit-bull buses & VVTI buses, extra cab Hilux with 1 RZ engine-Call: 6167635
Newly renovated 2nd floor apartment in Eccles, fully furnished 3 bedrooms, private entrance & parking space- Call: 687-2180; 2333925
Noah & Voxy in ‘G’ series, fully loaded, never registered -$1.7M - Call: 617-2891
Business place located on Robb Street next to Bourda Market. Call: 623-7731; 6290636
2- New model Toyota Tacoma, crash bar, step, alarm, bed covering, mag rim-Call: 695-6461; 639-7758 Toyota Ipsum, fully loaded, music system – 5,800 watt, excellent condition – Call: 653-1003
Computer games for sale, wholesale and retail, largest selection-Call: 675-2239 Stalls 64-72 (47feet long x 7 feet wide) @ La Penitence Market Albouystown. Call: 663-1597; 218-4837
VEHICLE FOR SALE
MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heavens touch, visit us today! –Call: 690-6079 Massage therapy serviceCall: 674-8147
1 Toyota Hilux Surf, 3RZ engine, alarm /rims, price $2.850 negotiable. Call: 6662027; 673-7652 One Toyota ISIS, 7 seats, alarm, chrome rims, DVD, rev. camera, price -$3.2M negotiable- Call: 666-2027; 673-7652
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Saturday January 16, 2016
Durban Park to become Roraima Airways major public venue secures AMO Certificate History was created on Wednesday when Ms. Chaitrani Heeralall, Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) presented Roraima Airways with the Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) certificate. This certificate means that Roraima’s Ogle operations new maintenance department has the capacity and has met the standards and criteria to conduct its own aircraft maintenance and provide the same services to other operators. Director General, Chaitrani Heeralall, congratulated the management of Roraima on the achievement which she said, shows growth in the aviation community in Guyana. She further expressed that with this new development the aviation sector has changed for the good and development of Guyana. During the presentation, Mr. Krishnanand Ramlachana, Airworthiness Inspector, attached to the (GCAA), explained that the role
President Granger and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon look over the plans for Durban Park during a visit to the site. At far left is Project Manager, Larry London and Ministerial Advisor, Diaspora Affairs, Basil Blackman.
Work in Progress at Durban Park President David Granger and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, yesterday afternoon made a brief stop at Durban Park, behind the 1763 Monument, where work is ongoing to transform the area into a multipurpose recreational facility. The park is being developed mainly for the benefit of South Georgetown residents but is expected to have the
capacity to accommodate major national events. President Granger used the opportunity to look over plans and discuss the progress of work with Project Manager, Larry London. The President said that he looks forward to Durban Park, which will be equipped with an all-weather surface in some areas and flood lights, becoming a major public
venue. London added that the first phase of work will be completed within five weeks but there will be a second phase, which will continue until mid-year. He said also that the venue, which will have a 30,000 capacity; both seated and un-seated, will be able to accommodate literary events, concerts, sporting activities and major public events.
of the organization is to provide maintenance to optimal standards. He further stressed the importance of Roraima’s new Maintenance Division to maintain the same level of safety and performance that was demonstrated during the evaluation period to acquire AMO level. Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Airway’s Inc., Captain Gerry Gouveia, expressed his gratitude to the GCAA for their due diligence in ensuring that Roraima met the standards and requirements. He also reiterated his commitment to the empowering his maintenance personnel to act and conduct their maintenance as is required under the AMO specifications. In the past, Roraima Airways out sourced its aircraft maintenance. However with its new maintenance division been certified with the AMO certificate, out sourcing is now a thing of the pass.
Three more charged for murder... From page 19 contacted and asked to hide the victim's property. She was reportedly assisted by her mother, Henry. On January 8, Bernard's decomposed body was found in a shallow grave at Nurney, Corentyne, Berbice, by CID ranks from Georgetown and Berbice. They were acting on an anonymous phone call. The victim was found fully clothed and maimed. A 'Post Mortem' revealed that he had sustained a fractured skull, as well as a broken neck. In the ensuing investigations, British law enforcement collaborated with local police and resulted in Thomas, Henry and Sinclair being arrested and the property of the deceased recovered. According to reports, Bernard had arrived in Guyana on October 14, last, for a threeweek vacation with his god brother, Aaron Hing. He was scheduled to fly back to England on November 5, 2015, but failed to do so. It was reported that his father, Andrew Bernard. con-
tacted his godson (Hing) about his son's whereabouts after the latter did not return home. However, Hing reportedly told his godfather that he was unaware that the teen was coming to Guyana. This raised suspicions and the elder Bernard flew to Guyana to locate his eldest child. Attorney-at-law, Ramesh Ramcharran is representing Thomas and Henry while Nigel Hughes is representing Sinclair. The lawyer stated that due to the particulars of the charges which alleged that Thomas, Henry and Sinclair plotted the murder and hid evidence of the crime, they should have been charged
with conspiracy to commit murder and the obstruction of justice. Hughes indefinitely questioned the reason for all five individuals to be charged for murder. After Sinclair was arrested, he subsequently took police ranks to an area behind the Nurney Village and directed them to the exact location where he hid Bernard's camera and its components. Sinclair later disclosed that payment was promised to conceal the belongings of the deceased, the evening of the murder. Also in the wake of the recovery of Bernard's cell phone a number of other persons are in custody and investigations are still ongoing.
National Assembly clears way for comprehensive... From page 12 and the political opposition. Nandlall said that since 1950 there has been allowance for the participatory democracy and the inclusion of representatives from stakeholder organization. Williams and the rest of Members of Parliament sitting on the government’s side did not find these arguments compelling and so did not move to amend those sections. However, the Bill was
amended. Williams had his own amendments which did not include any of the contributions made by opposition members. The Bill was examined clause by clause in committee stage before passage in the National Assembly. When the vote was called, the PPP voted against the Bill as well as against the amendments proposed by Williams. But the one seat majority allowed for the safe passage of the Bill.
