Wednesday January 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news
The PPP has stolen in excess of two decades from us DEAR EDITOR, Having served as an economist at the Bank of Guyana in the eight years to January 2008, many of the analyses and interpretations from the various reports by the Bank, including work which I privately pursued, have remained with me, so that my recent articles (KN Nov 05/13, KN Jan 10/14 &
SN Jan 10/14) were written in broad sketches with minimal recourse to numbers, which tend to belabor readers. This does not however restrict my engaging in social commentary on various topics for which statistical data are unavailable, which I consider of paramount concern to many Guyanese. I wish to acknowledge
the, at times empathetic, distilled thoughts of Dr. Clive Thomas, in particular, and also the contributions made by Mr. Granger, the Honorable Leader of the Opposition (if I may), in another section of the media (SN Jan 19, 2014). They have undoubtedly witnessed first-hand, more than myself, the extent and prevalence of poverty
What has become of presumption of innocence until proven guilty? DEAR SIR, I wish here to invoke a quotation attributed to Edmund Burke, the 18th Century British Statesman, writing on the French Revolution, which incidentally started out as a people’s revolution, but ran away like a wild stag to indelibly and ignominiously stain the history of France forever. Burke said something like this: All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing. With this conviction, I beg you to permit me to register my nauseous disgust at the most recent and barbaric treatment of the youth, Colwyn Harding, while in custody of the Guyana Police Force. I wonder, what has become of presumption of innocence until proven guilty? Why must the police so frequently and high-
handedly assume the powers of judge, jury and executioner? Collaterally, I must also condemn the appalling treatment of his neighbor, Tiffany Edwards, who claims she suffered a miscarriage of her first child, also as a result of police brutality. (This claim may not necessarily be reckless, since it can be medically confirmed/ rejected). I have no doubt that no single party from either side – those making allegations against the police, and those refuting it, is telling the absolute, objective truth. But the fact remains that Harding was hospitalized and treated for a condition that was either directly or indirectly a result of police brutality. Mr. Editor, from the too frequent reports of police irregularity, I am further convinced that contrary to administrative refutations, there are more rotten,
corrupted and high-handed police officers, at all levels, than good decent cops. One should note that the behavior of the police is the single most important criterion used by Transparency International in gauging corruption and corruptibility in a country. I would like to meet one Guyanese who has never paid a bribe to a police! But deep down the problem is not the police. Social psychologist will tell you that, for obvious reasons, the police only copy and mimic the corrupted and degenerate behavior of government ministers, followed closely by civil servants, and then the population. I would like one of our back-balling presidents to respond. Like Robespierre and the French Revolution, they who brought a change to Guyana in 1992 have eventually consumed themselves. Gokarran Sukhdeo
throughout Guyana. I would like to pause to remind our readers of the deeply held sentiments of Dr. Clive Thomas regarding Guyana’s thrust for a better life for us all. It takes tremendous moral courage to step out of the secure role of a professional, to stand up and actively engage in political opposition with the government we should all be serving, to speak out against the social injustices and wanton corruption endemic in our society, to struggle with government to take that path which we should be taking, the one we know will lead to the fulfillment of our dreams as a nation where everyone has a fair share in the wealth, income and prosperity that we all strive for, versus the wanton (massive budgets are not the solution), self-serving ideas served annually as the national budget. I imagine the difference between Dr. Thomas and the rest of Guyana’s politicians is that while they all know that many things are wrong about how our country is run; only he knows the sure path to economic prosperity. We still have a chance to try his ideas.
It sure beats reading how it should be accomplished. The problem with previous national budgets was that none of them in a comprehensive, cohesive and structured manner addressed the basic questions that need to be answered. These are, very simply, higher incomes and jobs. Our economic woes are the unfortunate outcome of the choices we have made at our general elections for the last two decades. The PPP’s supporters allowed themselves to be blinkered and fed with the poison of race and ethnic fear of the PNC. For this, the entire country has had to bear the strain of the PPP’s seemingly limitless instances of corruption, from gross manipulation of the procedures for the issuance of government contracts for capital and other works which result in the reissuance of government contracts to the businesses of its cronies, who make a mess of projects which result in the waste of hundreds of millions, probably billions, of dollars, a lot which was borrowed and
has to be repaid by us, to shoveling money to its friends and associates through over-priced projects, to controlling the media through grossly unfair, uncompetitive practices. This latter tact is part and parcel of the PPP’s brainwashing mechanism, its attempt to control what we think, which I have previously highlighted. The supporters of the PPP will not forget the mess made of GUYSUCO, and the economic chaos inflicted upon the families dependent upon the existence of GUYSUCO. One can hardly imagine the distress and suffering of the children of these families. That GUYSUCO will very likely be wound up as a result of the PPP’s failure to grasp, among other things, the tide of change which would have resulted from the EU’s adjustments to its preferential arrangements, would be among the most unremarkable events in its tenure in government. What will happen to these families still remains to be answered. The PNC for its part has proven that it is not at all the Continued on page 23
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Foreign political expert speaks to MPs on security By Dwijendra Rooplall Members of Parliament were yesterday in discussion with Professor Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, an expert within the realm of political science and international relations, who has served extensively within the field of academia as a senior vice president, dean and professor at several universities in the US. He is currently the President of the Fort Valley State University. The professor is a native Guyanese with U.S Citizenship. His visit was facilitated by the United States through its Ambassador to Guyana, D. Brent Hardt. The Ambassador in addressing the gathering of MPs said that the US brought Dr. Griffith as “part of a Public Diplomacy speakers’ tour and to engage a wide range of audiences on issues of concern to our bilateral agenda. I have known Dr .Griffith for many years…he has been someone to whom the US State Department and the Department of Defence has turned to, to provide background and other information as we head off to the region to undertake our
diplomatic assignments, and he has written so extensively on Caribbean issues… with seven and soon to be eight books and over fifty articles to his credit. So we really couldn’t think of somebody better to come down and speak to what’s happening in the Caribbean region in terms of security, what the challenges are and how we might work together to address them.” Hardt disclosed that Dr. Griffith will be heading to Trinidad after Guyana. Among the MPs present in Parliament where the event was hosted were leader of A Partnership of National Unity (APNU) David Granger, APNU’s Rupert Roopnaraine; Alliance For Change (AFC) leader Khemraj Ramjattan, and others from the two parties respectively. What was noteworthy was that the government’s side of the House was almost empty with the only MP representing the Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/ C) being Manzoor Nadir, who explained that the reason for the party MPs no-show was because twenty of them are in Canada. Dr. Griffith, in addressing
those gathered, spoke of some of the security challenges facing Guyana. He formatted his discussions in an interactive manner that saw pronouncements by those present followed by remarks from Griffith. He said that there is no unanimity in the definition of security challenges since it is perceived differently by everyone, hence the need for varying input. Beyond pronouncing on the security sector, Dr. Griffith said he is looking to build partnerships that can be mutually beneficial to the Caribbean and the Fort Valley State University, for which he is the President. Dr. Griffith said that irrespective of what side one is on politically, people in the policy-making arena are caught up in the technical issues and are not able to sit back and focus non-politically on issues affecting the country. He said that policymakers within the security sector need a chance to breathe and think. He articulated that most of the security challenges are linked in the Caribbean and the US among other countries. Speaking on these challenges, the MPs were asked to give one word that expressed in their mind a security challenge within Guyana. AFC MP Trevor Williams
Professor Dr. Ivelaw Griffith said resources, and expounded on the lack of resources, both human and capital, in monitoring and having the capacity to intercept and investigate border issues as a challenge to the security sector. AFC’s Valerie Lowe saw Venezuela as being a security challenge, citing discomfort with the nature that the neighbouring country is laying claim to and ownership of a significant part of Guyana, and wanted to know what Guyana would do if Venezuela decides to proceed with occupation, more so in the context of possible military support from the United States or United Kingdom in backing this country. APNU’s Rupert Roopnaraine spoke to border issues, including the research
US Ambassador to Guyana, D. Brent Hardt activity between the exclusive economic zone of Guyana and Venezuela, the Brazilian incursions and the New River Triangle debacle, with respect to protecting the environment and sovereignty in that region. Griffith said what is true for Guyana is true for many nations in the Caribbean and explained that two of the security challenges plaguing the region include Maritime and Territorial disputes. He articulated that many jurisdictions don’t have the military capacity to deal with these. He said in cases like this diplomacy is also relevant to mitigate troubles. The Professor also stressed that of importance is the need to consider private stakeholders as entities that can play a role and bring some of the resources needed to enable society to meet its challenges and not just government and the state. Griffith said that while resources can challenge the country materially and leave it unable to control certain situations, the country can
“beef up” things that it can control, such as diplomacy. Cathy Hughes of the AFC spoke of policing as a challenge, citing public confidence in the police force as a deterrent to what can be achieved in the area of crime and security. APNU’s Christopher Jones posited administration and the lack thereof as a security challenge, he said a country could have the resources but with poor administration the country will be going nowhere. According to Griffith, none of the challenges facing the region and the US (which he stressed is the biggest player in the hemisphere) are one-dimensional. He said that the challenges are transnational, so drugs, crime and deportation are all interlinked. Griffith asserted that interdependence of the world is such that one doesn’t have to be in close proximity to a country to be affected by it. The professor expressed that due to interdependence you don’t have to know of a place or country in the world but a development there can affect what you do. Speaking to the point made by APNU’s Christopher Jones, Dr Griffith said that even when you have the resources, “impacting the resources sometimes is corruption, impacting the resources’ adequate use is sometimes efficiency, so you have got to ask the question that not only is it where do I get the resources and how many resources I need . The correct question is the administration of the Continued on page 12
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Carol Ann Lynch surrenders, due in court today Early yesterday morning, former beauty queen Carol Ann Lynch, in the company of lawyers, turned herself in at the Brickdam Police Station to face the charge which was long set to be reinstituted against her. In 2007, Lynch had been accused of killing her husband, former Swiss House Cambio Managing Director, Farouk Razac, but the charge was discharged in 2008 by the then Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys. And in 2010, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had recommended that the murder charge be reinstituted against her. Since the 2008 discharge, the reinstituted charge is yet to be read to Lynch. Despite the wanted bulletin issued for her arrest,
Lynch, who once held the title of Mrs. South America, had managed to evade the police for the last three years. However, on Tuesday she had announced her intentions to come forth to face the charges and clear her name through what she had hoped would be a speedy court hearing. Conversely, after presenting herself with her lawyers Peter Hugh and Latchmie Rahamat, the matter was set to be called today, much to her lawyers’ dismay. Rahamat, in a brief interview with the press, expressed disappointment with the delay in the commencement of Lynch’s court hearings. “This morning at 9 o’clock we brought Carol Ann
Lynch in because there was a wanted bulletin issued for her since last year. Now we are very disappointed at this time.” According to Rahamat, since Tuesday they have indicated that Lynch would have surrendered to the police with the hope that the matter would have been called yesterday. “We were hoping that she would have passed through court today (yesterday) itself, so that this matter… we can have a date fixed for the commencement of the PI. In fact, at this stage we are pleading for this matter to be expedited,” the lawyer said. Echoing Lynch’s wishes, the lawyer openly beseeched the court to deal with the case in an expeditious manner. “At this time our plea is
that this matter be expedited, because we want this chapter in Miss Lynch’s life to actually be over and done with. This is something that has been hanging over her head for a very long time,” she stressed. Recapping, the lawyer related that “She was discharged by a city magistrate because there was not sufficient evidence for a charge of murder. Now if the advice from the DPP is to recharge, we say ‘okay fine, she is here to answer to the allegation.’” She further challenged the case which has been formed against her client claiming that the court will once again find her innocent of the charge. “Anyone who has had a look at the records of previous proceedings will see that they
have no evidence. If they have new evidence show us the new evidence… come with it first to court,” the Defence Attorney stated. As was expressed by Lynch in her release to this publication, Rahamat also contends that the matter will end as it did in 2008. “We are confident that she will again be discharged, that’s why we are pleading that the matter be expedited,” expressed the lawyer. The charge which Lynch will once again face had in fact been discharged by the then Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys who cited that the Prosecution at that time had failed to establish a Prima Facie case of murder against her. Reports indicate that on May 7, 2007, Lynch had discovered her husband’s
lifeless body on the bedroom floor of their 106 Ireng Place, Bel Air Park, Georgetown, residence. Razac was purportedly found with blood oozing from his mouth. The post mortem showed that the businessman died as a result of “asphyxiation (suffocation) due to possible ligature strangulation.” Four days later his wife was charged with his murder but in 2008, the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) ended when the then Magistrate had discharged the matter, citing insufficient evidence. However, today Lynch will appear before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to be indicted on the murder charge.
