Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 5
Letters... Where your views make the news... Letters... Where your views make the news
UGLINESS RETURNS, NEWNESS GONE OUT
DEAR EDITOR, Reference is made to the news item titled “Tax Chief refutes GRA’s reasons for sacking –claims he was asked to do illegal things.” (KN January 23). I hope that two of the assertions made by former Commissioner General, Mr. KurshidSattaur, are inaccurate and without factual basis. If not, there is cause for serious concern. Mr. Sattaur’s statement of illegal things at the GRA included: a) persons with questionable records promoted; and b) persons previously dismissed for corrupt practices rehired. While there are other representations, I limit my comments to the two identified here. If Mr. Sattaur’s claims are accurate, then it is déjà vu again and already. It tells me that zero tolerance and codes of conduct and high standards and clean governance are sick jokes, and have only spittle and froth for substance. The (senior) people who bandy these qualitatively ringing intentions and postures about run the risk of being categorized as deceivers, dishonorable, and immoral. It tells me that this government is too quickly, and efficiently and deliberately, mirroring the appalling errors of judgment of its predecessors. It tells me (and all of us) that it is party time, with party hacks reveling in unbridled joy. Just like they used to in the days thought to be over. This has the tainting touch of jobs for the boys, of greasing the rusted parts of the party apparatus, and of
paramountcy of the party’s interests all over again. It is the last twenty-three years. Again! It is the calumnies and monstrosities of before unleashed on the weary and jaded of this land. Again! Honest and conscientious individuals have been tarnished by circumstances and practices in places less enticing and less lucrative than the GRA. The GRA is not the place to tempt the ethically feeble. It is not the place to house those who failed and fell before. I believe in second chances, and that fallen angels can find god, discover conscience, and develop principle, patriotism, and the whole works; but not like this, and not at the alluring fleshpot, honeypot, and money-pot that is the GRA. It is too irresistible. Now if these disclosures by the former Commissioner General have some foundation, then what is happening at lower profile entities with less visible promotions and hiring? That is, where there is no aggrieved former head assuming the incredible role of a very public whistleblower?
To repeat: what is happening in those confines? I have said before: one of the keys to any serious intent and drive by this government to do right reside in the people it attracts, and the people it elects. No explanations ought to be needed. Otherwise, it is the same sad song, just different singers, and more disillusioned listeners. Talking about disillusion, a number of citizens have said to me: “I am disappointed.” It has been my self-appointed role to urge patience, to give a chance, but to be watchful. Now, given Mr. Sattaur’s revelations, one must ask: what is new about the promised newness of today? Unless, the former Commissioner General is way off base, and manufacturing straws, then it is the old tawdry, smelly, oozy, sleazy, ugly days and ways that went before. Again! This is the last situation that hopeful trusting citizens of this country needs. This sounds like business as usual. Worse yet, it feels like betrayal. If the allegations hold up, it is dirty; it is lewd, and it is insulting. GHK Lall
I have advised my family not to vote for dinosaurs in the upcoming LGE DEAR EDITOR, Local Government elections will finally be held after more than twenty years, which is a very good sign that democracy has returned to our beautiful country Guyana. As I sit and reflected on May 11 2015 National and Regional elections and the outcome I am convinced that the time for a change was necessary however, myself and family are contemplating whether or not to take part in the elections on March 18, 2016. My concern is due to the fact of what I am hearing and seeing through social network, the split press and the media. I am alarmed that it is discussed that most if not all of the councilors currently serving on the Municipality of Georgetown are contemplating to contest the upcoming elections either as constituency or parties candidates and this is very disturbing and disgusting for the populace. Editor I have already cautioned my family of six all eligible to vote that come nomination day when the list
of candidates have been declared for the APNU+ AFC coalition and there is a list of ‘dinosaurs’ appearing on that list then we will not be taking part in the forthcoming elections. After serving over twenty years as councilors it is very disturbing why the likes of Oscar Clarke, Patricia Chase Greene, Randwell Jordan and others feels that the Georgetown Municipality belongs to them and there is no other one capable of serving the citizens of Georgetown. His Excellency President Granger in his address to the Parliament of Guyana reiterated the fact that our young people have an integral part to play in nation building and therefore I look forward for a larger number of young people appearing as candidates; people who would have done tremendous work ensuring the coalition gets into office, if this is not reflected then I know for sure my family will not be part of this elections come March 18, 2016. From conversation with many young persons, some of whom are not clear on the local government elections
they are saying clearly they will not be voting more so for any “pension society.” I am urging the People’s National Congress which is a part of the coalition of APNU to be very mindful of these sentiments and try as far as possible to reflect a true representation of the population of Guyana which has a youth population of about 60%. This is a new dispensation, while not reflected at the Executive level, I am hoping that it will be reflected at the local level. It is time that our young people have a say in society at all levels of government, no longer are the youth leaders of tomorrow rather they are leaders of today. While I have passed the age prescribed as being youth by the policy of Guyana, I have children who fit into that category and therefore I speak boldly on behalf of them. I do strongly believe that APNU+ AFC coalition will understand after these elections that the Guyanese people are not obligated to them. Garfield Boston
Page 6
Kaieteur News
‘Smart City Project’ to be implemented to tackle crime The ‘Smart City Project’ is among initiatives which have been identified to reduce crime. The project is part of the US$15M Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP) that was launched on Monday at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston. It was explained by Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan that this part of the programme will see cameras strategically placed around the city. According to the Government Information Agency, this initiative, the Minister noted, is part of the Integrated Surveillance and Patrol Management System. “This surveillance technology will enhance law enforcement effectiveness by providing up-to-date information, and supporting the development of proactive operational strategies and intelligence-led tactics,” the minister said. While local law enforcement officials have been able to use footage from surveillance cameras around the city to assist in investigations into criminal activities, many persons have been critical of the types of cameras, saying that they were inferior. The CSSP will also lend support to training in criminal and forensic techniques for police ranks, according to Minister Ramjattan. He stated that the project is a priority and will provide a safe environment for citizens. The programme comes at a time when Guyana and the Caribbean are experiencing
yearly spikes in criminal activities. The public security minister had stated that ‘Crime and violence’ represent a major obstacle to human, social and economic development and peaceful coexistence and a pressing concern for almost all Governments in Latin America and the Caribbean Region. He noted that in Guyana, particularly during the last decade and a half, crime and violence have become legitimate concerns for everyone. “Guyana’s homicide rates have dramatically increased since 2000 from 9.9 per 100,000 inhabitants in that year to 20 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2014. In 2013, the robbery rate reached 214.9 per 100,000 inhabitants and the domestic violence rate was 431.2 per 100,000 inhabitants. We have here, according to the WHO Report of 2014, the highest suicide rate in the Americas and the world,” the minister told the Marriott Hotel
gathering. Minister Ramjattan opined that the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme will also “improve effectiveness in the Guyana Police Force’s disciplinary control and accountability mechanisms by bridging the capacity gap in Police Complaints Authority and the Office of Professional Responsibility in conducting independent investigations.” This part of the programme accounts for US$5.5M of the US$15M funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Specific objectives of the five-year Citizen Security Strengthening Programme are: to improve behaviours for non-violent conflict resolution in target communities, increase the Guyana Police Force’s effectiveness in crime prevention and crime investigation nationally, and improve the Guyana Prison Service’s effectiveness in reducing offenders’ recidivism at the national level. The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Public Security Project Implementation Unit, and will be managed by the IDB through direct supervision.
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Ramjattan’s tax files secretly photocopied after elections - Sattaur Shortly after the new Government took office last May, a senior official of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) photocopied the tax file of leader of the Alliance For Change, and current Vice President/Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan. The claim was made over the weekend by Khurshid Sattaur, ex-CommissionerGeneral of GRA, whose services were terminated by the Board of Directors, last week. Sattaur is facing allegations that he released sensitive GRA information to an embassy official in Guyana, a breach of confidentiality regulations. He is also alleged to have backdated a claim for GRA pension to 2007, illegally collecting over $12M, a claim that he has denied. GRA, in defending its decision to sack Sattaur, also alleged that the former tax chief had a safe belonging to the authority at his home. Over the weekend, Sattaur in a statement defending the pension payment said legal advice was sought, and he also made some startling claims. He said that after the elections he was on repeated occasions asked to do various things including settling taxpayers’ cases for meagre sums “that would have caused (sic) the country billions of dollars in lost revenue”. “I am prep a r e d t o provide a list of names at a later date.” The official also claimed that he was asked to promote persons who did not have the requisite qualifications, and who were acting for a
- “That’s news to me,” says Chairman
Khurshid Sattaur considerable period before they were suitably qualified. He claims that he was also asked to promote persons who had questionable records, and to rehire persons who were previously dismissed for corrupt practices. “These persons have since been rehired… since I have departed GRA, and I have been advised are in senior positions.” More shockingly, Sattaur claimed he was asked to turn a blind eye to taxpayers’ files being photocopied. Yesterday, Chairman of GRA’s Board of Directors, Rawle Lucas, said that the claims by Sattaur are “news to me”. “I need to understand what he is talking about.” Asked if he will be asking the former CommissionerGeneral to explain the pulling of the files, Lucas said that it is unlikely that Sattaur will make himself available. Minister Ramjattan has reportedly said that he would be surprised at any copying of his tax files and for what
GRA Chairman, Rawle Lucas
Pubic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan purposes. GRA has been accused in the past of using tax information to silence critics, media houses, and even persons perceived to be from the Opposition side. The photocopying of a file of a sitting minister of the government, if proven true, would raise troubling questions as to motives as well as to the legality, especially as there are strict regulations over the treatment of confidential taxpayers’ information.
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Boosting Middle East economy is way to beat extremism - Iranian president
Hassan Rouhani Reuters - Generating economic growth in the Middle East is crucial to defeating extremism, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday, putting forward his country as a regional trade hub and pillar of stability. Rouhani is on a four-day trip to Italy and France, looking to rebuild Iranian relations with the West some two weeks after financial sanctions on Tehran were rolled back following the implementation of its nuclear deal with world powers. Italy announced some 17 billion euros ($18.4 billion) of business deals with Iran on Monday. Mega contracts are also in the offing in France, reflecting EU countries’ keenness to cash in on the diplomatic thaw with the Islamic Republic. Underscoring the growing warmth, Rouhani said he expected Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to visit Iran in
the coming months to help boost bilateral economic alliances. “We are ready to welcome investment, welcome technology and create a new export market,” Rouhani told a business forum on the second day of his visit to Rome, saying Iran had ambitions to develop its own economy after years of curbs and hardship. “Under the new conditions, we want to export 30 percent of what we produce in Iran,” he said, calling for rapid investment in “the most secure and stable country in the region”. Later, during a 40-minute private meeting in Pope Francis’s private study, the pontiff asked Rouhani to work with other Middle East states to promote peace and stop the spread of terrorism and arms trafficking in the region. Italy rolled out the red
carpet to Rouhani and his 120member delegation of business leaders and cabinet ministers, seeing Shi’ite Muslim Iran as a possible partner in the international coalition against Sunni Muslim Islamic State insurgents. “If we want to combat extremism in the world, if we want to fight terror, one of the roads before us is providing growth and jobs. Lack of growth creates forces for terrorism. Unemployment creates soldiers for terrorists,” Rouhani said. Many Western nations accuse Iran of funding various militant groups that are on U.S. and EU terror blacklists. Despite Iran’s deal with world powers to curb its disputed nuclear programme, the United States is keeping some of its financial sanctions in place because of its links to organisations such as Hezbollah. Sunni arch-rival Saudi Arabia - alarmed and angry over Iran’s coming in from the diplomatic cold, especially its newly pragmatic contacts with the United States sought to deflate hopes that Tehran would be a bonanza for foreign investors. “They all have these br i g h t e u r o o r d o l l a r signs in their eyes about Iranian business opportunities, but whoever is going to do business in Iran will have to do it with their money and not Iranian money,” Prince Turki al-Faisal, earlier the Saudi intelligence head and ambassador to Washin g t o n , said yesterday.
Page 7
Page 8
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 9
MONEY IN YOUR POCKET The government will surprise the nation this year. Last year it was ill-prepared to present the Budget even though it had a full three months to do so. This year there was adequate time. It is not clear whether there was adequate consultation. But adequate time will allow for the government to finally deliver on its major promises of significant salary increases, pending negotiations with unions, and a reduction ( not adding to the zero-rated list ) of VAT. The economy needs a stimulus package. The private sector has been calling for an economic stimulus but has
not suggested what form it should take. This column believes that the citizens need a stimulus far more than the entire private sector. The best stimulus will be to increase the disposable income of workers by giving them more money. This does not mean increasing wages above any increase in productive gains. The government has a deficit to fill in terms of wage increases but it would be unreasonable to ask the government to offer massive across the board increases to all workers. This has to be a phased approach with certain categories of workers,
beginning with police and teachers, and nurses being significantly bumped up before the pen-pushers are given their dues. An increase in the disposable income of households should not only have to come from salary increases. It can come indirectly from reduced taxes on petrol. Transportation costs are one of the major expenses of consumers whether you are travelling by minibus or by SUV. It eats into your finances. Petrol prices have fallen around the world but in Guyana prices at the pump remain unchanged. The cost of living is not going down in Guyana because fuel
Dem boys seh...
Surveyors get a dose of dem own medicine, Jagdeo to get he own When dog accustom to sucking egg he can’t stop. If he nah get egg he does suck all kind of thing—ask scampish Jagdeo. He mek threequarter of Guyana crookish, just like heself. Tek de case of de Lands and Surveys people. Dem get a dose of dem own medicine. Dem does tek advantage of a lot of poor people when dem go to survey dem property, especially when a small piece pass from de other side. Yesterday, dem boys realize that is not dem alone does survey. Some bandits survey de Lands and Surveys people and then dem rob dem just like how dem does rob poor people. Is a case of getting you own medicine. Jagdeo still to get he own, dem boys seh. And he gun get it soon. He friend Carvil and Ash start get dem own already fuh dem scampishness. In de case of scampish Jagdeo dem boys seh he got two choice like everybody else - stay single and be miserable or married and wish you are dead. Dem didn’t realize he got three. He was single and miserable, married and play dead,
and now he done dead in more ways than one, but shame fuh shut he eye. That is how he see Soulja Bai return $600 million to de treasury. That hurt he heart, body and soul because he never in he life time, as Finance Minister or President ever see it wise or decent to return a dollar that he didn’t spend. That $600 million come as a shock to him. Was money that was supposed to go in Babbie pampaz fuh he smuggle out to Jagdeo, later. Jagdeo so upset that Soulja Bai return de money to de treasury because it wasn’t spent, that he made it de lead story in de newspaper, yesterday. De way how he present de story is like Soulja Bai do something terribly wrang in returning de money that he didn’t spend. That speaks volumes of who de scamp is. He complain bitterly. He seh de hospital face drug shortage because de money didn’t go to he best friend fuh drugs. Talk half and watch wha de love fuh money can do to people.
prices are high. The government has already benefitted by collecting billions of dollars in petrol taxes since the prices began to fall. That money is available to pay workers. This is one stimulus but should be handled selectively. Not everyone should benefit from higher-thaninflation increases in salaries this year. The government also has a windfall in foreign exchange savings from the decline in world oil prices. These savings should be ploughed back into the system to drive the foreign exchange rate down. It is too high. It has been so for a long time. The Guyana dollar needs support if import prices are to fall. There will be some effect on earnings for exports but this is likely to be marginal.