Saturday January 16, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Guyana gets worrying ratings from Int’l Aviation Safety Regulator …new Board urged to reverse situation By Leonard Gildarie A key report of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has rated Guyana poorly when it comes to the implementation of key safety oversight. Yesterday, a new Board of Directors for the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) was urged to correct the situation. ICAO is the international regulator charged with ensuring aviation safety. It would regularly carry out inspections in member countries to ensure recommendations are being implemented. The disclosures were made yesterday in the boardroom of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Kingston, when Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson met with the new Board which will be chaired by former army pilot, Lawrence ‘Larry’ London. The shocking disclosures of the ratings would come as a surprise as aviation authorities have been assuring of improving safety
practices when it comes to the industry. Guyana is currently spending US$150M to modernize the CJIA terminal building with the intentions to see more flights from destinations other than the US. Failure to implement recommendations from ICAO could have implications with flight destinations if Guyana is found wanting. According to Minister Ferguson, yesterday, when her Government took office in May last year, GCAA was found deficient in complying with ICAO’s standards and recommended practices. “Guyana’s level of effective implementation is currently 44.21% with regard to eight critical elements of safety oversight as established by ICAO…with your help it will be fixed,” Minister Ferguson charged. She said that the new Board is expected to oversee the process of transforming and modernising the sector to attain global s t a n d a r d s. Ferguson said that the vi-
sion is to see the Civil Aviation system modernised and changed to match global standards. She has committed herself and the government to work closely with the Board, ICAO and other stakeholders to increase Guyana’s effective implementation to at least 60 percent. “This in my view is a key pre-requisite for the sustainable development of aviation, and to aid Guyana’s efforts in reaching benchmarked timelines established in ICAO’s global aviation safety plan and global air navigation plan,” she said. The Ministry insisted that the Board has its work cut out. Among other things, the Board will have to provide effective leadership and guidance to t h e a u t h o r i t y ; transform the GCAA into a high performance organization. She made it clear that it cannot be business as usual and a proactive Board is what is required. The ICAO has been pushing the ‘no country left behind’ initiative which means
Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson with the new Board members of GCAA. Fifth from right is Chairman, Lawrence ‘Larry’ London. that significant work has to be done in the sector with regard to the implementation of its recommendations. Minister Patterson said that there is a tremendous opportunity available in the aviation sector, especially with the upcoming 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations in May. According to the new Chairman, he expects the Board to work as a team to remove processes. Further,
in noting the amount of work that has to be done, he said there is no time to spare. “When we meet early next week, we will chart a course and set out a work plan so that what you’ve charged us to do will be done,” London said. Chitrani Heeralall, Director General (Ag) of the GCAA disclosed that the newly appointed members have a wealth of experience in the
aviation sector. In addition to London and Heeralall, the other Board members are Hugh De n b o w, S a d i e A m i n , Rodwell Astil Paul, Duke Pollard, Col. Cargill Kyte and Ramesh Ghir (Chief Executive Officer of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport). The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Balraj Balram, is the ex-Officio member of the Board.
Shape up or face shake up, Minister Trotman tells GGMC -Gov’t to facilitate small miners’ access to high yielding land By Jarryl Bryan Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, has made it clear that there are too many complaints from mining operators. This year, should there be no improvement in the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), another management shakeup is imminent, he said. This was communicated during the small scale miners’ forum at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre yesterday. It was a reference to last month, when GGMC Commissioner, Rickford Vieira was sent on leave. In addition, the board came to an end on December 31 and Chairman of the board, Clinton Williams, has since been replaced by Stanley Ming. Trotman stated that the sheer volume of complaints calls into question the efficiency of the commission and was symptomatic of the broken regulatory system miners have to endure. He also decried the numerous reports of malpractice and “strange things” that
have been ongoing at GGMC. While many believe that the Minister has to personally deal with the concerns of miners within the industry, GGMC in fact has a mandate to deal with many of these concerns, he said. He also noted that a Minister stepping in can constitute interference, but is necessary at times. “Because the system is so broken, people believe that it is only at the level of the Minister or the President that they can get redress,” Trotman stated. “That has to change. When a Minister is appointed, that Minister has to ensure that (whatever) policy decisions taken by Cabinet are implemented.” “But when a person goes to the GGMC and cannot get redress, it bottles up in them and it comes to the point where they want to explode. It shouldn’t have to be the Minister to have to ensure a miner gets redress; that’s the Commission’s job. But because the system is so broken, we have had no choice.”
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman
GGMC Commissioner (acting) Newell Dennison
The Minister said that when he has to deal with these matters personally, something the GGMC ought to cover, the enforcement of policy decisions is stymied in the Ministry. The Minister issued a stern warning to GGMC to get its act together. “We have to fix the broken system, where the agencies (are concerned). Late last year we did a wash down (at GGMC’s management level),” the Minister said. “And this year we are prepared to do another wash down. (There
are reports of) all kinds of mal practice and strange things happening (at GGMC).” For his part, acting GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison noted that mining is a process and that while speculation might be rife about who committed whatever acts of injustice against a miner, the commission has to work with the facts. In addition, Dennison took pains to say that GGMC was not the police or the military. Trotman also revealed that he has instructed the
Closed Areas Committee to work with the Commission in identifying and allowing small miners more access to land with large gold deposits, in a matter of months. Small scale miners have complained for years that while they have got land that was already “overworked”, influential large scale miners have got prime virgin land. Miners have leveled these allegations against GGMC. Last year revelations were also leveled against Williams of engaging in the practice. It was alleged that Williams, as Chairman of the Board, used his authority to help his friend, Ivor English, acquire eight blocks of min-
ing lands in 2014. Days before general elections in May, Williams was granted control of those mining lands via an “Irrevocable Power of Attorney” (POA). GGMC is already under fire for its management of the country’s mining sector. Reports had pointed fingers at possible wrongdoing, staff shortages and discrimination with miners and lands. Miners themselves have been complaining about GGMC’s monitoring of the mining camps. Williams had ordered an investigation and led a vote of no confidence against the GGMC Commissioner, Rickford Vieira, and others.
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Saturday January 16, 2016
Dozens feared exposed as Sierra Leone confirms new Ebola death
A corpse has tested positive for the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone, a day after world health officials declared West Africa free of the disease. A woman who died of Ebola this week in Sierra Leone potentially exposed dozens of other people to the disease, according to an aid agency report yesterday, raising the risk of more cases just as the deadliest outbreak on record appeared to be ending. Just a day earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared that “all known chains of transmission have been stopped in West Africa” after Liberia joined Sierra Leone and Guinea in going six weeks with no reported new cases. The three countries had borne the brunt of a two-year epidemic that killed more than 11,300 people. The WHO warned of the potential for more flare-ups, as survivors can carry the virus for months. But the new case in Sierra Leone is especially disquieting because authorities failed to follow basic health protocols, according to the report seen by Reuters. Compiled by a humanitarian agency that asked not to be named, the document said the victim, Mariatu Jalloh, had come into contact with at least 27 people, including 22 in the house where she died and five who were involved in washing her corpse. But its account suggested others could also be at risk. Jalloh, 22, began showing symptoms at the beginning of the year, though the exact date is unknown, the report states. A student in Port Loko, the largest town in Sierra Leone’s Northern Province, she traveled to Bamoi Luma near the border with Guinea in late December. Sierra Leone’s northern border area, a maze of waterways, was one of the country’s last Ebola hot spots before it was declared Ebola-free on Nov. 7, and contact tracing was sometimes bedeviled by access
problems. By the time she traveled back to her parents’ home in Tonkolili district, east of the capital Freetown, using three different taxis, Jalloh had diarrhea and was vomiting, the report said. She sought treatment at the local Magburaka Government Hospital on Jan. 8 where a health worker, who did not wear protective clothing, took a blood sample. It was not immediately clear whether the sample was tested for Ebola. She was treated as an outpatient and returned home, where she died on Jan. 12. Health workers took a swab test of Jalloh’s body following her death, which tested positive for Ebola. “The sample was tested for the first time on Thursday morning – around the same time as the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak over”, said Tim Brooks of Public Health England, the British agency that tested the sample at its lab in Sierra Leone. PUBLICANGER The missed diagnosis has led to anger in some quarters. Dozens of young people gathered outside the hospital yesterday in a noisy demonstration, some holding placards accusing the health department of negligence. “We are demonstrating because we want the authorities to explain to us why the woman was discharged and allowed to go home, where she died, and her corpse was given to her family to bury. We are now concerned that some family members may have been infected,” said local youth leader Mahmud Tarawally. Asked about apparent errors in handling the case, Sierra Leone health ministry spokesman Sidi Yahya Tunis said that the patient had been tested for the virus and had received treatment in a government hospital. He did not
give further details. Information campaigns calling upon residents of Ebola-affected countries to respect government health directives have been largely credited with turning the tide of the epidemic. However, safety measures, particularly a ban on traditional burial ceremonies, have faced stiff resistance at times. The report stated that five people who were not part of Jalloh’s parents’ household were involved in washing her corpse, a practice that is considered one of the chief modes of Ebola transmission. Almost all the victims of the regional epidemic, which originated in the forests of Guinea in 2013, were in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. As of Thursday’s WHO announcement that Liberia had gone 42 days with no new cases, all three nations were apparently Ebola-free. But Liberia had twice been given the all-clear last year, only for a fresh cluster of cases to emerge. And the case in Sierra Leone adds further uncertainty. “It is really important that people don’t understand this 42-day announcement as the sign that we should all just pack up and go home,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said yesterday. “We should stay there and be ready to respond to these possible cases.” Ben Neuman, an Ebola expert and lecturer in virology at Britain’s University of Reading, said: “A hospital in Sierra Leone completely misdiagnosing a case of Ebola, apparently without sending a sample to one of the many testing labs that are being kept open for just this reason is ridiculous - completely unacceptable.” He said Ebola was hard to distinguish from many other diseases that cause pain, fever, diarrhea and vomiting.