Human Rights activists picket Health Ministry Representatives of various Human Rights entities yesterday picketed outside the Brickdam, Georgetown, Ministry of Health, in an attempt to condemn recent comments by Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, that 23-year-old Colwyn Harding’s condition was merely linked to an “incarcerated hernia.” The Minister in Parliament on Thursday last made the disclosure as he responded to questions posted by members of the parliamentary opposition in relation to the alleged sexual assault Harding suffered at the hands of a police officer while in custody. The placard-bearing picketers included representatives from Red Thread, the Justice Institute of Guyana, Guyana Trans United and the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination, all of whom insisted that the remarks of the Minister was intended to prejudice the public perception and opinions about the facts that have really taken place. According to Joel Simpson of SASOD the situation is particularly
- call for independent investigation into Colwyn Harding’s case
Human Rights activists picketing outside the Health Ministry yesterday
daunting in light of the fact that there have been no reports that a forensic medical investigation has commenced or is likely to commence to determine to what extent a sexual assault, if any, had taken place.
Moreover, he insisted that “the Minister’s comments in Parliament, we find very inappropriate...to say he (Harding) is only being treated for hernia...” Added to this, Simpson said that the picket was also intended to amplify concerns in relation to the medical care administered to Harding at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). There are reports that there was a lack of colostomy bags required for Harding’s condition as well as an ointment. At a press conference on Friday last, Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Michael Khan, said that he was not aware of the lack of the items. But according to Simpson, “as far as I am aware he never got any bags, even after those comments.” Simpson further condemned the remarks of the
hospital’s CEO even as he insisted that “that was a totally inadequate response for the CEO of the hospital to come before the nation and say...he should have said the matter is under investigation and apologised for that lack of care and lack of supplies.” Also expressing himself at the picket yesterday was Norwell Hinds who described himself as a “concerned citizen of Guyana.” Hinds in vocalising his convictions said that the whole state of affairs is one that epitomises “gross injustice and a human rights violation” and therefore must be of concern to all Guyanese. “What happened to Colwyn (Harding) could happen to all of us. I think we have to be concerned with this situation of violence against people; brutality at the hands of the state, because the Police Force is an institution of the state and therefore
when acts like this happen it is an act of the state,” Hinds insisted. According to him, the population has been able to witness an act of “negligence and complicity” on the part of the state compounded by unsatisfactory comments from the Health Minister and the manager of the country’s main health institution. The company of Human Rights activists had previously picketed the Home Affairs Ministry, the Police Headquarters at Eve Leary and Parliament buildings to amplify their concerns. And according to Simpson, the picketing action is not likely to come to an end until “justice is served...By justice we mean that the perpetrator is brought before the courts and punished.” Added to this, the picketers are demanding that an immediate, independent
and impartial investigation be conducted in relation to Harding’s allegations. “We do not think that the Police can investigate this matter fairly...You cannot put the police to investigate the police, especially given the historical context of the number of abuses that have taken place at the hands of the Guyana Police Force,” noted a passionate Simpson. “I think the incident of the ‘tortured teen’ that was publicised on the front page of the Kaieteur News is still very much on everybody’s mind and there is no way, under no circumstance, that any report coming from the Office of Professional Responsibility, the Police Complaints Authority or any of those bodies related to the Police Force, will be accepted with any sort of confidence by the public,” Simpson cautioned.
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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APNU’s National Flood Control Plan Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine is a quiet but formidable force within A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). He is one of the more sensible and level-headed leaders within APNU, and most likely he would have had a great deal to do with the decision of APNU to propose a national social contract. The government has not embraced the social contract as proposed by APNU and Dr. Roopnaraine, more than most, would know that the reasons for government’s hesitancy are due to the PPP’s own experience, especially those of recent vintage, in dealing with the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). The PPP has serious reservations about the sincerity of APNU. The PPP
has been burnt and betrayed much too often when dealing with the PNCR. As such, the PPP cannot be expected to blindly throw its arms around any proposal emanating from APNU and the AFC. The level of mistrust between the sides is elevated, and this accounts for the failure of the government to seriously engage the opposition in Budget talks. APNU is now taking another route in promoting its idea of a social contract. But if APNU is serious about its social contract being achieved, it has to be cautious. It has to change its approach. Instead of a confrontational stance, it will have to do things differently, and refrain from intimidating the government. What is more important is not what is
done, but how things are done. The signals are promising that we may yet see a change in attitude by APNU. What are these signals? Firstly, APNU announced that it wants there to be less confrontation over the Budget. Secondly, it has indicated that it is no longer interested that it will not be accepting the proposal by the Minister of Finance for discussions on the Budget. In short, it does not wish to be drawn into another dogfight over who was responsible for a collapse of the Budget consultation process. Thirdly, APNU, with Dr. Roopnaraine as its shadow Minister for Natural Resources and the Environment, is moving to draft - the operative word
IAC to commemorate 6th Anniversary of Lusignan massacre Six years later, the Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) will be hosting its usual inter-faith service in remembrance of those slaughtered during a massacre at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara. Scheduled for this Sunday, the service will commence at 17:00hrs, and will be held at Tract “A” Lusignan, where the killings occurred, the IAC said in a press statement yesterday. Eleven innocent persons, including five children, were mercilessly riddled with bullets on the morning of January 26, 2008 by gunmen armed with shotguns and AK-
47s. The event will be held in collaboration with the relatives of the slain victims, residents of Lusignan and members of the religious community. Tributes will be paid by relatives, representatives of the IAC and those of the three major religions. “Over the years the IAC has worked with the relatives, residents of Lusignan and the religious community in commemorating this event in an effort to ensure that the memories of those whose lives were snuffed out would not fade into oblivion,” the statement read.
Gunmen had invaded the homes of five families and murdered Clarence Thomas, 48; Vanessa Thomas, 12; Ron Thomas, 11; Mohandan Goordat, 32; Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Seegobin Harilall, 4; Dhanwajie Ramsingh, 52; Seecharran Rooplall, 56; Raywattie Ramsingh, 11; Shazam Mohammed, 22; and Shaleem Baksh, 52. In August last year, a mixed jury found that the men accused of killings were not guilty. James Anthony Hyles, known as ‘Sally’ and Mark Royden Williams, called ‘Smallie’, were subsequently exonerated.
being “draft”- a National Flood Control Plan. These are signs that APNU is not keen on confrontation and wants to try a new approach. A few weeks ago, APNU bemoaned the constant flooding throughout the country. It called for a National Flood Control Plan. APNU is now moving forward with drafting this plan which it says it will propose to the government. APNU has made it clear that the plan will not be allowed to be placed on hold. But while indicating that APNU will not depend on government for the implementation of the plan, it did concede that some parts of the plan will have to be funded by government, with other parts by international agencies. This idea of international agencies being involved in funding aspects of the plan should not be construed as APNU running a parallel government. Those agencies that have to be involved are not going to operate like USAID and the US Embassy in Guyana and contemptuously decide to go ahead and implement a plan without the approval of the sitting government. International agencies
outside of USAID do not operate that way. They require the support of the administration for any project they fund. As such, APNU will have to acquire the support of government, because even if there are aspects of the plan which can be implemented without international support, APNU cannot generate the resources to implement these aspects. By now that should be clear to APNU, after the experience with the rebuilding of the school at Wismar which was torched during the protests two years ago. It would be politically suicidal for APNU to decide to go ahead and implement its National Flood Control Plan and to have aspects of that plan funded by international agencies without the support of the government. Such an approach is inconsistent with the idea of a social contract, as proposed by APNU itself, and would lead to the collapse of the plan, because without funding, nothing can be achieved. Government funding is critical to any National Flood Control Plan. Funding for such a plan will require significant borrowing internationally. For example, the dredging of the creeks,
rivers and outfalls will require resources that are presently beyond the means of the administration. APNU’s National Flood Control Plan is an attempt to have a microcosm of its larger social contract. If APNU is successful in drafting a feasible and workable National Flood Control Plan for the country, this will demonstrate the possibilities for a wider social contract. APNU’s proposal for a National Flood Control Plan is therefore critical to any future acceptance of its proposal for a social contract. The manner in which APNU pursues this plan will determine its acceptance and implementation. If APNU tries to ram this plan down the throat of the PPP, it will encounter resistance. The plan will in such a situation be rejected and this will kill any possibility of APNU realizing its grander power-sharing vision, encapsulated and repackaged as a social contract.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
If this isn’t hypocrisy, then what is? We are all hypocrites in some way or the other. But of course we are all different in the influence we have over other humans. A labourer’s hypocrisy we may find unpalatable, but he is harmless; his decisions do not impact our lives. It is a different story altogether with people who wield power. A powerful person who is a hypocrite can do things that can severely harm others. What do you make of a US Congressman who participated in legislation against drug use but was found in possession of cocaine? What do you make of a parishioner who is instrumental in getting his church to oppose abortion, but he once secured an
abortion for a relative? This is where hypocrisy becomes nasty and nastier when Presidents and Prime Ministers practice it. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) denounced an upcoming parliamentary motion by APNU for a lowering of Berbice Bridge tolls. The explanation was that you are tampering with the rights of the entrepreneur. Few decent people in this country take the PSC seriously. These are business people who are slaves to the profit motive, so they would suck up to the government of the day, even if that government descends to fascist levels. It would be an immense act of stupidity if APNU is
deterred by the hypocritical advocacy of the PSC. I think APNU has sufficiently intelligent leaders to know who voted for them and what those voters want. I think APNU has sufficiently knowledgeable leaders who can predict how the leading figures in the PSC voted in the last general elections. This very PSC which is deeply worried about the rights of the entrepreneur isn’t at all perturbed by the infringements of the rights of minibus owners. It is either these very small entrepreneurs are not humans or they are humans, but of lesser value than other Guyanese who invest their money in business ventures. Not a word has come out
of the mouth of the PSC when the Government urged West Demerara commuters not to pay a twenty-dollar (by the way that is Guyanese dollars) hike in the fare. Why the silence? Because these minibus owners are not humans. The private people that invest in the Berbice Bridge are. Of course the PSC does not speak for the whole of Guyana (certainly not me and I don’t want that current crop to ever speak for my country, and if even of the current crop should seek electoral office, I would be the first one to spend all my nights and days campaigning against them) but President Ramotar is supposed to be the president of all Guyana? But is he? And
does he care to be? And does he want to appear to be such a president? This very president told the media that his government cannot order the company that owns the Berbice Bridge to lower its tolls because it is a private company and government cannot interfere with the functions of a private business. Well fair enough. Christopher Ram said that the President is wrong. The bridge is in fact controlled via majority share by government. But let us leave aside Mr. Ram’s argument and stick with the acceptance of Ramotar’s announcement. How come Ramotar didn’t urge Berbicians not to pay the high toll but his government has urged commuters of West Demerara not to pay the twenty-dollar increase? One is simply over-curious to find out how Berbicians would react to this hypocrisy of President Ramotar and his government. One should be equally curious to find out what explanation Ramotar himself would offer in defence of his contradictory position. But is there any journalist out there that will ask him to explain himself? I don’t
Frederick Kissoon believe Ramotar can intellectually find a way out of this hypocritical maze. But he will get away with it, because he will not be asked. As we are on the topic of Donald Ramotar, he is at it again. Ramotar in opening the refurbished Leonora Magistrate’s Court took some swipes at the judiciary. He lamented the length of time for citizens to get their cases tried and for decisions to be handed down. Could a charge of hypocrisy be made again against Ramotar? Is government business conducted with more alacrity than the functions of the judiciary? You have to be dishonest to say yes. But maybe the judiciary’s image could be salvaged. After all, President Jagdeo’s libel against me was heard in court eleven months after the affidavit was filed. I did my checking. That is a record for the courts in Guyana and maybe the world.
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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New guard huts, sanitary blocks for OP Bids were received yesterday for the provision of construction services for the Office of the President, for multiple guard huts and sanitation blocks in regions two, three, four, six, nine and ten. The bids were opened yesterday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).
Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) invited tenders for the procurement of water treatment chemicals. The bids were divided into three lots.
