Friday January 23, 2015
Kaieteur News
Where your views make the news
Letters... Where your views make the news
The PPP felt compelled to formulate another deception DEAR EDITOR, Since the act of prorogation, “democracy” in Guyana now means government by the PPP and not government of the people and by the people. The longer the prorogation, it essentially means that we have a oneparty state government, a transformed democratically elected dictatorship under President Donald Ramotar, who has taken Guyana a step further than Bharatt Jagdeo in this inculcated tyrannical conduct. There should be growing concern about the PPP being allowed to drive the narrative that informs the way society sees and reacts to the prorogation, which has thus far proven to this nation’s undoing. The fact that major players are regurgitating and acting in accordance, ignoring the institutions of state outlining how the nation’s business ought to be conducted, is even more worrying. It should be recalled the president invoked prorogation on 10th November, 2014 in effort to avoid the executive being held to account by the legislature, the nation’s supreme democratic organ. Rather than see the president being held to account for the misapplication of the prorogation clause, some lay blame to the constitution and engaged in jumbie politics. A nation became divided over a straight forward issue that requires holding the PPP to account. By failing to do so, the PPP has been aided in silencing the people’s voice through their elected representatives, under the pretext that it’s operating within the constitution that has now become more despised. The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is consistent and persistent in condemning the misapplication of prorogation, calling for it to be lifted and the parliament reconvene. Others also made similar call. This call is competing with the regurgitation of elections based on the president’s offer. The international community has also weighed in on the two positions, with the exception of CARICOM who intimated satisfaction with the repressive situation that violates the spirit and intent of the constitution and Commonwealth and CARICOM charters. Reacting to growing condemnation of his
repressive conduct, the President wrote David Granger, Leader of the Opposition, on 18th November 2014 inviting the opposition to dialogue. The Leader of the Opposition formally replied to the president on 2nd December 2014 stating that the APNU will have no engagement while the parliament is closed. The president on 6th December 2014 informed the nation that he will announce a date for elections in the New Year. In response to the offer of elections, some, rather than hold the President accountable for lifting the prorogation, began running around like headless chickens shouting ‘elections, elections, elections.’And this act of not stridently challenging the prorogation emboldened Ramotar to continue the constitutional violation and raping the will of the people. On 21st January the President announced General and Regional Elections for 11th May. It is an announcement that is welcomed by our political leaders even as the President continues the act of prorogation that is denying elected representatives the opportunity to represent the interest of the people. This continues to be the issue but a blind eye is turned to it and this violation is again sacrificed at the altar of euphoria for elections. Before the nation can go to elections the parliament has to be dissolved. As it stands now the parliament remains prorogued. These constitutional requirements are ignored by our lawmakers. And as it is recognised that on 11th May our children will be writing the CXC examinations and using the schools which are traditional polling stations, it is yet again to be acknowledged the PPP has
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once again deceived. It is inconceivable the President decided on the date without the knowledge of his cabinet and being advised by his Minister of Education that this will clash with the students’ examinations. What is coming across here, is that in reaction to mounting pressure to lift the prorogation and reconvene parliament or call elections, the PPP felt compelled to formulate another deception. Politics continues to be a zero sum game as our elected representatives keep talking pass each other rather than talking with each other. Striving for consensus, underpinned by universal principles, continues to elude the 10th Parliament in as much as lessons could have been learnt from Forbes Burnham and Cheddie Jagan, who were able to get things done together that benefitted both the country and their constituents. The people, once again, are being taken for granted. The political stampede, if not checked to pave way for sound reasoning and respect for institutions, will inflict irreparable harm to this nation. Lawlessness and ruthlessness will become the order of the day. The PPP continues to succeed in violating our laws and running roughshod over the people with the implicit support of unlikely forces. This continual facilitation to not have the PPP account to constitution and laws means this matter is not yet over. Lincoln Lewis General Secretary, GTUC.
BV Police ranks need to get their act together DEAR EDITOR, I would like to bring to your attention a terrible and unacceptable noise nuisance which affects the residents living in and around the junction of LBI Estate Road and the railway embankment (area close to the LBI Mosque and Earl’s Court). This intolerable nuisance is generally on weekends and consists of e x t r e m e l y l o u d , nerve wrecking and annoying music; nonstop until the early morning hours (3 - 4 am). What compounds the problem is the apparent unwillingness or ability (or both) of the BV Police to put a stop to this abuse of residents’ right to enjoy peaceful rest after an honest day’ work. An example will illustrate the complacent attitude of the BV Police. On Saturday night, there was commencement of this outrageously loud music. It continued into Sunday Morning (Jan 21 2015). At 2.40 am, after my family and I
could no longer take this assault to our eardrums, I called the BV Station to report same. I was assured that the matter would be speedily addressed. We waited hopefully for some relief but there was none- the music continued playing at top volume. At 3.27 am another call was made to the BV Station. This time the officer indicated that checks were made and the music was turned down so they couldn’t identify the source. This was impossibility since the music never abated. When I insisted that the loud music was still ongoing, the officer told me to give him my name and address! I inquired as to the reason for same; the ridiculous answer was that so he could come to see where the music was coming from! I refused to provide the information asked for. I was in for an even greater shockI was asked for my number! (I was calling from a blocked number). I again refused and indicated that I was going to
send a text to Minister Rohee. To our grateful relief, the music stopped completely at 4.00 am. On behalf of the residents and my family, I wish to thank the Minister for the immediate relief that the use of his name brought. We also appeal to the few unprofessional police officers at the BV Station to change their attitude and wear their uniform with the pride and dignity it deserves. Remember your duty is to serve and protect. We are hardworking residents engaged in the constructive work of nation building. We have a right to PEACE and QUIET. So noisemakers, respect that right just as we respect your right to play music in a decent and civilized manner. Minister Rohee, we also appeal to you to continue reading the riot act to complacency and unprofessionalism in the Police force, especially at the BV station. (name withheld)
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Kaieteur News
Prisoner hangs self in police outpost cell A 22-year-old larceny suspect hanged himself with his own shirt at around 19.30 hrs yesterday at the East Ruimveldt Police Station Outpost. A police release stated that Tiffon Peters, of East Ruimveldt, was found hanging in a cell from his shirt which he had stripped into a cloth-rope and tied to the metal grill work of the lockups. At the time, he was in the cell with another prisoner, who was awakened by gasping sounds and alerted the police after seeing Peters hanging. Kaieteur News understands that the victim was an itinerant vendor who suffered periodically from mental illness. The release stated that Police Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting
investigations into the incident. According to the release, Peters was taken into custody at around 14.30hrs yesterday following investigations into a report of simple larceny of $25,000 committed on Dhanwattie Singh of Houston, East Bank Demerara. The incident occurred at Vlissengen Road and Mandela Avenue and the suspect had been charged for court today. Kaieteur News was told that while in his cell, Peters told his cell mate “me ain able with this court thing.” According to a source, the other inmate was preparing to sleep when he heard a “cracking sound.” He reportedly then saw Peters dangling from the cell bars by his shirt.
The release stated that Peters was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was pronounced dead. Contrary to this statement, the body was removed from the outpost by porters from the Lyken Funeral Parlour. On hearing of the prisoner’s death, a small group of residents gathered outside the outpost, while the inmate’s mother stood by the doorway singing hymns loudly. The woman told reporters that she last saw her son alive at around noon yesterday when she had bought a puri for his lunch, along with his medication. She indicated that her son had suffered from mental illness and that he had undergone psychiatric treatment.
Regional Chambers say businesses should pass on fuel relief to consumers The Association of Regional Chambers of Commerce (ARCC) and the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCCDA) have welcomed the reduction in fuel prices as announced by the Minister of Finance. According to the ARCC in a press statement, this reduction will greatly assist the various business sectors of Guyana and the relief to
each household should be tremendous. “ARCC calls on its member Chambers to ensure that the businesses within their catchment areas pass on these savings to the end users, especially those in the transportation sectors. Since every mechanism of business within society directly depends on some type of fuel for its operation, ARCC is confident that the relief from
the reductions will channel its way to everyone and looks forward to the highly anticipated reduction in consumers’ utility bills,” the Chambers stated. “While demand will cause other suppliers to re-look at their prices, we hope that they will consciously make the price changes for the benefit of all stakeholders. We appreciate that (Continued on page 13)
Friday January 23, 2015
Senior police officers meet with minibus/hire car operators
Commander Hicken talking with minibus operators yesterday Recognizing that fatal accidents in ‘A’ Division increased last year when compared to the previous year, Divisional Commander, Clifton Hicken and his administrative team yesterday had a talk with minibus and hire car operators. The police officers toured all the parks that are located around the Stabroek Market area and met with the bus drivers, conductors and hire car operators. The operators carry out their work in and around ‘A’ Division.
During the 10-minute meetings at each park, the Commander informed the minibus operators about some of the changes he would like to see for this year and also revealed some of the plans he and his team have in order to improve the park. In a brief comment to this publication, Hicken said, “We’ve identified that we have carnage on the road and we have to respect the lives of commuters. We have asked them (minibus and hire car operators) to be more responsible when moving commuters from point A to
point B.” He continued, “We have also asked them to behave in a more responsible manner when they are coming into the park, so that it can be done orderly.” The operators were also asked to form an association and foster a relationship with the Guyana Police Force so that there can be a smooth communication flow. The team also informed the operators that there is currently a tint campaign ongoing and urged them to adhere to the police rules. “Tint during the day absorbs the vision, and it will be worst in the night. During 2013 we had carnage and 2014 it was worse,” the operators were told. The minibus operators were advised to certify their conductors before taking them to work on their vehicles. They were also warned against hiring touts. “Some of the people you think are touts are not here to tout, and we don’t want that,” the commander warned. He also advised the drivers to pay attention to speed limits. “Most of the fatalities are minibus drivers, but we don’t want to characterize all minibus drivers as the same. Be responsible and the few who are irresponsible, we will deal with them.” Also, much focus will be placed on school-aged children waiting for “boom, boom” buses this year. “If you see children on the roads, your duty is to get them home safe. They are the future. They are going to school for a reason and we don’t want loud music in the buses to distract them,” the Commander told the gathering. The team of police officers plan on meeting with the operators often to ensure they adhere to the rules and regulations of the force.
Friday January 23, 2015
Kaieteur News
France takes battle against radical Islam into schools (Reuters) - France announced new measures on Thursday aimed at helping schools combat radical Islam, racism and anti-Semitism in reaction to deadly Islamist attacks two weeks ago. The moves, including more teacher training and civic and ethics education in the country’s secular curriculum, come after dozens of schools complained of pupils refusing to join a Jan. 8 nationwide minute of silence for the victims. French symbols such as the flag and national anthem will be explicitly celebrated and one day, Dec. 9, set aside as a “Day of Secularism”. Poor pupils will receive more grants and efforts will be made to make school intakes more socially diverse. While millions of French marched to defend freedom of expression after the killings at satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, others have described its cartoons of the
Prophet Mohammad as offensive and rejected the “Je suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”) movement of national unity. In an unprecedented indictment by a French leader of the country’s failure to integrate large immigrant populations from North Africa and elsewhere, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said this week the aftermath of the attacks demonstrated that a form of “social and ethnic apartheid” existed in France. “Secularism must be applied everywhere, because that is how everyone will be able to live in peace with each other,” Valls told a news conference. A thousand educationalists will receive training to help teachers deal with pupils’ questions on France’s secular tradition, citizenship, prejudices, with an earlywarning system created to identity and deal with worrying behavior. Three home-grown gun-
men of Algerian and African origin killed 17 people in three days of violence, starting with the attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo and ending with a siege at a Jewish supermarket in Paris. Around 200 incidents in which the national minute of silence was disrupted in schools were reported to the education ministry and social media testify to differences among many pupils about the limits of freedom of expression. Few dispute that many children, notably from immigrant backgrounds, feel outsiders in a French school system once heralded as among the best in the world but now showing cracks. Yet there is no full consensus on the causes or the remedies. “There has long been a code of silence on these kind of problems in the national education system,” said Valerie Marty, president of the national parents association Peep.
Iraqi PM warns falling oil price could hurt fight against Islamic State Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Thursday he feared lower revenues from falling global oil prices could hurt his country’s military campaign against Islamic State. Speaking after attending a meeting of members of the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State in London, Abadi appealed for more training and equipment for his military. He said Iraq’s economy had been hard hit by the oil price slump. “Oil prices have dropped to about 40 percent of their level last year. Iraq’s economy and budget relies 85 percent on oil and this has been disastrous for us,” he told a news conference. “We don’t want to see a reverse of our military victory due to our fiscal and budget problems.” When asked how the coalition could help, Abadi said Baghdad could be allowed to defer payment for ammunition and weapons. Kerry and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the London meeting planned the next steps of the coalition’s campaign against Islamic State in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. That included doing more militarily, more to cut off the group’s finances, and more to stem the flow of foreign fighters. Kerry said the struggle would be a long one but Iraq should not worry it would not have the weaponry to finish the job. A large consignment
Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (C) and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) listen as Britain’s Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond speaks of U.S.-made M16 rifles would be arriving in Iraq “very, very shortly,” he said. Kerry said Iraqi ground forces, backed by coalition air strikes, have taken back 700 square km of territory in Iraq from Islamic State. U.S. and allied officials have acknowledged that the fight against Islamic State in Syria will take longer than in Iraq. Hammond said before the meeting that the coalition could take up to two years to expel Islamic State from Iraq, and that Baghdad’s own forces would be incapable of proper combat operations for months. Abadi met British Prime Minister David Cameron before the meeting
and asked for more military training and ammunition. KURDS CLAIM VICTORIES Britain has taken part in air strikes against Islamic State forces, trained Iraqi troops, and provided some equipment already. Cameron told Abadi that Britain was ready to help, but stopped short of making any new commitments. “The threat from extremist terror you face in Iraq is also a threat we face here in the United Kingdom,” he said. “We will do everything we can to help stop foreign fighters coming to your country and creating the mayhem we see today.”