Saturday January 16, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Saturday January 16, 2016
Police Welfare boss wants top cop job Trinidad Guardian - President of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association Inspector Anand Ramesar will be applying for the post of police commissioner. Ramesar, in an interview Thursday, welcomed the new process for the appointment of a police commissioner and deputy commissioner but maintained the process must be transparent and in keeping with international best practices. Under the new process the Police Service Commission would have to contract a local firm under the Central Tenders Board Act to conduct the recruitment process, which includes inviting applications for the posts. This is according to the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner (Selection Process) Order 2015, which was tabled in Parliament on Monday by National Security Minister Edmund Dillon.
Anand Ramesar Ramesar said the process was recently raised at the association’s central committee and general council meetings. He said the membership was in support of the Government’s decision to secure a local firm to carry out the selection process. “We also support the de-
cision of the Government in relation to limiting the candidates to be a national of T&T. “We will be watching very closely to ensure the selection is not being carried out by a fly-by-night organisation or an organisation for all intents and purposes would appear to have been set up over the last couple of months then we see its services are being secured to carry out the selection,” Ramesar said. He urged that the firm carrying out the process must be experienced and have a strong reputation and backed by appropriate professionals to carry out the task, adding that anything short of that would raise serious concerns for the Police Service. On the vast difference with the new proposal, Ramesar said the issue relating to the reduction of years was an initiative welcomed by the association, adding that this paved the way for more members to apply.
Saturday January 16, 2016
Kaieteur News
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Amir claims wicket on return as Pakistan triumph (Reuters) Paceman Mohammad Amir claimed a wicket on his return to international cricket following a five-year ban as Pakistan registered a 16-run victory over New Zealand in the first Twenty20 International in Auckland on Friday. Playing his first match for Pakistan after being banned for taking payments to bowl no-balls, the 23-year-old toiled without much luck before claiming a wicket off his final delivery to finish with figures of 1-31. Home skipper Kane Williamson (70) and Colin Munro (56) had seemingly set New Zealand on course to reach the 172-run victory target before their chase stalled and the hosts were dismissed for 155 in exactly 20 overs. After being asked to bat, former captain Mohammad Hafeez (61) helped the tourists overcome a slow start,
hitting Trent Boult for backto-back fours and clobbering Corey Anderson for two boundaries and a six in the same over. Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi (23) hit two sixes and a couple of fours in the same Matt Henry over in a typically busy eight-ball knock, while Umar Akmal (24) chipped in with a 14-ball cameo to help Pakistan put up a competitive 171-8 total. Amir received visa clearance for New Zealand only last week and appeared nervous with the new ball in his hand, starting with a wide and soon opting for a change of ends. However, he came close to claiming a wicket in his second over but Afridi spilt a simple catch to reprieve Williamson, then on five. Batting at the other end, Munro decided to counterattack, belting three sixes and a four off the last four deliveries of Umar Gul’s second
over en route to a 25-ball fifty. Pakistan regained control of the contest when Wahab Riaz (3-34) ended Munro’s eventful knock before Afrid dismissed Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi in the same over to jolt the hosts. Amir endured a second slice of misfortune when Sohaib Maqsood dropped debutant Todd Astle off his bowling before he finally tasted success in the penultimate over, this time Afridi making no mistake in taking the catch to account for Henry. Hamilton hosts the second of three Twenty20 Internationals between the sides on Sunday before they embark on a three-match oneday international series. Scores: Pakistan 171 for 8 (Hafeez 61, Milne 4-37) beat New Zealand 155 (Williamson 70, Munro 56) by 16 runs.
Mohammad Hafeez plays a pull, New Zealand v Pakistan, 1st T20I, Auckland, January 15, 2016 ©Getty Images
Port Mourant Jaguars devour... Saturday January 16, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Your lack of responsibility and attention has been a key issue in your relationship. You can enjoy social events and meet new potential mates; however, avoid being lavish.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You can make extra cash if you act on a hunch. Do not jump to conclusions concerning your romantic partner. Opportunities for advancement at work are apparent.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Confusion regarding other people's money and joint ventures will come to a head. Travel for business or pleasure will be enlightening. Don't try to hide your true feelings from your mate.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You may want to make drastic changes concerning your personal partner. It's time to consider putting money into long-term investments. Opportunities to make advancements through good business sense are evident.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Catch up on overdue paperwork. Hard work will bring rewards. Don't let your mate talk you into going somewhere you'd rather not go.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Don't take offense at comments made by coworkers. Don't overindulge in anyway. Travel will be favorable.
CANCER (June 21–July 22) Take time to deal with the concerns of children. Don't take your frustrations out on loved ones. Don't get intimately involved with a coworker.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Opportunities to go out with clients or colleagues will be in your best interest. Relationships will form if you get out and do things that you enjoy.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Don't fall into the trap. Travel will also be very informative. Travel opportunities must be taken advantage of.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) You can make extra cash by moonlighting. You have two choices; Get out on your own, or bend to your mate's whims.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) You can bet that you'll draw attention to yourself. Insincere gestures of friendliness are likely to occur. Don't deny yourself today.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Be sure not to reveal private information to the wrong individuals. Business conducted in your own office will proceed smoothly.