Lower import prices will mean that the cost of imported items will fall. Lower taxes on petrol will mean lower prices at the pump and greater sums in the hands of consumers. It will mean lower production costs, offsetting the lower export earnings in Guyana dollars due to the improvement in the strength of the local dollar. The increased disposable income will be the boost that the commercial sector needs. Increased disposable income will boost local sales and nothing stimulates local commerce than people having more money and removing illegal vendors from off the pavement. The government should consider a new type of stimulus for the economy, not by withdrawing massive sums from its bank accounts held with the commercial
banks but by making more disposal income available. The government has an obligation to reverse the slide in the Guyana dollar which occurred soon after it took office. There is also a duty to pass on reduced oil prices to consumers. Some categories of workers should be paid better. People need to be better off this year. It is good to make the city look nice and clean but the ordinary man also wants his house to have sufficient food; he wants to take his family to the movies at Giftland and the fun park at Princess Hotel. To do these things he needs money in his pocket.
Page 10
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 27, 2016
THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN
Guyana and the theory of the overdeveloped state In two previous columns, I did indicate I would explain, using the conceptual model of the overdeveloped state by Hamza Alavi, why since Independence right up to the Granger Administration, the state has not been a consistent, competent and interested provider of service to the population and the future of a service culture doesn’t look bright. This column now explains the Alavi theory and applies it to Guyana. It would be interesting to see what the people who are in the
leadership of the APNU+AFC, and who have studied political theory, have to say about Hamza Alavi’s breakthrough theory of the overdeveloped state. No doubt Aubrey Norton, Vincent Alexander, my friend David Hinds, would all be very conscious of Alavi’s theory. Do they believe Alavi’s theory can be applied to the APNU+AFC Government? Is there anything seen from the new government since May 2015 that would suggest that Guyana no longer has an
overdeveloped state? We begin with a simple, uncomplicated delineation of Alavi’s paradigm. The different perspectives and critical discussions on Alavi’s theory need not detain us here, because space is not available. Suffice it to say that though it was written in the early seventies and is now about fifty years old, Alavi’s theory for understanding authoritarian politics in the countries that achieved Independence after the end of WW2 is fantastically resilient. So let’s simplify Alavi. One must understand what he meant by overdeveloped as opposed to underdeveloped. Alavi was not the first to describe the underdeveloped nature of post-colonial economy. Everything was underdeveloped – economy, classes, infrastructure, education etc. Rodneyite scholars (that is Walter Rodney’s followers based on his book “How Europe Undeveloped Africa”) wrote about the poverty that colonialism left in the Third World that made it underdeveloped Now here is where Alavi comes in. Alavi stated that while the economy and
society were underdeveloped, the state was overdeveloped. This was the irony that made Alavi’s theory so influential. You see for Alavi, the colonials as a foreign power had to subjugate the local population and its territory. To keep the population in check, the state machinery had to be coterminous with the society. It had to be large and extensive. It was, in relation to the underdeveloped social structure and political economy, an overdeveloped state. Postcolonial society then in an incongruity. It has an unmodern, contracted economy, its classes are not fully developed, but the State machinery is huge and ubiquitous. If its essential feature is its overdeveloped nature, what does the state machinery do? Its role is not to provide service and be accountable, but to do what the colonial State did – preserve power for the bureaucratic strata that controls it and to use it in service of the propertied and commercial classes. In the case of Guyana under Burnham, the overdeveloped state became a class in itself, as Alavi describes it in
Pakistan. Under Hoyte, Cheddi and Janet Jagan, Jagdeo and Ramotar, the state retained its own identity, but formed open alliances with the petty bourgeois classes. Under Hoyte and Jagdeo, the overdeveloped state kept the population in check while it shamelessly shaped the economy to benefit the petty bourgeois classes. It is too early to say how the Nagamootoo/Granger State (and I include municipal power) will behave, but with a large group of former military personnel in the state apparatus, it is interesting to know if they will reduce the huge edifice of the state and if they want to do so in the first place. Important to note is that the overdeveloped state has no interest in service. That is a culture it inherited from the colonial administration. From Burnham to 2016, the State has hardly served the people. There isn’t a state institution you can name from the time of Independence right up to the time of writing where the state has delivered meaningful service to the nation. Every institution from Independence to January
Frederick Kissoon 2016 has shown contempt for the culture of service. Shortly after Independence (in 1970 to be precise), bauxite workers were locked up and tear-gassed for pressing for possession of the pension money in the Riley Fund (see Eusi Kwayana’s book on the event). In Wales in 2016, workers read about their factory closure through the newspaper. While President Burnham invented visionary projects, he hardly consulted the Guyanese people. The nation woke up one morning and found out that Burnham made National Service compulsory for many sections of the population. Under Jagdeo and Ramotar, every major state institution was undermined and service from each of them was abominable. Space constraint prevents further analysis.
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 11
Consultants bid for IDB/EU funded water improvement programme Under the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI’s) Water Supply and Sanitation Infrastructure Improvement Programme (WSSIIP), expressions of interest were opened for consultants to implement the programme at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), yesterday. The consultants will be in charge of developing and implementing the selection criteria for beneficiaries of the proposed improved sanitary facilities in the identified areas. GWI has expressed certainty that the process will be a transparent and fair one, and will be in
keeping with the programme’s objectives in selecting the beneficiaries. It is understood that at the end of the consultancy, which will last for 6 months, a list will be provided containing details of the 1000 households. Among the things that will be on the list are indications of the beneficiary’s willingness and evidence to support their selection for their existing pit latrines to be replaced with a water closet and septic tank. The programme areas are Georgetown (Region 4), Cornelia Ida - De Kinderen (Region 3), DiamondHerstelling (Region 4) and Goed Bananen Land - Sheet
Anchor - No. 19 (Region 6). The programme is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), to the tune of US$16.8M and EUR$10.6M from the Caribbean Investment Facility (CIF) of the European Union (EU). Some of the sums will also go towards paying for goods, works and services that will be procured under the WSSIIP. The WSSIIP was one of two agreements that were signed between the Government of Guyana and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in 2014, with the other being for improving power supply. The agreements totaled US$96M.
Under the Ministry of Public Security, there was also a retender for the provision of consultancy services to support implementing a training programme for the Guyana Police Force.
Bandits beat, rob Chinese restaurateur in B’ce There were also bids for consultants for the Management Strengthening Programme (MSP), as part of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL)’s Power Utility Upgrade Programme. Like the WSSIIP, this programme was financed by the IDB, with the general o b j e c t i v e b e i n g t o b o o s t G P L’s performance by providing ongoing training, coaching and support to seniors in areas such as financial operations,
system planning, procurement and transmission The training was also expected to encompass distribution, loss reduction, tariff planning, network maintenance and billing, among others. The MSP will comprise a mix of classroombased training as well as practical on the job training with one-on one coaching to address the unique learning and development needs of GPL’s senior management.
Bids were also opened on behalf of the Ministry of the Presidency, for persons to submit expressions of interest to develop a revised National Opt-in mechanism and conduct a pilot process.
Police are investigating a case of robbery with violence committed on Chinese restaurateur Wenzhana Vang, 52, which occurred around 22:55 hrs last Sunday. The businessman was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash and an iPhone 6. The victim operates a restaurant where he resides, in a two story structure at Lot 83 Public Road, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne. According to reports, Vang was about to close his
restaurant when three men entered the premises under the pretext of purchasing food. However, as Vang was in the process of taking the order, he was accosted by the bandits. The men demanded all that he had. He proceeded to gave them his daily sales which were in the restaurant. Not satisfied, the robbers took him upstairs where they proceeded to beat him to “hand over more”. He then gave them an undisclosed amount of cash which he had concealed in the house. The
men then continued to beat him and dealt him several cuffs about his body and face before relieving him of his cell phone. They them made good their escape through the front door on the lower flat. The matter was reported and several persons were detained and questioned. The injured businessman was subsequently taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was treated before being transferred to New Amsterdam Public Hospital and subsequently released.
Page 12
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Efforts being made to address drug shortage in shortest possible time – GPHC CEO The shortage of drugs and other pharmaceuticals at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) was a worrying issue which was raised in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday. The PAC is tasked with examining the audited accounts, as presented in the Auditor General’s Report, showing the appropriation of sums granted by the National Assembly to meet public expenditure and such other accounts laid before the Assembly. It is also entrusted with the responsibility to exercise general supervision over the functioning of the Auditor General in accordance with the Rules, Policies and Procedures Manual and any other law; and nominate members of the Public Procurement Commission for approval by the National Assembly and, thereafter, the appointment by the President. It was noted that drugs such as aspirin, B-Complex and Paracetamol are not available at the hospital. The PAC was made aware of this as GPHC officials were grilled over certain financial irregularities at the entity as listed in the Auditor General’s report. The officials asserted that to address the issue of the shortage of drugs, it is currently awaiting the approval of Cabinet for contracts to secure drugs which are also necessary for certain
…PAC member says state of affairs reflects “gross misconduct and mismanagement” critical operations. Kaieteur News understands that in some cases, medical supplies which were not needed by the hospital were ordered. One case involved the procurement of over $3M worth in tablets which were not needed while another incident saw drugs with a short shelf life being purchased. The officials also brought to light the fact that suppliers had stopped honouring requests for more drugs as the institution owed some $500M for drugs which were already ordered. Speaking with this newspaper yesterday, GPHC CEO, Alan Johnson said that the entity has already made efforts towards dealing with the matter and meetings were already held with the suppliers. He said that a list of all the items needed by the Hospital were submitted to New GPC, one of its main suppliers, and it is hoped that they will be delivered as soon as possible and the matter of the shortage of drugs will be put to rest. However, PAC Member Jermaine Figueira, who was very vocal on the matter on Monday, said that he found the state of affairs at the
Hospital to be most unfortunate and disappointing. He said that he is not satisfied with some of the reasons which were supplied by the officials as it relates to the drug shortage. Figueira said, “I believe the situation that exists is one which is most regrettable. I am of the view that the reasons provided by the representatives of the Ministry of Health and GPHC are unsatisfactory. Those representatives have a very important mandate to the government and more over the Guyanese people to be more prudent and efficient in executing their duties. I was flabbergasted by the revelations of those officials and I would have to say that it reflects gross misconduct and mismanagement by the entity.” The Parliamentarian insisted that the preservation of a healthy and safe population is one that is aided by those two important bodies. He said that the onus is upon those entities to be more responsible and accountable in carrying out their duties. A meeting was held yesterday with officials of the Ministry of Health and the Georgetown Public
Hospital with Finance Secretary Hector Butts, to address the matter. He however declined to comment on the findings and resolutions of that meeting when contacted by this newspaper last evening. When he served as the Shadow Minister of Health for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Dr. George Norton was strongly opposed to the shortage of drugs under the previous regime citing it in several cases to be “gross incompetence.” He believed that the root of the problem was sole sourcing. When he was actually appointed to the post of Minister of Public Health, Norton firmly told members of the National Assembly that sole sourcing—the problem he had said was the cause of the drug shortage—was coming to an end. He noted that for over a decade, only one company enjoyed the lion’s share of the contracts for drugs and pharmaceuticals in Guyana under the previous administration. That entity was none other than New GPC. He said that gone are the days when New GPC enjoyed that monopoly. The Minister had informed
fellow parliamentarians that 18 other companies were recommended by the Guyana Pharmaceutical Association to participate in what will now be a fair and transparent process of tendering for drug contracts. Norton had said that the Ministry of Health will be committed to ensuring that the access the Guyanese population has to medication and medical supplies is improved. During his budget presentation last year, the Member of Parliament revealed that New GPC had a contract from the PPPC Government to receive 100 percent payment up front – before delivery. Norton had said that on more than one occasion, the company received monies for medication it never supplied. He said that this can be substantiated in the Auditor General’s Reports over the years. “Yet they (the previous administration) continued with the monopoly. Gone are such days. We will do everything possible to put an end to the hundreds of millions of dollars of the poor Guyanese tax payers’ money that is wasted away in the form of expired drugs,” added the Health Minister. It appears however that the new and transparent process Norton had embarked on to banish sole sourcing was not enough to leave the issue of shortage of drugs in the past for good.
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Deputy CEO, Director charged for GPL theft -- arrest warrant issued for Deonarine Two former Guyana Power and Light (GPL) senior officials were yesterday accused of being part of a multi-million-dollar fraud at the power company. The men are alleged to have illegally transferred close to $30M to their personal bank accounts from the PetroCaribe Funds. Former Director of the company Carvil Duncan, 73, of Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, and former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of Administration, Aeshwar Deonarine, were slapped with charges of conspiracy and simple larceny. The charges were read by Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. However, Duncan was the only one present in court. Deonarine had left for Canada on August 3, last year, shortly after the matter went public. A warrant has been issued for Deonarine’s arrest, and Crime Chief Wendell Banhum said yesterday that police will contact the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) with a view of having him brought back to Guyana. Duncan, who is the President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and General Secretary of the Guyana Labour Union (GTU), is accused of conspiring with Deonarine on May 7 and 8 at Georgetown, to steal $27,757,500, property of GPL. He is also accused of stealing $984,900 from GPL after conspiring with Deonarine on March 31, 2015 at Georgetown. The former Director pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was released on $1M bail. Attorney Charles Ramson Jr. represented Duncan. On Monday when the police invited Duncan to Eve Leary he
CHARGED: Carvil Duncan
Former Deputy CEO, Ash Deonarine
was offered a deal to repay the money. He said that he wanted it in writing that once he repaid the money he would not be prosecuted. The charge followed when he actually refused to make restitution. During a bail application, the lawyer told the court that his client is a man of credible character and the court should have no difficulty considering bail for him. Ramson said that Duncan has no pending matters or previous convictions. Police Corporal, Deniro Jones, presented the prosecution’s case. He had no objections to the defendant being granted pre-trial liberty. The prosecutor pointed out that Deonarine left the country since August 3, 2015 for Canada. The Government had asked the police to investigate the two senior officials last July. It was reported that the men paid themselves almost $29M without authorization. In light of the nature of investigations, Deonarine was sent on administrative leave. The discoveries of the suspicious transfers were made by independent auditors who were probing the PetroCaribe Fund, which holds proceeds of
oil shipments taken from neighbouring Venezuela. It was while tracking payments to GPL that auditors unearthed the abnormal transactions. Deonarine, who had been the DCEO responsible for administration had reportedly wanted to receive the same level of pay as the then DCEO (Technical), Colin Welch, but his approaches to the Board of Directors were rebuffed. It was then reportedly that the decision was taken to transfer the monies. Deonarine had reportedly offered to repay the money from his overseas accounts. GPL, which manages the country’s power supply to especially coastland areas, has been under scrutiny over its spending and management of a number of multi-billion-dollar projects. There are lingering questions over a number of contracts, including one for prepaid meters. The charges against Duncan and Deonarine would follow those of ex-Minister Jennifer Westford who was charged for allegedly transferring a number of state vehicles. That matter is still before the courts.
