Sunday January 19, 2014
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Plane vanishes with pilot, one other in Mazaruni jungle The search is on for one of Trans Guyana Airway’s 700 Cessna Caravan 8R-GHS and its two souls that went down yesterday morning in the densely forested, hilly Mazaruni, Region Seven area. There have been no reports of smoke emanating from the estimated crash location and the aircraft’s emergency locator beacon, which either triggers on heavy impact or manually, did not go off. These details were revealed by Zulfikar Mohamed, Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) during a press briefing yesterday afternoon at the Air Traffic Control Tower, Timehri. Without audibly assuring that there is a possibility that the aircraft did not have a heavy impact when it crashed, Mohamed nodded in agreement that there is hope
Missing: Cargo loader, Dwayne Newton for the aircraft’s pilot, Blake Slater,32, and the cargo loader, Dwayne Newton of Durban Street, Georgetown; the lone two passengers on the plane. Mohamed said that at approximately 10:56hrs the Air Traffic Control Tower received
Start the Year Strong Often at the first part of any new year, people are coming out of the daze of the holiday season and feeling focused, determined and ready to accomplish their goals and resolutions. But if we’re not careful, before long, we’ll find ourselves slipping back into our old routines and habits. Why don’t you decide that this year is going to be different? Let this year be the year for you to break free from those things that have held you back once and for all. How can you do that? First of all, you have to know that God desires for you to be free from every weight and bondage of the past. However, before you can change your behavior, you have to change what you’re thinking and saying. Your thoughts and your words clear the path for your actions. It may seem hard to break an addiction, but is it hard to just SAY, “Because of the Creator, I am free from ______”? Is it hard to SAY, “I have power over _______”? Can you declare, “Greater is He who is in me than ________”? Can you meditate on His goodness? It may seem awkward at first, but your words set the course for your life. Scripture tells us that life and death are in the power of the tongue. It also tells us to speak to our mountains or the obstacles that try to hold us back from being all the Creator has called us to be. It won’t just happen automatically, and it won’t happen overnight, but anybody can change their words by purposing in their heart to do so. You might even set a reminder on your calendar or an alarm on your phone so you can take a minute or two each day to “talk to your mountain” and declare victory over your life. Then make sure that all throughout the day, you keep your words in line with your goals and God’s Word. Don’t start talking about your problem; don’t start feeding defeat; instead, start the New Year strong. Talk to your mountain and watch it move out of your way! {by Joel Osteen}
a report from another one of Trans Guyana’s aircraft that the company’s Cessna Caravan 8R-GHS reported going down after takeoff from Olive Creek aerodrome on a shuttle operation between Olive Creek and Imbaimadai. “We immediately activated the rescue coordination centre. This operation would have commenced from the area control centre which is the unit that got the initial report…The officers were all informed and the agencies which respond in the events of search and rescues were all advised and convened at the Control Tower,” Mohamed said. Rickford Samaroo, Senior Officer of the Air Traffic Control Tower was the first senior officer of the GCAA to receive the report. He related that the Air Traffic Services Unit received information on the aircraft shuttling between Olive Creek and Imbaimadai from one aircraft that heard the pilot was having difficulties and was going down. “That pilot immediately tried to get the position of where the plane was going down…He managed to only hear the latitude coordinates of the airplane which we
recorded here and used it to plot the position to assume that the aircraft was flying direct between Olive Creek and Imbaimadai.” “We worked with what the pilot heard as the elapse time between the two messagesone from when the airplane was departing and one from when the pilot heard mayday, which is the call for emergency. That time is equivalent to about seven minutes and we used that to plot a possible site for where the airplane may have crashed.” According to Samaroo, an aircraft belonging to Trans Guyana that was shuttling between Olive Creek and Ekereku from 10:40hrs to 11:15hrs immediately started to search the area. It was briefed on the coordinates of
where the plane went down. Two other aircraft travelling from Kamarang to Olive Creek and from Kaikan to Ogle also joined the search. “…up to this time of reporting we have not gotten any information as to a possible site or any wreckage or smoke,” he said. He added that there are two helicopters in the areaone belonging to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the other to Air Services Limited. In addition, GDF’s special force is on the ground at Olive Creek waiting for information before they could launch further operations. “First of all we have to locate the site and see where the possibility of extracting the persons are. We are trying to gather all possible information from anybody
who would have been on the ground at Imbaimadai or any other neighbouring area so we could use it to eliminate or exclude any other possibilities and zero-in on the search,” he added. According to Mohamed, the response to the accident was immediate since aircraft were in the area. He said, “The Mazaruni area where this aircraft went down is densely forested and also hilly. So the flight path would have taken the aircraft over that type of terrain… In the past when we had to conduct these exercises we know that it is pretty difficult to spot from the air. The search and rescue crew that is on the ground at Olive Creek is also interviewing or talking to the residents in the (continued on page 14)
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KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL Editor: ADAM HARRIS Tel: 225-8491, 225-8458, 225-8465 Fax: 225-8473 or 226-8210
Editorial
The need for a properly structured system Just as the more charitable among us were beginning to believe that the Guyana Police Force should be given the chance to reform itself, Guyanese have been confronted with a damning allegation which, if confirmed, would suggest that there is no limit to the depths of depravity to which some of its members are prepared to sink. We await the conclusion of the Commissioner-ordered investigation into the matter, in light of the reported claim that Colwyn Harding’s injuries are consistent with an incarcerated hernia. Persons are beginning to note a certain pattern in respect of the alleged perpetrators of these heinous acts and to make comparisons with other less injurious offences where the guilty officers are given jail terms. As an example, four ranks were each sentenced to eighteen months in prison for assaulting the son of a very senior officer’s friend, while the two who allegedly burned the genitals of a boy were rewarded with transfers. It is to be hoped that Harding’s relatives are not placed in a similar situation of unanswered questions. Noteworthy in all of this is the unsettling thought that if ranks continue to believe that they will not be visited with sanctions for wrongdoing then there really is no hope of justice for the hapless citizen who happens to be in the “wrong place at the wrong time.” One very noticeable fact is that there seems to be a fixation of the alleged manner of assault among police officers if two incidents which occurred in the US were to be juxtaposed with our recent exposure. In 2008, Michael Mineo was sodomised with a police baton on a subway platform by Detective Richard Kern while two other officers stood by. Mineo sued for US$220 million. In 1997, Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant was attacked with a broomstick in a Brooklyn police station. Whatever the outcome of the Colwyn Harding case, serving members of the Guyana Police Force should do all in their power to change the present culture of violence and abuse meted out to members of the public. An ethical stand must be immediately taken at all levels. Unsurprisingly perhaps, is the laid back approach by the police in dealing with the poorer class, as seen when very senior officers can claim that their ignorance of the gravity of the assault allegation was responsible for a delay in following up the report. When another can allude to a failure of supervision if an incident is witnessed by other persons then it surely is time for the Minister of Home Affairs to consider whether these senior positions are filled by the right persons and to advise the Police Service Commission accordingly. It is time that the government examines ways of removing ineffectual senior officers by either transferring them to other public sector agencies, or letting them go with all their benefits in the interest of public safety. Maybe it is time to search among the second and third tier of officers for leadership material and to root out complacency and senseless stonewalling. What the GPF must do as a matter of extreme urgency is to identify police officers with potential problems and who may be prone to violence. In some places, early warning signals - mechanisms which are data driven - are used to identify officers with problematic behaviours and to expose them to counseling or training interventions. It must be said that chief among the reasons for skepticism about the proposed SWAT unit is the behaviour of members of former special units whose misconduct was virtually unchecked. Little or no effort was made to recognize and manage the risks associated with damage to police credibility, and to community-police relations. Indeed no attempt seems to have been made to seek the expertise of the psychologists and social workers to provide the sort of intervention services which were clearly needed to correct inappropriate individual behaviour. A properly structured and implemented early identification/warning system can contribute greatly to officers’ well-being by correcting problematic behaviour in a timely fashion. This can only result in a more ethical body that citizens will be only too glad to trust.
Sunday January 19, 2014
Send your letters to Kaieteur News 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown or email us kaieteurnews@yahoo.com
As long as there are people standing on the street corner, in the rain… DEAR EDITOR, “Why y’all out here? Was it your sons/brothers/fathers that got killed in Linden?” No, we weren’t blood relatives of those martyred in Linden. We were just “ordinary” women and men, outraged that our fellow Guyanese, peacefully standing up for their rights in their community, could be mowed down by police with impunity. That’s why we left the comfort of our homes and set up camp outside of Parliament building. We called on our fellow Guyanese to join us in speaking out publicly against
police brutality and other abuses of power. Sharon Harding was one of the first persons to join our protest action, dubbed the People’s Parliament. She quickly became an invaluable member of the group, camping out many nights with us including after the police confiscated our tents, leaving us without any shelter from the elements. When she wasn’t camping out, she was bringing food and other supplies for us often from her own home and limited resources. She was not scared and did not hesitate to bring her children and
grandchildren with her indeed she saw it as a vital part of their education. Two years later, one of Sharon’s sons is now a victim. Colwyn Harding, 23 years old, was allegedly sodomized by a Constable with his police baton, while others are reported to have looked on and did nothing to stop the brutalization. Colwyn has been left severely injured, with his intestines ruptured; dependent on colostomy bags for the unknown future. A vigil on Wednesday January 15th, outside the Georgetown Public Hospital
Corporation, saw about 40 people attending. It was raining heavily. The cardboard signs got soggy and the people were “like wet rats.” However, “even after 6pm people didn’t want to go home,” reported Joy Marcus of Red Thread. Vigils and pickets continue, as well as fundraising for Colwyn’s medical care, and organizing around legal actions to get justice and hold the police accountable. And on January 16th we learned that Colwyn’s family and friends are now on a 24(Continued on page 07)
Sunday January 19, 2014
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Put country first, before party and ethnicity DEAR EDITOR, Two thousand and fourteen (2014) promises to be a particularly interesting year, as the size of the anticipated indiscriminate Budget-cuts are likely to provoke new elections by yearend. This will indeed be a year of reckoning! In a letter written by AFC Parliamentarian Moses Nagamootoo (Kaieteur News, December 31), he predicts, “This post-2011 Parliament will go down in history as the most robust in holding the feet of government to the fire of accountability and transparency.” And in a recent article, APNU Leader David Granger tried to justify his party’s obstructionist position to government’s major development projects by saying, “The action we took actually prevented a governmental disaster.” And without any knowledge of what the 2014 National Budget will be like, Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan has already decided that “Massive cuts will be inflicted on the 2014 National Budget when it is presented to the National Assembly.” In essence, Nagamootoo’s assertion can be seen in the context of someone shamelessly misrepresenting the facts to make his party look good. In fact, the Opposition that makes up the Tenth Parliament to which he refers, will be infamously remembered as the most destructive, unproductive, irresponsible and disrespectful bunch of lawmakers since independence. This must surely be an embarrassing and disappointing experience for the Honourable Speaker Raphael Trotman, who, in my opinion, must be commended for trying his best to be fair and impartial in the execution of his duties. Granger’s claim that his
party’s actions in Parliament “prevented a governmental disaster” is equally ludicrous. In a Kaieteur News article on January 14, the Opposition Leader openly joins with the AFC Leader to signal his intent to butcher the budget again by adding, “During 2013, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan and I were given a commitment from since early in July to have discussions on the 2014 budget. There had been some exchange between the Shadow Minister of Finance, Mr. Carl Greenidge and the Finance Minister, Dr. Singh but those were not consultations. Now the budget is far ahead in work. We were not adequately consulted so our contribution to the budget is not as we would have expected... If certain things in the 2014 budget are not in the public’s interest then we will cut where necessary.” Not adequately consulted? Is this a joke Mr Granger? For what other reason was his Shadow Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge in consultation with Finance Minister Dr. Singh? Does Granger believe they were discussing the garbage crisis in Georgetown? To better explain APNU’s defiant position in Parliament, Kaieteur News columnist,
Peeping Tom hit the nail on the head on January 14 when he wrote, “Right now the relationship between APNU and the government is extremely strained and therefore it is inevitable for mistrust to be present whenever APNU makes a proposal to the government. In parliament, APNU combined with the AFC to reconfigure the composition of the various committees. The manner in which this was done led the government to conclude that what was afoot was an attempt to administer the affairs of the country from the opposition benches when the Constitution is quite explicit as to who exercises Executive power. Further mistrust was engendered by the brutal manner in which APNU and the AFC went about cutting the 2012 (and the 2013) Budget. Eventually there were productive negotiations between APNU and the government on this question. The two sides were on the brink of a historic development that would have set the stage for improved relations. But APNU then withdrew leading to escalation of tensions. The government made available to the opposition parties all the major agreements that it had signed.
It went as far also in having special briefings for the opposition parties on the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project. Instead of using the opportunity of those briefings and meetings to vent its concerns, APNU instead withdrew its support for the project. The government was outraged and accused APNU of acting in bad faith by not raising its concerns. The same thing happened over the Anti-Money Laundering and the Countering of Terrorism Bill which the government felt should have been supported. However, the opposition parties seem bent on using their one-seat majority to introduce legislation which only adds to the suspicions by the government that the opposition parties are attempting to administer the Executive from the benches of parliament.” The preparation of the National Budget is a function of the Executive Branch of government. By cutting the budget, the one-seat opposition in the National Assembly has acted beyond
its powers and in breach of the Guyana Constitution. They have usurped the functions of the Executive and have violated the doctrine of separation of powers upon which our Constitution is constructed. Although David Granger’s comments can be seen to be more measured, Ramjattan’s declared intentions to cut the Budget are nothing less than reckless and irresponsible. In his quest to outdo the PNC/APNU on the issues, Ramjattan continues to squander the hopes of so many young Guyanese who were led to believe that the AFC would have been more politically matured to responsibly manage the balance of power in the National Assembly. Guyanese want their elected representatives to act responsibly in the national interest at all times. The opposition must not use their one-seat majority in Parliament to carry out personal vendettas or acts of vindictiveness. The three Bills that were recently voted on and passed
unanimously: The Firearms (Amendment) Bill; The Evidence (Amendment) Bill; and The Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure) (Amendment) Bill, only gained the support of the Joint Opposition because they were not tabled this time around by the Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee. On merit, these Bills should have been passed into law months ago, but Granger and Ramjattan were too obsessed and focused on getting rid of Rohee. By preventing Rohee from speaking in the National Assembly in an effort to censure him, they foolishly endangered the security of the nation and all Guyanese, and failed to achieve their objective. The passing of these Bills has hopefully restored some sanity to the most disruptive and unproductive Parliament I’ve ever seen. It is the hope of all Guyanese that common sense prevails this year in Parliament, and our lawmakers put country first before party and ethnicity. Harry Gill
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Kaieteur M@ilbox Happy New Year, to the true nation-builders DEAR EDITOR, I waited with great patience for the executives of the Guyana Teachers’ Union to bid New Year’s greetings to the teachers they serve, but I’ll wait no more. So before the year gets a day older, I the undersigned would like to express on behalf of the executives of the Upper Demerara Branch of the Guyana Teachers’ Union, a happy and productive 2014 to all teachers around the country. With all the challenges that exist in this beautiful profession that we are faced with, let us in this new year continue more relentlessly in our efforts to make education fun and relevant. Let us aspire to make the teaching learning experience, one that is not monotonous but exciting, and our pupils/students become more aware as to why we do what we do. In this New Year let us all strive to extend our efforts, in which we teach the nation’s children to teach themselves when they are out of the school’s learning environment. In 2014 let us always be cognizant and aware of the ever-present fact that each student is unique and their individuality differs in many respects. Therefore our methods, strategies and approaches in delivering our content must be broad-based to cater for those differences and abilities. As educators, let us be reminded that it is of vital importance that we keep up to date with what is new, not only in our subject area or field of study but the changing world. Let us take up the challenge to re-inspire and motivate ourselves as well to learn new things on a consistent and regular basis and have fun in the process. In this New Year let us be passionate about
what we teach and continue to provide challenges for the nation’s children. Let us continue relentlessly in encouraging creativity in our students and challenge them to think outside the box for new possibilities and solutions that will contribute to a better society, a better Guyana and world for all of us. I pen these words with the hope that this New Year 2014, will be one in which teachers and this noble profession will be given the seriousness that has been denied for far too long from government and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (G.T.U.). The seriousness in realizing and acting on that realization that teachers need better salaries, more resources, better representation from the G.T.U., more recognition and respect for their labour. The seriousness in realizing that teachers not just teach academic lessons to pupils/ students, but also help and guide them in every sphere of their life, by giving the right tools, advice and guidance. I pen these words with the hope and expectation that this year of the Guyana Teachers Union’ election, a new cadre of leaders will emerge to bring about the desired change that is needed and has been absent for too long. Change that will re-build the lost confidence and bring true representation that once existed under the likes of George Cave, Lance Baptiste, and Bertram Hamilton. To my fellow colleagues, the teachers of this land, the true nation-builders, I ask of you to be the change you long for. Happy New Year. Jermaine Figueira, Chairman Upper Demerara Branch G.T.U.
Not a perfect Constitution, but it fundamentally provides for a law-based society DEAR EDITOR, We sometimes take for granted the extent to which we enjoy religious freedom and tolerance in Guyana. According to a new study conducted by Pew Research Centre, violence and discrimination against religious groups by governments and rival faiths have reached new highs in all regions of the world except the Americas. According to the report, social hostilities such
as attacks on minority faiths or pressure to conform to certain norms were evident in one-third of the 198 countries of the world, especially in the Middle East and North Africa. These attacks were not limited to any particular religion or religious beliefs. Only recently, the UK Government in a landmark ruling granted refugee status to an asylum seeker on the grounds that he faced persecution in his country,
Afghanistan, for being an atheist. Our constitution provides for freedom of religion. There can be no discrimination against anyone because of his or her religious beliefs and persons are free to believe or not to believe. This is indeed how it should be. No one should be forced into accepting any religion if he or she is not so inclined or convinced. A man convinced against his will is of the opinion still. As Guyanese we can be proud of our ability to embrace diversity and multiculturalism in a manner that many other societies and cultures are finding it so difficult to cope with. I have always maintained that Guyana has one of the most advanced constitutions when it comes to the question of addressing political, ethnic and cultural pluralism. It may not be a perfect constitution, but it does in a fundamental way provide for a law-based society where individual rights are guaranteed and protected. Hydar Ally
Sunday January 19, 2014
Kaieteur News
Kaieteur M@ilbox High-level slackness and vulgar legacies DEAR EDITOR, The photo circulating of this country’s leader gyrating behind a woman (also known as ‘backballing’) at the army’s Old Year ’s Night bash epitomises the vulgarity, slackness, depravity and lewdness of the two most recent presidencies. It reminds us of the nolimits approach that typifies the rule of both individuals, a period when Guyana has slouched into its most immoral, crass and contemptible mould. The ‘backball’ is a naturally vulgar dance. Its inherent obscenity is magnified when it is performed in any public sphere and moreso when it is performed in public settings where dignitaries such as the leaders of this country are attending. Shame on the GDF and the President. The latter is following in the ‘backballing’ footsteps of his predecessor, a man who had no problem receiving a ‘backball’. It confirms how tragically leadership in this country has declined under the last two presidencies. This shameful incident validates the belief among Guyanese that the moral compasses of both men have gone awry. It must also be said that the women who have ‘backballed’ both of these men obviously felt no powerful respect for them, to the extent that these women felt perfectly comfortable to do what they
did. It seems these women must have felt these men were tolerant of indignity and tawdriness and receptive to indecency, and they were proved right. Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte never engaged in this lewdness or entertained such advances, nor did they remotely give off ‘vibes’ that they would allow such scandalous behaviour. What is worse with this sordidness is this is not the first time this has occurred nor is it the first time public figures have commented on this behaviour by the two leaders. Stella Ramsaroop wrote an article titled “Presidential backball” on October 15, 2011 during the height of the PPP election campaign when our two most recent leaders received “backballs” at their rallies. There was outrage at the smuttiness of their conduct then. Proper leaders would have heeded the moral warnings from these public commentaries. It seems like our current leader did not care about the public consternation from the last time he was ‘backballed’ or he sees nothing morally decrepit with it, which is why he went right ahead and had another ‘backball’. What can we expect from a man whose ascension to the presidency has been a terrible continuation of the politics of his predecessor? In a country where women
are routinely treated like garbage by many men, ‘backballing’ presidents gyrating on bent over women is clearly the kind of absurd message the leaders of this country must not send to these brutalized women. If a man with all the powers available to the presidency would do nothing different from the tarnished legacy of his predecessor, why should we expect him to stop ‘backballing’? How could the leader of a party filled with crudity and boorishness and constantly celebrating ineptitude find the courage to morally refuse a backball if he lacks the stomach to do the right thing within his own party? Our last two presidents have ‘backballed’ all over Guyana, and our nation seems to be going further into a hole of immorality, vulgarity and profanity. At this rate, the Guyanese people have no chance of ever getting up off the floor again. “Backballing” is in the nature of some among us, it is part of their innate core willingness to engage in slackness at the drop of a hat. And in the above cases, the administrations are a reflection of these ‘backballing’ atrocities. It is no wonder this country wakes up every day to a new act of wrongness and nastiness that the leaders turn around and defend to the hilt. M. Maxwell
As long as there are people standing on the… From page 4 hour watch at his bedside after police and prison officers, in front of witnesses who included a nurse attending to Colwyn, returned to the hospital and assaulted him, while he remained shackled to his bed, trying to seize the cellphone that had been provided to him by his family. One cannot help feeling a sense of fatality and futility about it all. We have been here before. We cry never again, but every time we think it can’t get worse, it does. People are victimized, in more and more brutal ways. Some other people stand on street corners and shout and wave placards. There are calls for resignation, accountability, compensation. Many more stay home but vent from the comfort and safety of their computer screens. Some stay silent because they believe in
the police. Others are ashamed to have their friends and relatives overseas see the barbarity of Guyana instead of the nice, nice Kaieteur Falls and the rare birds. We cry up but then we go about our daily lives. Because that is what survival looks like and if it’s one thing we Guyanese know and are good at, it’s surviving. There is a quote from Walter Rodney that says - “It is only direct action on the part of the people, your own perception of what is possible, that can produce change.” It seems like we Guyanese have given up on change. Or maybe it’s that we have been beat down for so long that we cannot perceive a different world. Even though we soak up all things foreign Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood - we remain mired in outdated notions of racial prejudice, partisan politricks, and corruption. Band aids on top of
gaping, life-threatening wounds are accepted, and when we are told to bring our own dressing, we sit quietly in line and wait our turn, barely holding on, just surviving. There is a difference though, between mere survival and a good life. It’s the difference between having bread in your belly and fear in your head. There are a lot of frightened people in Guyana. They can seem to be in the majority, drowning out all signs of hope. But as long as there are people standing on the street corner, in the rain, holding soggy placards, I know we have still some humanity left. And as long as we have that, we have a chance. Join us. Be the change you want to see. Joy Marcus, Red Thread Sherlina Nageer, Red Thread, Vanessa Ross, Red Thread
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Sunday January 19, 2014
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Drug shortage…
Dem boys seh
Linden Hospital Complex short of over 40 essential pharmaceutical drugs
De Bees should jump pun a plane and disappear
With the recent reports of shortage of pharmaceutical drugs at medical institutions throughout the country, it was recently disclosed that over 40 essential drugs are not available at the Linden Hospital Complex in particular. On Friday last, in an interview with this publication, Sharma Solomon, Chairman of Region 10 expressed that he is terribly disappointed with the state of affairs at the hospital. He said that the hospital has a severe shortage of drugs and it seems as though the Minister of Health is not interested in tackling the issue head on. “There is a severe shortage of drugs as well as some of the basic materials and equipment. We were told that this matter should have been remedied and it has persisted for two months now and we have gotten no proper update as to when this will improve. We are trying to make contact with the Ministry of Health to find out how soon they can address this matter.” “We are still to receive two ambulances. When we made queries about this we were not given any responses with which we were satisfied. The ambulances should have been here since last year October. We are calling on the Minister of Health, Bheri Ramsaran to adequately address these issues and provide people with the facts.” Some of the basic drugs that are not available at the hospital include ; Piperazine Citrate Syrup, Salbutamol Inhaler, Silver Sulfadiazine cream, Timolol eye drop 0.25%, Timolol eye drop 0.5%, Ciprofloxacin eye drop, Gentamicin eye drop, chlorampheicol eye drop, Deopovera and Microgynon. The injections which are not in stock include; Anti snake venom, Iodine Providon, Bupivacine Spinal Heavy, Ceftriaxone Spiral Heavy, Ceftriaxone, Diclofenac Sodium, Metoclopramide, Oxytocin, Fentonyl, Promethazine, Thiamine and Vitamin B. It was also disclosed that essential creams Haemorrhon cream and Clotrimazole are
Regional Democratic Councilor of Region 10, Renis Morian (left) and Sharma Solomon, Chairman of Region 10 not available at the hospital. Further, about 20 types of regularly used tablets are also unavailable. These include Vitamin C and B, Aspirin, Captopril, Fluconazole, Folic
“We also face serious security issues at the hospital as well. When there was this huge accident where this drunk driver drove into the river, the
“We need a health system we can depend on and not one where the government continues to misuse funds and stifle the sector” – Member of Parliament Acid, Ketoconazole and Atenolol tablets. Also commenting on the issue, was Member of Parliament and Regional Democratic Councilor of Region 10, Renis Morian. He said, “This is a ridiculous situation that we have at Linden and it surely reflects on the management style and interest Ramsaran has in this issue. I spoke with the Chairman of the Board of the Hospital at Linden and it was disclosed to me that the hospital is also lacking in trained staff to operate some of the equipment at the hospital.”
emergency hall was filled with residents preventing nurses from operating in a safe environment. The situation simply reflects that we seriously need a mass casualty disaster plan. Major accidents always come to the hospital, so just imagine what would happen if three and four were to come simultaneously.”