(From page 30) was adjudged the most valuable player. Two teams participated in the female segment. Team one were the winners as they edged team two 20 points to 19 points. They received a trophy. Alicia Welcome of Skeldon Line Path was adjudged the MVP and received a trophy for her outstanding showing. Meanwhile, the first leg of the male and female U19 trials for the BVA selection was attended by 22 males and 9 females. The trials were held at the Port Mourant Community centre on Sunday January
10th. The BVA activities are slated to continue today and Sunday with a referees semi-
nar/workshop which will be held at the Port Mourant Community Centre beginning at 09:00 hrs. (Samuel Whyte)
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Kaieteur News
Real Salt Lake selects Jamaica’s Holness in MLS draft
Saturday January 16, 2016
Guatemala returns to CONCACAF WOQ training
Players from the Guatemala women’s national team workout on January 13, 2016, at the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala’s Project Goal facility. (Photo: Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala)
Jamaica international Omar Holness (pictured) was Real Salt Lake’s first choice in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. (Photo: Mexsport) Baltimore, Maryland - Jamaica international Omar Holness was chosen by 201516 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinalist Real Salt Lake in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft on Thursday at the Baltimore Convention Center. The 21-year-old midfielder, a standout at the University of North Carolina, was taken as the fifth overall pick. ”Candidly, Holness was the guy we wanted, pointblank, and we got him,” said RSL general manager Craig Waibel. “With his youth and size and structure, we think he fits into the physicality of MLS. We’ll be working really heavily with him in the pre-
season to jumpstart his understanding of the programme.” Holness revealed that his game is modeled after Real’s holding midfielder Kyle Beckerman, a long-time United States international, but acknowledged that there will be challenges associated with becoming a professional. ”I know this transition won’t be easy, but at the same time, nothing in life is easy,” he expressed. “It’s an absolutely amazing feeling. I’m just ecstatic. I’m at a loss for words. I’m so excited to be a part of such an amazing organization and such an amazing franchise. ”I believe that Real Salt Lake will develop my future and I will be there to win some
championships for RSL.” During three seasons at UNC, the native of Kingston, Jamaica, scored five goals and assisted on 11 others in 59 games. Holness made his full international debut for Jamaica in a 3-1 loss at Canada on September 9, 2014, and was on its roster for a run to the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup final, but did not see any action. He captained the Reggae Boyz at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup after leading them to a fourth-place finish at the CONCACAF Under-17 Championship earlier that same year. At the 2013 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, Holness netted one goal in three games. (CONCACAF)
Germany wants emergency IAAF meeting over WADA report MUNICH (Reuters) Germany’s athletics chief has called for an extraordinary meeting of the IAAF after the second part of a World AntiDoping Agency report heaped more pressure on the sport’s scandal-hit governing body. WADA’s independent commission said on Thursday that the former head of world athletics, Lamine Diack, ran a cliqu e t h a t c o v e r e d u p organised doping and blackmailed athletes while senior officials looked the other way. “The allegations of corruption against the former leadership of the IAAF are so damning, and have shaken the credibility of the world federation to such an extent, that a
sign of awakening must be an extraordinary membership meeting,” said German athletics chief Clemens Prokop in a statement on Friday. The damning report delivered by former WADA President Dick Pound added to the rapidly growing scandal involving organised doping and its concealment that has thrown world athletics into turmoil. Pound had already rocked the sport in November with the release of the first part of his report, which led to athletics superpower Russia being banned from competition for state-sponsored doping. But Thursday’s report said the IAAF’s governing
council “could not have been unaware of the extent of doping in athletics and the nonenforcement of applicable anti-doping rules”, piling more pressure on the governing body. “It is increasingly clear that far more IAAF staff knew about the problems than has currently been acknowledged,” it said. “The corruption was embedded in the organisation. “It cannot be ignored or dismissed as attributable to the odd renegade acting on his own.” The scandal has also drawn comparisons with a corruption and governance scandal at the global football federation, FIFA.
Guatemala City, Guatemala – Less than a month away from its CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship opener, Guatemala returned to training on Wednesday last at the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala’s Project Goal facility. For the camp, head coach Benjamin Monterroso called in 26 players, all of whom are domestic based with the exception of midfielder Daniela Andrade. Guatemala earned a place
in February’s CONCACAF event by finishing as runnerup to Costa Rica in Central American qualifying. Midfielder Marilyn Rivera, who scored two goals in that competition, highlights the current roster. The Guatemalans will play each of their three Group B games at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas: Trinidad & Tobago (February 11), Guyana (February 14) and Canada (February 16). ROSTER - Gloria Aguilar, Daniela Andrade, Alida
Argueta, Londy Waleska Barrios, Sabrina Botran, Niurka Nahomi Davila, Sara Fetzer, Yoselin Franco, Lesbia Gamarro, Celeste Gatica, Fabiola Marisol Gonzalez, Vivian Herrera, Walesca Ixcuna, Gladia Juarez, Cinthya Lopez, Elisa Estefany Lopez, Didra Martinez, Yubitza Mayen, Alicia Navas, Adriana Ordoñez, Andrea Rabanales, Ximena Recinos, Marilyn Rivera, Mariana Rodriguez, Yareli Rosales, Natalie Schaps. (CONCACAF)
Ski jumping-Mueller left partially paralyzed after sky flying crash VIENNA (Reuters) Austrian ski jumper Lukas Mueller has been left partially paralyzed after a crash during practice for the sky flying world championships, doctors said on Friday. The 23-year-old cannot move his legs and has suffered a n “ i n c o m p l e t e paraplegia” after the accident which happened during training on the Kulm hill in Tauplitz, they told
reporters. “At the moment he cannot move his legs, although he has some sensitivity,” Franz-Josef Seibert, chief surgeon at the Unive r s i t y Hospital in Graz, told reporters. Seibert added that it was too early to comment on Mueller’s long-term prospects. Sky flying is a version of the Olympic sport of ski jumping, but held on bigger hills
and involving longer jumps. Mueller, junior world skijumping champion in 2009, lost his balance and crashed as he was landing after a jump on Wednesday and underwent emergency surgery on his spine. The championships, which take place every two years, were being held on Friday and Saturday on the same hill, one of the biggest in the world.
CONCACAF Schedules Extraordinary Congress for February 25 Miami – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) has announced the scheduling of its Extraordinary Congress where the Confederation’s Member Associations will vote on reforms, including revisions to CONCACAF’s statutes. The Extraordinary Congress will be held in
Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday, February 25, 2016. Over the past several months, a Statutes Reform Committee comprised of leaders from each CONCACAF union have worked in coordination with the Confederation’s legal advisors to draft amendments to CONCACAF’s statutes that will bring corporate governance best practices to
the organization. The committee has also ensured that proposed revisions to FIFA’s statutes that affect CONCACAF and its Member Associations are reflected in these amendments. Official notice of the Extraordinary Congress will be sent to all CONCACAF Member Associations in accordance with the Confederation’s statutes.
