Monday January 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 5
APNU not buying Minister Rohee’s explanation of Harding’s injury A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has reiterated its No Confidence in Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee moreso in the context of the treatment of Colwyn Harding who suffered attacks by the hands of police. The Opposition coalition has reiterated that as long as Minister Rohee remains in the portfolio as Minister of Home Affairs, they are not going to support any measures proposes in the National Assembly. “When you look at the treatment of young Colwyn Harding, when you look at the rate of murders, when you look at traffic accidents, when you look at the rate of killing in the Hinterland, the banditry, the piracy, when you look at the cocaine smuggling, we are convinced that the decision we took in July 2012 asking the President to revoke the appointment of Mr. Rohee as Minister of Home Affairs, is a correct decision and we hope the
President would see that there is need to implement the resolution of the National Assembly,” Opposition Leader David Granger said. According to Granger the answer given by Minister of Health Bheri Ramsaran in the National Assembly that Harding was suffering from an “incarcerated Hernia” is “in aberrance with reality”. The Opposition Leader further mentioned that when Ramsaran spoke in the National Assembly his own colleagues “could not believe what they were hearing and they said certain things and he snapped at them.” According to Granger, APNU does not accept the explanation of the injury. “We feel there has been mischief and we intend to explore every possible legal means to determine who is responsible for that condition and bring that person to justice,” he said. To that end, APNU said it has already called for an
independent inquiry into Harding’s situation since they feel it goes beyond the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). “This is a serious position that requires independent judicial enquiry. It’s not the first time and unless we put an end to it, there will be a recurrence. We had a problem over on the West Coast of Demerara and if action had been taken to punish the offenders, we probably would not have seen a recurrence. We have been saying this over and over again. This is not a problem with SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics), this is a problem of basic police training and basic police supervision. These are the things which are deficient within the Guyana Police Force, not SWAT,” said Granger. According to the Opposition Leader, there has
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From page 4 respect the rights of the police to investigate a matter. The alleged torture incident is a very complex one and a thorough investigation must be conducted so that all relevant persons be satisfied that justice has been served. The image of the police must be addressed with an overhaul of its present structure where one can found accountable from Constable to Commissioner. It’s my view
that the force has competent men and women who can rebuild the image of the police force and regain the confidence of the public but its need a collaborative effort all Guyanese. There are many reports of unprofessional behavior of police officers which have not been dealt with, but in other cases policemen were charged and were convicted and many more were dismissed
for misconduct. Therefore, all is not lost; what is need is a more proactive approach in dealing with officers who have acted outside the law. The time has come when senior officers in charge of stations must be held accountable for the actions of junior officers when evidence shows that the senior officer was aware of the actions of his juniors and failed to act. Morris Springer
been some admission on the part of the police that there was a deficiency in supe r v i s i o n and negligence in Harding’s situation and the police have already transferred the persons responsible which he said “is an old police trick of inflicting mischief in another region instead of suspending the p e r s o n o r b ringing that person before the Courts which we will press for in APNU. You put the person to continue the mischief somewhere else, so we are not satisfied with that at all.”
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee
Leader of APNU David Granger
Page 6
Kaieteur News
Local auto suppliers unable to detect radiation levels on Japanese vehicles Several automobile and spare part dealers have stated that they are in no position to ascertain radiation levels entering the country through the importation of Japanese vehicles. The dealers stated that internally, there are no mechanisms known to them to ascertain safe radiation levels, and they are relying solely on safety assurances provided by foreign auto dealers. In light of revelations that some vehicles imported from Japan are being detected with high radiation levels, several car dealers have noted that they are trying to put measures in place to ensure that they are importing safe vehicles. In 2011, the East Asian country was ravished by a Tsunami that caused mass blackout and damage to the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. The plant is still sitting on a fragile makeshift cooling system that produces massive amounts of highly radioactive water coming out of the plant’s wrecked reactors. It has been reported by some regional and international media outfits that dangerous levels of radiation could be entering countries that import used Japanese vehicles and spare parts. Kaieteur News understands that since large
Monday January 20, 2014
Timehri residents lament increase police harassment
...depend on foreign suppliers for assurances numbers of Japanese vehicles are being imported, it is possible- “if slipped through the system”that contaminated vehicles could be in the hands of unsuspecting vehicle owners. One car dealer located at Hadfield Street, Stabroek, told Kaieteur News that all of his vehicles are imported from Japan. The Dealer told this publication that it depends on the supplier to conduct checks on the vehicles that are being shipped. In light of the recent developments, the car dealer said that requests are being made to their foreign suppliers to ascertain safe levels of radiation that are acceptable. Another dealer from Peter Rose Street, Queenstown noted that his supplier conducts radiation testing. He added also, that his company has staffers in Japan who view vehicles and ensure the quality being sourced before they are shipped. An Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara (WCD) car dealer explained that most foreign car dealers have mechanisms in place to detect unhealthy radiation levels entering the country. The
dealer related that most Japanese dealers have to get certification for the vehicles that they ship. Since the radiation alert, the company has been insisting to foreign dealers that before their vehicles are purchased, they must attain certification from Japanese authorities. The dealer however said that he could not speak for spare parts importation since he is not in that aspect of business. Kaieteur News also spoke to a Lusignan, East Coast Demerara dealer and an Eccles Public Road, East Bank Demerara dealer who both stated that they are unaware of any mechanisms put in place by authorities that would speak to the detection of high radiation levels in the imported vehicles. They too said that they are relying on foreign suppliers to ensure that the vehicles have safe radiation levels before they are exported to Guyana. Government agencies have stated however that investigations have been launched to ascertain the danger posed by these imported vehicles. Jamaica, Suriname and Russia were noted as three countries highlighting that unsafe radiation levels from vehicles, spare parts and more recently, food, were being exported. Jamaica on two occasions had to return vehicles to Japan because unsafe radiation levels were detected in shipments; one of those shipments was heading to Guyana. Radiation is a chemical reaction harmful to almost all living things; it causes cancer and even death.
The house where Harding was allegedly brutalized and sodomized Residents of Timehri have described the atmosphere in their community as depressing, ever since the police increased their harassment of citizens there. Their comments come in the wake of allegations of police brutality against a resident Colwyn Harding, who remains hospitalized. Harding is alleging that he was badly brutalized by a rank at the Timehri Police Station, while he was detained there between November 15 and 18 last year. Many of the residents who spoke to Kaieteur News explained that the community became “hot” after two named police officers came to the district. They added that since the issue over the airport arose there has been increased police presence and intimidation. They however admitted that over the past few months “some unsavoury” characters had entered the community, bringing some instability there. The residents said that the police had however used this development to harass community members, especially the young.