“We don’t even have the drugs at the hospital to adequately give patients medical attention. We need a health system we can depend on and not one where the government continues to misuse funds and stifle the sector. I live in Region Ten and I know what’s going on. We are currently looking for support from other companies considering the state of the hospital, for if we wait on government then we would not get anywhere. We are looking at non governmental organizations overseas at this point to assist the hospital.”
Nobody like to hear bout plane crash. De people flying de plane got family who now worried. Dem boys offering dem sympathy and wishing that everything turn out okay. Yet wen dem boys hear bout de plane crash dem couldn’t help think that it woulda mek dem happy if de plane had Ali Baba and he forty chores, never to be seen again. Is not that dem boys wishing death pun de Baba and he people but is just that dem should disappear because dem mek people miserable. Is de same feeling mek dem boys like de shoot man from Annandale. This is a man who know how fuh deal wid people who like mek people life a misery. When de people jump in he see that dem had gun but he get a bigger gun. Then he shoot one of dem. De rest run and de man shoot at dem and he miss. Dem boys sorry. He should now guh pun de road and deal wid all of dem who think that because dem can get a gun dem can torment. But then again, de police might get vex because some of dem does also torment people. Poor Donald walking around opening magistrate court. If Obama had to do that in de States he wouldn’t have any other wuk to do. But not Donald. He creating positions fuh lock up dem Bees and dem boys hope that he do that. Dem got people who tackle some of dem Bees before. De other day de Food and Drug people catch some bogus butter. That is a B but dem boys wish that that de Food and Drug people could focus on de real bogus Bees, dem who does sell bogus drugs. Dem had one Bee who seh that he could mek antiretroviral drug fuh help dem people wid HIV/AIDS. Pressure mek de Food and Drug people back off but bad things don’t last. Nobody never buy de ARV and de Bee lose out. That is why dem boys want Ali Baba and he boys all guh pun a plane. Gerry got to be one of de pilots and dem can always bring Brazzy brother fuh fly de other one. When dem tek off dem must disappear fuh good. Talk half and wish fuh de Bees disappear.
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Sunday January 19, 2014
Finance Minister spends $1.5B in two months In the last two months of 2013, the Finance Minister tapped into the Contingencies Fund and caused just about $1.5B to be spent. He has now come to the National Assembly to seek approval for the monies to be replenished. Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh on Thursday last tabled Financial Papers Four and Five of 2013 detailing the expenditure. According to the details of one of the Supplementary requests to the 2013 Budget, between November 6, last year and December 31, $121.9 was transferred to the Ministry of Public Works and
the expenditure was incurred in relation to providing additional support to Transport and Harbours Department. That department had initially been allocated $300M in the budget. The Ministry of Education said that it used $13.5M to clean several schools after the heavy downpours of rain while another $19M was spent on additional security. Initially the Ministry was provided with $271M for its security expenditure. The Ministry of Home Affairs was also a beneficiary of monies allocated over the
two month period. The Financial Paper details that $69M was used in relation to increased travelling by ranks to conduct investigations, especially in interior locations. The Ministry was initially given $616.5M for local travel and subsistence. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was also the recipient of $100M. According to the Financial Paper, the expenditure was “incurred in relation to Joint Services Operations.” The money was provided under the line item, “dietary” for which it had already
received more than $747M. The GDF also received $50M under the line item for equipment maintenance and according to the description provided, “Expenditure incurred in relation to Joint Services Operations.” It had initially been allocated $320M for the force’s equipment maintenance. The GDF also spent an additional $51M, monies which it received under the line item, “Other Transport, Travel and Postage.” The explanation for this expenditure was also said to be in relation to Joint Services Operations. Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh It also received a further $36M for its Vehicle Spares and Services. The Ministry of Agriculture’s Crops and Livestock Support Services also received under its Agriculture Export Diversification Project, $257.5M The Ministry’s explanation of how the money was spent is, “Provision for additional inflows specific to
drainage and irrigation works including control structures, gates, culverts, bridges, pump station and rehabilitation of channels and consultancy services.” The Ministry of Housing and Water under its Low Income Settlement Programme, received an additional $97.6M. “Provision for additional (Continued on page 52)
Shot bandit remains critical at GPHC Donston La Fleur, the alleged bandit who was shot by an Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) businessman last Friday remains in a critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). La Fleur, 28, of Tucville, was shot once to his lower right side face by a licensed firearm holder following a 20 minute gun-battle between him and the businessman, whose house he was caught in. Sources at the hospital say that the father of one is “lifeless.” He is on a life support machine and is showing no signs of improvement. Kaieteur News was told that La Fleur had gained entry into the businessman, Mananno Jeffrey’s home through an open window in the family’s bathroom located in the bottom flat of the two storey building. The 31-year-old businessman is a Rural Constable and a member of the Annandale North Community Policing Group. He had explained to this newspaper that his father, Ishwar Jeffrey woke him up and informed him that three men were in the yard. “He went to urinate in the bathroom upstairs and he heard some strange sounds and when he peeped through the downstairs window, he saw the three men trying to
get into the house,” the businessman explained. He added that he was about to fire a warning shot but noticed that one of the bandits had already gotten into his home. “I went downstairs but was confronted by this guy. It was me and him face to face and he had a gun in his hand.” Jeffrey posited that he fired a shot at the bandit but missed. “When I fired the shot, he run in the guest room (located in the lower flat) and was shaking the grill hard, hard and like he realize the only way he could have escape was through the same bathroom window.” According to the 31-yearold man who operates a food stall and owns a fishing boat, the bandit then peeked out the room and fired a shot. “He had no idea that I was hiding at the side of the wall. So when he fired the shot, he came out the room, pointing his gun straight and I was right at the side of him but he didn’t see me and I fired the shot.” “He fall down and I run out to look for the other two men but they had already escaped,” Jeffrey stressed. He added that police officers arrived at his home about one and a half hours later and took the badly injured man to the hospital. The businessman said that this is the first time gunmen tried to rob him.
Sunday January 19, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Upsurge in domestic violence…
Is enough being done to reach out to young men? By Dewjendra Rooplall An uneasy development has been growing and expanding exponentially in Guyana of recent. When we reflect on 2013 and see the overwhelming amount of domestic violence cases being perpetuated against women by their significant others, one has to ask oneself where are we going wrong with the young men and boys in our society for them to rationalize that the only way out of a relationship is by killing their spouses and then take their lives. When one looks from a sociological perspective at the issue, the first thought that comes to mind is how we are socializing our boys and young men and is enough being done to reach out to young men? In an attempt to find the answer, I spoke with experts within the social field who can authoritatively speak on the issues of men and domestic violence within society. Margaret Kertzious, Crisis Services Coordinator of the Help and Shelter Guyana, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) that deals with high incidences of violence, poverty and drug abuse, explained that in the same way that women are being empowered to address
domestic violence, men should be empowered. There is critical need to correct this situation, she said. Kertzious explained that domestic violence in relationships between two people is not a one way street. “So when two people are involved in a relationship it can’t be a one way street, so if women are being empowered, then we need to also empower the men and that is my main concern.” “Look at what is happening in the school system, look what is happening around us, when we hold workshops a lot of women are coming and men aren’t coming. We need to change that whole scenario, another thing they need to do is speak out, they need to talk, they [men] just suppress everything… their anger and everything, so when things happen they just explode like a pressure pot.” The Crisis Coordinator expressed that the situation has a lot to do with how men are socialized. “Right now the girls know what they want at a certain age… boys don’t know what they want… all men are looking for is money because they want to fete the girls and so on. Academically the girls are moving on; look at UG [University of Guyana] a typical example, look at the
Head of Men’s Affairs Bureau Patrick Findlay
Crisis Coordinator of Help and Shelter Margret Kertzious
graduates.” Kertzious believes that young men should be enlisted in programmes tailored for their development. “They don’t have a shelter for men who are abused and society doesn’t deal with men in an appropriate way …when they complain to the police or go to doctors they are being laughed at, so the whole process has to change, I don’t know how we are going to change it but it has to start from somewhere.” With respect to men killing women, Margaret said “I think men are not in their normal senses, they are using alcohol or drugs or something
… I don’t know people are tripping too easy, we got to look at the mental issues, the experiences men would’ve had, I really can’t detect what’s the problem, it seems now that these murders are premeditated, the men are planning these things, we need to do more research on behavior and attitudes, the family and the homes and in general a community collectiveness to deal with the issue.. a lot of work needs to be done.” She stressed that poverty also plays a pivotal role in the equation of domestic violence since in most cases women and mothers condone
Reverend Kwame Gilbert violence because men are significant financial contributors to the home. Reverend Kwame Gilbert, a senior Pastor and Advisor on Social Policy to the President of Guyana among other pertinent portfolios, suggested that attention be given to the driving force behind this kind of violent behavior among men and then trace it back to the whole issue of how men and boys are socialized in the home and environment and how they might not have had the
opportunity to be developed in the context of ensuring that they “are first of all thought to be human beings first and men second.” “If we are to look at violence, you have what is called a propensity to violence, violent tendencies can begin as early as three years old. There are social drivers which may create the environment such as family, poverty, unemployment and education.” “I don’t believe enough is being done to counsel men, I believe we are not tackling it from a holistic perspective. What we are doing is looking at the symptoms and addressing the symptoms, we have to address the causation, what’s causing boys and men to develop these violent tendencies and then later on become abusive in relationships,” said Gilbert. Gilbert expressed that more needs to be done in the educational institutions as well as from the community level. Religious institutions according to the Pastor, Continued on page 13
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Kaieteur News
Teen critical after accidental shooting …while standing outside night spot A 17-year-old boy who is believed to have been struck by a stray bullet early yesterday while standing outside a popular night spot on Main Street, Georgetown, is now hospitalized in a critical condition at a city hospital. The teenager was shot a little before 01:00hrs yesterday in the presence of a group of his friends. The injured teen has been identified as Joseph Johnson, son of the owner of Nigel’s Supermarket. He was shot to his face and has been admitted in the private hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. According to police sources, the shooter is a licensed firearm holder and has surrendered himself to police. The source added that the shooter claimed that he
The injured Joseph Johnson was inside the club and noticed a man trying to break into his car. “He said that he opened fire to scare away the man but mistakenly shot Joseph,” the source added. Investigations are ongoing.
Sunday January 19, 2014
Chinese demanding US$3.5M more for US$42M GPL upgrade contract The US$42M upgrade to the Guyana Power and Light Company Inc. (GPL) transmission and distributions system could see the Government having to spend an additional US$3.5M. This was confirmed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Power Company, Bharrat Dindyal, who made the disclosure during a site visit at the brand new generation plant being built at Vreed-en-Hoop. The Chinese contractor has made claims for the additional monies to be paid to them and according to Dindyal, not making these payments has seen a delay in the project. Dindyal told members of the media that the contractor is claiming that because the payments have not been made, they are experiencing cash flow problems. To date works have only been completed at two stations, Kingston and Sophia. Dindyal said that the contractor’s large claim stems from the unavailability of poles. The Linden unrest in 2012
GPL’s CEO, Bharat Dindyal has also been cited as a factor in the delay of poles, given that they could not be shipped out of the interior. This he said has led the Chinese Contractor to claim an additional US$3M that it wants the company to pay. He said too that the contractor was allowed to import pine poles from overseas. Some 600 pine poles have been erected along the East Coast Demerara and according to Dindyal, the Chinese contractor is now also claiming an additional UD$432,000 for importation. He said that the matter is
currently gaining the attention of the company. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who was present at the time of Dindyal’s statement, joined in and said that “while we seek to maximize local input of poles there are certain risks.” He did indicate that to the extent that government was insisting on the use of local poles thereby delaying the importation of the pine poles from the US, “we will have to carry some amount of responsibility.” Substations are being built to serve areas including Vreed-en-Hoop and Edinburgh on the West Coast of Demerara, North Ruimveldt, Sophia/Liliendaal, Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, Columbia, Mahaicony East Coast Demerara and Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara. The project is a collaborative effort between the Government of Guyana, GPL and China, through a concessionary loan of US$38.96M from the China Export-Import Bank (Eximbank). This amount is supplemented by US$3.9M
for preparatory works, including route clearing, site preparation and backfilling to above 2005 flood levels. The programme entails the construction of seven new substations; expansion/ upgrade of three existing substations; construction of approximately 96 km of 69 kV transmission lines, including a link between the Demerara and Berbice Interconnected Systems; 2.1 km of submarine cable; the construction of a new central control centre with Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) capabilities, and installation of 251 km of fibre optic cable. The power company said these developments will result in improved quality of supply, system stability, improved voltage regulation, and reduction of technical losses. The new 69 Kva Sophia substation, built under the Infrastructure Development Programme (IDP) is considered to be the nerve centre for the Guyana Power and Light (GPL.) This was successfully connected in July last year to the national grid.
The Good Hope Substation
Sunday January 19, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Human Rights body advocates for independent investigation of police brutality case…
Challenges government to foot medical expenses It is the opinion of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is engaged in a “cover-up” rather than an investigation of the brutality to Colwyn Harding. This, the body says it has concluded after an alleged eyewitness of the incident came forward and disclosed that he was asked by some police ranks not to give a statement. The body voiced that it is therefore calling for the appointment of a respected and independent person to investigate all aspects of the matter and for vigorous implementation of all the recommendations such an investigation might produce.
Additionally, it is calling for sustained public vigilance over any subsequent proceedings while recommending that the Government assume all costs of medical treatment required for the full recuperation of the young man. The eyewitness, who identified himself as Stephan Joseph Phillips called ‘Muslim,’ told Kaieteur News that he, along with his 17year-old son, was detained at the Timehri Police Station from November 14 to 15, around the same time Harding was brought to the station. According to the GHRA, the reports of the brutality dealt to the young man extend the perception of a “supposedly disciplined
services” being out of control. It said that such efforts at “cover-up” undermine the credibility of the upper echelon of the Guyana Police Force. The body added that the police’s efforts to defend themselves against charges of negligence and laxity in responding to the original allegations of the assault are not convincing. “Police officers allegedly present when the beatings and sexual assault took place apparently took no responsibility to either stop the assault, to assist Harding to get prompt medical attention, nor to report the incident to higher authority,” it said. Describing it as “a belated scramble”, the body pointed
Is enough being done to reach... From page 11 should be more involved in the process of providing help and counseling to men. Gilbert said that administratively speaking, the NGO’s are better equipped to address the issue of violence while government should deal with the resourcing aspect. He said that in order to fix the problem, help has to come from the community level and more facilities need to be available for men. He believes there needs to be a more proactive approach in terms of getting where the men are, such as rum shops and basketball courts. Meanwhile, Head of the Men’s Affairs Bureau, Patrick Findlay said that in Guyana’s context, a lot of men don’t, in our vernacular, “want to take lef” and a woman leaving conveys a sense of shame and loss. “I have found out the core fear of every man is fear of failure; so when a women says she is leaving him it is being construed in his mind that he has failed in the relationship.” He said that work is ongoing to address violence but stressed that
more needs to be done. “This issue has to do with the masculinity of men, when men sit and talk they don’t talk about their feelings, they don’t want to say I have a problem because masculinity is what is expected, it boils down back to the way our society is constructed and the way we think” these are all little things that boil up and explode when least expected, said Findlay. According to Findlay, another issue is being raised in a home where the parents quarrel and fight and that transgression is passed to the children. He explained that the home has to deal with the issue in an amicable way so that the violent behavior is not passed to the child. Findlay expressed that work also has to be done on “the way people communicate their issues.” He also mentioned that one of the challenges he faces is getting people, especially men, to come out to related fora. He did say that they (Men’s Affairs Bureau) go out to football events, rum shops
and places where men are found and try to talk about the issue of violence and men in general. He said that a lot of work has been done in Essequibo, Wakenaam, Black Bush Polder, on the East and West Bank but expressed that if “we can multiply that by 100 that would be great.” Much more work he says has to be done. According to Findlay, the Bureau is a place where men can come and there is the Probation Department where special accommodation is made for men to talk to their fellow men, he said also that the Help and Shelter does a good job as well as pastors. “The religious bodies should play a greater role in counseling men since it’s more than a government initiative and we are looking for persons of repute from the community such as Pandits, Pastors, and Head teachers” said Findley. He said that those persons can talk to those affected persons within the community as opposed to having persons travelling to specific locations to get counseling.
out that the investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was only prompted by interventions from the press. “In other words, extreme physical brutality, an offense which merits years in prison if committed by a civilian – let alone the allegations of sexual assault – was treated as a routine disciplinary incident when involving a police officer.” The GHRA expressed that another reason for the failure to report could be the perception that such reports are unwelcome by superiors. It said that the state of things internally in the GPF, and in the event it is more widespread than it seems, suggest that the institution is beyond internal reform. “Where the vitality and vision for renovation is to come from is unclear, but it seems safe to say that it will not be from within the GPF or the political party sphere,” the body posited. It added that it deems calls for the resignation of the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of Home Affairs as “understandable” and identified that bodies such as the Police Service Commission and the Police Association, which should be channels for re-vitalizing the GPF, are moribund. “The only guarantee of re-invigorating the GPF with standards of integrity and
Colwyn Harding on his hospital bed yesterday. professionalism is greater direct public involvement in decision making at all levels of public life.” The body made reference to an attempt, almost a decade ago, to renovate the GPF as an institution, noting that the opportunity was lost when the “watered down” recommendations produced by the Disciplined Services Commission were “kicked into the long grass” by Parliament. With respect to the SWAT team, the Human Rights body posited that here is not where priority should lie but at instilling respect throughout the Force for the Code of
Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Prisoners. It opined that Senior Police officials and politicians responsible for law and order should regularly and publicly promote and implement these standards. “The total silence by senior authorities on these standards send a signal to lower ranks that use of excessive force is no big thing.” As such it is calling for a process of renovating the leadership of the GPF in a manner which underlines and “ r i n g - f e n c e s ” professionalism from political party interference.”
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Kaieteur News
Cop shot after being robbed Police Constable Kirk Profitt
Sunday January 19, 2014
GNBS adopts Caricom standards for packaged water - anticipates improvement of water quality
A 38-year-old cop attached to Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, is currently nursing a gunshot wound to the lower abdomen in the Male Ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) after an unsuspecting attack by two armed bandits. Police Constable 14716, Kirk Profitt, of Lot ‘K’ Bent Street, Wortmanville related to Kaieteur News that the incident occurred yesterday morning at about 05:30 hrs after he had dropped his girlfriend off at a Princes Street location and was heading back home. The unknown
assailants relieved him of a cellular phone and $10,000. Profitt suggested that they were probably following him just before they pounced. “Was two of them, one had a gun and the other one had a knife. I hold down the one with the knife and the other one shoot me,” Profitt said from his hospital bed. According to a relative, immediately after the attack, while the bandits made good their escape, someone in the neighbourhood alerted the hospital which responded promptly. An ambulance was dispatched to the scene and Profitt was transported to the
health facility where he was treated and then warded. Meanwhile, police in a press statement, said that at about 05:35 hrs yesterday, the Police constable was attacked by two men, one of whom was armed with a hand gun, while he was walking along Bent Street, Georgetown. The statement said that the perpetrators took away his wallet along with $10,000 and his cell phone. They then observed his Police Badge in the wallet and shot him to his abdomen before escaping on bicycles. Investigations are ongoing.
E’bo Rural Constable critical after accident with minibus Rural Constable Bercknell Spellen is now battling for his life after he was hit by a minibus which attempted to park in the Anna Regina car park, around 12:24 hrs on Saturday afternoon. Detectives who converged on the scene after learning about the accident, transported Spellen to the Suddie Public Hospital. The victim sustained severe head injuries and a broken leg. Reports are that Spellen who was riding his motorcycle, attempted to enter a street alongside the parking lot while the mini-bus driver was attempting to park his vehicle. Spellen was hit and ended up under the mini-bus.
Bercknell Spellen
In a strategic move intended to help improve the safety of water, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) was last year able to finalize and sign a crucial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department. This as a result, paved the way for GNBS to adopt two standards – the Caricom Regional Standard - GYS 12 'Specification for packaged water' and the Caricom Regional Code of Practice – GCP 29 for 'Packaged Water'. This strategic move came as a result of a number of complaints relating to local water processing activities which amplified the need for GNBS to expand its product certification services. At least this is according to Head of the Conformity Assessment Unit at GNBS, Ms. Candelle Bostwick-Walcott. She, while speaking at a sensitization meeting for local water processors venued at the Regency Suites/Hotel on Thursday last, explained that moves to certify water processors will ensure that the processing facilities are conforming to recognized standards and also meeting the requirements of the Food and Drug Department. This by extension Bostwick-Walcott said will help to improve the quality of packaged water available on the local market. She disclosed that efforts to collaborate with the Food and Drug Department had in fact started back in 2009. This saw several meetings being held over the years to streamline the resulting MOU and also to have the standards available.