Saturday January 16, 2016
Kaieteur News
Root century fuels England fightback Reuters -Joe Root scored an unbeaten 106 and shared a swashbuckling partnership with Ben Stokes as England put the brakes on a hostile South African attack to reach 238 for five at the close of the second day of the third test on Friday. Bad light and rain brought a premature end to the day’s play with England trailing the hosts’ first innings total by 75 runs, but with momentum having swung back in their favour at the Wanderers. Root led an England fightback and Stokes scored 58 as the tourists piled on the runs after South Africa had seized the initiative with early wickets. The pair shared a rapid-fire fifth wicket partnership of 111 runs in just under 16 overs after England had been in trouble at 91-4 just after lunch. Hardus Viljoen took the wicket of England captain Alastair Cook with his first ball in test cricket and there were two wickets each for Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel as South Africa unleashed a barrage of pace. Root, however, reached his ninth test century in just
126 balls with 16 boundaries and Stokes was equally severe on the bowling, scoring his 58 off 54 balls before being caught and bowled by Morkel. Jonny Bairstow was not out on four when the players were taken off with just over an hour’s play left. Rain then began to fall and play was officially called off. Earlier, Alex Hales, who has been struggling with a stomach virus, went for one when he edged Rabada to AB de Villiers at second slip and Cook’s poor form continued after edging Viljoen’s first ball down the leg side to be caught by wicketkeeper Dane Vilas for 18. Nick Compton was caught in the slips by Dean Elgar off Rabada for 26 and James Taylor departed for seven, caught at short leg by Temba Bavuma off Morkel. South Africa had resumed on 267 for seven overnight and England removed Chris Morris and Rabada for the addition of only 14 runs, both caught by wicketkeeper Bairstow off Stuart Broad and James Anderson, who claimed his first wicket after toiling for 22 overs without
Joe Root helped England fight back, South Africa v England, 3rd Test, Johannesburg, 2nd day, January 15, 2016 ©Getty Images success. But debutant Viljoen, who hit a boundary from the first ball he faced as a test batsman, and Morkel frustrated the bowlers by adding 32 runs for the last wicket. Bairstow dropped an easy catch off Anderson which denied him a chance to equal the world record of seven dismissals in an innings. Anderson’s follow-through after the delivery led him to encroach on the wicket and having been warned twice for running on the pitch, he was removed from the England
attack by umpire Aleem Dar after an acrimonious exchange between the pair. He had bowled just two balls of his over and Stokes was brought on to complete it, finishing off the innings with the next ball when Morkel edged to Cook at first slip to give the all-rounder his 50th test wicket. Due to the early close, play will start 30 minutes early on Saturday. Scores: England 238 for 5 (Root 106*, Bairstow 4*) trail South Africa 313 (Elgar 46, Stokes 3-53) by 75 runs.
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Windies pay price for weak batting in heavy warm-up loss C H I T TA G O N G, Bangladesh (CMC) — West Indies Under-19 delivered another weak batting effort to go down by 171 runs in their second One Day warm-up game against Bangladesh Under-19 here Thursday. In a worrying sign ahead of their campaign in the ICC Youth World Cup next week, the Caribbean side could only muster 128 all out off 49.3 overs in pursuit of 300 for victory at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Keemo Paul, batting at number seven, top-scored with 25, while opener Gidron Pope hit 23, but were the only two batsmen to pass 20. Left-arm spinner Saleh Ahmed Shawon once again tormented the Windies Under-19, picking up three for 19, while left-arm seamer Mehedi Hasan Rana claimed three for 35. Seamer Mohammad Saifuddin finished with two for 18. Pope and Shahid Crooks, who made 17, shared 31 for the fourth wicket to steer their side to 74 for three, but once they were separated the last
seven wickets tumbled for 54 runs. Earlier, Bangladesh Under-19s piled up a daunting 299 for five after opting to bat first. Left-hander Pinak Ghosh stroked 109 off 135 balls with nine fours to lead the way, while Nazmul Hossain chipped in with 79 and Mehedi Hasan, 54. Bangladesh were stuttering at 44 for two in the 11th when Ghosh and Nazmul came together to add 179 for the third wicket – a partnership which deflated the Windies Under-19. Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph was the best bowler with two for 50. On Monday the Windies lost the opening game by eight wickets in Mirpur in another poor showing with the bat. The final warm-up game will be played today at the same venue before West Indies Under-19 clash with Scotland in their opening game of the Youth World Cup on January 22 in Fatullah.
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Saturday January 16, 2016
Crawford wins second consecutive race in 2016 Romello Crawford made it two wins in two weeks when he won the Benjamin Bakery 40-mile Open cycle road race held last Sunday in Berbice. Crawford, who won the season opening 50th Independence Anniversary event held on Sunday 3rd in Berbice, rode away with the inaugural event in a time of one hour, thirty-two, forty-seven point four-seven seconds (1:32:47:47). Crawford rode home ahead of Alanzo Ambrose with Paul DeNoberga, Junior Niles, Jebon Crawford and Andrew Hicks taking the top six spots. The race, which was organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC), peddled off from outside of Benjamin Bakery at Chesney Village, Corentyne and proceeded to Number 43Village before turning back to its point of origin.
As the riders were sent on their way the ever improving Andrew Hicks, took the initiative and went out early as he was initially joined by Crawford Dueraj Guabarran and Alanzo Ambrose. They were soon joined by Paul DeNoberga, Junior Niles, Christo p h e r Griffith, Dwayne DeAbreu and Jebon Crawford as they continued the battle for supremacy along the Corentyne highway. The see-saw battle continue on the down ward journey; however it was Romello Crawford that was able to out sprint Ambrose in a two man battle to take the top spot, as the others finished in a bunch a little behind. Romello Crawford also took away the award in the junior category with Hicks second and Dueraj Guabarran third. The sprint prizes went to Romello Crawford with
The top performers of the Benjamin Bakery of Buxton 40-mile cycle race pose for a group photo following the presentation. three, Andrew Hicks also with three, while there was one apiece for Alanzo Ambrose, Paul DeNoberga, Junior Niles and Jebon Crawford.
Among the FACC riders, overseas based Wilbert Benjamin rode home first ahead of sibling Gary Benjamin with Curtis Dey third.
Among the U-16 riders Zamal Khan crossed the finishing line ahead of Kerri Collins and Chamsehwar Ghanie.
The event, which was sponsored by The Popular Benjamin Bakery of Buxton, was coordinated by Randolph Roberts.
NAGICO Super 50 Rohit ton in vain again as Bailey steers Jaguars thump Hurricanes by seven wickets Australia to victory (Reuters) India’s Rohit Sharma burnished his reputation in limited-overs cricket with a second successive century but could not stop Australia from winning the second one-dayer by seven wickets on Friday to consolidate their lead in the series. For the second time in three days, India rode Rohit’s elegant century to post a 300-plus total before watching George Bailey help the hosts mount a clinical chase to put Australia 2-0 up in the five-match series. Rohit showed the kind of form he is in, hitting a sparkling 124 and featuring in century stands with test skipper Virat Kohli (59) and the selfless Ajinkya Rahane (89) to help India post 308-8. Yet, the satisfaction of a team victory eluded him as Bailey (76 not out) saw Australia home after Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh had given the hosts a 145-run opening stand. Mahendra Singh Dhoni opted to bat after winning his second toss of the series and opener Shikhar Dhawan again fell cheaply to pace with Joel Paris claiming his first ODI wicket in his second match. Rohit and Kohli were once more left to rebuild the innings, which they did with some elegant shot-making. The duo, who had forged a 207-run stand in India’s fivewicket defeat at the WACA, added 125 before Kohli paid the price for attempting to steal a non-existent second run. Rohit was lucky to reach his 10th ODI century, after snickometer confirmed he, then on 89, had edged Paris but Australia’s caught-behind appeal was turned down by the umpire. Rahane proved a perfect foil for Rohit, shunning risks and still finding the ropes to bring up a run-a-ball fifty in their 121-run stand when boundaries flowed from both ends. Rohit’s 127-ball knock ended in bizarre circumstances when Rahane’s straight drive brushed bowler James Faulkner’s fingers before hitting the stumps with the non-striker out of his crease. After stemming the tourists’ run flow in the last 10 overs, Australia returned for a strong start to their chase with Finch and Marsh denying India an early breakthrough with some fluent yet risk-free batting. To make things worse, Ishant Sharma dropped Marsh when the batsman was 19. Australia’s opening pair eventually fell in quick succession after identical knocks of 71, but Bailey added 78 runs with skipper Steven Smith (46) and George Maxwell (26 not out) hit the winning run to complete the chase with one over to spare. Bailey followed his 112 in Perth with a 58-ball knock that included six boundaries and a six. Melbourne hosts the third match on Sunday. Scores: Australia 3 for 309 (Bailey 76*, Marsh 71, Finch 71) beat India 8 for 308 (Rohit 124, Rahane 89, Kohli 59) by 7 wickets.