Bids were also opened for the procurement of inventory commodities for the National Communications Network Inc (NCN.) The bids were divided into three lots.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Mother blames school “bully” for child’s death Little Isaiah Chandro died at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation around 10:30 hrs on Monday, one month after a CT (computed tomography) Scan revealed that there was a “small” tumour in his brain. His mother, Marcel Wilson yesterday told Kaieteur News that she believes that her eight-yearold son died because of the constant “beating” he received from a “bully” from his Graham’s Hall Primary School. “He always complained about this child (bully). This child hit him steady in his head with one of those wooden rulers and it was causing him to get severe headaches. This thing happened for months and I even went to the school for this and I really believe that this is why he got that tumour,” the mother opined. Chandro of 676 Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was supposed to undergo surgery in India sometime this month to remove the tumour and his relatives were trying to gather all the documents needed for him to fly to India when his condition took a turn for the worse. After being readmitted at the GPHC (two Mondays ago) Isaiah fell in a coma and had to be placed on a life support machine. According to his sister, Olivia Chandro, it all started in December last, one week
before Christmas. “After school, he does normally go to a lessons and his teacher notice that he was writing off the line and she told my mother to get his eyes tested. My mother carried him to an eye specialist and the doctor said that his eyes are okay and we needed to take him to do a CT scan.” The eight-year-old was taken to the Cancer Institute of Guyana for a CT-scan. There it was revealed that he had a brain tumour. “A doctor ask my mother to ask him if anyone does hit him in his head and when my mother asked him, he said yes and my mother went to the school and the boy who does hit him admit his act to the teacher and promise to stop,” the older Chandro said. She added that after her brother was diagnosed with having a brain tumour, his health started to decline and he had to be rushed to the GPHC. “He was admitted and was then discharged early this month but two Mondays ago, he started to get seizures and we took him to the hospital again and he was admitted to the Pediatric Ward and then they referred him to the Intensive Care Unit,” Chandro explained. The eight-year-old succumbed three days after his admission to the ICU. The relatives are now calling on the relevant authorities to intervene and take serious action against school bullies.
Foreign political... From page 6 resources enabling us to deal with the challenge, rather than complicating and becoming a challenge itself.” “I wrote in relation to the Caribbean and Latin America about what is called the “platitude syndrome” Prime Ministers and Presidents making grand speeches, signing treaties and as if that solves the problem, very little attention to implementing, following up. If you took Guyana as a jurisdiction itself, you’ll see how many international treaties Guyana has signed that it not only hasn’t done anything to follow up on, as a matter of fact the people who are responsible for implementing don’t even know the treaties exist, and i t ’s no consolation to Guyana to say that that happens
elsewhere in the Caribbean. So you’ve got to ask the question: are the platitudes sufficient and the answer is no. You’ve got to go beyond the treaty, go beyond speech, do something about the promise made,” Griffith emphasised. He said that a proper follow-up of the treaties signed is necessary to find out how things are progressing and if things are well implemented. “It is having a disposition to understand how do we critically go beyond the context and do something about following through,” said Griffith. He articulated on the importance of the family and spoke to the issue of deportation as a security challenge within the region afterwards closing off.
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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EU gives 200,000 Euro grant to ChildLink Ambassador to Guyana, Robert Kopecký and Ms. Omattie Madray, Programme Director of ChildLink, signed a grant of 200,000 Euros on Monday aimed at putting in place a project that seeks to Empower Children in Difficult Circumstances. ChildLink Inc. is a Guyana-based NonGovernmental Organization. Established in 2009, its purpose has always been to work along with the citizens of the country in order to create an environment that is conducive for the healthy development of children. Moreover, the overall aim of the actions by the company is to reinforce policies, practices and approaches which will ensure that social welfare services prevent and protect twelve thousand, six hundred and fifty (12,650) children from sexual violence by December 2015. The substantial grant will be provided by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) 2012-2013 country allocation for Guyana. EIDHR is a “self-standing financing instrument” which provides assistance to lend support to the promotion of social equality and human rights worldwide. Further, the grant is
intended to boost the work already done by the organization. ChildLink under two previous grants totaling 180,000 Euros had done impressive work which is in keeping with its objectives. Those grants were also funded by EIDHR. Madray explained that the project aims to ultimately protect children, specifically those at risk of sexual violence through the Tell Campaign, and children who have been sexually violated, through comprehensive services in three Child Advocacy Centres. This initiative, she said, “Has been developed in partnership with the Ministry of Human Services – Childcare and Protection Agency, Forward Guyana and ChildLink Inc., and funded by the European Union, UNICEF and other local donors. The grant will over the next two years staff and equip the centres, build the capacity of the staff and increase advocacy to stop the abuse of children.”
In light of the grant being awarded to the company Kopecký had even stated that the promotion and protection of human rights is a perspective that is a core value which it shares with the member states of the EU and their commitment to that value is reflected in their work. “Human Rights is one of the core values of the European Union and its Member states, going like a silver thread through its many, if not all, activities. The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights provides the possibility to support civil society projects in this area also in Guyana.” He also noted that, “The rights of vulnerable groups, especially children, are particularly important in this regard and the ChildLink proposal convinced us. We look forward to a successful implementation that we perceived to be fully complementing the Government of Guyana’s priorities, activities and intervention in this area.”
Ambassador Robert Kopecký and Ms. Omattie Madray sign the grant contract while Chantalle Haynes, [standing right] Director of Forward Guyana and Ann Greene of the Child Protection Agency, Ministry of Human Services look on.
Page 22
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
VACANCY
WANTED
LARGE QUANTITIES O F H IGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICKSILVER) 99.99995% PURITY $19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
3 Female (8 weeks old) German Shepherd pups - Tel: 638-5778
24 Hour East Coast Guyoil needs night pump attendants, salesgirl & office assistant - Call: 6708893/684-2838
One Male Caretaker Contact: 220-8110; 622-4364 Cashiers, waitresses, cooks & dispatchers – Tel:2332322; Cell:678-4470;629-4878 (Preferably applicants from EBD)
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 Dell computers complete with 20" LCD $65,000, 6 months warranty @ Futuretech- Call:231-2206 Ridgid Pressure Washer, Honda Engine, Honda Pressure Washer - Tel: 6277835
WHIRLPOOL WASHING MACHINE – TEL:644-5151 Diving Suites - Tel: 265-3449; 613-5158 Two plot of land ¼ Acre or 3X25 Rod each @ Lot 15 & 16 Doctor Dam, La-Grange WBD - Tel:697-5009; 665-7022 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 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
1 Bedford 4x4 truck with Hiab, 1 4x4 bush ready pick up - Contact Kim - Tel: 6585193
Used Furniture: 1 Baby crib, Stroller, 1 sewing machine. Price Negotiable! Contact: 616-6060.
House lot at friendship and Diamond H/Scheme, EBD Tel: 223-0733; 692-8513
Yamaha R1 motorcycle. Excellent Condition - Tel: 685-1231
Live/pluck chicken call: 6504421, 220-9203
Greenheart Piles - Tel:6393450
1- 500 Ton Cargo ship - Tel: 676-6933
One 45Ft fishing boat with Ice box (8000lb), 375lb catguts sane (5 inch) 40 Yamaha Engine – Tel:2207655; 667-8921; 695-9860
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 50ft fishing boat with ice box (1300 lbs) and 450lbs Bangamary Seine 2¾ Contact:695-9860
1 IPod Touch 64Gb - Tel: 6913812 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
Bartenders, cooks, kitchen assistants & attractive waitress between ages 17 – 27 to work in the Kitty Area Tel: 227-5857; 610-8269
Security & I.T Technician. 5 CXC & Cabling Experience Tel: 627-8786
General Handyman, age 3540, preferably from Triumph – Mon- Repos – Tel:623-1387
One Female Clerk – Tel:2315171
Urgently need live in waitresses to work in bar, reasonable salary offer - Tel: 259-0574
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
TO LET Fully furnished short term apartments, Eccles call: 347933-9790, 639-4452.
1 House in South Ruimveldt Tel :667-5717; 629-2912
1 Farm at Yarrowkabra 20.1 Acres – Tel:265-3586
Fully furnished apartments $5,000 per night @ Harmony Inn - Tel: 694-7817; 602-8769 Fully furnished apartments for rent: TV, air-conditioned, hot and cold water @ South Ruimveldt Park- Tel:689-5877
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
Live In Housekeeper, Trinidad, 25-30 years. Wanted Immediately! Call: 1868-756-9730 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
4 – 250 Gallons fuel tanks – Tel: 667-5717; 623-2728
Make Up Courses, Artist Trained & Certified in Trinidad. Call: 660-5257, 647-1773
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
Aracari Hotel. West Bank Demerara Rates from $30 Tel: 264-2946-8
SALON
Experienced Drivers. Apply in person with written application @ Hacks Halaal, 5 Commerce Street.
One Handyman. Requirements: Secondary Education, two references, police clearance - PO Box 10501
1 Complete 6" Dredge. Tel: 623-2728; 667-5717
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
Two Printery Assistants. Requirements: Mathematics & English Grades 1-3, Two references, police clearance. P.O Box 10501
1 – New Bottom flat concrete apartment, fully tiled, 1500 SqFt on the E.C.D suitable for office - Tel: 610-9809; 614-6316 2 Bedroom apartment @ 2290 Section C Block X Diamond New Scheme – Tel:673-8128 Bond Space 20x10 @ West Ruimveldt – Tel:672-7194 Fully furnished Vacation home with all amenities- Call during working hours- 2271218 1 – Three Bedrooms house to rent @ Belyzheit Gardens – Tel:652-6565
One skilled mechanic with atleast 4 years experienced – Contact: 649-1290; 6718122. Attractive Salary! General Domestic between ages 20-35. Call for further information – Tel:226-2710 General Managers to work on land dredges Contact# 226-9768; 669-0855 2 Men to work on Chicken Farm in the interior – Contact:684-7516 Live in Domestic must know to cook 25 years & up starting salary - $50,000 monthly. Boarding & Lodging free – Tel:610-5043 Experienced Roti / Puri Cooks, Pastry Makers, Counter Servers & handyboys. Apply at Hacks Halaal, Lot 5 Commerce St. Land to buy in Parafaite Harmonie - Tel:675-7292 House lots to buy in Parika Tel: 675-7292
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 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. ONE SHOP KEEPER FOR THE INTERIOR (MALE) CONTACT: 223-5273/4 One live in maid – Tel:6568930; 682-0951 Attractive live in waitressCall: 327-0252/674-4665
One experienced excavator operator to work in interiorContact:681-6044 One experienced female shop attendant to work in interior - Contact: 681-6044 One cook for family in interior - Contact: 681-6044 Experienced Taxi and bus driver and dispatcher at Princess Hotel - Tel: 2657076; 616-8419
Princeton College: From 15, CXC adults classes, lesson for school children: Business & Science subjects - Tel: 231-5678, 6905008, Albertown Foundations of Nursing Practice courses in Home Nursing and child care Tel:692-2063; 613-0803; 231-5756 Makeup Classes starting February 3rd @ J’ adore makeup by Natalie. Come & Be Apart! To Register Call:676-3916; 615-5028
LEARN TO DRIVE Shalom Driving School @ 2 Croal Street and enjoy 20% Discount – Tel:227-3835; 227-3869;622-8162 Ultraviolet Driving School. Contact: 231-2372; 226-0765; 602-2583
One live-in maid between age 30-45 - Contact:681-6044 Waiter & waitresses for 704 Sport Bar – Tel:223-5273/4 1 Handy Man, 1 Small Engine Mechanic 3yrs experiencecall:233-2408 1 Truck Driver with Fork Lift & Bobcat experienced – Tel:274-0424; 274-0435 Celebrity Look Beauty Salon Station To Rent: Hair - $6,000 & Nail: $4,000 [ between Camp & Alexander St – Tel:602-2337 (Leoita)
CAR RENTAL Wings Car Rental- Call: 643-1131 Dolly’s Car Rental- Call: 2257126/226-3693- dollysauto rental@yahoo.com/ www. dolly sautorental.com Premio, Vitz call:347-9339790, 639-4452. Aidan’s Car Rental & Pickup Call: 645-7981/ 698-7807
Land to buy in Eccles – Tel:675-7292
One experienced male shop attendant to work in interior, contact:6816044
Courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral & cake decoration - Tel:670-2653; 618-1706
Female worker needed, 3 CXC subject or sound secondary school education - Call: 612-1607
Land to Buy in Herstelling – Tel:675-7292
1 Night Security – Tel:6675717; 650-4761
EDUCATIONAL Balloon Décor Training. Classes on 28th January 2014. Call 225-3133; 613-7513 to register and more info.