Ms Candelle Bostwick-Walcott The MOU, according to the Conformity Assessment Officer, makes reference to the two Caricom standards which were agreed upon mutually as the criteria for the Product Certification Scheme and the Food and Drug licensing process. In fact the MOU states that water processors certified under the Product Certification Scheme are producing water meeting the requirements of the GYS 12 standard, GCP 29 and the Food and Drug Act and Regulations. As such it is mandatory that the operations of water processing facilities are monitored for adherence. Moreover, it is also outlined in the MOU that the Food and Drug Department must ensure compliance to the Food and Drug Act and Regulations and certify the water processors annually while the GNBS ensures compliance of water processors to
Plane vanishes with pilot, one other ... From page 3 area who may have seen the aircraft going down or might have heard something because if you are below the canopy you don’t see much you could only hear. So they are going to use all of that information and correlate it to assist them in their search effort.” He noted that Olive Creek is the nearest populated area and “if the information we have is correct” the aircraft probably crashed between 10 and 14 miles from Olive Creek. However, that area is home to mining operations.” According to Mohamed, the search will continue during daylight or until such time that the aircraft has been located and action in terms of
extraction, commences. At the end of the day the aircraft will return to Timehri to debrief officers of GCAA, GDF and Transport Minister, Robeson Benn. The search and rescue operation ended at 18:00hrs due to poor lighting, but will resume today at 06:30hrs. Mohamed stressed that it is difficult to search the terrain at night. However, if the ground forces have any information which can lead them to a location they would go in. He noted that the pilot, who is a Canadian by birth, has a Guyanese passport. He has been flying in Guyana for quite some time. The pilot’s experience with Guyana’s interior terrain came into question but according to
Mohamed the pilot would have required a minimum of 200 hours of flying under supervision before being allowed to fly in the interior. The aircraft’s airworthiness was also questioned and to this Mohamed said, “The aircraft comes under the control of an organization that has Air Operator Certificate and it is a requirement for them to have the aircraft certified. They also have an approved maintenance organization that does the maintenance for these aircraft. They are normally certified as airworthy on an annual basis and records for any works done on the aircraft are always there. Our airworthiness inspectors would normally do
inspections of both the maintenance facilities as well as the aircraft operators in order to ensure that aircraft are maintained as they should be in accordance with the regulations and requirements and in accordance to their manuals too. At the end of every day the aircraft maintenance log book is completed if there is any snag it is recorded in there…” He said that a check with the US Mission Control Centre (USMCC) from which information concerning aircraft ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) signals are transmitted, has informed that they have not received any signal from the aircraft’s beacon.
the GNBS Product Certification Scheme. Added to this, the GNBS is also tasked with ensuring that the costs incurred to perform tests on the water samples are paid by the clients in the annual certification fees, and indicate the tests conducted on the Permit (Certificate) issued to the client by the GNBS. This Permit, BostwickWalcott said, must be displayed at the registered locations. She disclosed too that the GNBS, as part of its mandate, is expected to grant permission to water processors to use the GNBS Mark once their product confirms to the required standards. The National Standards Mark, she said, will be printed on the label of the packaged water once the requirements for Certification are met. And in order to ensure that this programme is effectively implemented, joint training programmes and sensitization sessions on the standard and the code of practice will be hosted by the two parties, Bostwick-Walcott said. This, she noted, will be done with a view of ensuring that the water processors are encouraged to participate in the Product Certification Scheme. As such the meeting on Thursday last signified the first step towards the implementation of the MOU between the Food and Drug Department and the GNBS, said Bostwick-Walcott. “It is anticipated that the water processors, especially those selling packaged water, take advantage of this opportunity to implement standards within their processing facilities,” urged the GNBS Representative. Currently BostwickWalcott functions in the capacity of National Accreditation Focal Point (NAFP) and according to her since “water quality is a global issue the Wo r l d Health Organisation, among other Public Health organizations, are making efforts to mitigate this issue.” In alluding to the World Accreditation day held in June 2012, she pointed out that the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) both sought to embrace the theme “Accreditation- Supporting safe food and clean drinking water” to emphasise the role that water quality is of vital importance to the world's population.
Sunday January 19, 2014
Kaieteur News
The clock of death and other ‘HARD TO EXPLAIN’ stories By Michael Jordan A clock that brings death to those who lie close to it…chairs that rock untouched by hand or breeze…ghostly figures that flit along passageways.. No, this isn’t the plot for the latest horror movie…just some of the ‘jumbie’ stories that circulate around some of our old hospitals. Like dark family secrets, some of these tales are only whispered among staffers. Others, however, have been passed down and have become part of Guyanese folklore. Take the story about the clock. This was a clock that once stood at the top of a tower-like structure of the now demolished medical ward at the Georgetown Hospital. In the old days, that clock, and the ward in which it was located, drove fear in patients who were sent there. The legend was that anyone who went to the ward ‘under the clock’ was likely to die. For some, the term ‘he deh under the clock’ not only meant that a patient was in the medical ward, but also that this patient didn’t have long for this world. Some patients were so terrified of being placed ‘under the clock’ that they took every possible ruse to avoid being taken there. I heard one story about a man who so dreaded being admitted to this ward that he opted to have
Madness continues to prevail as increasingly people seem to be moving toward anarchy. Another man bent on getting rich the easy way would be busted with a quantity of drugs. The local authorities would begin an investigation into how the man passed through the various security checks. Whatever the case, he would not be around to continue his pursuit of fast money. **** Some time back the
himself discharged prematurely-only to die at home after falling off his bed. But I learned that there was a simple answer to these stories. An old staffer explained that back then, many of the patients who were admitted to the ward ‘under the clock’ were terminally ill, and this explained the high incidence of death in this ward. But the other stories about the Georgetown Hospital weren’t so easy to explain. For instance, there was something that nurses called ‘the pressing.’According to some nurses who spoke to me, this is something that occurs when nurses are either asleep or on their rest period. “You feel as if something is pressing you down,” one nurse said. “You are unable to talk or move.” Claiming to have experienced ‘the pressing’ several times, the nurse said that she was resting in the nurse’s room one night when she suddenly became aware that the door had suddenly swung open. However, she saw no one enter the room, and she was seized with a terrible fear, and try as she might, was unable to move. She remained in this state until another staffer entered the room. On another occasion, the same nurse said that she was sleeping in the rest room when she dreamed that a ‘fat dougla man’ had entered the room. She said that in her (Continued on page 22)
government moved to reduce the volume of cash a person would be walking around with. This would indeed create a problem for the person seeking to relieve these people of their money. The result is that a man
who simply wanted to deposit money would be attacked after leaving the bank. Of course the man would not have money and this would anger his attacker who would stab an innocent man. **** Road accidents are so common that they no longer create excitement. There would be another carjacking and the driver wounded. And once more the police are going to chase and the resulting crash would reveal some horrific details.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday January 19, 2014
The clock of death and other ‘hard to explain’ stories From page 21 dream, the ‘man’ began to touch her breasts, and she was unable to move. The staffer said that she eventually forgot about the incident until a male nurse
confided in having a similar dream about a ‘fat dougla man’ approaching him with sexual intentions. Another male nurse said that he was sleeping in the Medical Ward when he had a
nightmare of a tall man standing over him. “I awoke with a terrible fear and slept no more that night.” Some old staff also claimed to have encountered ‘ghosts’ during their nightly
rounds. One male nurse spoke of ordering a ‘boy’, whom he assumed to be a patient, back to bed, only to have this ‘boy’ vanish before his eyes. Others claimed that the spirit of a long-dead
‘sister’ wandered about the now-demolished Lady Thompson Ward. But some patients also claimed to have been tormented too. One woman claimed that
a young girl repeatedly stood by her bed, while claiming that the woman was lying in ‘her’ bed. Hospital staffers have different theories about these incidents. One claimed that they were caused by ‘spirits of the dead under the influence of the devil.’ And hospitals are places of death. In fact, back in 1991, carpenters uncovered an ancient tomb while doing renovations at the Georgetown Hospital. Others scoffed and said that they were Christians and didn’t believe in such nonsense. A psychiatrist had a different explanation. He said that hospital staffers encounter many traumatic situations, including death, when on duty. When they are asleep, these memories surface in their subconscious mind, and manifest themselves in various manners And the victims of ‘the pressing,’ may actually have experienced a phenomenon that scientists call ‘sleep paralysis.’ One website said that sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep or upon awakening. “In some cases…people feel that someone is in the room with them, some experience the feeling that someone or something is sitting on their chest and they feel impending death and suffocation. That has been called the “Hag Phenomena” and has been happening to people over the centuries. These things cause people much anxiety and terror, but there is no physical harm. The hallucinatory element to sleep paralysis makes it even more likely that someone will interpret the experience as a dream, since completely fanciful or dreamlike objects may appear in the room alongside one’s normal vision. Another website said that “some scientists have proposed this condition as an explanation for alien abductions and ghostly encounters. But whether one chooses to believe in the supernatural or not, one thing is for certain. Shakespeare was right: There are indeed more things in heaven and in earth than are dreamed of in our philosophies. If you have information about any unusual case, please contact us at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown offices. You can also reach us on telephone numbers 2258465, 22-58458, or 2258473, or contact Michael Jordan at mjdragon@hotmail.com.
Sunday January 19, 2014
Kaieteur News
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== THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN ==
Lady in red: Guyanese policemen and sodomy Why would a policeman push a baton into the rectum of an accused thereby severely lacerating his intestines? Why would policemen shoot dead three protestors and injure more than fourteen others in a demonstration where none of the activists assaulted any police personnel? Why would policemen burn the reproductive areas of the genitals and the genitals themselves of a 15year-old boy? Why would a high-ranking officer assault his wife in full view of dozens of spectators in a night club? Why would the then police commissioner himself perform forceful sex with a woman who came to him for help? Why would a policeman whip a helpless woman who covers her son on the ground from a mauling in a protest while other officers watch as the battering is filmed? Why would a policeman shoot dead a youth in Agricola after ordering him to lie on the ground? These are just a few of thousands of examples of the bestiality, brutalities and beastly doings of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Guyana has one of the globe’s most
irresponsible, reckless, violent and lawless police organizations and a sheepish, cowardly, almost defunct population looks on helplessly. So why did the policeman sodomize Colwyn Harding with a baton damaging his vital, internal organs? Why did the other officers laugh while watching? First, I extend my sympathy to Harding’s mother, who is a very personal friend of mine and a committed political activist. Many people in the Guyanese society just think that these recalcitrant policemen are just ignorant and silly. They are not. These people are not as stupid as you think. They know they have protection for the heinous crimes they commit. A Commission of Inquiry found that members of the GPF killed three protestors and wounded more than fourteen others. The Commissioner retained his job. The commander of Linden when the deaths occurred is still in the force. This same Commissioner told the media that a policeman who was filmed beating a mother and her son in a mining community didn’t
kill anyone, so why the outcry to sanction him. So you think the policemen are stupid? They know they have protection from their bosses, and their bosses will be given protection from the political bosses themselves. The fools and comics in this deadly game of violence are the Guyanese people. They will brave the rain and protest these brutalities only to see no action taken. Like some of us who staged a vigil for Colwyn Harding outside the Georgetown Hospital Wednesday evening in the pouring rain. I caught a cold later that night and could not make the picket line the next day. Where are the policemen who burnt the reproductive parts of the fifteen-year-old? Here is a contrast with Guyana and what takes place in civilized countries. In Turkey, an academic was walking in front of a police line during a demonstration doing absolutely nothing but looking on. A policeman came up to her and doused her with tear gas. It was captured on camera and it went viral on the internet titled, “The Lady in Red.” The policeman was
charged, the trial is now on and the prosecutor is asking for a three-year jail sentence. In Guyana, policemen burned the lower body of a 15-year-old boy. Policemen shot and killed three protestors and wounded more than fourteen others. Policemen were laughing as one of their colleagues sodomized an accused. Policemen were laughing as one of their colleagues beat a helpless woman and her son in a protest in the interior. Policemen shot an Agricola youth while he was lying on the ground. And where are the Police Commissioner, the Home Affairs Minister and the President after these bestialities were perpetuated by personnel in uniform from the GPF? They all remain in their designated positions. So where does this society go from here after Colwyn Harding? Absolutely nowhere! There will be more beatings, more torture, and more shooting deaths. The policemen who will commit these crimes know that their superiors will protect them. The policemen know that there are politicians in power that will support their uncivilized conduct, because
Guyana is a nation of extremely cowardly citizens. Want to see how unchanging this country is? Go tomorrow to any police station, and despite the anger at what happened to Harding, you will see how lawless and sickening the policemen are in this land. Unless this society demands extremely harsh penalties for lawless policemen and their superiors and political bosses, the police will torture more youths, kill more accused and brutalize more innocent
Frederick Kissoon citizens. After reading this column, go and listen to Chris De Burg sing “Lady In Red,” to relax your mind. One of the most beautiful songs ever written.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday January 19, 2014
BOOK REVIEW… A captivating
novel of beauty, love and war Book: The Crystal Bird by Helen Drayton Reviewer: Margaret Fechtmann The Crystal Bird by Helen Drayton spans three distinct time periods over 500 years in the Rift Valley of northeast Africa, an area considered by scientists to be the genetic birthplace of the human race. The Crystal Bird begins in 1450, where we are introduced to Mbtani Djedkare, the warrior leader who is a descendent of generations of great Massai chieftains. The story begins as ruthless slave traders viciously capture many of the tribal peoples and hoard them onto slave ships. Heroically, a small group of the elite warriors execute a counter-attack on the merciless traders and free some of the captured tribe. But sadly, many have been killed or taken on ships that left before this revengeful battle. Mbtani leads a tribe of 250
men and woman warriors high up the majestic mountain for their safety. Upon reaching the summit, they hear a strange, low whistle. As the clouds engulf them, they cross over into a hauntingly beautiful place, Ashaise, the Land of the Crystal Bird. It was Drayton’s vividly beautiful description of Ashaise that conjured up images of Pandora, the land that is portrayed in James Cameron’s 2009 hit movie ‘Avatar’. Interestingly, the Sanskrit noun “avatara” is derived from the verbal root “to cross over”. As we move forward 200 years, there once again is the warning in the long, low whistle, the whistle of the Crystal Birds. King Kepi, leader of the kingdom of Amara, stages an attack the Ashaise people. The Ashais triumph and it is
a descendant of Mbtani, the warrior king that first led his peoples to Ashaise in 1450, that assumes the role of the new leader. Drayton then brings us forward to 1999, where a team of American scientists is exploring the Rift Valley to study ancient cultures of Africa. We are introduced to Allan Michael Cline, a 7-foot tall archaeologist who leads the team. Allan and the team find themselves seeking refuge from the storms of Kilimanjaro in sheltered caves. On these cave walls they uncover detailed depictions of ancient African life. There is a labyrinth of tunnels and being good archaeologists who always probe further once they unearth such rarities, they keep going deeper into the network of tunnels. The victorious battle of the Masai warriors against the invading slavers, and their subsequent flight up Kilimanjaro, are depicted in the reliefs. A piece of the human story emerged in these caves that could fill a gap in information about ancient civilizations and rewrite history. And as had happened to Mbtani and his tribe some 500 years before, thick rolling clouds engulf Allan and the
team of scientists and they too descend into the land of Ashaise. Quickly, a strong bond develops between Ashaise’s King Meleke and Allan. The King thought the stranger held a resemblance to the revered ancestor, Mbtani. And, as Drayton writes,… “The calling Allen heard was far louder than the call of the archaeologist part of him. It came from a space wanting to be filled from deep within his tribal self”. A bond of the heart also develops between Allan and King Meleke’s daughter, Jiena. Like the Avatar characters Jake Scully and Neytiri, they have become star-crossed lovers. With differing motives, the team is growing anxious to leave. While the Ashais believe the expedition was sincere and know they came to Ashaise by accident, it is in their minds that outsiders are likely to be traitors because that is their history. But this departure will be a one-way trip, and they know they will never return again. The team departs with mixed emotions. They are torn between their responsibilities as scientists of a new truth they should reveal, and the personal responsibility of respect and reverence for the newly discovered world. But Princess Jiena pleads with her father King Meleke, “We are descendents of those the Sun God brought here. Allan came with the sun, and he can be one of us. We cannot be certain but he may
be the great son of our long lost ancestor.” Convinced, the King commands, “Go find him. Whatever it takes to bring our son back to us.” And in the end of The Crystal Bird, Allan Michael Cline, a descendent of the great King Mbtani, returns to Ashaise, to his people and to his love, Jiena. The Crystal Bird is a highly enjoyable novel. It is filled with history, adventure, love and intrigue. Drayton dares to expose the choice of proclaiming scientific discovery and truly
respecting personal values. This is a captivating story. Margaret Fechtmann writes for Dr Glenville Ashby’s Literary Services Feedback: glenvilleashby@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter@glenvilleahsby The Crystal Bird by Helen Drayton, 2013 Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform ISBN: 10: 1475225075 Available: Amazon.com Rating: Recommended
Sunday January 19, 2014
Kaieteur News
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MY COLUMN
The police - reaction versus proaction Why the Guyana Police Force continues to stumble from one negative to another is testimony to the decline in the society. The policemen come from the very society that is crying out for protection, but the difference is that the ordinary policeman is just a person who opted for life in the force as a last resort, because they see opportunities to fleece the people. It also allows some of them to let the monster that lurks in all of us come out. That is why the police are at the centre of a horrific allegation that involves sodomy. But the issue does not end there. This episode began on November 15, last year, when young Colwyn Harding was arrested. Not a word was heard about it until this month, nearly two months later. I have always loved the public. It comprises people who have become apathetic, but they slip out of their lethargy from time to time and when they do they make their voices heard. And so it was when they took to the streets and to the pages of the newspapers to voice their disgust with the police force.
After two months, the hierarchy of the police stepped in to appease the public and immediately some things happened. The police told the nation that the people identified in the act of sodomy denied the allegation. Who would not deny doing anything wrong? So it should have been left to the hospital. The Health Minister suggested that the report of sodomy might have been exaggerated. However, why should the hospital be in doubt? Minister Bheri Ramsaran said that the infection of Harding’s intestines was the result of a hernia. He then claimed that Harding underwent two surgeries. Yet he did not say if the doctors examined Harding for evidence of an anal assault. That should have been rudimentary. The doctors must have heard the voices of the members of the public, but there is no evidence that they checked out the young man’s allegations. Some things bother me. For one, when the report was made to the police, precious little was done. At the same time, the police charged Harding with assault because
he bit a policeman. Who would not attack his tormentor? I am glad that they did not shoot Harding, because the police are quick to resort to deadly force. The prison authorities said that Harding never told them anything about the assault. As a man, few would admit to being anally assaulted and Harding was one of them. So he languished in jail for biting a policeman because he could not post bail. Pretty soon that was changed to Harding being released on his own recognizance, but even this was ignored by the police. They claimed that they were not informed. When the police took Harding to court one of them was there and he had to be aware. Yet the information was apparently not passed on to the authorities. It later took the court to enforce its decision and intensify the scandal. But before that happened, a group of prison officers overpowered the nurses who are entrusted to care Harding and they literally fought the injured man, because they say that he had a cellular
phone. Four prison officers happened to be there at the time of the fight. Why were there four prison officers watching Harding? They were not there on two occasions when prisoners escaped; they were not there when the last escapee shot and killed a policeman. But I suppose with Harding now being a public person, they needed to get in on the publicity, so they were present in their numbers. I am forced to go back to the past when this country was ruled by the colonial power and when we the servants felt that the rulers were the best there was. The police arrested a man named Emmanuel Fairbairn also called Emmanuel Batson. They tortured him by putting him to sit on a chair without seat so that his testicles hung through the hole. They reportedly had a field day with those cojones. Batson ended up in hospital and when the dust
settled his torturers ended up in court. That didn’t take long and justice was swift. The archives of the Guyana Chronicle contain the detailed court proceedings. More than fifty years later and we are worse. The police force has retrogressed. There is a report of some bandits invading the home of an Annandale resident. There was a shootout and one of the intruders was seriously injured. The nearest police station happened to be about a mile away. In fact there are two—one at Beterverwagting and another at Friendship. The police took ninety minutes to get to the scene of the crime. At least that was what was reported. There are hardworking
Adam Harris policemen and decent ones, but the rogues taint the force. People should not have to call on the police to take action. These are proactive people and I have seen them act. They have protected me and most of the society over the years. So why this blip?
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Kaieteur News
Sunday January 19, 2014
The LCDS: transformation or continuation? Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) was unveiled almost five years ago amidst much fanfare. Those seeking enlightenment beyond the well-prepared public presentations on this novel arrangement were immediately confronted by a dense alphabet soup of newspeak that blanketed further layers of information. Somewhere within the GRIF, REDD+, EVN, OCC, MRV, UNFCCC, FCPF, lay the details of this innovative strategy that would transform Guyana’s economy, preserve our precious rainforest, and earn some cash on the side – a lot of cash. With no particular track record of concern on matters environmental, the PPP-C Government’s new green posture would have been hard to understand without the cash in the equation. Today, this cash is in jeopardy and there is no sign that the Guyana economy is transitioning into the exotic new model advertised at the launching of the LCDS. There is, instead, a gloomy perception among most Guyanese, that our vast interior is being quietly reassigned to various entities and individuals at the whim of the current Government. So what really is Guyana’s role in the global war on climate change and how does this benefit the average Guyanese? The International
effort to curb human interference with our climate systems is driven largely by the 1994 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with its stated objective of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. This objective was given its teeth by the Kyoto Protocols of 1997 which secured commitments from developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Signatories were required to set binding targets by which they would reduce their greenhouse gas emissions over successive commitment periods. The Kyoto Protocols came into force in 2005 after a sufficient amount of governments had finally ratified their commitments. The first commitment period covered the years 2008 to 2012 and the next runs from 2013 to 2020. At every stage, the convention and its ensuing meetings have recognized and noted the role played by the developed countries, as opposed to developing countries, in the detrimental increases of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. The onus has therefore been placed on these so-called Annex 1 countries to do the most to cut these emissions at home, as well as to fund climate change activities in
developing countries. Of interest to Guyana was the fact that the Kyoto architecture allowed some flexibility in how developed countries meet their targets. Countries falling short of their reduction targets at home would be permitted to offset these shortfalls by funding activities abroad, particularly in developing countries, that resulted in greenhouse gas abatement. The underlying principle is that it doesn’t really matter where in the world the emissions are cut, as long as they are removed from the planet’s atmosphere. Given that trees produce oxygen from carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) thereby reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, it follows that deforestation will result in increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These increases can be calculated based on measured deforestation. Given also that much deforestation is the result of economic activity, developing countries with large rainforests could reasonably expect to be compensated for curtailing economic activities to avoid deforestation. The problem here in Guyana was that our deforestation levels were actually so low that we showed no net loss of forest cover between 1990 and 2005. The concept of reduced deforestation could therefore not have been applied to Guyana, since there was no measurable deforestation to begin with. In other words, Guyana has historically played a role in fighting climate change by avoiding deforestation until now. There is not much more we can do,
except find a way to get paid for this. So Guyana hired the consulting firm McKinsey & Company to produce a report showing that Guyana could earn as much as US$580 million per year if it slashed some of its rainforest in favour of agricultural and other economic activities. The report estimated the resulting rate of deforestation at about 4.3% per year. It also suggested that there were mounting pressures on Guyana to go this route. Developing countries would therefore be helping to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases by paying Guyana not to utilize its rainforest in this manner. The Kingdom of Norway was the first, and only country so far, to cough up. This large exporter of oil and natural gas has committed up to US$250 million over a five-year period under Guyana’s LCDS program. Most intelligent Guyanese would have seen this for what it was – an attempt by the Jagdeo Government to squeeze some cash out of a rich oilproducing country, anxious to remain on the right side of the climate change battle. Most patriotic Guyanese would have swallowed hard and gone along with the plan. But that plan has become problematic for us. The cash is not flowing as expected. The Norwegians are sticking to the fine print and are only making payments based on verified performance. The Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), into which these payments are deposited, is proving to be a lot safer than the PPP-C government had reckoned.
The GRIF is managed by the World Bank and monies can only be disbursed for approved projects after assessment by external partner agencies (IDB & UNDP). So far the Norwegians have deposited approximately US$70 million into the fund. An additional US$45 million in payments for reduced emissions in 2012 appears to have been withheld pending verification of Guyana’s deforestation levels. This amount could be reduced by as much as half, due to an increase in deforestation during that period, beyond the agreed upon levels. If the trend persists, Guyana could end up receiving much less than the anticipated US$250 million by the end of the deal. Apart from exceeding its deforestation targets, Guyana also seems to be experiencing difficulties with its projects. One of the first LCDS projects budgeted for in 2010, was the Amaila Falls access road. This project never received the blessing of the IDB and was subsequently funded by the Government. We all know what happened next. Similarly, the fibre optic cable listed as an LCDS project in the 2011 budget, was not approved by the partner agencies, and ended up being funded by the Chinese. This project, headed by none other than the President’s son, has also been plagued with problems and has already missed its December 2013 completion date, with no clear end in sight. Also popping up in the 2011 budget estimates was the Government of Guyana’s equity investment in the Amaila Falls project.