Guyana Jaguars defeated Leeward Islands Hurricanes by seven wickets when the Regional NAGICO Super 50 tournament continued yesterday. Consistent bowling by the Jaguars led by Romario Shepherd, who finished with 3-37 off 10 overs, restricted the Hurricanes to 171 all out in 49.2 overs after they decided to bat at St. Paul’s Sports Complex in St. Kitts. Shepherd, who was named man-of-the-match, removed Shane Jeffers and Montcin Hodge both with out scoring as Hurricanes plunged to 8-2 before Chesney Hughes and Nkrumah Bonner added 46 for the third wicket. Veerasammy Permaul accounted for Hughes for 33, while Steven Jacobs had Bonner lbw for 18 to leave the score at 60-4. However, Rahkeem Conrwall, who top scored with 35, along with Orlando Peters 24 and Jacques Taylor 18 propped up their total somewhat. Royston Crandon 2-1, Permaul 2-28 and Raymond Reifer 2-47 supported Shepherd. Assad Fudadin and Vishaul Singh set the Jaguars on course with an opening stand of 65 before the former was dismissed for 27. Singh, who struck three fours off 99 balls, soon followed for 44, while Leon Johnson went for 13 with the score at 117-3. Johnson’s dismissal proved to be the last success for the Hurricanes as Shivnarine
Chanderpaul and Raymond Refier saw their team home with an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 57. Chanderpaul fine run of from continued, the lefthander clobbered five fours off 85 balls to finish not out on 57, while Reifer made 16 as the Jaguars ended on 174-3 in 46.2 overs. Odean Brown claimed 2-31. Scores: HURRICANES 172 all out off 49.4 overs (Rahkeem Cornwall 35, Chesney Hughes 33; Romario Shepherd 3-37, Raymon Reifer 2-47) lost to JAGUARS 174-3 off 46.2 overs (Shiv Chanderpaul 57 not out, Vishaul Singh 44). At the National Cricket Centre in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados Pride overcame Jamaica Scorpions by 73 runs. Batting first, Barbados Pride posted 246-9 in 50 overs. Man-of –the-match Dwayne Smith stroked ten fours in top score of 86 while Shane Dowrich got 46, Ashley Nurse 23 and Shamar Brooks 20. John Campbell snared 3-57 and Jerome Taylor 2-30. Jamaica Scorpions were bowled out for 173 in 46.5 overs in reply. Campbell scored 42, Andre Mc Carthy 33 and J. Harrison 22. Jonathan Carter picked up 326, Jomel Warrican 3-32, Sulieman Benn 2-26 and Ashley Nurse 2-36. Scores: PRIDE 246-9 (Dwayne Smith 86, Shane Dowrich 48, Ashley Nurse 23; John Campbell 3-57, Jerome Taylor 2-30) beat
Dwayne Smith clears the boundary during his cracking 86 for Barbados against Jamaica. (Windies facebook) SCORPIONS 173 all out off 46.5 overs (John Campbell 42, Andre McCarthy 33, Jermaine Harrison 22; Jonathan Carter 3-26, Jomel Warrican 3-32, Sulieman Benn 2-26, Ashley Nurse 236). At Queen’s Park, Trinidad and Tobago beat ICC Americas by nine wickets. ICC Americas were skittled for 81 in 26 overs. Srimantha Wijeyeratne 30 and Timroy Allen 22 were the only bastmen that made double fig-
ures as Imran Khan grabbed 4-25, Akeal Hossein 2-6 and Riyad Emrit 2-19. Red Force replied with 84-1 in 12.5 overs. Kyle Hope scored 40 while Kjorn Ottley got 24 and Denesh Ramdin 18. At Warner Park, CCC beat the Windwards by 91 runs. Windwards chasing 158 for victory were dismissed for 66 (22.6). Man of the Match Chemar Holder captured 5 wickets for 22 runs to lead the rout. Rouman Powell hit 71 for the CCC.
Saturday January 16, 2016
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GFF raps Lady Jags Captain Ashley Rodrigues The Guyana Football Federation has released an interview it conducted with Lady Jags Captain Ashley Rodrigues. Following is the full interview. GFF: How do you feel about playing in your second CONCACAF Championships? Rodrigues: It’s a very exciting and proud feeling to be playing in our second C O N C A C A F Championship. I’m so proud of our team and what we have accomplished thus far, and I’m excited to get to Texas to continue to put our hard work into play. GFF: Do you feel the team is ready for the challenge? Rodrigues: I feel that our team is very ready for the c h a l l e n g e . T h e r e ’s a n excitement among our squad, and a true sense of determination and will to give this our all.
GFF: How have the players responded to training and team preparations? R o d r i g u e s : We ’ v e responded well to team training and preparations. We know that the time we have to train together leading up to competition is crucial and everyone puts a large emphasis on using the time as efficiently as possible. In addition, we talk a lot about lifestyle, and committing ourselves to the right changes, i.e. nutrition, conditioning, mental preparedness, especially when we are unable to be together in training camp. Everyone has taken on the responsibility to be prepared in the best way for Texas, and that makes us stronger and tougher. GFF: Do you feel the team will do better this time
around as compared to 2010? Rodrigues: Absolutely. We’ve always been an underdog in these competitions, and that hasn’t changed. The great part is, we like it that way. We know we’ve earned the right to be where we are, nothing has ever been handed to us, or been easy for us. It’s because of these things, that 6 years later, we’re determined to earn better outcomes this time around. We’ve come a long way since 2010, and we’re ready to show just how much we belong. GFF: What advice would you give to young aspiring Guyanese female football players and females in general in our country? Rodrigues: Grab a ball and play football. If you can dribble, pass, kick a football everyday- you are doing something positive for yourself and for female
Flashback! Lady Jags Captain Ashley Rodrigues (left) in control against this Cuban player at the Providence Stadium in July 2010. (Franklin Wilson photo). football in Guyana. You can improve and impact this game with hard work and determination. You can be a part of setting higher standards in Guyana for
female football, you can create history. GFF: What would you like to say to Guyanese fans? Rodrigues: Thank you
to the fans who have supported us, and continue to support us. We don’t play for the personal recognition; we play for you, for Guyana.