DRESSMAKING Designing and sewing classes in your district. Sharmela (Canadian- trained) - Contact: 626-2629, 676-6312
Latest model vehicles @ unbeatable Prices – Tel:6855011; 692-1051 J o s h u a ’s C a r R e n t a l Call:665-6485; 679-8400 (Continued on page 23)
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Letters... Where your views make the news
The PPP has stolen in excess of two... From page 5 monster envisaged by the PPP, but a party for all Guyanese, with a plan for all Guyanese, a plan which is blind to the issues of race and religion. The PNC promotes democratic values and is capitalist-oriented in economic policy, meaning that the Private Sector (business, not excessive government spending) is the engine of economic growth and prosperity. Government’s role is as a facilitator and promoter of economic growth, and as a provider of the necessary laws, accompanying regulation and judicial system to safeguard both the business environment and the general society. The AFC includes those former supporters who became fed-up with the PPP’s corruption and have made themselves available as an alternative to the PPP’s supporters in particular, and the wider population, knowing that at the very least, they could handle the country’s business a whole
lot better than the PPP. These gentlemen literally grew old in the PPP’s organization. Listening to Moses Nagamootoo recently, I was struck by the absolute frustration of the gentleman with the PPP. Both he and Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan serve as sterling examples of what the PPP’s character should be, but is not. Everyday Guyanese continue to look forward to more and better paying jobs while every day the PPP continues to feed its friends and associates. The PPP has stolen in excess of two decades from us. How many more years will we give up? I shall not even comment on the public nonsense over LEAD Project offered by the Embassy of the United States, except to say that probably even our pets have more diplomacy than our current government. We look for a change. That change can only come from us. Craig Sylvester
PROPERTY FOR SALE
VEHICLE FOR SALE
VERSAILLES: Furnished 5 bedrooms, selfcontained rooms, modern facilities, generator, beautiful landscape, gated community - Call: 592-6248704/ 592-684-9203
One 800 Ford Tractor and one 450 Ford Towing Truck – Contact Floyd:694-5599 or Gurro: 689-1864
Transported property : House + property for sale by owner @ Lot 153 Sparendaam Scheme - Call: 592-220-8573; 592-672-2348 One – 2 Storey House @ Avenue A Diamond – Tel:643-5161 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 Ogle – $40M, Republic Park - $40M, Business Concern in Georgetown - $60M, 155.55 acres – High Way - $30m – Tel: 645-5938 If selling your house or land Call Ron: 675-7292
FOR RENT
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman & Sons Driving School , First Federation Building Call 225-4858, 6445166,622-2872,615-0964
40X30 Business or Office Space to Rent on Public Road, Georgetown Area – Tel:613-0448 Two Bedroom flat @ East Bank Demerara – Tel:6280681 2- Two bedrooms bottom flat – Tel:613-6402 Newly Built Apartments on W.C.D Furnished and unfurnished – Tel:698-6496 1 Semi-furnished apartment in Diamond H/Scheme – Tel:685-6397 CAMP STREET, Prime Business Space Call:639-4499
Rice Factory @ Wakenaam Tel: 686-4994; 225-3070 1 – 3 Bedrooms Transported concrete house with foundations for upstairs, Bungalow roof, high concrete fence 5184Sqft Land – Tel:641-4812
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
Painted 2 storey concrete building 53x26, transported property at 69 Jackson street, Daniels Town, Essequibo Coast - Call: 621-7346
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 Parika- Call: 226-7968
1 Unfinished flat concrete house @ Parcel 806 Block XXVIII Plantation, Friendship, E.B.D - $5.5M negotiable – Tel:647-8595; 270-4149; 227-7978 Atlantic Gardens, furnished 3 bedrooms, A/C Security System – US$1,150 monthly. Defreitas Associates – Tel:609-2302; 609-6516
Gold and Diamond mining lands already prospected Tel:699-3992
Parika - $4M – Tel:675-7292
For the BEST RATES, call us on 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491
1 Black Titan 4 wheel drive, fully loaded - $3.5M – Tel: 699-2322 or 678-2814 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 Nissan Pathfinder (Left Hand Drive) - $1.7M & Nissan Laurel - $700,000 [ Both Negotibale] – Telephone:644-1144 2002 Rav 4 PNN series, fully loaded - Tel: 694-6537; 6507875 One Honda XR 125 Scrambler – Price $320, 000 negotiable – Tel:699-7697 2005 Toyota Raum, fully loaded - $2.1M – Tel:6917475; 626-9590 One Super Custom Bus, unregistered 1 Toyota L Touring wagon, EP71 Starlet, Spacio Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453 Black Toyota Fielder, Rims, Aero Body kit, DVD, CD, Stereo - $2,250,000 negotiable – Tel:689-7325 First Class Auto: Premio, Spacio, Passo, IST, 212, Raum Cold & New Modles Tel: 609-8188; 602-6307 Unregistered Toyota Fielder, TV Rims, Alarm, Camera etc, low mileage – Tel:654-2036; 663-2700 2008 Toyota Premio, unregistered - $3.7M, 2004 Toyota Spacio PRR $2.4M negotiable – Fully Loaded. Tel:615-4114 1 Ford F-150 2009 GRR 7452. In Perfect Condition! – Tel:227-3728; 618-3712 Crashbar, grill, bannet fog & headlamps - $160,000 ( Veigo) – Tel:617-7113
Parfaite Harmonie - $2.2M [100ftX50ft]– Tel:675-7292
Lot A Good Intent, Essequibo Coast – Tel:6491382; 699-4736
2008 Honda CRV imported from England 17" Rim Antitheft stereo system 2000 CC fully loaded $6.8M – Tel:642-7295; 220-2345
AT192 Toyota Car - $850K. Negotiable – Tel:697-8545
MASSAGE The Gent’s Spa: Let beautiful sophisticated masseuse pamper you: New masseuse available- Call:657-5979 American Style massage services- Call:678-7499
Toyota Spacio 2002, Late PRR Series, Excellent condition, $2.1M (negotiable) Tel: 6112802 Owner migrating! TO LET Furnished rooms & Apartments (1,2&3) bedrooms apartment long & short term rental @ 95 Fifth Avenue Subryanville – Phone: 227-2199; 227-2189
(From page 22)
VEHICLE FOR SALE 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 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 AT192, 212, Allion, Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN & RZ & Pitbull buses, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call: 680-3154 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma - Call: 680-3154 1 RZ Bus EFI series BMM Price:$1.5M negotiable Contact: 685-6415 Toyota Runx – Tel:645-5893 One Toyota Premio, year 2002 to 2005 – K/M -43,000, fully automatic, TV,CD, DVD, cameras, 17" mags – Tel:600-4011 Nissan Wingroad wagon $1.6M – Tel:645-5893 Unregistered Toyota Sienta (2004) 1500cc & 7 seater - Tel: 617-5536 One Toyota AT-192 Leather interior, rims, etc - Tel: 6161671 Toyota Ceres PGG Series, immaculate condition, lady driven - Tel: 664-7525; 2257131 1.5 & 2 Ton Canter with power gate - Tel:617-2891
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 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 For professional Visa & Passport Applications: K&P Project Management Co. Tel: 231-5876 House plan drafting from$10,000 surveying and estimates services available Tel: 667-2189 Masons seeking daily or job work - Tel: 678-9043 Permanent & Visitors Visa Applications, Professional Immigration Consultant Room D5 Maraj Building Call:225-6496,662-6045, 223-8115
One Toyota Premio, excellent condition, fully loaded, magrims, PMM series - $2.3M negotiable – Tel:604-1811
GT TOOLS RENTAL: EVERYDAY SPECIAL! RANSOM, HEAVYTOOLS, SAW, TILE & STEEL CUTTERS, MANY MORE – – TEL:675-0767; 627-5098
1 Car – Green Datsun Station wagon HB, good condition $250,000 negotiable. Call: 6154367; 270-4149; 647-8595; after 4:00 PM.
PEN PAL Overseas based Indian seeks female 25 years & up. No Text Call: 661-3299
Page 24
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Carpenter, 21, charged with Dochfour murder Twenty-one year old Davindra Rooplall, a carpenter of Hope Lowlands, East Coast Demerara, was yesterday remanded to prison by Magistrate Zamela Ali for the murder of his fellow villager Suresh Goberdhan, called Buddy. Rooplall appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court, where he was not required to plead to the
indictable charge. He is being represented by senior counsel Bernard De Santos, who was unavoidably absent for yesterday’s hearing. Police Prosecutor, Inspector John Singh told the court that the investigation into the matter is complete and he asked for a convenient date to commence the Preliminary Inquiry. Magistrate Ali then set
February 21 for Rooplall to return to court. Goberdhan, also a carpenter, was bludgeoned to death around 23:00 hours on Thursday last. The accused is one of two men who were detained following the discovery of Goberdhan’s body in a clump of bushes at Mud Dam, Dochfour. An eyewitness had
MARIO’S DELIVERY MAN DIES IN ACCIDENT A 26-year-old delivery man attached to Mario’s Pizza (located at Middle and Camp Streets) died in an accident around 10:00 hrs yesterday while on his way to deliver an order.
The dead man has been identified as Julian Welch of Duncan Street, Campbellville. The accident occurred at Lamaha and New Garden Streets, Georgetown. According to information received, Welch was proceeding north on New Garden Street when a car came into his path. He attempted to swerve but ended up hitting a concrete wall. He was rushed to the
Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation by a Central Islamic Organization of Guyana bus, but died while in the hospital’s theatre.
contacted the police after he reportedly observed Goberdhan and two other men in a heated argument. This newspaper understands that after intense interrogation, the suspects, who were initially implicating each other, took detectives back to the scene in an attempt to recover the piece of wood that was used to kill Goberdhan. It is alleged that the argument that led to Goberdhan’s death stemmed from wager over a game of pools, which was won by the now dead man. Suresh Goberdhan’s bicycle, money and phone were recovered at the scene. This is the fourth murder investigation on the East Coast of Demerara this year that has concluded so far with persons being placed before the court. Already, accused are before the courts for the murder of Dearoop
Suresh Goberdhan
ACCUSED: Davindra Rooplall
Siewchand, Raphael Campbell and Marcia Adams. The body of taxi driver Raphael Campbell was discovered in Turkeyen on January 3. Three men, including an ex-policeman were charged with his murder. Adams was stabbed to death, allegedly by her reputed husband Paul Scotland, at her Second Street Paradise, East Coast
Demerara home, also on January 3. Scotland was remanded to prison for that murder. And cash crop farmer Siewchand was discovered in his house with multiple stab wounds on January 5. Three men, one of whom is his nephew, appeared before Magistrate Sueanna Lovell, charged with his murder.
Taxi driver gets 60 months for... DEAD: Julian Welch
(From page 13) recapped the prosecution’s facts as well as Griffith’s testimony and noted that he had said that on that day he was proceeding west on the southern side of Mandela Avenue when the deceased “stepped out of nowhere.” During the mitigation process, the Magistrate relied on the testimony of Corporal Clarence Jordan who conducted the investigations of the accident. She also added that the witness that Griffith brought to the court was a ‘witness of convenience’ who contradicted several of his claims and was clearly not in
the car at the time of the accident. According to the Magistrate, the conviction which she delivered was one based on the strength of the Prosecution’s case. Magistrate Latchman informed Griffith that the court did not believe that the woman “stepped out of nowhere” but rather that she had already crossed more than half of his lane but it was due to his inattentiveness the accident was caused. The Magistrate in a stern voice said to Griffith “You drove at a fast and furious rate on the day in question.” She
noted that the court noticed the absence of skid marks but clarified that that does not mean that he was not driving fast. During her address, she claimed that the court was satisfied that he had caused the death of the woman, who as a result of the accident,had sustained several sets of injuries. “The court is sure that you failed to exercise care, caution, common sense, courtesy and consideration on that day. You fell below the care and caution necessary for competent driving. The court hereby finds you guilty as charged,” Magistrate Latchman said. Griffith’s lawyer, Melville Duke, attempted to plea during mitigation. He asked the Magistrate to consider that Griffith is now starting a family and is willing to offer compensation to the family of the deceased. He also added that his client had been remanded for the past five months. However, in handing down the sentence, the Magistrate proclaimed that “The Police records of Road Fatalities which were released on December 28, 2013 indicated that over 100 persons died in traffic accidents; 37 of which were pedestrians.” She further stated that during March-May, Georgetown produced the highest statistics. “I’ve considered that a life has been lost to which speed was a factor in that death. There is a need to preserve our human resources and to also send a strong message to all road users.” “Although you had spent 5 months in remand, the aggravating factors overweigh the mitigating factors. You are hereby sentenced to 60 months imprisonment.”