Page 21
Banks Linden Branch records over $1B in sales Banks DIH Linden Branch sold for the first time, over $1 billion worth in sales. This is according to Chairman Clifford Reis, during his feature address at the company’s shareholders meeting, to mark the company’s 60th anniversary. Reis applauded the Branch Manager, Shaundelle Easton, for the sterling performance. “When the company has signed to sell four percent, she sells 13 percent more. When we increased volume by three percent she increased by six percent. “She has really performed, because not only has she sold 13 percent more- we did not raise prices, so she had to sell more volumes, and that is what she did,” Reis declared. Easton who is at present the only female Branch Manager of Banks DIH, was presented with the Chairman’s trophy. Reis told shareholders and other special invitees, that Banks had an after-tax profit of $2.569 billion compared to $2.265 billion in 2014, an increase of about $304 million or 13 percent. “This improvement was as a result of the increase in physical sales by three per cent, an increase in revenue by four per cent and a reduction in operational expenses by four per cent due to internal efficiency measures and favourable material prices.” The Company’s operational profit before tax was $5.285 billion compared to $4.971 billion, an increase of $314.0 million or 6.3 percent; while its turnover net of taxes was $24.875 billion compared to $23.695 billion in 2014, an increase of $1,180 billion or five per cent. Beer sales was $2.2 billion,
an increase of $168 million which Reis said was due to the excellent performance of GT beer. “This brand has allowed us to significantly increase our share on the beer market. At the same time Banks beer continues to be our flagship product and we’ve noted an increase in the demand towards the latter half of the year. “We’ve also successfully relaunched our Premium beer and indications are that it will be well accepted on the market.” “Guinness continues to be a strong brand, recording a seven percent increase in sales. It is worthy to mention that we’ve achieved a share of over ninety six percent on the local stout market.” The Company’s focus, Reis said, continued to be the development and strengthening of shareholder value in 2015 through capital improvements to the production plants and the delivery and distribution network. As regards the sale of the company’s shares in Banks Holdings Barbados to SLU Beverages, a s u b s i d i a r y o f B r a z i l ’s Ambev, Reis said that it was a wise decision. He said, “It was an investment, and the company made a profit, half of which goes to the shareholders.” Banks DIH’s shares in
Banks Holdings Barbados were sold on December 2, last, for $4.3 billion on the Barbados Stock Exchangemore than they were originally bought for, Reis said, adding that the company’s Board of Directors agreed that $600 million or 50 percent of the profit earned from the sale of those shares to SLU Beverages, should be paid to shareholders. Reis pointed out that Ambev owns trademarks for 20 beers and malt beverages, with operations spreading across the Americas, Europe and the Pacific. The brands of beer include Budweiser, Corona, Bud Light and Skol. As these products are well known, Reis said that the relationship between the two beverage giants could lead to better marketing of each other’s products. “The commercial benefits that will accrue to Banks DIH Ltd. will include but are not limited to a greater market export and market share of the Banks brand outside of Guyana,” he said. Bottling of one of Ambev’s beers in Guyana is a distinct possibly, according to Reis. “There are opportunities for a bottling agreement for one of those Ambev brands…We have a new brewery so it is a good opportunity. Maybe we can have an agreement to bottle one of those brands.” (Enid Joaquin)
Corruption benefits the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor. Say no to it.
Page 22
Kaieteur News
VACANCY Cook/baker and truck driver for the Interior location, applicants must be experienced. Call: 618-2020
SERVICES PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. – CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620 Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Guyana Passport application. Graphics design, Advertisement. Tel: 6267040; 265-4535. Building Construction, house plans & estimates, floor sanding, lacquering & painting, boat for Santa Mission –Call: 650-4362 We repair fridge, freezer, AC, washer, dryer-Call: 231-0655; 683-8734. Omar
WANTED Damage batteries in any quantity, best price offeredCall: 696-5728, 656-2783, 6225941, 648-9395, 223-1111 One experienced Cummings Mechanic to work in the interior. Call: 678-0565 2 Male cleaners- Apply at Technical Services Inc, 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles. E.B.D One experienced domestic to work at resident –Call: 6970157 1 Live in domestic, salary $50,000 monthly-Call: 6858720, 674-1767
Taxi drivers and contract car Repairs at low cost: Fridges, (dispatcher) salary paid for air- conditioners, washing taxi drivers- Call: 231-0316 machines, TVs, microwaves, Girls to work @ restaurant in freezers- Call:629-4946 or the Interior, salary -$80,000, 225-4822 monthly- Call: 675-7043; 674Mahadeo Construction for all 1767; 664-5199 construction, carpentry, One live in maid-Call: 668masonry, pluming, painting 3985; 264-2563 etc. Free estimates and plan One room to rent between GContact # 669-7376 Town to Anandale (ECD). Repairs at affordable prices: Can Pay $20,000 Per Month. fridge, air conditioner, Contact Mobeen 624-316. washing machines, dryers, TV, microwaves & freezer- One live domestic must know to cook, salary-$70,000Call: 610-5846 or 661-8158 $80,000 monthly –Call: 610INNOVATIVE MARKETING 3974 & PUBLISHING INC –TEL: 600-4212: We create A/works, Office Assistant: must have English, logos, business cards, Mathematics, posters, etc, placements of Accounts and must be computer literate. Call:650ads included. 0402 TAXI SERVICES GR TAXI SERVICE. CALL: One experienced dispatcher 219-5000; 227-1982 & –Call: 231-4000 225-7878 (24HRS) Staff for plant shop: Literate, hardworking, pleasant, team player 18-28 years. Plant knowledge an advantage. Tel: 648-1821
PEN PAL Businessman seeking single female, for Companion/ friendship; Contact Deo- 27 Experiment West Coast Berbice: Text/call 611-9970
MASSAGE Happy Touch Day Spa: Come & Experienced heavens touch, visit us today! –Call: 690-6079
Experienced cake decorator, roti/puri cooks, counter servers. Apply at Hack’s Halaal, 5 Commerce St. 1 Mechanic welder to work in the interior, interested persons can call 625-5136 on Mon-Fri between 8am-4pm.
LEARN TO DRIVE Soman Son & Outar Driving School at Maraj BuildingTel:644-5166; 622-2872; 6150964; 689-5997
Urgent: Cleaner & kitchen helper (dayshift) required at Aagman Indian Restaurant. Apply at aagmanrestaurant@gmail.com or call: 219-0158 Cleaner, office clerk, carpenters, masons, welder fabricator, labourers, housekeeper & drivers, interested person call: 603-4094 Massage Therapist & cosmetologist: must be certified in facial waxing, manicure & pedicure. Call: 672-1239; 226-1172 Network technician to install outdoor internet wireless antennas. Email CV to jobs@awngy.com Interested in working in a Private School? Apply POBOX 101818, include your contact number. Male security, male desk staff, room attendants, between ages 25-45yrs @233 South Road, Lacytown- Call: 2250198 Hicks Ville Hotel: Receptionist, Hotel Attendant, Washer/Presser, Bell Boy. Email: info@hicksvillehotelguyana. com/call:231-0951 Vegetarian Gardens: driver/ salesman. E-mail: info @vgiworld. com/ call:223-3448; 227-7714 Accounts clerk: experienced in QuickBooks, accounting software, VAT, NIS & PAYE, @ Technical Services, 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles.
Wednesday January 27, 2016
SALON
VEHICLE FOR SALE
FOR RENT
- Make-up Courses with Mac, Bare Minerals and Black Opal - Cosmetology Courses - Nail Technician Course Call: 647-1773/660-5257
STAR CARS AUTO SALE: 30-06 PREMIO, 03-07 FIELDER, NEW RAUM, IST, BLUEBIRD, AXELA, PITBULL. CALL: 679-3140; 268-3509
PLANNING AN EVENT? BIRTHDAY PARTY, GRADUATION,WEDDINGS, ANNIVERSARY, ETC. CALL DIAMOND TENTS: 216-1043; 677-6620
Earn a Certificate in cosmetology, nails, wig designs & hair cutting etc. Classes commencing February! Register Now! Call: 666-5241; 619-7603
Noah & Voxy: unregistered & fully loaded -$1.7M (black, white & silver). Call: 603-9700
Office Space at Camp Street –Call Naz: 639-4499
Hairdressers, nail technician, barbers, also hair & nail stations available for rental location: New Market StreetCall: 638-1106
CAR RENTAL DOLLY’S CAR RENTALCALL: 225-7126/226-3693 DOLLYSAUTORENTAL@ YA H O O . C O M / W W W. DOLLYSAUTORENTAL.COM PROGRESSIVE CAR RENTAL:CARS&SUV FOR RENTAL- $4,000 & UP PER DAY- CALL: 643-5122, 6560087 , EMAIL: PRO_ AUTO RENTAL@YAHOO. COM Aidan’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up, cheapest rate, low security- Call: 698-7807 Wing’s Car & 4WD Vigo pick up rental- Call: 690-6494 Vehicles for rental: cars, SUV, pickups etc, long term only @ Ray’s Motor Spares and Auto Sales. Call: 231-7839
Internal Security: Must Be Literate, 3 Years’ Experience, A Valid Police Clearance -Tel# :227-5195 Hairdressers, nail technician, barbers, also hair & nail stations available for rental location: New Market StreetCall: 638-1106 Popular East Coast Gas Station Day/Night: pump attendants, sales clerk & office assistant. Contact: 6694755; 695-9880, Non-Pareil Perkins Mechanic contact 223-5273
VACANCY Senior accounts clerk; apply in person at Alabama Trading Geogetown, Ferry Stelling. X A Entertainment, a London base fashion company is casting females ages 16-23 for video & magazine shoots. Contact Mr. Henry: 592-6725189 Drivers/Salesman to sell bakery products- Call: 2541399; 627-2515 Office Clerk; apply Avinash Complex, Water Street Georgetown. Call: 226-3361; 227-7828, Grove E.B.D & Annandale E.C.D 1 Driver- apply at Technical Services; 18-23 Industrial Site, Eccles.
SD Real Estate: executive 2 bedrooms Apartment, in exclusive residential area with all modern amenities. Call for appointment Tele 6532920
Mercedes Benz, CLK200 Kompressor, PRR, Mileage Two bedrooms house “A” 72000, 2005 excellent Field Sophia, fully grilled off Road Parking, CCTV, $40,000 condition. Call: 623-5492 monthly with 2 months We buy & sell vehicles for security-Call:693-2237; 219cash, also parts available & 0211 30 seater buses; Extra Cab Apartments for rent @ Nandy pickups; 2006 Tacoma- Call: Park -$90,000- $80,000 680-3154 negotiable, recently renovated, free wifi, 2 Toyota Hilux , Toyota wagon , food mobile canter contact bedrooms. Call: 227-5194 621-5907 / 223-5273 2008 Fielder- fully loaded vehicle, never registered $2.5M- Call: 617-2891 One Accent Hyundai $225,000.Call: 695-1744 Noah & Voxy in ‘G’ series, fully loaded, never registered -$1.7M –Call: 617-2891 Toyota Wish (7seats), PKK series, excellent condition & one owner -$1.3M. Call: 6989771
One Toyota Mark 2 Grande for sale PKK series, owner leaving country, price $1.5M negotiable. Call: 601-4163
One experienced room maid. Call or text Sheik on 621-9759 or Donald: 673-4628
Driver / Expediter contact 621-5907 / 223-5273
BMW 318i- $2.9M, BMW 320i- $4M, Audi A4- $4M, Suzuki Escudo- $4M, new model Premio- $3M- Contact# 650-0402/260-4988
Sliver Nissan Murano, Late PNN series- $6M –Call: 6815548 or 695-5701
1 Female cleaner apply Technical Services, Lot 18-23 Eccles Industrial Site E.B.D
Security Officers, apply in person. Massey Security (Guyana) Inc, Lot 0 Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Call: 225-5773-6
Honda Accord, 2003, leather, TV, DVD, radio, 35,000km, like new, price negotiable- Call: 689-1194
1-3 Bedrooms upper flat @ Section ‘A’ Diamond, H/ Scheme E.B.D, fully grilled & concrete fence with parking space- Call: 662-9335; 6123244
Modified Toyota Glanza$1M, 2005 Nissan Frontier 4 Wheel drive -$3M negotiable. Owner migratingContact: 614-2659 1 Double Axle TM Truck with built in fuel tank, capacity equivalent to 100 barrels- Call: 680-8783 AT192, 212, Allion, unregistered Premio, Hilux Surf, BNN, RZ & Pit-bull, 7 seater super custom. Cash / terms- Call:680-3154 1 Single axle TM truck with built in fuel tank, capacity equivalent 50 barrels. Call: 680-8783 DRESSMAKING Turn your flair for fashion into an exciting career or hobby. Enroll Now –Call: 626-2629; 676-6312
EDUCATIONAL Private customs brokerage, training certificate course from 2nd Feb 2016, register now & save –Call: 694-8322; 223-1506 January Computer Deals: 9 Courses office 2016 @ Micrographics, Vreed-enHoop-Call: 264-3057. Earn your diploma now! Computerize Accounting: 4 courses: QuickBooks, POS, Peachtree, Excel 2016- Call Micrographics Vreed-enHoop-Call: 264-3057
TO LET Business place located on Robb Street next to Bourda Market. Call: 623-7731; 6290636 3 Bedrooms upper flat for rent at Vreed-en- Hoop –Call: 661-0162 Modernize 2 bedrooms apartment –W.C.D (Vreeden-Hoop) in a safe and healthy environment. Call: 698-6496 Rooms in Alberttown- Call: 225-3234 Continued on page 23
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 23
Demerara Timbers Ltd. awaits green light to resume operations -- must pass muster with Govt. Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) is awaiting Government’s green light to resume its operations and reinstate 45 employees it had laid off. This will be facilitated on the premise that it claims to have corrected a safety defect to its sawmill. This news was communicated to officials of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) when they met with DTL personnel on Monday last. The company was forced to make the changes after an impromptu visit by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and his Junior Minister, Simona Broomes. The team visited DTL’s Mabura Hill, Region Ten location recently. The Ministers had made the visit to the location after reading a report in a local daily newspaper that the jobs of 45 workers were in limbo. The move by the company to have the 45 workers off the job followed an earlier, December 10, 2015
inspection of its location by a team led by Minister Broomes where it was found that the company was in breach of Chapter 99 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Chief among the issues raised by Minister Broomes, and which was communicated to DTL in writing, was the fact that a sawmill operator was operating a lever without adequate safety provisions. While one of the company officials, Kwangsiong Chuo, had assured the Minister that the workers were being paid part of their salaries and were not in danger of losing their jobs, senior officials of the company were invited to a meeting with GFC for a full assessment of its operation in Guyana. Upon instruction the company ceased its operations to rectify the breaches and all employees were paid 50% of their salaries between December 19, 2015 and January 3, last. From
From page 22
Ministers Raphael Trotman and Simona Broomes January 8, 2016, the 45 affected workers received 30% of their salaries in keeping with the agreement with their union, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU). During the meeting with GFC the company’s officials advised that the major safety issue was rectified with a “guard” housing put in place to guarantee the safety of the worker. The company is now awaiting the go ahead from the Ministry of Social Protection to re-commence work. Additionally, GFC has requested that the company
prepare a comprehensive business plan since it was found that it was operating at less than 40% of total harvesting capacity. The business plan will determine whether the company’s forestry lease will be renewed by the Commission. Meanwhile, the changes to the sawmill were in keeping with Occupational Health & Safety regulations. The company indicated to the GFC that once the green light is given operations will resume and the 45 affected employees who currently receive part payment will be reinstalled.