Floyd Mayweather’s exit, the welterweight maze and the future of the super fights Even as Floyd Mayweather solidifies his huge bank account and even as he’s indicated that the Andre Berta bout is his last, the pundits continue to speculate of the chances of the many deserving fighters that never had, and are still weighing their options of entering the ring with the unbeaten American. The debate rages in cyberspace and many are convinced that Pacquiao is no longer the man to push Floyd Mayweather. “Five years ago, things may have been different but as it stands a rematch would be a complete waste of time.” At an unbeaten 48 fights, Mayweather has made it clear he has one fight left in his career and he subsequently engaged Berta in a lopsided affair to retain his unbeaten streak. However, the pundits opine that if boxing wants to be taken seriously again, and if Mayweather is truly as great as he says he is, he should don gloves against Gennady Golovkin, who has been described as the new Mike Tyson, a brutal Kazakh pugilist who is also unbeaten in his professional career. Golovkin’s record stands at 32 win and 0 losses, with 29 wins by knockout. It is the highest KO percentage in
Floyd Mayweather (thesource.com) middleweight history. “This guy looks like a monster, a killing machine,” boxing great Roy Jones Jr said. “Golovkin is like a young middleweight Mike Tyson; a guy who just destroys who they put in front of him,” Jones asserts. While the debate continues, Mayweather, who shows no indication of reneging on his commitment
to stay out of the ring, is retained in the limelight from another angle. Despite the views that the Paquiao bout failed to live up to the pre-fight hype, the World Boxing Council (WBC) holds Mayweather in high esteem and has presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor ever presented to a boxer,
during the WBC Annual Convention in Kunming, China recently. Mayweather, the WBC Emeritus Champion, retired from boxing as reigning WBC welterweight and super welterweight champion and was lauded for his achievement. Officials said that he will always be regarded as one of the greatest champions in WBC
history. As a spin off, the WBC has prepared a process for the activity in the welterweight and super welterweight divisions, which sets the stage for several potentially thrilling encounters in the near future. The welterweight division has produced some of the best matchups and has been dubbed the ‘super fight’ division. From all appearances the (WBC) executive is intent on retaining this rich tradition based on their mandatory ruling. The exciting Danny Garcia will oppose Robert Guerrero for the WBC welterweight championship, while Amir Khan is ratified as mandatory contender. Lamont Peterson will then tackle Andre Berta for a final elimination bout to determine the second mandatory challenger. Sammy Vasquez and Aron Martinez will contest in the first of two semi-final eliminations before Miguel Barrionuevo takes on Azael Cosio in the other. Those two winners will determine who benefits from the wildcard even as Ray Robinson, who is currently injured, is also positioned for the spot.
There has also been some structuring in the super welterweight division and Jermell Charlo fights John Jackson for the WBC super/welterweight championship with Demetrius Andrade and Charles Hatley positioned for the first mandatory. Vanes Martirosyan will tackle Julian Williams in the first semi-final elimination while Ishe Smith and Jorge Cota will square off in the second. The winners of those two semi-final eliminations will fight each other for the wildcard even as Austin Trout receives a wildcard spot. Meanwhile, officials of the WBC are very enthusiastic about this process, which will bring important activity involving fighters from all over the world. Those officials will be updating information frequently. N a t u r a l l y, f a n s worldwide will ponder on the continuance of a rich tradition that has seen the fistic, action packed encounters of the (recent) past, the likes of Marvin Hagler/Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran/ Thomas Hearns a n d t h e Ay u b e Kalule/Leonard shindig among others.
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Saturday January 16, 2016
MOBILE WIZARD 10/10 ENTERS FINAL QUALIFYING STAGE The Mobile Wizard 10/10 softball cricket tournament organized by The Guyana Softball League enters its final qualifying stage and teams playing tomorrow will know whether they qualify for the quarterfinals stage to be held shortly. The teams already through are Speedboat SC, Wo l f ’s Wa r r i o r s , Crossbreed Warriors, and Settle XI. The teams vying for the sixth position are Leonora Youths, Viper XI, Brickery All Stars, superstreet and Irfaan XI. The fixtures are as follows: At Leonora Ground: Leonora Youths versus Vipers XI: Leonora Youths are a whisker ahead of the others and will be looking to ensure they stay afloat in the tournament. Vipers XI on the other hand having played more matches than their opponents, will be hoping that Leonora youths lose in order for them to go ahead in wins. Leonora Youths versus S u p e r s t re e t R e l o a d e d : Superstreet is in the same
boat as Vipers XI and will come out determined to gain a win against their opponents. They have been in winning positions in all their matches and a win here will confirm they have turned the curve and can go all the way. Leonora Youths versus Power XI: Power XI has often falter to deceive in this tournament and with the talent they possess they often frustrate their fans, but a win here can bring them the confidence needed in this competitive tournament. Vi p e r s X I v e r s u s Brickery All Stars XI: Both teams will be looking to win big as they did last week to ensure their run rate is above the others in order to qualify. Additionally Speedboat SC will take on Wolf’s Warriors in a big ball 10/10 geared to entertain the spectators after the tournament matches. Ruby Ground: Brickery All Stars versus MMZ XI: Brickery All Stars XI will come out to smother the opposition and a win here take them closer to qualifying. MMZ XI will
Vipers XI will be looking for a big win this weekend. look to upset their opponents in order to climb the ladder in the points table. Irfaan XI versus Settle XI: Settle XI having already qualified for this tournament will want a win here
particularly since they lost heavily against speedboat last week and will hope to redeem themselves this week. Irfaan XI versus MMZ XI: Both teams languish at
No warm-up match for Lady Jags Team to land in Texas early for pre-match sessions By Franklin Wilson With just under one month to go before Guyana’s Lady Jags challenge for a spot at the Olympics later this year in Brazil, unflinching attention is set towards the CONCACAF Wo m e n ’s O l y m p i c Qualifying Championship set for Texas, USA, next month. The Lady Jags have been drawn in Group B which will be played at the BBVA Campus Stadium with the Guyanese taking on CONCACAF powerhouse Canada in their first match on February 11, the main event on the double header card which will see the other teams in the group, Trinidad and Tobago and Guatemala competing in the opener. Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde has been singing the praises of the
Wayne Forde Lady Jags who have all given yeomen service to this nation over the years and continues to do so. Forde, who recently took over the helm of the federation, reflected on the recent one week training camp that was held in Canada, noting that it was tremendous judging from
the feedback he would have received from the Technical staff. ”From that feedback, they are ready to “ROAR” with deafening might...! The team will be heading to Texas a few days early to get in some pre-match sessions and that may have to suffice.” Head Coach Mark Rodrigues and his charges have always said that they are well aware of the challenges faced when it comes to being adequately funded for friendly matches and more time for preparation, noting that the programme has always adopted to suit the local challenge. Forde who is presently representing the federation along with Vice President Jullian Lovell at the Caribbean Football Union General Meeting and Men’s Championship Draw in
Antigua and Barbuda, further stated that Guyana’s most successful team exemplify commitment, patriotism and sacrifice. ”Their consistent sound performances on and off the field of play is a commanding challenge to every football administrator in Guyana to get the business of women football moving. We have to work much harder at connecting the business and Governmental interest in the overall need for football development support.” The team including Technical Staff will touch down in Texas on February 6, ahead of the first match on the 11th against Canada. The focus then will be on tactical and in squad competition to get the ladies back into f u l l g a m e mode for the match that they are eagerly awaiting.
the bottom of the table and hope to gain some valuable points in a win here. They are both equally talented but somehow manage to lose just when they seem to have it
covered. Meanwhile, three Over40 Masters teams will battle for supremacy with the winner claiming bragging rights and a trophy.