Several parents expressed fear for their children in light of the alleged brutalization meted out to Harding. A father of two told Kaieteur News that since the Harding incident last year, there has been less police presence. “But before, you couldn’t even walk on the road. Sometimes they would pass and just pull up, ‘hey you jump in the van’, and just so you get lock up; and when you check, you wouldn’t see back de brother till Monday or whenever dem feel fuh let you go.” On other occasions, “the police would just chase people off the road,” another male resident said. Chairman for the Timehri North Community Council, Daniel Fraser told Kaieteur News that indeed since the issue of the airport expansion arose there has been an increase in police presence. He said too that a number of incidents would have also given rise to the police presence. He mentioned the cell phone robbery committed on a Chinese national working on the airport; the break and enter of the Amerijet Cargo Company on the airport and a number of home breakages that were committed on Timehri residents by persons from outside the community. Fraser even mentioned that he too had to be making nightly rounds to protect his home from breakages since criminal activities had upped during the past months. However he said that the situation did not give the police any right to harass villagers. He added that persons in the area would have heard the cries of Colwyn Harding, but they are scared to come forward. One woman, he said has information about what took place on the day in question, but is concerned about her safety. The Chairman has however expressed his intent to send out a statement on the matter. Meanwhile, a 13-year-old boy was among several
persons arrested by police officers in November last year, when 23-year-old Colwyn Harding was reportedly brutalized and later allegedly sodomized with a condom covered police baton. The 13year-old told Kaieteur News during a weekend visit to the community, that he was “slapped up” by the police and held at the Timehri Police Station for almost three days without the knowledge of his guardians. The teen, in the presence of his guardian told Kaieteur News on Friday that he had spent the night over at his older brother’s house when the police kicked down the door and rushed into the house located at the head of Fire Station Road, Timehri. He said that his two older brothers, on hearing the officers, ran away, leaving him and another eight-year-old brother behind. The teen said a police officer accused him of stealing a cell phone and slapped him several times demanding an answer about the stolen item. After telling the officer that he had no cell phone, the policeman dealt him several more slaps before asking’ “whey de guns deh?” The police had already arrested Colwyn Harding and had him sitting in a vehicle. The 13-year-old said he was then handcuffed to Harding who he knew from the area. He said that Harding was crying, and had stated that the police had beaten him up. The 13-year-old said that he was given no phone call to his family and it was not until he was seen in custody by the police station cleaner who knew him, that his family was informed that he had been arrested. The child was subsequently released from custody without being charged and without an explanation to his family. Kaieteur News was told that on Wednesday last senior police officers however visited the teen and took statements in the presence of his guardian.
Monday January 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 7
Ukraine protests turn into fiery street battles KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Anti-government protests in Ukraine’s capital escalated into fiery street battles with police yesterday as thousands of demonstrators hurled rocks and firebombs to set police vehicles ablaze. Dozens of officers and protesters were injured. Police responded with stun grenades, tear gas and water cannons, but were outnumbered by the protesters. Many of the riot police held their shields over their heads to protect themselves from the projectiles thrown by demonstrators on the other side of a cordon of buses. The violence was a sharp escalation of Ukraine’s twomonth political crisis, which has brought round-the-clock protest gatherings, but had been largely peaceful. Opposition leader Vitali Klitschko tried to persuade demonstrators to stop their unrest, but failed and was sprayed by a fire extinguisher in the process. Klitschko later traveled to President Viktor Yanukovych’s suburban residence and said that Yanukovych has promised to create a commission to settle the crisis. Another opposition leader, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said that Yanukovych had
Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades. Water cannons were also fired at the protesters in temperatures of -8 C (18 F), but the clashes continued. The harsh new laws brought a crowd of tens of thousands to the protest at Kiev’s central square yesterday. While most remained on the square, a group of radicals marched toward a police cordon several hundred meters away blocking an area housing government offices and began attacking riot police with sticks to push their way toward Ukraine’s
Opposition leader and former WBC heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, center, is attacked and sprayed with a fire extinguisher as he tries to stop the clashes between police and protesters in central Kiev, Ukraine, yesterday. (AP Photo / Efrem Lukatsky) called him to offer negotiations. The U.S. Embassy called for an end to the violence. “We urge calm and call on all sides to cease any acts provoking or resulting in violence,” it said in a statement. The crisis erupted in November after Yanukovych’s decision to freeze ties with the European Union and seek a huge
bailout from Russia. The decision sparked protests, which increased in size and determination after police twice violently dispersed demonstrators. But anger rose substantially after Yanukovych last week signed an array of laws severely limiting protests and banning the wearing of helmets and gas masks.
Many of yesterday’s demonstrators wore hardhats and masks in defiance of the new laws. They set several police buses on fire and some chased and beat officers.
parliament building. The crowd then swelled to thousands. The blasts of stun grenades echoed and plumes of smoke rose above the crowd. Activists chanted “Shame!” and “Revolution.” The Interior Ministry said more than 70 police were injured, four of them seriously; there were no immediate figures for protester injuries. The ministry also said a criminal case had been opened on charges of mass disorder; convictions under that charge could bring prison sentences of up to 15 years.
Page 8
Kaieteur News
Monday January 20, 2014
Monday January 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 17
Guyana’s jungle a treacherous place for aviators The pilot who crashed a Trans Guyana Airway’s Cessna Caravan in the Mazaruni is just the latest in a long list of aviators who have fallen victim to Guyana’s hazardous jungle territory. And in some cases, the victims have never been found. In May 1981, Henry Fitt, one of the leading pilots of the time, and a member of the famous Fitt aviation family, was given the task of flying five British nationals on a sight-seeing trip in the interior. According to reports, the foreigners had wanted to see Mount Roraima, located on the border with Venezuela and Brazil. On board the Cessna 206 were Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Goodman of Stafford, England; Jerry Golda of London; Stephen Mulley of Essex; and Gerry Coe of Bath.
The four men were Quantity Surveyors with Sir William Halcrow Ltd., a British consulting firm working on the Tapacuma, MMA drainage and irrigation projects. Aviation officials last made contact with the plane at around 9:35 a.m. on the day of the flight. At the time, the Cessna was over Phillipai Village in the Mazaruni, on its way to Kamarang. But the plane never arrived at its destination. Efforts to make contact with the pilot were futile. Director of Civil Aviation, Aubrey Alexander, spearheaded a search, which included a team drawn from the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Airways Corporation. The pilot of another aircraft reported that he had been in contact with the
missing Cessna, and that the winds coming from the west at the time were at 100 degrees with a velocity of 30 knots. The search continued the following day with the same result, and eventually, local aviation and Government officials were forced to seek overseas assistance. Fourteen members of the United States Air Rescue Unit, eight aircraft with Guyanese aviation officials and several privately owned aircraft joined the air and ground search. An aircraft from the Trinidad and Tobago Air Rescue Unit also joined the team after four days of fruitless searching. The Guyana Government also appealed to their Brazilian counterparts for assistance. And despite the border controversy, permission was granted by
Monday January 20, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): Today might not go down in history as the most exciting twenty four hours of your life, but your routine will be thrown on its ear for at least part of the day. ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): Surprise someone with a sweet show of affection and compliments today! Even if you barely know them, you can really brighten their day by letting them know you like their haircut or that they've got a great laugh. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): This is the perfect day to catch up on your correspondence -- why not do something crazy like write someone a letter? ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Today is a very good day for tackling any major clean up projects you've been putting off -- including picking up clutter around the house, organizing your office cubicle, or clearing up a misunderstanding between you and a friend. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): When it comes to building up your finances, you can't rely strictly on advice from friends! If you want to get serious about money issues, then you have to get serious about researching them. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): Someone might challenge one of your beliefs or opinions today, and some of the things they say will make sense!