This also did not receive the blessing of the IDB, since the project was aborted before its economic assessment was completed. This may well have been a blessing in disguise, as there may not have been enough cash in the GRIF to cover it. Rather prudently, the AFC has deferred budgetary approval for LCDS projects, pending approvals from the partner agencies. This is not at all unreasonable, given our experience with the Amaila Falls access road and the fibre optic cable. The AFC has repeatedly made it clear that once the LCDS partner agencies approve the release of funds from the GRIF, it will support budgetary appropriations for those projects. This approach is clearly not understood by the MultiStakeholder Steering Committee of the LCDS which, for the past two years, has issued press releases decrying the “budget cuts” and the effects these will have on the execution of LCDS projects. Press releases on the status of the fund might be more appropriate in future. The AFC remains supportive of all efforts aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, and the creation of a mechanism by which developing nations such as Guyana can benefit financially from contributions to the fight against climate change through, past and future, sustainable management of their rainforests. However, as the LCDS approaches its fifth year of existence, our party remains unimpressed with the slow progress of this much touted development strategy.
Sunday January 19, 2014
SUNDAY SPECIAL PLANE CRASHES – FOUR INJURED A pregnant woman and the pilot of a single engine Cessna 206 small aircraft are among four persons who narrowly escaped death last week Saturday following a mid-morning plane crash at the Ogle International Airport. Those on board the passenger/cargo carrier arrived at various city hospitals and were treated for minor injuries before being sent away, while one person was hospitalized. The Fenix Airways Inc. interior aircraft; registration 8RMML which was destined for Kato in Region Eight is said to have encountered difficulty during takeoff, before veering off the airstrip and crashing upside down a few yards away from the runway within airport boundaries. Ogle Airport Inc (OAI) spokesperson, Kit Nascimento told reporters during a press briefing at the facility last week Saturday that the aircraft went down, according to the airport’s tower, sometime around 09:30 hours. He said according to an eyewitness account, “the aircraft was in the process of taking off, began lift off, came back down to the ground and ran off to the left side of the runway some two to three hundred yards away before coming to a stop upside down.” Apart from the male pilot, who was later identified as Raul Seecharran, there was one other male passenger and two females who were identified as five-month pregnant, 23-year-old Shemika Monroe of Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara and Zoreena Ali. The pregnant woman was said to be in stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where she was kept overnight for observation, after complaining about a “slight” back pain. While at the hospital, Monroe told Kaieteur News that she was heading to Mahdia when the incident occurred. GEORGETOWN MARRIOTT HOTEL… BRASSINGTON ‘MUM’ ON FINANCIAL CLOSURE, CASINO OPERATORS Work is continuing apace at the construction site for the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown but it is unclear where the funding is coming from. Kaieteur News has been attempting to make contact with the Chairman of Atlantic Hotels Inc (AHI) Winston Brassington, every day since
Kaieteur News
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Colwyn Harding
New GPC owner Dr. Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop
Former President Bharrat Jagdeo
matter. The Health Minister also mentioned that the probe will take a multi-agency effort since at first level, importation deals with the trade and commerce sector. The Minister added that he would therefore be seeking a word with trade authorities, before the Health Ministry could make the relevant steps. January 2, to no avail. Brassington at the end of last year had promised an update in the New Year, but has since refused to answer any calls made to him from this publication. Brassington last year had indicated that there would be financial closure with the private investor before the end of the year, but this did not happen. The monies to be sourced through Republic Bank are yet to be secured, but the project is still continuing. President Donald Ramotar, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh and Brassington among others toured the site but the private media houses were not invited. A revised completion date of August was circulated to the media. The company that prepared the feasibility study had set the completion date at the end of March this year. Brassington also continues to remain ‘mum’ on the state of the negotiations with the private investor and has not publicly communicated any new timelines for the financial closure for US$39M still outstanding for the project. Brassington is also yet to provide answers relating to the proposals submitted by private persons or companies to run the casino and restaurant that will be a part of the Marriott Hotel. The Guyana Government is, to date, the sole investor in the Georgetown Marriott Hotel, given that AHI is yet to have financial closure for US$39M of the US$58.5M required for its completion. MONDAY EDITION KAIETEUR NEWS
REFUSES NEW GPC GAG ORDER OFFER IN NY COURT CASE Samuel Beckerman, the lawyer for the new Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation, on Thursday, approached lawyers for Kaieteur News Inc (KNI) seeking to have the newspaper refrain from publishing anything from the courts about the case. Mr. Beckerman held the first discussion with Mr. James Sullivan, one of the lawyers representing Kaieteur News. Immediately, Publisher of the newspaper, Glenn Lall objected to any confidentiality clause being applied to the case. Later Lall said that he could not help but note that anything from the government side, and now even from people closely linked to people in the government, seems to attract a confidentiality clause. Later, when the lawyers met before a clerk of courts to discuss the way forward, Mr. Beckerman again raised the issue of the confidentiality clause. And again Mr Sullivan made it clear that his clients are not interested in any such clause during the duration of the trial. Both sides decided on various disclosures. New GPC had already submitted to the court a claim as though it had already proved its case. But in a preliminary ruling, Judge Joan Kenney, pointed out that New GPC argues that it satisfied the elements of libel per se, and that KNI failed to assert the truth of its statements as an affirmative defence, thereby precluding KNI from raising this defence. But KNI countered that New GPC must satisfy its burden of proving the falsity of the
alleged defamatory statements, because KNI is a media defendant that made statements of public concern, and that New GPC fails to make a prima facie showing on this element of its claim. HEALTH MINISTRY TO PROBE POSSIBLE IMPORTATION OF RADIOACTIVE JAPANESE VEHICLES Health Minister Bheri Ramsaran stated last Sunday that an investigation will be launched into the importation of used Japanese vehicles containing high levels of radiation now that the Ministry has become aware of the possibility that the harmful nuclear decay could reach Guyanese shores. The Minister made the disclosure when Kaieteur News inquired as to whether the Ministry was aware that Jamaican authorities had returned two vehicle shipments to Japan (including one destined for Guyana), after it was found that the vehicles and other auto parts contained elevated levels of radiation. The unusual radiation levels are a result of the March 2011 tsunami which caused severe power outage in the Asian nation and saw radioactive spills from the wrecked reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant. Minister Ramsarran said that he was not au fait with the issue, but would “launch an investigation into the serious matter.” He told Kaieteur News during a telephone interview that his Chief Medical Officer was at the time listening in on the conversation and he would be directed to look into the
TUESDAY EDITION NEW CRITERIATAILOR TO SUIT FAVOUR NEW GPC …OPPOSITION UNABLE TO PREVENT ITS IMPLEMENTATION – GRANGER The Ministry of Health has clearly devised a mechanism whereas New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC) will be the only supplier of drugs to Government. This is according to Leader of the Political Opposition, Brigadier David Granger, who in an invited comment Monday, said that based on the changes made to the prequalification procedures by the Ministry of Health; it creates a situation where rivals of New GPC will not be able to meet the criteria. Under the revised criteria for the prequalification of suppliers of drugs and medical supplies they must demonstrate a gross turnover of $1B (US$5M) and net assets of $500M (US$2.5M). The Ministry’s criteria said that maximum score will be awarded to applicants who have paid $50M in corporate taxes annually. The company with 50 or more employees, and warehousing capacity of 30,000 square feet in the city, will also gain an edge. New GPC is owned by Dr Ranjisinghi ‘Bobby’ Ramroop, former president, Bharrat Jagdeo’s best friend and is the only supplier, locally, with its own bond of that size. According to the revised prequalification criteria, maximum points will also be awarded in the evaluation process to the
Attorney-at-Law Nigel Hughes applicants who have been supplying Government more than seven years without any negative reports. Brigadier Granger said that what the Ministry has done is to devise tailor-made criteria meant to negate other competitors so that New GPC will be used as the sole supplier of drugs. The Opposition Leader conceded that the parliament would be unable to prevent the implementation of this strategy, given that it is a Ministerial Order. NO AUDITEDACCOUNTS FROM 52 NDCS IN LAST FIVE YEARS Despite receiving millions of dollars every year from Central Government, there have been no audited accounts from six municipalities for at least 15 years. The municipalities have also been collecting taxes from residents. In total, 52 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), representing 80 per cent of total number, did not have audited accounts for the last five years. About 18 have also never produced audited accounts since they were established in 1994 – that is for 19 years. Writing in his weekly column in the Stabroek News, former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran, was (Continued on page 37)
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Kaieteur News
Sunday January 19, 2014
The Upper Demerara-Berbice Region can escape from the poverty trap The Upper DemeraraBerbice Region need not be poor. The Region, with a size of 19,387 km², is bigger than the State of Kuwait, but its population of 55,000 is less than that of St Kitts-Nevis. It is centrally and strategically located with borders with six other regions – Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 – and is the main land route to Region No. 9. It is the real gateway to much of the hinterland and, indeed, the rest of South America. The Region is best known as the source of country’s bauxite but it is also a significant source of timber. The agricultural potential of its vast intermediate savannahs and fertile riparian farms is still largely untapped. The Region has made its mark on the cultural and tourism scene as the legendary home of the national jubilee - Mashramani and the Rockstone Fish Festival. There is no doubt that the
Region is rich in resources but many residents remain poor. Pervasive poverty among the common people is one of the main impediments to progress. The standard of living – measured by the cost of essential goods, net household income, life expectancy, access to health care and human safety – is low for many residents. Earlier economic experiments such as the Linden Economic Advancement Fund (LEAF) – the successor to the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) have been starved of refinancing thereby depriving many poor of the opportunity to escape from the poverty trap. Educational attainment, an essential element in economic recovery, is below expectations. It has been affected adversely by the large number of dropouts from the primary and secondary schools and the large number of failures at the
National Grade Six Assessment examinations. Some schools still lack running water; classrooms are congested and without adequate furniture; some are physically unsafe or insanitary and repairs to others are incomplete. E m p l o y m e n t opportunities for the large number of school leavers are few. The presence of the Russian Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc and the Chinese Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Inc. (BMGGI) and Bai Shan Lin companies has provided slight relief. These companies, however, have been plagued by several labour issues some of which remain unsettled. The Government never fulfilled its promises of new investments. The proposed school of mining never materialized. Qualified young people feel obliged to migrate to other regions in search of work. Environmental issues
are never far from the surface. Recent bouts of extreme weather have led to serious flooding. Collaboration among the Regional Democratic Council, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and the Linden Town Council has brought some relief through the clearing of canals and drains to alleviate flooding. Heavy rainfall however, occasionally inundates roadways, homes and farms. Sections of the ItuniKwakwani roadway are susceptible to being flooded, bringing traffic between the mining communities to a halt. Swollen creeks sometimes overflow their banks and flood communities. Parts of Kwakwani have been known to be under water for several days. Economic prospects have never been in doubt. Linden, the Region’s administrative centre, has been recognised as a potential hub for commerce and services. The Region can profit from its favourable location and the construction of the US$5M Takutu River bridge between Bon Fim in Brazil and Lethem in the Rupununi. Brazilian entrepreneurs have been entering Guyana for decades to exploit this country’s mineral wealth, facilitated by through the Lethem-Linden road. Brazilian investors from the SEBRAE
Group-Brazil met with the Linden business community in 2010 to commence commercial cooperation and business development. Physical infrastructure throughout the Region is inadequate and is a serious impediment to progress. The Linden-ItuniKwakwani and the LethemLinden roads are in a poor state. Residents complain that, owing to the almost impassable roads in some areas, mini-bus drivers charge higher fares and some road trips that should take 90 minutes can take up to 5 hours. Lindeners who want to go to Lethem or Mahdia have to travel to Georgetown to join a bus, which returns through Linden. The withdrawal of the Berbice river-boat service has affected agricultural production and marketing in the upper Berbice River. Public services, particularly heath, have also suffered. The main regional hospital – the Linden Hospital Complex – needs electrocardiogram and ultra-sound technicians to operate its imaging equipment. River ambulances must be provided to service the riverine areas such as Calcuni, Kimbia, Wiruni and Sand Hills and road ambulances must be made available for this immense but
underpopulated Region. The PPPC administration, seven years ago in 2007, did indeed promise a five-year development plan. Its objectives were claimed to be the reduction of the Region’s traditional dependency on mining and the achievement of long-term economic diversification and collaboration between the state, the private sector and the community. That plan had targetted the agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, transport, tourism, information communication technology and mining sectors. It proposed four ‘fasttrack’ initiatives in the agriculture, tourism, forestry and manufacturing sectors, designed to accelerate growth. It focused on four social sectors – youth, health, education, water and housing – to complement the economicbased sectors. It addressed, moreover, issues - such as public administration, investment, gender, health and the environment - that would have a direct bearing on development. The administration, however, seems to have abandoned the Plan. Residents are ready for a new plan to help the Upper Demerara-Berbice Region to escape from the poverty trap.
Sunday January 19, 2014
From page 27 critical, noting that this is despite the fact that, as in the case of municipalities, NDCs are in receipt of significant amounts of money from the Treasury, not to mention rates and taxes being collected from local residents. “For example, the 65 NDCs received a total of $195.5 million in 2012 from budgetary allocations approved by Parliament. According to the Audit Office’s records, most of the entities had submitted financial statements for audit several years. However, some statements had to be returned for corrections while for others, the audits were either being planned or were being finalised.” The 2012 Auditor General’s report issued on September 30 last stated that of the 294 sets of financial statements in the possession of the Audit Office as at September 30, 2011, a total of 221 statements were audited by December 2011 but the related reports had not been issued. However, no audits were finalized in 2011 while for 2012, 48 audits were completed and the related reports issued. WEDNESDAY EDITION ENMORE VENDOR FIGHTS FOR LIFEAFTER BRUTAL BANDITATTACK Doctors at the Woodlands Hospital were on Tuesday evening desperately battling to save the life of a 38-yearold greens vendor, who was attacked and robbed at his Enmore, East Coast Demerara home early Tuesday morning. Vickram Rambacchus called ‘Lil Vick’ of 266 Hope West, Enmore, was stabbed several times about his body as he valiantly tried to fight off three bandits who had entered his home and demanded cash and jewellery. His condition was listed as critical but stable. Rambacchus sustained two stabs to his abdomen, both of which punctured his liver, and several other lacerations about his upper body. Rambacchus’ wife Guytrie recalled that she and her husband were sleeping with their three-year-old daughter on a bed in one of the bedrooms when at about 01:45 hours they were awakened by the bandits, who were standing over them. ALLEGED POLICE BRUTALITY, SODOMY… VICTIM SEEKS $100M IN DAMAGES Sharon Harding, the mother of the 23-year-old who was allegedly brutalized by a policeman stationed at Timehri Police Station, has initiated the legal process of suing the Guyana Police
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Force for the assault and injury caused to her son. The woman and her son, Colwyn Harding, are being represented by the Hughes, Fields and Stoby Law Firm. She is demanding the institution of criminal charges and compensation in the sum of $100 Million. THURSDAY EDITION POOR CITY DRAINAGE FORCES DEAD BACK INTO FUNERAL HOMES It seems as if there is no rest for the dead in Guyana. Several burials at Le Repentir Cemetery, the biggest of its kind in the city, had to be postponed Wednesday because of the flooded grounds. While Lyken’s Funeral Parlour reported that only one burial was affected, it was Sandy’s Funeral Parlour which was forced to postpone three interments. Merriman’s Funeral Homes also reported a “couple” of deferrals. ALLEGED POLICE BRUTALITY, SODOMY…MOTHER OF VICTIM WANTS GOVT. TO FOOT OVERSEAS BILL The mother of the 23-yearold man who allegedly sustained serious bodily injuries as a result of a brutal attack by a Constable is out to have the Government pay for the overseas medical attention for her son. The young man, Colwyn Harding, claims that on November 15, 2013 while staying at a home in Timehri North, East Bank Demerara, he was beaten by the Constable and other officers into a state of unconsciousness twice, and was sodomised by a condomcovered baton resulting in a ruptured intestine. FRIDAY EDITION POLICE DENY SODOMISING HARDING - PROBE LIKELY TO CONCLUDE BY TUESDAY An investigation into the alleged sodomising of 23year-old Colwyn Harding by a police constable is likely to conclude by Tuesday, but the accused rank and his colleagues are holding out that they did not commit the heinous act. Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell made this disclosure Thursday, during a press conference to address allegations that a Constable beat Harding and, in the presence of others, forced a condom-covered baton up the young man’s rectum. The incident reportedly occurred last November while police were interrogating Harding at the Timehri Police Station
about a break-and-enter report. T he investigation into Harding’s alleged torture is being conducted by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Meanwhile, the accused constable has been placed under close arrest, while, according to Brumell, “about six to eight” other ranks, including an assistant superintendent, have been transferred from the Timehri Police Station to Georgetown. “I must mention that unbecoming behaviour by police ranks will not be tolerated by my administration, and condign action will be taken against any rank found culpable of such action,” the Commissioner said. Flanked by other senior colleagues, including ‘A’ Divison Commander George Vyphuis, and Deputy Police Commissioner (Law Enforcement) Seelall Persaud, Brumell stressed that the investigation was still incomplete and the allegations against the Constable and his colleagues were still to be proven. He disclosed that investigators have also questioned officials at the Georgetown Prisons, where Harding was detained before being taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Parliament legislates brand new gun crime …also widens category of evidence to be used in trials The National Assembly Thursday met for the first time in 2014 and unanimously voted to create a new criminal offence, revamp the admissibility of various types of evidence in criminal and civil trials as well as allow for persons who received tickets for traffic offences to be allowed to make payments in any magisterial district. For several hours at Thursday’s sitting, the House voted on and unanimously for the Firearms (Amendment) Bill, the Evidence (Amendment) Bill as well as the Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure)(Amendment) Bill. All three Bills were last year rejected by the political opposition given that they were at that time tabled by Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee. It was this time around successfully piloted by Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, who found support among all of the speakers in the opposition benches. Under the current legislation, there is no offence that caters for the possession of a component of a firearm. When assented to by the President, this lacuna will no longer exist, and illegal
possession of a firearm or even a component will carry penalties of fines up to $5M and jail terms up to 10 years. Nandlall, in presenting the amendments to the House, reminded that it stems from international obligations under Organisation of American States (OAS) and the United Nations General Assembly’s conventions. He noted that while the amendments were quite small in terms of size, they are fundamental to the country at large. Saturday Edition Extra US$8M spent on V/ Hoop GPL plant …CEO says dumped sand disappeared overnight in swamp, and this continued for months Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and top brass of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) yesterday toured the construction site of the company’s latest generation plant at Vreed-en-Hoop, along with members of the media, and it was disclosed that the project is just about 20 per cent complete and will see cost overruns in the vicinity of US$8M. GPL’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Bharrat
Dindyal, in providing an update, said that the increase in the cost is related to the civil works and not the Warstila Contract which remains at US$26M. Dindyal said given the nature of the soil there had to be a significant amount of work to be done, more than had been envisaged. He reiterated that when GPL first took possession of the site, it was a swamp. In explaining the soil conditions and what they had to deal with, Dindyal said that when the contractors for the foundation first arrived on the site, their equipment immediately began sinking. Dindyal said that they decided to dump sand, but this would disappear overnight into the swamp and this went on for months. According to the CEO, a decision was then taken to bring in geo-textile material and lay it down to allow some consolidation to get the heavy equipment around the site. Dindyal said that “typically the foundation would have been done in a matter of four to five months, we are a year here now and still not complete.” The new power plant had initially been set for commissioning late last year, but has now been pushed back to July of this year.
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Sunday January 19, 2014
Belly fat worse for older ’12 Years a Slave,’ ‘American Hustle’ win big at Critics Choice awards men than low testosterone
“12 Years a Slave,” Cate Blanchett and Matthew McConaughey were among big winners at the Critics Choice Movie Awards on Thursday, taking honors for best picture, actress and actor. The all-star “American Hustle,” about 1970s corruption which earlier Thursday received 10 Oscar nominations, was named best comedy film, with Amy Adams winning best comedy actress. The 281-member Broadcast Film Critics Association, the largest film critics’ organization in the United States and Canada, also gave the film its best acting ensemble prize at the event in Santa Monica, California. Leonardo DiCaprio won best comedy actor for “The Wolf of Wall Street,” setting the pattern early for the awards
which virtually mirrored the top winners at Sunday’s Golden Globes. Blanchett, who also won the Globe and is favored for the Oscar, was honored for Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine,” in which she plays the unbalanced wife of a disgraced Bernard Madoff-like swindler. Many stars who were nominated - or snubbed - just hours earlier for the Oscars, Hollywood’s top honors, were on hand, including Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. Jared Leto won best supporting actor for his turn as a transsexual fighting AIDS in “Dallas Buyers Club.” He dedicated his award to “all the people around the world who are living with HIV (and) all the people who have lost their lives to this horrific disease.” Both McConaughey, who plays the real-life,
heterosexual Ron Woodroof who became an AIDS activist after being diagnosed in the 1980s and given weeks to live, and Leto won Golden Globes on Sunday, and both were nominated for Oscars on Thursday. “Thank you, this is fun,” exclaimed a clearly elated McConaughey, who thanked Woodruff “for living a life that was damned well worth putting to the big screen.” Lupita Nyong’o, who plays slave Patsey in “12 Years a Slave,” won best supporting actress, prevailing over such A-list contenders in the category as Roberts and Oprah Winfrey. Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón was named best director for the outer-space hit “Gravity,” which also took prizes for visual effects, film editing and cinematography.
For older men, having a big belly is more closely tied to general health problems than having low testosterone levels, a new study suggests. Researchers have known that obesity is linked to lower testosterone among men. But it’s been less clear how each of those factors relates to men’s well-being, Dr. Marianne Andersen told Reuters Health in an email. She worked on the study at Odense University Hospital in Denmark. In otherwise healthy men, an increased waist may be more important for some aspects of quality of life than low testosterone levels, as long as those low levels are still in the normal range, Andersen said. Sales of testosterone products have shot up in recent years (see Reuters Health story of June 4, 2013 here: reut.rs/1eWVWGK. Treatment may be appropriate for men with seriously low testosterone, but these products are marketed to a much broader group, including men who are just tired or depressed. For their study, Andersen and her colleagues asked 598 Danish men ages 60 to 74 about their quality of life using a questionnaire called the Short-Form 36, or SF-36. The questionnaire measures general health, including ability to perform physical activities, pain, vitality, social functioning and emotional and mental health. The researchers also measured men’s body fat, including stomach fat, and testosterone
Belly fat levels. Four in ten were obese. The analysis suggested men’s waist size was most closely tied to their quality of life - as waists grew, wellbeing declined. Testosterone, on the other hand, was “only modestly” associated with quality of life, according to findings published in Age and Ageing. “It is really no surprise that obese men score worse than thin men on the SF-36,” Dr. Bradley Anawalt told Reuters Health in an email. But, he said, that particular questionnaire “is not designed to capture the quality of life issues that would relate to testosterone and men’s health.” Anawalt is an endocrinologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He was not involved in the new research.