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 23, 2015
Friday January 23, 2015
Kaieteur News
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THE ENEMY WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS Guyanese simply outdo themselves. Take this guy who reportedly went into a school to try to rob the children of their cellular phones. Which person you know goes into a school to commit a robbery? A school is simply not the place for a robbery. There is no escaping from schoolchildren, as many a crook in Guyana has painfully found out. The most foolish thing a crook could do is to commit a robbery around 3 o’clock in the afternoon when school is out. Once the robbery is spotted by schoolchildren, the fate of the crook is sealed. He can run all he wants. The children are going to run after him. You cannot outrun a bunch of schoolchildren. They are not going to stop until they have you cornered. Have you ever seen a robber being pursued by schoolchildren? There is no escape from
them. They will chase after you in droves and the faster you run, the faster they will follow. They do not tire. So, do not believe that your supposed superior fitness will prevail. A robber can hide all he wants. He can dart in and out of alleyways. That is not going to save him from the schoolchildren. They will see wherever he goes. You cannot get past them and you cannot hide from them. There is no way out. So tell me, why would anyone decide of all places to go and rob schoolchildren in their classroom? Makes no sense to me! That is the easiest way to end up in jail. Recently, there was a report about an alleged impersonator going into a school and demanding the cellular phones of the firstformers. How much more dumb can anyone be than to attempt something like this? This guy, if it is true, needs to
be in a special classroom. He needs an education, because it is basic common sense that you cannot escape a group of schoolchildren. The reports in the media suggested that the incident was bound to raise questions about security at that particular school. Does it? Years ago there was a problem when a gang went into a school to beat up on one child. That is something that needs to be guarded against in the future. There is equally a need to guard against mentally-ill persons going into schools and harming children. But any petty robber who believes he can go into a classroom and rob a group of children is looking to end up in jail. He will not succeed. Lone robbers going into schools to rob children are looking for trouble. The real worry should not be about these lone rangers. The real worry should be about bullies in school taking away the possessions of
Dem boys seh...
Donald vex wid Jagdeo and Granger vex wid Ramjattan When Jagdeo was de President he use to do all kind of things and when was time to vote, he use to wait till de last minute to dissolve parliament. He was a man who know how to milk every ounce of everything from de country. And dem boys mean everything. He teach Donald de trick, but poor Donald didn’t get a chance to even squeeze out de last two years of de presidency. Fuh one, Jagdeo keep people away from de polls suh that poor Donald didn’t even get a majority. Dem boys seh that all of that mek Donald get vex and cuss up de other day. He cuss Jagdeo fuh mekking he lose de majority in parliament; he cuss de Opposition fuh putting pressure pun he and mek he get vex and set a date fuh elections. Now he get vex wid Priya because she sit down wid he when he was talking in de Cabinet and she didn’t open she mouth fuh tell he bout de exams pun election day. Granger get vex too. He vex wid Khemraj because dem mek Donald call de elections before he and he party could really prepare.
Then he cuss Joe de Hard Man fuh jumping up and telling Donald fuh bring it on. Well dem boys hear when Donald call Jagdeo and ask fuh advice, de phone ring out, because Jagdeo looking fuh somewhere to live, suh he deh somewhere between Sri Lanka and Guyana. People would seh that Jagdeo got a big mansion here, but from de way things going, he mightn’t even got that house, especially if de election report is just like de one that Jagdeo write after de Sri Lanka elections. De other people pun de commission that Jagdeo lead write how de old Sri Lanka president hire he whole family, just like somebody we all know; he had money just like Jagdeo and some other people we know; he tek money from China just like Jagdeo and now he heading to jail just like—some people we know. Jagdeo did sign that report. Talk half and understand Donald worries.
younger children. The real worry is about gangs being formed in schools. The real worry is about children taking weapons into schools. The real worry is about the deviants who are in school and want to attack teachers. This is the real worry. There was a time back in the day when a teacher would enter the classroom and ask everyone to stand up. The teacher would then go through each child’s pockets, bag and desk looking for items that were prohibited by the school’s rules. In those days you may have found a boy with a penknife and that would be taken away and the boy’s parents called. This was as bad as it got. For the girls,
there may have been the occasional item that was not really supposed to be had by schoolgirls. Their parents would be sent for also, to find out if they knew what was going on with the child. Guyana needs to return to the days when teachers could assert their authority in searching the possessions of children to ensure that no penknives, ice picks or other dangerous items are taken to school. These days the teachers are spending too much time worrying about children carrying portable game consoles and other electronic devices to school. They are being forced to enforce rules about cellular phone use, and therefore what is happening is the spot checks that should be
conducted for things such as alcohol, dangerous instruments and weapons are being neglected. This past week’s incident should not lead to an obsession with turning school into a drill camp. It should not also lead to an obsession with security. What is needed is for teachers to be given the support to keep the children in line. Our schools are pretty safe from outsiders. It is those within that are the source of worry.
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 23, 2015
=== The Freddie Kissoon column ===
That New York Times article on Guyana Two things that New York Times article of January 18 pointed to that most Guyanese know - the dwindling popularity of Mr. Ramotar and most importantly, the role of young people. Here is the exact quote on young people; “…younger voters, who may have seen more of the world and want to change things at home.” That is the mountain that has become insurmountable‘ for the PPP. I will offer two examples. I was having lunch
at Excellence Restaurant on Charlotte Street with Leonard Craig and Dennis Atwell of the AFC. This young man came up to our table and asked me if I knew who he was. He said he was the son of Eugene Gilbert. Eugene was a junior Minister in the Forbes Burnham Government. We were student contemporaries at UG. We got along nicely even though we were opposites politically. Eugene came to know my wife when she worked at GUYMIDA, under the Hoyte presidency.
I told the son I was happy that young people like him were back in Guyana. As the conversation rolled on, the state of development of Guyana came up, and he said, “Mr. Kissoon, look at Suriname compared to Guyana.” One week after those words, I heard them again from another young man. The place was the Square of the Revolution and the event was the APNUsponsored rally against the prorogation of Parliament. Rustom Seegopaul was a journalist at Kaieteur News, then he went to China to study. Before the rally, I didn’t see Rustom for years. But there he was filming the protest. We talked and the same thing I said to Eugene Gilbert’s son, I uttered to Rustom – I was glad he was back to develop his country. As the subject of Guyana’s state of
development came up, Rustom said, “But look at Suriname.” This was totally intriguing for me. In the space of a week, two very young men judged their country on the basis of the modern state of neighbouring Suriname. The New York Times journalist was spot on – once the young Guyanese see a piece of the world they will want Guyana to be like that. They want Guyana to be like other countries, but they are not coming back when they touch down on foreign soil. Eugene Gilbert’s son and Rustom Seegopaul may have left already. Once they put foot on land on the Suriname side, off the Moleson Creek ferry; once they land at the Piarco airport in Trinidad; once they see a single building at UWI in Jamaica, they are not coming back to Guyana. Imagine what goes through the head of a twentyyear-old Guyanese who stands on the lawns of UWI in Trinidad, Barbados or Jamaica, and looks at the buildings then walks into the
offices. In his eyes, UG is a cow pen. And it may be no exaggeration to say that Bounty Supermarket has cow pens that are in better condition than UG. Neilson McKenzie of the AFC mentioned a funny thing. He said that a woman told him that the worst road in Botswana is in better shape than the best road in Guyana. This is the Guyana the Yahoo travel writer saw last year when he visited. This is the Guyana the New York Times journalist saw. This is the Guyana that will cause the downfall of Clement Rohee, Gail Teixeira, Roger Luncheon, Donald Ramotar and the house of troglodytes ironically named Freedom House. Every day, this house of troglodytes tries to fool the younger generation of this country, and it makes the young people more enraged. Is it not a wiser policy to shut up if you don’t have any idea to contribute to a debate? Donald Ramotar told his audience at the Berbice Expedition in July 2013 that in three years time he would make Guyana a first world
Frederick Kissoon country. If you are not inclined to use a harsh word like ‘asinine’ you are forced to when you hear this comical outpouring. In a world of 200 sovereign states, in terms of GDP and GNP, Guyana would be listed as one of the poorest. In a territory that in the words of one of our leading entrepreneurs is “piss poor”, Mr. Ramotar will climb over a hundred and fifty states that are above us and make us a developed nation. It doesn’t help the cause of the PPP when you insult young people like this, because they know better. It is best to shut your mouth. This simple, physical act, dictators do not know how to do.
Friday January 23, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Education Ministry hoping for smooth and effective sitting of examinations Announcement of General Elections date...
Following on the heels of the announcement by President Donald Ramotar that May 11, 2015, will be the date for Regional and General Elections, the Ministry of Education has become the centre of attention. This is due to the fact that the date for the national elections coincides with a number of examinations offered by the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC). In fact several teachers, students and parents have raised concerns about the clash, a state of affairs that
the Education Ministry in a statement yesterday said that it is well aware of. According to the Ministry, it is cognizant that there exists among some parents and candidates, concerns about the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). The statement added that “the Ministry wishes to assure all its stakeholders and all citizens that every consideration is being given
A 19-year-old mechanic, who was reportedly part of a gang that invaded a businessman’s premises and robbed him of a quantity of cash and items almost two years ago, was remanded to prison yesterday. Rayon Finman of Seventh Street, Campbellville appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on a robbery with violence charge. It is alleged that on June 26, 2013 at 14 North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, while in the company of others and through the use of personal violence, he robbed Derek Haley of his motorcycle, two cellular phones and a quantity of cash. The items amounted to $277,000.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court heard that Finman had no prior charges or convictions and Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones objected to bail citing the gravity and prevalence of the offence. Jones said too that personal violence was used during the robbery and that the 19-year-old was a possible flight risk. The Magistrate granted Jones’ request and Finman was remanded to prison. Last August, one of his alleged accomplices, 19-yearold Wesley Griffith, was jailed on the said charge. During Griffith’s trial, it was revealed that a group of young men went to Haley’s business
- consulting with CXC, other stakeholders to the smooth and effective sitting of the 2015 CSEC and CAPE examinations.” As such, the Ministry said that it is in consultations with the CXC and other stakeholders to discuss and derive a suitable plan that is in the best interest of the candidates. The Ministry has assured too that additional details will be forthcoming as the Ministry finalizes its plan for the sitting of the CSEC and
No bail for mechanic on robbery charge
place in North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, that day. Under the guise of being customers interested in making purchases, the men proceeded to severely thrash Haley before making off with his valuables. The gang escaped that day, but Griffith was later caught, charged and subsequently jailed for 60 months. Finman will appear in court again on February 28 to defend this charge.
CAPE examinations on May 11. Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU), Mark Lyte, told this publication yesterday that while the Union is first and foremost concerned about the welfare of its membership, it cannot help but be concerned about the candidates who will have to write examinations on Election Day. Lyte is worried that having the elections on the same day as the examinations is likely to “have some sort of an impact on the validity of the exams.” “I hope that whatever arrangements are put in place would not cause our students to not perform the way they normally do,” said Lyte as he pointed out that “we all know around elections everybody is busy and there is tension. It might have been better for us to have a separate date (from examinations) for the elections.” Lyte observed too that some of the candidates for the
examinations may be eligible to vote and could very well be disenfranchised if elections are held on the same day. “How are they going to cope with voting as well as examination?” Lyte asked. He noted that while the Union has not yet shared its concerns with the Education Ministry “we hope that it will be addressed because it is a concern of the Union that the date of the elections coincides with the CXC examinations.” This publication was informed that any date adjustment might more than likely have to be made at the level of Government in terms of a new elections date as the CXC examinations date is the same set for a number of countries and conducted simultaneously to maintain the integrity of the results. However, from all indications Guyana’s Election Day is unlikely to change based on utterances from
those within Government. Based on the timetable issued by CXC, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations set for May 11 are: (MORNING) AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE D/A 2 (General); AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE S/A 2 (General); THEATRE ARTS 1 (General); ( A F T E R N O O N ) ELECTRICAL and E L E C T R O N I C TECHNOLOGY 1 –Technical; FOOD and NUTRITION 2 (General). Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) set for the same date are: (MORNING) Geometrical and Mechanical Engineering Drawing Unit 1 Paper 2; History Unit 1 Paper 2; Art and Design Examinations to begin for Unit 1, Papers 2 and 3, and Unit 2, Papers 1 and 2; ( A F T E R N O O N ) Communication Studies Paper 2.
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 23, 2015
Technical officer, 71, Berbician booked on drug trafficking charge remanded for fake OP stamp A seaman who was recently nabbed with a large quantity of cocaine at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) as he prepared to board a US-bound flight, was yesterday brought before the courts to be indicted on a drug trafficking charge. Alex Macy of Middle Street, Skeldon, Corentyne, Berbice was reportedly found with 12.250 kilogrammes of cocaine in his suitcase at the Timehri facility on Tuesday (January 20). Following the bust, Macy was brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’
Court for his first arraignment. When the charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking was read to Macy, he was not required to enter a plea and the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry ordered him held until February 9. Macy’s case was prosecuted by Inspector Stephen Telford, a Prosecutor attached to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Telford told the Court that Macy has a 10-year United States of America Visa and
had visited there twice before. He said that on the day in question Macy was an outgoing passenger on a Dynamic Airways flight destined for the US. According to him, Macy was travelling with two suitcases and as he was checking in, ranks noticed he was acting in a suspicious manner and approached him. His suitcase was searched and Telford said that the cocaine was unearthed in two ‘Bob Marley’ bags. The seaman was arrested and charged. The Prosecutor told the court that investigations in the matter are not yet complete. Macy was remanded to jail.
A 71-year-old technical officer who is accused of forging an Office of the President stamp and using it on an official letter, was remanded to jail by city Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday. Frederick Ross of Government Compound, Friendship, East Coast Demerara, was slapped with charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and uttering a forged document. It is alleged that between March 15 and April 4, 2014 at Friendship, East Coast Demerara, he conspired with person (s) unknown to forge an Office of the President (OP) stamp. Ross was also charged with uttering a forged
document, in that on April 3, last year, at Friendship, with intent to defraud, he uttered to Everne Singh, called “Velma,” a letter dated April 3, 2014 with a false OP stamp affixed, purporting to show that same was issued by Office of the President, despite knowing same to be false. He pleaded not guilty to both charges when they were read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. Addressing the court, Ross claimed that the matter was already dealt with by Magistrate Sueanna Lovell. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Shellon Daniels did not present the facts in court. She opposed bail based on the serious nature of the
Accused: Frederick Ross offence. Magistrate Latchman refused bail and the case will be called again next at the Vigilance Magistrates’ Court.
Labourer remanded for stealing shoes, clothes A 44-year-old labourer who stole a quantity of women’s shoes and clothing from his employer has been remanded to prison.
Sheik Mohammed Mustapha appeared before Magistrate Geeta ChandanEdmond at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. It is alleged that on January 18, last, at Georgetown, he stole three pairs of shoes valued $65,000 and a quantity of clothing valued $15,000 – the property of Jeanette Smith. He pleaded not guilty to the simple larceny charge. Though she presented no facts to the Court, Police Prosecutor, Corpora Renetta Bentham opposed bail citing the serious nature and
prevalence of the offence. She said that Mustapha has no fixed place of abode and the articles were not recovered. Bentham went on to say that he had provided the police, with three different addresses - one of which
belonged to the virtual complainant (VC). Meanwhile, Mustapha said that he had been living in the woman’s house since he worked with her. Bail was refused and the case will be called again on January 30.