********************* LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): You're in a very openminded phase of life, and could be changing your opinions about a lot of diverse issues -- this is a sign of healthy growth, but it might confuse your friends and family. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): One of your closest friend's emotions are right on the surface today -- so be very sensitive around them. It's anyone's guess which name or word will set them off, so it's best to stick to small talk and safe topics unless you want to get into a heated discussion. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Planning your next romantic move can be a blast, but try not to get too caught up in the details of everything -- you will drive yourself crazy trying to get everything to line up perfectly. .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19): As soon as you can find the facts you are seeking, your recent project will kick into high gear! ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18): There is joy beneath the surface of everything right now, and you are in the exact right frame of mind to see it! ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): If you are just about finished with a major project or getting awfully close to reaching an important goal, today is the day you need to put in one final push to finally get it all done!
Pilot Henry Fitt. His plane and passengers were never found
Still Missing: Captain James Wesley Barker
Missing: First Officer Chris Paris
Venezuelan officials manning the Magatir Tower in Caracas, Venezuela, for the rescue aircraft to fly over areas controlled by the Venezuelan authorities. Two of the missing pilot’s nephews, who were also pilots, came from overseas to join in the search for their uncle and his five passengers. Eventually, after several weeks without seeing any trace of the plane, aviation authorities reluctantly called off the search. In Guyana, a
memorial service was held for Henry Fitt. At the time, aviation authorities suggested that the powerful winds could have blown Fitt off course. They suggested that although he had vast experience flying in the interior, the pilot would have assumed that he was over Phillipai Village, where he was supposed to have landed, when he was fact in another location. On January 6, 2001, Army pilot, Captain Vickram Nandan, Lieutenant Floyd
David Gittens and building contractor, Ravindranauth Sharma, perished when the BN2 Islander that Nandan was flying slammed into Ebini Mountain, some 4.5 miles west of Mahdia. Nandan, Gittens and three passengers had departed Timehri at 06:15 hrs on January 6 and arrived at Kato at 07:30 hrs. The Army said the aircraft left Kato five minutes later for Mahdia. Sharma, the contractor on board, had chartered the plane to take building materials from Timehri to Kato, near the border with Brazil in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni). He was contracted under the Social Impact Amelioration Programme (SIMAP) to build a Nursery/ Primary School at Kato. On November 1, 2008, Captain James Wesley Barker, 28, First Officer Chris Paris, 23, both US citizens, and Canadian Patrick Murphy, a Geophysics Technician, headed from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport in a Beechcraft King aircraft for the interior. Their mission: to conduct aerial surveys on behalf of Prometheus Resources (Guyana) Inc. a Canadian Company that was hoping to locate uranium deposits in the vicinity of Chi Chi, Cuyuni/ Mazaruni. The aircraft had enough fuel for five hours 30 minutes flying and the crew was scheduled to conduct their survey in the Chi-Chi/ Imbaimadai area for approximately four hours 30 minutes before returning to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. At 15:06 hrs, the crew reported to the Control Tower at the airport that they were commencing normal operations over the survey area. No further reports were received from the aircraft. Officials from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) were alerted to the crisis, and the longest and Guyana’s most intense search for a missing aircraft began. The initial search team included the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Air-Corp and (Continued on page 18)
Page 18
Kaieteur News
Monday January 20, 2014
Guyana’s jungle a treacherous place... (From page 18)
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(From page 17) Special Forces, along with two British helicopters along with five other planes. These were supported by two aircraft chartered by GCAA from Air Services Limited and two private aircraft. Ground searches were also conducted by the army. Officials of Prometheus Resources (Guyana) Inc., the company which had sent the men on the survey expedition, also organised its own search party. Veteran Guyanese pilot Gerry Goveia who had survived a crash some miles from Timehri, explained that the Mazaruni area where they had disappeared was harsh terrain. Even uninjured survivors would be exposed to inclement weather, and a shortage of food and water.
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On November 16, 2009, some two weeks after the BeechCraft King Air plane disappeared, Minister of Transport, Works and Communication Robeson Benn announced that the aerial search had been called off. Nevertheless, officials from Prometheus Resources (Guyana) Inc. decided to continue the search, even if that meant merely recovering the wrecked plane and the bodies of its crew. Fliers were distributed to residents of the Middle Mazaruni area where the plane was believed to have crashed. Pilots took aerial pictures which were later posted online and scrutinized by a barrage of pilots. This was backed up by a team conducting ground searches. In late November, the search shifted to an area in the Kurupung after a Brazilian miner claimed to have heard an explosion in the location shortly after seeing a plane flying overhead. But they found nothing. The search continued into August, 2009, when, aided by specially trained cadaver dogs, a US searchand-rescue team of ex-army personnel, ventured into the Mid-Mazaruni area for one final attempt to recover the victims. But, like others before them, they found no trace of the plane or victims. They finally acknowledged that the victims may never be found. The team then dropped wreaths over the area where the plane is believed to have disappeared. That was acknowledgment that the treacherous Mazaruni jungle would be their final resting place.
Monday January 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
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3 Female (8 weeks old) German Shepherd pups - Tel: 638-5778 WHIRLPOOL WASHING MACHINE – TEL:644-5151
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant - Call: 6708893/684-2838
New Red RX8, Lambo doors & Rotary 7sp engine Contact: 680-2095 Large plucked chickens, wholesale only $300 per lb Contact: 266-2711, 609-4594 ATTENTION LOGGERS! ¾ METAL STRAPS, NAIL PLATES, ANCHORSEAL WAX – TEL:265-3541; 695-4785 Spare for washing machine, microwaves,fridges, stoves, timers, gearbox, pumps, etc call: 225-9032, 647-2943 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 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
Diving Suites - Tel: 265-3449; 613-5158 1 - 40Ft Boat Cabin Cruiser Tel: 628-9209 Dell computers complete with 20" LCD $65,000, 6 months warranty @ Futuretech- Call:231-2206 New arrival: 1 Toyota Tacoma, aluminum boats (12ft & 14ft)- Call:220-1981, 685-8282, 690-1945 Two plot of land ¼ Acre or 3X25 Rod each @ Lot 15 & 16 Doctor Dam, LaGrange WBD - Tel:697-5009; 665-7022 Xbox 360 and PSP Console for sale – Tel:644-6012 1 Stall @ Stabroek Market Tel: 658-0115; 718-757-8031 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 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
Overseas based Indian seeks female 25 years & up. No Text Call: 661-3299
Games PS2 $900, PSP $900, X-Box 360 $2600 & PS3 $2600- Call:672-2566
Used Laptops $30,000 to $60,000 – Tel:227-0095
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 Vacancy exists for security. Apply at Alabama Trading Georgetown, Ferry Stelling 1 Experienced Cosmetologist & 1 helper / Cleaner Call:2274799 MASSAGE The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call:657-5979 American Style massage services- Call:678-7499
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. ONE COOK FOR XENON HOTEL [CHARITY] CONTACT: 771-4989/ 6706559 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!