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
Urgent search for ‘black widows’ in Russia
MOSCOW (AP) — The search for three women suspected of planning terrorist attacks at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics has raised one of Russia’s most feared specters — the female suicide bombers known as “black widows.” For more than a decade, women have committed many of Russia’s worst terror attacks, downing airliners, blowing up subway cars and killing people going to a rock concert. WHOARE THEY? The term “black widow” refers to the belief that these women took the desperate step of becoming suicide bombers in order to avenge husbands or male relatives killed in Russia’s long fight against Islamic militants in the Caucasus region. Russian police leaflets circulating in the Olympic host city of Sochi say that one of the women suspected of planning an attack at the Winter Olympics is the widow of a militant. But there have been cases where the bombers’ husbands were alive at the time of their attacks, and one failed bomber said it was shame and a lack of money that drove her to terrorism. LONG HISTORY OF TERROR ATTACKS BY WOMEN IN RUSSIA One of the earliest attacks
to draw attention to female terrorists was the 2002 mass hostage-taking at a Moscow theater by Chechen militants — 19 of the 41 attackers were women. The crisis ended with Russian forces pumping narcotic gas into the theater, killing all the attackers and at least 118 of the approximately 850 hostages. Police footage after the raid showed some of the women dead in theater seats with explosives attached to their bodies. In 2003, two women blew themselves up at the entrance gate to a Moscow outdoor rock concert, killing 14 people. In the first wave of a shocking series of attacks in
2004, two Russian airliners were brought down with bombs on the same night, killing a total of 79 people. Authorities said both of the bombers were women, and one had a brother who had disappeared in Chechnya. A week later, a female suicide bomber blew herself up outside a Moscow subway station, killing 10 people. Early reports identified her as a sister of one of the plane bombers. But authorities later said the sister instead was one of two females among a group that seized some 1,100 hostages the next day at a school in the town of Beslan.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
New trial sought for boy executed in 1944 SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — A 14-year-old black boy executed nearly 70 years ago is finally getting another day in court, and his lawyers plan to argue Tuesday for a new trial, saying his conviction was tainted by the segregationist-era justice system and scant evidence. George Stinney was found guilty in 1944 of killing two white girls, ages 7 and 11. The trial lasted less than a day in the tiny Southern mill town of Alcolu, separated, as most were in those days, by race. Nearly all the evidence, including a confession that was central to the case against Stinney, has disappeared, along with the transcript of the trial. Lawyers working on behalf of Stinney’s family have gathered new evidence, including sworn statements from his relatives accounting for his whereabouts the day the girls were killed and from a pathologist disputing the autopsy findings. The novel decision of whether to give someone executed a new trial will be in the hands of Circuit Judge Carmen Mullen. Experts say it is a longshot. South Carolina law has a high bar to grant new trials. Also, the legal system in the state before segregation often found defendants guilty with evidence that would be considered scant today. If Mullen finds in favor of
Stinney, it could open the door for hundreds of other appeals. But the Stinney case is unique. At 14, he’s the youngest person executed in the United States in the past 100 years. Even in 1944, there was an outcry over putting someone so young in the electric chair. Newspaper accounts said the straps in the chair didn’t fit around his 95pound body and an electrode was too big for his leg. Stinney’s supporters said racism, common in the Jim Crow era South, meant deputies in Clarendon County did little investigation after they decided Stinney was the prime suspect. They said he was pulled from his parents and interrogated without a lawyer. School board member George Frierson heard stories about Stinney growing up in the same mill town he did, and he has spent a decade fighting to get him exonerated. He swallowed hard as he said he hardly slept Monday night. “Somebody that didn’t kill someone is finally getting his day in court,” Frierson said. In 1944, Stinney was likely the only black in the courtroom. On Tuesday, the prosecutor arguing against him will be Ernest “Chip” Finney III, the son of South Carolina’s first black chief justice. Finney argued
Tuesday there shouldn’t be a new trial because the evidence was lost with the passage of time, not destroyed. “Back in 1944, we should have known better, but we didn’t,” Finney said. Finney has said he will conduct an investigation if a new trial is granted, but what that might find is not known. South Carolina did not have a statewide law enforcement unit to help smaller jurisdictions until 1947. Newspaper stories about Stinney’s trial offer little clue whether any evidence was introduced beyond the teen’s confession and an autopsy report. Some people around Alcolu said bloody clothes were taken from Stinney’s home, but never introduced at trial because of his confession. No record of those clothes exists. Relatives of one of the girls killed, 11-year-old B e t t y B i n n i c k e r, h a v e recently spoke out as well, saying Stinney was known around town as a bully who threatened to fight or kill people who came too close to the grass where he grazed the family cow. It isn’t known if the judge will rule Tuesday, or take time to come to her decision. St i n n e y ’s supporters said if the motion for a new trial fails, they will ask the state to pardon him.
Victims’ remains brought... (From page 2) flight. Unable to definitively say how low Slater was flying at the time, he noted it was not too long after the aircraft took off from Olive Creek that it started to experience difficulties and subsequently crashed. According to Captain Andre Farinha, TGA’s Chief Pilot, all controlled systems, including record of the load, were in place before the aircraft departed Olive Creek. The aircraft was transporting seven drums of fuel which is equivalent to 2,800 pounds, which is a little below the maximum weight. There was neither a cargo wall nor cargo net separating the load from passengers and as such the cargo moved to front of the plane. This made the extraction process difficult. However, the cargo was said to be tied to the ground.
Another matter of concern for the company is that the Emergency Locator Transmitter did not go off when the plane crashed. This piece of equipment was supposed to trigger when the aircraft came into heavy impact or manually. Correia said that why the transmitter did not trigger would form part of the investigation. It is a requirement of the International Civil Aviation Authority, but this device has been known in several cases to fail, in the past. The spot tracker on the aircraft was helpful by generating about a minute from when the aircraft crashed. According to Correia, “We shared in the frustration experienced over the length of time that it took to locate the aircraft in the first place. It took a little over twenty-four hours. And the frustration over the time it took to com-
plete the recovery and extraction which was completed earlier this morning (Tuesday).” Correia, who was on site at Olive Creek and directly involved in the search for the aircraft, said to locate the aircraft, the Search and Rescue team was dealing with an almost impenetrable jungle. An emotional, Nicole Correia, Chief Finance Officer of TGA said that the company will have discussions with the families of the deceased about compensation. She noted that financial matters will be dealt with at the appropriate time. She said that TGA is covered by insurance companies locally and abroad. The accident investigator will visit Guyana to conduct his work and report to the underwriter. The entire process may take under a year.
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Canada wants buy Three weeks, 38 murders Jamaican marijuana (Jamaica Gleaner) Canada is willing to purchase marijuana from Jamaica, a lucrative deal that could potentially earn billions of dollars for the country on an annual basis. Blaine Dowdle, chief executive officer of Canadabased MedCannAccess, is urging Jamaica to act quickly and seize the vast economic opportunity that could come from legalising marijuana and establishing an export market for the product. According to Dowdle, his country is looking to engage in the potential CDN$1.2billion medical marijuana market. However, it is very expensive to grow marijuana in Canada, and hence investors there would be more than willing to import it from Jamaica. Noting that medical marijuana currently retails for approximately CDN$7-$10 per gram in Canada, he said the product was in demand, which makes it a very profitable market. Dowdle, who was in Jamaica to participate in Sunday’s Cannabis Stakeholders Forum that was staged at the PCJ Auditorium in St Andrew, said MedCannAccess is a leader in the medical cannabis field, working to improve access for patients across Canada. “I’m here from Canada representing 50,000 sick patients right now who don’t have access to safe, reliable, inexpensive medicine. Lots of the people using medical marijuana in Canada are disabled, they are literally sick and don’t have a lot of money, and they do need lower-cost cannabis in Canada,” he told The Gleaner.
(Trinidad Express) THREE weeks into the new year, and Trinidad and Tobago has now recorded 38 murders. Alfred Coltis, 55, was shot and killed in Carenage this morning. He was murdered as he stood near the corner of
Blaine Dowdle, CEO of MedCannAccess, Canada, looks on as Wanda James, member of Cannabis Global Initiative out of Colorado, addresses the public session of the Cannabis Stakeholders Forum Patients doubling yearly He noted that in Canada, the number of patients under the me d i c a l m a r i j u a n a programme h a s b e e n doubling in size annually. “We are expecting it to continue along that trend. That means within the next four to five years, we should be able to supply between 400,000 to 500,000 patients,” Dowdle said. He noted that MedCannAccess is currently becoming a licensed producer in Canada, which would enable it to produce and distribute medical marijuana within the Canadian market. “There is an import provision within our new regulations which we are becoming licensed under. Hence, we would be able
t o i mport marijuana to Canada from any country in the world that has a medical marijuana product that is ready for export. Our regulations are already in effect and we have passed everything except the security check, which we are expecting any day now,” Dowdle said. He noted that, “There are currently about four companies in Canada that are currently licensed to import marijuana for medicinal purposes.”
Smith Hill and Western Main Road, Carenage. Several gunmen pulled up in a Nissan Almera and killed Coltis. The motive is unknown. Two of Coltis’ relatives have been killed since 2011, police said.
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Granny dies in Mon Repos fire (Trinidad Guardian) Screams of anguish echoed through the Mon Repos community, San Fernando, yesterday morning as relatives and neighbours tried in vain to rescue Anita Elie, a mother of six, from her burning house. Fate dealt a tragic blow to her family yesterday as they were forced to watch the 79-year-old former sales clerk burn to death as her feeble knees could not take her to an open
window where help awaited. Instead, she fell to the floor as the fire caved in the roof of her home. According to Mon Repos firefighters, they arrived shortly after 8 am and found relatives and neighbours at the back of the house using buckets and a hose to extinguish the blaze. After it was doused, they found the body of Elie on the floor, burnt beyond recognition. The fire was somewhat of
a mystery since officers said there were no open flames or flammable substances in the room and the only electrical appliance there was a new fan. Only Elie’s bedroom was destroyed but heat and smoke caused swelling on some of the walls in the house which was renovated early last year. Seven people lived in the house and according to Elie’s grand-daughter, WPC Natessa Alexander, the house
was rewired recently and a PVC ceiling installed. Alexander said she was asleep when she was awakened by her father Michael Joseph’s cries for help. By the time she saw the fire, it was too late to enter the room from inside the house. ”I heard my father bawling and when I came outside, I saw the room ablaze. I went outside and I saw some neighbours so I
told them to call the Fire Services. We ran to the back of the house and we tried to out the fire. It spread around that room and the ceiling started to fall,”Alexander said. Next door neighbour, Matthew Pierre, said he rushed out of his home with a wet blanket after hearing schoolchildren shouting that the house was on fire. Pierre, 37, a tradesman, said it was only when Elie attempted to move he knew she was on the bed. He added: “I ran out of my house with my blanket and I dipped it in a barrel of water and ran in the house to assist but her grand-daughter stopped me. We couldn’t go in any further because it was already engulfed in flames so we went around to the back and we started to out the fire from through the window. ”We had a hose, bucket, basin, bathtub and there were about five of us neighbours and family helping. While outing the fire, I
looked inside the house and saw that she was on the bed. She attempted the come off and she fell between the bed and the wall. She remained right there and burned to a crisp.” A team of officers, led by Insp James and ASP Mohammed ,processed the scene but did not find the cause of the fire. H o w e v e r, fire prevention officers are continuing their investigation. Relatives said because Elie had suffered a stroke recently and had diabetes and hypertension, she had to hold onto furniture to get around the house. Alexander took solace that her grandmother was a God-fearing person and she was happy before she went to sleep on Sunday night. Ale x a n d e r s a i d : “ I k now she was a Godfearing person. She always had an answer for everything you ask. She was just cool when I spoke to her last night.
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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Man City reach final with 9-0 win Manchester City eased into their first League Cup final in 38 years with a record 9-0 aggregate victory against semi-final o p p o n e n t s We s t H a m . Holding a seemingly impregnable 6-0 first-leg lead, City strikers Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero combined to complete the formalities at Upton Park. An unmarked Negredo nodded in, Aguero clipped past Jussi Jaaskelainen and the Spaniard barged through to net. City will face either Manchester United or Sunderland at
Wembley on 2 March. Cross-city rivals United host Sunderland in their semi-final second leg on Wednesday as they try to overturn a 2-1 home win in the reverse fixture. Blues boss Manuel Pellegrini has targeted the unprecedented ‘quadruple’ of winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League in his first season at the Etihad. And City, as expected, are already just 90 minutes from lifting their first trophy of the campaign after recording the biggest
aggregate win in the League Cup semi-finals. Pellegrini made sweeping changes to the side which smashed through the 100goal barrier in only their 34th match of the season on Saturday. But, to the chagrin of West Ham, the Chilean reunited Negredo and Aguero in a fearsomelooking attack. Going into the game, the pair had scored 21 goals apiece with the whole West Ham team netting only 31 - but had not started a game together since Argentina striker Aguero injured his
Wednesday January 22, 2014 ARIES (March 21 - April 19): You have a kind of creativity that knows no bounds today, Aries, and a kind of originality that knows no limits. How are you going to go about expressing this rich creativity that abounds inside of you? ******************* TAURUS (April 20 - May 20): This is an ideal day to take a look at your financial situation, so get out your bank statements or dividend reports. ****************** GEMINI (May 21 - June 20): You may have been worrying about something you did recently that you aren't very proud of. Today you'll discover that all that worrying was for nothing. ******************** CANCER (June 21 - July 22): Not all friendships are the same, Cancer. You may have learned that the hard way, but that's OK. Today you could feel like putting your friendships in some kind of order and getting a bit of perspective on things. ********************* LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22): Not only do you want to live life to the fullest every second, you also feel the need to leave your special mark on the world you live in. ******************* VIRGO (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22): Your mind is in a period of great activity, and your curiosity about the world around you is practically insatiable. You're interested in anything and everything. You want to be able to understand everything from the simplest to the most complicated.