“If you are a generally healthy man with low testosterone levels, you will have a normal score on SF-36 because that questionnaire does not ask questions about sexual function and it does not quantify strength, bone mass and other organs or functions affected by testosterone,” Anawalt said. Andersen said that’s not just a problem with the questionnaire her team used. “There is a general agreement that no questionnaire may distinguish between patients with normal or low testosterone levels,” she said. “Many men with normal testosterone levels have bad scores and men with low testosterone levels have good scores.” That’s in part because men don’t
Facebook ‘relationships guy’ courts Physical punishment tied to Hollywood, media in new push
Beyonce fans got a big surprise at midnight on December 13, when the pop star announced her new album from out of the blue. Just as surprising was her decision to announce the album by posting a 15second video on Instagram, the Facebook-owned online photo-and-video sharing service. The exclusive announcement - virtually unheard of for a recording artist of that caliber - was a coup for Facebook, which has been upstaged by younger rival Twitter Inc as the go-to online forum for celebrities, sports and news. Potentially billions of dollars in television advertising are at stake as consumers increasingly turn to social networks to stay abreast of the latest news and entertainment. Twitter and Facebook both are wooing advertisers with video ad
aggression, hyperactivity
Dan Rose, Facebook’s head of corporate development and partnerships, poses for a photo at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California January 14, 2014 platforms and trying to hold off mobile communications startups like WhatsApp and SnapChat, which have lured many younger users. Leading the Facebook charge is Dan
Rose, vice president of partnerships, acquisitions chief, and architect of some of the social network’s key deals during his eight years there.
Regardless of the culture a child lives in, corporal punishment may do lasting psychological harm, German researchers say. In a new study conducted in Tanzania, where physical punishment is considered normal, p r i m a r y s c h o o l students who were beaten by teachers or family members in the name of discipline tended to show more behavior problems, not fewer, the researchers found. “Parents aim to educate children through corporal punishment, but instead of learning good social behaviors, the beatings often have the opposite effect,” said Tobias Hecker, a psychologist at the University of Konstanz, who led the study. “Some people still believe, despite an overwhelming
body of evidence, that corporal punishment in some cultures won’t result in as many negative effects,” George Holden told Reuters Health. “But, as this study shows, it’s difficult to find support for that argument,” said Holden, a professor of psychology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, who was
not involved in the study. Past research, mainly in industrialized countries, has found that children and teens who experience corporal punishment may “externalize” their negative experiences in the form of bad behavior and emotional problems, Hecker and his colleagues write in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect.
Sunday January 19, 2014
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Sunday January 19, 2014
EXCAVATOR DIGS UP 12 new housing schemes established since 2011 MISSING E’BO MAN
The decomposed body of Anrude Persaud, a/k “Jaglall”, who went missing since last Old Year’s Day was discovered by an excavator operator, Saturday morning in a trench, at Cotton Field, Essequibo, opposite the Mandir. Persaud’s family last saw him around 14:00 hours on December 31, last and have been searching for him ever since. The excavator operator was reportedly clearing weed from the trench when he was confronted by the dead man’s corpse. He subsequently ceased all operations and
notified the police of his find. Persaud’s daughter, Kim Persaud, identified her father’s body. The man lived alone at a house in Bush Lot and was regarded as an alcoholic. Just last week, Juliet D’Olivieria’s relatives discovered her nude remains at a dense back dam, at Dredge Creek, in the Pomeroon. The decomposed body of the mother of four bore a stab wound to her chest. Police had held her paramour, Leroy Benn but subsequently released him.
Since 2011, some 12 new housing schemes were earmarked for development, according to information tabled recently in the National Assembly by Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA). At Herstelling, East Bank of Demerara, three schemes were established during 2011-2012. At Peter’s Hall, in 2012, another plot of land called Parcel 101, was also set for development. Across at Providence, Parcel 85-87 was set aside for a remigrant scheme while Parcel 91-92 will become a moderate income housing area. Father down north, at Eccles and at Farm, plots of lands have also been set aside
also for schemes. The remaining new schemes after 2011 are at Plantation Hope, Mon Repos, Bartica, Five Mile in Region Seven, and Amelia’s Ward, Phase 3, in Linden. Meanwhile, at Diamond/ Grove New Housing Schemes, the CH&PA is reporting that it has established a number of reserve sites. In Little Diamond, there are three reserve sites, two public open spaces and one playground. In Plantation Great Diamond, there are 15 reserve sites, three public open spaces and five playgrounds. In the New Diamond Housing Schemes, there are five playgrounds and three
reserve sites. Reserve sites have been set aside in other housing areas. According to the tabled information, at Herstelling, there are nine reserve sites. A playground is set for Peter’s Hall while the Providence Remigration Scheme has four reserve sites for landscaping and aesthetics. The moderate income scheme at Providence also has three reserve sites and two playgrounds. At Eccles there are two, while across at Farm, five reserve sites have been pinpointed. At Mon Repos, there is one, while Bartica Five Miles has land for a playground and Amelia’s Ward, Phase Three has five reserve pieces of land.
Since 2011, at least 12 new housing schemes across the country have been established, CH&PA has said.
Finance Minister spends $1.5B... From page 10 inflows specific to upgrading of roads, construction of core homes and supply of materials and labour for the construction of houses under the hinterland pilot component” was its explanation. The Justice Improvement Programme of the Ministry of Legal Affairs also received more money. The Ministry said that $57.5M was used as a “Provision for additional inflows specific to the purchase of furniture and equipment to enhance the institutional capacity of the Court of Appeal, Commercial Court, Director of Public Prosecutions Chambers, Ministry of Legal Affairs; establishment of Law Revision Department; rehabilitation of courtrooms; purchase of transformer and administrative expenses. When Finance Minister Dr. Singh tabled the Financial Papers he had asked the Speaker,
Raphael Trotman, to name its next sitting as the day when they will be debated and voted on. The Members of the National Assembly will meet on Thursday coming for a Private Members sitting. This means that the Opposition’s business in the House will take precedence over the Financial Papers. Auditor General, Deodat Sharma, has for a number of years decried the abuse of the Contingencies Fund. While the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act provides for the Finance Minister to take out money from the Contingencies Fund, the reasons must be urgent, unforeseen and emergency in nature. It is for these reasons that the political opposition have been voting down a number of requests by the Finance Minister in recent times. Their justification is that the monies spent did not meet the criteria.
New wings commissioned at three... From page 16 government is spending a lot of money to provide these facilities for you and we are asking you to care them. If you don't care them you will not only be doing yourself a great injustice, but the community, the government and those who are to come after you.” He admonished. The Berbice High School (BHS) project which saw a two storey structure being commissioned was built at a cost of over $12.3M. Speaking at the BHS ceremony, head teacher Jenifer
Rollins stated that the facility which will house six class rooms is a great relief to the school and will be put into use right away. At the Tutorial Academy at Stanleytown, a one flat building which will house a further three classrooms was commissioned at the cost of $10.2M. However all was not well at the ceremony as was stated by the President of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA). Speaking at the ceremony PTA President Odetta Felix did not hold back as she expressed
her disgust at not being consulted on the project. Despite the government publicly stating that the PTA's will be informed and involved in projects of such magnitude at schools, they were not informed or consulted, she stated. She expressed concern that the location of the building was not ideal, stating that it was definitely not the best site. The PTA head said that they felt 'left out' and should have been asked what was best for the school. Her concerns were addressed by both Minister Persaud and Deputy Regional Executive Officer Imran Ally who stated that they were sure that the relevant stakeholders involved in the project were competent in making the right decisions. The Minister also said that projects such as those usually include mass involvement and consultations and starts from the bottom, and it was unfortunate that the PTA was not involved. Meanwhile the project at Tagore Memorial Secondary was done to the cost of $8.2 M. That building will house three classrooms. Also speaking at the Ceremonies were Vice Chairman of Region Six Bhopaul Jagroo and Deputy Regional Executive Officer Imran Ally. Regional Education Officer, Valika Jaikishun, and the various head teachers.
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Gaiutra Bahadur “Coolie woman” a true account of sex, rape, infidelity, exploitation and brutalization of the indentured “Coolie woman” By Ralph Seeram It’s 2am and I am up reading. No book ever had me up at 2am to read, especially since only three hours earlier I laid the book down to have a good night’s rest. But I could not sleep, Gaiutra Bahadur “Coolie Woman” does that to you. It’s a gripping, compelling true historical account of the horrors the indentured Indian women experienced, the results of which are still being experienced today - the slaughter of Indo Guyanese women by their lovers who use the weapon of choice, the cutlass. Ms. Bahadur’s book will force Indo Guyanese whether in Guyana or in the Diaspora to revisit their past, their history, as she has rewritten history with historical accuracy, and not that which was handed down to us by the British. Her 60 pages of notes/ bibliography/research are testimony to her accuracy. It started when she embarked on a journey to trace the roots of her great grandmother, Sujaria, who arrived in Guyana as an Indentured laborer back in 1903 on the vessel, ‘The Clyde’. In theory that is what the author had in mind, in reality her journey will take her back to 1838 when the first ships, The Hesperus and The Whitby, left India with their human cargo of Indentured servants, regarded more as semi slaves as it will turn out to be. Her journey will not only
find the truth of her great grandmother Sujaria, she would on the way unearth the truth about the horrors indentured laborers experienced, truth which lay hidden in archives of England, Scotland, India, New York and Guyana as well as various family collections. It would take Ms Bahadur a few years, poring over hundreds of documents in archives and libraries in those countries to reveal the truth she was looking for. The author’s search for truth will take her back to 1837 when the British planters were looking for replacement workers for the freed slaves. The system for recruitment of the first batch of indentured laborers pretty much set the template for the next 80 years. Nothing changed significantly during those years to reduce their hardships, whether in the recruitment, the journey to their new homeland or the subhuman treatment they endured at the hands of their exploiters in their new environment. The first ship, The Hesperus, set sail with 170 emigrants, only seven of whom were women. The ratio of women to men, even though increased a little, on later voyages, was to set the seed for disaster throughout indentureship, leading to strikes, riots and the slaughter of indentured men by Colonial Police. Women were a scarce commodity for the recruiters,
especially when laws mandated a ratio of women to men which in any case was still less than fifty percent. The reader will learn that the women recruits came from every caste, from different social strata, from prostitutes, abused women, wives who became outcasts and forced to leave their husbands, some willingly thinking a better life awaited them; some tricked into believing they were going somewhere else. This left the author wondering which category her great grandmother fell into. There would be countless more questions. The immigrants were herded at a departure point called Garden Reach, a name that seemed familiar to me and which I will explain later. It was there, that all social barriers broke down where “turned them all into an indistinguishable, degraded mass of plantation laborers without caste or family”. This “reverse alchemy began at Garden Reach as the emigrants ate and slept side by side, violating the taboo and rules that so far governed their lives”. The writer documents stories of voyages where the women were raped, forced to submit their bodies in exchange for food, in some cases by the very people who were supposed to protect them, the ship Doctor. For some women the humiliation drove them to suicide, by jumping overboard. If the women thought that
their sexual exploitation was over when they arrived in the colony, they were mistaken. It was just the beginning as the writer details how they had to share different “husbands” because of low ratio of women to men. This got even more complicated as the white overseers also competed for the women. In most cases the women would be forced into bed with their white masters. The problem was there was a scarcity of white women, and she documents why. This sexual exploitation of the women caused serious resentment among the indentured men leading to violence strikes and in some cases fatal shootings by the colonial police. While there were laws in theory to protect indentured laborers, the readers will find out how justice was dispensed to the poor souls. Ms Bahadur explains the reasons for the high suicide rate among the indentured workers. Fast forward to today. The author cites incidents of Indo Guyanese hacking their women with the weapon of choice, the cutlass, and shows how this has a direct connection dating back to the indentured system. The writer, who was born in Cumberland Village in Canje Berbice, but left for the U S at an early age, also researched her hometown and the nearby Rose Hall Estate. Her research will document the history of those places and in the process
discover the ancestry of a friend of mine, David Fraser, of Number 19 Village Courentyne. Yes David; you are indeed of Scottish heritage. She will comment on present day socio economic conditions in Guyana as these relate to women, and even though she did not name names, she took a “swipe” at a personal friend of mine, a lawyer who after some legal problem in Canada returned to Guyana to set up practice. I could not see the relevance but that’s the writer’s prerogative. There was another reason why I was so fascinated with the excellent work of Ms Bahadur who was born a few miles from where I lived then in Guyana. At times, I thought she was telling the story of my grandmother who came on the SS Sutlej in 1908. I examined her Immigration pass, and there it was, the dreaded departure point, 61 Garden Reach, where the Indentured men and women were herded like cattle
awaiting their trip. I called my mother who is approaching 90 and asked her if my grandmother ever mentioned her boat trip to Guyana. She replied, “Not a word”. I told her to read “Coolie Woman” to get the answer. She will have the opportunity as my sister has a signed copy by Ms Bahadur. Gaiutra Bahadur went to trace the roots of her great grandmother Sujaria, but what she did in the process was create a path where all Indo Guyanese and those in the wider Diaspora can go back into their past, to learn the dark secrets their forefathers overcame to preserve future generations. “Coolie Woman” is not only compulsory reading for those of Indian decent, but a must read for Guyanese historians, and should definitely serve as a history text book in high schools as well as the University of Guyana. Ralph Seeram can be reach at Email: ralph365@ hotmail.com
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1- 320 C.L Caterpillar Excavator. Excellent Condition with 2 complete 6" & 8" Dredge - Tel: 6485371 Ridgid Pressure Washer, Honda Engine, Honda Pressure Washer - Tel: 6277835 1 Bedford 4x4 truck with Hiab, 1 4x4 bush ready pick up - Contact Kim - Tel: 6585193 House lot at friendship and Diamond H/Scheme, EBD Tel: 223-0733; 692-8513 Live/pluck chicken call: 6504421, 220-9203 1- 500 Ton Cargo ship - Tel: 676-6933 1- Rome plough 20 dish, 11630 Bedford truck articulated with 2 trailerCall: 693-4596 2- M132 Lavarda Combine, 1- 22RB Dragline, 3- Pressure pump 4x3 for gold field, 12640MF tractor 4WD- Call: 627-0447 1 CAT standby 3306, 194 KVA 3 phase 60 cycleCall:641-8472 1 smoothie machine,2 ice machine- Contact: 231-0655 ,683-8734 One Nissan 2005 Bus unregistered & one Toyota Prado – Tel:642-1141 Bicycle Frames, wheels, accessories, parts, etc - Tel: 642-1141 1 Honda 250 custom in good condition - Tel: 627-0688 One RX-8 Mazda fully air conditioned, stick gear, wheel lights, fog lamps, power windows - Tel: 6532477
1 Fishing vessel fully loaded, 15 Yamaha, ice-box (650Lbs) Nylon 5" Seine (2.8M) – Tel:660-1825; 695-2679. Price Negotiable! Xbox 360 and PSP Console for sale – Tel:644-6012 1 Stall @ Stabroek Market Tel: 658-0115; 718-757-8031 1 IPod Touch 64Gb - Tel: 6913812 4 Flat Screen monitors 4 computers - need memory, bathroom set, bathroom/ kitchen sink, used windows/ wood. Tel:223-0726; 622-4170 Playstation 3, Playstation 2 and PSP games for sale – Call of Duty Ghost, W.W.E 14 Call: 644-6012 Yellow G-Touring Wagon immaculate condition - $1.1M negotiable – Tel: 685-5011; 692-1051 Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call:672-2566 Original Games - Call:6722566 Dodge 4X4 GLL 8918 – Tel:222-5649; 222-2242 Used Laptops $30,000 to $60,000 – Tel:227-0095 Chicken Hatchery (Robbins), 28,000 eggs capacity fully ready, $ 5.5 million or credit available Tel: 227-3939 6214000 Diesel Generator, 3 cylinder Lister pitter (England) key start, 15,000 watts $595,000 cash - Tel:227-3939, 621-4000 Generac Generator 15,000 watts portable, $475,000 cash Tel 227-3939, 621-4000 Clarke forklifts 3pcs 2000, 3000, 4000 Lb, lifting capacity $350,000 and up Tel: 227-3939, 621-4000
Clean Garden Earth and builders waste also Bobcat rental, excavating, clearing and leveling down- Call:6160617 or 663-3285 Cheap earth delivery to spot E.C.D and W.B.D- Call:6279977, 698-0182 Puppies – Breed Pekingese & Tibetan Terror Contact: 644-1972; 661-2837 270 Amps Portable Honda Welders and 1-2002 Tundra – Tel:611-5114 Used Furniture: 1 Baby crib, Stroller, 1 sewing machine. Price Negotiable! Contact: 616-6060. Yamaha R1 motorcycle. Excellent Condition – Tel:685-1231 3000 Ford Tractor – Price $700,000 – Tel:628-7943 Massey, Yanmar Ford 5000 Logging/ Agriculture Tractors, parts, Loader & Ford Truck- Call:615-1578/ 694-3595: Tools & Chainsaw668-2831 Panel Doors & Arch Frame as low as $19,995 – Tel:6641109;626-8141
WANTED One Caretaker - Contact: 2208110; 622-4364 Cashiers, waitresses, cooks & dispatchers – Tel:2332322; Cell:678-4470;629-4878 (Preferably applicants from EBD) Experienced Drivers. Apply in person with written application @ Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce Street. Cashiers/ salesperson/ Delivery Clerks to work in supermarket/general store on East Coast Demerara Call: 220-2128,642-1141 ONE COOK FOR XENON HOTEL [CHARITY] CONTACT: 771-4989/ 6706559 One maid - Tel: 614-6675 Cashiers ( with 5 subject CXC) for Yog Yog’s Frozen Yogurt @ 79 Albert & Laluni Sts Queenstown “Nimbus Building” Call:231-7002 General Janitor, age 35-40, preferably from Triumph – Mon- Repos – Tel:623-1387 Urgently need live in waitresses to work in bar, reasonable salary offer - Tel: 259-0574 Live In Housekeeper, Trinidad, 25-30 years. Wanted Immediately! Call: 1868-756-9730 Contract Cars & Drivers to work @Gems Taxi – Tel:6279424 Experienced pastry maker. Apply @ Shanta’s, 225 Camp & New Market Sts. One skilled mechanic with atleast 4 years experienced – Contact: 649-1290; 6718122. Attractive Salary! Land & House lots to buy in Parika - Tel:218-5591; 6757292 Labourers - Call:225-6070; 225-4492 General Domestic between ages 20-35. Call for further information – Tel:226-2710 General Managers to work on land dredges Contact# 2269768; 669-0855 1 Bedford Truck – Tel:6279977; 698-0182 2 Men to work on Chicken Farm in the interior – Contact:684-7516
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964 Ultraviolet Driving School – Contact:231-2372; 226-0765; 602-2583
Sunday January 19, 2014
Live in Domestic must know to cook 25 years & up starting salary - $50,000 monthly. Boarding & Lodging free – Tel:610-5043 LEARN TO DRIVE Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal Street and enjoy 20% Discount – Tel:227-3835; 2273869;622-8162
WANTED SPRAYMEN, JOINERS & WOMEN to work in furniture factory preferably from East Bank Demerara – Tel:6642604; 233-6743 Live-in waitress, bartender and going and coming cooks Tel: 643-9007; 664-1804 Land to buy in Parfaite Harmonie -Tel: 675-7292. Mechanic for interior Contact: 223-5273/4 Porters & Salesgirls. Apply with written application at Best Buy Food Supplies, Lot 1 Middleton & Dennis St, Campbellville. Gardener / Handyman Available - Tel: 679-1608 ONE SHOP KEEPER FOR THE INTERIOR (MALE) CONTACT: 223-5273/4 One live in maid – Tel:6568930; 682-0951 Responsible hire car drivers Tel: 231-7475 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665 Experienced general domestic, must know to prepare Indian dishes - Tel: 656-6388 Female worker needed, 3 CXC subject or sound secondary school education - Call: 612-1607 One experienced excavator operator to work in interiorContact:681-6044
EDUCATIONAL Balloon Décor Training. Classes on 28th January 2014. Call 225-3133; 613-7513 to register and more info. Courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration - Tel:670-2653; 618-1706 Princeton College: From 15, CXC adults classes, lesson for school children: Business & Science subjects - Tel: 231-5678, 6905008, Albertown Day and evening CXC Business classes for students & adults. S.B.A and Third Paper Tuitions Tel: 602-0700 Foundations of Nursing Practice courses in Home Nursing and child care Tel:692-2063; 613-0803; 231-5757 Learn to cut & sew at Enid’s Dressmaking Certificate Classes @ 66 Sixth Street Albertown – Tel:233-9106; 643-7966. Sewing Also Done!! 9 Courses Diploma in Computer Classes / Information Technology. Micro-Graphics Technology @ Vreed-En-Hoop – Tel:2643057 FOR SALE / FOR RENT American pool table - Tel: 277-0578
One experienced female shop attendant to work in interior - Contact: 681-6044 One experienced male shop attendant to work in interior, contact:6816044 One cook for family in interior - Contact: 681-6044 Experienced Taxi and bus driver and dispatcher at Princess Hotel - Tel:2657076; 616-8419 Hairdresser must be able to work with nails & handyman. Apply @ West Shore Plaza, 15 Public Road Ruimzeigt W.C.D - Tel: 269-1524 One live-in maid between age 30-45 - Contact:681-6044 Waiter & waitresses for 704 Sport Bar – Tel:223-5273/4 Couple (Husband & wife) to work on a Farm -Tel:601-5500 One Technician specialized in nail art design, air brush and hair extension – Tel:2316000
SERVICES Repairs: TV, DVD, Microwave, amplifier, stereo, washing machine etc – Tel:693-2683 USA, Canada & U.K. application forms filled & printed electronically- call Mrs. Mohamed @ Mohamed’s internet café, Enmore –256-4001, 256-3464 Brian Moe @642-3543: Computer Technician: FB/ Brian.Moe.165: Home and Office visits at your comfort!! Online Shopping: Amazon, E-bay, etc. Cybertron @ Vreed-En-Hoop – Tel:2643057 (Continued on page 55)
Sunday January 19, 2014
PROPERTY FOR SALE VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, self-contained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community - Call: 592-6248704/ 592-684-9203 Transported property : House + property for sale by owner @ Lot 153 Sparendaam Scheme - Call: 592-220-8573; 592-672-2348 Charlestown Corner with all convenience and business potential $35M -Tel:673-5882 House and land @ De’ Edward W.C.B – Tel:6892973 2 Business Property on Whim Public Road Berbice – Tel:619-7134; 225-6481 One three storey business property @ Middle Street Georgetown – Tel:619-7134; 225-6481 1 Fully furnished two bedroom house, big yard space. Owner migrating - Tel: 270-5196; 651-8979; 604-0183 2 Storey Property Agriculture Road – Tel:612-2522 Prime commercial property @ Albertown, 3 lots with business, (Nut Centre) best offer. Tel 621-4000, 227-3939 House & Land in diamond EBD – Tel:667-7659 Ogle – $40M, Republic Park - $40M, Business Concern in Georgetown - $60M, 155.55 acres – High Way - $30m – Tel:645-5938 1 Unfinished flat concrete house @ Parcel 806 Block XXVIII Plantation, Friendship, E.B.D - $5.5M negotiable – Tel:647-8595; 270-4149; 227-7978 House @ Tain Corentyne opposite Tain Campus – Tel:220-2472; 653-2868
Kaieteur News
TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 347933-9790, 639-4452. Aracari Hotel. West Bank Demerara Rates from $30 Tel: 264-2946-8 Fully furnished apartments $5,000 per night @ Harmony Inn - Tel: 694-7817; 602-8769 Executive Property Everything Paid For. US$1200-US$1000 - Tel:2185591; 675-7292 Apartments & Houses from $50,000 – $160,000- Tel:6757292 Fully furnished apartments for rent: TV, air-conditioned, hot and cold water @ South Ruimveldt Park- Tel:689-5877 Rooms - Tel: 225-9223; 2253234 Atlantic Gardens, furnished 3 bedrooms, A/C Security System – US$1,150 monthly. Defreitas Associates – Tel:609-2302; 609-6516 1 – New Bottom flat concrete apartment, fully tiled, 1500 SqFt on the E.C.D suitable for office – Tel:610-9809; 6146316
FOR RENT PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 1 – Three bedrooms house in Grove, E.B.D – Tel:2230733; 692-8513 Vacant one house upstairs and downstairs with toilet and bath, big space for parking @ Prospect EBD Tel: 673-1872 Prime Business flat to rent @ 78 Hadfield St by the Stabroek Market – Contact Simone:227-0501; 626-5317
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
2- Two bedrooms bottom flat – Tel:613-6402
(Continued on page 56)
VEHICLE FOR SALE
Nissan Maxima, fully powered need repairs sold as is $295,000 cash 227-3939, 621-4000 Stretch limousine, Lincoln Town car, fully powered $6.5 million or credit available Tel 227-3939, 621-4000
One 800 Ford Tractor and one 450 Ford Towing Truck – Contact Floyd:694-5599 or Gurro: 689-1864