DRESSMAKING
Earn a Certificate in Cosmetology, wig designs or nails alone, beginning February 3rd Limited Spaces Tel: 666-5241/ 619-7603
Designing and sewing classes in your district. Sharmela (Canadian- trained) - Contact: 626-2629, 676-6312
Beautopia School of Cosmetology: Cosmetology, nails, facial/make-up courses Tel: 604-3002; 629-3497
Live-in waitress, bartender and going and coming cooks Tel: 643-9007; 664-1804 Labourers - Call:225-6070; 225-4492 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
General Managers to work on land dredges Contact# 2269768; 669-0855
One experienced excavator operator to work in interiorContact:681-6044
2 Men to work on Chicken Farm in the interior – Contact:684-7516
One experienced female shop attendant to work in interior - Contact: 681-6044
Live in Domestic must know to cook 25 years & up starting salary - $50,000 monthly. Boarding & Lodging free – Tel:610-5043
One experienced male shop attendant to work in interior, contact:6816044
SALON Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
WANTED SPRAYMEN, JOINERS & WOMEN to work in furniture factory preferably from East Bank Demerara – Tel:6642604; 233-6743
General Domestic between ages 20-35. Call for further information – Tel:226-2710
PEN PAL
1 IPod Touch 64Gb - Tel: 6913812
Original Games - Call:6722566 Dodge 4X4 GLL 8918 – Tel:222-5649; 222-2242
Two Printery Assistants. Requirements: Mathematics & English Grades 1-3, Two references, police clearance. P.O Box 10501
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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 Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal Street and enjoy 20% Discount – Tel:227-3835; 2273869;622-8162
EDUCATIONAL Balloon Décor Training. Classes on 28th January 2014. Call 225-3133; 6137513 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 9 Courses Diploma in Computer Classes / Information Technology. Micro-Graphics Technology @ Vreed-En-Hoop – Tel:2643057 Alliance Francaise Of Guyana: French Classes: Elementary 1 & 2, Conversation. Registration: January 20-22, 2014 – Telephone:226-0854; 6827943; 218-1108;226-1897
CAR RENTAL Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131
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
Latest model vehicles @ unbeatable Prices – Tel:6855011; 692-1051
Waiter & waitresses for 704 Sport Bar – Tel:223-5273/4
J o s h u a ’s C a r R e n t a l Call:665-6485; 679-8400
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
(Continued on page 18)
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
For our advertising rates call: 2258491, 225-8465.
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Kaieteur News
DEA in T&T to probe TT$.6b cocaine bust Trinidad Express - The United States’ Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is in this country investigating the $.6 billion cocaine bust in Norfolk, Virginia, USA, which originated from Trinidad and Tobago, the Sunday Express has learnt. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) officers seized 732 pounds of cocaine concealed in cans bearing the labels of Trinidad Orange and Grapefruit juices at the Port of Norfolk in Virginia, United States, on December 20 last year. The discovery was made during the inspection of a 20foot container containing the fruit juices. The wholesale value of the cocaine is about US$12 million and has a street value of as much as US$100 million, according to Customs officials. The seizure is the largest in the history of the Port of Norfolk. Port officials stated the container originated from this country and was destined for New York. The container carrying the drugs was said to be flagged as soon as it left this country. No arrests were made. An arrest is said to be imminent however, the Sunday Express has been told. Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Saturday pledged his assistance to facilitate an extradition if one is sought. “The Office of the Attorney General and the Central Authority under my jurisdiction will continue to co-operate with all international law enforcement agencies including the DEA,”
Anand Ramlogan Ramlogan said. “The government is committed to this international partnership in the fight against crime, while I am obviously not at liberty to disclose the sensitive details of any international investigation.” He added: “I want to give the assurance that the Central Authority will move expeditiously and continue to work professionally and responsibly with our allies and counterparts to facilitate any mutual legal assistance request and any request for extradition.” Local manufacturer SM Jaleel and Company Ltd did not export the container of juices in which some 732 pounds of cocaine with a street value of over $.6 billion was found to have been concealed, the company stated in a release on its website Saturday. This has been confirmed by ExportTT, SM Jaleel stated on its website. Minister of Trade Vasant Bharath told the Sunday Express while he had not seen
the documentation to support this, he had no doubt that the information was correct. “Our products are being targeted since we are this country’s #1 non-oil/ petrochemical exporter and because our brands are well known and respected,” the release f r o m S M J a l e e l stated. It added that ExportTT has confirmed it “DID NOT export the container of juices with cocaine to the US”. ExportTT Ltd was designated by the Cabinet of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to be the sole National Export Facilitation Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago. Bharath said: “Each export shipment has to be certified by ExportTT as having been manufactured in Trinidad and Tobago, it is called a certificate of origin, and it is given to every manufacturer who exports, so we know every destination to which a product is being exported.” Because of the certificate of origin, Bharath said ExportTT was able confirm that SM Jaleel and Company Ltd was not involved in the last matter where one of its products was associated with an illegal drug. Earlier last month, another drink associated with SM Jaleel and Company Ltd laced with cocaine was named in the death of a Royal Navy veteran in the United Kingdom. A liquid cocaine concoction in a Pear D soft drink bottle was blamed for the death of Joromie Lewis. Lewis, 32, is said to have consumed the drink on December 5 and succumbed shortly after. This led to the voluntary recall of all Pear D drinks bearing the code “BB Jan 08 14”.
Monday January 20, 2014
Antigua diplomat calls for appointment of CEO for CSME ST. JOHN’S – CMC Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to CARICOM Dr Clarence Henry has called for the appointment of a chief executive officer to oversee the affairs of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The CSME allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour and services across the region and is regarded by Caribbean leaders as a mechanism for deepening the regional integration process. But some aspects of the initiative, particularly the free movement of skills, have come under greater scrutiny as nationals of various countries complain about the obstacles preventing the full implementation of the CSME. Speaking at the just concluded two-day Broadcasters Workshop on Regional Integration and the CSME here, Henry said it has always been felt there was need for the appointment of a chief executive officer for the CSME. “The time has come for someone, a person of eminence, a professional, a
person with credibility to be appointed as a person charged with the responsibility to drive what we have been trying to do for so long.” Henry said the selected candidate must have certain powers “so that at the end of the day, this project this project that we have been long working on cane be realised to the benefit of all, not only for so, but for all countries”. Earlier, CSME programme manager, Ivor Carryl, said the diversity of member states was making smooth and full regional integration difficult. He said CARICOM should examine the successes of the subregional Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and its Economic Union on how to achieve regional integration in a much more beneficial way. “The amount of diversity is making it difficult for us to advance because there is so much difference, but what the OECS has done, is capitalize on the similarities of subsets who can come to agreements that a number of CARICOM
Dr. Clarence Henry member states still cannot come to,” he added. Henry had also argued that the challenges diversity posed can only be overcome if CARICOM leaders begin to think regionalism rather than nationalism. “CARICOM all be it diverse, different economic structures, we are all the same and we should continue to support each other but whenever difficulties arise there has to be a mechanism for quick response and resolution,” he said.