LIBRA (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22): It's very difficult for you to reconcile your desire for creativity and originality in your life to the constraints that society puts on you to be an efficient, productive person, Libra. ********************* SCORPIO (Oct. 23 Nov. 21): You seem to have a lot of resentment toward someone who may have hurt you. Don't keep these feelings inside or they'll eat away at you, Scorpio. ******************** SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 Dec. 21): Today, Sagittarius, you may feel like hiding yourself away in your ivory tower and watching the performance that is going on before your eyes. And why not, if this allows you to get the perspective you need on things? .********************* CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 Jan. 19):Have you been wanting to talk to your partner about something important, Capricorn? Well, it's up to you to make the first move. ******************** AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 Feb. 18):You enjoy your freedom, Aquarius. You're a very independent person and you hate it when anything gets in your way. That's all right, but you may want to take a look at your financial situation even if that's not really your thing. ********************* PISCE S ( F e b . 1 9 March 20): Today is a good day to take chances, Pisces. You may be quite successful if you're ready to defend the things you really care about. Pretend that you're the director of a film and that you've just met a potential producer for your movie
calf against Arsenal on 14 December. Negredo needed just 157 seconds to open the scoring when he planted in Portuguese teenager Marcos Lopez’s pinpoint cross with the freedom of the Hammers penalty area. Then, Aguero kept pace with his strike partner by pouncing on more calamitous Hammers defending to clip beyond goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. And, after collecting a neat one-two from Aguero, Negredo surged through a pair of flimsy Hammers challenges to tuck past
Jaaskelainen. With West Ham needing almost a miracle to reach Wembley, Allardyce urged his players to restore pride in front of a sparse 14,390 crowd in east London. But the home fans had little to cheer with City keeper Costel Pantilimon only stretched on a handful of occasions. Substitute Carlton Cole was denied by the feet of the giant Romanian, while Mo Diame slashed an angled shot wide. H o w e v e r, t h e h o s t s were boosted by an encouraging 45-minute display from Andy Carroll, who was making his first
Hammers start since the final game of last season after a foot injury. The England striker was the Hammers’ most potent attacking threat before being replaced by Cole at the break, although showed his rustiness by heading over the City crossbar when well-placed. (BBCSport)
$TT30 ($US5) to see NAGICO Super50 Port of Spain, Trinidad - Fans will only have to dish out $30 to see the preliminary round matches of the Nagico Super 50 tournament, according to a media release issued by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB). For the semi-finals on February 12 and 13, the entry fee will rise to $40 while spectators will only have to pay $50 to see the grand final. The preliminary round will bowl off on January 30 and will run until February 15 with matches at both the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair and Shaw Park in Scarborough. All matches in Trinidad will be day/night fixtures (starting at 1.30 pm) while the two matches in Tobago — February 5 and 6 — will be day games (9 am). (Trinidad & Tobago Newsday)
Directors discuss ICC governance issue St John’s, Antigua – The Board of Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board met by teleconference on Monday to discuss the issue of ICC Group Structure Governance, Financial Model, Bi-lateral cricket and ICC events. The matter was discussed at length and the Board will reconvene, again by teleconference, today to continue the discussion. (WICB Media Release)
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Pakistan pull off astonishing chase Pakistan turned a Test that had been an abysmal advertisement for cricket for four days and one session on its head, with an incredible batting performance after lunch on the final day, when they scored 302 runs in 57.3 overs to sucker-punch Sri Lanka and level the series. Their run-rate of 5.25 was the second highest in a successful chase of a 200plus target, and the protagonists of this heist Azhar Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed and Misbah-ul-Haq - proved that the soporific pace of the previous days was entirely by design, largely Sri Lanka’s to protect their 1-0 lead. For the fifth day to have ended in a result, both teams needed to play extraordinary cricket. Pakistan were extraordinarily purposeful; Sri Lanka were extraordinarily negligent. The visitors began the day with a lead of 220 and five second-innings wickets in hand but batted so slowly, adding 19 runs in the last 16.4 overs. With a minimum of 59 overs left in two sessions Sri Lanka were still favourites, if not to win then certainly to draw, but they were ultradefensive from the outset
against a desperate Pakistan unit. As Misbah-ul-Haq’s side motored towards the target with an unfamiliar efficiency, it became too late for Angelo Mathews to snap himself and his side out of stupor. Sri Lanka sank in the Sharjah twilight, with their captain and fielders feebly complaining about not being able to see the ball. Pakistan needed 195 in 35 overs at the start of the final session, and they had made a tactical decision to send Sarfraz Ahmed in at No.5, shortly before the tea break. He proved to be the catalyst, and the method he used to attack Rangana Herath’s defensive line oozed with resourcefulness. Herath operated from over the wicket and pitched wide outside leg stump for most of his 19 overs, which cost 100 and yielded no wickets, but when he did so after tea Sarfraz took guard near the wide-ball indicators outside leg stump and lofted insideout through covers to beat a packed on-side field. After several such shots, Mathews moved a fielder from the leg to the off, and Sarfraz promptly slogged Herath over the midwicket
boundary to take 15 runs off the 29th over, the most expensive of the match. While Sarfraz made use of his license to run riot, Azhar accumulated briskly in a more organised manner, driving the seamers and sweeping Herath off his negative line. With the field spread deep, Azhar picked off the gaps to get to his half-century off 79 balls, and his 89-run stand with Sarfraz came at a run-a-ball. Pakistan needed 116 off 22.2 overs when Misbah walked in, after Sarfraz had been caught gloving a Shaminda Eranga short ball down the leg side. Mathews remained defensive despite having a new batsman at the crease and the 40th over of the chase, from Suranga Lakmal, was a defining one. Azhar jumped outside leg and drove, forcing a fulllength dive from the deepcover fielder, the next three balls went to deep point and deep midwicket, before Misbah pulled to the fine-leg boundary. The over cost 12 runs, and Pakistan’s momentum was unaffected by Sarfraz’s departure. Despite Azhar and Misbah sweeping and reversesweeping Herath at will,
Usain Bolt to race over 100m at Paris Diamond League meeting World 100m and 200m record holder Usain Bolt will race at the Paris Diamond League on July 5 but remains undecided on competing at the Commonwealth Games. The Jamaican will line up in the 100m at the Stade de France, three weeks before the Commonwealth Games
begin. Bolt’s Manager told BBC Sport the Olympic champion was still undecided about competing in Glasgow and would make a decision nearer the time. If he does compete, Bolt, 27, has said he is likely to focus on the 200m. The Commonwealth
Games start on July 23 and end on August 3. Bolt, now a six-time Olympic gold medallist, missed the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth events through injury. “It’s on my to-do list,” he told BBC Radio 5 live in September. “I really want to do it, but I never go against my coach. “I probably would run the 200m if I go because it’s my favourite event.” (BBCSport)
irrespective of whether he bowled over or round the wicket, and the left-arm spinner proving utterly ineffective at controlling the run-rate, Mathews did not use his offspinner Dilruwan Perera at all. Sri Lanka tried to stall the game in the last hour, with Eranga needing prolonged attention from the physio after his arm came into contact with Misbah’s helmet, which prompted umpire Richard Kettleborough to ask the physio to stay off the ground when Lakmal fell while collecting a ball. The equation boiled down to 30 off 30 balls, and after three runs off the first two deliveries of the Lakmal over, Azhar cleared his front foot and swung to the midwicket boundary. A ball later, he celebrated a century off 133 balls. The century stand with Misbah had taken only 111. Even when Pakistan needed 17 off four overs, the field stayed spread. Sri Lanka had actually lost the Test long before the winning runs were hit. The base for Pakistan’s final-session heroics had been laid after the lunch break, when Ahmed Shehzad and Khurram Manzoor came out swinging. As soon as Shehzad flicked Eranga for two fours in the second over and Manzoor charged and slapped Lakmal to the cover boundary in the third, Mathews dispersed his fielders. The approach was helter-skelter and fraught with risk, though. Shehzad eventually mis-hit a slower ball and was caught at deep midwicket, while Manzoor was caught nimbly down the leg side by the wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene. Pakistan had got to 48 at more than five an over. Azhar began his innings
Azhar Ali’s hundred helped Pakistan pull off one of the great chases in Test cricket © AFP by cutting his second ball fiercely through point, but his partnership with Younis Khan was more measured. With plenty of gaps to exploit, they picked up singles and two’s comfortably. They added 49 in 12.4 overs when Younis pulled Mathews straight to midwicket to leave Pakistan on 97 for 3. Pakistan did not go on the defensive despite losing Younis. Instead, they promoted Sarfraz, and he charged and slogged Mathews to the midwicket boundary in the last over before tea, small indication of the damage he would inflict on Sri Lanka after the break. Sri Lanka would not have suffered such an embarrassing defeat had they played more periods of this Test with a semblance of the
urgency Prasanna showed for an hour this morning. After they scored at 1.87 for 71 overs on the fourth day, Prasanna led the gathering of 62 runs in 14 overs on the last morning. A few wickets, however, forced a dramatic slowdown and Sri Lanka went at a little more than a run an over for the rest of their innings. At the end of the Test, Sri Lanka had batted 273.4 overs; Pakistan needed only 166.4 overs to score a run more. There lay the difference. Pakistan 341 (Shehzad 147, Misbah 63, Herath 5125, Eranga 4-60) and 302 for 5 (Azhar 103, Misbah 68*) beat Sri Lanka 428 for 9 dec (Perera 95, Mathews 91, Sangakkara 52) and 214 (Rehman 4-56) by five wickets. (ESPNcricinfo)
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Kaieteur News
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UDFA/GFF Saga
Clubs bind in support as UDFA defies GFF and plans year’s activities By Michael Benjamin Despite the recent decision taken by officials of the (GFF), at a recently staged Extraordinary Congress, to sanction several members of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA), officials of the latter group have ignored the order and have recently unveiled a calendar of activities that would keep players from that region busy for the rest of the year. They are currently preparing a document to unveil the fixtures and dates for the impending league and from all appearances, enjoy support of the clubs in that region.
President of the UDFA, Sharma Solomon, travelled to the Capital City yesterday afternoon where he hosted a press conference at the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue, to brief media representatives of issues arising out of the GFF decision and plans for the future of football in the region. He said that though there has been much in the media surrounding sanctions on him and other members of his organization, he is still to be officially informed by officials of the GFF. All of the other executive members of the UDFA,
BCB launch NCN Inter Zone U-15 tourney The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) during 2014 will be celebrating its Diamond Jubilee and has revealed that at least twenty competitions at all levels will be organised in its observance. Yesterday, the board renewed its bond with the National Communication Network (NCN) for the sixth consecutive year for the hosting of the Inter Zone twoday Under-15 tournament. The launching took place at the NCN studio. Four Zones will contest the tournament; West Berbice, New Amsterdam\Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne with the cutoff date of birth being September 1999. Players will be selected for respective teams based on their performances in the club tournament. New Amsterdam\Canje will clash with West Berbice at Cumberland and Lower Corentyne will face Upper Corentyne at the Area ‘H’ ground. The winners will battle in the final at a venue to be named while the losing teams will play for the third
place. The competition will be used to select Berbice’ Under-15 team for the Inter County tournament. The winner will pocket a trophy and $50,000 while the other teams will receive monetary prizes. The board expressed gratitude to the management and staff of NCN giving the assurance that the competition will be well organized. Chief Executive Officer (ag) of NCN, Michael Gordon, congratulated the BCB on their Diamond Jubilee adding that he is impressed with the degree of management executed by the board over the years. Gordon indicated that they are honored to be associated with the BCB. “We have a social obligation which is to give back to the society and are happy to partner with the BCB for this tournament which has produced a number of West Indies players. We want to ensure that events of this nature have a positive impact on the lives of the youths”, said Gordon. (Zaheer Mohamed)
excluding Assistant Secretary Treasurer, Wayne Bethune and Committee Member Clyde Brushe, joined their President to debunk the ruling of the GFF to sanction the entire UDFA, Mr. Solomon and Vice President (GFF), Collie Hercules, for what the ruling body refers to as blatant contravention of a directive of the General Council to desist from staging the finals of the UDFA/GT Beer Knockout Competition on Jan 1 last. The captains of the participating clubs were also present at the function. Mr. Solomon said that until he receives correspondence confirming the sanction, he will not react to it. However he clearly outlined the position of his organization, “The UDFA challenges the reckless and unconstitutional means by which the decision of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) was arrived at.” He said that the entire process is riddled with violations of the rules that guide the conduct of the business of the GFF. The UDFA President said that since the Executive members of the UDFA were never charged nor were they summoned before a disciplinary committee, the ruling constitutes a major infraction of the rules of the GFF and the right to be heard, based on Article 56 of the GFF constitution, was not observed.