7Pcs Trike Can-Am style Motorcycle, 200cc new, unregistered $295,000 neg or credit, Wholesale Tel 2273939, 621-4000 Mitsubishi 3000GT sports car, 18" rims, leather seats, excellent condition $1.9 million- Tel 621-4000, 2273939 Mercedes Benz S 300 bullet proof, leather seats, automatic, 19" rims $2.3 million cash Tel 621-4000 Driven Auto Blowout Sale!!! – Unregistered Toyota IST $2,195,000 – Bodykit, TV, Camera, spoiler, fogs, HID, Alarm – Tel:643-6565; 2269931 Driven Auto Blowout Sale!!! – Unregistered Mazda Axela - $2,295,000 – Pioneer CD, crystal lights, remote start alarm -Tel:643-6565; 226-9931
2008 Honda CRV imported from England 17" Rim Antitheft stereo system 2000 CC fully loaded $6.8M – Tel:642-7295; 220-2345 1 Black Titan 4 wheel drive, fully loaded - $3.5M – Tel: 699-2322 or 678-2814 One Tacoma Pick up 4 wheel drive, fully loaded. Asking price: - $3,750,000 – Contact Sady:628-9524 Cactus Auto Sales: Instock - Spacio, Fielder, Raum, Premio, Allion, Etc – Tel:6814208; 220-6262 Mazda RX-8 Blue, 6 speed manual, Type S, Mint condition, PNN Series – Tel:681-4208; 220-6262 1 2L Diesel Toyota Hilux Extra Cabs 4X4. Looks and runs good, never driven off road - $2M - Tel:686-4020 1-55 Leyland Daf Excellent working condition. Price $2.8M Negotiable - Tel:6568346
2005 Toyota Raum, fully loaded - $2.1M – Tel:6917475; 626-9590
1 Grey Toyota Premio in excellent condition, fully powered, 80,000 miles – Tel:643-9772; 223-6279
One Super Custom Bus, unregistered 1 Toyota L Touring wagon, EP71 Starlet, Spacio – Tel:644-5096; 6971453
2005 Nissan Skyline with TV, DVD alloy rims, navigation – Tel:679-9672
Black Toyota Fielder, Rims, Aero Body kit, DVD, CD, Stereo - $2,250,000 negotiable – Tel:689-7325 1 Car – Green Datsun Station wagon HB, good condition $250,000 negotiable. Call: 615-4367; 270-4149; 6478595; after 4:00 PM. 1 Old model 212 in Yellow, Price negotiable – Tel:6259961 Cheapest: Manaul VVTI Buses, Spacio, CRV – Tel:6167635 Toyota 4X4 solid Def EFI & new model 212 PPP Services– Contact: 609-4028/ 2163007 Mini-bus BMM – Tel:2202472, 653-2868
40x30 Space to Rent – Tel:6130448
One new model L.F/DAF dumping truck in very good working condition - Tel: 6815988; 675-5448 2002 Rav 4 PNN series, fully loaded - Tel: 694-6537; 6507875 New 2014 Isuzu: D-Max single & double cabs - Call: 691-0234 1 -1RZ, 15 seater, automatic mini-bus, BNN 3760 - $2.1M Negotiable. Good condition, never used for public transportation - Tel:628-0310 ; 672-5429 First Class Auto: Premio, Spacio, Passo, IST, 212, Raum Cold & New Modles Tel: 609-8188; 602-6307 Nissan Pathfinder (Left Hand Drive) - $1.7M & Nissan Laurel - $700,000 Telephone: 644-1144 1 - G Touring wagon with Ac, mags, music & alarm - Tel: 618-8040
Earn a Certificate in Cosmetology, wig designs or nails alone, beginning February 3rd Limited Spaces Tel: 666-5241/ 619-7603 Beautopia School of Cosmetology: Cosmetology, nails, facial/make-up courses Tel: 604-3002; 629-3497
VEHICLE FOR SALE
MASSAGE DRESSMAKING Designing and sewing classes in your district. Sharmela (Canadian- trained) - Contact: 626-2629, 676-6312
The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call:657-5979 American Style massage services- Call:678-7499
Unregistered Toyota Sienta (2004) 1500cc & 7 seater - Tel: 617-5536 1-65 Leyland DAF CF210, working condition – Tel:6729415;666-5905 1.5 & 2 Ton Canter with power gate – Tel:617-2891
Page 55
(From page 54)
VEHICLE FOR SALE New ATVs: Introductory price $1,199,000 (Duty Free)Call:691-0234 One RZ Mini-bus BHH series –Tel:615-5784 ALYEA AUTO SALE: PREMIO 2004, ALLION 2008 NEW SHAPE & CARINA 212 @ 40 CROAL STREET STABROEK – TEL:231-7284; 622-3823 Smart Choice Auto: Unregistered Premio, IST, Runx & Spacio - Tel:6523820; 665-4529 1 Toyota NZE corolla, AT192, AT212, AT170, IST, Funcargo, Rav-4, Hilux pickup 4x4 – Tel:644-5096; 697-1453 Toyota SV40 Camry for sale: Ac, Alarm & mags - $950,000 negotiable. Tel:661-2391 2008 Fielder, latest Model $2.7M – Tel: 617-2891 1 Sienta, PMM series, lady driven, 2 Raum PMM series. Owner Migrating – Tel:2705196; 651-8979; 604-0183 2 - 2007 Toyota Avensis - Tel: 698-0674 One Honda CRV fully equipped with running bars & other accessories, PNN Series. Excellent Condition! Price Negotiable – Tel:6606763 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / termsCall:680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 TacomaCall:680-3154 1 RZ Bus EFI series BMM Price:$1.5M negotiable Contact: 685-6415 Toyota Runx – Tel:645-5893
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Repairs, sales & spares air conditioning, microwaves, washer, fridges & stoves. Ultra Cool, call: 225-9032,647-2943 Repairs to Fridge, Freezer, AC, Washers, Stoves: Call 683-1312,627-3206 (Nick) We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer call:2310655,683-8734 Omar Instant Blackberry unlocking - Call: 675-2239; BBM 25C58FEO Need a experienced excavator operator? - Call: 673-5467 HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING FOR ONLY $10,000CALL:694-9843/227-2766 Make your music available in 95+ online stores, Email: infopack@sslbs.com to download details. For all your prefab building works & welding fabricating etc. 5 Brickery EBD -Tel:6582567; 660-3466 Brains Construction & Rental Services: Excavator, Bobcat, Truck, Tools - Tel:6015024/ 227-4536 (Bobcat & Excavator Operator needed) Technicians available for appliance repairs – washers, dryers, microwaves, stoves, deep fryers, etc – Tel:6190793; 218-0050 GT Tools Rental: Call this month, specials on ransom & steel rod cutter, etc - Tel: 675-0767; 627-5098 For professional Visa & Passport Applications: K&P Project Management Co. Tel: 231-5876
One Toyota Premio, year 2002 to 2005 – K/M -43,000, fully automatic, TV,CD, DVD, cameras, 17" mags – Tel:6004011
House plan drafting from$10,000 surveying and estimates services available Tel: 667-2189
Nissan Wingroad wagon $1.6M – Tel:645-5893
Grill work, concrete block molds, general arc welding Tel: 627-6874
Leroy Trident Car 250 CC, 4 doors, power window, keyless entry $495,000 cash or credit Tel 227-3939, 6214000 Hilux Surf 4 Doors, minor parts needed, sold as is $695,000 cash Tel: 227-3939, 621-4000
Masons seeking daily or job work - Tel: 678-9043 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,6626045,223-8115
Page 56
Kaieteur News
Sunday January 19, 2014
(From page 55)
VACANCY LAND FOR SALE 10 Acres Farm land next to Creek @ Splashmins, Linden Highway – Tel:687-1392 2- Acres cultivated, 2-1 Acres cultivated, 7 Acres cultivated, citrus, house, fish pond, storage at ParikaCall:226-7968 Parafaite Harmonie $800,000 - $1.2M, $2M (100FTX50FT) - Tel: 675-7292 Land at suitable location in Parika, near road, with water and light utilities available - Call: 697-9137 Parika - $4M & Herstelling (110FTX57FT) -$4M - Tel: 675-7292 Gold and Diamond mining lands already prospected Tel:699-3992 Lot A Good Intent, Essequibo Coast – Tel:6491382; 699-4736
CAR RENTAL Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131 Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www. dolly sautorental.com Premio, Vitz call:347-9339790, 639-4452. A i d a n ’s C a r R e n t a l & Pickup - Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807 Latest model vehicles @ unbeatable Prices – Tel:6855011; 692-1051
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant - Call: 6708893/684-2838 Two Printery Assistants. Requirements: Mathematics & English Grades 1-3, Two references, police clearance. P.O Box 10501 One Trainee Refrigeration & AC technician - Tel:231-0655; 683-8734 One Handyman. Requirements: Secondary Education, two references, police clearance - PO Box 10501 Driver and Salesman for Gas Trucks on E.C.D, W.C.D and E.B.D, Security Guards, Part Time Gardener. 266 4427 Security & I.T Technician. 5 CXC & Cabling Experience Tel: 627-8786 Existing Vacancies For: Western Union CSR, Office Assistants & Cleaners. Apply @ Survival Shopping Complex 173 Sheriff St Georgetown - Telephone # 227-5286-9 One Female Clerk – Tel:2315171 1 Receptionist/ Typist: Mathematics & English Grades 1-2, Microsoft word & Excel, excellent Telephone Personality, 2 references – P.O Box 10501 2 Sales Representative, between ages 18-25 Contact:227-1042 Vacancy exists for security. Apply at Alabama Trading Georgetown, Ferry Stelling 1 Experienced Cosmetologist & 1 helper / Cleaner Call:2274799
Joshua’s Car Rental Call:6656485; 679-8400 PEN PAL Mixed male, age 25 seeking Christian females age 18-24 – Tel:696-9746
PEN PAL Overseas based Indian seeks female 25 years & up. No Text Call: 661-3299
Sunday January 19, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): All indications are that you're feeling mentally and physically great. Your professional and financial interests could take a sudden turn for the better. Love matters should also be going well, and children bring great pleasure today. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Financial difficulties could be overcome today through the help of someone considerably older than you. Helpful advice could make a future course of action clearer and more practical than it seemed in the past. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20):Today a piece of information for which you've been searching could become known. Your money management skills might be called upon to help out a friend or perhaps a family member. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): With the shifting planetary alignment, all of your efforts over the past few weeks could finally bear fruit. Success and good fortune are strongly indicated, especially where money is concerned. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): A long-awaited vacation or a move you've been hoping to make could finally be possible. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): Heightened imagination and ingenuity could bring new thoughts for advancing yourself in the financial arena. Practical information from outside sources merges with insights to bring useful ideas your way.
LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): Social events could bring some exciting new contacts your way. Relationships with partners of all kinds should be fruitful and mutually beneficial, particularly when the people are also close friends. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): Your efficient, practical abilities are operating at a very high level today. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21): Your strong business sense and practical skills couple with imagination and innovation to bring advancement. Information from far away could prove especially valuable. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19): Friends and family could visit you today. They're likely to bring new friends whose expertise benefits a project you're working on. You might fantasize about how you're going to spend all the money you're going to make off this project. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18):A social event in your neighborhood, perhaps in your home, could bring useful information your way that you can use to advance your career. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): With the current astral environment, your professional and financial interests could take a turn for the better. Any difficulties you may have had seem to disappear as if by magic.
Sunday January 19, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 57
Dochfour carpenter beaten to death after winning ‘pool’ wager When Laykhram Goberdhan saw a television news flash on Friday morning of an unidentified man who was battered to death at Dochfour, East Coast Demerara, he had no idea that it was his son. But twelve hours later he was positively identifying the body at the Lyken Funeral Parlour Mortuary as that of his son Suresh Goberdhan called ‘Buddy,’ a 21-year-old carpenter of lot 410 Hope Lowlands, East Coast Demerara. The young man’s body was discovered around 23:30 hours in a clump of bushes on Mud Dam, Dochfour, less than a mile from his home, shortly after he was involved in a heated argument with two men, following a game of billiards (pools) . Kaieteur News understands that the two men have been arrested and are implicating each other. However, investigators are relying on the word of a Dochfour resident who claimed to have witnessed one of the men clubbing the young carpenter to death. When Kaieteur News
visited the man’s home yesterday, his relatives were making preparations for his wake; fixing tents and laying out chairs and tables. Holding a tarpaulin, the senior Goberdhan told this newspaper that “Suresh” left home on his bicycle at around 19:30hrs on Thursday night, informing them that he was going to “tek a li’l drink”. “He left wid one ah the neighbours,” the father said. However, the neighbour returned home a few hours later, claiming that he had left the young man drinking at “Patchy,” a nearby rum shop. Thursday night passed, and the family became worried, since it was unlike Suresh Goberdhan to “sleep out.” “He don’t sleep out and dem things, suh awe get worried. During the day Channel 67 does show piece, piece of wha gon be the headline on the night news, and awe see that dem find a body, but God help me, awe nah bin know was he…me nah bin know was me son dem kill,” the dead man’s mother cried. She explained that after
morning turned into afternoon and there was still no sign of “Suresh,” his father ventured out in search of their only son. “Me go at Cove and John police station fuh find out and den wan Indian guy seh “come, wha happen?” …suh me tell he, and he start asking me wha clothes me son had on, how he look, if he get tattoo and so,” Laykhram Goberdhan said. He explained that upon being further questioned by the officer, he suspected that something was wrong. Goberdhan’s suspicion was confirmed when he was taken by the police to Lyken’s Funeral Parlour where he positively identified the body as being that of his eldest child. “He get a lash across he head. He whole head bin injure and he had like big hole,” the senior Goberdhan said. Meanwhile, Davendra Rooplall called “Ryan” of Lot 392 Hope, Lowlands along with another man was arrested and taken into police custody where he is assisting with the investigations. “Somebody tell awe that
Ryan bin deh at the same shop that Suresh bin, suh me think dem meet up deh…Ryan live around here, but even though dem deh around de same age, he and Suresh nah really no friend,” the dead man’s mother said. She added that “me just know he (Ryan) by seeing he pass pon de road one and two time, awe nah really know he so much.” According to information reaching this newspaper, Goberdhan won a wager over a game of ‘pools’ he had played with one of the suspects. A source close to the investigation told this newspaper that the loser became angry and demanded his money back but Goberdhan refused and subsequently left the shop. The loser and the other man followed him and confronted him on a dark and lonely dam. An eyewitness had related that from a window, he saw three men standing along the dam with a bicycle, arguing. One of the men then struck another, causing him to
DEAD: 21-year-old Suresh Goberdhan fall to the ground. The eyewitness told police ranks that he saw the now dead man being pulled to the side of the dam where he was further battered to the head by the alleged perpetrator. The eyewitness further told police that after the two men left and he was certain that the ‘coast’ was clear, he came out to check the area. Upon realizing that the injured man was dead, the eyewitness summoned the
police. Suresh Goberdhan’s bicycle, money and phone were recovered. This newspaper understands that after intense interrogation, the suspects took detectives back to the scene yesterday in an attempt to recover the piece of wood that was used to bludgeon Goberdhan. The source said that both of them are denying inflicting the fatal blows.
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Kaieteur News
Sunday January 19, 2014
Over 40 trained to perform child advocacy tasks A total of 45 persons have been trained to help abused children get the justice that they deserve. These include stakeholders from the Guyana Police Force, the Child Care Protection Agency, Guyana’s Mental Health sector, and a few Non-Governmental Organizations such as the Forward Guyana, Child Link, the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre. Forward Guyana representative Ayo DalgetyDean explained that the trained persons will be utilizing the Child Advocacy
Centre in Queenstown, Georgetown to conduct forensic interviews and counseling of abused children. The centre is no longer referred to as the ‘One stop Centre.’ “We’re moving away from that name,” Dalgety Dean stressed. The woman told Kaieteur News that the trainings which concluded yesterday were done in the areas of Forensic Interviewing, which is primarily for those conducting the interviews with the abused children, and the Multi-disciplinary Team
Response, which targets the persons who will be listening in on the interview. They would be the people responsible for proving that the child is innocent. The Centre was established with the aim of shortening the very lengthy process currently being followed by those seeking justice for abused children. Kaieteur News understands that Guyana is the first country in the Caribbean and South America to undertake the opening of such a facility and that it is the first of several to be
opened. In 2013, an agreement was signed by Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), Ann Greene; Chantalle Haynes and Dalgety-Dean of Forward Guyana; Parliamentarian and member of the Board of Directors for Child Link Incorporated, Reverend Kwame Gilbert; and Representative of UNICEF, Marianne Flach. According to Ms. Greene, the centre is expected to bring together partners in child protection services and child advocacy for a coordinated response to better serve abused children and their families. “It is a child-focused, facility-based programme, in which representatives from many disciplines, including law enforcement, child
protection, prosecution, mental health, medical and victim advocacy, work together to conduct interviews and make team decisions about investigation, treatment, management, and prosecution of child abuse cases.” Greene said that the interviews would also be recorded and could be used as evidence in cases against the perpetrators. It was noted that when the child is being interviewed in one room, the police, child care officers, welfare officers and other partners can stay in another room taking notes and even request that the interviewer ask pertinent questions that would benefit the investigations, and thus prosecution. The video and audio recording can further be used as evidence in court; the child may never have to see their attacker again, let alone speak of them. The Director noted that this would allow for the victims to heal, instead of having to repeat their horrific experiences to various stakeholders. A Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the Ministry of
Human Services and Social Security for the establishment of the Centre, however, to date, the actual operation of it is pending legal procedures. Ms. Greene had emphasized that the Child Advocacy Centre would be a new tool in the battle of preventing crimes committed against children. She had explained that too many times children are asked to repeat the details of crimes committed against them to various officers as the investigative and child recovery process occurs. This, she said, proved adverse for the investigative process, the child’s recovery process, and even the prosecution of the case. It was explained that there are plans to have similar centres established in the various communities across the country. To this end, community leaders, and other village heads will also be getting attention, and may even be trained in relation to the functioning of these centres. “…Again, it is the essential partnership that we are looking for. It is a multidisciplinary approach and everyone has to be sensitized to play their part,” Greene told Kaieteur News.
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Obama bans spying on leaders of U.S. allies, scales back NSA program (Reuters) - President Barack Obama banned U.S. eavesdropping on the leaders of close friends and allies on Friday and began reining in the vast collection of Americans’ phone data in a series of limited reforms triggered by Edward Snowden’s revelations. In a major speech, Obama took steps to reassure Americans and foreigners alike that the United States will take into account privacy concerns highlighted by former spy contractor Snowden’s damaging disclosures about the sweep of monitoring activities of the National Security Agency (NSA). “The reforms I’m proposing today should give the American people greater confidence that their rights are being protected, even as our intelligence and law enforcement agencies maintain the tools they need to keep us safe,” he said. While the address was designed to fend off concerns that U.S. surveillance has gone too far, Obama’s measures fell short of dismantling U.S. electronic spying programs. Even as the White House put the final touches on the reform plan this week, media outlets reported that the NSA gathers nearly 200 million text messages a day from around the world and has put software in almost 100,000 computers allowing it to spy on those devices. Obama promised that the United States will not eavesdrop on the heads of state or government of close U.S. friends and allies, “unless there is a compelling national security purpose.” A senior administration official said that would apply to dozens of leaders. The step was designed to smooth over frayed relations between, for example, the United States and Germany after reports surfaced last year that the NSA had monitored the cellphone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff postponed a state visit to Washington in protest of the NSA spying on her email and cellphone. “The leaders of our close friends and allies deserve to know that if I want to learn what they think about an issue, I will pick up the phone and call them, rather than turning to surveillance,” Obama said. Still, he said, U.S. intelligence will continue to gather information about the intentions of other governments, and will not apologize simply because U.S. spy services are more effective. Obama is trying to
balance public anger at the disclosure of intrusion into Americans’ privacy with his commitment to retain policies he considers critical to protecting the United States. In doing so, he bucked the advice of some U.S. intelligence leaders. Some of his proposals drew skepticism from Republicans in Congress who expressed concerns that he was going too far in reining in essential spying programs. “While we will need much more detail on the
president’s new policies before passing final judgment, I am concerned that some of his proposals go too far, limiting our ability to protect the nation with little benefit to civil liberties of Americans,” said Republican Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee. One of the biggest changes will be an overhaul of the government’s handling of bulk telephone “metadata” - lists of million of phone calls made by Americans that show
which numbers were called and when. Obama said the program as it currently exists will end. In a nod to privacy advocates, the government will not hold the bulk telephone metadata, a decision that could frustrate some intelligence officials. A presidential advisory panel had recommended that the data be controlled by a third party such as the telephone companies, but Obama did not propose who should store the phone
information in the future. He asked Attorney General Eric Holder and the intelligence community to report back to him before the metadata program comes up for reauthorization on March 28 on how to preserve the necessary capabilities of the program, without the government holding the metadata. In addition, Obama said the U.S. the government will need a judicial review by the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
(FISA) court every time intelligence agencies want to check the database of millions of telephone calls, unless there is a true emergency. “The biggest deal is going to the court each time,” said retired General Michael Hayden, a former director of both the NSA and the Central Intelligence Agency. The usefulness of keeping metadata phone records has been questioned by a review panel appointed by Obama.
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Brazil militants slam bid to bar poor teens from malls Sao Paulo (AFP) - Scores of black and leftist militants staged a boisterous rally here yesterday to protest attempts to bar underprivileged youths from shopping malls in middle-class areas. An estimated 150 protesters, waving banners proclaiming “Enough with apartheid” and “End the genocide of Black people” massed outside the JK Iguatemi shopping mall and demanded to be let in. The political protest was
called in support of the socalled “rolezinhos,” mall gatherings of hundreds of low-income teens that have at times degenerated into disturbances and store looting. Ahead of the crowd’s arrival, security was bolstered at the JK Iguatemi mall and the management decided to close it down. The angry demonstrators unfurled a banner proclaiming “In the World Cup country, racist malls deny entry to
black and poor people.” The World Cup is to kick off in Sao Paulo on June 12. “They are denying us the constitutional right to enter any commercial space,” Douglas Melchior, an activist of the UNEafro black civil rights group, told AFP. “We are going to take legal action to reverse this violation of the constitution.” The protesters also denounced “police assassinations of black youths” in the country’s
slums. In a statement, the JK IGuatemi management said it decided to temporarily close the mall “to guarantee the security of its clients, store owners and collaborators.” It added that while it respected “democratic and peaceful demonstrations, the mall’s premises and activities are not adequate for any type of demonstration.” A week ago, the mall secured a court injunction to block a rolezinho. Police also used tear gas
and rubber bullets last Saturday to disperse 1,000 teenagers taking part in a similar flash mob in an eastern Sao Paulo shopping center, according to videos taped by the participants and posted on social media networks. Joselicino Junias, a member of the anti-racism organization Circulo Palmarino, said the rolezinhos or flash mobs aimed to challenge the “fundamentally racist, segregationist nature” of Brazilian society. They also seek to touch off a debate over “the urgent need for the state to provide recreational and cultural activities for underprivileged youths,” he added. Several local shopping centers have secured court injunctions to deny entry to troublemakers but they deny charges of discrimination and racial profiling. Sao Paulo state governor
Geraldo Alckmin insisted that the rolezinhos, which are coordinated via social media, are not illegal. But he vowed that police would intervene if the gatherings degenerated into violence and vandalism. Local officials, meanwhile, are trying to arrange meetings with both sides to defuse tension and work out an acceptable compromise. Late Thursday, the Shopping Jardim Sul in southern Sao Paulo was evacuated and security beefed up after 200 militants of the Homeless Workers’ Movement rallied outside in support of the rolezinhos. More rolezinhos are being planned in Sao Paulo and other Brazilian cities, including one calling thousands of youths to go to Shopping Leblon, in Rio’s posh southern zone, today.