Experts to debate fiscal policy, debt and growth in the Caribbean SANTIAGO, CHILE CMC – The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLA) says fiscal authorities from central banks as well as economy and finance ministries from the region and Spain will this week debate fiscal policy, debt and growth in the region. ECLAC said the authorities will meet today and tomorrow with international experts at the 16th regional seminar at ECLAC’s headquarters here.
The annual meeting promotes the discussion of current affairs in the field of public finances and the role of the state in the region’s economies. The two-day meeting is being co-sponsored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB), with the support of Germany’s federal ministry for economic cooperation and development. ECLAC said the seminar would address the issues of fiscal policy, debt and growth, and proposals will be presented that aim to construct quality public finances, incorporating the objectives of fiscal sustainability as well as income distribution and economic growth. ECLAC said it would also present the “fiscal panorama
of Latin America and the Caribbean 2014,” which summarizes the fiscal situation in the region and addresses timely topics, such as the relationship of fiscal policy to income distribution and the initiatives that seek to improve the quality and transparency of public spending. Delegates would also discuss fiscal income, natural resources and green taxes, and the ECLAS said the third edition of the report, “Revenue statistics in Latin America 1990-2012,” will be unveiled. The report “systematizes regional tax statistics and contains a special chapter on fiscal income and basic products,” ECLAS said. ECLAC said the public finance workshop 2014 will be held to “examine the effects of fiscal action on income distribution and the policies needed to improve them, both in terms of taxes and public spending.”
Monday January 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Another mysterious fire destroys government building CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - CMC – Premier Vance Amory has described as a “black day” for Nevisians, the fire that destroyed most of the building housing the Treasury Office, the VAT Office and the Philatelic Bureau. The main opposition Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) has asked nationals to “restrain themselves from the temptation of jumping to conclusions, finger pointing and the spreading of rumors” regarding the early morning blaze on Friday. The fire is the third mysterious blaze in the twin island federation in recent weeks, following upon those that destroyed the Venezuelan Embassy and partially destroyed the offices of the Organization of American States (OAS) in St Kitts. “All of us … must feel that this is a black day to have this kind of event happen,” Premier Amory told a local radio station, as he too appealed for calm and patience. “It has caused very
serious devastation and it going to affect not only the Nevis Island Administration but the whole Nevis island populace who do business with the Treasury…persons who do businesses overseas…a whole range of persons will be affected by this.” He confirmed reports that some of the Treasury records had been backed up, but nonetheless expects it would a couple of days before the departments could begin to operate. The NRP said that residents should remain calm and exercise patience and praised the work of thr firefighters. “We further ask Nevisians to restrain themselves from the temptation of jumping to conclusions, finger pointing and the spreading of rumors. “We commend the Fire and Rescue Services for their courageous work in containing the fire. Their actions went a long way towards saving historic Charlestown. We must now allow the Fire and Rescue Services to complete their
Ecuador’s Correa rebukes ‘intrusions’ by UN, Americas court Quito (AFP) - Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa over the weekend rebuked requests by major international bodies for clarification on his antiabortion position and decision to extract oil from an Amazon reserve. The president revealed that his government had received letters from the UN and Inter-American Court of Human Rights pressing him on the matters, which he says are domestic. Speaking on his weekly radio and television program, Correa said the interAmerican court had inquired into the government’s controversial plans to extract oil in Yasuni Park. The move is opposed by environmentalists and indigenous groups hoping to protect the UNESCO biosphere reserve. Correa also said that a UN rapporteur had sent him a request to explain his antiabortion position. Last year Correa threatened to leave his majority-holding party if Congress decriminalized abortion in all cases of rape. “Gentlemen, go mind your business and not the affairs of a sovereign country like Ecuador,” Correa said. He also pointed to what he said was interference by
Rafael Correa the UN’s International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) in Uruguay’s recent decision to regulate the production and sale of marijuana. The body has said Uruguay’s move breaks international law. But, Correa said, there was a lack of international criticism over legalized marijuana use in the United States where the states of Washington and Colorado have permitted citizens to use the drug recreationally. “It’s a terrible double standard; they treat us like colonies,” the president, a leftist and economist by training, said. Her urged his countrymen to free themselves from “illegitimate and illegal intrusions by this international bureaucracy.”
investigations in determining the cause of this fire.” Leader of the main opposition grouping in St Kitts-Nevis, Team Unity, Dr Timothy Harris, said he was confident that the authorities would work diligently in rebuilding the structure. “We want the leadership and the people of Nevis to know, that we stand with them during this most difficult time. We know that a fire can certainly burn down a building but it can never burn down the hopes and dreams of a people. “Yes these are very critical
public institutions that have been ravaged by a fire of unknown origin, at this particular moment in time, but I am certain that the resolve and resilience of the people of Nevis remain strong. Nevisians are a renowned people of faith and we know that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.” Meanwhile, former leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM), Lindsay Grant is questioning the thoroughness of investigation into the fire that gutted his property earlier this
month. He said he was only contacted by the investigators a week after the fire. “Police called me to explain to me that they were concluding the report that very day and that they called me concerning the ownership of the building, and that’s the first time that I’d ever heard from them concerning the fire. “I found that very disconcerting and alarming that almost seven days had passed and the first time that they [talked] to me was when they were concluding their
report,” Grant told the WINN FM radio station here. Police and Fire and Rescue Services have indicated that the blaze may have been caused by a power line outside the building, but Grant and eyewitnesses dispute the findings. “If the report conclusively says that the fire started as a result of electricity and from the pole, it therefore means that SKELEC (St. Kitts Nevis Electricity Company) bears some responsibility for the loss of the building, so I will be looking at that very carefully,” Grant said.
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Kaieteur News
Monday January 20, 2014
Ganja stakeholders to step up campaign Jamaica Observer Cannabis stakeholders Saturday expressed the need for a more aggressive campaign to push Parliament to move further and faster towards legalising the growing, distribution and use of ganja (cannabis, marijuana) in Jamaica. Ganja Law Reform Coalition (GLRC) chairman Paul Chang felt that a more robust campaign and show of support would encourage parliamentarians favourable to fundamental changes to legislation affecting the use of the drug, and suggested the need for a young parliamentarian to step up and take the lead, with strong public support, including street demonstrations from stakeholders, including the GLRC. “We need a young MP to break the party ranks and put forward proposals for more meaningful legislations than the half steps that they are taking,” Chang told the opening session of the Cannabis Stakeholders Conference, held in the multifunctional room of the main library of the University of the West Indies (UWI) at Mona. Obviously shrugging off commitments by Minister of Justice, Senator Mark Golding that Cabinet has been considering
Chairman of the Ganja Law Reform Coalition (GLRC) Paul Chang (left) listens attentively to a discussion involving (from 2nd left) – Professor Archibald McDonald, principal of the UWI, Mona Campus; Courtney Betty, advocate and attorney; and Professor Rupert Lewis, political scientist — prior to the start of Saturday’s Cannabis Stakeholders Conference at the UWI, Mona. (PHOTO: ASTON SPAULDING) amendments that could lead to automatic expungement of ganja sentences, as well as Government MP Raymond Pryce’s successful resolution to decriminalise the possession of small portions of the drug, Chang said he is hoping that increased agitation would show a groundswell of support for more substantial changes, and lead to a conscience vote in Parliament. But he insisted that it required young MPs
being more forceful inside Gordon House. “Government only works when you make them work,” commented Louis Moyston, lecturer and researcher, who was the main speaker at the opening session. “I am saying to them (Government), we are going to inform you about what is taking place; we are going to inform you about the potential; and we would like you to work with us, so we
New sign of quake threat Barbados Nation - Some of the Caribbean’s leading earthquake experts have found new evidence suggesting there is “a high seismic hazard” threatening Barbados – one “substantially larger” than previously deduced. But just when the island will be shaken by a major tremor, after the last one felt
in the afternoon of November 29, 2007, remains the primary mystery. This is despite information from the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) at the University of the West Indies Campus in Trinidad revealing that “on average at least one” small earthquake “is expected in the Barbados area every month”.