‘One-eye bandit’ to serve five years in prison Deon Marques, popularly known as the ‘one -eye bandit,’ was on Monday sentenced to serve five years behind bars for a series of robberies he committed last year. The defendant had initially pleaded not guilty to the allegations but opted to change his plea when he appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly. Given that Marques accepted all the charges, Magistrate Daly imposed a calculated sentence of 51 years. She sentenced the defendant to five years on each count of armed robbery; five years on each count of discharging a loaded gun and three years each for the offences of gun possession without licence and possession of ammunition without licence. However, owing to the fact that the sentences are scheduled to run concurrently, the defendant will only serve five years behind bars. Marques was shot in the eye during a confrontation with police at the scene of the robbery. The 22-year-old of Lot 526 Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara, and of Lot 3414 Stevedore Housing Scheme, Georgetown, was charged with five counts of robbery under-arms, four counts of discharging a loaded firearm with intent, a charge of possession of illegal firearm and another for possession of ammunition without
licence. He was sentenced at the Providence Magistrate’s Court. Marques made his first appearance at the same court on December 18, last, to face the charges. The first charge read that on December 13, at Grove Housing Scheme, while in the company of another, and armed with a gun, he robbed Cheryl Embrack of an undisclosed quantity of gold jewellery, one cellular phone and one stereo set. He was also accused of robbing Colin Semple and his sister of cellular phones to the value of $51,000. The latter robbery allegedly occurred on December 3, at Grove Housing Scheme. On November 20, in the vicinity of Golden Grove, the defendant held Dracaena Melville at gunpoint and relieved her of all her gold
jewellery. He later robbed Melville’s mother, Jacqueline Melville, of her gold jewellery, her cellular phone and cash, all valued at $845,000. The man faced additional charges for having an illegal gun with matching ammunition on December 3, at Grove Housing Scheme. The weapon, a .32 pistol, and 10 live rounds of ammunition were found in his possession. The father of one was also charged for discharging a loaded firearm at Police Rank, Arlington Samuels, with intent to disfigure, maim or cause grievous bodily harm. Police Prosecutor Michael Grant had told the court that on December 13, Cheryl Embrack was entering her home in the early hours of the morning when she was
attacked by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The men took her into the house, and relieved her of one stereo set and one cell phone. While the robbery was in progress, police ranks responded in a timely manner and stopped the alleged criminals. The police reportedly came under fire and retaliated, shooting Marques in the eye in the process. His accomplice got away. The injured bandit was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital for surgery. The ranks later recovered an unlicenced pistol and matching rounds from the crime scene.
LAND FOR SALE Eccles (already land filled)$5M, Herstelling (110ftX90ft) -$4.5M, Parfaite Harmonie Main Road- $1.6M, Zeelugt$1.6M. Call: 611-7223; 6042207
FOR SALE LARGE QUANTITIES OF HIGH PURITY MERCURY (QUICK SILVER) 99.99995% PURITY$19,000 PER POUND CALL: 592-227-4754.
Parfaite Harmonie -$ 1.6M, 1.8M, $1.5M, 1.3M, Tuschen 11 street -$3M with foundation, Phase 2 – $1.4M, Uitvlugt -$3M, Terms available – Call: 604-6724
Wholesale & Retail quantity of all types of belts –Call: 670-2343
33 Acres prime agriculture land located at Plantation Flensberg W.B.D-price negotiable-Contact Erick Boodhoo: Call: 654-6229; 6270556
AMERICAN BULLY DOGS, REMYLINE & GOTTILINECONTACT HARRY: 6100068/220-7933, WHATSAPP: 667-4845
One houselot at Mon Repos (Martyrsville) E.C.D, price $3.9M negotiable. Call: 2200538/645-2395 or Joel: 6295300
1,500 lb snapper sein e i n excellent condition. Call: 6570044 Lots @ Blankenburg behind the gas station- $3.9M- Call Us Today: 650-0402
Westminster Major Road$1.8M, Onderneeming $1.5M, Dairy (100ftX50ft) $2.8M & Pafaite Harmonie with foundation & structure -$2.6M. Call: 604-2207; 6117223 Land in Diamond -$5M, Parfaite-$1.5M, $2M, Schoonord -$3M, Herstelling -$4M. Call: 6416635 or 678-1575
ADORABLE PUPPIES FOR SALE. CALL: 6004212
Over 12,000 stamps from 1840 to 1940 from all over the world, old coins etc. Call: 6247341; 227-6817 Minibus, SUV, Pickup 39.8 rear deferential & 14.5ft fiberglass boat with trailer and 35HP motor- Call: 6789536 290 MF Tractor- $1.4M, 330TK Bedford dump truck$1.2M; in working order-Call: 614-9262; 604-2540
Land for sale in gated community, Providence E.B.D -$9.5M negotiable. Phone: 1 Evenrude outboard engine 621-6888 115 HP EFI- Contact: 680Providence E.B.D- land in 8783 commercial area, 80X200. 1 Toyota Premio, very good Beautiful location. Call: condition, price negotiable. (592) 601-1867, email: Call: 603-5190 nepglobe2014@yahoo.com Household items: carpet, blender, dinette set, wall divider, blinds & many more items. Owner migrating- Call Allison: 688-5446
PROPERTY FOR SALE 3 Bedrooms concrete house 22feetX48feet, land 50X90feet @ Vision Garden, Versailes, W.B.D – $11M negotiable. Call: 609-1367; 658-5803 Lot 1884, 20 Ave, First corner, Diamond H/Scheme, 3 bedrooms, flat house- Call: 662-4676, 602-9403 Brand new 2 storey concrete building in 5th Avenue, Diamond, E.B.D, all modern amenities –Call: 662-9335; 612-3244 Hutson Ville E.B.D Bungalow- 3 bedrooms (1 self contained) A/C, hot & cold water, secured-$16M negotiable .Call:625-5431; 622-3736; 697-4131
PROPERTY FOR SALE PROPERTY FOR SALE Two house & land for sale, excellent condition, one located at Tuschen & one at Goed-Fortuin. Call: 668-3985; 660-3235 Front house lot @ 30 Ketley Street, Charlestown -$8M negotiable. Call: 625-1031 One 5 bedrooms, 2 storey & 3 self contained room, was a shop; previously renovated -$24M @ Lot 1313 Norton St. Call: 619-1570
Church and 2 storey building Lot 180 Charlotte Street Bourda-Call: 227-6817; 6247341 70 Acres Transported river side land for $40M negotiable. Call: 678-1575 or 641-6635 Plaisance, Betterhope, B.V, Diamond, Parfaite Harmonie, Land of Canaan Public Road$60M negotiable. Call: 6416635 or 678-1575 Property for sale, Grove $20M / Rent: $50,000 per month. Tel: 625-5461.
Page 24
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 27, 2016
THE VOICE OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
The privatization recommendation of the Parvatan Commission must be rejected By Sase Singh INTRODUCTION Part 1 of this Sugar Series was an important column since from the inception, there were no “smoke and mirror” impressions; the reader was absolutely clear where I stand on the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into GuySuCo. The recommendation of privatization by the Parvatan Commission must be rejected emphatically as a result of an incomplete financial review. But let us rewind to the Terms of Reference (ToR) for this Commission. Reading the ToR, one felt assured that this Parvatan Commission was going to develop a “plan to bring the industry back to profitability and assure its economic survival” in the medium term. Actually, item 3 of the ToR stated clearly that it plans to “examine avenues/ opportunities to make the industry viable in the near future. In the event it is not realizable, then all other options, including diversification and divestment, will be considered.” But after spending over $70 million and investing more than 3½ months of collective executive time on this Report, we are no better off. Have all the opportunities been examined to take GuySuCo out of distress? Certainly not! After reading that Report twice, since I could not believe my eyes the first time around, I am convinced that this Parvatan Commission did a grave injustice to the people in the sugar industry. They clearly did not deliver on the expectations of the ToR. What they failed to
do was “prepare a Road Map for the way ahead for 20162030, structured in five-year intervals with stated goals and modalities of implementation” as was asked for by the ToR. When one reads this CoI Report, one can quickly see it was not constructed to help stabilize the business at least for the period 2016-2030, while at the same time significantly reducing the size of the financial call on the Treasury. There was no clear plan in this CoI Report on how the financial footing of the company will be strengthened and how we are going to use good corporate governance with less political interference to deliver greater value for money to the stakeholders in the industry. The Parvatan Commission did not provide advisory support, they were on a mission to gather evidence in support of a pre-meditated position – privatization. IT’S THE CASH FLOW STUPID! There was no short-term cash flow forecasting or any recommendations on how to manage the available working capital to free-up cash for the critical capital works needed in the fields and factories. Before we even move forward, there is very little clarity around the cash inflows and outflows, and this must be established. There are just too many inconsistencies in this Report around cash outflows from GuySuCo – estate by estate. If these basic elements in the cash flow are not clearly understood, we can recommend the moon; it matters not. That PPP-sponsored Raj Singh Business Plan was a
“hocus-pocus” Road Map, with pie in the sky numbers and shifty key performance indicators (KPI), of which very few were achievable. The Commission quite rightly rejected the Raj Singh/PPP Business Plan; it was a document conceived in deception to cover criminality. But the Parvatan Commission has replaced the PPP financial numbers with an even less germane set of financial information. So GuySuCo right now is living day-to-day; paycheck-topaycheck, like a corporate bum with no plan, no vision, no direction. At a minimum, this CoI Report should have been the basis to inform the creation of a new Business Plan for GuySuCo. In its current form it cannot. After wasting some $70 million on this CoI Report, we should banish the financial section of this document since it is not fit for professional consumption. If the financial assumptions are incorrect, then we are clearly basing our financial recommendations on an incomplete process. THE REALITY-ACUTE FINANCIALDIFFICULTIES GuySuCo is currently facing acute financial difficulties, caused mainly by the repairs to the Skeldon Factory, poor prices and an extremely high cost of production. Two of them are difficult to change situations in the short-term and therefore, we have limited control. Sugar prices and the repairs to the Skeldon Factory are a given, which has to be absorbed into all future plans for GuySuCo. The reality is that a fair chunk of the taxpayers’ G$12 billion is going towards fixing the Skeldon Factory.
Therefore let us bury that myth that it is going into the pockets of the sugar workers; it is not. Let us also clarify that this cash-guzzler called Skeldon Factory was imposed on this nation by the Jagdeo/Ramotar cabal. But when you analyze the numbers presented in Appendix 3 of the CoI Report - which appears to be a printout from the GuySuCo Finance Department - you quickly conclude that both Albion and Blairmont actually can compete internationally. This situation will improve even further if the politicians take their hands off the industry and allow the industry to return to those time-honoured set of best practices such as flood
fallowing and progressively mapping the sugarcane fields to identify deficient canes and taking appropriate agronomical actions. But all of this will go to waste if we cannot enhance the management of the harvesting and postharvesting system in a sort of JUST-IN-TIME (JIT) framework to minimize the sucrose losses. Further, we must move away incrementally from human harvesting of sugar cane to more mechanized harvesting techniques. That process cost lots of money, but it will provide value to the nation worth its weight in gold. CONCLUSION If all of these basics are being implemented and continue to be implemented
Sase Singh between 2016 and 2019, then a merged Albion/Rose Hall estate and a separate Blairmont estate can survive without any massive injection of funds from the Treasury. The tough question remains – what will we do with the Demerara Estates and Skeldon? We shall continue next week. Please feel free to share your views with me at sasesin1@yahoo.com.
GTU stages protest action, calls for... (From page 15) added that “of course there are some good persons on the Commission but that will have to be decided when they are doing the appointments.” SURPRISING But from her office on the top floor of the TSC building, Chairperson Ramson yesterday described the protest action as “surprising.” She, however, noted that since the Union has already taken its concerns about the operation of the Commission before the Court “they should have allowed this matter to proceed that way.” “This is the first time that this has ever happened at the Commission,” Ramson said. At the time she was in the company of two of her Commissioners, Phulandar Kandhi and Alan Munroe. When asked whether the Commission might have erred in facilitating a promotion that has perturbed the Union, Ramson responded in the affirmative. In fact she went on to explain that “an error was made within the Commission and a teacher was indeed appointed and we rescinded that appointment. We wrote to the Union and we apologised and we thought that would have been the end of the matter.” But according to Ramson, given the protest action, it is clear that the Union has not accepted the Commission’s apology. “They want to make a big issue out of it,” said Ramson as she pondered even on the initial move by the Union to file an injunction to halt the finalising of the 2015 teachers’ promotion list. “We felt that since they have a nominee here they were free to call us and say ‘look, this is what our nominee has reported, can you stop your promotion and let us have a meeting?’ They did not do that,” Ramson emphasised. The Union, according to Ramson, premised its concerns with the TSC on the comments forthcoming from regional officials about applicants for the vacant teaching positions. But according to her, “we have been doing this for umpteen years...suddenly they wake up one morning and decide that this must not happen.” “If they had a problem, we are human beings in here, they can call us and make an appointment and say ‘hold your promotion, we need to discuss this matter’...They did not do that, instead they went and filed an injunction
and this is when the whole promotion was finished,” recalled the TSC Chairperson. VICTIMS Ramson moreover said that she was appalled that the Union would embrace its course of action since according to her, “we have always had a working relationship.” The result of the Union’s tactic, she noted, would see teachers being the victims. Ramson noted that the existing state of affairs could severely affect some teachers, especially those who are up for retirement shortly. “Some of them need their increment and they don’t know how long this matter is going to take. It means that if this matter doesn’t end very soon, we may not even have promotions this year, maybe next year. So the teachers will suffer,” Ramson asserted yesterday. Commenting on the call by the Union for a change of the Commission, Ramson would only say “I have heard that since the new government took (its) place. I don’t know why they feel that way. They just feel that the whole Commission must go, including Ms. Leila Ramson,” the TSC Chairperson added. She continued by stressing that “I don’t think people understand the work we do here; we don’t do any underhand business here, because whenever we are doing promotions or we have appointments, or the disciplinary committee (meets), the whole Commission sits there, including the Chief Education Officer, who is part and parcel of the promotion process. We don’t do underhand business here,” Ramson insisted. As such, she noted that the Commission is not in any way prepared to disregard its work already done to process some 5,000 applications in order to prepare the 2015 promotion list. “We stand by our work...processing 5,000 applications, that is too much to put my Commissioners through again! We offered them (the Union) to look at it (their concerns) next year and let it (what we have) go through and they have refused,” said Ramson as she speculated that the perhaps the action of the Union is merely a campaign gimmick. “They have elections next month and I don’t know if protesting and all of that is showing the teachers that ‘I am working for you, come to the elections and do what you have to do’,” the TSC Chairperson surmised.
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
VAT refunds to improve within two to three months – GRA Chairman …same expected for Income Tax returns The relationship between taxpayers and the tax collection body, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is not as strong as it ought to be. And while a number of reasons are responsible for this, GRA’s new Chairman, Rawle Lucas says that a number of measures are in the pipeline to bring a heightened sense of confidence between the taxpayers and the revenue collection body. Lucas, in an interview with Kaieteur News recently, said that one of the issues he intends to address vigorously is the system of VAT refunds and Income Tax returns. The GRA Chairman said that based on his analysis of the entity thus far, taxpayers have the view that GRA no longer pays VAT refunds. “We are trying to deal with that. We want to make sure that taxpayers understand the role of the GRA and they have an appreciation for what we do. There are too many things that have distorted the relationship between the taxpayers and the GRA. This is in relation to a number of issues, but I would like to point out the issues with Income Tax return and VAT refunds.” “Since taking over the leadership of the board, I have noticed that the staff has expressed a tremendous willingness to deal with these issues and we are anticipating in the near future, in less and two three months, that there will be a vast improvement in the VAT refunds.”