Duo charged for stealing $900,000 in lumber A chainsaw operator and labourer arrested for allegedly stealing a large quantity of lumber from the logging concession where they are
employed were granted bail to the tune of $60,000 yesterday. Danguan Sukhu, a 52year-old chainsaw operator of Yarrowkabra, SoesdykeLinden and Ramraj Persaud, a 34-year-old labourer of Lot 83 Section ‘C’ Plantation Hope, Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The men are accused of stealing 4500 board measure (BM) of wood which cost $900,000 between December 5 and December 7, 2014 at Issano Road, Omai, Essequibo River. The wood belonged to Bharat Nandlall. The case was prosecuted by Inspector Michael Grant. He did not oppose bail since the men were released on station bail. Grant did not present facts in court. The men are expected to return to court on February 6.
Friday January 23, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 13
Garbage crisis looms in parts of city as agency threatens withdrawal City Hall
City Hall officials say that the garbage situation in the central and southern parts of Georgetown is likely to worsen now that collection agency Puran Brothers is threatening to withdraw its services. The company has been servicing the group seven and eight communities following the contract termination of Cevon’s Waste Management, which was initially collecting garbage in those wards. The group seven areas consist of West Ruimveldt, East Ruimveldt, Castello Housing Scheme, Independence Boulevard, West La Penitence, Jeeboo Land, North East La Penitence, East La Penitence (Freeman Street), Lamaha Springs and Lamaha Park, while group eight comprises Alberttown, Kingston, North Cummingsburg, South Cummingsburg and Queenstown. The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) told this publication that the body has received several complaints about the inadequate collection of garbage for some time now. This, they said, is as a result of the ongoing feud between the Executive and Administrative arms of the agency. In late 2013, the acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba had terminated the garbage collection contract for Cevon’s Waste Management but retained Puran Brothers, despite Cevon’s being a larger and better equipped agency. During a Statutory meeting at City Hall, when it was asked of the Town Clerk the matter relating to the two groups, they were told that Puran was conducting voluntary work. However, the Council said that Puran is threatening to
abandon the two groups since the Council owes the contractor ‘millions of dollars.’ Puran was never contracted by the Council, said Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green. She had told the publication that the Town Clerk (ag) had fired Cevon’s without the permission of the Council, and despite continued orders for her to put out tenders for the groups, she has refused. It was explained, however, that since the Council voted to remove Councilor Junior
Garrett as Finance Committee Chairman, vouchers unauthorized by the Council can no longer be signed, because his replacements also signatories to the Council’s accounts - are unwilling to sign off any payment for Puran because the Council did not hire them. It is unsure how the Minister got involved in the matter since he has not denounced the Town Clerk (ag) for continuously ignoring Council’s decisions, but he found it fitting to write the Mayor to say that the Council
Regional Chambers say... (From page 6) Government will constantly try to re-look at the ways and means it can adjust its policies so that every Guyanese benefit whenever situations such as these occur in our economies, and to continue to work with all private sector bodies on issues that will greatly improve the livelihood of all Guyanese.” The Berbice Chamber also noted that fuel savings will certainly help to boost all other industries, and bring much relief to the consumers, especially with their utility bills. “We call on all to ensure that these savings are passed on to the final consumers in every business circle and the other fuel players in the market to follow suit. We note also Government’s intentions of constantly re-looking at the prices on the local market with what is happening on the world markets.”
should pay Puran, the Deputy Mayor stated. According to ChaseGreen, the Minister asked the Council to pay Puran Brothers, and then put out tenders for the said areas Sooba had refused. She noted, however, that this will not be done since the “double standard” with the Minister is clear. “Here we have a Minister of the government who refuses to deal with the infractions of his imposed Town Clerk, but calls on the council to pay someone the council never contracted to collect garbage in groups seven and eight. “Some time ago, former Town Clerk permitted contractors to work to assist with garbage collection. When Ms Sooba was imposed on the Council she refused to pay those contractors, arguing that she did not see a contract. On that
occasion the Minister agreed with Sooba and those contractors were not paid. In this case, however, the Minister finds it convenient to advise the council that it should settle a debt to the tune of millions of dollars that it is not comfortable with or never authorised. “The Minister has also asked the company to continue its service in groups seven and eight for a week more while he irons out the issue; but the Council has asked the question, under what authority the Minister has asked the company to continue working and who will be paying them?” The Deputy Mayor is adamant that under the Municipal and District Council Act, Chapter 28:01 section: 228; 229 (a) (b); and 232: it states that the Council will enter into contracts for the discharge of functions. It also stipulates the grounds
surrounding this right. “It should be noted that in every case, the law points to the Council - the elective body, the people’s representatives; not the Town Clerk. Clearly then, the action by Ms. Sooba to hire Puran Brothers without the fiat of Council is illegal,” the Deputy stated. The Council has a two-tier management structure: the elected Council - Mayor and Councillors, (the policy and decision-makers) and the administration (officers who are obliged to implement those decisions). If the latter fails to do its work then the elected council could appear ineffective as is the case, the Deputy Mayor further stated. Kaieteur News was told, however, that should the Council fail to address the matter, complaints will continue to pour in, and the “situation could move from bad to worse”.
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 23, 2015
Two-vehicle collision at United front is best way to landside victory - AFC Lusignan leaves several injured The Alliance For Change (AFC) remains optimistic that a pro-democracy grouping will result in the expulsion of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration which has, according to the opposition, done little or no good for Guyana in recent times. The Party has no doubt that such an alliance, which will include alignment with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), will daunt any of its supporters. This was told to the media yesterday by AFC leader Khemraj Ramjattan as he hosted his party’s weekly press conference. Ramjattan was asked if his Party considered the fact that many who voted for the AFC in the past did so to run away from PPP and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)-dominated APNU, and to what extent will an alliance affect such support. “I feel it will not in any way daunt them,” Ramjattan replied. He said that those who supported AFC for its fresh outlook can rest assured that none of AFC’s polices will be
AFC vice chairman Moses Nagamootoo compromised. In this regard, Ramjattan stated emphatically that the AFC will not align itself with APNU unless it is an AFC-led alliance. “So if it will be led, there will be no cause for concern and whatever we said we will go into elections with we will do so,” said Ramjattan. He added that “It will be more beneficial to those you say may be daunted by that move.” Also, AFC Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo said that “most persons who voted for the AFC voted
consciously for change, and if we are able to bring together more forces we may have a positive change.” Nagamootoo placed emphasis on the fact that the proposed alliance is “not only APNU, we are talking about civil societies, other organizations such as state unions and those persons who are being marginalized and sidelined in the PPP as I speak right now, because they dare not put up challenges to the powers that be in that administration.” He said that the AFC believes that the impetus of carrying a broad front offers a greater opportunity for change and “I believe it will be a landslide victory for Guyana if we were able to have a united front in this e l e c t i o n a s o p p osed to several parties.” Nagamootoo said that the AFC will not lose any supporters if voters understand that “It (the alliance) is not what is wrongly being brandished to the effect that it is an AFCAPNU alliance…our prodemocracy alliance is for the people’s front against this corrupt regime.”
A two-vehicle collision at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, last night has left a number of persons nursing injuries. Among the injured seen at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation were Roxanne Wilson of Haslington, Lawrence Charles of Melanie and Quasie Williams of Buxton, all on the East Coast of Demerara. From all indications the most serious of the injured was a bloodied Wilson who was lying on a stretcher when this publication arrived at the hospital. She told this publication that she was sitting behind the driver ’s seat, among passengers in a route 44 minibus, and had no recollection of what transpired. She also related
that all she remembered was hearing a loud bang before she lost consciousness. The woman said that when she regained consciousness she was the only person in an upturned bus. According to the woman, as soon as other passengers removed her from the bus it toppled into a nearby trench. A wheelchair-seated Charles was also bloodied and claimed that he also had no recollection of what transpired. But according to Williams, who said that he was sitting in the front seat of the bus, he couldn’t help but see what transpired. He recalled seeing a Sport Utility Vehicle swerving into the path of the bus and suspected that the driver in a bid to avoid a collision swung out of the
path of the vehicle, causing the bus to topple. Williams said he was among the first to exit the mangled vehicle. He said that he assisted a female friend out of the vehicle before proceeding to help others. He claimed too that he saw the driver of the vehicle run away from the scene of the accident and soon after another man appeared claiming he was the driver. “I know that was not the same person,” said Williams who suspects that the driver that caused the accident was not licensed. Police as part of their investigation took both drivers into custody. According to a medical practitioner, four persons who were involved in the accident were seen at the GPHC and all are in stable condition.
Three of the injured passengers
Friday January 23, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 15
Voters should debate important issues - Western envoys in upcoming elections on the prorogation of Parliament in November by the President.
US Charge d’Affaires, Bryan Hunt The United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom, via their envoys, are urging Guyanese to show maturity in debating important issues during the upcoming elections. According to a joint statement yesterday, the announcement by President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday that national and regional elections will be held on May 11, 2015, must be welcomed. “Elections are a critical first-step towards the return of a fully functioning Parliament,” the statement said. It was noted that great strides were made by Guyana during the 2011 General and Regional Elections. “The Organization of American States (OAS) Electoral Mission Final Report, which referenced the Mission with observers from 14 countries, applauded significant efforts made by the Guyanese Electoral Commission (GECOM) to execute an overall inclusive and clean electoral process.” The envoys acknowledged that the report mentioned the “high level of training and dedication exhibited by GECOM staff in the polling centres.” “These views were also endorsed by the Commonwealth observation team. The report also noted areas of improvement to make subsequent elections more efficient and fair. We hope Guyana considers these recommendations, i ncluding: improving mechanisms that guarantee more equitable access to media and political financing,
Canadian High Commissioner, Dr. Nicole Giles
Outgoing British High Commissioner, Andrew Ayre adherence to timely and standardized procedures for the electoral process, improving communications with all stakeholders, in particular GECOM, and strengthening the promotion of gender-balanced participation throughout the electoral process.” The statement also expressed hope that the electoral process will allow the Guyanese people to debate the important issues that are facing the country. “We are committed to working with GECOM, all political parties, and civil society to support free, fair and peaceful elections.” It has not been the first time that the western countries have publicly expressed opinions about elections, among other things. There were statements before on Local Government Elections which have not been held for over 20 years. As a matter of fact, British High Commissioner, Andrew Ayre, who is set to return home shortly, weighed in
He urged for the situation to be corrected and warned that Parliament remains a
critical component in oversight of developmental assistance to Guyana.
However, Government had accused Ayre of meddling.
Page 16
Kaieteur News
Friday January 23, 2015
Opposition should prepare TSC insists stalled appointment dependent on Psychiatric evaluation for any eventuality …even a possible budget – House Speaker As far as Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman is concerned, this is the first time in Guyana’s history where the election date is known and the Parliament is not dissolved as yet. In an interview with Kaieteur News yesterday, Trotman said that the President has opted for a rather unorthodox approach. The current situation he said is one which allows Head of State, Donald Ramotar enough time to dissolve the Parliament in early February, or even see the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, laying the 2015 budget. The House Speaker said that in spite of all the concerns, the political opposition needs to remain focused and hold the President to his word on allowing the election to be held on the date set by him. Trotman said that while
A mini health check is the first step to donating blood
House Speaker, Raphael Trotman the President’s move was unusual, it poses no constitutional challenge for the time being. He said that while the situation is somewhat awkward, the political opposition should concern itself with focusing on what is needed to win the upcoming election. He said that careful attention should be paid to the fact that the government, in creating such a situation, will try to gain the upper hand, but neither the AFC nor APNU should allow
themselves to be sidetracked with what the current administration may be up to. The Speaker answered in the affirmative when asked if there exists a possibility for a budget to be laid. He said that he rather suspects that the government will try to lay the budget to engineer a stage for national embarrassment on the part of the Opposition. “They know that the Opposition would more than likely vote against that budget, and if they bring one it would be filled with a lot of goodies. The laying of a budget is a nationally televised event, and if one is brought I believe it will be like a national theatre, for the drama, to show that the opposition objected to a menu of unbelievably good allocations for certain sectors,” Trotman opined. He emphasized that regardless of what speculation there may be at this time, the Opposition needs to be prepared for any eventuality. “They need to stay alert and focus on what they need to get done,” he reiterated.
The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has wasted no time in responding to allegations that it has deliberately failed to appoint a graduate teacher to the position of Head Teacher at St George’s Secondary School. According to information coming out of TSC yesterday, there is no possibility of the teacher in question, Vanessa Wilson, being appointed until approval is granted directly from the Ministry of Education, through Chief Education Officer (CEO), Olato Sam. Wilson, who was formerly tasked with heading Mahdia Secondary School in Region Eight, was from all indications demoted without any justification. She was asked to report to the Georgetown Department of Education and was subsequently placed at St George’s Secondary. It was while there that the woman applied to fill the position of Head Teacher at the school to which she was sent. Although Wilson was reportedly the best candidate to apply for the position, TSC, based on information it had received, requested that the woman be subjected to a Medical Board examination. This was in light of the fact that reports had reached TSC that Wilson was not mentally fit. However, following the Medical Board examination the woman was classified as “mentally sound.” Nevertheless, TSC recommended that the woman undergo a Psychiatric examination. The woman, distraught by the development, sought support from the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) for
legal representation, since she and the Union were convinced that the request, coupled with the fact that she was demoted, reportedly without a cause, infringes on her rights. But according to a TSC official, “We cannot appoint this lady unless we have the go-ahead from Chief Education Officer.” However, GTU through its Administrative Field Officer, Lancelot Baptiste, had disclosed, at a recent press conference, that following the Medical Board examination, a recommendation was made by the Education Ministry’s Deputy Chief Education Officer (Administration), in the absence of the CEO, for Wilson to be appointed Head Teacher of St George’s Secondary. This publication was told that while TSC is in possession of a report on the woman’s wellbeing from the Medical Board, the TSC must also be furnished with a report on the woman’s mental soundness, following a Psychiatric evaluation. “As soon as that comes in to us we can appoint her,” the TSC official said yesterday. The official went on to further explain that the recommendation made for the appointment was done by the DCEO (Deputy Chief Education Officer) who was not aware that there were questions about Wilson’s mental stability. “Two evaluations needed to be done,” said the official, who informed that there were allegations reaching the TSC that at more than one school to which Wilson was attached, she exhibited behaviour that was not
Graduate Teacher Vanessa Wilson becoming of a teacher. “Teachers should be role models and normal teachers haven’t had those kinds of problems,” the TSC official stressed. “We have heard allegations that she has had problems with Headteachers where she was very abusive to them, both verbally and physically. We have heard allegations too that when she was in Mahdia she had a series of problems up there...There were some persons who were linking her behaviour to a political affiliation and that sort of thing, but it is not the TSC’s place to determine that. However, it was her behaviour that caused the Ministry to insist on a Psychiatric evaluation,” the TSC official said. “Once she passes the Psychiatric evaluation, the TSC is ready to appoint this woman as a graduate HM upon recommendation of the CEO,” the official added. “We are just waiting; our hands are tied right now. As soon as we receive the green light from the CEO then we will do our part here,” the TSC official asserted.