The SUNDAY SUN confirmed that last year Dr Walter Salazar, research fellow in earthquake engineering and engineering seismology at the SRC, head of the Earthquake Unit at UWI Mona, Jamaica, Dr Lyndon Brown, and SRC engineering technician Garth Mannette conducted a seismic hazard assessment of Bridgetown.
can achieve a better future,” he stated. Dr K’adamawe K’nIfe, strategic planning and entrepreneurship specialist in the Department of Management Studies at the UWI, noted that Jamaica spends over $100 million each year fighting ganja use, while some 2,000 youth are being annually for smoking it.He suggested a more formal
approach to the programming of the use of ganja in the future, which would examine its role in the agriculture sector, its bio-diversity and the development of business models. Moyston also examined the “Historical Background of Cannabis in Jamaica”, noting that historical incidents, like the 1938 labour riots, were attributed to ganja smoking, and since then more severe penalties introduced, leading up to the 1970s when some were relaxed, including mandatory sentences, while in the 1980s Edward Seaga confronted the US on the issue and relaxed enforcement. Yesterday’s conference was the latest development in an attempt by advocates of the legalisation of ganja to force the government to take quick action, to follow nations like Uruguay and US states like Colorado, to legalise use of the drug for both medicinal and recreational purposes. It was organised by the GLRC, the Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Task Force, and the National Alliance for the Legalisation of Ganja. The forum examined a range of issues touching on the legalisation of ganja and
was to weigh in on the options, in light of global developments. Its decisions will be published in a communiqué and position paper. However, the media were only allowed into the opening session, which lasted approximately one hour, under the chairmanship of Professor Archibald McDonald, principal of the UWI, Mona. A position paper, developed by a Cannabis Commercial and Medicinal Research Task Force, led by Delano Seiveright, was also discussed. The paper outlined the products and business opportunities that could be developed from a cannabis industry, including food, personal care, wellness, beauty, clothing, travel and leisure, spirituality, construction-paper fibres, seed oils, essential oils, seed nut, leaf, whole-plant, charcoal, environmental-soil rehabilitation, spas, restaurants, coffee houses, shops, guest houses and clinics. Among the guests were Wanda James of the Cannabis Global Initiative, a renowned advocate based in Colorado, and her husband, Scott Durrah, who is also a renowned leader in the US movement.
State agency seeking to recover millions KINGSTON, Jamaica – CMC - Self Start Fund (SSF), the small business lending agency, says it is taking “drastic actions” against borrowers in a bid to recover an estimated J$40 million (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.01 cents) in arrears. “We are pursuing them through the courts, seizing assets where we have the rights to, and undertaking other methods in order to encourage them to pay back loans,” said SSF general manager, Sezvin Hamilton. Loans are accessible to individuals in agriculture, trading, services and manufacturing-type businesses, up to a maximum of J$750,000 at an interest rate of 23 per cent per annum. “SSF is a revolving loan scheme so without repayment, the next generation of borrowers or set of customers will have less money to borrow,” Hamilton said, adding that he supports the government in the proposed Secured Transaction Act, which will aid lenders in better selecting persons for loans. “The government realises that security is a problem for a lot of start-ups and small
businesses, so they have been working on the Act, which will allow people to register their security online and the lenders would get a chance to see what asset has been committed to what and to whom, and they will be guided by that when they are taking assets and security from customers. “We have had many cases where customers have given the same asset to several lending institutions knowing full well that what they are borrowing far exceeds the value of the asset, “ he said noting that even up to now, l e n d e r s d i d n o t have systems in place to verify that these assets were actually able to accommodate security claims. Hamilton said the establishment of the Credit Bureau provides some amount of comfort to a lender, as they were now able to take into consideration, issues such as the credit rating of a customer. “A customer with good credit rating tells you (the lender) that this customer pays his or her bill(s) on time and in the right amount…so the lender would be confident or somewhat comforted that
Sezvin Hamilton this customer is a good one,” he noted. Hamilton said that the SSF was now on a mission to rebrand and reposition itself in line with the changing financial landscape and meet the needs of the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector. “We have to rebrand in order to utilize these facilities properly and with such facilities instituted we (SSF) can consider giving you a loan and be sure that the asset you pledge with us is free or is in a position to accommodate our charge,” he said.
Monday January 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
In blow to Cameron, Britons name anti-EU party their favourite (Reuters) - Britons named the anti-European Union UK Independence Party (UKIP) as their favourite political party in a poll yesterday, dealing a setback to British Prime Minister David Cameron ahead of elections to the European Parliament. The survey came days after another poll showed Cameron’s Conservatives are set to finish behind UKIP in the May election, meaning they are on course to finish third in a nationwide vote for the first time. Though UKIP has no seats in the British parliament, its popularity is a problem for Cameron because it threatens to split his own vote at a national election in 2015, depriving him of outright victory. Its strong poll ratings also worry eurosceptic lawmakers in Cameron’s own party who want him to adopt a tougher anti-EU stance, something he has balked at, raising the possibility of a damaging internal rift of the kind that contributed to the downfall of the last two Conservative prime ministers. If the Conservatives do particularly badly at the May elections for the European Parliament, a significant number of eurosceptic lawmakers are threatening to stir up trouble for Cameron. Yesterday’s poll, carried out by Comres for the Independent on Sunday
David Cameron newspaper, suggests UKIP’s anti-immigration, anti-EU policies remain popular even though Cameron has already deployed tougher rhetoric on both issues. UKIP has 13 seats in the European parliament and took a quarter of the votes cast in local elections in May. It wants Britain to leave the EU and an end to what it calls “open-door” immigration. There is evidence it has siphoned support from all political parties, but it has attracted a large number of former Conservative voters in particular. The poll, which interviewed a sample of 2,029 Britons earlier this month,
found 27 percent of them had a favourable view of UKIP, more than any other party. By contrast, 25 percent said they shared the same view of Cameron’s Conservatives, with 26 percent expressing the same opinion about the opposition Labour party. Only 14 percent said they had a favourable view of the Liberal Democrat party, which is in a two-party coalition with Cameron’s Conservatives. Nigel Farage, UKIP’s leader, also scored highly, with 22 percent of those polled saying they had a favourable view of him, a rating second only to Cameron’s who scores consistently highly in polls about his leadership qualities. The poll came as UKIP was battling to restore party discipline after one of its local councillors in England caused it embarrassment by saying recent flooding across Britain was God’s punishment for parliament backing gay marriage.