GRA Chairman, Rawle Lucas Lucas noted that the law provides for this and the institution shall follow suit. According to Section 35 (1) of the Value Added Tax Act, it states that where the total amount of the input tax creditable by a taxable person under section 24 for a period exceeds the person’s output tax for that period; or the amount of tax paid by a person was in excess of the amount properly charged to tax under this Act, the amount of the excess shall be treated in the manner of a refund. Section 35 of the Act further outlines that if any of the excess for a tax period remains after being carried forward and used as input tax creditable in six consecutive tax periods, a taxpayer can file with the Commissioner to claim the refund as provided in Section 35 (3). That section of the Act says, “If any, of the excess referred to in subsection (1) (a) for a tax
period remains after being carried forward and used as input tax creditable in six consecutive tax periods, the taxable person may file with the Commissioner, a claim for refund for the amount remaining in the form and with the documentation specified in regulations.” As for the issue of Income Tax returns, the GRA Chairman said that this will take a little more time as it requires greater improvement in the relationship with the Ministry of Finance. Lucas said, “Dealing with Income Tax return is going to take a little more time. We have to work closer with the Finance Ministry to ensure that the releases are done on time because Income Tax refunds are based on releases coming from that Ministry.” He added, “There are also other issues involved with regard to the Income Tax return. Whenever the employer deducts money and sends that to us that money is placed in an account and is cleared through tax returns being filed. So if you are supposed to pay $30 but paid $40 then you are supposed to be repaid the $10.” “But there are many cases where the Income Tax returns are not filed. When it comes to this matter, the GRA has to take responsibility and we have tried to understand the extent of the problem. There are many cases where the tax returns are not cleared but we are hoping by raising the matter that it raises some awareness.”
PAHO prepared to help Guyana build Reference Lab capability Guyana’s reliance on the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to confirm the presence of emerging viruses could become a thing of the past. And the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) is prepared to throw its support behind the Ministry of Public Health to make this a reality. Speaking at a forum on Monday, PAHO Resident Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow, said that “I am prepared to speak with CMO
(Chief Medical Officer), PS (Permanent Secretary) and the Ministers (of Public Health) on that so that we don’t have to wait on things like that (sample results) if we can do all of the tests here.” Dr. Adu-Krow qualified his remarks by pointing out that since Guyana is a big country and is not like one of the small islands of the Caribbean “we definitely have to look into building our labs further.” “There are samples that
we could even handle here and I am seriously looking at this and I did speak with CARPHA and they are prepared to train a staff (member) to be able to deal with such cases here... So (Continued on page 27)
Page 25
U.N. chief Ban slams Israeli settlements as ‘provocative acts’
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (C) greets Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon (R) as Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin looks on (L) before a U.N. Security Council meeting on the Middle East at U.N. headquarters in New York, yesterday. REUTERS/Mike Segar Reuters - U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon yesterday slammed Israel’s settlement activities as “provocative acts” that raise questions about the nation’s commitment to a two-state solution amid growing Palestinian frustration over nearly 50 years of occupation. The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, areas Israel captured in a 1967 war. The last round of peace talks broke down in April 2014, and Israeli-Palestinian violence has surged in recent months. Israel confirmed on Thursday that it would appropriate a large tract of fertile land in the occupied West Bank. The land is near Jordan in an area where Israel already has many settlement farms built on land Palestinians seek for a state. Ban said he was “deeply troubled” by reports that the Israeli government had approved plans for more than 150 new homes in “illegal
settlements in the occupied West Bank.” “These provocative acts are bound to increase the growth of settler populations, further heighten tensions and undermine any prospects for a political road ahead,” Ban told a United Nations Security Council meeting on the Middle East. “Continued settlement activities are an affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community,” he said. “They rightly raise fundamental questions about Israel’s commitment to a twostate solution.” He said frustration was growing among Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Ban’s remarks, saying they only “bolster terrorism.” “The Palestinian murderers do not want to build a state; they declare publicly that they want to destroy a state,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “The U.N. has long ago lost its neutrality and its moral powers.”
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said Washington strongly opposed settlement activity. “Steps aimed at advancing the Israeli settlement program ... are fundamentally incompatible with the two-state solution and raise legitimate questions about Israel’s longterm intentions,” Power told the council. About 550,000 Jewish settlers live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, according to Israeli government and thinktank statistics. About 350,000 Palestinians live in East Jerusalem and 2.7 million in West Bank. Riyad Mansour, the chief Palestinian delegate at the United Nations, called on the Security Council take action against Israeli settlements. “It must involve measures by all states and go beyond not rendering aid or assistance to holding Israel accountable for its actions,” Mansour said.
Page 26
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Private investors show confidence in Jamaica economy, official says KINGSTON, Jamaica – Co-Chair of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC), Richard Byles, says there are indications that private investors are buying into the local economy, as the country continues to reflect economic improvements. “If you speak to manufacturers, they will tell you that they are investing. Confidence has come back pretty strongly in recent times,” he said. Byles was responding to questions on the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) television programme, ‘Issues & Answers’. He also encouraged more Jamaican business owners and corporate entities to invest, particularly in the tourism sector, adding that there is opportunity for the Jamaican government to drive further investment in this area. “We need more and I think that the Government can do more to introduce and usher Jamaican business people
into that area,” Byles said. Meanwhile, the EPOC CoChair, pointed out that all the macro-economic indicators continue to be positive. “The debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is better, the current account is better, inflation is lower, and employment is better. Everything that you can factually assess the economy on, is better,” he noted. Byles said he believes the Jamaican public, especially those on the North Coast and in the western parishes, are beginning to experience the benefits of the economic improvements achieved through the Government’s Economic Reform Programme (ERP). He said this is evident in the 80 per cent occupancy of hotels in those areas, as well as in the fact that some 18,000 persons have been hired in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector. Some 2,000 hotel rooms have
also been refurbished and added to the tourism product, and others are under construction. “People can see that something is happening…I think that even in the Kingston area, people are beginning to see some small green shoots that the economic programme that we are on is producing some results,” Byles said. At an EPOC press briefing on January 15, it was revealed that measured against the Government’s budget, the country produced a Primary Surplus of J$55.8 billion (US$465.3 million), compared to a budget of J$50.5 billion (US$421.1 million) for the fiscal year to November. The Net International Reserve as at the end of December, stood at US$2.44 billion, which is US$800 million in excess of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) target of US$1.64 billion for the end of December. (Caribbean360)
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 27
NICIL sells prime lands to Nat’l Hardware at $5M per acre …demanded $24M per acre from other company By Abena Rockcliffe More information has surfaced about how Former President Bharrat Jagdeo secured wealth and assets for his friends at the expense of the state. Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) could have been in a better position if only it was allowed to go ahead with certain plans, said an official. However, those plans were halted on the call of Jagdeo while he was President. He had eyed GuySuCo lands for his friends. A former GuySuCo Chairman, who spoke to Kaieteur News on condition of anonymity, said that under his tenure, there was a “fully functioning” Land Committee. That committee, he said, would look at each application for GuySuCo lands on individual merit. He said that back then lands were sold and some were gifted but in a very trans-
parent manner. Those gifted were to religious bodies and sometimes charitable organizations. That Chairman added that the lands used for the development of Diamond Housing Scheme were from GuySuCo. “We gifted wisely and we were able to contribute to the development of Guyana.” The Chairman said that things started to change after the PPP Administration started to have a direct say as to what should be documented as lands “gifted.” NICIL was subsequently given responsibility to sell GuySuCo lands. Kaieteur News understands that the development of such a culture resulted in much losses for GuySuCo. In just one instance GuySuCo was deprived of making over US$20M just because, according to the former Chairman, “We were told the President had other plans for a plot of land.” GuySuCo was getting
Eddie Boyer ready to seal a lucrative deal through the sale of just over 100 acres of land at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, to Housing Construction Limited but the process was halted by the Jagdeo government. Housing Construction Limited is a Trinidadian Company. A top GuySuCo official at the time, said, “The government was very much aware
that we were getting ready to sell and it is because of that they decided to take the lands.” A document titled Privatization in Tables Phase 11 (1993 to 2011) shows that those lands were basically gifted to Eddie Boyer. Boyer is the owner of National Hardware and a friend of Jagdeo’s. The document was prepared by NICIL Director, Winston Brassington. Page 38 of that document, item 61, showed that Boyer under the name of his company, National Hardware was sold 103.88 acres for $510M (US2.55M)—$4.9M per acre. The document showed that other buyers of land in Liliendaal paid way more than Boyer paid. Scady Business Corp. paid $115M for 4.7 acres — $23M per acre. Even though the circu m s t a n c e s s u r rounding that sale are questionable, Boyer was essentially handed the lands at a gift price. The transactions were also flagged in the NICIL audit report done by Chartered Accountant and Former Au-
ditor General, Anand Goolsarran. Goolsarran, in his report, said that “By order No. 45 of 2008 dated 29 December 2008, 209.344 acres of land at Block LPT lettered XXX were transferred from GuySuCo to the government of Guyana. Of this amount, 103.88 acres were transferred to NICIL via order No. 4/2010 dated 12 March 2010. Three months later, on 17 June 2010, NICIL sold the said land to National Hardware for $510M via order No. 43 of 2010. This works out to 4.9M per acre. He noted too, “By order No. 47/2008 dated 30 December 2008 4.7 acres of land at RU Plantation Liliendaal was transferred from the Government of Guyana to NICIL. NICIL in turn sold the property on 2 January 2009, a mere two days later, for $115 M to Scady Business Corporation, an overseas company based in Tortola, British Virgin Islands . This is further evidence of the sale of land without any form of competitive bidding.” Contacted yesterday, Boyer denied that he was given a favorable deal.
Presented with the information about the purchase deal, and asked to comm e n t , B o y e r ’s f i r s t r e sponse was, “When? What? Boyer then told Kaieteur News that the price was the “highest price ever paid for land in Guyana.” He added, “This was a piece of property that was advertised in your newspapers. It was advertised in the Kaieteur News, Stabroek News, Chronicle or whoever and I was a bidder for that property. That is all you have to know. If you want you can go back and check, simple. It was advertised.” Asked how much he paid, Boyer replied, “Why must I tell you how much I paid for the land? It does not have to be public knowledge. It was government land; GuySuCo or whoever sold the land can tell you.” Further, Boyer asked, “Why should I disclose how much? Tell me why should I.” Boyer told Kaieteur News that he was the only bidder for the land. “I got it and that was the end of that.”
(From page 25) all that we may need is just the supplies and we can deal with that,” said Dr. Adu-Krow. His remarks were forthcoming as he addressed Guyana’s limited capabilities to test for viruses such as H1N1 and Zika. The Ministry of Public Health, through support from CARPHA, was able to confirm at least one case of each virus here. While the H1N1 case was believed to have been imported, the Zika case was confirmed in a female who hadn’t travelled overseas during the infectious period. Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, on Monday disclosed that no additional cases of either of the viruses have been found in these parts. There are, however samples that have been sent to CARPHA for testing. Following the detection of the viruses the capabilities of the National Public Health Reference
Laboratory was called into question. At the moment the local laboratory has capacity to test for the H1N1 virus to a limited extent. This translates to the ability to ascertain whether a blood sample tested contains influenza A or B viruses. Influenza A viruses are known to cause influenza in birds and some mammals and could be transmitted to humans while Influenza B is a type of flu virus that can cause respiratory, fever and stomach symptoms. “Right now our lab can only take us to the point of deciding whether it is influenza A or B. A is the one that causes H1N1, but the actual typing needs a further test which we will try to work on as time goes by,” Dr. Persaud had related in an earlier interview. He however revealed that efforts are currently being made to build capacity.
“They are actually putting together a list of what can be done...there were some capacity built for Chikungunya and we did receive the kits, but they were not compatible with some of the machines we had and that was a setback for us,” the CMO admitted. “Hopefully we will get that right and set things in motion,” said Dr. Persaud. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad has been helping Guyana with the majority of its testing needs. This is due to the fact, Dr. Persaud said that testing for the Zika virus and a few others are particularly challenging for the national laboratory. “These require a little bit more advanced testing with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methodology,” the CMO asserted. Although PCR testing capabilities is available at the national laboratory, Dr. Persaud disclosed that the expertise does not.
Demerara Harbour Bridge gets better traffic management PAHO prepared to help... Better traffic management by ranks of the Guyana Police Force traffic department at the Demerara Harbour Bridge is resulting in easier commuting to and from Georgetown to West Bank Demerara. Commuters do not now have to worry of being ‘cut in front of’ by other vehicles after a long wait in the line to cross the bridge. In the early morning hours, primarily between 06:30 hrs and 08:30 hrs, the lines at the approach to the Bridge have been extremely long; because while some drivers wait in the traffic for almost an hour if not more, others disregard the traffic regulations and laws and bully their way to the front. This creates an even larger
buildup of traffic during peak hours at the bridge. Commuters are now experiencing some measure of relief as this situation has been addressed by traffic ranks, who work within the catchment area. Using new strategies to better manage the traffic flow, the ranks are now implementing road blocks to close off the entrance to the bridge, leaving only one lane open to the flow of traffic for vehicles approaching the intersection from the Versailles end. Traffic is also diverted through the ‘Old Road’ at La Grange that leads to the bridge. This has contributed significantly to the reduction in the level of confusion and frustration for commuters.
Due to the increasing number of vehicles on the road, the lines are still long; but the waiting time has been reduced. Commuters are crossing the bridge in a more orderly and hassle-free manner. Earlier in the month, during the launch of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Company’s wireless link with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson related to Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud the complaints of the commuters. In less than two weeks after this issue was brought to the Commissioner’s attention, the situation has been addressed.
Page 28
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 27, 2016
OAS poll observer urges Haiti to reorganise vote
Haitian police patrol the street during a protest in Port-au-Prince. (Photo: AFP) PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP) — The head of the Organisation of American States’ poll observers in Haiti on Monday urged the country’s political camps to get behind efforts to stage an election. The impoverished Caribbean state had been due to elect a successor to President Michel Martelly in a secondround run-off vote on Sunday, but polling was called off. Opposition activists had taken to the street claiming Martelly and his foreign backers are bent on rigging the poll in favor of his chosen candidate. Martelly is constitutionally prohibited from standing for re-election himself and his legal term in office ends on February 7, when he had hoped to hand over power. His favored candidate, the previously little-known Jovenel Moise, won October’s first round race with around a third of the vote and remains the favorite. But opposition flagbearer Jude Celestin was close behind and refused to campaign ahead of Sunday’s planned vote, alleging the government was working against him. The international community, especially the United States — which contributed millions of dollars to try to ensure a smooth transition — was dismayed. But Celso Amorim, the Brazilian diplomat leading the Organisation of American States’ observer mission — appealed for compromise from both sides. “The Provisional Elec-
toral Council (CEP) told us the decision to postpone was for security reasons,” he told AFP in an interview. “But obviously, even if that wasn’t the reason given, I think an un-competitive selection with a single candidate, would have been very problematic, even if it could have been technically legitimate.” Celestin’s decision to boycott what he dubbed “a selection, not an election” is seen as having stirred the anger of the protesters who burned polling stations. “Legitimacy and popular assent for the new executive would have been very weak and that would have caused problems that would have been difficult to face,” Amorim said. “A power vacuum can provoke violence and generate a vicious circle,” he warned. “I hope we can at least get to the minimum consensus needed to elect representatives with broader legitimacy.” In the run-up to the failed vote, Haiti’s numerous political factions and stakeholder groups held intense discussions to find a way out of crisis. But Amorim fears the spirit of compromise was lacking in a country with a patchy history of electoral politics. “I don’t know all the details but I sense, from what I’ve read and heard, that there was an effort to negotiate a way forward,” he said. “Were we able to involve all the players that should have taken part in this dialogue? I can’t say. “Important figures from
the economic and political realms were involved, and I think they had this hope,” he added. “That’s democracy: To understand that one can’t have everything one wants. You must recognize others, make concessions. “As this country has known very long periods of dictatorship, it’s hard. You need a spirit of reconciliation. “I’m moderately optimistic — going by what I’m hearing — but I’m not sure we’ll succeed.” A UN stabilization mission has been in Haiti for 12 years and critics of the international presence say the abandoned poll proves it has failed. But Amorim said not all the blame could be left at the United Nations’ door. “One can’t and shouldn’t do the Haitians dirty for them.” he argued. “They need to understand what is needed for democracy: pluralism, different viewpoints, respect for others and fair elections. “You can’t impose that from outside. You can only ensure favorable conditions to encourage it. “I think Haiti lacks confidence. What can the international community do? The police can prevent crime but can’t make people love on another. “The OAS is not here to support the opposition or the government,” he said. “The problem is one of credibility and only the Haitian people can judge that — not the OAS, the United States or the European Union.”