Kaneville man shot while leaving party A 27-year-old man is currently nursing gunshot wounds at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). He has been identified as Colin Headley of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara. Police in a release said that the injured man was standing on the roadway at
Kaneville, when he was shot to his face and back. Yesterday, when this newspaper visited Headley at the hospital, he was seen lying on a bed with medical personnel standing around him. None of his relatives were at the health institution. A senior police official told this newspaper that
based on information they received, Headley went to a party in Kaneville and just as he was about to leave, he was shot. According to the official, the wounded man reported to investigators that while standing on the road, he heard a loud explosion, but had no idea he was wounded until he felt a burning sensation on his back. He collapsed and was subsequently rushed to the GPHC. “He was shot in his back and a bullet grazed his face,” the official said. This newspaper was told that the man is in a stable condition at the hospital. No one has been arrested as yet.
Friday January 23, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 25
To ignore infrastructural projects that benefit the poor is contemptuous - Harmon
A section of the Georgetown Ferry Stelling
APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon (left) and Jinnah Rahman Following the announcement of May 11 as the date for Regional and General Elections, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s, General Secretary Joseph Harmon, took an unconventional approach to host a press conference Wednesday. The conference was centred on Government’s disregard for infrastructural projects that would make a difference in the lives of poor Guyanese. Most of APNU’s press briefings are held at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, on Hadfield Street. But to ensure that he hammered home his point on Government’s contempt for the poor and working class, Harmon invited members of the media to a conference at a section of the deteriorating Georgetown Ferry Stelling. In choosing to hold the press conference there, the politician said that the viewers of television programmes, readers of newspapers and the social media, will get a first-hand look at what APNU has been saying since it went into the National Assembly in 2012. Harmon’s focus was on the state of facilities used by commuters to access the speedboat landings, particularly the Georgetown end of the Vreed-en-Hoop to Georgetown, Demerara Harbour route. He said that Government’s spending on public infrastructure was wrongly prioritized for it always held the view that public infrastructure must serve human development. Harmon told the media, as well as several onlookers, that the government was spending taxpayers’ monies on projects which did not have a direct or short term benefit for the thousands of
poor hardworking Guyanese people. The Parliamentarian said that in APNU’s budget presentations, the PPP administration was advised to spend money on the facilities which the poor, working people had to use. He lamented that everywhere APNU visited, the cries of the poor were the same. At Charity, Supenaam, Parika, Vreed-en-Hoop and Georgetown, he said, “They asked for a pittance to guarantee their safety security and comfort.” The APNU General Secretary also reminded that on the same day as his budget presentation - April 3, 2014 the Ministry of Works, Transport and Harbours Department and Maritime Administration Department announced a plan to upgrade landing facilities. He said that an artist’s impression of a floating dock was displayed in the newspapers. It showed beautiful guard rails among other improvements that would respond to tidal changes and eliminate some of the inefficiencies. A further indictment that Harmon highlighted was that Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn, had said that the current arrangements at the landings are not the best, especially at peak hours when passengers are being discharged or are boarding vessels. He said that even Rawlston Adams, General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, had stated that the Harbour Bridge caters to an average of 17,000 vehicles per day. Thus, transforming the stelling to perform better service will reduce the difficulties associated with commuters crossing the river. It is
obviously evident that nothing was done, Harmon added. The lawyer said, too, that it is his understanding that when the tide is low, boats can take up to 20 minutes to offload. This causes a backup of the passengers at the Stabroek stelling. He said that he had asked in the National Assembly where will the money come from to build the ramps, since Government did not budget for them. He reminded that Minister Benn said it will come from the resources of the Transport and Harbours Department. “But today, we look at another broken promise by the PPP/C government.” He then asked if people can tolerate another term of office by the “incompetent PPP/C Administration”. The politician insisted that the government’s continued disregard for infrastructure to benefit the poor is contemptuous. “They must get out of office now to make way for a new Government.” He then promised his attentive gathering that within the first 100 days of an APNU Government, the money will be found to have those floating ramps constructed. Harmon said that the necessary consultations were done in that regard. A resident of Essequibo, Jinnah Rahman, who uses the stellings regularly, said, “These facilities are a breach of the health and safety laws of this country. I am sure that there are many who got injured on both sides of the crossing because of their deplorable state, but government has neglected the poor working class; the people who can’t afford their
own mode of transportation”. There were also supporting statements by Georgetown Mayor, Hamilton Green. Asked about his estimation of the work carried out by the Public Works Ministry under the guidance of Minister Benn, Harmon said that the work earned a “F” Grade. The Minister and his Ministry failed to address major infrastructural concerns of poor people, he said. “Benn will have to answer. He is spending on projects such as the airport expansion project which Parliament did not approve funding for,” he added. Harmon said that the
Minister’s action is similar to asking a friend to borrow money to build your home; the friend requests that you wait and give him some time to think about it. “But you don’t wait. You go in his house and take it. In local parlance we call it thieving and that’s just what Benn is doing. He is essentially saying that the money is in the Treasury and they are going to use it…What these ministers are doing is unlawful and we cannot accept it for another five years. “All Government officials must understand that if they behave and act outside of the law, when this government changes, they will have to
answer to the people. It’s as simple as that,” he stated. Asked about the possible pro-democracy alliance between APNU and the Alliance For Change (AFC), Harmon said that his coalition is “waiting to see how things develop.” He expressed hope that those talks would bear fruit and that there can be a united front against the current administration. He said that a team has been formed and will comprise, among others, representatives from the parties that make up APNU. The team will be interfacing with the AFC. He however declined to disclose the names of the members of the team.
Page 30
Kaieteur News
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XBOX 360: 250GB, 2 Controller 3 games, 4Gb, 2 controllers, 3 games & kinect Call: 683-8386 Dell/Hp computers with 19" LCDs - $55,000, CPU $35,000, laptops - $65,000 @ Fututetech-231-2206 Games for PS2, PS3, XBOX360, WII, consoles also available – Call: 6722566, 265-3232
Complete Snapper Boats for sale – Excellent Condition – Contact: 6486815; 670-4459 Game Shop Equipment for sale - Call: 610-0808
Commercial and domestic building design from $10,000 estimates and electrical works available – Contact us: 667-2189 Repairs to plasma, Led television etc – Call: Abdul Electronics: 225-0391 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer Call Omar: 2310655, 683-8734
Earn a certificate in cosmetology or nails alone. Call Miss Jenny: 225-5360; 625-7844; 687-7566 HEALTH Money Back guarantee; cleaner, clearer younger looking skin in two weeks, also flatter stomach - Call: 684-9409; 699-4211
Eccles: Commercial lots for sale at Eccles – Tel:227-2913. Cell: 683-3033 1. Parika, Peter Street; 2. Blankenburg, behind gas station lot size: 75’X76' (3 parcels)= Contact 650-0402 Located in Republic Gardens, Peters Hall, E.B.D. Interest person – Contact: 231-5359 or 672-7189 Eccles - $3.8M, Providence $4.5M, Tuschen - $3M, Parfaite Harmonie - $1.4M & $3.5M, House with land $2.5M - Call: 675-7292 Riverside land for sale Upper Demerara River, 90 Acres, Please Call: 678-1575 or 223-5890
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTAL CALL: 225-7126/ 2263693 DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL@YAHOO.COM/ WWW.DOLLYSAUTO RENTAL.COM Aidan’s Car & Pickup rental, cheap rate, low security - Tel: 698-7807; 690-6494
Rubberized Tarpaulins for sale 20X20 - $20,000, any size available – Tel: 657-2304
Vyper Sound System/Studio: Hire, all events, recording of songs, building of Rhythms, etc - Tel: 265-3586, 603-9074
Balloon Decorating Classes. January 31st – Call: 225-3133 or 613-7513 for more information & registration
House Lots in 1 of Guyana’s top luxury gated communities @ Eccles, 60X100 - $7.5M. (Special prices) - Call: 2272913; 683-3033
Land 135’X80’ with 2 storied building 80’X60’ Suitable for business – Soesdyke Highway - $85M, serious calls only- Phone: 653-8754
1-250 KVA Generator $3.6M, 1-110 KVA Generator - $1.8M, 1-9 KVA Generator $700,000 – Call: 223-8161
Need professional counselor & social worker- Tel: 6863421
LAND FOR SALE 1500 Acres Transported Land @ Bartica 2 ¾ miles River Front, Virgin Rock, Quarry Resort – Call Mark: 704-4652222/603-1266
Cat 320 CL 2005 only 3800HRs sold as is, cash offer only, must go – Contact Azim: 660-3235
HOUSE PLAN DRAFTING AND ESTIMATES FOR ONLY $15,000- CALL:6949843/227-2766
EDUCATIONAL
Friday January 23, 2015
One complete music Set Tel: 253-3070; 686-0322 Bedford M 4X4 - $3M, Tohatshu 18HP, long foot, outboard engine - $300,000 – Tel: 693-2237 Truck Trailer – 52 wide 72 l o n g - $ 1 2 5 , 0 0 0 . Tw o Perkins dredge engine One 6 & One 4 cylinder $300,000 & $400,000 – Tel: 693-2237
PEN PAL Companion for retired gentleman 38yrs+. Reply with photo to bobbyother@yahoo.com FOR SALE/FOR RENT 1 Flat concrete house with 5 bedrooms & 2 toilet & bath, concrete fence & grill @ 19 Ave Diamond Housing Scheme - Call: 641-2593/ 662-7732 American Pool Table – Tel: 277-0578
VEHICLE FOR SALE Toyota Prado, Price$5.5M Neg. Call: 643-2403 Toyota Voxy to register in ‘B’ fully loaded never registered - $2.1M - Call: 6172891 Nissan Titan for sale; immaculate condition, owner leaving country - Call: 641-4556 Toyota Tacoma 4X4, stick shift, AC, crash bar, immaculate condition – Call: 442-3311; 616-4115 We buy & sell vehicles for cash, also parts available & 30 seater buses; Extra Cab pickups; 2006 Tacoma - Call: 680-3154 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms - Call: 680-3154 1 Honda 600RR, Toyota 212, 192, 170, Allion, Vitz, Starlet, AE100 Sprinter, Honda CRV Tel: 644-5096; 697-1453 New Arrivals @ OJ’s Auto Imports: Allion 2008, IST, Fielder, Allion 2003, Premio. Tel: 609-2815 One Toyota Marino with A Race Ready 4Age siloer top engine - $1.1M Neg. - Call: 676-8023 1 Pitbull minibus, stick gear, BPP series, mag rims- $2.2M neg. Call: 673-7652 Two Nissan Frontiers 2 wheel drive, never registered, Excellent conditions, price negotiable. Call: 677-6070. Double cab Tacoma – Tel: 623-9761 Mitsubishi Lancer car (lady driven) owner leaving country - Call: 638-3203 1 Hino Canter long base excellent condition; down payment available – Call: 696-5660 One Toyota Tundra - Tel: 602-3585 Trade in: T/Alteeza Benz C200, Sale! Spacio, Used T212 – Tel:679-3140 Spacio 2004, Body Kit, rims, camera, spoiler, dark interior, crystal light, new shape (unregistered) – Tel: 617-5536 Avensis & AT110 Corolla Call: 645-0078; 603-0078 One Toyota Alteeza, excellent condition, spider, mag rims, flair kit – Price $2.75M neg – Tel:648-0494; 642-0786 R1 Motorcycle (red) under 1,000 miles- Call: 227-5500
DRESSMAKING
7-250 4X4; off road tyres – Call: 227-5500.
Jean offers courses in dressmaking, curtains, floral, cake decoration @ Barr Street Kitty - Call: 6702653; 618-1706
Toyota Noah BPP 9164 – Contact Sunil Ramesh: 6146014 (Continued on page 31)
Friday January 23, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 31
Letters... Where your views make the news
Where was the Minister of Education... From page 4 instance, I spent more than two hours trying to get a woman to a polling place, a private residence on the East Coast Demerara. After asking many questions and knocking on many gates we finally ended up under a bottom house minutes before the close of poll. These are some of the frustrating situations “private residences” used as polling stations can cause. One would have thought that owing to past experience, we will never again frustrate and confuse the electorate in this manner. However, planting the election on a date when schools will be used for regional examination is unacceptable and should be rejected by all right thinking Guyanese. This decision by the regime to hold these important elections on this date is likely to hinder the democratic process rather than facilitate it. Let us not be hoodwinked or fooled by the PPP/C. This is a time when we must scrutinize
their every action and decision, as I believe that from this juncture the hidden agenda of the regime will intensify and magnify. We have to be vigilant, we have to stay focused, and we have to be resolute in our efforts to ensure that every legitimate vote counts. No eligible voter should be disenfranchised, we just cannot afford for this to happen, for the nation has suffered much too long. I therefore urge Guyanese to rally behind the call made by the APNU leader and Presidential Candidate David Granger, who frontally stated that a new election date should be considered in order to smoothly facilitate our children’s examination. This is a noble, considerate, thoughtful and commendable position to adopt. Let our children’s future be protected. I was hoping that the Minister of Education would be the first to adopt such a position, but of course such positions might be in keeping with her “because we care” profile.
The administrators of the CSEC examination have already expressed that they will not be moving the examination date to facilitate Guyana’s election, and they are right. These examinations are planned and set years in advance, thus the onus is on the Guyana government to do due diligence and ensure that they get things right. With the announcement of this date, Guyanese must do two things; the first is to demand that the date for the elections be moved to a date when our students will not be writing these regional examinations, and the second is to ensure that no private residence is used as a polling place. Let the future of our children and that of the people be protected and respected. We must not be placed to choose between our children’s education and democratically held elections as both are important, both are necessary and are mutually dependent on each other. Lurlene Nestor
Information not sourced from GFC’s...