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“West Indies cricket in 2014 – Rumble, young man, rumble – Believe that miracles can happen!”
Colin E. H. Croft says:
Muhammad Ali (telegraph.co.uk) With England’s ODI and T-20 tour in February/March, in Antigua & Barbuda and Barbados, and ICC Cricket 50overs World Cup 2015 next year in Australia and New Zealand, anything, even, yes, miracles, can happen for aspiring young cricketers who believe in themselves. Caribbean cricket 2014 starts in earnest with NAGICO Super 50 overs competition. After disappointing ODI and Test tours of India and NZ recently, most West Indies team places are up for grabs. Those players who are not yet household names, but who have been selected to their respective country’s 50overs team, should be thinking fully like the legendary, unique boxer Muhammad Ali. “Float like a butterfly; sting like a bee; the hands can’t hit what the eyes can’s see. Rumble, young man, rumble”, was the overpowering call invented by Ali’s famous corner-man, Drew “Bundini” Brown! Ali, a pup at 22 years old, only two years a professional, truly believed that he could beat Sonny Liston in 1964, even if Liston was “extremely dangerous” and “unbeatable”, and again when, in 1974, Ali defeated “Big” George Foreman, another “unbeatable,” in Zaire; both sporting miracles! Younger cricketers must
also believe that they can break through this season like none in recent past, hoping to play their parts in West Indies coming out of the doldrums, to begin to matter again world-wide. Here is a true, hopefully inspirational story for those aspiring to play for West Indies – mine! 1976: West Indies obliterated England 3-0 through world-class faster bowling from especially Michael Holding, Wayne Daniel, Andy Roberts, Vanburn Holder and Bernard Julien, and tremendous batting from Roy Fredericks, Gordon Greenidge, especially (Sir) Viv Richards, Alvin Kallicharran and Clive Lloyd. Holding had debuted in Australia in 1975/6, ages 21, having played just one first class game, so impressed captain Clive Lloyd was with him. Look at what Holding has done in his playing career! By 1977, at 23 years old, I had played a solitary 1st Class game for Guyana v Jamaica, in 1972, with poor returns; 152-75-0; even though many catches were dropped. Not even called to Guyana’s trial games in 1973 and 1974, I went, in 1975, to study navigation in Trinidad & Tobago, where I played, very well, for Paragon Sports Club, catching the eyes of late WI legend Michael “Joey” Carew, soon to be a WI
West Indian fast bowlers Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Colin Croft and Joel Garner in 1981 (mirror.co.uk) selector then, who told me that I could soon be playing for West Indies. I promised myself, and the few around me who believed, that, as 1977 dawned, I would do whatever it took to at least play for West Indies President’s XI against the touring Pakistanis that year. This was as high as I could have hoped for, since those already-noted fast bowlers had destroyed England four months earlier, and would probably do the same too to Pakistan in the upcoming five-Test series. 1977: My first four-day game that year, against Combined Islands at Monsterrat, Jim Allen got a century, but I also bowled so fast that many people took notice, including the one WI selector present. I bowled relatively well too against Barbados at Kensington Oval and against Jamaica at Rose Hall, getting just nine wickets overall from my first four 1st Class games, nothing spectacular to write home about. But my reward was as I had hoped - selection to West Indies President’s XI v Pakistan, in St. Lucia. Another player included
WICB Chief hints at new... From page 66 use what we could be doing off season, much of our team management should be at the High Performance Centre really helping to develop the cricketers. “We need to really structure that in a way that we always will have them (the technical and management staff) there because it is not only new cricketers, it is established cricketers who
need refreshing and need to really go back into the nets really and that is what we are going to be focusing on.” Muirhead said WICB director of cricket, Englishman Richard Pybus, will have his hands full but is well equipped to get systems up and running at the HPC as the WICB seeks to upgrade the quality and delivery of world-class cricketers.
“Richard (Pybus) started the first high performance centre in Australia so he does have that experience there and that (upgrading the HPC) is part of his mandate and he has a lot on his plate,” Muirhead said. He added that at round the end of the first quarter of this year, the WICB would like to bring to the public their competitive plans for the West Indies team.
in that WICB President XI team was a certain Joel “Big Bird” Garner, who at 22, had made his debut for Barbados that year, impressing with his speed, superb accuracy and extra bounce. By the time that West Indies President’s XI had beaten Pakistan, in three of the scheduled four days, Garner had taken seven wickets and I had taken ten wickets in the match; joint “Men of the Match! More to the point, at least West Indies had, it was thought, found two aspiring
international fast bowlers. But, there could be no room for us in the Test team, as those fast bowlers who had toured England would certainly be selected for the 1st Test a week later. Then providence, good and bad luck intervened. Holding injured his shoulder playing Barbados, while Wayne Daniel pulled a calf muscle in the same game. That allowed two spaces to be available for Test No. 1 v Pakistan, filled by two relatively unknowns – Garner and Croft - who had played
only three and five 1st Class games respectively. By game’s end, I had seven Test wickets, Garner six, never to lose our places again, except for very occasional injuries. The rest is story-book stuff, Holding returning to join Roberts, Garner and myself, and the occasional addition of very young Malcom Marshall. Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, Colin Croft and Joel Garner played only twelve Tests as a four-pronged fast bowling combination, but in those games, with 240 wickets available, we took more than 200 of them, hurting many batsmen along the way, making the legend of “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!” That, like Muhammad Ali’s attitude, took unknown youth, bravado and even miracles! So, be inspired and rumble, young cricketers, rumble! Enjoy!
Big Three could control revamped ICC From page 62 system” in which England and Australia controlled all decision-making. The newest, richest and, therefore, most influential entrant into this club of power is the BCCI. “They are attaching the right of a country to rule the cricket world to its economic strength”, this official said. The proposal by the BCCI, CA and the ECB to exempt themselves from relegation was, he said, contradictory: “On one side, they say they are following meritocracy. But then they base promotion and relegation on financial strength.” At an administrative level, the recently-created post of ICC chairman, (meant to reduce the powers of the president and be given to the “the best man for the job”) will, according to the new proposal, become an annual rotation between “one of the nominees of the ECB, CA or the BCCI.” Similarly, the BCCI-CA-ECB will nominate the annual chairman of the Finance & Commercial
committee, thus nominating their own candidates in three key ICC positions: the head of the ExCo, the F&CA committee and the chairmanship of the ICC. The ICC chairman will not head other major committees of the ICC, its F&CA committee or the IBC, the commercial arm of the ICC. The proposal states that the IBC is to be “established immediately” in order to take charge of the next cycle of ICC media and sponsorship rights from 2015-2023. The immediacy being referred to is the ICC Board meeting of April 2014. The bulk of the “position paper” comprises a section focusing on a ‘distribution model’ of ICC revenues. The ICC’s current funding model distributes surplus revenues equally among Full Members and, in smaller proportions, to its Associate and Affiliate members. This, the proposal says, “does not recognise the contribution of individual members” and provides for a “distorted distribution model
that undermines selfsufficiency.” The “value contribution” of India is listed as “over 80%” with the other Full Members’ contribution ranging between “0.1% to 5%.” The proposal says: “If ICC funds were entirely allocated on the basis of where they came from, all Members bar two would suffer a seriously damaging reduction in their funding,” a position “not favoured by BCCI, the ECB or CA.” To redress the “distorted distribution model”, the new model recommends the creation of a “contribution cost” as recognition for every member ’s role in “contributing to generating ICC’s revenues required to sustain the game.” An estimate of the percentage break-up of “contribution costs” to the entire ICC revenue has been “worked on and negotiated by” the BCCI, the ECB and CA; this accords the three boards greater shares of the ICC’s revenues as they increase.
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Letter to the Sports Editor
Dominant Nadal leads race into A few questions for the GFF President second week in Melbourne
DEAR EDITOR, Please allow me the opportunity to ask the president of the G.F.F a few questions. Firstly I must commend the president for affording the football fraternity some level of insight into the selection process of (a) Technical director, (b) Head Coach and (c) players for preparation for national duty. In two separate releases, references were made to the technical committee of the G.F.F and in the most recent names were mentioned to wit; Ivan Persaud (Chairman), Wayne Dover, Lyndon France, Denzil Thompson, Brian Joseph and Sampson
Gilbert. My first question is why Mr. Collie Hercules, vice President of G.F.F and Mr. Joseph Wilson are not a part of this body. By any criteria, rational of course, both Mr. Hercules and Mr. Wilson should be included. They are by far the two most knowledgeable and experienced coaches locally. Mr. Hercules is an approved FA ‘B’ license coach, so is Mr. Wilson. Collie Hercules has played at the highest level both internationally and proleague football in Colombia, Barbados and T&T, where he was also a player/coach and subsequently head coach. Mr. Wilson is one of the
two individuals qualified as a coaching instructor by FIFA. Their knowledge and expertise can only benefit Guyana’s football. Secondly, of the five (5) named members of this elite panel, three have been officially nominated for the vacant head coach position, selected by this said committee and according to the “ghetto –internet” Mr Persaud is interested in both the Technical Director and Head coaching positions. Are we heading in the right direction, or are more self-serving interests being displayed? Regards, Bilaal Eusi Nantambu
Big Three could control revamped ICC ESPNcricinfo - The ICC is to consider a comprehensive structural overhaul of world cricket administration that will effectively cede most executive decision-making to the BCCI, Cricket Australia and the ECB. A draft proposal on these lines will be presented to the ICC Executive Board during its quarterly meeting in Dubai on January 28 and 29. The proposal, drafted by a “working group” of the ICC’s Finance & Commercial Affairs (F&CA) committee - in which the BCCI, CA and ECB are key members - recommends wide-ranging changes in the ICC’s revenue distribution model, administrative structures and the Future Tours Programme (FTP), questions the relevance of Test rankings and suggests the reinstatement of the Champions Trophy over the World Test Championship. And almost every recommendation of the “position paper” gives a larger share of control over world cricket to the Australian, English and Indian cricket boards - both in the boardroom and on the field. It also gives them a larger share of revenues, in a ratio that is linked to the ICC’s revenue growth. The ICC says these radical proposals await response from and the approval of member boards. The document does, however, contain an April deadline for the formation of the ICC Business Co (IBC) - a newly formed business arm which will be set up to replace the existing IDI (ICC Development International) in order to take over the task of issuing tenders for the ICC’s next media rights and sponsorship cycle. The proposal
Giles Clarke of the ECB and N Srinivasan of the BCCI, two of the three national boards that could be handed a larger share of control over world cricket © Getty Images recommends creating a fourmember group called the Executive Committee (ExCo) between ICC committees and the Executive Board, which consists of the heads of national boards. The ExCo, the proposal recommends, will include three permanent representatives from CA, ECB and BCCI, who will share an annual rotating chairmanship. A fourth member of the ExCo will be nominated by the ICC’s Executive Board and come from the seven other Full Member nations. The ExCo, if created according to the draft, will become “the sole recommendation committee … on all constitutional, personnel, integrity, ethics, development and nominations matters.” When detailing Test match promotion and relegation, the document states that “relegation exceptions” will apply to India, England and Australia. This is “solely in order to protect ICC income due to the importance of those markets
and teams to prospective ICC media rights buyers.” This document was made available to the ICC member nations in Dubai on January 9, as part of a special meeting called in addition to the normal ICC Board meetings held every three months. There is a possibility that the proposal could be even be brought to vote as early as the January meeting even though the ICC, which offered no formal statement, indicated that the document was a only working paper that awaited both response and approval from the Board. There had been a buzz among member nations that these proposals were being worked on between BCCI, CA and the ECB over the past six months but the first that other member nations saw of it was the document on January 9. A representative of a Full Member board outside the BCCI-CA-ECB triad said the proposals were a radical return to the old “veto (Continued on page 61)
M E L B O U R N E (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal beamed with delight after laying down an emphatic marker with a brilliant display of all-court tennis to charge into the last 16 of the Australian Open on Saturday. The Melbourne heatwave may have broken but arch-competitor Nadal was still bathed in sweat after his two-hour 6-1 6-2 6-3 demolition of the talented but error-prone Gael Monfils. Roger Federer earlier boasted of his fitness, Maria Sharapova felt a bit rusty and Andy Murray berated himself but all three eased into the second week. Vi c t o r i a Azarenka remained on course for her third straight title but may find the next hurdle trickier after setting up a fourth round tie against Sloane Stephens, who she beat amid controversy in last year’s semi-finals. While there was relief all round at the cooler temperatures after four days of stifling heat, Milos Raonic and Caroline Wozniacki both felt the stinging burn of an upset. Nadal never looked in any danger of an early departure, barring a brief injury scare when he jarred his foot early in the second set. Such was his dominance after he suppressed the Frenchman’s early charge,
the Spaniard was at a loss to pick out an element of his game that pleased him most. The top seed will play Kei Nishikori for a place in the quarter-finals after the Japanese ended American interest in the men’s draw with a 7-5 6-1 6-0 win over Donald Young. Federer looked at his own imperious best as he d i s m a n t l e d Te y m u r a z Gabashvili 6-2 6-2 6-3 to reach the fourth round at a grand slam without giving up a set for the 27th time. The Swiss is aware that tougher tests lie ahead, starting with Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the next round, but was delighted to have rid himself of his back problem. Murray’s back problems are more recent and he admitted to feeling a bit of stiffness as he finds his feet again following surgery and four months on the sidelines. Spaniard Feliciano Lopez gave him a big test in the first set tiebreak but faded after conceding the second and the fourth seed claimed his 14th straight victory over a left-handed opponent 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 6-2. Murray next meets Stephane Robert, who prevailed 6-0 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 over fellow lucky loser Martin Klizan - the first time a late replacement has reached the last 16 in Melbourne. Azarenka humbled
Yvonne Meusburger 6-1 60 in exactly an hour to set up another meeting with American Stephens, who she beat last year after taking a medical timeout as she struggled to close out their semi-final. Sharapova continued to don her distinctive ice jacket at end changes despite the cooler weather as she beat France’s Alize Cornet 6-1 7-6 (7-6). On the comeback trail after a shoulder problems cut short her 2013 season, the third seed accepted that she had won without playing her best tennis. Her boyfriend Grigor Dimitrov took a small step out of her shadow when he reached the fourth round of a grand slam for the first time by edging 11th seed Raonic 6-3 3-6 6-4 7-6 (1210). The Bulgarian prevailed after an 156minute Margaret Court Arena thriller rounded off by the tensest of tiebreaks which he clinched on his fifth match point. The 22-year-old has clearly tired of the nickname “Baby Fed”, bestowed upon him because of the similarity of his free-flowing style to that of Federer. Wo z n i a c k i w a s l e f t ruing her failure to convert more than five of her 16 break points in her 4-6 7-5 6-3 defeat at the hands of rising Spanish talent Garbine Muguruza.
NASL and VOIT announce... From page 64 swimming and fitness. “We are delighted to partner with such an illustrious manufacturer as VOIT and believe this is another step forward in improving the quality of play on the pitch in the NASL,” said NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson. ”The quality and reliability of VOIT match balls meet the high standards demanded by leagues such as Liga MX and the NASL.” The new NASL VOIT balls will be used for the first time by invited players participating at the 2014 NASL Combine being held at UC Irvine from January 24-26 and will be provided to each of the NASL teams for use during preseason training camps. When the 2014 NASL Spring Season kicks off on the weekend of April 12/13, an official NASL-branded VOIT
ball will be on the center circle at each match. “FIFA and the NASL have certificated the VOIT NASL2014 after extensive engineering design, analysis, and play testing,” said VOIT Director Cesar Pizano. “The technology of VOIT NASL2014 developed by VOIT, allows a perfect balance for improved ball sphericity and minimal water intake during match action.” VOIT NASL2014 was also created within a four-layer textured cover construction that not only helps to generate an optimal first touch for precision ball control, but also a high elasticity response layer to create a more powerful stability, and it meets the standards of FIFA with 30,000 hits without deformation. The official NASL2014 VOIT match ball was unveiled at the annual NSCAA
Convention in Philadelphia as Atlanta Silverbacks Technical Director Eric Wynalda, 2013 NASL Golden Boot (top scorer) winner and recent Ta m p a B a y R o w d i e s signing Brian Shriver, and NASL Soccer Bowlwinning midfielder Danny Szetela of the New York Cosmos tried out the ball for the first time. VOIT is responsible for the establishment of technology for mass production of balls in the world, having d e v e l o p e d the first fullmolded inflatable rubber b a l l t h a t a l l o w e d mass production, the first system used to cover the balls with nylon threads over the bladder (winding process), the first needletype air retention valves & the first fusion of synthetic material with rubber camera (vulcanization).
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Cat Messiah one of Guyana’s top horses for 2013 By Samuel Whyte Despite having not so good year in terms of general horseracing during 2013, there were some bright spots with some horses having a good year with some outstanding performances. The debate might reign on as to the top horse in the country for 2013. While there might be some serious contenders for the title, one animal that comes to mind and stands out like a beacon is the up and coming Cat Messiah of the Gansham Singh Racing Stable with six wins for last year. What makes Cat Messiah stand out among the pack is that it won two races in one day twice, a feat which according to some pundits has not been performed or performed for a long time. Although there were horses that would have won two races on the same day, none might have done it twice and even so in one year. What is even more astonishing and outstanding and might be unmatched is that it was done in the first year of racing for the animal. Add to the fact that the animal is a locally bred racehorse and you have an unbeatable situation. It might have also been the only animal to have participated in every race since it started racing on Republic Day (February 23) 2013. Owned and trained by one of Guyana’s young and enterprising horse owners, Gansham ‘Ganesh ’Singh. Young Singh’s sojourn so far with his horse has been a success story. The resourceful Singh has his own stable at the family farm at No 6 West Coast Berbice and has all plans to take his stable to the top. A look at the animal’s achievement for the foregoing year tells a good story. The animal only came
into racing during the first quarter in 2013 and tasted its first victory on the track in its third race when it won a convincing victory in a J class race on March 31st at the PMTC track Guyana Cup Fever event. Its next victory saw the horse scoring its first of two doubles on April 14 at the BLUTC meet winning both the ‘I’ class and the race for Three year old Guyana Bred horses. Cat Messiah returned to winning ways again when it dominated proceedings in the 2013 Guyana Cup Event with another double win in the same two events. It was subsequently named Guyana Cup 2013 champion horse for its achievements. The horse was in winner’s row, again on 10th November at the BLUTC meet, beating opponents into submission in the ‘I’ class event, bringing its tally of wins to six. It has also accumulated one second and three thirds making it 10 placing from 13 starts. Cat Messiah has so far moved up from J to I class in a climb to the top and has beaten all and sundry in its class including the West Indies Bred horses and according to the owner is looking for the new challenges ahead. Singh is one of the few young horse owners with a wealth of knowledge in his head. A keen and very meticulous participant of the sport, Singh stated that he likes how the animal is progressing and as long as things go according to plan, the animal will soon be the talk of the town and the animal to beat. Singh today is a proud man and he sees no reasons why his schedule will not come through. As he says, he has all the ingredients to make the racehorse the number one in the racing circle.
Owner Ghansham Singh collects the winning prize at the Guyana Cup for one of Cat Messiah’s two victories. The now four year old animal, which was born right at his farm and stable and No6, is a product of The Cat is Back and Santa Rosa Queen from Trinidad. It is the younger brother of another top performer, Super Cat. Singh said that he always knew that the animal will be a beater and although he had some setbacks earlier he was not perturbed. Among some of its fiercest competitors are Silent Night, She So Special, Flying Baby, Monsoon, East to Win and Gold Princess. For Singh, continuing his winning ways and increasing his stocks are his priorities at the moment. He has so far added Gold Rush to his stocks and with a two year old animal set to hit the turf this year, he now has three
EBFA/MCYS KO final on today at Grove Playfield Kuru Kururu Warriors battle Grove Hi Tech The curtains will come down on the East Bank Football Association (EBFA)/ Ministry of Sport sponsored knock-out football competition today at the Grove Playfield. Clashing for the first place and trophy is home team Grove Hi Tech and Kuru Kururu Warriors in what is anticipated to be a fierce battle as the teams will also be focused on getting in valuable playing time ahead of the
official start of the EBFA season next month. A supporting game will kick off proceedings for the afternoon at 13:00hrs between Diamond Football Club and Timehri Falcons. Leading the Warriors’ quest for victory today will be Ryan Scott, Cordell Johnson, Steve Gibson, Rakesh Hemnauth, Nandy Johnson, Christopher Alleyne, Ian English, Joseph Walker, Ivan Abraham, Paul Joseph and
Dillon Roberts. Grove will start the match as favorites to add yet another title to their collection. Carrying their charge will be the likes of Domini Garnett, Clive Matthews, Orson Francois, Lloyd Matthews, Travis Jones, Nathaniel Pilgrim, John Matthews, Trevor Jones, Delroy Dodson, Moses Fraser, Romel Matthews, Alex Sinclair, Seon Simpson and Shermon Doris.
animals in the arena. He also plans to add a few more on the track during the year. The stable also now has an added animal to its stock to complete the circle with the acquiring of Perfect Circle which serves as a stud. The animal coming to Guyana from the Caribbean with a tremendous record of 11 wins and 15 second places. Singh has been around horseracing for a while and he has knowledge of the sport,
the family having been into the sport for some time. The animal trains at the Norman Sigh Turf Club at Silver Park West Coast Berbice and the Bush Lot United Turf Club and according to the owner its training regimen depends on where it has to race and the type of races it will be involved in. The event also will dictate the type of training it has to undertake. He gives plenty of credit
to his trainer Sham ‘Folar’ Bharrat, who since his association with the stable and the guidance of Singh, has been creating waves in the local horseracing arena. With such an achievement and a feat hard to beat, the whispering ‘Cat Messiah’ with a tremendous finish down the homestretch is definitely the top horse, or a contender for the title of horse of the year.