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
GCB/Banks DIH/Digicel NSSCL
Martins’ 5 wicket haul leads Hope Secondary to victory A definitive spell of spin bowling by Cordel Martins guided Hope Secondary to victory over Bygeval while Cummings Lodge, Annadale and La Bonne Intention Secondary Schools also recorded victories when the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) sponsored by Bank’s DIH’ Coco Cola, Rainforest Water and Digicel continued on Monday. Playing at Fairfield ground Mahaica, Hope Secondary batting first was dismissed for 85 in 20 overs. The only batsman to offer any resistance was Rovin Ramsarup with 27. Doing the damage for Bygeval was Shoaib Shaw who claimed 3-22. Bygeval in reply squandered a good chance of victory along and the right to represent the Mahaica Zone in the second stage of the competition. Their batsmen were bamboozled by Cordel Martins who bowled with excellent control to take 5-12.
His spell broke the backbone of Bygeval limp run chase. Martins was ably supported by Gopaul Applesammy with 4-18 as Bygeval folded for 70 in 18.2 overs. Over at the Enterprise ground, Cummings Lodge came up against Plaisance which batted first and found the going tough as they were bowled for 70 in just 10 overs. Trion Hendricks top scored with eleven (11). Bowling for Cummings Lodge, Heranjan Ori took 523 from 3 overs. Cummings Lodge in reply reached 71-2 to win by 8 wickets. Rohit Balkarran and Shamar Payne took one wicket each. In another East Coast Demerara District match, Annandale took on International Business School (IBE). IBE batting first could only manage 103 off 20.4 overs. Avinash Ramsaywack top scored with 19 while Kendard Amsterdam contributed with
11. Tameshawar Motiram grabbed 4-15, Ayube Sammy 2-24 and Damuko Nguend 225. Annandale in reply reached 104-7 off 26.4 overs. Mike Persaud made 23, while Punishwar Amsook chipped in with 15. Bowling IBE, Damul Motto had 2-16 and Kendard Amsterdam 231.La Bonne Intention (LBI) took on IPE, the latter batting first and could only manage 54 in 19.2 overs. Ravin Singh led with 17. Bowling for LBI, Kumar Persaud snared 5-31 and Nandkumar Krishna 3-22. LBI in response coasted to 56-2 in 7.3 overs. Nandkumar made 23. Bowling for IPE Arvin Singh and Aryan Sookbarran took one wicket apiece. Hope Secondary will now face Mahaicony Secondary on Friday at the Fairfield ground while in the capital city, Chase Academy takes on St Joseph’s High at Everest ground from 10:00hrs and Linden Foundation play Dora Secondary at Bayroc.
Wednesday January 27, 2016 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) You will enjoy interacting with those who come from different backgrounds. Your intellectual wit will bring greater popularity with your peers.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You can look around for the right place and enlist some of your friends to help you move. Be careful if a friend asks you for advice.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) You can accomplish a lot if you deal with other people's money or possessions today.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You haven't been totally honest with yourself and it's time to review your motives. Group endeavors will provide you with entertainment.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You mustn't make promises that you won't be able to keep. Be careful not to come on too strongly. Try to channel your energy into physical work. CANCER (June 21–July 22) You could overreact to emotional situations regarding your relationship. You must not make unnecessary changes today. LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Partnerships may be strained if one of you has been erratic and hard to deal with. You should try to elaborate on an idea you have regarding a product or service for the home. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Travel will be to your advantage; however, it might be expensive. Go out with friends and avoid the situation on the home front.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) Sudden romantic connections may be short lived. Your personal situation is fluctuating. Take care that arrangements to spend quality time together are made in advance. CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Interaction with colleagues will only be upsetting. Children will be of major concern if you haven't kept the lines of communication open. Make amends if you can. AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) This will not be the best day to initiate change. You can make a difference if you offer your help at functions that involve children. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You are best to stick to basics. Work on getting ahead by picking up added skills.
Page 29
Virat Kohli inspires India to T20 victory over Australia in series opener in Adelaide India took a 1-0 lead in their three-match Twenty20 series against Australia with a comfortable 37-run victory at the Adelaide Oval. Fireworks lit up the Adelaide night sky to mark Australia day, but it was India’s Virat Kohli who provided the batting pyrotechnics with his highest score in international T20 cricket. Kohli provided the bedrock of India’s 188 for three with nine fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 55-ball 90. Australian’s attack was led by Shaun Tait, making his first T20 appearance since the 2011 World Cup, but India flourished with the
bat throughout. Rohit Sharma saw them off to a flier with 31 from 20 balls before Shane Watson struck twice in his first over. Watson finished with figures of two for 24 from his four overs but Kohli and Suresh Raina, who made 41 from 34 balls, shared a thirdwicket partnership of 134 to turn the tide India’s way. Despite losing the hardhitting David Warner (17) to T20 debutant Jasprit Bumrah, Australia were in the hunt to chase down the target at 89 for one in the ninth over. However, in the space of three balls, Steve Smith (21) chipped Ravindra Jadeja to Kohli at mid-off and Aaron
Finch fell for 44 attempting to sweep Ravichandran Ashwin after hitting four fours and two sixes. Australia lost wickets at regular intervals after that with Chris Lynn (17), Watson (12) and James Faulkner (10) failing to build on promising starts. India’s bowlers shared the wickets around with Bumrah finishing with three for 23 and Ashwin, Jadeja and Hardik Pandya picking up two apiece. Australia were finally dismissed for 151 with three balls of their innings remaining as India sent out a powerful statement ahead of the forthcoming T20 World Cup.
2016 Getting revved up for the... (From page 31) any given race, the Maloney’s (Mark, Stuart, Sean) are always in the thick of things. Last years’ reigning champion in the Radical Cup is Sean and he certainly has picked up where he left off and shows no sign of slowing down. It’s too bad that the podium positions cannot be extended from the current three. Because, Radical SR3 RS sports racers series will be exciting to watch. You need not blink or you might miss a lot of the action because these racers are so quick. They are bound to set lap records and re-set lap records because these competitors will be pushing each other. After the first day, Sean Maloney was the clear cut leader. However, ‘new-comer’ Calvin Ming was hot on the trail for the top step of the podium. The days’ action saw a ding dong battle not just between these two competitors but, amongst the majority of the entrants. Then, came day two, Calvin Ming was clearly ahead of the competition. If not for a controversial start, he would’ve claimed a hat-trick by winning the three races albeit, not by much margin but, nonetheless a win is a win. This series will come down to the drivers and who can minimize the mistakes. That will spell success. Don’t be surprised if the title comes down to the very last weekend of action otherwise, there is a chance that one driver might run away with the overall title. The cars are relatively equal so; the title might be determined by the driving and should come down to the driver with the most skill with-
out any luck. Rookie in the SR3 RS series, Calvin Ming has already shown that he has what it takes to claim the title but, he will have a battle from the competitors especially the Maloney’s. But, the overall winners will come from the spectators! Both of these series will prove how valuable team work is in order for a successful season. Typically, spectators are under the belief that
it’s all about the driver. But, as it’s been proven by the winners’ thus, far. They have all given credit to their respective team (crew). Without proper preparation, a lot is at stake. No driver would ever want to lose a race because their crew overlooked something that is vital for success. Every member of a crew is responsible for their specialty. This is the formula for a successful season.
Page 30
Australian Open 2016 Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova for the 18th time in a row to reach the Australian Open semi-finals. The defending champion, seeded number one and chasing a 22nd Grand Slam title, saw off fifth seed
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Serena beats Sharapova - Djokovic & Federer through Sharapova 6-4 6-1 at Melbourne Park. The world number one, who has not lost to Sharapova in 12 years, now faces fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska. In the men’s draw, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will meet in the semi-finals after straight-set victories.
Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam champion who has won the tournament four times, beat Tomas Berdych 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-4, while top seed and defending champion Djokovic saw off Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-2 6-4. Sharapova made it a real contest for almost an hour but
Roger Federer eventually buckled under the American’s power. Williams, 34, appeared to struggle with her ball toss in the morning sunshine on Rod Laver Arena as she fell 2-0 down. The intensity ratcheted up as the set progressed, with both players repeatedly yelling “Come on!” as they tried to grab the initiative. Sharapova, 28, held on valiantly in an eight-minute game to claw her way back to 4-4, but the pressure told in game 10 and Williams clinched the set at the fourth opportunity with a volley. The world number one called for the doctor at the changeover but powered on stronger than ever in the second set, making it 12 games out of 15 as she sealed victory after one hour and 32 minutes. ”It was super intense,” said Williams. “She’s an incredibly intense and focused player who was world number one. “When you’re playing someone so great you have to come out with a lot of fire and intensity.” Sharapova was equally effusive about Williams. “She’s at a different level. She makes you work. That’s inspiring.” Radwanska earlier
Williams defeated Sharapova beat Spanish 10th seed Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-3 to reach her second Melbourne semi-final in three years. Federer reaches 12th Melbourne semi-final Federer had been beaten by Berdych in their past two meetings at Grand Slams, but had won their past four matches. The Swiss fell behind early in the first and third sets but hit back immediately both times and was dominant for the most part on serve. The 34-year-old then made a fast start to the opening-set tie-break and was in control from then on, breaking twice in the second set and making the decisive move at 4-4 in the third. “Tomas has caused me a lot of problems over the years, but it’s been a pleasure playing against him,” said Federer. “He’s the type of player who makes you better.” Djokovic, chasing a sixth Australian Open title, lost just nine games as he eased past Japan’s Nishikori. The world number seven beat Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals in 2014 but he failed to make the same impact in Melbourne. Inconsistency with his
returns and a niggling leg problem saw Nishikori lose his serve six times overall and Djokovic wrapped up the victory in two hours and seven minutes. After the match, the Serb was asked about his 45th meeting with Federer, saying: “We keep playing each other in nearly every big t o u r n a m e n t . ”It’s always a big challenge. You don’t need to spend words on his achievements he is a great champion and someone I have a lot of respect for. It will be a great match.” Murray marches on in doubles Britain’s Jamie Murray reached the semi-finals of the men’s doubles with new Brazilian partner Bruno Soares. They beat 13th seeds Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram, conquerors of six-times champions the Bryan brothers, 6-7 (3) 6-4 7-6 (3). Murray, the older brother of Andy, and Soares face French duo Adrian Mannarino and Lucas Pouille in the last four after they surprised top seeds JeanJulien Rojer and Horia Tecau in three sets. (BBCsport)
WICB grants four Masters NOC St. John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has so far granted four No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for players who are slated to play in the inaugural Masters Champion League (MCL). The MCL is an approved tournament of the International Cricket Council and is set to run from tomorrow to Saturday, February 13 in the United Arab Emirates. For players to be eligible,
they should have retired from international cricket and so far Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tino Best, Fidel Edwards and Krishmar Santokie have written to the Board indicating they have retired. The players are however still eligible to compete for their respective Franchises in their member countries, regional tournaments and other worldwide leagues. The exception from this list is Edwards, who is a Kolpak
player, having opted to play for Hampshire in the UK, he gave up his right to play for his member country. He would therefore have to apply to participate as an overseas player for any regional tournament. CEO of the WICB, Michael Muirhead stated that “We wish for a successful tournament and we hope the opportunity for all the players prove valuable.” (WICB)
Omesh XI, Wolf’s Warriors, Speedboat... (From page28) February 7th along with a show involving two local Chutney Singers and dancers to compliment the cricket. The organizers have partnered with Galaxy 21 Communications along with The Caribbean Voice to ensure a quality day at the Tuschen ground.
Fans will be targeted with information on suicide awareness. Chow Pow will be hosting the day’s activities. Security and parking will be provided for patrons and West Demerarians are asked to come out in their numbers to support their game. The music will be provided by Slingerz and their will lots of
food and drinks will be available. Mobile Wizard will be in attendance and there will be lots of giveaways, with already six cell phones up for grabs by patrons in addition to t-shirts, credit and g-shock watches. Players can win USD for their performances.
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 31
Red-hot Rabada routs feeble England Kagiso Rabada completed a dream sequence with 13 wickets in the match as South Africa thumped England by 280 runs in the final Test at Centurion. England won the series 21, and can claim the bragging rights, but South Africa have their first Test win in 10 outings and evidence that the future is not necessarily as bleak as has been suggested. South Africa’s victory was a convincing one, a splendid recovery after their defeats in Durban and Johannesburg. Most pride of all will come in the feat of Rabada, only the third South African to take so many wickets in a Test, following Makhaya Ntini and Hugh Tayfield. He finished with 13 for 145 in the match, pronouncing that he has the capability to become the inspiration in South Africa’s attack for many years to come. From the start of their innings, England’s task was to try to bat long and hope that South Africa’s attack fell apart in front of their eyes. Kyle Abbott was carrying a hamstring, Rabada had borne a heavy workload and the unpredictability of Morne Morkel meant that he might go haywire if left to carry the pace bowling alone. With only three seamers, backed by the offspinner Dane Piedt, their threat might be neutered, even on a sur-
face of variable bounce. It all proved a hollow theory. Little went right for England for the outset. They lost three wickets in 21 overs on the fourth evening and capsized completely on the final morning, their last seven wickets disappearing for 49 runs in 13.4 overs. It is fair to suggest that they made no concerted attempt to save the match. This enterprising England side is a batting line-up of great extremes, committed to a positive approach which can produce thrilling cricket but which also comes close to an abdication of responsibility in times of hardship. There was talk among spectators of Cape Town 2010 when England began the final day three down and saved the match at 296 for 9 thanks to plucky backs-to-the-wall resistance from Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood. From the moment that Joe Root edged his first ball of the day, from Piedt, past the flailing gloves of the wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock that possibility seemed non-existent. In Centurion 2016 they did not even quite make it to the first drinks break. South Africa had shrewdly given the first over to Abbott - an on-field fitness test in an attempt to gauge the level of his contribution for the battle ahead. One trundling over was enough to in-
Kagiso Rabada ©Gallo Images dicate he was unlikely to be a figure of heroic deeds. Morkel replaced him and struck with his sixth ball, making the ball rear sharply at James Taylor who fended to the keeper. Bounce is one of Morkel’s greatest assets and he has always felt he could expose a player as short of stature as Taylor: this was how he imagined it would be. Root was not attuned to the challenge. Shot-making has become central to his game as he has become one of the most prolific No. 4s in Test history, but there seemed little reason to be tempted into a drive at Piedt in the following over, the resulting edge flying to first slip. Jonny Bairstow avoided a pair; Ben Stokes needed strapping around his chest after being struck by Morkel.