From page 4 local added value manufacturers, and for export. The main constraints documented by these logging companies were a lack of appropriate machinery/equipment, and adequate financing. The Concessionaires themselves proposed two short term measures to address this, namely: - GFC to allow joint venture arrangements after the requisite due diligence was done, and GFC was satisfied that the JV had merit - GFC to allow companies that lacked adequate and/or appropriate machinery to rent same from third parties in a structured and properly monitored/regulated manner. Based on these requests by the sector; the need to improve log/lumber/added value production, and generate additional employment opportunities, and being assured by the GFC that its monitoring systems would ensure that the allowable harvest levels would not be exceeded, the GFC Board approved both requests. GFC has since facilitated both requests in accordance with the legislation and a very transparent and organized procedure. - For example, it was collaboratively agreed (stakeholders/GFC/ GFC Board) that the procedure for the review of joint venture requests would be as follows: - A request to enter into a joint venture arrangement needs to be made by the company/individual that has legal access to state forest - A thorough background
assessment would be done on the company that is seeking to joint venture with the one that has the legal access to the forested land - This assessment would be used to guide the GFC in making its recommendations to the GFC Board Technical Sub-Committee - The GFC Technical SubCommittee after their review would submit a recommendation to the GFC Board of Directors. - The GFC Board then makes its recommendation as to whether to approve/disapprove the joint venture. This is in keeping with Section 16 of the Forests Act 2009. BSL has entered into approved JV’s following this process, contrary to the unmerited claims by Janette Bulkan. With respect to in country processing and added value manufacture of forest products, it is true that Bai Shan Lin has been very tardy in meeting their obligations and GFC/GoG is urging them to accelerate this phase of operations. But the same applies to most local and foreign com-
panies, many of whom have been in existence for decades before the advent of Bai Shan Lin. Nevertheless, as stated, the GFC has impressed upon Bai Shan Lin and all other foreign and local companies, the need to accelerate meeting their stated commitments re the manufacture of added value forest products. GFC would again appeal to stakeholders, especially those who choose to discuss issues in the public media, to verify the facts before publicizing erroneous information. GFC once again invites Janette Bulkan and any other interested person(s) to visit the GFC, and the forest/logging operations t o v e r i f y t h a t GFC and Guyana are practicing sustainable forest management on the ground, in a very transparent and collaborative manner with our direct and indirect stakeholders. There would be no constructive output if persons continue to misuse the public media to rehash misconceptions in pursuit of agendas not helpful to the sector. James Singh Commissioner of Forests
Why didn’t the Minister of Education advise the President about this election date? DEAR EDITOR, Why is it that the Minister of Education, who is a member of the Cabinet, did not see it fit to advise the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana that the date ‘May 11, 2015’ falls within the time of CSEC and CAPE examinations? What a ‘caring’ Government with education in the forefront OR is this a ‘Bluff’? Educator (name withheld)
TO LET Three bedrooms upper flat concrete building, parking $70,000 monthly @ Block 8 Agriculture Road E.C.D – Call: 687-1050 5 Bedrooms 2 storey unfurnished building @ Bel Air Park - Call: 2252562; 660-4481 Fully Furnished vacation home with all amenities- Call during working hours – Call: 227-1218 New 2 bedrooms and 3 bedroom apartment Grove E.B.D - Tel: 613-3522 after 4:00pm 2 Bedroom Bottom flat to let located in Eccles - Tel: 2332252; 662-3837; 670-0878 One bedroom apartment to rent, preferably with no children, working couple – Call: 664-2861 2 Bedroom apartment @ 2290 Section C Block X Diamond New Scheme Tel:676-2406
WANTED The public is looking for a delivery man, must have own motorcycle - Call: 6476072 Live in maid – Tel: 675-5256 General handyman – Call: 227-5500 Experienced driver apply with written application @ Hacks Halaal Restaurant, 5 Commerce Street. Live in caretaker for sawmill at Linden Highway – Tel: 2612553 Urgently needed one house lot to buy in Parfaite Harmonie – Tel:675-7292; 6522018 One nanny to work Monday – Friday (8hrs), must be living in G/Town and able to work shift – Call: 611-1981 Salesgirls and porters – Call: 225-7417
(From page 30)
WANTED One mechanic to work in the interior, must have experienced with Perkins & Cummins Engine – Call: 6916260 Need hire car to drive, wash and keep, age 58, Phone: 6691068 One couple to work on live stock farm, one live in cook Tel:614-2464;612-2057;225-1276 Professional staff to work in variety / cosmetics store @ East Coast. Commission structure & salary - Call: 6013679; 642-1141 One live in experienced waiteress - $50,000-$60,000, boarding & lodging free – Call: 610-5043 1 Puri & roti cook, must be able to work from 5:00am, apply in person @ 53 David Street Kitty BOND CLERK- Must have 4 CXC subjects including Math & English. Need police clearance & reference – Call: 231-8344 Waiters/ Waitresses, apply in person to Aracari Resort, West Bank Demerara. One female to work in sackette & bar, must know to cook, age 20-35yrs – Call: 647-7432, 223-5798 Female janitors between ages 25-40yrs – Call: 225-8066 Urgently needed; attractive waitresses - Tel: 686-3116 Porters wanted to work at grocery stalls @ Stabroek Market – Tel:226-9800 Salesgirls & porters; apply with written application at Best Buy Food Supplies @ Lot 1E Dennis & Middleton Street Campbellville. 1 live in domestic to work in Mahaicony River & driver for tractor, must know about rice Call: 644-6905; 225-6571 Experienced Roti/Puri Cooks, Pastry makers, cleaners apply @ Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce Street.
PROPERTY FOR SALE Land with small concrete house; for sale in Grove over 8,000 Sq. Ft. Call: 612-4030; 216-2759 Property at Kersaint Park L.B.I, E.C.D – Contact: 6641865; 698-5713 Transported Property @ Grove/Diamond, 3 bedrooms, 1 self-contained, concrete fence, grilled store room & Shed, (45X26) – Call: 660-1353, 216-4338 Double lot property 33A Lamaha Street, Newtown Kitty – Just off Vlissengen Road –Contact: 231-4691 Corner Property, Grove Public Road - $29M Neg. Call: 613-5645 One concrete two storey building; nine bedrooms @ Samatta Point, Grove E.B.D Tel: 602-3585 Houses & house lots for sale in 1 of Guyana’s top luxury gated communities, located @ Eccles E.B.D Tel: 227-2913; 683-3033 1 incomplete house & land @ 128 Canaan Gardens, Land of Canaan E.B.D, Price $4.8M Neg. Call: 603-1845; 603-8714 House in Lamaha Gardens: 2 self contained rooms, fully concreted – Call: 227-2027 2 Storied concrete house with 3 bedrooms at 8th Street Foulis Housing Scheme – Call: 256-3360; 685-8485 2 Bedrooms wooden high house with land in Parfaite Harmonie, land & water available - $2.5M – Call: 6757292 Thomas Street: ideal for Doctors nurse, good location, 3 stories large land – Call: 2272027.
One barber, nail technician & hairdresser – Call: 225-5360; 625-7844; 687-7566 Hairstylists and Braidists needed at salon in Tortola. 5+ years working experience. Emailbvisalonowner @gmail. com or call 1-284-543-6822 Sales clerk to work @ Nanda’s Boutique 223 Camp St. Next to Shell Gas Station, apply with application Bus driver for Sophia, must be over 40yrs old – Tel: 6932237
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel: 644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997 CATERING Catering for conference, retreats, weddings, re-union, family fun day and special events. Phone: 264-2946-8
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 23, 2015
Yemeni president quits, throwing nation deeper into chaos (Reuters) - Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi resigned on Thursday, throwing the volatile Arab country deeper into chaos days after Houthi rebels battled their way into his presidential palace. Hadi, a key counter-terrorism ally of the United States, stood down abruptly shortly after Prime Minister Khaled Baha had offered his government’s resignation, saying it did not want to be dragged into “an unconstructive political maze”. This was an apparent reference to a stand-off between Hadi and the Shi’ite Muslim Houthi movement which has been holding the president a virtual prisoner in his own official residence. “We apologize to you personally and to the honorable chamber and to the Yemeni people after we reached a dead end,” a government spokesman quoted Hadi’s resignation letter as saying. It was addressed to the speaker of parliament,
who becomes interim head of state under the constitution. Sultan al-Atwani, one of Hadi’s advisors told Reuters he had resigned after pressure and threats from the Houthis. He said parliament would meet on Saturday to decide whether to accept or reject it. Hadi’s decision marked an abrupt turnaround from Wednesday, when he said he was ready to accept Houthi demands for a bigger stake in constitutional and political arrangements. That announcement had appeared to ease worsening differences between him and the Houthis, whose rise to power has placed predominantly Sunni Yemen within a wider sectarian struggle fought by proxies of Riyadh and Tehran in parts of the Middle East. The Houthis’ defeat of the presidential guards had already added to disarray in a country where the United States is also carrying out drone strikes against one of the most powerful branches
Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi of al Qaeda. REGIONAL STRUGGLE The rebels’ rise has resulted in a shift in Yemen’s complex tribal, religious and regional allegiances. Suspecting Iranian complicity, the Sunni Muslim authorities in Riyadh cut most of their financial aid to Yemen after the Houthis’ takeover of the capital. On Thursday the capital Sanaa remained largely shut down, witnesses said, even though the airport and seaport in the southern city of Aden resumed work on Thursday, having closed for a day in protest at the Houthi offensive against Hadi’s administration. In central Yemen, local tribesmen said they were pushing back Houthi fighters in Marib province, which produces half of Yemen’s oil and more than half of its electricity. The local branch of al Qaeda has responded to the Houthis’ ascent by attacking their forces, as well as state, military and intelligence targets. As Zaidis, a Shi’ite Muslim sect, the Houthis oppose the hardline Sunni Islamists of al Qaeda. However, the Houthis’ assaults on the militants risk raising sectarian feelings in Yemen.
Friday January 23, 2015
Kaieteur News
Haiti’s new ‘consensus’ government sworn in
President Michel Martelly (centre) and Prime Minister Evans Paul (right) at the swearing in ceremony Twenty ministers and 12 secretaries of state in Haiti have delivered their oath of office at the National Palace in the capital Port-au-Prince. President Michel Martelly praised the “pluralism” at the centre of the new government and said it was down to the “goodwill” of the opposition. He had been ruling by decree since last Tuesday, when parliament was dissolved. But opposition leaders have accused the president of
failing to deliver in forming a consensus government. Haiti’s new government is headed up by Prime Minister Evans Paul, a former mayor of Port-au-Prince and an unsuccessful contender in the 2006 presidential elections when he received just 2.5% of the vote. Among the newly swornin ministers are six members of the previous cabinet, including the ministers for foreign affairs, health and defence. The new line-up also
includes allies of the president appointed to key positions, such as Planning Minister Yves Germain Joseph and Secretary of State for Public Security Carel Alexandre. President Martelly has been in power since 2011 and has pledged not to change the constitution to seek a second term. His opponents accuse him of using the current crisis to promote his own candidate to succeed him in elections later this year.
Argentine leader convinced Nisman death was no suicide
Argentines have taken to the streets to demand “justice” for the dead prosecutor Argentine leader Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner says she is convinced the death of top Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman was not suicide. Mr Nisman, 51, was found shot dead in his apartment on Sunday. The prosecutor probing his death said it appeared to be suicide. But in a letter published on Thursday, Ms Fernandez cast doubt on that theory. Mr Nisman had been investigating the 1994 deadly bombing of a Jewish centre. Eighty-five people died in the bombing in Buenos Aires. It was Argentina’s worst terrorist attack. Days prior to his death, Mr Nisman had accused Ms Fernandez and Foreign Minister Hector Timerman of involvement in a plot to cover up Iran’s alleged role in the
1994 bombing on the seven-storey Amia community centre. He died just hours before he was due to give details of his allegations to a congressional committee. CONTROVERSIALALLEGATIONS Mr Nisman based his allegations on intercepted conversations which seem to suggest Argentine n a 300-page report, he alleged that after years of tension caused by the 1994 bombing, the government of Ms Fernandez was keen to improve ties with Iran in order to trade Argentine grain for badly needed oil. Government spokesman Anibal Fernandez dismissed the allegations on Wednesday as “absolutely feeble”.intelligence officers tried to whitewash the Iranian suspects in the 1994 bombing.
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 09, 2015
Windies coach joins CPL 2015 party Former Rabobank, Team Sky doctor gets life ban: USADA
Reuters-Former Rabobank and Team Sky doctor Geert Leinders has been banned for life for multiple doping violations, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said yesterday. Leinders was banned for offences committed when he was the chief team doctor and a board member for Dutch outfit Rabobank between 1996 and 2009. He was at the team in 2007 when Dane Michael Rasmussen was expelled from the Tour de West Indies coach Stuart Williams has been confirmed to take the reins at the St. Lucia Zouks for the 2015 Limacol Caribbean Premier League season. The 45-year-old replaces Matthew Maynard, who was named director of cricket at English county, Somerset, in September. Williams played 31 Tests
and 57 One-Day Internationals during a fine playing career, even returning to action after having a finger amputated before retiring from the game in 2005. He was Maynard’s assistant coach in 2014 and will be hoping to improve on the Zouks’ disappointing performance of only two wins from their nine games. Elsewhere, South Af-
rican, Mickey Arthur will return to coach the Jamaica Tallawahs, Australian, Simon Helmot will again be in charge of the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel and Indian, Robin Singh is back to coach 2014 Champions, the Barbados Tridents. West Indies legend, Carl Hooper, has already been confirmed as Guyana Amazon Warriors head coach.
Friday January 23, 2015 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) The health of a friend or family member who lives far away may be a bit worrying today, Aries. TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Your intuitive abilities are flying high, Taurus. Normally you're sensitive, but today you might be picking up on the thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires of strangers who pass in the street. GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Some problems with the structure of your house may need attention, Gemini. Perhaps the plumbing or electrical wiring isn't operating at maximum efficiency. CANCER (June 21–July 22) A co-worker could call you today, Cancer, but you probably won't be able to figure out what this person is trying to say. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Money matters may need your attention today, Leo, and you probably aren't in the right space to think along those lines. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Virgo, you tend to be a master psychologist. You don't need to know people well in order to accurately size them up.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You usually tend to be outgoing, Libra, and you love talking to others. However, today you may feel far more reticent than usual, more inclined to listen than speak. SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you might wonder what's bothering a friend, Scorpio. This person may seem depressed and worried but not inclined to share the worries with you. SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Your friends will probably want you to entertain them. If you aren't in the mood for conversation, it's best to avoid social gatherings. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Think of this as a good day to collect information, not decide whether to accept any of it or not. Tomorrow your mind will be clearer and more logical. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Today you might be constantly engaged in deep, intense thought, Aquarius. Write down your thoughts. They may prove useful later. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) A friend or romantic partner may not be communicating with you the way they should.Something is bothering your sweetie, and he or she doesn't want to discuss it.