Basketball action set to bounce off in Berbice today With the absence of a proper functioning Basketball body in Berbice and the coming to being of the new Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) executive, it is hoped that Basketball will be conducted on a better and more organized scale in the Ancient County for 2014 as was indicated by the President Nigel Hinds. However Basketball action is set to bounce off in Berbice today with the Inaugural Annamaya Memorial Interclub Basketball competition for teams in Berbice organized by Sports enthusiast Vibert Garrett. Six teams are down to participate in the competition namely - New Amsterdam Warriors, Smythfield Rockers, East Canje Knights, Fyrish Black Sharks, Rose Hall Town Jammers and Home
Line Basketball Club. The teams have been divided into two groups with, Fyrish Black Sharks, Rose Hall Town Jammers and Home Line Basketball Club in group A, while Group B is made up of New Amsterdam Warriors, Smythfield Rockers and East Canje Knights. The competition will tip off with Rose Hall Town Jammers playing Fyrish Black Sharks at the Port Mourant Training School court. The rest of the fixtures read: New Amsterdam Rockers verses East Canje Knights on Sunday 26th January at the Vryman’s Erven Basketball court. February 2nd will see Home Line taking on Fyrish Black Sharks at Fyr i s h , o n February 5th, Jammers will match skills with Home line at Rose Hall, February 9th will be the game between New Amsterdam Warriors
and Smythfield Rockers at Vryman’s Erven, while the final preliminary game will take place on the 12th of February with the Knights battling Warriors at the Vryman’s Erven court. The semifinals will be played over two days with the winner of group A taking on the runner up of group B on 16 at Rose Hall, while the second semifinal will see the winner of group B and the runner up of group A clashing on February 19th at Vryman’s Erven. The winners will clash in the finals on February 23rd at the Rose Hall Basketball court. All matches will begin at 16:00 hrs. At stake in the competition will be cash incentives and trophies for the top teams and outstanding individual players. (Samuel Whyte)
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Sunday January 19, 2014
Sri Lanka ahead despite Shehzad ton ESPNcricinfo - Ahmed Shehzad scored his maiden Test hundred but Pakistan’s progress on the third day in Sharjah, despite a century opening partnership and 122 runs in the final session, was not swift enough to weaken Sri Lanka’s grip on their 1-0 lead in the series. At their current pace the best Pakistan can hope for is to draw a Test they need to win, but with their middle order falling away alarmingly, they were far from certain of avoiding a firstinnings deficit. Pakistan’s approach was curious. The surface, despite its crumbling appearance, had little seam, swing or spin for the bowlers but the batsmen did not attempt to force the pace for most of the day. Pakistan lost no wickets in the first session but their openers added only 66 runs in 29 overs. They then lost two in the second while scoring only 84 in 29 overs. Shehzad led the acceleration after tea, forcing Angelo Mathews on the defensive, but he was one of four wickets to fall in the session, which meant it was Sri Lanka who won the day. The go-slow had begun after Pakistan got to 30 for 0 after nine overs; they scored only 12 runs off the next 13. The lack of pace off the pitch and the slow outfield hindered shot making and most of the early boundaries came via glances from Shehzad when the fast bowlers strayed on to the pads. To try and make something happen for Sri Lanka, Shaminda Eranga bowled cross seam to rough up one side of the ball, and a few deliveries did tail in to the right-hand batsmen through the day. Herath operated from
over the wicket, pitching outside leg stump, a line of attack he used for most of the day. Towards the end of the first session, M a t h e w s placed six fielders on the leg side and Suranga Lakmal bowled very straight, making the batsmen play, often across the line. Manzoor and Shehzad picked up the pace shortly before lunch but slowed down again after the break, when they played four maidens in the first five overs. Mathews brought himself on and conceded his first run only off the last delivery of his fourth over. Things began to happen in the 42nd over, with Manzoor and Shehzad sweeping Herath for a three and a four, and Shehzad being dropped on 43 by Dimuth Karunaratne at midwicket. That over of excitement, however, was not a sign of things to come. Pakistan’s century opening stand came up in 43.3 overs, and Shehzad got to his fifty off 150 balls, and Manzoor reached his off 120. Eranga’s reintroduction 12 overs into the second session brought Sri Lanka the breakthrough. He began to reverse-swing deliveries into the right-hander and Manzoor edged one that strayed down leg side to the keeper. He reviewed the umpire’s decision in vain and the opening stand ended on 114. Pakistan have made some horrible reviews in this series but none was worse than Azhar Ali’s decision to challenge his edge to slip. It merely delayed the confirmation of Dilruwan Perera’s maiden Test wicket, after the offspinner had to
wait 42 overs on the second day to get a bowl. Eranga and Lakmal then began to reverse the ball significantly - they had a 7-2 leg side field at times - but the movement was appreciable only in the air. The balls that hit the pitch were not as potent. Shehzad brought up his century shortly after tea - his second 50 had taken only 80 balls - and accelerated after the landmark. He square drove Perera for four, drove Eranga on the up through cover, lofted the fast bowler over long-on for six, and carted the offspinner over his head to the straight boundary. During Shehzad’s acceleration, however, Younis Khan, who had been rotating strike busily, was caught superbly down the leg side by Prasanna Jayawardene off Herath. He walked, leaving Pakistan 189 for 3. In the company of Misbah-ul-Haq, Shehzad continued to raise his strikerate, sweeping Herath and slog-sweeping Perera. The 50-run stand for the fourth wicket took 63 balls. Misbah’s contribution was 11. And then Shehzad chose wrong, attempting to reverse-sweep a Herath delivery from a few feet outside leg stump. He was so shocked that the ball had gone on to bowl him off the bottom edge that he took ages to leave the pitch. Shehzad’s last 47 runs had come off only 45 balls. There was more pain for Pakistan, though. Having been denied numerous marginal decisions while bowling, Pakistan lost Asad Shafiq to an lbw appeal that umpire Richard Kettleborough upheld, but replays indicated the ball from Eranga would have only
Guyana Hockey Board shortlists Indoor Pan Am Cup squad The Guyana National Men’s Hockey squad was reduced from 38 to 24 players over the past weekend. The squad has spent the past 5 weeks of training with a focus on physical preparation and individual skills. The players were then put through a series of strength, endurance and skills tests before the squad was broken down. According to the coaching staff, the focus of the next 5 weeks will be on small unit play and learning new systems. The squad will then be divided into teams to engage in a warm-up tournament before being broken down to
15. The final team of 12 players will be chosen in the weeks leading up to the Pan American Indoor Cup scheduled for Montevideo, Uruguay from the 7th to 13th of April 2014. The team’s management has embarked on an ambitious fund raising plan to accomplish the formidable task of raising the 6 million dollars b u d g eted for the team’s participation in the tournament. In 2005 Guyana narrowly lost to the USA in the 3rd place playoff and placed 5th at the 2010 edition of the Indoor Pan American Cup. This year’s tournament
is a senior continental World Cup qualifier with the winning team earning an opportunity to compete at the highest level in the 2015 FIH World Cup. The 24 players shortlisted are: Orland Semple, Kevin Spencer, Raphael DeGroot, Andrew Xavier, Eric Hing, Mark Sargeant, Medroy Scotland, Robert France, Devin Munroe, Randy Hope, Colonel Heywood, Jamarj Assanah, Aroydy Branford, Rayon Branford, Andrew Stewart, Michael Harding, Shane Samuels, Laured Stewart, Jason Hoyte, Joel Hunte, Aderemi Simon, Jason DeSantos, Anthony Cole and Timothy Baker.
Ahmed Shehzad was defensive for most of the first two sessions, but accelerated after his maiden Test hundred © AFP clipped leg stump. Shafiq reviewed and lost out to the umpire’s call, which is fast becoming Pakistan’s bane in this series. And in the final over of the day, Herath got one to
spin and bounce away from Sarfraz Ahmed, and Prasanna moved swiftly to his right to catch the thick edge. Misbah, unbeaten on 36 at the other end, was left with only the tail.
Scores: Pakistan 291 for 6 (Shehzad 147, Manzoor 52, Herath 3-88) trail Sri Lanka 428 for 9 dec (Perera 95, Mathews 91, Sangakkara 52) by 137 runs.
NASL and VOIT announce official match ball partnership MIAMI, Fla. – The North American Soccer League has announced a partnership with VOIT that will include the sporting goods manufacturer providing official NASLbranded match balls for matches and events. VOIT adds the North American Soccer League to its impressive soccer portfolio having been the official ball provider to the Mexican Liga MX since 1987. VOIT has a presence in 15 countries worldwide, manufacturing goods for soccer, basketball, volleyball, (Continued on page 62)
The VOIT official football
Sunday January 19, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Children’s Community Development Programmes launched by RHTY&SC cricket teams
Students of the Rose Hall Town nursery school pose with gifts along with teachers. The eight cricket teams of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) last weekend unveiled their third major programme for this year when they made their first donation under the Children Community Development Project. The teams - Rose Hall Town Farfan & Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Females and Gizmos & Gadgets Under-21 and First Division had last week
launched their Pro-Education and Charity Projects. The players donated a set of office furniture, notice boards, stationery and cleaning detergents to the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost, while eleven outstanding students of the Rose Hall Town Nursery School received a collection of story books, stationery and snacks. A donation of children clothing and snacks were also handed over to the Camal Children Home of Albion.
Public Relations Officer and Office Manager of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Moonish Singh, in handing over the items noted that the Club, which is based in the Rose Hall Town area and therefore is committed to the development of the township, its surrounding villages and young children. He stated that the donation to the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost was to assist the lawmen and women to fulfill their mandate to
RHTYSC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster (right) hands over the donation to Corporal Tyndall of the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost. protect and serve the Township. Singh stated that Children are the future of Guyana and as such the cricketers were proud to invest in their future. He urged the Nursery School Students who received the story books to develop the love of reading at a young age and to be good listeners. Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster complimented
the players for their continued commitment under the three major programmes. Foster informed that twenty (20) community projects/ programmes would be organised while the cricketers intend to make a positive differences in the lives of at least 2500 children during this year. Head Mistress of the Rose Hall Town Nursery School Ms. Sandra Whyte
and Corporal Tyndall of the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost expressed gratitude to the RHTY&SC for their assistance. Tyndall praised the players for being sports ambassadors and role models for youths in the Township. Whyte stated that the club has always assisted her school and its students and wished them success on the field and their personal careers.
From page 67 the report on February 10 as we were given a four-month time period to inquire into the whole issue. While I can’t reveal anything regarding the report that is set to be submitted to the Apex court, I can say that the BCCI has been really cooperative in the whole procedure,” he said. Asked to elaborate on his idea that legalising betting could help sports avoid such incidents like fixing in IPL-VI, Mudgal said: “I don’t think this is the appropriate time to talk about these things, we can talk on this post February 10.” Sources close to the panel said it was ready to go to any extent to get to the bottom of the whole issue and those
guilty should get ready to face the consequences. “To be fair, someone like Mudgal isn’t involved in the daily running of the BCCI, nor is he completely aware of the way cricketers function in their day-to-day life. So the committee got in touch with senior cricket journalists in the country to get their perspective and then spoke to the senior present and former officials of the BCCI like Arun Jaitley and Rajeev Shukla, among others. The fairness of the process can be gauged by the fact that the commission invited Lalit Modi’s lawyer Mehmood Abdi, despite knowing Modi’s sour relations with BCCI bosses.” “It must be noted that
while President N. Srinivasan was really cooperative, Gurunath Meiyappan didn’t do his case any good by handing a letter to the committee, exercising his right to remain silent. This makes his case more complex as the committee has the right to pass judgment on the basis of information they have received from other quarters — not a very smart thing to do,” a source told MAIL TODAY. “The committee has tried to gather as much information and data as possible — from every quarter — to make sure that no mistake is made when they pass their observations to the Supreme Court and those guilty have a reason to fear.” (MailToday)
Ramaal Lewis to lead Windies U-19 in world cup IPL spot-fixing scandal...
ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) – Jamaican all-rounder Ramaal Lewis will lead a 15member West Indies team to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. Lewis will be assisted by Nicholas Pooran, the lefthanded wicketkeeper batsman from Trinidad and Tobago while Roddy Estwick has been assigned as head coach. The regional players will have a one-week camp in Barbados, starting on Tuesday, before leaving for Dubai. West Indies are placed alongside South Africa, Zimbabwe and Canada in Group C in the World Cup. Their opening preliminary
Ramaal Lewis (flickr.com) match is against South Africa on February 14, followed by matches on February 16 against Zimbabwe and
Canada on February 18. FULL SQUAD: Ramaal Lewis (Jamaica) – Captain Nicholas Pooran (T&T) – Vice Captain Fabian Allen (Jamaica) Tagenarine Chanderpaul (Guyana) Bryan Charles (T&T) Tristan Coleman (Jamaica) Jonathan Drakes (Barbados) Shimron Hetmeyer (Guyana) Jerome Jones (Barbados) Ray Jordan (Windward Islands) Brandon King (Jamaica) Preston McSween (Windward Islands) Marquino Mindley (Jamaica) Gudakesh Motie (Guyana) Jeremy Solozano (T&T)
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Kaieteur News
Wiltshire Birth Anniversary Dominoes
Delta Force and Assassin chalk up wins
Radiyah Brandt (right) presents the cheque to Mark Wiltshire Delta Force and Assassin recorded victories when the Mark Wiltshire 59th Birth Anniversary Dominoes competition commenced on Thursday evening at Dynasty Sports Bar. Delta Force marked 74 games to beat Pacesetters with 70 and Mix Up on 65 in the opening round. Earl Mars top scored with 16 games, while William Sargeant assisted with 15 for the winners. Leroy Edwards and Colin Thomas were Pacesetters’ leading players with 16 and 15 games respectively; Mark
Wiltshire made 15 and Gilbert Mendonca 14 for Mix Up. Assassin scored 74 games to defeat Gangster who managed 71 and Lodgers with 66 in the second round. Rafeek Khan led the scoring for Assassin with 16 games and was ably supported by Michael Young with 14. Sevon Collymore made 16 and Dereck Collymore 15 for Gangster, while Jane Chase and Samantha Vickery scored 15 apiece for Lodgers. Meanwhile, F & H Printing Establishment
has thrown their support behind the tournament. Ye s t e r d a y a t t h e company’s location, John Street, Campbellville, Radiyah Brandt handed over a cheque for $20,000 to Wiltshire which will be given to the outstanding players in the tournament. Brandt said that the company is pleased to be associated with the tournament and wished the teams well. The entity has also contributed trophies for the said competition. Wiltshire expressed gratitude to his benefactors for their input.
Lloyd becomes 8th member on ACF Board Dream Cricket - New York, United States The American Cricket F e d e ration (ACF) announced yesterday that Clive Lloyd, the legendary West Indies captain had joined its Honorary Advisory Board. This latest announcement comes just two days after the ACF announced that Michael Holding, Ian Chappell, Alvin Kallicharran, Damien Martyn, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill and Niall O’Brien had joined the advisory board. “As someone who has always taken a keen
interest in the success of cricket in the United States, it gives me great pleasure to see the positive developments coming from the American Cricket Federation. T h e A C F ’ s leadership and its member leagues point the way to a brighter future, and I am happy to give them my full support, and to join its Honorary Advisory Board,” Lloyd is quoted as saying in the ACF release. Under Lloyd’s l e a d e r s h i p , t h e We s t Indies appeared in three consecutive World Cup
finals, winning twice. The ACF anticipates that Lloyd will bring this same winning attitude to the ACF Honorary Advisory Board, the release noted. “The ACF couldn’t be more excited to have someone of Clive Lloyd’s stature on the Honorary Advisory Board,” said CEO Jamie Harrison. “Clive is not only a match-winning international cricketer, but is also someone who regularly spends time in the United States and follows events here closely. His insights will be significant as we grow the game in the States.”
Sunday January 19, 2014
WDFA/Slingerz FC West Side K.O Cup set for January 29 Launch - Top 8 teams to compete for over $1M in Cash prize Eight of the best teams from the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) will be on show when the second Slingerz Football Club Stag West Side Mashramani Knock-out tournament kicks off on February 16. The event will officially be launched on Friday January 31 where all participating teams will be named apart from tournament host and defending champions Slingerz FC. The recently crowned Banks Beer Cup Champions used last year’s competition as an initiation into Guyana’s football arena and this year’s competition will be marked as the clubs one year anniversary. Just like last year, the winners will pocket $500,000, second place $300,000, third $200,000
Colin Aaron and fourth place $100,000. “Slingerz FC is more than pleased to present this tournament once again which is exclusive for teams only on the ‘West Side’” the club’s General Manager Collin Aaron said in a Press Release. Slingerz FC defeated
Den Amstel 3 – 0 to lift the inaugural trophy when the final was played at a packed Den Amstel Community Centre Ground last year, with the win being the club’s (Slingerz) first title. “This tournament is very dear to the club because it is where Slingerz FC was born and it was actually the first official tournament we’ve played and won and we know it’s not going to be a walk in the park for us since the other clubs over the last year, have all strengthened and are eager to overthrow us,” Aaron said. The proposed playing dates for the second installation of the Championship is February 16, 21, 24 and the Final on March 1. Ve n u e s a n d o t h e r logistics in relation to the competition will be made known at the launching.
WICB Chief hints at new HPC sponsor Trinidad Express - Port of Spain, Trinidad - West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) chief executive officer Michael Muirhead says the Sagicor We s t I n d i e s H i g h Performance Centre (HPC) in Barbados will likely have a new sponsor when the contract with Sagicor expires in August. The WICB development programme, based at the University of the West Indies (UWI) campus in Barbados and which started under welshman Toby Radford in June 2010, is now looking for a new sponsor as the Barbados-based insurance company has signalled it will not be renewing its contract. Asked what was the reason for Sagicor’s nonrenewal of the contract, Muirhead said: “Well, as a company they thought they had great advances in it and it was an excellent thing, but Sagicor themselves were having, I won’t say financial difficulties, but (were) sort of stretched and their profits have not been what they wanted them to be, so they are looking at various ways to come back. “We have not totally
Michael Muirhead taken it off the table, we will approach them again, but we will be approaching others and we have some very good potential sponsors for it.” Muirhead was speaking at Thursday’s official launch of the NAGICO Super50 Tournament at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain. The Super50 will run from January 30 to February 15 in Trinidad and Tobago. The inaugural class of the Sagicor HPC included players like Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies
pacer Shannon Gabriel, Barbados and WI fast bowler Jason Holder, Barbados allrounder Shamarh Brooks, Guyanese and WI left arms p i n n e r Ve e r a s a m m y Permaul and Windward Islands leg-spinner Kerron Cottoy, along with Brendan Bess, Kraigg Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich. Asked if he thought the HPC was carrying out the mission it was established to perform, Muirhead was confident the Centre had and would continue to. “We have produced. It certainly has done much of what it was supposed to do and what it needs to do, which is produce (WI) cricketers who are better than the rest, “ the Jamaican said. ”It needs a constant state of refreshing itself and I think we need to bring more expertise within the centre itself.” Muirhead said the WICB is looking at the professional side of the talent of the technical and management staff to maximise the potential of the HPC “because if we are going to (Continued on page 61)
Sunday January 19, 2014
Kaieteur News
GFF football saga:
Banned UDFA President, Sharma Solomon, vows to fight unconstitutionality of sanctions By Michael Benjamin Just when it was felt that football has reached an unprecedented low with ferocious in fighting and vicious rabbit punches, the situation has worsened when the General Congress, the highest decision making component of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), instituted sanctions on President of the Upper Demerara Football A s s o c i a t i o n ( U D FA ) , Sharma Solomon, his entire executives and second Vice President (GFF), Collie Hercules, when the GFF staged an Extraordinary Congress at their Dadanawa Street headquarters, Friday evening last. Notwithstanding this directive, Mr. Solomon is adamant that the meeting was unconstitutional and a charade and he said that he has no intention of abiding by the ruling without a fight. He admitted that he had attended the forum but exited almost immediately based on the aforementioned beliefs. It seems as though trouble was brewing way before the actual congress c o m m e n c e d w i t h M r. Hercules and his fellow Vice President (GFF), Ivan Persaud dispatching correspondences to the GFF executive labeling the forum as unconstitutional while requesting certain clarifications. Another Vice President, Rawle Adams, had earlier tendered his resignation but refused to divulge the reasons for his decision. When contacted, General Secretary (GFF), Noel Adonis, was very cagey and though admitting to the receipt of Adams’
Sharma Solomon correspondence, was adamant that this newspaper seek clarifications from the principal. All this time, several letters were sent to the GFF and one of them, by Hercules, was leaked to Kaieteur Sport. The GFF Vice President wanted to know who requested that an extraordinary congress be staged. He maintained that based on the constitution, only the executive committee or at least onethird of congress can convene such a meeting. Mr. Hercules then requested a copy of the written request by the member associations. Another Vice President, Ivan Persaud, also questioned the decision to host an Extraordinary Congress; he labeled this act a contravention of article 27 of the constitution. Mr. Persaud revealed that executives of the GFF had convened on January 10 last and the Linden issue where the General Council had advised against the staging of the Upper Demerara/GT Beer tournament had formed a
part of the agenda. He said that a unanimous decision was taken to have the issue ventilated at the level of the Congress since it was that body that had mandated executives of the UDFA to desist from holding the tournament. Mr. Persaud said that he was shocked by the decision to sanction Hercules and Solomon even before adherence to due process. Meanwhile, Mr. Solomon said that these are dangerous and trying times for the sport but his organization will continue to pursue their goal of football development. He said that contrary to accusations from some members of the GFF, the tournament under review, the recently staged U F D A / G T B e e r competition, was legally conducted. He accused executives of the GFF of being short sighted with no plans or projections toward the game’s development. “My understanding was that the GFF executives were concerned that we were holding the finals on the stipulated date (January 1), not the actual staging of the tournament per se,” said Mr. Solomon. He said that the ruling body, instead of castigating the executives of the UDFA, should take a page out of their book in their bid to develop football. “Our tournament was successfully run off among 14 teams and we have already paid out all monies and are in the process of submitting reports to the s p o n s o r s , ” s a i d M r. Solomon. He also said that the GFF is still to emulate
this act weeks after the completion of their tournament. “We are not prepared to accept nonsense from the GFF when they themselves are incapable of conducting their own affairs,” Mr. Solomon continued. He said that currently it is the secretariat that is conducting the affairs of the GFF and one ought not to be surprised by the quality of work emanating from that department. The UDFA boss feels that the GFF executive should not have been so empowered as to exclude the wider executives from the decision making process. “The General Council should have been empowered to strengthen the administrative sector which would have allowed for a clearer vision or path which in extension would have allowed for strategic objectives and plans, all of which, unfortunately, does not exist,” pronounced Mr. Solomon. He boasted his unit has fashioned a 4 year strategic plan towards the development of the sport in the region, “which is more than I could say for the GFF,” pronounced Mr. Solomon. The UDFA President concluded by tersely stating, “We will not relent from our mandate of promoting football in the region which is a clear directive of article 2 of the constitution of the UDFA,” he said.
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GBA National Goodwill Amateur tourney set for Feb 14-16 The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) has planned a national Amateur Goodwill tournament here from February 14-16. According to the president of the GBA, Steve Ninvalle, invitations have been extended to Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and St. Lucia and they have already received confirmation from Jamaica, while Barbados are unavailable. He informed that they are still awaiting official response from the Twin Island Republic and St. Lucia which they are expected to receive by Tuesday. Ninvalle stated that Jamaica will field four boxers and two officials. The president indicated that the tournament is being held to prepare the local boxers for the South American championships which will take place in Chile from March 1318. Ninvalle said that the local boxers have already commenced training but will be encamped shortly. Stephan Gouveia, Imran Khan, Bert Braithwaite, Dennis Thomas, Sephon Barton, Travis Fraser,
Steven Ninvalle Michael April, Diwani Lampkin, Junior Henry, Orin Bancroft, Dellon Charles, Stephon Nedd, Anndram Dharamraj, Theresa London (female), Dwon Thompson, Ron Smith, Desmond Marshall, Steven Chan, Markember Pierre and Eon Bancroft are some of the locals currently preparing for the event. The Jamaican team reads; Patrick Sahadeo (Lightweight), Anthony Clarke (Light Welterweight), Kestna Davis (Welterweight) and Michael Gardner (Middleweight). Carl Grant (head coach) and Godfrey Collins (coach).
IPL spot-fixing scandal: February 10 is D-Day New Delhi: A Pandora’s Box looks set to be opened on February 10 when former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mukul Mudgal, submits his report on the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal to the Supreme Court. The timing of the submission is interesting, since it is just two days before the auction for the seventh edition of the IPL. If indeed the report comes down heavily on CSK, it will
further tarnish the image of the cash-rich league and will also be a big blow for fans of the M.S. Dhoni-led side. Mudgal has time and again challenged the Board and its dubious methods and, moments after being appointed by the Supreme Court on October 7, had sounded the warning bell as he had said the BCCI wouldn’t have been too keen on having him on the panel. “We are going to submit (Continued on page 65)
t r o Sp Lloyd becomes 8th Dominant Nadal leads race P.62 member on ACF Board into second week in Melbourne P.66
Clive Lloyd
Russia’s Maria Sharapova gestures as she celebrates Greg Wood, AFP/Getty Images
Cat Messiah one of Guyana’s top horses for 2013
Rafael Nadal celebrates winning his third round match against Gael Monfils. Cameron Spencer Getty Images
P.63
Only animal to win the double
Cat Messiah of the Ghansahm Stable (NO2) winning the three years old race for Guyana bred horses at the Guyana Cup event by a whisker in a ding don battle with Silent Night.
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