Port Mourant Jaguars devour all and sundry in BVA season opener The Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) kicked off its 2016 volleyball season last Saturday with the staging of the Ashwell “Pumpkin” Mohabir Open, one day volleyball competition at the Blairmont No2 ground, West Bank Berbice. The competition, which was for teams in the Ancient County, was won by the improving Port Mourant Jaguars who upstaged pre tournament favourites PMTC NO1 team 30 to 27 in a hard fought game which saw the lead changing hands consistently. However, it was the hungrier Jaguars that were able to dig deeper as they continuously stalked their opponents until they succumbed at 30-27 to take the coveted the first prize and trophy. The PMTC No two squad outlasted Three Door strikers of D’Edward to take third place. Seven teams participated
in that segment of the competition which also saw play among the juniors and females. The winning Jaguars team received the first place trophy and incentive, while PMTC 1 collected a trophy, for placing third PMTC 2 also received a trophy. The individual category saw Satesh Seenauth of the Port Mourant Jaguars being adjudged the best setter with the best spiker and MVP awards going to Surendra Motipersaud also of Port Mourant Jaguars. In the junior male category, the #53 Survivors took top honours from PMTC No3 in another close encounter 15 points to 14 points after the two emerged tops in their round robin segment. The No 53 Survivors collected the first place trophy and an incentive. Andy Rohoman (Continued on page 25)
Saturday January 16, 2016
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Serena faces tricky ascent to seventh heaven M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) Ailing knees, Father Time and even a resurgent Victoria Azarenka stand in the way of Serena Williams clinching her seventh Australian Open title and giving her one more shot at an achievement that would cap her storied career. Wi l l i a m s , a l r e a d y considered one of the all time greats, has 21 grand slam singles titles, four Olympic gold medals and more than $74 million in career earnings but the 34-year-old is no doubt aiming to become the greatest of them all. She had the opportunity last year to clinch the only feat missing from her resume and become the first female player since Steffi Graf in 1988 to capture a calendar grand slam at the U.S. Open. Victory at Flushing Meadows would have moved her into a tie with Graf on 22 grand slam titles, the most in the Open era, and two behind the all-time leader, Australia’s Margaret Court. Instead, knees that were constantly causing her pain and a sore elbow that reduced the power on her serve and groundstrokes, ended her hopes in the semi-
Serena Williams of the U.S. runs to hit a ball thrown by a member of her training team during a practice session at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 14, 2016. (Reuters/David Gray) finals. She skipped the remainder of the year to recuperate, also indicating the mental pressure to achieve the grand slam had taken a toll as she admitted her heart had been broken by the defeat to Italy’s Roberta Vinci. The rest, no doubt helped her refresh physically and mentally, but of greater concern is her propensity to self-destruct — as she previously has done in Melbourne — and the continued issues with her knees.
Coach Patrick Mouratoglou said last year she had ‘very little’ cartilage left in the joints and she was forced out of the Hopman Cup in Perth last week with more knee pain. AZARENKA THREAT Williams described that withdrawal as merely ‘a hiccup’ as she completed her preparations for the seasonopening grand slam under Mouratoglou’s gaze at Melbourne Park. The Frenchman was also no doubt casting a glance towards the resurgence of Azarenka, who has had a
UCCA to stage Upper Corentyne Mashramani Cup 2016
Launching of the UCCA Mashramani Cup 2016 at the Hotel Riverton Suites. In photo are executives of the UCCA. The Upper Corentyne Cricket Association presents for the first time the Upper Corentyne Mashramani Cup fixed for on February 21 at the No. 69 Vikings ground featuring 10 teams from Upper Corentyne in a 5/5 encounter starting at 9:30hrs sharp.
The day’s event will be action packed and will be used as a fund raiser for the UCCA. Proceeds will go towards cricket development in the Upper Corentyne area. The drawing for the first round of the competition will be done on Tuesday January
19 at the Riverton Suites Hotel at 17:00hrs. Ti c k e t s c o s t $ 2 0 0 , children under-12 yrs will enter free. Lots to eat and drink will be on sale. Also there will be gate prizes to be won by lucky patrons.
Victoria Azarenka of Belarus returns a shot to Simona Halep of Romania at the U.S. Open Championships tennis tournament in New York, September 9, 2015. (Reuters/Carlo Allegri) tormented two years with foot injuries and a downward spiral in the rankings. The Belarusian, who won successive Australian Opens in 2012 and 2013, however, stormed to victory in Brisbane last week as she dropped just 17 games over five matches to claim her first title since the Cincinnati Masters in August 2013. She is one of the few players with the power and speed to consistently
challenge world number one Williams, who she pushed to a deciding set in each of their three matches last year while ostensibly still on the comeback trail. The 26-year-old is drawn to meet third seed Garbine Muguruza in the fourth round, with the 22-year-old Spaniard also tipped to contend after she made her first grand slam final last year, losing to Williams at Wimbledon.
The aggressive, powerhitting Muguruza heads the swag of young pretenders looking to finally usurp Williams, with second seed Simona Halep and fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska also in contention. The biggest issue the Romanian and Pole face, however, is they both rely on court craft and a touch game to succeed with neither able to pull out a massive serve or blistering groundstroke to blast a winner when it is needed. Two veterans who do have those attributes are multiple grand slam winners Maria Sharapova and Serena’s older sister Venus, though the Russian has an arm injury and is drawn to face the world number one in the quarter-finals. Venus, who is on course to face Halep in the quarterfinals, despite winning three titles last year and ending inside the top-10 for the first time since 2010, has also only advanced to the last eight in Melbourne three times since 2003.
Mix Up, Rage register quarterfinals victories Players in action during one of the quarterfinal games.
Mix Up and Rage recorded victories when the quarterfinals of the Mark Wi l t s h i r e f o u r- g a m e dominoes tournament were contested on Thursday night at Strikers Sports Club, Meadowbrook. Mix Up notched up 43 games to beat Phantom with 41 and TNT 36. Ganesh
Sankar and Gilbert Mendonca made 11 and 10 games respectively for the winners, while Ewie Gordon got 10 for Phantom. Mark Welch scored 11 and Shawn Morgan 10 for TNT. Rage chalked up 41 games to win their encounter ahead of Rugged 38 and Thunder 35. Lyall Gittens
m a r k e d 11 a n d R o n Callendar 10 for Rage, while Gordon Stevens and Rawl Peters scored 11 and 10 in that order for Rugged. Thunder leading players were Kevin Boston who scored 11 and Faye Joseph 10. The finals were set to be contested last night.
t r o Sp Jaguars thump Hurricanes by seven wickets
Fast bowler Romario Shepherd was Man-of-the-Match with 3 wickets as Guyana beat Leewards. Here, he celebrates the wicket of Shane Jeffers. (Windies facebook)
Guyana beat Leewards to stay top of their group in the Nagico Super50 tournament. (Windies facebook)
Crawford wins Rohit ton in vain again as Bailey steers second consecutive Australia to victory race in 2016
Romello Crawford (right) collects his prize at the presentation.
India’s Rohit Sharma (C) jumps as he celebrates reaching his century during the second One Day International cricket match against Australia in Brisbane January 15, 2016. (Reuters/Glenn Hunt/AAP)
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