France while in the yellow jersey for evading doping controls. He worked for Team Sky on a part-time basis from 2010, but his contract was not renewed two years later and team principal Dave Brailsford later described his appointment as a mistake. USADA said in a statement that Leinders “possessed, trafficked, and administered banned performance enhancing substances and methods without any legitimate medical need”. Following a col-
laborative investigation involving USADA, Anti-Doping Denmark, and Anti-Doping Authority Netherlands, the decision to impose the lifetime ban was rendered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). ”It shocks the conscious that a board member and team doctor would abuse his trusted position by overseeing and participating in this type of dangerous and fraudulent activity,” USADA chief executive Travis Tygart said.
Brazil Cup stadium to be paid... (From page 33)sporting shrine Wembley. The Tribunal confirmed Monday to AFP the tiny fraction of cash raised over the year when asked to comment on a Globo report signalling that the overall bill would at that rate not be paid off for 1,000 years. The stadium, named after 1960s superstar Garrincha and also known as the National Stadium, is set to become a white elephant given the city’s lack of a top league team. Gil Castelo Branco, spokesman for pressure group Contas Abertas, told AFP he was pessimistic. ”Brazil made a mistake in insisting on too many World Cup venues. There are no teams in venues such as Brasilia — so it is liable to end up, as we warned all along, as a white elephant. There is almost zero chance of viability,” Castelo Branco told AFP. ”You may get a Paul McCartney once in a blue moon — but most acts will play Rio or Sao Paulo,” added
Drawing for GSCL Republic Cup...
From page 37 on 614 9536. Meanwhile, the Rafman Ali tournament is set to continue on Sunday with action in the open category at Enterprise ground, East Coast Demerara. Teams set to battle are Speed Boat, Farm, Princess and Trophy Stall ‘B’. The winning team will take home a trophy and $100,000 and the runner-up a trophy and $50,000. The Over-35 division will resume after the completion of the Republic Cup. The first place team in this segment will win a trophy and $75,000 and the runner-up a trophy and $25,000. The man-of-thematch in both finals will also be rewarded.
Gastelo Branco, though the former Beatle did play the Mane Garrincha last year on his latest tour. Local authorities hope clubs from other cities use the ground — as Rio side Flamengo did sporadically last season — providing one revenue stream. Castelo Branco said politicians had overreached themselves in
thinking the stadium could be a long-term going concern. ”It was a political decision and it was a mistake. It cost too much and the country has other, bigger priorities in terms of health provision and education. “The politicians sold people a lie when they said the Cup would be financed through private cash.”
Friday January 09, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 35
Panama seals U-20 World TUNISIA SNATCH LATE WIN OVER ZAMBIA Cup, CU20 final berths BBC Sport - Tunisia made the most of Zambia’s wastefulness in front of goal as they came from behind to win. Emmanuel Mayuka opened the scoring when he blasted home a cross from the impressive Rainford Kalaba. But Mayuka was injured when stretching for a chance to turn the ball into an empty net and moments later Tunisia scored against 10 men when Ahmed Akaichi scored from two yards out. Tunisia improved after that and Yasine Chikhaoui headed home a late winner.
The Eagles of Carthage are now on four points after two games, with Zambia on one point with one game left in Group B of the Africa Cup of Nations. Zambia have not won a match since lifting the trophy in 2012 - drawing four before this defeat, which was their first in 13 Cup of Nations games. They could have had the game won before halftime with Kalaba firing just wide from 25 yards, forcing a save from Aymen Mathlouthi and then snatching at a chance. Southampton fringe player Mayuka also missed
chances. First he headed straight at Aymen Mathlouthi and then snatched at the ball from six yards out as what should have been a goal rolled straight at keeper Aymen Mathlouthi. Tunisia rarely threatened to score although they should have had a penalty when Emmanuel Mbola kicked over Youssef Msakni in the box after 57 minutes. Zambia’s breakthrough finally came when Evans Kangwa laid off Kalaba’s cross and Mayuka smashed home from eight yards.
Panama (pictured) celebrates after defeating Guatemala in the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship on January 21 to earn a place in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. (Photo: Mexsport) Montego Bay, Jamaica – Panama (5-0-0, 15 points) clinched places in the next FIFA U-20 World Cup and the final of the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship with a 1-0 win over Guatemala (31-1, 10 points) on Wednesday at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. The Panamanians completed Group A play with maximum points from five games to finish in first place, setting up a meeting with Mexico (40-0, 12 points) in tomorrow’s championship match. Ismael Diaz scored the game-winner in the 65th minute for his fourth goal of the competition. The powerful 17-year-old forward jumped high at the edge of the six-yard to head home a rightsided cross by Julian Velarde, who was named man of the match. It was the first goal Guatemala had conceded in 366 minutes. The tally came just two
minutes after Guatemalan Cristian Jimenez headed Mario Hernandez’s left-sided corner kick just beyond the right post. In a tightly-contested encounter, both sides managed to generate valid scoring opportunities. Hernandez unleashed a 21st minute effort that Panama goalkeeper Jaime De Gracia did well to save. Panama then came close on three occasions before the end of the first half. In the 35th minute, Carlos Small whistled past the right post from distance after a miskicked clearance by Kevin Grijalva. Seconds later, Velarde fired from the right into the outside netting, while Diaz did the same just ahead of the break. Guatemala’s last chance to qualify for the U20 World Cup will also come on Saturday, when it meets a yet-to-be-determined opponent. NOTES: Panama has played in four previous FIFA
U-20 World Cups (2003, 2005, 2007, 2011) … Ismael Diaz scored five goals in Central American qualifying for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship … Seven members of current Panama U-20 squad played at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates: Jesus Araya, Jaime De Gracia, Ismael Diaz, Jomar Diaz, Kevin Galvan, Chin Hormechea and Ervin Zorrilla. Meanwhile, Host Jamaica (0-2-3, 2 points) and Aruba (0-1-4, 1 point) completed their 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship campaigns on Wednesday with a 0-0 draw at the Montego Bay Sports Complex. It was Aruba’s first-ever point in the competition, while the Jamaicans finished the game with only 10 players, following goalkeeper Dane Andrew Chambers’ 68th minute dismissal for handling the ball outside the area. (CONCACAF)
Brazil Cup stadium to be paid off - around 3014 Rio de Janeiro (AFP) Brazilian taxpayers hoping to see the Mane Garrincha stadium, expensively renovated in the capital Brasilia for last year’s World Cup paid off, needn’t hold their breath as it won’t happen in their lifetime, authorities say. According to the capital’s public accounts office (TCDF), footing the bill for the publicly-funded stadium, refurbishing an original structure built in 1974 for some 1.9 billion reais ($900 million), will take centuries rather than decades. O Globo daily reported the stadium earned just 1.3 million reais of rental income in the first year following renovation completed some three times over budget just ahead of the
The overall bill of the Mane Garrincha National Stadium in Brasilia, as seen on June 9, 2014, would not be paid off for 1,000 years (AFP Photo/Evaristo Sa) 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. The spiraling costs made the venue the world’s
second most expensive soccer stadium after English (Continued on page 32)
Action in the Tunisia v Zambia match.
Bryant has torn rotator cuff, season in doubt Reuters - Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant has a torn rotator cuff, according to preliminary results of an MRI exam, the Los Angeles Lakers said yesterday. Bryant, who hurt his right shoulder on a dunk in the second half of Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, returned to Los Angeles yesterday to be examined by team doctors today, the team said in a statement. The high-scoring guard missed yesterday’s game against the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs and the rest of his season could be in jeopardy depending on the severity of the tear. Bryant, a former league most valuable player, twice an NBA scoring leader and a two-time MVP of the NBA Finals, had sat out eight of the previous 16 games for “rest” reasons and had complained about an achy shoulder. Asked yesterday before results of the MRI were known if an injury might encourage the team to shut Bryant down for the rest of the season, coach Byron Scott said a lot depended on how Bryant felt. ”He knows his body pretty
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) drives to the hoop against Celtics forward Jeff Green. well,” Scott told the Orange County Register. “He’s probably one of the toughest guys in this league as far as playing through injury and through pain.” The 36-year-old, a 16-time AllStar, is averaging 22.3 points from 35 games this season and is signed through next season after inking a two-year extension in 2013 for $48.5 million.
Bryant, who is fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, played in only six games last season due to knee and Achilles tendon injuries as the Lakers struggled to a 27-55 record. This season, after losing Pau Gasol to free agency and another season to injury for veteran point guard Steve Nash, the Lakers are 12-31, second from last in the Western Conference.
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Friday January 09, 2015
U.S. wins third straight, Rose Hall Mayor & Town Council advances to CU20 playoff Letters to the Sports Editor
needs to be more accountable
DEAREDITOR, The Management of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation hereby seeks the assistance of the relevant authorities to solve a major problem concerning the attitude and work of the groundsman/caretaker of the Area ‘H’ Ground in Rose Hall Town. This individual has been employed for several years now and over that period of time has failed to fulfill any of his duties. Numerous letters, complaints to the officials of the Mayor and Town Council have all been in vain. I have personally attended over six monthly meetings of the Council and despite countless assurances that the situation would improve, it has simply gotten worst. The pitch is hardly prepared for the cricket teams to practice; the ground is full of garbage and bushes. The caretaker is hardly around his workplace and even when he is at the
ground, can be found in the pavilion doing nothing. Our members are forced to prepare the pitch themselves while the club has to pay members of the public to clean up the venue. On Monday January 19th, 2015, the club had to pay a labourer to clean up around the main pavilion while the caretaker slept in his office. On Tuesday January 20th, 2015, six members of the club were forced to prepare the pitch while the Town Council’s caretaker was seen sitting in the pavilion, chatting on his cell phone. Later on he left the ground on his bicycle, never to return. Mr. Editor, the IMC Chairman, all the Councilors, Town Clerk, Superintendent of Works and the Township Treasurer are all aware of the situation and yet nothing is being done to correct the problem. We had also brought the situation to the attention of the Minister of Sports and the Regional Chairman. The Officer in Charge of
the Township in the Local Government Ministry last year visited the ground on a surprise visit and had issued a stern warning to the caretaker in the presence of the Town Clerk. The situation improved for a week but returned to the same problems after that. I would like to personally congratulate this Officer for being very professional in performing her duties but the problem lies at the Town Council with the officers doing nothing. This letter is being written out of total frustration and we hope that the necessary action (s) would be taken to make sure that the Tax payers dollars are used in the proper way. The Rose Hall Town Council cannot continue to pay a worker who does absolute nothing and is absent from his workplace ninety five percent of the time. Yours sincerely, Hilbert Foster CEO/Secretary Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club
Fernando Alonso: McLaren driver first to test new car
Bradford Jamieson (#19) celebrates after scoring the only goal in the USA’s 1-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship on January 21, 2015, in Montego Bay, Jamaica. (Photo: Mexsport) Montego Bay, Jamaica Bradford Jamieson scored in the 78th minute to lift the United States to a 1-0 Group A victory over Trinidad & Tobago and into the playoff round of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship on Wednesday. The Americans, who needed a draw or a win at the Montego Bay Sports Complex to clinch the berth, finished the group stage at 3-1-1 and ten points (+10 GD), second to Panama (5-0-0, 15 points) on goal difference over Guatemala (3-1-1, 10 points, +4 GD). Trinidad (1-1-3, 4 points) was eliminated. The U.S. will earn the top seed in the playoffs, which will be played tomorrow, if Honduras failed to beat Canada by nine goals or more yesterday in Group B. The winners of tomorrow’s playoff matches will clinch spots in the 2015
FIFA Under-20 World Cup in New Zealand from May 30 to June 20. ”We kept working hard though some things didn’t work out well for us in the beginning,” Jamieson said, whose team won for a third consecutive time. Jamieson experienced initial disappointment in his efforts to break the deadlock. In the 49th minute, Emerson Hyndman sent in a free kick from the right side. After the Soca Warriors failed to clear, Jamieson tried a point-blank attempt with goalkeeper Johan Welch out of the net. Neveal Hackshaw blocked the ball off the line to preserve the scoreless tie. The LA Galaxy youth standout, however, finally solved the defense in the 78th minute. Junior Flores initiated the play with a quick counter
that started at Trinidad’s penalty box. He passed to Paul Arriola, who crossed in the ball from the right side. Jamieson slotted it home into the lower left corner for his second goal of the tournament. ”It’s a big sigh of relief,” Jamieson said. “It’s definitely something that we worked through. My goal reflected the work of the whole team.” Both sides had chances to score late in the match. Only three minutes before Jamieson’s decisive strike, T&T center back Leland Archer nearly netted during a scramble in the penalty area. Hyndman, known predominantly for his playmaking and set pieces in this competition, almost gave the Americans a two-goal lead in the 85th minute, but Welch thwarted him with a tremendous save. (CONCACAF)
Chanderpaul’s unbeaten 98 lead... Alonso and Button.
Fernando Alonso will be the first man to test the new McLaren car as the team begin their engine partnership with Honda. The Spaniard will drive the MP4-30 on the first day of the first pre-season test, at Jerez, Spain, February 1-4. Team-mate Jenson Button will test it on the second and fourth days, with Alonso driv-
ing on the third. Alonso, 33, who has joined from Ferrari, wrote on social media that he was “ready to enjoy the challenge”. McLaren are taking a similar approach to testing to Mercedes, for whom Nico Rosberg drives on the first day of testing before alternating with world champion Lewis Hamilton thereafter.
McLaren will unveil their new car online January 29, a day before the wraps come off the 2015 Ferrari, also via the internet. Mercedes are to wait until the morning of February 1 before revealing their new W06. Williams on Wednesday became the first team to release images of their new car. (BBCsport)
(From page 36) before Bonner, who hit three fours and faced 46 balls in his 24, hit a ball straight to Chanderpaul at short cover and was run out by half the length of the pitch. Test player Jermaine Blackwood (1) was LBW to Permaul, who also got rid of Danza Hyatt for a duck, caught behind by Bramble as another two wickets tumbled with the score on 54. Horace Miller and Andre McCarty joined forces and tried to repair the damage with a battling 24-run stand as the spinners continued to pin the batsmen down before McCarty (13) holed out to long-on as he tried go after
Royston Crandon in the 30th over, Jamaica slipping to 7 9 - 5. Horace Miller and David Bernard, who attacked the bowlers skied a ball that Bishoo held back to Beaton fielding at extra cover to leave Jamaica, hunting their eighth title at this level, at 116-6 after making 14. Horace Miller upped the tempo and swept Crandon for boundaries in his final over to spoil his impressive figures of 10-1-38-1 while he lofted Bishoo for six on top of the sight screen. Deval Browne (11) played a massive sweep at Permaul and hit the ball high into the air for Bramble to take the catch before Bishoo removed Nikita Miller (5)
while Horace Miller, who reached his 50 from 68 balls with six fours and a six, eventually departed when he was bowled by Bishoo to leave Jamaica on 171-9. Damion Jacobs (10*) and Marquino Mindley (11*) added 17 for the last wicket to see the Jamaicans 12 short of a 200 total. The Jaguars will play the winner the second semi-final which is scheduled for today between host Trinidad & Tobago’s Red Force and surprise semi-finalist Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners in another Day/Night encounter from 13:30 hrs in the final on Sunday.