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Japan PM calls for ‘frank’ talks with China, South Korea Tokyo (AFP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called yesterday for “frank” summit talks with China and South Korea to help solve historical and territorial disputes that have soured ties between the neighbours. A year of heated arguments have prevented the three from holding any top-level meetings, with Beijing and Seoul accusing Abe of showing a lack of remorse for World War II wrongs. “We should hold a summit meeting and have a frank discussion,” Abe said in an interview on public broadcaster NHK, two days after Japan’s foreign minister called for similar talks. Abe, China’s President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Park Geun-Hye all came to power around a year ago, but entrenched positions and growing nationalism in the three countries have prevented them from getting together. Seoul and Beijing were
Shinzo Abe angered by Abe’s visit last month to a shrine in Tokyo that counts 14 senior war criminals among the 2.5 million souls it commemorates. China and South Korea see the Yasukuni shrine as a symbol of Japan’s wartime aggression in Asia. On Sunday, Abe reiterated he had visited to make a pledge against war, and like other leaders around the world to pray for those who lost their lives for their countries.
“I want people to think about whether this is wrong. If they think about it, I think the misunderstanding will go away,” he said. Two separate territorial disputes over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, which Beijing and Seoul say have their roots in Japan’s early imperial ambitions, have also roiled relations. Abe said a summit should be held “all the more because there are these issues” but added that Tokyo would not agree to any concessions over disputed issues as a precursor to discussions. “It would be unreasonable if Japan must clear hurdles for summit talks,” he said. On Friday, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said the respective leaders should “make efforts to solve” their disputes. The call came after Japan brushed off comments by China’s envoy to the African Union in which he branded Abe a “troublemaker”.
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Kaieteur News
Eight run for Central African Republic presidency, violence flares (Reuters) - Central African Republic lawmakers shortlisted eight candidates, including two sons of former leaders, to run for interim president in a vote today and pull the country out of months of turmoil and sectarian killings. Whoever is chosen will face the challenge of ending a cycle of violence that on Sunday saw crowds kill two men they said were Muslims and drag their bodies through the streets of the capital Bangui, then set them on fire. The Red Cross also said it had buried around 50 bodies within the past 48 hours after fighting flared in the northwest. The landlocked former French colony descended into chaos in March after a mostly Muslim rebel coalition, Seleka, marched into the capital, unleashing a wave of killings and looting. That triggered revenge
attacks by Christian militia known as “anti-balaka” (anti-machete). Seleka and the antibalaka groups have continued to launch sporadic tit-for-tat killings, despite the presence of 1,600 French troops and nearly 5,000 African Union peacekeepers. A senior U.N. official warned last week the conflict could slip into genocide. Members of the transitional assembly were expected to select one of the candidates as interim president on Monday after former Seleka leader Michel Djotodia resigned as president under international pressure over his failure to end the bloodshed. Assembly vice president Lea Koyassoum Doumta said the eight included Bangui mayor Catherine SambaPanza; Desiré Kolingba, son of former president Andre Kolingba; and businessman Sylvain Patasse, son of ex-
president Ange-Felix Patasse. To qualify, the candidates had to show they had no link to Seleka, or the forces behind the “anti-balaka” militia. But many have had first hand experience of the nation’s political turmoil, particularly the former presidents’ sons. General Andre Kolingba seized power in a 1981 military coup and ruled the country until 1993 when he was defeated by Ange-Felix Patasse in a democratic election. He died in Paris in February 2010. Patasse, ruled the country for two terms but consecutive mutinies within the army led to his ouster by former President Francois Bozize in 2003. He died in Cameroon in April 2011. Central African Republic has seen five coups and several rebellions since in won independence in 1960. It remains one of Africa’s poorest nations, for all its mineral riches.
Monday January 20, 2014
Egypt charges secularists alongside Mursi in new case CAIRO (Reuters) Deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Mursi was yesterday ordered to stand trial for insulting the judiciary, legal sources said, alongside 24 others including liberal activists who opposed his Islamist rule but have also been critical of the new armybacked order. It is the fourth case brought against Mursi since he was ousted by the army last year, after a year in power, following mass protests against his rule. But it also points to the growing pressure faced by the secular-minded activists who helped to topple Hosni Mubarak in 2011, and have criticized both Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood when it was in power and the new military-backed authorities. The non-Islamists charged in the case include former members of parliament Amr Hamzawy and Mostafa El Naggar, as well as Alaa Abdel Fattah, an activist
Mohamed Mursi blogger detained since November and already facing trial on charges of protesting without permission. The charge of insulting the judiciary carries a jail term of up to three years. Mursi has already been charged with inciting violence and conspiring with foreign militants against Egypt. Egypt’s army-backed interim government has waged a determined
campaign of suppression against the Brotherhood, which it has labeled a terrorist organization. The security forces killed hundreds of its supporters in the weeks after Mursi was overthrown, and arrested thousands more. The government accuses the Brotherhood of turning to violence. The Brotherhood, once Egypt’s best-organized political and religious movement, which won five consecutive elections, denies any links to violence and accuses the army of staging a coup. Mursi is next due in court on January 28, when he goes on trial on charges related to a mass jailbreak in 2011. The interim government is pushing ahead with a political transition plan that should lead to presidential and parliamentary elections this year, with army chief General Abdel Fattah alSisi seen as a likely candidate. Egyptians passed a new constitution in a referendum last week with a 98.1 percent “yes” vote, according to official results. The vote was boycotted by the Brotherhood.