He referred to a letter penned by General Secretary (GFF), Noel Adonis, accusing UDFA Executives of gross misconduct and pointed out that they (UDFA) were already deemed guilty though there has been no inquiry nor has any Executive of the UDFA been summoned to a disciplinary hearing. Mr. Solomon quoted Article 19 of the GFF which mandates that only a duly convened Congress has the authority to make such decisions and even so, at least one third of the members must support such actions and this must be done in writing. The UDFA President is adamant that the recently convened Congress did not confirm to the requirements of the constitution and as such any ruling emanating from the forum is null and void. He refers to the Congress as a mere ‘gaff’ which has no basis in law. “What has been done over the period for the summoning of the Congress did not confirm to the requirements of the constitution and in one case, GFF Vice President, Ivan Persaud, wrote to the General Secretary requesting he be advised who gave the authority for the summoning of an Extraordinary Congress but no response was given to the gentleman,” said Mr. Solomon. This issue arose after the GFA and the UDFA decided to host their finals on January
1 last with Congress directing the latter group to postpone its fixture for another date. Mr. Solomon pointed out that he had attended a meeting with officials of the GFF in late November last year and they had settled on a four point arrangement which agreed among other things that both groups could stage their tournament on the same date (Jan 1) and later on they would flesh out a formula that would determine the host venue based on a bidding scheme among other issues. Mr. Solomon further pointed out that the UDFA is about to dispatch a letter to the GFF General Secretary calling on his Executive to institute disciplinary charges against Mr. Odinga Lumumba on the grounds that he has moved a Congress to discriminate against representatives of the UDFA on the grounds of political affiliation. The UDFA President is adamant that vile forces are at work to undermine the sport in the region. “It is the same vindictive party politics that wants to determine Linden football; the same vindictive party politics which has unleashed a structured and sustained programme to
destroy the economic wellbeing of the people of Linden that resulted in K&S final moving to the Providence Stadium; it is the same programme of economic marginalization that is being applied to UDFA to deny them the right to hold their own tournament and have their finals on 1st January,” ranted Mr. Solomon even as he vowed to continue addressing the programmes to foster the growth of young footballers. He said that his executives view the recent move by Congress as a deliberate act to undermine the economy of Linden and more so deny the residents an eagerly anticipated event. Based on this, Mr. Solomon remains fixed in his decision, “The UDFA has taken a decision that they would run their own competition in Linden exclusively with their clubs for the benefit of the players and the community,” he declared. “We know those whose arms are long, spiteful and vindictive but we hope they will take note and seek to correct their intransigence, rather than coming to harm the leaders, their families and those who support them; we demand justice as we pursue a just cause,” c o n c l u d e d t h e U D FA President.
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Kaieteur News
Fans help raise over $7 million - JOA also covers Winter Olympics expenses The Jamaica Gleaner - As the international donations pour in for one of the country’s novel sporting teams, the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) Monday announced that it will cover all transportation expenses for the island’s bobsled team, after it was officially announced that it had qualified to next month’s Winter Olympics in Sochi. In just about 24 hours, US$68,967.52 ($7.3 million) had been raised through online crowd-funding platforms such as Indiegogo and Crowdtilt, and other well-wishers . A Jamaican team led by returning three-time Olympian, Winston Watts, will be competing in the twoman bobsled competition, 12 years after the island’s last bobsled appearance at the Winter Olympics. The unlikely story of the tropical island qualifying a bobsled team to the Winter Olympics at the 1988 Calgary Games took on new life after the 1993 Disney film Cool Runnings, but after subsequent appearances in 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2002, the underfunded programme struggled, and failed to return to those heights. Watts, in an earlier interview with The Gleaner, noted that the team was in
Chris Stokes need of close to US$120,000 to bankroll its trip to Sochi, pointing to transportation and accommodation, as well as the need for three sled blades as the main expenses. OVERWHELMED President of the Jamaica Bobsleigh Federation, Chris Stokes, said that the team, which is completed by Marvin Dixon, Wayne Blackwood, coach, Thomas Samuel, and Chef de Mission and original 1988 team member, Nelson Christian Stokes, is overwhelmed by the outpouring of public support, while thanking the JOA for its assistance. “The groundswell of support has
been truly inspiring, with people from all over the world giving small amounts - $5 and $10 - through crowd-funding sites. It’s a challenge to keep control and accountability with these sites, but their power to motivate a crowd around a single cause is truly revolutionary,” said Stokes, who noted the Indiegogo and Crowdtilt sites as approved platforms. Stokes added: “We have been in touch with and have arrangements with Crowdtilt and Indiegogo. All funds will go into our non-profit account in the US. We have also been collecting funds through the Jamaicabobsleighteam.com site via a Paypal link. We are in control of these funds. We just launched oneonecoco.co to zero in on the Diaspora market.” In a release Monday, the JOA noted its support of the Jamaican bobsled programme. SIGNIFICANT ASSISTANCE “The JOA, through its solidarity programme, has given significant financial assistance to the Jamaica Bobsleigh Federation, which has been used to enable the team to qualify for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. All travel costs for the team from Salt Lake City (USA), Calgary (Canada) and Kingston, Jamaica, to Sochi are covered by the JOA and Sochi 2014 Organising Committee,” the release read. “As is customary, all local expenses, including accommodation and transportation, are met by the organising committee for the Games,” the release added. In 1988, Devon Harris, Dudley Stokes, Michael White and Nelson Stokes became Jamaica’s first bobsledders at the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Stanislas Wawrinka beats Novak Djokovic in Australian Open Stanislas Wawrinka ended the three-year reign of Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic with a stunning quarter-final victory. The Swiss eighth seed won 2-6 6-4 6-2 3-6 9-7 to set up a semi-final against Tomas Berdych, and gain revenge for an epic five-set defeat by Djokovic in the fourth round last year. It was the first loss for Djokovic under the guidance of new coach Boris Becker, and brings to an end a winning streak of 28 matches on tour - and 25 matches over three years in Melbourne. His last defeat in the Australian Open - which he also won in 2008 - was back in 2010 when he was ill and lost in the quarter-finals to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Djokovic said: “He deserved this win. I congratulate him absolutely. There is nothing I can say. A 15th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final had looked there for the taking when the Serb rolled through the first set thanks to some loose errors from Wawrinka in game six, but a moment of brilliance turned the match. Wawrinka won a breathtaking rally with a flowing backhand down the line to break at 3-3 on his way to taking the second set, and the winners kept coming. Djokovic, 26, threw a few frustrated looks towards Becker in the stands as Wawrinka powered through the third set to take a grip on the match, but finishing the job remained another matter entirely. There were signs of fragility on Wawrinka’s more suspect forehand swing in a tight fourth set, and Djokovic
Stanislas Wawrinka came storming back from 400 down to break at 4-3. After closing it out in a tense game with an ace, the champion let out a huge roar and Becker got to his feet to urge his man on. Keeping it away from the Wawrinka backhand whenever possible, Djokovic made what seemed to be the decisive move with a break in game three of the decider, only to hand it straight back with four forehand errors in a woeful service game. A packed crowd on Rod Laver Arena was now reaching fever pitch as the match clock ticked past three hours, and as serve began to
dominate it headed towards a fourth. A re-run of last year’s 22-game final set did not seem out of the question. That match had lasted five hours and finished at 01:41 local time, but Wawrinka was determined to avoid a repeat and his pressure finally told. Serving to stay in the match for the fourth time, Djokovic found himself match point down when a mishit Wawrinka return dropped in and, in the style of his coach, the Serb gambled on following his serve into the net at the crucial moment only to steer a forehand volley into the tramlines. After exactly four hours, Wawrinka had reached his second major semi-final and ended an eight-year, 14-match losing streak against Djokovic. “It’s a really great feeling,” said the Swiss. “There were some special moments which went well together in this match, making it for the first time here to the semis, winning my first match on Rod Laver after all these years. It’s been a very special match to me.” Czech Berdych came out on top 6-1 6-4 2-6 6-4 in a three-hour arm-wrestle against David Ferrer to reach the last four at the year’s first grand slam for the first time. Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard had earlier kept her poise in the biggest match of her life to oust Ana Ivanovic 5-7 7-5 6-2 and set up a semifinal against China’s Li Na, who dispatched Flavia Pennetta 6-2 6-2. In today’s quarter-finals, world number one Rafael Nadal takes on Grigor Dimitrov and Britain’s Andy Murray plays Roger Federer.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
BCB partners with Corbin Media Group for Diamond Jubilee Magazine
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FIFA threat to Brazil’s World Cup host city of Curitiba
Renovation work at the privately-owned stadium is behind schedule and above budget
Chief Executive Officer of Corbin Media Group Simeon Corbin (left) and Angela Haniff sign the agreement in the presence of Hilbert Foster. Years of existence may be easy to achieve, but what really matters are the achievements that occurred during that period. The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will be observing its Diamond Jubilee during 2014 and the board’s achievements over the years have been unmatched. The BCB intends to have a year of celebrations to mark this historic event. September has been earmarked as the special anniversary month,
and one of the projects undertaken for this accomplishment is the publication of the Diamond Jubilee Magazine. The BCB over the last five years has been the only board to publish an annual cricket magazine and the board is pleased to announce a partnership with Corbin Media Group, publisher of the popular GEM Magazine for this venture. Both entities signed an Agreement of Understanding yesterday
at the National Communication Network studio for this undertaking. The Magazine will feature the history of the BCB, its achievements along with profiles of outstanding players and officials. There would also be several pictorial reviews, articles on the BCB All Time XI and Hall of Fame. The magazine which is expected to be finished by the end of May will be available as souvenir to the public.
Over 60 entries for KMTC January 26 Horserace Meet With less than a week to go before race day for what will be the first Horserace Meet for 2014, over 60 entries have been received for the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) rescheduled one-day Meet fixed for Sunday January 26 at the Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice. The race, which was to be held on December 26th 2013 (Boxing Day) and was rained out, will see seven exciting races set for the day with prize monies totaling close to $8M in cash and trophies. The feature event is for animals classified ‘A’ and lower over 1mile for a first prize of $1M and trophy.
The races will be run under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority and late entries will not be accepted. The cofeature event is for 3 years old West Indian maiden and Guyana bred horses over six furlongs. The other events are for F1 and lower horses, the G3 and Lower race, horses classified H and lower, J1 and lower, while there is also a race for horses classified J3 and lower. Among some of the horses expected to be on show are top 2013 performers - Score Even, Cat Messiah, Treacle, Savion, Run Nana Run, Swing Easy, Silent Night, Gold Rush,
Easy to Win, Smarty Light, Prince Bayaya and Fresh Again among other top contenders. The outstanding jockeys, trainer and stable will all received trophies and other accolades compliments of Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Bourda Market and the organisers. For clarifications contact can be made with Justice Cecil Kennard on telephone numbers 226-1399, 2254818 or 623-7609, Club Secretary Niketa Ross on 662-4668, Roopnarine ‘Shine’ Matadial, 325-3192, Ivan Dipnarine 331-0316, Isabella Barton (693-7812) or Dennis DeRoop 3253301(609-9143).
FIFA has warned Brazil’s World Cup 2014 host city of Curitiba that it could be excluded unless work speeds up. FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke said that work at the Arena da Baixada stadium was seriously behind schedule. A decision on whether Curitiba, in southern Brazil, will remain as a host city will be announced on February 18 he said. Less than five months before the tournament kicks off, six out of 12 venues are still unfinished. Four matches are due to be played at the 42,000-capacity Curitiba stadium: Spain-Australia, Honduras-Ecuador, IranNigeria and Algeria-Russia. After a visit to inspect the work at the Arena da
B a i x a d a , M r Va l c k e described the situation as “delicate” and “very complicated”. “Let’s be honest. We do not like the current state of the stadium. This is not only delayed, it is way behind schedule,” he said. The warning should come as a wake-up call for B r a z i l ’s O rg a n i s i n g Committee which has been criticised for downplaying the seriousness of the delays in Curitiba and at several other venues, says the BBC’s Wyre Davies. The Arena da Baixada stadium, which is 90% complete, is privately owned. It opened in 1999 and is being renovated for the tournament. It belongs to one of the city’s main football clubs, Atletico Paranaense, but a substantial part of the
renovation cost is being financed by public money.FIFA and the Parana state government have promised to inject an extra $17m (£10m) to speed up work at the venue. The World Cup will begin on June 12. The opening match is scheduled to be played at the Arena Corinthians (or Itaquerao) in Sao Paulo, but work there is also running late. The final match will be played at the famous Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, which has been ready for nearly a year. Brazil’s preparations for the World Cup have been hit by cost overruns and public protests over what is seen as wasted resources. (BBCNews)
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Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
Time of the essence for U.S. downs Mexico, wins Brazil, says IOC chief Bach third straight CWU20 title Georgetown, Cayman Islands - The United States struck twice within an eight-minute span midway in the second half to break open a close game and record a 4-0 win over Mexico to capture the C O N C A C A F Wo m e n ’s Under-20 Championship for a third straight time on Sunday.Both teams already had qualified for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be hosted by Canada this summer.The Americans completed the competition with a perfect 5-0-0 record, outscoring their foes, 29-0. The champion scored in the first half through Andi Sullivan and got second-half tallies from Savannah Jordan and Margaret Purce, as well as an own-goal, at Truman Bodden Stadium.