Friday January 09, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Djokovic, Serena rush through at Melbourne Park Victoria Azarenka
Serena Williams
Novak Djokovic Reuters - Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams barely moved out of second gear while Victoria Azarenka underlined her Australian Open pedigree as players experienced the hottest conditions of the championship so far yesterday. Four-times champion Djokovic only needed to up his game after an hour of his 6-0 6-1 6-4 victory over Andrey Kuznetsov, while Williams had to be on her mettle a little sooner following some early resistance from former world number two Vera Zvonareva. Once the 18-times grand slam singles champion got up to speed, however, she cruised away from the Russian with a
7-5 6-0 victory during the day session. ”Things really clicked. I had no other option but for things to click,” the American told reporters as she moved into the third round and within sight of a potential quarterfinal with Azarenka. Twice champion Azarenka, whose ranking has plummeted to 44 after she was restricted to just nine tournaments last year with foot and knee injuries, proved she would not be kept down for long as she hammered eighth seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-2. ”I k n e w t h a t I ’ m unseeded so I can play a n y b o d y. I j u s t a c c e p t whoever is on the opposite side (and) I’m happy with
the way I stayed consistent throughout the whole match,” she said. “I think there’s always things you can improve, but it’s a great progress from one match to another.” Woziniacki, a former world number one, said while losing “sucks” she felt her good friend was back to her best already. “Her level, it’s high,” she said. “I think she’s at the level that she left when she stopped playing.” Men’s champion Stan Wawrinka, who beat Romanian qualifier Marius Copil,
the lowest ranked men’s player in the second round at 194, and eighth seed Milos Raonic, who dispatched American Donald Young, also both advanced after clinical victories. HOT CONDITIONS Air temperatures had dropped considerably for the later matches at Melbourne Park, but had exceeded 35 Celsius during the day session, with France’s Adrian Mannarino a notable casualty. The 26-year-old held two match points in the third set
against 12th-seed Feliciano Lopez before he was forced to retire while trailing in the fourth. Lopez was awarded the match 4-6 4-6 7-6(3) 4-0 and will now face Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz, who beat 17th-seed Gael Monfils in an entertaining five setter. Controversy also raged on Thursday after a male television interviewer had asked seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard to showcase her dress with a ‘twirl’ after her second round victory on Wednesday. The Canadian later said it was strange to be asked to do such a thing, while social and mainstream media went into overdrive with accusations of sexism, though Williams said there were more important things
Corruption in the IPL
Srinivasan’s election in jeopardy The Supreme Court has struck a huge blow to N Srinivasan’s role in Indian cricket by effectively asking the sidelined BCCI president to choose between his role in the board and his ownership of the Chennai Super Kings franchise. Srinivasan has been barred from contesting in the board’s elections - which the court ordered to be held in the next six weeks - until he gives up his commercial interest in Chennai Super Kings franchise. In a wide-ranging and seminal judgement the twoman bench of Justice TS Thakur and FMI Kalifullah went to the core of its immediate remit - assessing the legality of a BCCI committee to investigate charges of corruption in the 2013 spot-fixing case. It struck down the BCCI’s controversial constitutional amendment that allowed board officials to have
commercial interests in the IPL and the Champions League T20, calling it “the true villain of the situation at hand.” This amendment, inserted into the BCCI constitution in 2008 after the IPL had been formed, had made it possible for Srinivasan to be a BCCI official and a franchise owner. The court stated any charges against Srinivasan’s involvement in a cover-up could not be proved, but it did say that Srinivasan had “created” a conflict of interest situation in the 2013 IPL case after Super Kings had entered the picture. The court said, “no rule can permit conflict of interest”. The bench also said it held Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra to be officials of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, respectively, and found them guilty of betting during the 2013 IPL. The court did not pronounce
any sanction on the two officials or the franchises; instead it appointed an independent three-man committee - comprising former judges of the Supreme Court of India - that has been asked to conclude its proccedings within a period of six months. The committee, to be headed by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha and include Ashok Bhan and RV Raveendran, will also “examine and make suitable recommendations to the BCCI for such reforms in its practices and procedures and such amendments in the Memorandum of Association, Rules and Regulations as may be considered necessary and proper.” Basically, it can rewrite the BCCI’s constitution though it might not go that far. The committee has also been asked to investigate the “activities” of IPL Chief
Operating Officer Sundar Raman. The order said his role could be examined, with the help of the Mudgal Committee’s investigating team. The order says that while the investigating team did “not indict” Raman in clear words, he had remained, “totally inert” in the matter instead of “taking suitable action warranted under the circumstances.” In another declaration that could have far-reaching consequences on the conduct of the BCCI, the court said that while the BCCI was a private body, it performed a public function and was therefore amenable to judicial law and review. The BCCI welcomed the judgment and said in a statement that it has “put to rest the uncertainty”, while IPL’s chairman Ranjib Biswal said the league was ready for any eventuality, even if the
to discuss. SHORT WORK Williams’s victory came about 90 minutes after older sister Venus hammered American compatriot Lauren Davis 6-2 6-3, while sixth seed Radwanska also made short w o r k o f Sweden’s Johanna Larsson in a 6-0 6-1 victory that took just 44 minutes. Twice Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova also advanced after a comfortable 6-2 6-4 victory over Germany’s Mona Barthel. U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori was forced to dig himself out of a small hole when he lost the first set to Ivan Dodig, but once he got warmed up, and the temperatures continued to rise, the Croatian wilted.
Birmingham, Alabama, chosen... From page 38 Games. We are convinced that Birmingham will exceed these expectations.” Among the sports featured during the 11-day event, staged under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee, are lacrosse, bowling and tug of war. In 2013, the World Games in Cali, Columbia, drew some 500,000 spectators. The next World Games, in 2017, will be in Wroclaw, Poland.
N Srinivasan two franchises were scrapped. It is believed that the IPL auction will be held in Bangalore at some point between February 6 and 9. The judgement covered 138 pages and the bench took close to 90 minutes reading out some of its key observations to a packed court room yesterday afternoon. (ESPNcricinfo)
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WICB statement re Kieran Powell St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board yesterday clarified a number of issues relating to Mr Kieran Powell who recently issued a statement. 1. At the time he requested a leave of absence in June 2014, Mr Powell was a contracted employee of the WICB with certain contractual obligations. 2. At no time was any officer of the WICB or Team Management furnished with the details of Mr Powell’s personal issues. 3. WICB officers repeatedly attempted to contact Mr Powell via his personal phone and email following his departure from the team. To date Mr Powell has not furnished the WICB with personal contact details. Attached is a timeline of events with regard to the WICB attempts to contact Mr Powell. · During the West Indies vs New Zealand Test Series, June 2014, Mr Powell communicated with the West Indies Team Management and requested a leave of absence from cricket for personal reasons. · After Mr Powell left the team, neither the then Head Coach nor the Team Manager could contact him on his direct telephone number for an extended period. · After the conclusion of the Test Series, in late July 2014, when the then Head Coach and Team Manager managed to speak to Mr Powell (via third party phone) they offered support. This offer was turned down by Mr Powell. · August 2014: The Director of Cricket, Richard Pybus, via email and phone, attempted to contact Mr Powell to offer support with his personal issues. This too failed. Mr Pybus was keen understanding from Mr Powell a valid reason for his pro-longed absence from work and had wanted to offer support to him on his path
Guyana advance to first final since 2009
Chanderpaul’s unbeaten 98 lead Jaguars to 6-Wkt win over Jamaica
Gordon Greenidge speaks with Kieran Powell, Caribbean Premier League, March 16, 2013 © WICB Media back into cricket. Further the Director of Cricket had wanted to propose that he draft a plan for his return to cricket that the WICB could support him with. · Mr Powell spoke with the WICB President, Mr Dave Cameron, on August 22nd and indicated that he would only return to the game in 2015. · September 2014: Mr Pybus spoke with Mr Powell on the 11th of September and offered support to Mr Powell to assist him in finding resolution to his personal issues. He was also informed of the ramifications of not providing documentation for his leave of absence from work, for such an extended period of time. 4. The WICB continued to make monthly retainer contract payments to Mr Powell despite the fact that the WICB could not initiate contact with him for almost two months (June/July 2014). 5. Mr Pybus categorically rejects the assertion that he coerced Mr Powell into divulging the details of his personal matters. 6. Contrary to Mr Powell’s repeated assertion, at no time did the WICB issue any media release or any other
communication stating that Mr Powell was “axed” from the West Indies Team. In all communication with the media and public the WICB consistently respected Mr Powell’s request to treat his matters as private. 7. The Selection Panel, as is the practice, contacted Mr Powell prior to the commencement of the tour of India to understand the state of affairs from his perspective. The selectors, too, attempted to reach out and support Mr Powell. 8. Mr Powell stated “However, determined to seal my position back in the West Indies squad, I called both selectors back separately and advised them both of my immediate availability”. The WICB restates that selection to the West Indies team is not a right or entitlement of any player and is at the discretion of the independent Selection Panel and based on predetermined and widely publicized selection criteria. The WICB extends best wishes to Mr Powell in all his endeavours as he works on regaining a place on the West Indies team and, consistent with previous offers, stands ready to assist as is necessary. (WICB)
Brazilian World Cup stadium closed for urgent repairs Reuters - One of Brazil’s sparkling new World Cup stadiums has been shut down by authorities for urgent repairs less than a year after it opened, government officials told Reuters yesterday. The Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba will be closed for “emergency repairs to resolve diverse construction problems with the aim of offering safety to users,” the state government that owns the stadium said in a statement. It said officials had visited the 600 million
Friday January 09, 2015
reals ($233 million) arena and noted that “immediate construction repairs are necessary.” Officials said some elevators and air conditioning had broken down and that seasonal rains had caused water to leak through the roof. Initial repairs will start this week but the stadium will be reopened for three months between February and May because state championship games will be held there and heavy rains make repair work difficult, said the official, who
asked not to be named. The government said it had contacted builders Construtora Mendes Junior. The arena hosted four matches in the 2014 World Cup finals last year. The closure comes just days before the Joao Havelange Olympic Stadium in Rio is due to reopen after two years of repair work. That ground was opened in 2007 but closed again in 2012 after engineers said the roof was in danger of collapse.
NAGICO Trinidad managing director Christopher Henriques presents Shivnarine Chanderpaul with his Man-of-the-Match trophy. Photo by WICB Media/Ashley Allen By Sean Devers in Trinidad in association with Carib Beer, GT&T, Lifetime Reality & Cascadia Hotel Watched by a disappointing working day turnout in the height of the Carnival season here, the Guyana Jaguars led by an unbeaten 98 from Shiv Chanderpaul advanced to Sunday’s final of the NAGIO Super50 cricket tournament with a commanding six-wicket win against Jamaica last night at the Queen’s Park Oval under lights. Guyana has reached the semis seven times in the last decade but this was just their second final since Trinidad & Tobago beat them in the 2009 Final. They restricted Jamaica to 188-9 despite 64 from 79 balls with seven fours and a six from Horace Miller as left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul (3-38) and Devendra Bishoo (3-33) did the damage with the ball for the South American based team. The Jaguars, who strangely left out Paul Wintz, out of form opener Trevon Griffith and Jonathon Foo who is still ill, responded with 189-4. Chanderpaul top scored with a well crafted unbeaten 98 from 142 balls with six fours and was supported by Royston Crandon who finished on 45 not out from 51 balls with three fours and a six, the pair featured in an unbroken 99-run fifth wicket partnership from 101 balls. John Campbell took three wickets for the lads from
Reggie Country in a losing effort. The stylish Rajendra Chandrika (5) was LBW to Green at 17-1 and Chanderpaul, who opened the batting, was joined by the Guyana Four-Day skipper Vishaul Singh, whose only innings at this level produced 49 runs from 99 balls and he once again struggled to get the ball away. Bernard replaced Mindley and eased the pressure on the Jaguars with the ‘Tiger’ looking increasingly comfortable even as the diminutive Singh took 20 balls to score his first run. However, the pair looked more and more solid as their partnership progressed and the 50 partnership came up off of 105 and while Chanderpaul was not at his fluent best both batsmen were beginning look well set for a good score when Singh who faced 42 dot balls in his 60-ball 18 was bowled by Campbell who had Raymond Reifer caught and bowled for a duck to leave the Jaguars on 76-3 and Campbell on a hat-trick. Barnwell, who averted the hat-trick was soon LBW to Campbell for six at 90-4 but the experienced Chanderpaul was still there like a rock. With the asking rate under six, all the others needed to do was to insure they stayed with the ‘Tiger’ who has played the most Test matches by any West Indian player. Crandon, the only player apart from Chanderpaul with a ton
at this level to his name, came out in a positive mood and cut Miller majestically behind point for four while Chanderpaul rocked onto the back foot and cut Miller for three as the left-arm spinner conceded 11 runs, his most expensive over in the entire tournament. The fifth wicket pair moved the Jaguars closer to a chance of winning their 10th Regional 50-over title and first since 2005 with intelligent batting. Chanderpaul reached his 94th List ‘A’ half-century and 20th at the Regional level needing 105 balls with four boundaries. Earlier, on a track which offered assistance to the bowlers in glorious sunshine on a pristine outfield, Jamaica put in to bat were off to a solid but slow start as Nkrumah Bonner and Campbell built a foundation for their side. Ronsford Beaten found work hard on a track which has gotten slower as the tournament has progressed, struggled for control and was replaced Barnwell after bowling two overs. Steven Jacobs opened the bowling with his off-spin and after a wayward opening over, kept the shackles on the Jamaican openers, he and Barnwell kept the pressure on the batsmen as the first 10 power-play overs just cost 35 runs. Two wickets fell with the score on 51 when Campbell was trapped LBW to Jacobs for a 49-ball 21 with two fours (Continued on page 34)
Friday January 23, 2015
Kaieteur News
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With a focus on fitness, Golden Jaguars commence training By Franklin Wilson Even with the level of fitness not up to the acceptable standard for this level of competition, the Golden Jaguars commenced what will be an intense period of training ahead of their friendly international game set for February 1st against Barbados. They flagship Guyana team were on familiar territory, the Guyana National Stadium, Providence where they created history when they defeated a star studded Trinidad and Tobago Soca Warriors Captained by Kenwyne Jones on November 11, 2011 to qualify for the CONCACAF semi finals of the FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014. Joining the team during the session and immediately taking the field was former Captain Christopher Nurse who is tipped to wear the Captain’s armband again and Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz. Speaking with media during the halftime of a game to assess the players, Head Coach Shabazz noted that the fitness levels of the players is no way near what it is supposed to be for international football pointing out that just a few tournaments would have been playing in Guyana. “So these few days we would try to use the ball to get them up to the level as close as possible. Of course it is like making bread out of stone but we look forward to
Nurse joins session; Smith & Welshman expected today the challenge and we are happy just to be looking organised in the national team uniform again and getting out there and working.” While there are some overseas players the caliber of Nurse and Jamaal smith who will join the team today and who bring a higher level to the team, Shabazz reminded that these sessions, for now are designed to see what is available in Guyana. “The overseas players are always like promised bricks, a man promise you some bricks you can’t build the house until the bricks come. So what we have is the material, we use what we have here now then when we look we see, ok, maybe we need a roof, maybe we need a window or front door you know. So we look now and focus now on the guys who are here.” Shabazz stated that the game would serve the purpose of knowing where Guyana’s football is after not playing any friendly matches for two years. Commenting on the return of Nurse, Shabazz said that he is a fantastic guy and a player with a lot of desire that can serve Guyana well. “He won the humanitarian award in the NASL in the USA and like Coach Dover, I think his presence is really, really critical for Guyana in going
Drawing for GSCL Republic Cup set for January 29
T
he launching and drawing of fixtures for the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL) Inc. Republic Cup will be held on January 29 at GNIC Sports Club Woolford Avenue. Teams desirous of competing in the tournament which will be played at the Demerara Cricket Club, Everest Cricket Club and Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) grounds, are asked to submit their registration fees of $60,000 for both categories, to GSCL Inc Treasurer Russell Jadbeer (626 8228, 226 4205) or at 69 Seaforth Street, Campbellville. The competition will be contested in the Open and Over40 categories, with both divisions lasting for 20 overs and carries a first place prize of $300,000 with the runner-up taking home $100,000, along with trophies and medals. Admission to all venues including Everest which will host the final on February 8 is free and playing conditions which will be distributed at the time of the launching. The first eight teams to register will be allowed to compete and entries will be closed today at 14:00hrs. For more information teams can contact Samuel Kingston (Continued on page 34)
forward.” While Guyana will kick off its quest for World Cup 2014 Russia qualification in the second round of CONCACAF Qualifying in June this year, Jamaal said that his mandate with the team is just for the Barbados encounter but he would love to be considered for the job going forward. “Until such time I have to focus solely on the Barbados game in terms of what is on front of us. I think our job in this game is really to lay a foundation again, to get the vehicle up and running, to see where the little kinks are and just get Guyana football up and running again.” “I will be happy to be considered for after the Barbados game but again, I am so focused, I don’t even know an island that goes beyond Barbados, I am just so focused on Barbados.” Assistant Coach Wayne Dover informed that his session focused on the technical side of things that included passing and receiving and playing in the correct angles. “We added a tactical element into it as well as physical. We also played a game to assess their readiness.” Dover stated that that the squad is a mixture of youth and experience with many of the players being given this opportunity which is strange
BACK TOGETHER AGAIN! Golden Jaguars Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz makes a point to some players before a game at the Stadium yesterday afternoon. Former Captain Chris Nurse is 4th right. territory for them but he is confident that the young players will get attuned to what is required at this level. Training will continue today at the same venue overseas based defender
Jamaal Smith and n e w c o m e r, C a n a d i a n forward Emery Welshman whose parents are Guyanese. Welshman, who currently plays with Sigma FC in the Ontario League 1, played for
Major League Soccer side Toronto FC and the Portland Timbers FC. He is coming on a try out and once he is up to the level required would be called to the national team.