Monday January 20, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Army retaliates after 20 Pakistan soldiers killed in bomb attack Peshawar (Pakistan) (AFP) - Pakistan army helicopters fired missiles killing three militants yesterday, officials said, in apparent retaliation for a Taliban bomb attack that killed 20 soldiers in the restive northwest. The helicopters fired at a road in the village of Musaki situated in the same tribal region as the bombing earlier yesterday, intelligence and civil administration officials said. One of the missiles struck a nearby house, killing a fiveyear-old girl and a seven-yearold boy, a local administration official added, although security officials could not confirm the civilian casualties. The bombing earlier yesterday, claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, killed 20 soldiers and wounded 30 when it ripped through a military convoy. The attack, one of the deadliest to hit Pakistani security forces in recent years, happened in the city of Bannu near the North Waziristan tribal region which is a stronghold of militants linked to the Taliban and Al-
Qaeda. “A vehicle-borne improvised explosive device caused the blast,” a senior military official told AFP, adding the exact circumstances were unclear. An official statement said 20 soldiers were killed and 30 injured in the attack, which hit one of the vehicles in the convoy at 8:45 am. The convoy was about to leave for the town of Razmak in North Waziristan when the blast hit one of the civilian vehicles hired to move troops. Taliban ‘ready for talks’ Te h r e e k - e - T a l i b a n Pakistan spokesman Shahidullah Shahid claimed responsibility for the convoy bombing. “It was part of our fight against a secular system,” he said by telephone from an undisclosed location. “We will carry out more such attacks in future,” he said, adding the Taliban were seeking revenge for the deaths of their former chief Hakimullah Mehsud and deputy Waliur Rehman — both killed in US drone
Pakistani soldiers and policemen cordon off the area after a bomb attack on a security convoy in the city of Bannu yesterday. (AFP Photo/Karim Ullah) attacks. The Taliban vowed they would not engage in any dialogue with the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif following the death of Mehsud. But Shahid told AFP Sunday the group “is ready for meaningful negotiations despite facing huge leadership losses, if the government proves its authority and sincerity” by
halting drone attacks and withdrawing troops from tribal areas. Taliban insurgents have led a bloody campaign against the Pakistani state since 2007, staging hundreds of attacks on security forces and government targets. An eyewitness told AFP by telephone the vehicle hit by yesterday’s bomb was transformed into scorched metal.
“I collected human remains including hands and legs from the site after the attack,” he said on condition of anonymity. Body parts and soldiers’ personal belongings littered the scene. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the attack, adding he would cancel a planned visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in the wake of a
recent spike in terrorism. “Our nation is united against extremism and terrorism and the sacrifices rendered by our citizens and personnel of law enforcing agencies will not go in vain,” he said, according to a statement by his office. ‘Demoralising attack’ Pakistani troops have for years been battling the Taliban and other homegrown insurgents in the tribal belt next to the Afghan border, which Washington considers the main hub of militants plotting attacks on the West and in Afghanistan. The army’s headquarters in Rawalpindi came under attack in 2009, while major naval and air force bases have also been targeted in battles that have lasted for several hours. A senior Pakistani general was killed in a blast last September along with two other soldiers in an attack claimed by the Taliban. In May 2011 89 paramilitary troops were killed in an attack at a military academy in the northwestern town of Charsadda.
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Kaieteur News
Old Fort organises Greet and Meet session for its members Considering the need to foster camaraderie among members, the recentlyinstalled executive of Old Fort Hockey Club yesterday held a Greet and Meet session, at the Georgetown Cricket Club where a large turnout of the membership attended. Old Fort, a club that was formed in 1975 to play hockey primarily, before it incorporated a basketball arm (High Flyers) seemed to be struggling with its membership drive for many years, b e f o r e t h e n e w executive which is headed by one of its oldest serving members Allan Newark felt the need to build a stronger union between club members. Once a very successful hockey club, Old Fort which has suffered immensely from player migration, has lost its aura in recent times, showing only flashes of brilliance in competitions, a far cry from the days when teams struggled to contain their dominance on the local landscape. Newark and his executive decided it was time to attempt to recapture some form of companionship among the players, a recipe that was used
to good effect and chiefly responsible for the club’s past success. According to Newark, the session became necessary since as the new Head, he does not know many of the younger members and it is important for him to know them in order for him to perform effectively. “It is important that I know who is capable of doing what since my performance or my success in office and even the club’s forward thrust will undoubtedly hinge on us (executive) having a good relationship with the members and also having some amount of knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses,” Newark told this newspaper. Meanwhile, a number of players past and present were rewarded for their outstanding service and dedication to the club and according to the new executive this a trend they intend to upkeep going forward. The new President expressed his appreciation to the executive of the GCC, extending thanks on behalf of the club for allowing them the use the facility to host the activity.
Monday January 20, 2014
Regional Super50 preparations continue under lights By Sean Devers The Guyana team preparing for the 2013 Regional Super50 Cricket tournament in Trinidad & Tobago from January 30 to February 16, will participate in their first practice match under lights when they face a Rest team at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence tomorrow and Friday from 13:30hrs each day. Despite the rain, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is leaving no stone unturned as this Country aims to win their first title at this level since 2005 when Guyana, spearheaded by a classy ton from opener Sewnarine Chattergoon, defeated Barbados at Bourda. If the Guyanese return home with coveted is trophy this year it will be their tenth overall since achieving their first in 1980 in Antigua when skipper Roy Fredericks led from the front with a magnificent century. Guyana play Ireland, defending champions Windward Islands and Jamaica in their group matches before the top two teams from each zone moves on to the semifinals, scheduled for February 12 &
Providence host practice matches tomorrow & Friday 13. The final is fixed for February 15 with a reserved day on February 16 in the event of rain. All of Guyana’s matches are day/night fixtures, but when Barbados won the first ever Regional one-day competition in the West Indies in 1973 and when West Indies beat Pakistan at Albion in 1977 in the inaugural ODI in Caribbean, cricket was only played in the day. It was during the Kerry P a c k e r Wo r l d S e r i e s matches in Australia in 1977 that cricket was first played under lights when multibillionaire Kerry Packer wanted to show cricket on his commercial TV stations but Australian cricket officials wouldn’t sell him the broadcast rights. Packer set up a rival competition, hiring the world’s best players at better pay rates. One-day cricket had been played at the top level before, but Packer’s World Series Cricket competition was livelier and more colorful.
He introduced day-night games - and a white ball that was easier to see at night. Instead of wearing whites, the players wore colored clothes and the West Indies wore pink in the first series. In 2006, Zimbabwe were suspended as a Test nation and the West Indies were on the decline. In this scenario, the West Indies hosted Zimbabwe for a marathon 7match ODI series. The fifth ODI of this series was scheduled to be played at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia on 10th May 2006. It was a historic day for West Indians, as this was the first ever day/night one-day international to be played there. Two months later the first Regional tournament under lights was played when now jailed American Allen Stanford held the Stanford t20 competition at his ground in Antigua. Guyana emerged as the inaugural winners. Guyana also played in the first day/night First-Class contest in the West Indies in 2009 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. The players wore ‘whites’ but pink balls were used. This idea was shelved the next year by the WICB. In addition to practice
games under floodlights (which will no doubt cost the GCB a lot more than for day games) the Board has also hired two fitness instructors from the Army to get the players fit. The GCB, whose selectors have picked one of the best possible Guyana teams in a long time, have also ensured that two WICB personnel, including Trinidadian Ayana Cooper arrives here on Wednesday to facilitate two anti-doping courses for the team on Wednesday and Thursday at the Stadium. The embarrassing ‘positive drug Test’ by Berbician Power-Lifter Gumendra Shewdas has put the future of the Sport in Guyana in Limbo and has raised concerns among all local sporting bodies. This was after West Indies Women’s cricketer Tremayne Smartt became the first Guyanese to fail a random drug test in 2011. She was banned for five months by the ICC for violating Article 2.1 of the ICC AntiDoping Code after she unknowingly used a prohibited drug for an injury. The fast bowling all-rounder pleaded guilty and apologized and has resumed her International career. This course should serve as useful information for the players winging out to the Twin-Island Republic next Tuesday.