OC President Thomas Bach speaks with Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff during a meeting at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia January 21, 2014. Reuters - Time is of the essence if Brazil is to host a successful Olympic Games in 2016, the International Olympic Committee President said yesterday. “I am sure that over the next few months and years we will see a great dynamism in the preparations because we know that time is key if we are to make these games a success,” Thomas Bach said after meeting with President
Dilma Rousseff in the capital Brasilia The 2016 Games will be held in Rio de Janeiro, the first time they will take place South America. Bach’s warning came on the day that soccer’s g o v e r n i n g b o d y F I FA threatened to exclude Curitiba as one of the host cities of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. FIFA gave the southern city until February 18 to prove it will be ready to host the four matches it is
due to stage. The stadium is one of the 12 proposed venues, only six of which are ready. “After this meeting with the president and after hearing her strong commitment to the success of the games I am even more confident than before that we will have an exciting and brilliant Olympic games in (two) years time,” Bach said on his first trip to Brazil since being elected IOC head in September.
There were only a handful of scoring chances for both teams in the opening half and the U.S. capitalized on a rare occurrence in the ninth minute. Andi Sullivan, a high school senior, delivered an in-swinging corner kick
toward the upper right corner of the net that Mexican goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago tried to punch away, but could not prevent from entering her goal. The Americans doubled their lead in the 60th minute as Jordan connected in her fifth consecutive tournament game to give her five goals, slotting home a Stephanie Amack feed from atop the penalty area into the far left corner. Shortly after coming on as a substitute, Purce made it 3-0 as she headed a Summer Green left-wing feed from eight yards in the 68th minute. Mexico had an opportunity to break the Americans’ shutout streak after it was awarded a penalty kick by referee M e l i s s a B o r j a s (Honduras) after a foul in the box. Briana Campos fired the ensuing penalty off the left post and the U.S. managed to thwart its rival from putting
in the rebound. The Americans added a fourth goal when a Mexican defender Nancy Antonio accidentally put a Mallory Weber cross into her own goal in the third minute of stoppage time. En route to the final, the U.S. defeated Costa Rica (6-0), Jamaica (3-0) and Guatemala (10-0) in the group stage, before besting Trinidad & Tobago (6-0) in the semifinals to clinch a FIFA berth. The Mexicans beat the Cayman Islands (6-0), Honduras (10-1) and Trinidad & Tobago (3-0) in the group matches, before topping Costa Rica in the semis (3-1). In an earlier match Sunday, Costa Rica rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Trinidad in extra-time, 7-3. The U.S. has won a record four CONCACAF Wo m e n ’s U n d e r - 2 0 Championship titles. Canada is the only other team to capture the title, doing it twice.
Emmanuel to replace Sammy in Windwards P O RT- O F - S PA I N , Tr i n i d a d – D e f e n d i n g c h a m p i o n s Wi n d w a r d Islands will be without Captain and all-rounder Darren Sammy for the upcoming NAGICO S u p e r 5 0 To u r n a m e n t . Sammy, the West Indies Test and T20 captain, was named to lead the Windwards, but had to withdraw with an injury. He will be replaced by fellow allrounder Craig Emmanuel, while Liam Sebastien will assume the role as Captain. Andre Fletcher is the new deputy. Sebastien was at the helm when the Windwards won the tournament in 2013. Sammy sustained a hamstring injury during the recent tour of New Zealand and has not fully recovered. He will travel to Antigua this week to continue his rehabilitation with Hector Martinez Charles, the West Indies Team’s Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator. “I suffered a Grade 2
Craig Emanuel injury in New Zealand and it is still not fully healed. I still require some more time to get back ‘on the park’. I want to make sure I’m at peak fitness when I make my return. I’m looking to make a return when we [West Indies] play against Ireland in Jamaica in second half of February,” Sammy told
WICB Media. “We [Windwards] did really well last year under the captaincy of Liam and won the tournament in style... so I’m backing my team to do it again this year. Craig is a good, experienced cricketer who is very capable of performing at this level.” The NAGICO Super50 tournament will run from January 30 to February 15 and will be broadcast live on ESPN for the television audience and on Caribbean Super Station radio. Matches will be played at Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain and Shaw Park, Tobago.Windward Islands Squad: Liam Sebastien (captain), Andre Fletcher (vice captain), Johnson Charles (wicket-keeper), Tyron Theophille, Mervin Matthew, Craig Emmanuel, Garey Mathurin, Keddy Lesporis, Devon Smith, Dalton Polius, Delorn Johnson, Kenroy Peters, Romel Currency, Alston Bobb.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 22, 2014
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Three new Clubs given Time to walk the walk full AAG membership - Association implements new strategies A motion was moved on Sunday at the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Annual General Meeting (AGM) that was held at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Hall, Thomas Lands, for the ratification of three new athletic clubs. Tw o m o t i o n s w e r e moved during the AGM; the first one being for any Guyanese, who is elected to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Executive to become a member of the AAG Council with the privilege of full voting rights. The second motion was for the approval of the West End Athletics Club, Region Nine Athletics Club and C h r i s t i a n b u r g / Wi s m a r Secondary School Athletics Club, as full members of the AAG; both motions were successfully passed at Sunday’s AGM. In his evaluation of his first term as AAG President, Aubrey Hutson described 2013 as “good but not great”. Hutson said that the transition of the association included restructuring with the view of establishing better communication among Executive members. “The (AAG) Council, over the past year, has been restructured. We have implemented new ways and methods of getting things done. The need to innovate in order to better adapt to the demands of the world led us to implement a more interactive strategy,” he said. “To my mind this will ensure that those who have
Gavin Hope elected us can contribute more and we will get a chance to establish genuine dialogue among members of the athletics family, with the view of generating new ideas for more efficient management,” Hutson added. Continuing in his address, Hutson informed that the AAG and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) will be tackling the issue of antidoping this year. His indication was direct consequence of the Gumendra Shewdas issue and a need for athletes’ education. “In our quest to do better in track and field, we must do it free of doping. I am thankful that thus far, none of our athletes has tested positive for using banned substances, but in order to keep our record clean, this Council, in collaboration with GOA, will strengthen its educational and testing plans in 2014,” He noted.
Aubrey Hutson Hutson also informed that a half marathon is set for March and commended AAG Vice-President Gavin Hope for ensuring that representative teams procure necessary sponsorship for competing overseas. He said athletes were fullysponsored last year. “Our Vice-President has hit the ground running this year; he has already secured sponsorship for a half marathon in March and other events in 2014,” he said, adding that all representative teams competed internationally last year “without anyone needing to go cap-in-hand begging”. General Secretary of the association, Colonel Paul Arthur also reported a successful year in 2013 despite many “challenges”. He said that the association worked hard and was determined, noting the CARIFTA Games success where Guyana bagged six medals. (Edison Jefford)
By Rawle Welch With just under three years to go before the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro host the 2016 Olympics, the hot debate among many stakeholders in sport is which teams or group of athletes will represent Guyana at one of the most prestigious sporting events on Planet Earth. The discussion arose due to the fact that nothing tangible has been seen or heard since Director of Sport Neil Kumar speaking with the media in September, 2012 promised the Government’s unmitigated support in getting our athletes to the level where they could compete and reap success at a Games that we’ve not done well at since the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Michael Parris won a bronze medal in boxing. The Director unveiled a Plan hailed as ‘From Now to Brazil’ which he said will target the holistic development of athletes leading up to the Games with Government through its agencies the Ministry of Sport and the National Sports Commission in the forefront of offering the kind of assistance required to produce an Elite Athlete. Since that day, there has been some amount of help coming from the two entities in terms of procuring technical personnel, but equally there has been no disclosure about any approach to render assistance to athletes who’re likely to achieve the qualifying standards as required by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It must be noted that to produce an Olympic standard athlete is costly and
Neil Kumar countries that have reaped success at the Games could attest to the price tag to produce an Olympian much less one who could win a medal. There is the need for athletes to participate in high level competitions which will allow them to get adjusted to competing against the best in the world, while going up against the world’s best could also help in assessing the athlete’s own readiness for the bigger stage which very often is far higher that what they are accustomed to at home. These are just two examples of the benefits that could be derived from attending competitions at the highest level as well as competing regularly against the best; it simply lifts your own performance. Kumar had boldly stated that “the Ministry of Sport has no intention of wasting time with idle talk; instead, it will walk the walk.” He added that athletes will be able to utilise facilities such as the National
Aquatic Centre and the Andrew ‘Sixhead’ Lewis Gym, while the synthetic track, which we all know by now has not been completed s i n c e t h e D i r e c t o r ’s interaction with the media in 2012, would be made available to the athletes. The Director had also promised that the Commission was willing to work with the various governing bodies to ensure proper training programmes are initiated to keep sportsmen/ women active. It would certainly be interesting to hear whether or not this interaction has started and if so, has it been ongoing and to what level since time is of the essence. “The principal purpose of this initiative is to direct our attention and endeavours towards the achievement of not merely commendable, but spectacular performances at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. Dismal performances must now be relegated from our history,” Kumar had said. However, it must be restated that while at some point the Director should meet with the Principals of Associations, unless a Forum is prepared that will include a wider cross section of stakeholders to add their voices on what could stem the constant poor display of our athletes then the whole exercise will be defeated. Things must be done differently from how it was done previously there are persons within the society with solid proposals, but who’ve not been presented with the oportunity to ventilate them, they could make a difference. Have we begun the journey and if we have at what juncture of that journey we’re at?
Mayor’s 79th birthday football final at Den Amstel on Sunday It will be the moment of truth on Sunday when hosts Den Amstel face-off with City line-up North East La Penitence in the Mayor’s 79th birthday seven-a-side football final from 17:00hrs. In the curtain raiser, an 11-a-side encounter between a Mayor’s All Stars and Sea Wa l l w h i c h s t a r t s a t 15:00hrs, the game is scheduled to last 90 minutes while the 7-a-side final should be completed in 30 minutes. Pulsating action is anticipated in both games
Den Amstel and North East go head-to-head for the first prize of $100, 000. The runner-up team will take home $50,000. Admission to the ground is $500 and the home team team is expected to come from Delbert Lanferman, Jeffery Pereira, Travis Hilliman, Ryan Hunte, Colin Benn, Rondel Hutson, Kester Jacobs, Gilian Payne. The team from Georgetown will include Orville Milton (Captain), Hubert Pedro, Solomon Austin, Andrew Murray,
R a n d o l p h Wa g g n e r , Rensford Coleridge, Bevon Moesley, Rayan Adolph, Devon Millington, Calvin Moore. The Mayor’s All Star team is made up of Devon Charles, Ashley Harding, William Europe, Joshua Browne, Joshua Kamal, Malcolm Wilson, Nikel Frazer, Dwayne Wilson, Jamaal Harvey, Keron Solomon, Orville Stewart, Trevor Lewis, Tr e v o r J o n e s , L l o y d Matthews, Clive Matthews, Amos Ramsay, Jahaal Greaves Domini Garnett.
Orville Milton
Kester Jacobs
Andrew Murray
t r o Sp UDFA/GFF Saga
Clubs bind in support as UDFA defies GFF and plans year’s activities P.31
Mr. Solomon is supported by his executives and members of several Linden clubs during yesterday’s press conference
BCB launch NCN Three new Clubs given AAG membership P.35 Inter Zone U-15 tourney full - Association implements new strategies P.31
FIFA threat to Brazil’s World Cup host city of Curitiba P.33 Time of the essence for P.34 Brazil, says IOC chief Bach BCB partners with P.33 Corbin Media Group for Diamond Jubilee Magazine Emmanuel to replace Sammy in Windwards P.34
NCN Sports Editor (ag) Alethea Grant-Charles presents the sponsorship cheque to Secretary of the BCB Angela Haniff in the presence of Michael Gordon (left) and Hilbert Foster.
Time to walk the walk
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