ROBERT WILLIAMS Memorial Dominoes commence on Sunday
F
ollowing the completion of the Mark Wiltshire tournament on Monday last, dominoes players will be in action once again from this Sunday when the Robert Williams Memorial competition commences at Faye Joseph residence, Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt. Entrance fee is $9,000 and the first place team will pocket a trophy and $200,000, runner up a trophy and $100,000, third place a trophy and $50,000 and fourth $10,000. The Most valuable player in the tournament will receive $5,000. Teams set to take part are Bottom End, In Time, Strikers, Pieces and Legends of East Coast Demerara. Frankies, Determine, GT
and Brothers and West Side of West Demerara, Limpy Lotto, Unruly and Kool Breeze of Bartica. Rage, Blue Bird, Providence, Mix Up, TNT, B6, Turning Point, Transport SC, C7, Gangster, Thunder, R and R, Phantom, F and H, Scramblers, Spartons, Cody Girls, OPKO and Bad Boys of Georgetown. The competition is being sponsored by Blue Bird Dominoes team and will be played in memory in former deputy mayor of Georgetown Robert Williams. Teams can contact Mark Wiltshire on 665 5855 or Faye Joseph on 685 1009 for further details while corporation teams can call Barbara Marshall on 663 8280.
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Kaieteur News
Friday January 23, 2015
EBFA to start 2015 with Pee Wee tournament F
Grove Hi Tech, MCYS/EBFA Under-13 champs 2014.
ollowing a successful 2014, the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) is set to kick off this year with a Pee Wee competition starting tomorrow at the Grove Playfield. Clubs affiliated to the association will be hoping to start what is anticipated to be a very busy year on a winning note. Nut they would be weary of the association’s top side, Grove Hi Tech which has won every competition in the EBFA in 2014. Grove won the MCYS Under-13, Trophy Stall Under-15, CULT Under-17 and the Stag Beer Senior League which was contested over two rounds. They capped the year off by winning the inaugural Stag Super XV1 knock-out threeassociation year-end tournament which culminated on January 1st, 2015 at the #5 ground, West Coast Berbice. The other teams expected to field teams are Kuru Kururu Warriors, Soesdyke Falcons, Timehri Panthers, Diamond United, Mocha Champs, Herstelling Raiders and Agricola Red Triangle. The top four teams would be rewarded with trophies while the top three will receive medals. Apart from a Fair Play trophy for the most disciplined team, the highest goal scorer, best goalkeeper and most valuable player would also be rewarded. Game time tomorrow is 10:30hrs.
Singh succeeded as GABA President By Edison Jefford Owner of Paladin Security Firm, and President of Colts Basketball Club,
Michael Singh, will not seek re-election as President of Georgetown’s Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) Sunday, definitely
leaving some big shoes to be filled for the new leader. Singh announced that he will not be seeking a second term when the association
hosts its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Elections, which mean that Georgetown will have a new basketball head following the electoral process at Duke Lodge, Kingston. However, there is one issue; no one has yet come forward to take the post. If that continues until Sunday, it means that the current administration will have to remain in office until there are some candidates to host the election. An election cannot be held without candidates. Contacted yesterday for comment on the elections, Singh told Kaieteur Sport that he has received no nomination for various posts to be contested. If this persists on Sunday then the elections have to be voided with the incumbent remaining in office. Asked why he is demitting office after only one term, Singh was cagey,
but stated that expansion in business is getting demanding. He had undoubtedly taken basketball in Georgetown to heights that were refreshing. He will remain VicePresident of Guyana’s Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) under the leadership of Nigel Hinds. Colts and Pacesetters had nominated Singh for the post when he became President in January of 2013. He was the only nominee and eventually ran uncontested with the nine clubs present at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall Library collectively agreeing through vote that he was the man to run basketball in Georgetown. Singh only came to the fore of basketball administration late in 2012, but was always behind the scenes. He has a deep history growing up in basketball from his high school playing
Birmingham, Alabama, chosen as host of World Games in 2021
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euters - The World Games, an event held every four years that showcases more than 35 sports not on the Olympic program, will be hosted in 2021 by Birmingham, Alabama, the International World Games Association announced yesterday. Birmingham, chosen over Lima and Ufa, Russia, is the first U.S. city to host the event since 1981 when Santa Clara, California, held the inaugural games. “All the bids we received were of very high quality and it was not easy for us to reach a decision,” said IWGA President José Perurena. “We have to deliver nothing less than outstanding World (Continued on page 37)
Michael Singh days at Saint Stanislaus College to playing under Phillip George with Colts. The Entrepreneur told Kaieteur Sport two years ago that rebuilding the image of the GABA and the sport in the largest sub-association is necessary to make the corporate connection for success. Assessing his performance on the basis of that stated mission, it is clear that Singh has managed to galvanise, re-energise and expand basketball in Georgetown. Among his immediate plans were to get a year of events for every level of basketball, which will help popularise the sport. He believed that once the sport becomes popular again there is going to be a corporate influx to sustain growth and development. Singh definitely accomplished this goal through a host of novel basketball events and initiatives during his tenure.
Friday January 23, 2015
Kaieteur News
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Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ moves to the West Side -16 teams to vie for a top prize of $300,000
Guinness Sales Representative of West Demerara Ezekiel Baird (right) hands over the winning trophy to Tournament Coordinator Travis Bess in the presence of Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptsite (2nd right), Communications Manager Troy Peters (3rd right) and other officials yesterday.
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hey’ve witnessed the success of the Georgetown, Linden and East Coast of Demerara Zone tournaments, but were never presented the opportunity to be part of the national playoffs. However, that is about to change when the inaugural Guinness ‘Greatest of de Streets’ West Demerara edition kicks off tomorrow with eight matches, at t h e P o u d e r o y e n Ta r m a c , commencing from 19:00 hrs. Yesterday in the Boardroom of Banks DIH, the tournament was officially launched and in attendance at the occasion was
Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste, Communications Manager Troy Peters, Tournament Coordinator Travis Bess, referees coordinator Wayne Griffith and players from the respective teams. Sixteen (16) will participate in the tournament with four allotted to four groups that play in a round robin phase, before entering into a knockout segment following the progression of the top two teams from each group. Group ‘A’ consists of Golden Stars, Brothers United, DeKinderen United and Vergenoegen, while Patentia Street Ballers, Raiders, Majie Street and
Demerara Speedboat Service comprise Group ‘B’. Group ‘C’ features Young Warriors, Jetty, West Side Ballers and Pouderoyen Showstoppers, while Group ‘D’ contains Admiral United, Den Amstel, Uitvlugt and Showtime. The winning team will receive $300,000 and the championship trophy, runner-up $150,000, 3rd place $100,000 and 4th place- $75,000. The scheduled playing dates are January 24 , 27 , 29 , 31 , February 3 and 7 , while the other match venue is the Vergenoegen Rice Mill Tarmac. Baptiste speaking at the launching said the Company under th
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the Guinness Brand has made good on its promise to expand the tournament assuring West Side fans that it was always the intention of the entity to host a tournament there. He added that the tournament gives football fans and players the avenue through the community based initiative to participate. Lee extended gratitude to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony for his support over the years, adding that because of previous success at all the other locations he is optimistic that the upcoming event will mirror that of previous tournaments held
elsewhere. Peters during brief opening remarks said “Guinness is with you in 2015 and you have the opportunity like every other team in Guyana to compete and possibly represent Guyana” Bess in his presentation told the media that from early feedback the teams and the respective communities are all happy that the competition has finally come to the West Side and they are anxiously awaiting the start. There will be a Fair Play prize which is worth $50,000, while the top two finishers will advance to the national playoffs.
GBA backs President Steve Ninvalle for Male Sports Personality of the Year Over the preceding year the many heads of the various sports organisations have been working assiduously to create the environment thus enhancing the fortunes of their respective of charges. Even the uninitiated may readily recognize the prestige that can be accrued from occupying such offices but such a trait may be rendered inconsequential devoid of the necessary tools to precipitate positive changes. It is around this time of the year that the members of the National Sports Commission convene to pay homage to those individuals and (sports) organizations that have been outstanding in their respective field. When one examines the many aspirants and their feats, the work of the
Identifies several other nominees selectors becomes even more challenging. Nevertheless, the criteria establish the difference and it is this fact that has led the executive of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) to select their President for the prestigious acclaim of Male Sports Official of the Year. Those executives in defending their choice said t h a t M r. N i n v a l l e ’s performance has been exemplary during the period under consideration. General Secretary (GBA), Sean Richmond said that his executive had no difficulty in their choice when all things are taken into consideration. “Mr. Ninvalle has provided unlimited and selfless contributions,
commitment and a unique mantra for the advancement of a number of sporting disciplines,” he said. Among these disciplines are football, shooting and table tennis. Mr. Richmond singled out Ninvalle’s contribution to amateur boxing in particular, which he currently serves as the president of the GBA. “Mr. Ninvalle’s dedication to sports goes without question and his current job portfolio as the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture Youth & Sports, is no doubt strongly cemented in an area close to the heart, since he previously worked as a sports journalist. He is vice president of Alpha United Football Club,
one of the leading football clubs in the Caribbean and Secretary of the Founding Board of the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation. He is also a current member of the United States Practical Shooting Association and the Steel Challenge Shooting Association,” concluded Mr. Richmond. To strengthen his claim the GBA General Secretary said that Ninvalle continues to pilot development programs for general improvement of boxers, has overseen the successful implementation of numerous tournaments and systems amongst significant constraints including meager funding. “He has been very visible and in the forefront of fund raising for each of those organizations during the period and under his
stewardship, Guyanese teams have reinforced a strong identity both in the Caribbean and globally,” concluded Mr. Richmond. Indeed, Ninvalle ended the year commendably after clinching a coveted spot on AIBA executive committee at their AGM in Jevu, South Korea and is the first amateur boxing executive in the Caribbean to have attained this prestigious feat. The GBA General Secretary asserts that such credentials are noteworthy and is truly deserving of the top accolade. Meanwhile, the GBA also outlines several other nominations that those officials believe fit the bill for other categories being contested. These include Kristian Jeffery (sportsman) C a s s i e G e o r g e
Steve Ninvalle (sportswoman), Jason Yaw (jnr. sportsman), Guyana Rugby Football Federation (most improved sports association and best sport association/federation), Vidushi Persaud (female sports personality), Guyana U-15 cricket team (sports team), Michael Benjamin (sports journalist print), Avenash Ramzan (sports journalist non print), Orlando Charles (sports journalist photographer).
t r o Sp Guyana advance to first final since 2009
Chanderpaul’s unbeaten 98 lead Jaguars to 6-Wkt win over Jamaica
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Shivnarine Chanderpaul bats. Photo by WICB Media/Ashley Allen Royston Crandon. Photo by WICB Media/Ashley Allen
With a focus on fitness, GOLDEN JAGUARS commence training NURSE JOINS SESSION; SMITH & WELSHMAN EXPECTED TODAY
The Golden Jaguars getting warmed up for the task at hand during their first session yesterday at the Stadium. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Limited, 24 Saffon St.Charlestown, Georgetown.Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/ 226-8210