Both were committed to attack. England had a chancy feel about them. Bairstow managed to get out twice in successive balls. Rabada overstepped for the first, as Bairstow hacked at a wide outswinger to be caught at slip, then the batsmen edged again, a more conservative push this time, de Kock taking the catch. The daftest shot fell to Stokes - the Man of the Series, often an inspiration with bat, bowl and in the field, but daft all the same as he pulled a short one from Morkel to deep square leg. More than any other England batsman, attacking cricket is in his nature, but he had been suckered. And so it went on. Another go-down-guns-blazing swing of the bat, this time from Chris Woakes, another wicket for the silky-smooth Rabada. In his next over, Rabada rounded things off with wickets in successive balls, Stuart Broad beaten on the drive and James Anderson lbw first ball to a leg stump yorker. What a Test he has had. What expectations, at only 20, he must bear. ”Sometimes what you say makes no difference,” said Alastair Cook. “We are nowhere near the finished article.” He sounded like a captain whose speech had fallen on deaf ears. As England posed happily for the team photo, series victors, there
Warriors, rival Spurs highlight NBA’s international flair International talent has turned from novelty to necessity in the National Basketball Association and that shift was on display in Monday’s clash between two of the league’s best teams. When the defending champion and league-leading Golden State Warriors hosted the San Antonio Spurs, the game featured players from seven countries. The Warriors, aided by centers Andrew Bogut of Australia and Festus Ezeli of Nigeria, cruised to a lopsided 120-90 win over a Spurs squad that includes French point guard Tony Parker and Argentine veteran guard Manu Ginobili. The contest highlighted the outsize impact international players now have on the NBA, which for the second consecutive season boasts 100 or more players from overseas. For scouts savvy enough to spot them, international players can offer great skill and less hype than top U.S. prospects and give teams a key edge as they try to amass as much talent as possible while adhering to
Golden State Warriors Festus Ezeli salary restrictions. ”If you can get a player who is undervalued, you are getting performance in excess of contract, and that’s kind of the name of the game,” said Robert Boland, director of the graduate sports management program at Ohio University. ”I don’t need to be a great player - I need to be a costeffective good player.” NBA teams have long pulled from overseas, but international recruits were few and far between, and teams struggled to incorporate them into their lineups. But around the time of German forward Dirk Nowitzki’s
arrival in 1998, the NBA found a reliable source of talent in European players, and their presence has steadily grown. “I was like the first European point guard to make it,” San Antonio’s Parker told reporters earlier this month. “So now it’s a lot different because you have 50 to 60 European players, 100 international players, so the game has been growing a lot and it’s great for basketball.” No NBA team has exploited the talent pool better than the Spurs, whose lineup includes four international players, plus five-time NBA champion Tim Duncan, who hails from the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Warriors have taken a page from their rival’s playbook, with three international players on their roster. And they play an upbeat, European style of basketball, heightening the international flair. The New York Knicks found the season’s hottest new star in Kristaps Porzingis, a 20-year-old forward from Latvia taken fourth
overall in last year’s NBA Draft. Porzingis has made an immediate impact on the Knicks, who have won more games in the first half of the 2015-16 season than they did the year before he joined. The dawn of the international NBA can be traced back to the U.S.’s “Dream Team” that won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics behind the dominant play of Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Magic J o h n s o n . That team inspired future standouts like Parker, Ginobili, and Nowitzki, who were just kids in their respective countries at the time. As the 2016 Rio Olympics nears, those players are all edging closer to retirement but there’s a long line of internationals waiting to replace them. And the NBA is poised to profit once again, Boland said. ”A great Olympic tournament is beneficial for all basketball, and the NBA stands to benefit as much as anyone because it has the biggest ship in the water,” he said. (Reuters)
should have been some guilt mixed in with the deserved celebrations to follow. South Africa 475 (De Kock 129*, Cook 115, Amla 109, Stokes 4-86) and 248 for 5
dec (Amla 96, Bavuma 78*) beat England 342 (Root 76, Cook 76, Moeen 61, Rabada 7-112) and 101 (Rabada 632) by 280 runs. (ESPNcricinfo)
Page 32
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 27, 2016
GDF athletes rewarded for stellar performances throughout 2015 Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Mark Phillips, yesterday rewarded members of the GDF Athletics team for the delivery of consistent and sterling performances during 2015; in particular, for retaining the Inter-Services Annual Athletics Championship (ISAAC) title. Brigadier General Philips congratulated the athletes, their Coaches, and the team’s Management for the teams’ outstanding performance
during 2015 including ISAAC 2015. “All of you gave of your best. You trained and dedicated yourselves to delivering the victory for the Force even when the odds were against you. I am proud of you, the entire GDF is proud of you, even the past members including Chiefs of Staffs are proud of you!” he said. “As we recognise your sterling performances and award you this incentive, I encourage you to continue
training. Continue to commit yourselves to excellence as the 2016 edition of the ISAAC, will present challenges but I expect you to be victorious. I am also hopeful that some of our athletes will qualify for the Olympics this year,” he said. “You are aware, swimming was added to last year’s ISAAC and in our preparations this year, a Swimming Coach will be hired to boost our representation in this field. This is not only to en-
hance our performance at the Joint Services Championship, but also to have swimmers compete at various local and regional competitions.” Recognition for the outstanding performances were also noted, and the athletes who gained special mention for their ISAAC performances were: Champion Fe-
male, Recruit Natrena Hooper; Runner Up Champion Female, Recruit Aniqua Powley; Runner Up Champion Male, Petty Officer Leslain Bai r d ; C h a m p i o n M a l e Swimmer, Corporal Noel Culpepper; Recruit Damon Williams, who broke the Triple Jump record; Reservist Tenesha Cort, who broke
the Javelin and Discus records; 100m Champion, Lance Corporal Akeem Stewart; 800m Champion, Reservist Wayne Harlequin; Long Distance Champion, Recruit Andrea Foster, and, Sergeant Tyshon Bentick who placed second and third in the 5000m and the 1500m respectively.
Mobile Wizard 10/10 Softball Cricket
Omesh XI, Wolf’s Warriors, Speedboat and Power XI thru to semis The Mobile Wizard 10/10 Softball Cricket tournament organised by the Guyana Softball League has reached the semi final stage with the following teams qualifying: Omesh XI, Wolf’s Warriors, Speedboat SC and Power XI. The tournament which is also being sponsored by Trophy Stall, Wolf’s Furniture Store, Rohan’s Furniture Establishment, Miss Love (West Coast), Imtiaz and Imran Hack saw the most exciting action as the determination shown by all the teams must be commended along with the faithful fans. The Master’s match also saw the game going back and forth as they set the pace for excitement in the preceding matches. The results are as follows: West Coast Blazers versus Parika Defenders: Parika Defenders won the toss and batted scoring a challenging 111-9 in their 10 overs with Devanand Khanan 45 (4x6;3x4) and Bisham Singh 41 (5x6;1x4) being the top scorers. The wickets were shared among the Blazers bowlers with Mohamed Saffie taking 4-25 and Leonard Harprashad 3-18 from 2 overs. The Defenders thought that was enough to take the game but Blazers had other ideas and replied with 115 -3 in 9.2 overs with Arnold Padmore 37 not out (3x6;2x4) and Mohamed Timur Saffie 30 not out (3x6;1x4) in an unbroken partnership of 55 to take the victory. Rambarran Rhambarose took 2-19 from 2 overs bowling for Defenders. Wolf’s Warriors easily defeated Vipers XI by 42 runs: Wolf’s Warriors won the toss and batted scoring a massive 132-9 in 10 overs with Amrit “Rocky” Rai 37 (2x6;1x4) and Lincoln Leander 29 not out (3x6;1x4). Bowling for Vipers were Akram Hussain 3-24 and Arif Hussain 2-18 the chief wicket takers. Vipers XI in reply were off to a terrible start and were always under pressure ending on 90-9 in 10 overs
Trevus Drakes opens his arms during his innings against Crossbreed Warriors.
with Vikash Totaram 23(3x6) being the principal scorer. The bowlers for the Warriors were in top form and Narine Bailey with 3-20 led the way. Omesh XI demolished Crossbreed Warriors by 44 runs: Omesh XI took first turn at the crease and rattled up the highest score of the evening with 162-2 in 10 overs with Richard Adams scoring a belligerent 81 not out, laced with nine sixes and three fours, Trevus Drakes supported with 43 (5x6;1x4). Crossbreed Warriors replied with 118 all out in 9.1 overs with the top scorer being Narine Shaw with 62 (8x6; 1x4). Marky Jabbar with 3-18 from his two overs with support from Trevus Drakes with 3-14, putting in a good all round performance. Speedboat SC hammered Settle XI 10 wickets: Settle XI batted first and scored 88-8 with skipper Nazim Azeem scoring 32 (3x6;1x4) in the face of some accurate bowling from Greg Singh, 2-7 from 2 overs and Wazir Hussain 2-12 off his two overs. Kishore Smith also chipped in with 2-16 from his two overs. Settle XI hit off the required total. Power XI upset Leonora Youths by 7 wickets: Leonora Youths were inserted and scored 79 in 8.5 overs with Imtiaz Hack being
the only batter to enter double figures with 27 (2x6;1x4). The bowling of Power XI were right on target with Aaron Deodass taking 2-16. Power XI started their reply like a bullet Train, taking 39 from an over from Harrynarine Dhanraj. They ended on 84-3 in 7 overs with Ravi Lalldeo, opening the batting, scoring a magnificent 78 not out (6x6; 6x4). Hemendra Kowlesssar took 2-3 in one over bowling for Leonora. Wellwoman XI defeated Lady Jags by 55 runs: Wellwoman batted first and scored 159-2 in 10 overs with Zola Telford 96 not out (9x6; 4x4); Monique Benn 33 (1x6; 4x4) in an excellent display. Beverly Nedd took 223 for the Jags. Lady Jags, under pressure from having to score at a high run rate, could only muster 94-4 in 10 overs with Lisa Gilkes 43 not out (2x6; 3x4). Meanwhile, the one ball manto moves onto the final day and the fans can have a feel out in the middle by challenging their partners for a top prize of $60,000 dollars. The entertainment by Granny Ivelaw and company was exhilarating and the dancing girls wooed the large crowd assembled as they enjoyed every moment of it. The Semi-finals and Finals are slated for Sunday (Continued on page 26)
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
EBFA U-17 League
Grove retain crown with 4-2 triumph over Soesdyke; Herstelling claim third
Mr. Indar Jaigobin, Marketing Assistant of Continental Agencies Limited hands over the Fair Play Plaque to Soesdyke Falcons Captain Tyrone Khan. At right is club President, Roxanne Dey. Grove underlined their dominance at the Under-17 level on the East Bank when they romped to their second title in as many years, a 4-2 triumph over Soesdyke Falcons in the final of 2015 tournament which was contested on Sunday last at the Grove Playfield, Grove, East Bank Demerara. Led by double from Nickolai Matthews, Grove overcame Soesdyke Falcons for the second time in the competition - first time by a 4-1 margin – to lift the championship trophy apart from claiming all the individual awards. Herstelling Raiders took home the third place trophy without breaking a sweat as their opponent, Mocha Champs, failed to show up for the match. The confident Grove unit, enjoying home support never doubted their ability to retain the title as the best team at this level on the East Bank. It took the champions thirteen minutes, two more than when the two teams first met to break the deadlock. Nickolai Matthews opened the scoring from the penalty spot to send the champs on their way. Soesdyke, like they did before kept the Grove boys at bay for the remainder of the first half but were not able to avert the goal flow in the final 45 minutes despite hitting back twice as they showed some fight.
Four minutes into the s e c o n d h a l f , G r o v e ’s Captain, Denzil Crawford took matters into his own hands to deliver his side’s second goal of the match and his fifth of the competition to double the advantage. Six minutes later however, Soesdyke, looking more purposeful in the second half forced a penalty which was successfully converted by Tyrone Khan to reduce the deficit by one whilst netting his 6th goal of the competition. Alwyn Haynes scored his fourth goal of the tournament to restore the two goal advantage for Grove in the 73rd minute and the game was placed beyond the reach of Soesdyke two minutes later when Matthews netted his second of the match and his 5th overall. Soesdyke kept on persevering with the hope of scoring more but were only able to score one more through Tevin Marshall in the 78th minute, his 7th of the competition as Grove won the championship match 4-2. Apart from taking the first place trophy and gold medals, Grove swept the individual prizes with Kevin Dalton ending as the Highest Goal Scorer with 9 goals he was also named the league’s Most Valuable P l a y e r. U s h e r J o n e s collected the Best Goalkeeper trophy.
Soesdyke Falcons took home the Fair Play Plaque after being adjudged the most disciplined team during the competition. Marketing and Sales Manager of Continental Agencies Limited, manufacturers of SUNBURST Orange Juice, Mr. Avalon Jagnandan was on hand to witness the final and present prizes to the teams. In remarks following the f i n a l , M r. J a g n a n d a n complimented all the teams for their dedication, discipline and commitment towards making the competition another success. He also congratulated Grove Hi Tech for retaining the winner’s trophy having also won the tournament in 2014 under the CULT Energy Drink brand. ”We at Continental Agencies Limited are pleased to have been associated with this tournament yet again. It is our continued commitment and investment in the development of our young people. We have been making similar investments in other sports and as you know, SUNBURST is the Juice of Champions and you are all champions.” Jagnandan assured that Continental Agencies Limited will continue to invest in the development of the nation’s young people which is the country’s most important asset.
Page 33
Dwayne Bravo replaces Evin Lewis as Unity Cricket showdown draws closer As the eagerly awaited Unity Cricket on Saturday at the Providence Stadium draws closer to game day, PRO of Unity Cricket Sean Devers informed that Dwayne Bravo will replace fellow Trinidadian Evin Lewis in the mega Event. “Dwayne is one of World’s best T20 players and when he said he wanted to come to Guyana for the game we were delighted to accommodate his last minute request,” Devers said. “Sunil Narine has to be in England at the end of this month to have his action tested and his absence will be missed by his fans here, but Bravo’s presence and that of the World Boss Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Darren Sammy, Lindl Simmons and Jason Holder will insure the expected capacity crown on Saturday gets a treat, since those guys are among the best in the world in T20 cricket,” Devers added. The 32-year-old Bravo is a batting all-rounder with lots of Test, ODI and T20 experience and he will strengthen the pace attack of R a m n a r e s h S a r w a n ’s Legacy’s All Stars when they face-off with the 007 Warriors led by West Indies T20 International Chris Barnwell.
Dwayne Bravo (AFP)
A galaxy of overseas and local stars will be on show with game time set for 19:30hrs. Tickets will be sold for $3,000 from today after the ‘early bird’ period expired yesterday. Fans are reminded that no glass bottles, firearms, large coolers or large umbrellas will be allowed into the venue on Saturday. “Children under 12 will be allowed free since we want the entire family to enjoy a day of fun and frolic on the Tarmac which starts from as early as 10:00hrs. The concept of Unity Cricket is to unite Guyanese through sports, regardless of race, religion, political affiliation or social status,” Devers informed. Five softball matches will be played by Berbice Masters and female teams, who will oppose their
Demerara counterparts. And in the contest all softball fans are looking forward to; the semi-finals of the ‘Open 10/10’ between Berbice, Essequibo, Wolf Warriors and Regal. The winner of the semis will clash in the final from 16:30hrs for $500,000. Tickets could be bought at M&Ms near the Demerara Harbour Bridge, Tiyo’s Future Store (Anna Catharina & Parika), A n d r e w ’s P h a r m a c y (S/Ruimveldt) GCC’s bar at Bourda pavilion, Shoppers Pharmacy (Giftland Mall), Lenny’s (Mon Repos) Deb’s bar (E/Coast), Little Rock Hotel (N/Amsterdam) and Poonai’s Pharmacy (Rose Hall Town Berbice) For information on hospitality Booths and concessions call 693-7366, 685-9194 or 600-0007.
Minor League 10/10 Softball Cricket
Leonora remain unbeaten, Windsor Forest get off the mark The Minor League 10/10 Softball Cricket competition organized by the Guyana Softball League continued at Leonora Primary School ground and the home team remained unbeaten as the tempo rose and the quality of play surprised the spectators, as the players for their ages, played with great maturity and understanding of the game. Three more matches were completed over the weekend and the results are as follows: WINDSOR FOREST DEFEATED UITVLUGT BY 6 WICKETS: Uitvlugt lost the toss and were inserted in their first appearance in the tournament, acquiring 65-9 in their ten overs. Anthony Baker with 13 runs (1x6) was the top scorer. Sachin Balgobin with 2-9 and Leonardo Torres 2-8 were the pick of the bowlers. In r e p l y Wi n d s o r F o r e s t
Primary replied with 67-4 in 7.5 overs with Rajiv Arjune blasting 27 (2x6; 1x4). Sachin Balgobin supported with 13 not out (1x6). LEONORA PRIMARY HUMBLED TUSCHEN PRIMARY BY 8 WICKETS: Tuschen Primary batted first and scored 66 all out in 9.5 overs with Renaldo Scot the skipper scoring 18 (2x6). Tuschen took 20 runs off the first over but after Scot was dismissed, bowled by his opposite number Aryan Persaud in the second over, the innings went into a decline. The bowling of Leonora Primary was spearheaded by Aryan Persaud with 3-7 from 2 overs and supported by Ricardo Rampaul with 2-1 in 2 overs. In reply Leonora raced to 67-2 in 5 overs with Skipper Aryan Persaud clobbering 32 not out (2x6; 3x4) in a matured all round
display. TUSCHEN PRIMARY MAULED UITVLUGT BY 9 WICKETS: Uitvlugt Primary being inserted never had a chance and made 73-7 in their 10 overs with Anthony Baker 16(2x4) and Shazim Khadir 15 (2x4) offering some resistance. Rondell Oxford 3-12 and Renaldo Scot with 2-6 were the chief wicket takers. In reply Tuschen Primary raced to 74-1 with Rezekiel Renee blasting his way to 34 not out (3x6;1x4) and ably supported by Alex Ritchie 27 not out (2x4;1x6) in the successful chase. The tournament continues this weekend with Greenwich Park and Den Amstel as well as Meten –Meer- Zorg doing battle. The tournament is being sponsored by Parboo General Store and Rohan Furniture Establishment.
Page 34
Kaieteur News
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Busta/RHTY&SC Champion of Champions 2015
RHT Gizmos and Gadgets trounce Young Warriors to lift title Watched by a capacity crowd at the Area ‘H’ Ground, home team Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets (RHTG&G) led by man-of-the-match and the best batsman Clinton Pestano, made light work of Young Warriors trouncing them by a massive 171 runs to lift the title for the 2015 edition of the Busta Champion of Champions 40-overs cricket Tournament. In brilliant sunshine, RHTG&G which won the toss and elected to bat first got on their way with an opening stand of 34 between openers Khemraj Mahadeo and Delbert Hicks before Mahadeo was dismissed for 14 in the 5th over by medium pacer Seon Hetmeyer. Hicks and Jason Sinclair then added 81 for the next wicket before Hicks was caught at the wicket off pacer Jermin Henry for an attractive 70 (8x4 2x6). Sinclair 33, Rajiv Ivan 42 (7x4) and Pestano 72 (4x4 4x6) all batted well to ensure that the home team reached
an imposing 274 for 7 off their allotted 40 overs. Pestano and Ivan added 81 for the 4th wicket off just 6.3 overs as the visitors bowling struggled for control on a good pitch and lighting fast outfield. B o w l i n g f o r Yo u n g Warriors, Suresh Dhanai and Seon Hetmeyer both took two wickets each. Needing an imposing 275 to win, Young Warriors were rocked in the first over bowled by Pestano, when national junior player Alex Algoo’s (0) middle stump was sent flying. West Indies Under-15 selectee Kevin Sinclair was then trapped LBW by pacer Keon Sinclair for 17 to leave his team at 20 for 2 in the 6th over. The visitors never recovered and were eventually dismissed for 104 in 23.1 overs; only the impressive Waheid Edwards 41 and Suresh Dhanai 21 offered any resistance to a purposeful RHTG&G bowling attack. Off spinner Eon Hooper 3 for 16, Keon Sinclair 3 for
2015 BUSTA Champion of Champions winners Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets pose with Guyana Beverage Inc. CEO Robert Selman (2nd right) and Marketing Manager Shameeza Yadram, left. 21, Pestano 2 for 17 and Shawn Perriera 2 for 19 bowled well for the champions. At the presentation ceremony, R H T Y & S C Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster praised both teams for their example of discipline while underscoring the success of this, the 12th edition of the Tournament. Foster expressed
gratitude to the Management of the Guyana Beverage Inc. for their support over the years, especially General Manager Robert Selman and Marketing Manager Shameeza Yadram. The RHTY&SC would continue to work hard to promote cricket across G u y an a F o s ter n o ted . Selman in an emotional speech stated that the host
club has represented the Busta brand well over the years noting that working with the club was always a privilege. The outgoing General Manager, who would be retiring shortly noted that the tournament has made the Busta brand, a household name in Berbice and expressed his admiration of the club’s discipline and remarkable ability to
successfully organise and host events. The champions took home $100,000 and the beautiful Busta Cup while the runner up received $50,000.00 and trophy. Eon Hooper copped the best bowler award while Wa h e i d E d w a r d s a n d Suresh Dhanai received special prizes for their performance for Young Warriors.
One of Guyana’s best wicketkeepers Milton Pydana turns 66 today By Sean Devers Back in 2014 the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) which was founded in September 1939, inducted six cricketers into their Hall of Fame and one of those players, Milton Pydana was mistakenly described as deceased by the BCB. Pydana, a former Berbice, Guyana and West Indies player who resides in Brooklyn New York in the USA, where he still Coaches as a level 2 Coach, is alive and well and celebrates his 6 6 t h b i r t h d a y t o d a y. ”The six cricketers – Ivan Madray, Sew Shivnarine, Milton Pydana, Leonard Baichan, Leslie Amsterdam and Romain Etwaroo were the second set of players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and joined the first set of inductees; John Trim, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Alvin Kallicharran and Roy
Fredericks. Milton Pydana (deceased) and Royston Crandon have played One Day Internationals” informed the BCB in a story carried by this newspaper. Nobody apparently picked up on the mistake until Pydana’s daughter Rochelle Pydana penned a letter to Kaieteur News on January 16 correcting the mistake. ”I just read a sports article from September 2, 2014 and noticed that my father, the legendary Milton Pydana, was noted as deceased. My father is very much alive and well this 16th day of January 2016 and I’m kindly asking that you correct this false statement” said Rochelle. ”I suggest you do a story about him to correct the mistake and provide him with a nice birthday present when he goes on-line today to read this newspaper”
Milton Pydana
Rochelle added. Born Milton Robert Pydana on the January 27, 1950 in the Village of Smythsfield on the East Bank of Berbice, Pydana, like most Berbicians, developed an early interest in cricket at the Vryman’s Erven Primary school. He began his First
Division career in 1969 for the Mental Hospital in the Davson Cup in Berbice and made his U-19 debut in 1970 when the tournament was played in Trinidad. Pydana joined Berbice Police in 1971 before the talented Berbician moved the City to play in the Case Cup first division
competition when the standard of cricket was very high and Police had a strong team. Pydana was also a competent lower-order batsman and played firstclass cricket for Guyana for 17 seasons from 1971 and also successfully captained Berbice at the Inter-County level. He made two tours with the West Indies and made his ODI debut against Pakistan in Karachi in 1980 and his first catch was off of fellow Guyanese Colin Croft when Javed Miandad edged a legcutter. He was the understudy to David Murray in Pakistan and in 1983 he was second string to Jeff Dujon in India. In his second ODI, Pydana hit the winning runs in the only time he batted in his three international matches. In India, he played just once in the ODI team. At the First-Class level he scored two centuries from
85 matches and took 152 catches while executing 36 stumpings. In 24 Regional One-Day games and had 29 dismissals. After playing his last First-Class match in the 1988 Red Stripe Cup tournament Pydana, who is rated by many who saw him as the most naturally talented of the Keepers produced by Guyana, moved to New York in February 1989. Tw o K e e p e r s w e r e arguably close the Pydana in terms of glove work and hand/eye coordination. They are the late Ivor Mendonca who played two Tests in 1962 and 29-year-old Tyrell Tull, who played four T20 games for Guyana as a 16year old in 2006 in the Stanford T20 before wasting his immense talent. The veteran glove-man says he is very concerned about the state of cricket in Guyana and is looking for ways to be able to contribute to a resolution.
Wednesday January 27, 2016
Kaieteur News
Page 35
2016 Getting revved up for the Motorsports Season The 2016 motorsports season has officially kicked off as of a few days now. If results are any indications of what’s to come then, we are in for an exciting year ahead. The season was officially kicked off on January 21 at Sebring International Raceway in Florida, USA. Kristian Boodoosingh, 19 years old out of Trinidad and Tobago, who has solidified himself as a world-class driver and certainly one of the very best drivers out of the Caribbean, competed in the 6 hours of Sebring at the famous raceway. He codrove a 13b Mazda Miata
prepped and built by David Diedrick of Mazdees Performance of Canada. Out of the 6 hours, Boodoosingh drove about 80% of the race. He started slowly but, drove the wheels off by coming from the back and hurried his way towards the front by passing each and every car in his class and then some cars that included Porsche’s, Radicals’ etc… within an hour or so, Boodoosingh was at the top of the class by rocketing his CR Boodoosingh & Songs Ltd. Sponsored 13b rotarypowered Miata, passing the majority of cars in the 62 car
Calvin Ming with his car and trophies. (calvin ming facebook) field right, left, and centre by zig zagging his way into the top 10 whilst setting a class best lap time of 2:36:05 then,
Captain Nurse eyeing Scotiabank CFU Men’s C/bean Cup top 4 for Golden Jaguars
Polley, Marco Jorge, Jonny Robello, Dereck Bassant along with Horatio Brown were able to get the car out of the pits and back onto the track. It was unfortunate that the rotary-powered Miata spent about an hour in the pits to correct driveability issues otherwise, Boodoosingh would’ve
made history by winning the R7 class and certainly would’ve made a great run to crack the top 5 overall. Then, The SuzukiPowered Radical SR3 RS sports racers started last weekend with dominant performances from the Maloney’s of Barbados. On (Continued on page 25)
Mega Mecca III in the making
By Franklin Wilson Golden Jaguars Captain Christopher Ronald Nurse says he is targeting CONCACAF Gold Cup Qualification this time around following the Caribbean Football Union announcement that Guyana has drawn in Group 5 of the Scotiabank CFU Men’s Caribbean Cup. The Golden Jaguars will take on Puerto Rico and Anguilla for a place in Round 2 of the competition; Round 1 will be contested March 21-29. Six other groups will also compete on the said dates. The plain spoken midfielder who currently plays for the Carolina Railhawks in the in the North American Soccer League gave his reaction to the d r a w a n d G u y a n a ’s chances in this the premier tournament for Caribbean nations. ”Our target is to reach the Gold Cup, to finish in the top four of the CFU tournament come November 2016. To achieve this we will need to be resolute in our approach tactically and ruthless in execution.” Playing consistent on the international stage is something that Nurse believes can only redound to the benefit of the country and players in terms of being match-ready leading up to the bigger stage. ”If we realistically look at our competitors, a lot of these teams have been consistently active over the past 18 months which is essential in preparation for success in any tournament.
consistently achieving similar lap times as the race progressed. Then, around the 1 hour and a half mark, as he was starting to mount a challenge towards the overall lead, he had to make and unscheduled pit spot after a massive vibration. The dedicated crew, Laurence
Kristian Boodoosingh
By Edison Jefford
Christopher Nurse
However, this will not be the first time that Guyana goes into a tournament without much practice games in preparation and as a nation on most occasions we have managed to give a good account of ourselves despite the obvious obstacles. I do not imagine this occasion to be much d i f f e r e n t . ” The Stag Elite League which will see the Finale kicking off on February 12 next, has been a shot in the arm according to Nurse.”In fact I anticipate that with the emergence of the Stag Elite League competition, National Team places will increase, players will be fitter and new faces have arrived on the scene. The coaches will have a selection headache which is always a good issue for a coach to have.” The candid Nurse further shared that players will have
the pressure of knowing that no one’s place is guaranteed, which creates the kind of environment that professionals thrive to be involved in. Nurse also commented on the two first round opponents that the Golden Jaguars will face: “ I think we should take a solid approach in preparation and not underestimate any of the opponents we face. I have played in Puerto Rico alongside and against many of their national team players, and it would be foolish to underestimate them. They have a few extremely talented and skilful players, a lot playing in the United States and in leagues overseas so it will be a good encounter.” National Team Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz speaking with Kaieteur Sport last week had said that the first trails will commence sometime this week.
G u y a n a ’s s i g n a t u r e basketball competition, The Road to Mecca III, will have special significance this year given that it will be held when Guyana is celebrating its Golden Jubilee of Independence: 50 years of freedom from British hegemony. This historic occasion should be enough to galvanise the 16 clubs that will be invited to play, and their communities, to trek to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall nightly in pursuit of an opportunity to be listed in the annals of history. There is no doubt that every club will want to be recorded as the team that won Guyana’s National Club Championship in its Jubilee year. The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has worked hard over the last two years to resuscitate basketball. The flagship Mecca I and Mecca II were consistent competitions and provided Guyana with what can be called ‘true champions’ with Ravens winning the nationwide contest in 2014 when it was first held, and Pacesetters winning the second edition last year. The Road to Mecca set the standard for all aspiring basketball players and clubs, given that it was the main catalyst for selection on Guyana’s Senior National Basketball Team, which competed at the Caribbean Championships in 2014 and 2015 in the British Virgin
Islands– a feature that was a significant accomplishment for the national federation under new leadership. It is against that background that Mecca III is being mulled as a mega Championship with a mega budget that has lots of scope for sponsorship. Kaieteur Sport understands that the competition will be launched soon, and as a result, the federation is mum on the details. However, basic information emanating from the organisers of Guyana’s biggest basketball contest suggested that the top eight teams from last year’s competition, which includes four Georgetown and four Linden teams, are automatic qualifiers. In addition, another eight teams will make up the 16 clubs, including two teams from Berbice and six other wild card entrants. This is the structure that GABF President, Nigel Hinds indicated that the federation will use for the upcoming Road to Mecca III. What is certain is that the effort of the federation has ricocheted into effective subassociations in Linden, Georgetown and Berbice. Basketball has been very
Nigel Hinds active over the last year in the regions and that enhances the expectations of keen national competition. Just as Plaisance Guardians ensured that the Plaisance, East Coast Demerara community formed part of their main support base and Colts the Central Georgetown community formed theirs last weekend during the Georgetown League finals, every team will be expected to galvanise their base to support them in the tournament. Players will be encouraged to invite their families and teams from their respective communities to help continue the momentum that started two years ago. Linden is exemplary in that regard. The point is that all must be involved and all consumed to make The Road to Mecca III: Guyana’s National Basketball Club Championships – The Jubilee Edition, the biggest one to-date.
t r o Sp EBFA U-17 League
Grove retain crown with 4-2 triumph over Soesdyke; Herstelling claim third
Marketing and Sales Manager of Continental Agencies Limited Mr. Avalon Jagnandan (5th right) hands over the champions trophy to Grove Hi Tech Captain Denzil Crawford as his teammates and club officials savor the moment.
GDF athletes rewarded for stellar performances throughout 2015
The athletes with the Chief Of Staff (at centre) and other senior GDF officers.
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